Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-09-27
A FEARFUL DREAM.
TIE LAST SATURNALIA.

Some nineteen years ago, there fourished in
Glasgow, club Of young men, which, from the
extreme prohigncy Of its members, and the IL
centiousnoss Of their orgies, was commonly
called the Hell Club Beside their nightly or
weekly meetings, they had one grand annual
saturnalia, in which each tried 10 excel the 9TH
er in drunkness and blasphemy and on these
occasions there was no star amongst them whose
luril light was more conspicuous than that of
young Mr.. Archibald b., who, endowed with
brilliant talents and handsome person, held out
promises in his boyhood, and raised hopes which
had been completely frustrated by his subse.
quent rcckIessness and dissipation. One morn
ing, liter returning from this annual festival,
Mr.. Archibald B. having retired to bed dream
ed the following dream:
He fancied that he himself was mounted on
lavorite black horse that he always rode and
that he was proceeding towards his own house
then seat cnlbowercd by trees, and situated
upon hill, now entirely built over, and forming
part Of city -when a stranger, whom The dark
ness of the night prevented his distinctly dis
corning, suddenly seized the horses rein, saying
You must go with me.'
"And who are you?" exclaimed the young
man, with volley of oaths, whilst he struggled
to free HIMSELF ses5g7r.4s1r. .s,..-a--e 4sszas-
THAT you will see by and by" returned the
other, in tone that excited uncomfortable ter
ror in the youth, who plunged his spurs into his
horse, attempted to fly In vain. However fast
the animal flew, the stranger was still beside
him; till at length in his desperate effort to es-
cape, the rider was thrown; but instead of be-
ing dashed to the EARTH as he expected, he
found himself falling falling falling still, as
if sinking into the bowels Of the earth.
At length q period being put to his mysteri-
GUS 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: 2" he exclaimed.
"To hell !" replied the stranger, and immedl-
ately imerminable echoes repeated The fearful
sound, "to hell to he'll"
At length light appeared which soon in
creased to blaze, bnt instead Of cries, groans
and lamenting, as the tcrrihed traveller expected
nothing met his ear but sounds of music, mrtl
and jolitv and he found himself at the entrance
Of superb building, far exceeding any he hat
seen constructed by human hands. Within
to, what a scene No amlsoments, employ
ment, or pursuit of man on earth but was there
being carried on with vehcmence that excited
his unutterable amazemen. There tile painting
horse still bore his brutal rider through the ex
citement of the added race! There over thu
midnight bowl, the inebrlatc still drawled on
the wanton song of maudlin blasphemy! TIN
gambler piled FIR his endless gane, and tn
slaves of mammon toiied through eternity thel
bitter tasks while ali the m1gnifceuce of eartI
paed before that which met his view.
He soon perceived that he was among old &C
quantances whom he knew TO be dead, an
each he observed, was pursuing the object, what
D. ever ii was, that had formerly engrossed him !
ID when finding himself relieved of the prGsenc
" and company Of his unwelcome conductor, h
-
ng who was sitting as he had been wont on cart
e. absorbed at loo, requesting her to rest from til
I'D game, and introduce himself to the pleasures
ne the place. which appeared TO him to be very III
m like what he had expected, and indeed an e
tic tremely agreeable one But with what a cry
agony she answered that there was no rest
nd hell, that they Tust even toll on at those We
ON pleasures, and innumerablo voices echoed thr
ra the intermlnabe vaults "There is no rest
lily hell y whilst throwing open their vests each d
ler closed in his bosom an ever burning flame !!
md These, they said were the pleasures of hell a
lit the choice on earth was their inevitable door
ing In the midst Of the horror this scene inspire
tie, his conductor returned, and at his earnest c
ILL treaty, restored him again to earth, but as
md quilted him, he said, Remember" in ye
the and day we meet again"
!, d At this crisis Of the dream the sleeper awol
ler- feverish and Ill; and whether from the effect
all, The dream or of his preceding orgies, he "
h SO unwel as to be obliged to keep his bed
an several days, during which period he had til
ssh for many serious reflections, which terminal
the in resolution to abandon the club and his
: TO centous companions altogether.
,ob He was 10 sooner we'll however, than I'll
focked around him, bent on recovering so va
, &c able a member of their society; and havi
mid wrung from him confession of the causes
zoe detection, which. as may be supposed, appeal