Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-12-03
The Glass Railroad.

mere was u moral IN tnut Dream.
dream of the "Milford Bard" during
one of his TITS of ndnia u potu.
sit seemed to me-" said the bard Gas tho
| had been suddenly aroused from my sum-
bers. looked around and found IN, self i'm
the center ofa gay and happy crowd. The
first sensation experienced was that of be-
ing borne along with peculiar gentle mo-
tlon-asoft, gliding motion. looked around
and found that | was in one ol long train of
cars that were gliding over a railway.
! could see the train far, far ahead: it was
turning bend in the railway and seemed to
oe many miles in length. II was composed of
cars Each car, opened at the tup, was filled
with men and women--all happy, all laughing
talking, or singing. The peculiar gentle mo,
ton OF the car interested me | looked over
the side, and to my astonishment, found the
railroad and cars wero made of glass. The
track, the body of the cars, and the wheels.
were all of glass. The glass wheels moved
over the glass rails without the least noise or
oscillation. This soft, gliding motion pro-
duced a feeling Of extreme happiness. was
SO happy! | seemed to me as If every thing
was at rest within me- was full of peace.
While was wondering over DE circum-
stance, new sight attracted my gaze. All
along the road, on either side, within a foot
OF the track were laid long lines Of coffins,
and every one containing Il corpse dressed
for burial, with its cold. white face upturned
to the light. The sight filled mo with unut-
terablc horror. yelled IN agony. but could
make so sound. The gay throng around me
redoubled their singing and laughing at the
sight OF my agony. and swept on. and on,
gliding with glass wheels over the glass rail-
road, every moment coming nearer to the
bend which formed an angle with the road,
far in the distance.
"Who are thosel" cried at last, pointing
to the dead in tho coffins.
"These are persons who made this trip be. !
fore us, was the reply of one of the gayest
persons near me.
"What trip asked |.
why, the trip we are now making. The |
trip in these glass cars, over this glass rail- |
way" was the answer.
why do hey lie along the road, each one |
in his coffnP'
was answered with whisper and half
laugh which froze my blood
"They were dashed to pieces at the end of
the railroad said he whom | addressed -
"fou know the railroad terminates at an a.
byss. that is without bottom or measure. 1t
is lined with pointed rocks. As each car ar.
into the abyss. They are dashed TO pieces
against the rocks, and thoir bodies are bro't
mp here and placed in collins, as a warning to
other passengers; but no one minds it we are
so happy on this glass railroad" | can new.
or describe the horror with which these
words inspired me.
What is the name Of this railroad" ask
ed
The person whom | addressed replied in
the same lew voice
"lt is the railroad Of Habit. II is very Ca
sy to get into these cars, but very hard to get
out. For once in these cars, every one is
delighted with the soft gliding motion. The
cars move so gently! Yes, it is a railroad of
Habit and with glass wheels we are whriing
over the railroad toward the fathomless abyss.
In few moments we'll be there; and then
they'll bring our bodies and put them in cof-
fins as a warning to others, but nobody will
mind it, will they"
was struck with horror. struggled for
breath made frantic efforts to leap from the
cars, and in the struggle awoke.
knew II was only dream, and yet when
ever think of il, | can see that long line Of
cars moving gently over the glass railroad =
can see the cars far ahesd as they are turn
ing the bend of the road. | can see the dead
in their collins clear and distinction either :
side of the road, and while the laughter and
the singing Of the gay and happy passengers
resound in my ears | only see those cold ia :
ces of the dead, with their CLASSY eyes uplif- 9
ted and their frozen hands upon their shrouds'
IL was horrid dream.
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