The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-07-18
SINGULAR DREAM.

in Glasgow a club of young men, which
from the extreme profigacy of its mem
bers, and the RIGHTEOUSNESS of their orgies
was commonly called the He'll Club. Be
sides their nightly n weekly meetings
they held n grand annual s%aturnalia, il
which each one tried to excel the other il
drunkenness and b~lasphemy; and on these
occasions there was no star amongst then
whose lurid light was more conspicuou,
than that of young Mr.. Archibald B., who
endowed with brilliant talents and a hand
some person, had held out great promise
in his 5oyhood. and raised hopes that had
been completely frustrated by his subse.
quent reckless designations.
One morning, after returning from this
annual festival, Mr.. Archibald B. having
retired to bed, dreamed the following
dream.
He fancied that he himself was mounted
on a favorite black horse that he always
rode, aud that he was proceeding towards
his own house-then a country-seat EN-
powered with trees, and situated upon a
hill, now entirely built over, and forming
part Of the city,-when a stranger, whom
the darkness Of the night prevented his
distinctly discerning. suddenly seized his
horse rein, saying, "You must 90 with
me"
"And who are you" exclaimed the
young man with volley ofoaths, whilst he
struggled to free himself.
"That you shall see by and by" return
ed the other in a tone that excited unac-
countable terror in the youth who, plung-
ing his spurs into his horse, attempted to
fly, but in vain. However fast the ani>
NAL flew, the stranger was still beside him,
till at length in his desperate efforts to es-
cape, the rider was thrown; but, instead
of being dashed to the earth as he expec-
ted, he found himself falling-falling-
falling still, as if sinking into the bowels
Of the earth.
At length, a period being put to this
mysterious descent, he found breath 10
enquire ofhis companion, who was still
beside him, whittier they were going.
"Where am /? Where are you taking
me 2" he exclaimed. "To hell" replied
the stranger; and Immediately intermina-
Bile echoes repeated the fearful sound,
"To hell to hell to hell
At length a light appeared, which soon
increased 10 a blaze; but, instead of the
cries, and groans, and lamentings, which
the terrified traveller expected, nothing
met his car but sounds of music, mirth,
and jullity and he found himself at the
entrance of a superb building, far exceed
ing any he had seen constructed by human
hands.-Within, too, what a scene! No
amusement, employment, or pursuit OF
man on earth, but was here being car,
ried OH with a vehemence that excited
his unutterable amazement. There the
young and lovely still swan through The
mazes of the giddy dance /! There the
painting steed still bore his brutal rider
through the excitement of the goaded
race! There over the midnight bowl, the
Incorporate still drawled out the wanton
song of maudlin blasphemyl The gam
bier piled forever his endless game, and
the slaves of Mammon toiled through e.
%ternity their bitter task /! whilst all the
magnifcence of earth paled before that
which now met his view.
He soon perceived that he was a.
mong old acquaintances, whom he knew
to be dead, & each he observed, was pur-
suing the object, whatever it was,that had
formerly ~engrossed him, when finding
himself relieved Of his unwelcome conduc-
tor, he ventured to address his former
friend, Miss D.. whom he saw sit
ting as had been her wont on earth, abb
sorbed at loo-reque>ting her TO rest from
the game, and introduce him TO the pleas
ure Of the place, which appeared to him
TO be very unlike what he had expected
and indeed, an extremely agreeable one.
But with cry of agony, she answered,
that there was no rest in hell; that they
must ever toll On at those very pleasures :
and innumerable noises echoed through
he interminable vaults, there is no rest in
hell y whilst throwing open their vests,
each disclosed in his bosom an ever burn
ing flame! These, they said, were the
pleasures of hell their choice on earth
was now tnelT l1eVlldoic uooih III tle
midst of the horror this scene inspired his
conductor returned, and, at his earnest
entreaty, restored him again to earth but,
as he omitted him, he said, Remember |!
in a year and a day we meet again.
At this crisis of his dream the sleeper
awoke, feverish and i'll and whether from
the effect of the dream or of his preced-
ing orgies, he was so unwell as to be o.
bliged to keep his bed for several days.
during which period he had time for
many serious reflections, which termina-
ted in a resolution to abandon the club
and his licentious companions altogether.
He was no sooner well, however, than
they hocked around him, bent on ecover-
ing so valuable a member oftheir society !;
and, having wrnng from him a confession
of the cause of his detection, which, as
may be supposed, appeared to them emf
n%ently ridiculous, they soon contrived to
make him ashamed of his good resolutions.
Heioined them again resumed his former