Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-06-12

looked Ut ner Sleeping mdte III SIence;
and then, deep, deep sigh broke from
her almost unconsciously. She retrealed
from the bedside as the man awoke.
Who's there? devils, agalnp cried the
sick man, in a hoarse, trembling voice.
The wife made no answer, but laying
me down with her other treasure upon
the table, she walked on tip-toe out ofthe
room.
Who's there?' again cried the card
Maker and then he mumbIed-'Devils-
devils-more devils. And shall 20 a
mong 'em-I must 60 among 'em-no
help. ed-damned-h a ! h al
damned.
For an hour or more the old man raved
groaned, and muttered to himself He
had, as | heard, committed no peculiar
wlckedness in life; but his imagination
had caught disease from a spiritual
counsellor, who, in the anxiety Of his soul
for the dying man, felt it duty to con-
vince him that he must be damned. He
had dealt in cards; he had made gold by
the devils tools, and there was no help
for him; the devil must have him. This
comfortable assurance Mr. U rah Cloudy
conceived it to be his Christian duty to
pour once day at least into the ears of
the departing tradesman; who had such
confidence in the authority ofthe Muggle-
tonon, for Cloudy was said to be Of
that enlightened sect-that he gave him
self up to inevitable perdtion Hence
to his crazed perceptions, his chamber
was beset by devils, male and female; all
OF them wearing the faces, forms and hab-
its Of the kings, queens and knaves of
cards; all oflhem, by such masquerade,
,orturing the remorse(ul spirit ofthe dy-
ing dealer.
oh! Ugh" he groaned-'and there,
peeping between the curtains-there's
tha. cat, the queen of damondsp Then
he sat bolt upright in his bed: and throw
ing his nightcap into the room, he scream
ed-'Jack of clubs, my times not up-I
defy you
At this moment Becky entered the room,
Here's Mr. Cloudy come TO see you
The name seemed to awaken new ter
ror in the cardmaker, for he fell back in
his bed and howled like a wolf. In an in
slant the Muggleonian was at the bed
side.
why man, that's right: howl-howl it
will do you good, poor doomed wretch! if
any thing will doyou good, Ha! that's
sweet music-sweet as the sackbut and
,imbrel, said the selC,complacent Mr.
Cloudy, as old Cramp yelled in higher
pitch. This spiritual comforter was a
fat, squat man, Of large breadth of back
huge legs and arms, and a big head,
matched with short black hair, sunk be.
tween his shoulders. He had large,
rolling, black eyes, ha,tened nose, and
wide dropping mouth, with the complex.
ion of antiquarian parchment. And so
you've suffered, poor wretched worm!-
eh!' asked Ms Cloudy, comfortably seat
ing himself in an arm. chair by the bed
side.
Ugh! hare suffered cried the card.
maker
It's blessed thing said the Muggle.
tonian. But you hare suffered Beware,
beware that Beezebub doesn't deceive
you. You're sure you've suffered Well,
then, thank Cod
i do, do-that is, I hope l do an
swered the man, And now, do you re.
ally, my kind good frieud-my dear,
charitable friend-do you really think
shall be damned' Are you sure!'
'Cock-sure, cried Cloudy. 'Ain't yor
a wretched sinner Haven't you livec
upon perdition? Haven't you sold trap.
for sinners souls! How many lost sheer
have yon sent before You!
But then, my dear friend, was card
maker TO the court: and that may 90 fol
, something-eh? Mayn't it, mayn't it?
| exclaimed Cramp, despairingly.
Don't hope it; quite lost if you hope,
9 answered Cloudy. 'Wretched old man
haven't you put snares into the hands O
the wicked? Haven't you sold beggary
, and robbery, and self murder'-tIo,
many precious souls are now roaring on
n against you"
!, True, true, truen screamed the care
e maker-'no hope, no hope'-aud then h
l. fell back and groaned. In a moment h
Jumped up again in bed, and with sue