The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-04-22
a Fearful aprea m.

ia Glasgow club OF young men. which
from the extreme profigacy of is men,
bers and the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF their orgies.
was commonly called the He'll Club. Be
sides their nightly OF weekly meetings, they
held one grand annual saturnalia, in which
each tried 10 excel the other in drunken
ness and blasphemy; and on these occa-
SONS there was no star amongst them whose
lurid light was more conspicuous than that
Of young MIR. Archibald B., who, endow-
ed with brilliant talents and handsome
person. had held out great promise in his
boyhood, and raised hopes which had been
completely frustrated by his subsequent
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 favonte black horse, that he always
rode, and that he was proceeding toward
his own house-then a country seat embow-
cred by trees, and situated upon hill, now
entirely built over. and forming part Of the
city-when a stranger, whom the darkness
of night prevented his distinctly discerning,
suddenly seized his horses rein, saying,
you must 90 with me-
"And who are YOU" exclaimed the
young man with a volIey Of oaths, whilst
he struggled TO free himself.
That you will see by and by, returned
the other, in a tone that excited unaccount-
able terror in the youth; who, plunging his
spurs into his horse, attempted to fly but in
vain. However fast the animal flew, the
stranger was sill beside him, I'LL at length,
IN his desperate efforts TO escape, the rider
was thrown; but, instead Of being dashed
to the earth, as he expected, he found him.
self misunderstanding still, as if
sinking into the bowels Of the earth.
At length, period being put TO this mys-
ferrous descent, he found breath to inquire
OF his companion, who was still beside him,
whittier they were going. "Where am /!
Where are you taking me-" he exclaimed.
"To hell" replied the stranger and i'm
mediately inteminsble echoes repeated the
fearful sound, ITO hell to he'll! to heIl!''
At length light appeared, which soon
increased TO a blaze; but, instead OF the
cries, and groans, and lanentings, the ter
nhed traveller expected, nothing met his ear
but sounds Of music, mirth and iollity; and
he found himself al the entrance Of su-
perb building, far exceeding any he had
seen constructed by human hands. With
IA, too, what a scene, No amusement, EN-
ployment, or pursuit OF man on earth, but
was here being carried on with vehemence
that excited has 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 eXcitements of the goaded
race, There over the midnight bowl, the
incorporate still drawled out the wanton
song or maudlin blasphemyl The gambler
piled forever his endless game, and the
slaves Of Msmmon toiled through eternity
their bitter task; whilst all the magnifcence
of earth Paled before that which now met
his view"
He soon perceived that he was amongst
old acquaintsnces, whom he knew to be
dead; and each; he observed, was pursuing
the object, whatever it was, that had form.
erly engrossed him; when, finding himself
relieved Of the presence OF his unwelcome
conductor, he ventured TO address his form
er friend Mrs. D.-whOm he saw sitting, as
had been her wont on earth, absorbed al
loo-requesting her 10 rest from the game,
and introduce him to the pleasures Of the
place, which appeared TO him to be very
unlike what he had expected, and indeed
an extremely agreeable one. But with a
cry Of agony, she answered, that there was
no Test IN hell; that they must ever toll on
at those very pleasures and innumerable
voices echoed through the interminable
vaults, ''there is no rest in hell" whilst
throwing open their vests, each disclosed in
his bosom an ever-buming flame. These,
they said, were The pleasures Of hell; their
choice on earth was now their inevitable
doom In the midst OF the horror this scene
inspired, his conductor returned, and, at his
earnest entreaty restored him again to earth;
bu-, as he Quilted him, he said, Remember,
in L year and day We meet again."
Al this crisis of his dream the sleeper
awoke, feverish and i'll; and, whether from
the effect Of the dream or Of has preceding
orgies, he was 80 unwell as to be obliged to
keep his bed for several days; during which
period he had time for many serious Seflec-
tons, which terminated in a resolution to
abandon the club and his licentious COM
psnions altogether.
He was no sooner well, however, than
they focked around him, bent on recover
ing so valuable a member Of their society;
and, having wung from him confession oil
the cause Of his detection, which, as may
be supposed, appeared TO them eminently
ridiculous, they soon oontrived TO make him
ashamed Of his good resolutions. He Join
ed them again; resumed his former course
OF life, and when the annual saturnalia
came round, he found himself with his
glass in his hand at the table: when the
president, rising TO make the accustomed
speech, began with saying, gentlemen, this
being leap year, it is year and day since
our last anniversary" &c. &c. The words
struck upon the young mans ear like a
knell; but ashamed TO expose his weak.
ness to the jeers Of his companions, he sal
out the feast, plying himself with wine even
more Literally than usual, in order to drown
his intrusive thoughts; I'LL, in the gloonr~oI
winters morning, he mounted his horse to
ride home. Some hours afterwards, the
horse was found, with his saddle and bride
on, quietly grazing by the roadside about
halfway between the city and Mr. ~