The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-09

of your days, and there you go and re-
pay me by robbng me of my poor body
that never did you any harm in it's life. +"
'GadZoOks. sir" replied the body, Il
thank you fer your courteous intent
but shall not leave this body of yours
now that l have obtained pos session of
it. 1t $ rare chance, good sir, a chance
that does not come more than once in
lifetime of n poor ghost, to find an
untendnted body awaiting an owner
your awkward position distreSseS me
SrieVously, but as You seem to think |
nave been happy and contented here,
there is no reason why you should not
experience the same feelings when oc-
cupyirg my old position"
But, squire" pleaded the spirit, in
piteous entreaty, "it isn't right. l APP
peal to your sense of honor Now, is
it,"
The body waved its hand blandly.
Il think that is outside the question
at issue, sir" it said. you evidently
did not attach much importance or
value to your body, or you would not
have been so ready to leave it. Mind
YOU, although | now have a local habi-
tatiOn and name as win hath it, my
own position is by no means an enviable
ore. Your body does not suit me at all,
sir"
You won't be at all comforta BILE in
it, squire said Timperley, eagerly. "It
only Just fitted me, and you're a much
larger man. You'll never he thorough
ly at home In it,"
'Wcll, l must make the best of it,"
said the body, resiGpedly. mo doubt
this carcass of yours viii stretch bit;
| but it's terribly dry in side. / warrant
me it's long since you had a stoup of
| honest Canary or good red Burgundy
| Canst tell me where | may get a flagOn
| of either or a tankard Of hc:ne breWed?'
| "Oh, you mustn't drink wine" cried
! the spirit ir alarm. "l ou really mustn't t.
! My constitution can't stand it. I've been
teetotal vegetarian for many years
| And what may that be, STRIP asked
| the body.
My body is not accustomed to either
| beer, wine or animal flesh. Water
| lemonade and milk for liquids and por,
| ridge, vegetables and rice puddiugs fol
| solids, with cheese for an extra ola Sun
| day-that has been my fare, and is what
| you must take"
| An expression of unutterable con,
| tempt passed over the Dodys face. Pm
rah," it said, with Witherng sarcasm
I'VE must try the effect of good ale anC
wine, of rcast beef and pork, ON tEi,
| precious body of yours"
| "Oh, but you mustn't" cried tn,
spirit, IF you do, you'll have head
aches and palpitations, Mine is not t
strong body. 1t Will go off in fit l.
you drink wine"
"'Sblood," cried the body, in herc,
| anger, do YOU mean to tell me ",
| got into a siclily carcass like that? Il
it for this I've changed my position o
| Independence? BeshreW me, if ! don
so alter this body of yours that you
own mother wouldn't know it, It's no
a pretty one noNY, but it will be wors
before I've done with it,"
Then its eyes fell upon the clerk, wh
had incautiously intruded his head 81
as to lose nothing of what was going on
"How now" it cried, starting to il
feet. "A listener Who are you, var
let? Answer or I'll run you through
with my hanger"
But the clerk did not stay to answe
or be run through. He fed precipitate
ly, bearing the terrible news to tn
town that the squire had taken posses
sion OF sam Timperley's body in it
owners absence ana now refused [
give it up.
This was altogether too much for tn
Neither Talkingtonians to believe, an
an incredulous crowd soon streame
into the Grange to see for themselVe
what had happened. They found tn
spirit of Councillor Sam Timuerley o
its knees before its own body, utterin
piteous entreaties to its own body.
Mr. Mudford was the only man anon