The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1904-12-31
MUSING OF THE DEAD

work on an0tner grave DeSlde my own.
1t had never occurred to me In life
that the dead had ears to hear and
eyes to see, and even BOW there was
nothing In the demeanor Of my cofflned
neighbors to uphold me in my present
theory.
l was q criminal when they buried
me, and my soul seemed left within
my body to grovel in the dust of hof-
ror and humiliation for a period at
least before it's further evolution.
1t was as If my own contempt for
the subiimity Of the soul was being
Knocked by feshly dissolution. I was
forced TO witness the filthy desenera-
ton of what in life had seemed to me
Of paramount Importance.
Vanity and carnality had been my
ruling passions, and all the higher at
tributes of man, in which the soul
took precedence OF body, aroused with
in my carnal mind only a feeling OF
sarcastic pity.
1t was for this destroying of a mental
self that l was finally hunted down
and brought TO sudden justice.
For many years my wild debauches
had been carried on with fallen NOR
tails, and men who scorned and loathed
me, even they were satisfied to let ii
go as thing beyond their interference.
1t was only when | 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 reforma ton that / did not
feel and for II time behaved with rigid
clrcumspection.
There were days even when the
child's sweet nature almost shamcd me
In my wicked purpose, but to heart
grown old in sin q woman's virtue
only adds persistence, and after each
brief moment Of remorse the old desire
crept swiftly back, with tenfod worse
intentions added.
And day after day the foweret droop-
ed with the sun OF passion beating on
1t. Day by day truth took weaker
hold upon the soul that wavered in my
power.
Warnings had in plenty from the
friends that loved the girl, and al
though there was no violence from me
at any time they called my deed a
deed of crime and lynched me Ike
common felon.
Whether it was just some did not
know, but to me, lying cramped and
huddled in this moldy box, there comes
at times Il 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 hour and minute
by minute the scenes and sins Of my
life are creeping slowly through my
soul, and now, viewed by the light Of Il
disembodled spirit, find how greatly
llC Slid vi luS Dtsl GtS Ut
with the spiritual being.
Hope and desire, 30 all important to
the carnal frame, shrink to tho mean
est form OF guilt when Viewed through
nobler, purer lenses.
Like WORKOUT husk, battered and
travel stained, my flesh lies rotting In
this grave, while l, soul, exist. here,
there and all about, able TO penetrate
the very earth. able to see the heavens
above, but totally unable to escape
crom 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 sods, the creak OF ropes, the
tread Of feet and wish--oh coward that
/ am!-that II might be another soul so
doomed that It would bear me COM
pany.
They are going now. the mourners at
the grave above 10Y head. and almost
touching my crumbiing feet | see tho
outline OF a polished caskct.
No one III sl those silent tombs
seems Weakened or disturbed but me.
The advent OF another form into the
gloom and horror OF this place brings
not tremor to the dust OF those who
sleep so peacefully.
But now my soul seems pierced again
10y one more veuome1, ranking dart.
and through the power of spirit sight
| see the limit OF my doom.
There IL no soul within this new
made tomb, no clay freed spirit TO con
dole with mine, bur low beneath the
polished boards sweet young face
lies still and calm and seems 10 mock
my misery.
Once mere trace my evil life In all
its wlll'uL sinful ways. ana, turning.
Try 10 avort my guzc from that which
almost maddenS me.
This then is justice for the damned
To watch, perforce, while all you love
decays, while hesh, once fair. creeps
vilely back to dust and the Immortal
soul. Denied and scornGd. rises from
the very grave 10 torture that which
scorned t.
Yes, this is justice. but the after plea,
the plea fnr mercy, is denied nc, Con