Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-01-31
" Thrilling sketch.

which afflicted the Bard, while laboring
under the influence Of mania-potu:
'It seemed to me" said the Bard, "as
though had been suddenly reused from
my slumber. looked around and found
myself in the centre Of gay and happy
crowd. The first sensation | ex perienced
was that of being borne forward with
peculiar gentle motion "a soft gliding mo-
ton. looked ahead, and found that | was
in one of long train of cars, which were
gliding over a railway. / could see the
train, far, far, ahead; il was turning bend
Of the railway and seemed to be manv
miles in length. II was composed of many
cars. Every car open at the top was fill
led with men and women, all gaily dress
ed, all happy, all laughing or singing. The
peculiarly, gentle motion interested me.
There was no grating, such as we hear on
a railroad. They moved on without the
least jar or sound. This / say, interested
me. l looked over the side, and TO nv
astonishment, found that the railroad and
the cars were made Of glass the track, the
body Of the cars, and the wheels all were
glass wheels, moved over the glass rails,
without least noise or oscillation. This
soft gliding motion produced feeling of
of exquisite happiness. l was so happy
and SO calm! 1t seemed as if everything
was at rest with me, was full of peace.
While was wondering over these cir
cumstances, new sight attracted my gaze.
All along the railroad, on either side,
within a foot Of the track, were laid long
lines of coffins, end to end, and with a
dead body in every coffin. AS far as
could see, l beheld these perpetual line
of coffins, one on either side of the rail-
road and every one containing corpse
dressed for burial with lis cold white face
turned upward to the light. The sight
filled me with unutterable horror. Yell
ed in agony, but could make no sound.
The gay throng who were around me,
only redoubled their singing aud laughter,
at the sight of my agony-and we swept
on, and on, gliding with glass wheels over
the glass railroad, every moment coming
nearer to the bend Of the road, far, far in
the distance.
"Who are these?" cried at last point
ing to the dead in their collins.
"These are the persons who made this
trip before us, was the reply Of one of
the gay persons, near inc.
"What trip" asked.
"Why the trip we are now making.
The trip in these glass cars over this glass
railway" was the answer.
"Why do they lie along the road, each
one in his coflin?" was answered in a
whisper and half laugh that froze my
blood.
"They were dashed 10 death at the end
of the railroad, said the person whom
addressed, "you know the railroad termi-
mates at an abyss, which is without bottom
or depth. 1t is lined with pointed rocks.
As each car arrives at the end, it precipi-
tates its passengers into the abyss. They
are dashed to pieces against the rocks and
their bodies arebrought up here, and plac-
ed in collins as warning TO other passen-
gers, but no one minds it, we're SO happy
on the glass railroad"
never can describe the horror with
which these words inspired me.
"What is the name of this rairoad?"
asked.
The person whom l addressed replied
in the same low tone
ssIt is the railroad of HABIT. I, is very
easy to get into these cars, and very hard
to get out. For, once in the cars, every
body is delighted with the gliding motion
The cars move so gently! Yes, it is the
railway of Habit, and with glass wheels
we are whirled over glass railroad TO.
ward a iathomless abyss. In few mo-
ments well be there; and then they'll
bring our bodies, and put 'em in collins as
warning to others, nobody will mind it
will they?"
was choked with horror. | struggled
for breath made frantic efforts to Leap
from the cars, and in tile struggle awoke
l knew it was only dream, and ye
whenever think of it can see that long
line Of cars, moving gently over the glas.
railroad. can see the cars far ahead a:
they are turning the bend Of the road.
can see the dead in their collins so clear
and distinct, on either side of the road
and while the laughter and singing of the
gay, happy passengers, resounds in my
ears, ! only see those cold faces Of tht
dead, with their glary eyes uplifted, anc
their frozen hands upon their shrouds
1t was horrible dream"
And the Bard's changing features ant
Frightening eye, ,attcstel the emotion which
had been aroused by the very memory o.
the dream.
1t was indeed horrible dream. A
long train of glass cars, gliding over d
glass railway, ireighted with youth, beau
ty and music, while on either hand ART
stretched the victims of yesterday gliding
over the railway Of Habit, towards {
fathomless abyss.
There was a moral in that Dream.
READY TO SwARM.-The public scheo
on the North Side, in charge of Mr. VIII.
DER, is filled TO colonising. On Tuesday
last, frc hundred and eleOen of the hopes O
the nineteenth century, were assembled
within the walls of the school building
and there are only seats for four hun
dred, so that standing committee of ont