Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-04-28

scarcely comprehend. The next les
son il became desirable TO impart to
him. was the necessity of acquiring
wealth as The only means Of Obtaining
pleasure. A fact which was no sooner
understood Ivy the stranger, than he
gratefully accepted the offer Of his
friendly hostto place him in q situation
10 which he might anlass riches. 10
this object be began TO apply himself
with diligence; aud was becoming N
some measure r~econcilied 10 the man
ners and customs OF our planet, strang
" as they differed from those OF hrs
own, when an incident occurred which
gave an entirely new direction to his
energies.
II was bot a few weeks after bis
arrival on our earth, when, waking
in the cool Of the day with his friend
in the outskirts Of the cny, his atlen-
ton was arrested by the appearance
of a spacious enclosure near which
they passed; he inquired the use to
which it was appropriated
cit is" replied the nobleman, ga
place of public in.erment.
~ do not understand YOU said The
stranger.
Ut is the place" repeatedhls friend,
"whcrc we bury II dead
Excuse me, Sir" replied bis corn
panion, with some embarrassment, -
mast trouble you to explain yourself
yet further"
The nobIeman repeated the iafor;
nation in still palmer terms.
81 am still at a loss TO comprehend
yon perfect" said the stranger, turn
ing deadly pale. "This must relate
TO something of which | was not only
totally ignorant in my own world, but
of which | have, as yet, had no init
nation in yours | pray you, there
fore, TO SATISFY my curiosity; for II |
have n clucto your meaning, this,
surely, is a matter Of mere mighty
concernment than any 10 which you
have hitherto directed me."
My good friend" replied sbe no
bieman, "you must he indeed a noYlce
amongst Us, if you have YET TO learn that
we must sooner or later, submit to
take our place in these dismal abodes;
nor will | deny it II OF the least de
sirable of the circumstances which up
pertain to our condition; for which
reason it is a matter rarely referred to
IN polished society, and this accounts
for your being hitherto uniformed on
the subject. But truely, Sir, II Toe IN
habi,an,s Of the place thence You
came are not liable to any similar mis-
fortune, advise you to betake yoor,
self back again with all speed; for be
assured there is no escape here; Tor
could [ guarantee yonr safety tor a
single hour"
"Aias," replied the a%dventurer, 81
must submit to the conditions OF my
enterprise; of which, till now, | little
understood the import But explain to
me, Ibsseech you, something more OF
the nature and consequences OF this
wondrous metamorphosis, and tell me
at what period it most commonly hap
pens to man"
While he thus spoke, his voice faul
and his whole frame shook VIC
his countenance was pale as
and a cold dew stood in large
DROPS upon his forehead.
BY this time his companion, finding
the discourse becoming more Sc
rious than as agreeable, declared that
he must refer him to the priests for
Information; this subject being
very much out of his province.
Howl" exclaimed the stranger,
Chen | cannot MISUNDERSTOOD you;-
do the priests only die?-are you not
to die alsO:"
His friend, evading these questions,
conducted his impOrtnnate con
to one oftheir magnificent tenn
pies, where he gladly consigned him
to the instructions OF the priesthood.
The emotion which the stranger had
betrayed when he received the first i
dea of death, was yet slight in com
parison with that which he experience
ed as soon as he gathered from the dis
courses of the priests some notlon OF
Immortality, and of the alternative OF
happiness or misery in a future state.
But this agony of mind was %eXchang-
ed for transport when he learned, that,
by the performance of certain condl
tons before death, the state Of happl
ness might be secured, His eagcrness