The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1904-11-19
MUSING OF THE DEAD

SA1Pt, IL NaPOA, lSotIIt5 III lAly COiiaI
could distinctly hear the digger at
work on another grave beside my own
1t had never occurred to me In life
that the dead had ears to hear ana
eyes to see, and even now there was
nothing in the demeanor OF my coffinGd
neighbors to uphold me In my present
theory
| was criminal when they buried
me, ana my soal seemed left within
my body to grovel in the dust of hor-
ror and humiliation FOR period at
least before It's further evohi' on.
1t was as If my own cor mpt for
the sublimity Of the soul rs being
Knocked by fleshly dissolution l was
forced TO witness the filthy degenera-
ton of what in life had seemed to me
of paramount Importance.
Vanity and carnallty had been my
ruling passions, and all tho higher at
tributes OF man, in which the soul
took precedence OF body, aroused with
in my carnal mind only q feeling oe
sarcastic pity.
1t was for this destroying OF q mental
self that l was finally hunted down
and brought TO sudden justice.
For many years my wild debauchss
had bean carried on with fallen NOR.
tails, and men who scorned and loathed
me, even they were satisfied to let il
60 as thing beyond their interference.
1t was only when I won poor Nellie's
love that they began shaking their an
cry heads and pointing their warning
fingers at me.
But had wisdom in my evil way. l
feigned a reformation that | did not
feel and for a time behaved with rigid
clrcumspection.
There were days even when the
childs sweet nature almost shamed me
in my wicked purpose, bat to a heart
grown old in sin woman's virtue
only adds persistence, and after each
brief moment of remorse the old desire
crept swiftly back, with tenfold worse
intentions added.
And day after day the floweret dyoop-
ed with the sun OF passion beating on
it. Day by day truth took weakcc
hold upon the soul that wavered in my
power.
Warnings l had in plenty from tho
friends that loved the girl, and al
though there was no violence from Ine
at any time they called my deed q
deed of crime and lynched me Ike
common felon.
Whether it was just some did NOT
know, but to me, lying cramped ana
huddled In this mody box, there comes
at times q realization OF my sin that
makes the Judgment seem most fair
and even tempered with that plea for
mercy which doubtful jurors often add.
Day by day, hour by houI and minute
by minute the scenes and sins OF my
life are creeping slowly through my
soul, and now, viewed by the light Of
disembodied spirit, I find how greatly
the sins Of the flesh are at variance
with the spiritual being,
Hope and desire, SO all important to
the carnul frame, shrink 10 the mean
est form Of guilt when viewed through
nobler, purer lenses
Like wornout hus!c, battered and
travel stained my flesh lies rotttng in
this grave, while l. q soul, exist, here,
there and all about able to penetrate
the very earth. able to see the heavens
above, but totally enable to escape
from the dread proximity of my mold
erlng clay Of this constant vision OF de
cay in what was once my fondest
pride.
And now another silent form is being
lowered to my side. hear the sound
Of falling scds, She ere0k Of r0pss, the
tread Of feet ana w'sh-oh, coward that
am,-that II might be another soul so
doomed that it would btar me com
pany.
They are going now, the mourners at
the grave above my head, and almost
touching my crumblins feet see the
outline Of q polished cGsket
NO one NJ HI tltNS SACAL lU4lOo
seems Weakened yr disturbed but me,
The advent OF another form into the
gloom and horror Of this place brings
not q temor TO the dust OF those who
sleep so peacefully,
But now my soul seems pierced again
by one more venomed, ranking dart,
and through the power Of spirit sight
see the Limit OF my doom.
There ia no soul within this new
made tomb, no clay freed spirit 20 con
dole with NINE, but low bonesth the
. polished b0snds : sweet young face
lies SUI aid calm ana seems to mock
NY misery.
Ouce more I trace ny eva life in al
It's willtul, sinful ways. and, turning.
try TO avert nay GGze from that which
almost mGCGsus me.
This then IS Justice Ger The 6aunsd.
10 NvStcA, pcrto5ce, wh..o e. sou love
decays. While le6h, once fair crecps
Wiley back TO dust ami the immortal
soul, denied and seemed, riscs fsoc
the very grave 10 torture that which
seemed g..