Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-01-25
THE MILFORD BARD.

dreams which afflicted the Bard, while
laboring under the influence Of n,anip-
Potu:
at seemed TO me" said the Bard, "as
tho had been suddenly reused from
my slumber. looked around and found
myself in the centre of gay and happy
crowd. The first sensation experienced
was that of being borne forward, with a
peculiar gentle molion--a soft gliding
motion. looked ahead, and found that
| was in one of long train of cars,
which were gliding over a railway. |
could see the train, far, ahead; il was
turning bend of the railway and seem
ed TO be many miles in length. Ii was
composed of many cars. Every car.
open at the top, was filed with men and
women--all gaily dressed-all happy
all laughing. talking or singing. The
peculiarly gentle motion of the, ears in
tereslcd me. There was no grating, such
as we hear on railroad. They moved
on without the least jar or sound. This
| say, interested me. | looked over the
side, and to my astonishment, found that
the railroad and the cars were made of
glass. The track, the body of tho cars.
and the wheels all were glass. The glass
wheels, moved over the glass rails, with
out tue least noise or oscillation. This
soft gliding motion produced feeling of
exquisite happiness. was so happy
and so calm it seemed as if every
thing was at rest within mel was full
of peace. While was wondering over
this circumstance, new sight attracted
my gaze. All along the railroad, on eth
er side, within foot OF the track, were
laid long lines of coflins, end to end, and
with dead body in every coffin. As
far as could see, heheld these perpet-
uallines of coffins, one on either side of
the railroad, and every one containing a
corpse, dressed for burial, with its cold
white face turned upward to the light
The sight filed me with unutterable hor-
ror. | yelled in agony, bat could make
no sound. The gay throng who were
around me, only redoubled their singing
and laughter. at the sight of my agony
land we swept on, and on, gliding with
glass wheels over the glass railroad, ev-
cry moment coming nearer to the bend
OF the road, which formed an angle with
the road, lar, far in the distance. ~ a
"Who are THESE" | cried at last,
pointing TO the dead in their coffins.
| 'These are the persons who made this
TRIP before u.s." was the reply of one Of
The gay persons, near me-
"What TRIP asked. aa-
"Why the trip We are now making.
The trip in these g lass ears oger this glass
railway" was the answer. a o@ 9a.
"Why do they lie along the road, each
in his coihn!' | was answered with a
whisper and half laugh that froze my
blood: s. ...E ->-a~..rs. sre.... =
''Ihey were dashed to death at the
end OF the railroad," said the persons
Mhom addressed, "you know the rail-
road terminates at an abyss which is
without bottom or depth. 1t is lined
with pointed rocks. As each car arrives
at the end, ii precipitates its passengers
lnlo the abyss. They are dashed 10
pieces agalns, the rocks and their bodies
are brought up here, and placed in colf-
ms as a warning to other passengers,
but no one minds it, we're SO happy on
the glass railroad " ga tn.- , ,E
never can describe the horror with
which these words inspired me. n7sa, ID.
"What is the name of this ralroad!"
| asked. 81, .er. -. .a-sg.E ,s..-f ...
The persons whom l addressed replied,
IN the same low voice aaea-ga :.
1T is the railroad of HABIT. 1t is ve-
ry easy 10 get into these cars, and very
hard 10 get out. For once in the cars,
every body is delighted with the soft gli-
ding motion. The ears move so gently!
es, 1t Is the railway of Habit, and with
| glass wheels we are whirled over glass
railroad toward fathomless abyss. In
few moments we'll be there; and then
they'll bring our bodies, and put 'em in
collins as warning to others, but no.
body will mind it, will lheyn'
| was choked with horror. / strug-
| gled Tor breaih-made frantic efforts to
leap from the cars, and in the struggle
awoke. | knew il was only dream.
and whenever think of it can see that
long line Of cars, moving gently over
The glass railroad. | can see the cars far
aheed as they are turning the bend OF
The road | eau see the dead in their cof-
fins SO clear and dislinct--on either side
OF the road, and while the laughter and
singing of the gay, happy passengers,
resound in my ears, l only see those
cold faces of the dead, with their glary
eyes uplilted, and their frozen hands up
on their shrouds. Il was horrible
dream.'', .'
And the Bard's changing features and
Frightening eye, attested the emotion
which had been aroused by the very
memory of the dream.
II was indeed horrible dream. A
long train Of glass cars, gliding over a
glass railway, freighsed with youth, beau
" and music, while on either hand are
stretched the victims of yesterday, gli-
ding over the railway of Habit, towards
lathomless abyss .,l. ,,. t-..