Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-06-18

/ proceeding towards his own house-then a country
seat embowcrcI by trees and situated upon hill now
entirely built over, and forming part of the city
when stranger, whom the darkness of the night pre-
vented his distinctly discerning, suddenly seized the
horse rein, saying, you must 20 with men
'And who are your exclaimed the young man, with
yoley Of oaths whilst he struggled to free himself
That you will see by and bye, returned the other in
tona that excited unaccountabe terror in the youth
who plunsing his spurs into bis horse, attempted tc
Hy, but in vain. However fast the animal flew, The
stranger still beside him. till length, in his dcs
perate efforts to escape the rider thrown but in
stead of being dashed the EARTH he expected, he
found himself falling still if sin
King into the bowels of the earth.
AZ length period being put to this mysterious de-
scent,he found breath inquire ofhs companion who
was still beside him whittier they were going. where
am I? Where are Won takng'me?' he exclaimed.
~ hol replied the stranger, and Immediately in
termnable echoes repeated the fearful sound TO hell
Is he'll! to hen =
AT Iength.a light appeared which soon increased to
a blaze but instead Of tile cries and groans, and
amenng,tLe terrified traveller expected, nothing met
his ear but sounds of music, mrth and iolty and he
found himself at the entrance of superb building far
exceeding any he had seen constructed by human
hanas.-Mithln too, what scenei No amusement,
employment pursuit Of man on earth but was there
being carried on with yehemence that excited his
unutterabe amazcment There the painting horse still
bore his brutal rider through the excitement the
@oaded race There the midnight bowl the in
terminate still drawled out the wanton song maui
din blaSphemf The gambler piled for his endless
game. and the slaves Of Mammon toiled through
eternity their bitter tfks; whilst all the magnifcence
Of earth paled before that which now met his view
lie soon perceived that he was among old acquain-
tances whom he knew to be dead, and each he obser
we'd, was pursuing the object whatever it that had
formerly engrUsscd him. when finding himself relieved
othe presence ofhs unwecome conductor he vcntured
to address his former friend, Mrs. D. whom he saw
sitting, had been her wont on carth absorbed at it
to0eQueStng her to rest from the land introduce
him to the pleasures Of the place which appeared to
him to DC very unlike what he had expected and in
deed an extremely agreeable one. But with what a
cry agony, she answered. that there was no rest in
hell that they must ever toll at those very pleasures
and innumerablc voices echoed through the inter-
mlnable vaults, there no rest in hell whilst throw
ing open their vests, each disclosed in his bosom an
ever burning flame These, they said, were the
pleasures of hell the choice on earth was their in
eyitable doom! In the midst of the horror this scene
inspired lis conductor returned and at his earnest
encaty restored him again to earth but as he Quilted
him, he saidrcmcmbcr!-in aycar and day we meet
again.
At this crisis Of Ills dream the sleeper awoke feverish
and Ill: and whether from the effect of his dream Of
MS preceding orgies, was unWGll as TO be
to keep his bed for several days during which period
be had time for many serious reflections which ter
minated in resolution to abandon the club and his
iccntious companions altogether.
lie was no sooner well, however than they focked
around him, bent on recovering so valuable member
Of their society; and having wrung from him confess
sion Of the causes Of his detection, which, as may be
supposed appeared to them ridiculous they soon con
trived to make him ashamed of his good resolutions
lie joined them again-resumed his former course Of
life, and when the annual saturnaa came round, he
found himself with his glass in his hand at the table ;
when the President rising to make his accustomed
speech, began with saying :-'Gentlemen, this being
leap year. it is year and day since our last anniycr
sary, Sc.
The words struck upon the young mans year like a
knell; but ashamed toS expose his weakness to the
leers Of his companions, he sat out the feast, plying
himself with wine even more literally than usual in
order to drown his intrusive thoughts-till, in the
gloom of Winters morning, he mounted his horse
to ride home. Some hours afterwards the horse was
found, with the saddle and bride on quietly grazing
by the roadside, about half way between the city and
Mt BPS house. while few yards offlay the corpse Of
his MASTER
Now, as have said, introducing this story, it is no
fiction The circumstances happened they are
here related. An account Oft was published at the
time, but the copies, bought up by the family
Two or three, however preserved, and the mar
ratiye has been reprinted
CroW'S Night SIDE Of Nature.