Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-05-04
OUT OF THE FLESH.


Boston on stormy day in December The
narrow sidewalk, covered with ice and trod-
den snow, and the sharpened pitch of the
street made pedestrianism venture bor-
dering upon rashness. AS was in some
what of hurry, pushed past couple of
fat, cautious, waddling gentlemen and
started at n swinging pace down the treach-
erous incline. Suddenly | was aware that
my feet had slipped from under me. Then
came a flash, followed by darkness.
The same street stretched before me, only
| was walking in the opposite direction. A
hat was lying in the gutter, which struck
me in the most whimsical way as being ex-
actly like my hat. was about to pick it
up and examine it, when noticed group
of men carrying heavy object into an adj
jacent drug store. | pushed forward with
curiosity, and was astonished to see that
the heavy object was myself, hatless, my
face deadly white, with some drops of blood
clustered on the hair
The men staggered in the drug store, and
l followed them. They laid their burden
ON the counter, and the druggist came rush
ing from IL back room in frightened haste.
He ruthlessly tore open the bosom of what
| shuddered to perceive was my best coat,
loosened the underclothing and bent down
in listening attitude | shall never forget
the expression of his face as he turned and
looked up without lifting his body
Gentlemen" he said, "the man is deadi"
| laughed outright at the preposterous-
ness of the statement My voice was per-
fectly audible to myself, but none of the
Others in the room seemed to hear it--at
least none of them turned to look at me. |
heard one of the bystanders say that he
would report the case at once, and the drug
gst nodded silently toward the telephone.
AS for me. / could endure the farce no long
er and walked out with distinct con-
sciousness of elation, as if l had suddenly
become rid of a great burden or had real
lied some long delayed hope. The snow
was falling thickly outside, but l felt so
strangely happy that the whirling storm
seemed more beautiful than the faifest
June sky had ever seen.
| walked up fremont street, my heart
leaping with an undreamed of joy in mere
existence. On the corner of the first block.
whom should meet but my dear old DR..
S., who had brought me into the world, and
who had been my best friend and counselor
until three years before, when blood poison
ing, contracted during a critical surgical
operation, had carried him off. The recog-
milton was mutual, and we fell into each
others arms with exclamations of surprise
and delight
why, doctor, God bless you'll thought
you were dead"
my dear boyl didn't know that you
had escaped"
looked at my friend in blank amaze
ment. "Escapedr' cried "What do you
mean? Escaped what?"
"Flesh," cried the doctor briefly, while
the same old laugh seemed to ring in his
kindly voice. "Bones' And he beamed
on me with his face like plastic chunk of
sunshine.
looked down at my tweed suit and cork
soled shoes. Then / gazed upon the doc
tors expansive waistcoat peeping through
his half buttoned macintosh. II don't see
that | have even escaped my clothes, or that
you have either" / replied obviously.
'If you don't believe that you have es-
capped flesh and bones," said the doctor seri-
ously, ''try walking through that lamp
post"
| advanced incredulously to the post,
backed off with laugh, then moved up
again, with the doctors hand on my shoul-
der, and melted through the solid iron; or,
to speak more exactly, the solid iron melted
through me.
Now, follow me through this old apple
woman" chuckled the doctor, and in an in
stant we had permeated a half bushel of
wormy fruit and a dame as withered and
gaunt as the tree that bore it.
Are you satisfed?" cried the doctor as
he dragged me through solid wall into
the privacy of two closeted politicians, who
never noticed our intrusion in the least
Perfectly, SO far as ocular demonstra-
tion goes" replied, admiring the nonchal-
ance and familiarity with which the doctor
leaned upon the shoulder of one of the pol
iticians, and from force of habit while in
the flesh proceeded to examine his tongue.
YES" l continued, u am satisfied that
am not what | was, but you will have the
kindness to explain why we both retain the
same semblance as when we were in the
body?"
Certainly" replied my friend "we do
not-that is, not really. In very brief
space of time now-perhaps before these
wirepullers have arranged their slate-you
will begin to experience me as | do you.
Your present notion of form is a mere rem
iniscence."
As the doctor spoke | became gradually
conscious that his protruding waistcoat
and voluminous macintosh were fading
away. In their place appeared nothing at
first but little whirling column of mist.
Presently that, too vanished, and the doc
tors voice grew fainter and fainter till it
utterly ceased. In place of seeing or hear
ing came such a sudden, vivid realization
of the presence and reality of my friend
that ! glowed to the center of my soul with
an unspeakable warmth of love and joy
The air about me seemed to quiver with o
penetrating yet unseen life and light. /
was about to enter into the perfect and un-
utterable ecstasy of IL spiritual beginning,
when-Bromfeld street opened it's slushy,
dirty length before me; compassionate
bystander assisted me to my feet, while
another brought Inc my hat, saying:
"Well, my friend, your head had pretty
hard rap on the curb. | guess you must
have lain unconscious for minute or
more. "-Kate Fields Washington.
Whera CirIS nFta,, IT,