The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1826-08-15

whose 0a0uS u Wdas AS bnc pOttSC v. % -
was at that time the most vigorous IN the
world, the owners of this institution con-
trived SO to fortify the approach to 1t, that
in cases of alarm, they might remove all
the instruments of their trade before the
officers entered. By secret means, now
ever, / obtained an entrance; and open
1 ed the door as should that of the regions
appropriated to the wicked. When enc
tered, every one appeared to be full OF his
employment. AS my business was rather
to see than to be Seen, took my station IN
a place fitted to my purpose. The scene
which presented itself, had for mea kind OF
terrific interest which cannot explain to
you. When I contemplated the faces a.
round me, seemed to be introduced to a
new set of passions; or to combinations OF
them more terrible than those which usu-
Tally present themselves. / fancied in all
most every man aCethegus or Cataline
la conspirator against the happiness of
mankind. Enthusiast as l am in liberty, l
could have almost rejoiced, when all the
malignant humors of the body polite SEEM
ed thus drawn to a point, to have seen the
hand Of authority forcibly cut them away.
To this hour, many of the figures of this
society haunt me. I saw hands which
charity never lifted, lips that never prayed,
knees that never bent, countenances where,
if may so express it, "God had forgot
ten to be gracious The only ray of
comfort which broke through the awful
gloom was that which showed me that each
one in this assemblage appeared to be let
loose against another as ferocious as him.
SELF But even that vanished when I turn
ed my eyes upon N.--Wan and emaciated,
his forehead ridged with thousand storms
his eye fixed and glaring, his manner sullen
and desperate; he recalled to my mind the
first murderer, when driven as fugitive
from God. His punishment" was even
now greater than he could bear."-But
let US hasten, my Gustavus, from this un-
holy ground. I found an opportunity, du-
ring the night, Of painting to him in strong
colours the terrors of his situation; but his
answer indicated, that he had looked his
ruin too often in the face, to berestored to
virtue by any picture could bring before
him. Ispoke to him of Caroline but he
had, lin his new business, acquired houid
familiarity with the sufferings Of others. /
would have spoken of God-but he stop
ped me by exclaiming in his vehement man
ner, 4" Glance is the only God of game
ster." In fact, might have remembered,
that the gambling room is the temple of the
Atheist. 1t is an employment in which
there is constant appeal to some power
scithout ourselves-that power which pre-
sents one side of the die, and hides anoth-
er. Men call this chance and are they
not Atheists? .
But let me finish this melancholy story.
N. after his last speech, abruptly left me,
resumed his occupation, and seemed to pur-
sue it with even more entire devotion of
mind than before. When 1 reflected that
every step he took in his present employ
ment brought him so much nearer his ruin,
/ almost ceased to wonder that some PHI
losophers should have called in the doc.
trine of fatalism to explain the faulty Of
human conduct. They reasonably doubt
ed whether man could become SO emphati-
cally his own enemy, and therefore concei-
we'd sort of iron hand which dashed him
on to destruction. There was also some
thing of that expression in the face of N.
which might have been expected in the
victim of sucha destiny. The alterations
of loss and gain seemed no longer to affect
AlMA Ac ICCSlNOu tIlG Hast dS d tOdL WHICH
he was Immediately to restore, and the first
as his settled and natural inheritance.
sat watching him for some time; but,
as / knew, there was nothing in his high
spirit could less endure than to see SPY
placed upon his movements, Quilted the
room and returned to Madame de N.
Her frame of body was such that it was
likely to give way before evils under which
the mind might have stood. twas indeed
one of those nervous systems which appear
to feel and to bleed at every point in which
misfortune touches them. Knowing this,
/ had long feared the effects of his sor-
rows upon her; and therefore had always.
thought myself justified in showing fli@n
to her in the least formidable aspect which
they wore.
Unfortunately / pursued the same line
of conduct in recording the events of this
evening. Had done otherwise, should
have better prepared her for that spectacle
of horror, to which she was now to be
brought at once and without preparation.
l was soon obliged to leave her..
Some hours after midnight N. returned
to his house. As usual he hurried to his
apartment, and barred his door against that
bosom on which he might proftably have
rested all his cares. Caroline heard his
l.