The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-05-03

naIr noated N the WIND, nre mashed
from his large black eyes, and a curl of
inefable scorn dwelt upon his lips. The
look OF the stranger was SO sublime that
he was aWed, and trembled with fear
when he gazed upon HIM. His COM
plexion was much darker than that of
any man he had seen, and the atmos-
phere around him was hot and sufoca-
ting. He perceived Immediately that
he was being of another world. The
stranger, seeing his trepidatIon, asked
him blandly, yet majestically, to mount
beside him. He had no power to re-
fuse; and beforehe was well aware that
he had moved, he found himself in the
chariot. Onward they went with the
rapdity Of the wind, the stranger spea-
king no word, until they stopped be-
fore a door in the street of Milan. =
There was a crowd of people in the
street; but to his great surprise, no one
seemed to notice the extraordinary
equipage and its numerous train. From
this he concluded that they were invis--
ible. The house at which they stop
ped appeared to be shop; but the in
terror was like vast half-ruined palace.
He went with his mysterious guide
through several large and dimly-lighted
rooms. In one of them, surrounded by
huge pillars of marbles senate of ghosts
were assembled, debating on the pro-
gress of the plague. Otter parts OF
the building were enveloped in the
thickest darkness, illuminated at inter-
walls by vivid flashes OF lightning, by
which he saw nulnber of gibing and
chattering skeletons running about and
pursuing each other, or playing at leap
frog over one another's backs. At the
rear Of the mansiol was wild, uncul-
tivated plot Of ground, in the midst Of
which stood black rock. Down its
sides rushed, with fearful noise, tor
rent of poisonous water, which, insin-
uatng itself through The soil, penetrated
to all the springs of the city, and rem
dered them unfit for use. After he had
shown all this, the stranger led him into
another large chamber, filled with gold
and precious stones, all of which he
offered him, if he would kneel down
and worship him, and consent to smear
the doors and houses with pestiferous
salve which he held out to HIM. Heno
knew him to be the devil, and in that
moment Of temptation prayed to God
to give him strength to resist. His
prayer was heard-he refused the bribe.
The stranger SEQ ~led horribly upon
him-a loud clap Of thunder clapped
ovel his head--the vivid lightning flash
ed in his eyes, and the next moment he
found himself standing alone at the
porch of the cathedral. He repeated
the strange story day after day, with
out any variation, and all the populace
were firm believers in its truth. Re-
peated search was made to discover
the house, but all in vain. The man
pointed out several as resembling it,
which were searched by the police; but
the demon Of the pestilence was not to
be found, nor the hall of ghosts,
nor the poisonous Fountain
But the minds of the people
were so impressed with the idea. that
scores of witnesses, half crazed by dis
ease, came forward to swear that they
also had seen the diabolical stranger
and heard the chariot drawn by the
milk-white steeds rumbling over the
streets at midnight, with sound louder
than thunder. The number of persons
who confessed that they were employ
ed by the devil to distribute poison is
almost incredible. An epidemic phren-
zy was abroad, which seemed to be as
contagious as the plague. Imagination
was as disordered as the body; and day |
after day persons came voluntarily for
ward to accuse themselves. They had
the marks Of disease upon them, and
some died in the act of confession.
Memoirs Of Popular Decisions.
One of those clustering, would be
. q - W.