The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1905-02-18
MUSING OF THE DEAD

click Of metal against the sod, and |.
shape, yapor, resting in my coffin,
could distinctly hear the digger at
work on another grave beside my own.
1t had never occurred to me in life
TINT tie dead had ears to hear and
eyes to see, and even now there was
nothing IN the dcmeanor Of my cofIined
nei9ibors to uphold me IN my present
theory.
/ | was a criminal when they buried
nae, and my soul seemed left within
my body to groyel In the dust Of hor-
ror and humiliation for 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 neshJy dissolution. was
forced TO witness the flthy degenera.
ton Of what In life had seemed to ne
or paramount Importance.
Vanity and carnafity had been my
ruling passions, ana 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.
II was for this destroying Of mental
self that | WAS finally hunted down
and brought to sudden justice.
FOR many years my wild debauches
~ H.I o.
tails, and men who scorned and loathod
ma even they weSe satisfied to let IL
80 ~ Thing beyond their interference
1t was only when won poor Nelllc's
love that they began shaking their an
cry heads and pointing their warning
fingers at me.
But had wisdom In my evil way.
feigned a reformation that | did not
feel and for ttnae behaved with rigid
clrcnxpectlon
There were days even when the
chllds sweet nature almost shamed me
In my wicked purpose. but to a heart
grown old in sin a wonau's virtue
only adds persistence, and after eack
brief moment OF repoFsc the old desire
crept swiftly back, with tenfold worse
Intentions added
And day after day the Goweret droop-
cd with the sun OF passion beatln. on
It Day by day truth took weaker
hold upon the soul that wayered In ny
power.
Warnings | had In plenty from The
friends that loved the girl, and al
though there was no violence from ne
~ any time they called my decd a
deed of crime and lynched me Ike
eoInfaen fclon.
Whether 1t was just some did MOI
know, but 10 me, lying crsnped nua
hudded in this moldy box. there comes
at tunes realization Of 10y Sill that
mskes the judgment seem most fair
and even tempered with that plea for
marcy which doubtful jurors sftes ada
Day by day, hour by hour ana n,iA,rte
by minute the see1l1s and stas OF my
life are crecpin. slowly through my
SOUL and now, Viewed ht the light OF o
dfscmbodied spitit, hHd how greatly
the sins OF the iesh are at variance
with the sFsritrai ba!us
HOPE aad dsstxc, SO all important tn
the earns, frame, shrink to tAe mean
est form OF guilt when viewed txrsuss
Ro-iar, purer lenses.
Like WORKOUT hpsk, battered and
trsvei stained. my flesh lies rottiag 10
this grave, while |. a soul, exist here
there ana all about able TO penetrate
the very earth. able TO see tho he1Veas
above, but totally unable to escape
Cron the dread proximity OF ny mold
erlug clay Of this constant rlseu OF de-
cay in what WAS once my fenaest
pride
And now another silent form 10 being
lowered to my side. | hear the sound
of falling scas, the cccak of rofsse the
tread Of feet and wish--oh, coward that
| slu,-that Il might lie .potha' soul so
doomed that II would h1r nae COM
psny.
They are going NOW, tie mourpoSs az
the grave above ny bead, and almost
touching my crsnblinS feet ! sec the
outline of a polished casket
No one IN all those silent temhs
seems wakenod or disturbed but ne.
The advent OF Gllot4er form int the
gloom md horror OF tails place brings
not \ trcuor to the dust Of those who
sleep 50 peacefully,
Bat now my soul seems pierced again
b@ one mere venoucG, ranking TART
and through tke pawer Of spirit sight
| see toe limit Of NY doom
Thaco Is no soul within this new
made tomb 10 clay freed spirit 20 con.
dole with nnua but low beneath the
polished beerds sweet young face
les sul and calm and seems - mock
my nlsery,
once more trace nay evil Efc in all
rs Ni.ifu' sinful ways, and, turning
Try 20 avert my gaze from that whiA
s'r'nst wadlons mo
T..s iu'a IS Justice for De damnei
To watch. py.t.-co, Willis all you love
decays, Willie Gosh, once fair, crecps
Wiley hack 10 aus'. aai No Immortal
SOU denied ana sg1rnrt. rises from
tie very grave % torture that whics