Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-05-24
A Fcarfl,: Dream.

Some ninety wears ago. there i.ourished
in Glasgow a club Of young men. which
from the extreme proiligacv OF. its members
and the Righteousness Of their orgies. was
commonly called the Hell Club. Besides
their nj Chilly or weekly meetings. they held
one grand annual saturnalia. in which each
tried to excel the other in drunkenness and
blasphemy: and on these occasions there
was no star amongst them whose lurid
light was more conspicuous than that Of
Young Mr.. Archbold b., who. endowed with
bri!lian. talents and handsome person.
had held out great promise in his boyhood.
and raised hopes which had been COM
retely frustrated by his subsequent reck-
less designations.
One morning after returning from this
annual festival, Mr.. Archboid 3. having
retired to bed, dreamed the following
dream:
He tancicd that he himself was mount
ed on favori.e black horse, that he always
rode. and that he was proceeding towards
his own housc-then country seat ON
powered bv ire IS, and situated upon a hill.
now entirely built over. and forming part
of the city-when a stranger whom the
darkness of night preventing his distinctly
discerning. suddenly seized his horses
rein. saying '.you must 90 with mc!''
''And who are you?" exclaimed the
Young man with vollcy Of oaths, whilst
he struggled to free hiGrse.f.
''Tha, you will sec by and by" returned
the other in a tone that excited unaccoun-
table 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 still beside him, till at
length, in his desperate efforts to escape,
the rider was thrown; but, instead Of be-
ing dashed TO the earth. az he expected.
he found himself g-falling-fallnc
still, as sinking into the bowels Of the
earth.
At length period being put to this
mysterious descent, he found breath to in
quirc of his companion, who was still
beside him. whittier they were going.
"Where am |! Where are you taking
me-" he exclaimed.
ITO hell!' replied the stranger; and
Immediately intermnable echoes repeated
the fearful sound, "To hell! to hell ! to
hell ~
At length !igh, appeared, which soon
increased to a blaze, but instead Of the
cries. and groans. and lamentings, as the
terrific traveller expected, nothing met his
ear but sounds of music, mirth and jollity;
and he found himself a, the entrance Of a
superb building, far exceeding any he had
seen constructed by human hands. With
in, too, what a scene! No amusement,
employment, or pursuit of man on earth,
but was here being carried on with vehe
mencc at excited his unutterablc amaze
ment. 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 mid
night bowl, the Incorporate still drawled
out the wanton song Of maudlin blasphe-
my The gambler Piled forever his end
less game. and the slaves OF Mammon
;oiled through eternity their bi.ser task
whilst all the magnifcence Of earth paied
before that which now met his view.
lie soon perceived that he was amongst
old acGuaintances, whom he knew to be
dead: and each, he observed, was pursu-
ing the object, whatever it was, Chat had
formerly engrossed him; when, finding
himself relieved of the presence Of his
unwelcome conductor. he ventured to adj
dress his forme friend Mrs. D. whom
ne saw sitting. as had been her wont on
earth, absorbed at loo-requesting her
to rest from the game, and introduce him
TO the pleasures Of the place, which aP-
peared to be very unlike what he had ex-
pected, and indeed an extremely agree
able one. But with cry Of agony. she
answered, that there was no rest in he'll,
that they must ever toll on al those very
pleasures: and innumerablo voices echoed