The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1905-03-04
MUSING OF THE DEAD

q shape, NapOf, resting IN my cOa!H
could distinctly hear the digger a
work on another grave beside my own
1t had never occurred to me in If,
that the dead had ears to hear auC
eyes to see and even now there wa:
nothing in the demeanor Of my coGined
neighbors to uphold me In my present
theory.
| was a criminal when they buried
me, and my soul seemed left within
my body TO grovel In the dust Of Lor-
ror and humiliation for a period at
| least before It's further evolution.
1t was as If my own contempt for
( the sublimity Of the soul was being
Knocked by freshly dissolution. was
forced to witness the filthy degenera-
ton Of what in life had seemed 10 me
OF paramount importance.
Vanity and carAallty 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 q feeling Of
Sarcastic pity.
1t was for this destroying Of a mental
self that | was finally hunted down
and brought 10 sudden justice
Bor 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 az u thing beyond their interference.
1t was only when | won poor Nellic's
love that they began shaking their an
cry heads and pointing their warning
fingers at me.
But had wisdom in my evil way.
feiSned a reformation that | did not
feel and for a time behaved with rigid
drcumspection.
There were days even when The
chlld's sweet nature almost shamed me
In my wicked purpose, bGt to heart
grown Old in sin woman's virtue
only adds persistence, and after each
brief moment Of remorsc the old desire
crept swiftly back, with teufold worse
intentions added.
And day after day the howeret droop-
cd with the sun OF passion beating on
1t. Day by day truth took weaker
hold upon the soul that wayered 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
deed OF crime and lynched me like n
common fciOn.
Whether 1t was just some did not
know, but TO me, lying cramped and
huddled in this moldy box, there comes
at times a 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
HE are creeping slowly through my
soul, AMI now, viewed by the light OF
the sins OF the flesh are at variance
with the spiritual being
Hope and desire, SO all important to
the carna frame, shrink to the mean
est form OF guilt when viewed through
nobier, purer lenses
Like wornout husk, battered and
travel stained my flesh LES rotung in
this grave, while l. a soul. exist, here.
there ana all about able to penetrate
the very earth. able TO see the heavens
above, but totally unable To escape
from the dread proximity OF my mold
er!ng clay Of this constant vision OF de
cay in what was once my tondest
pride
And now another silent form IS being
lowered 20 my side. hear the sound
OF falling s1ds, the crcak Of ropes. the
tread Of feet and wish-oh. coward that
am,-that # might be another soul 50
doomed That IL would bear me com.
pgny
Thoy are going now, The nouyners at
the grave above my head aud almost
touching my crumh.ing feet see the
outline Of polished caskot
30 one IN all those silent tombs
seems weakened or disturbed but me.
The advent OF another form into the
gloom ma horror Of this place brings
not trcmor to the dust OK these who
sleep so peacefully.
But now my soul seems pierced agaln
/