Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-02-15
From Dickens Household Words.
A December Vision.

] saw n mighty Spirit, traversing the
world without any rest or pause. 1t was
omnprescnt, it was all-powcrlul, it had no
conjunction, 10 pity, no relenting sense
that any appeal from any of the race of man
could reach. 1t wus invisible to every creu-
turc born upon the earth, save once to each.
Ii turned its shaded face on whatsoever liv-
ing thing, one time aud straight the end
OF that thing was come. 1t passed through
the forest, and the vigorous tree il looked ON
shrunk away through the garden, and the
leaves pershed and the flowers witbered /:
through the air and the eagles tagged upon
the wing aud dropped; through the sea- and
the monsters of tho deep floated, great
wrecks, upon the waters. Il met the eyes of
the lions in their lairs, aud they were dust
its shadow darkened the faces of young
children lying asleep, and they awoke no
more.
1t had its work nppointed it inexorably
did what was appointed TO IL to do; and nei-
ther sped nor slackened. Called to, il went
ON unmoved, und did not come. Besought,
by some who felt that it was drawing near
10 chnnge its course, it turned its sludcd face
upon them, even while they cried, and they
were dumb. Ii passed into the midst OF
palace chambers, where there were lights
aud music, pictures, 'diamonds, gold and sill
YER; crossed the wrinlSled and the grey, re-
| gardess of them; looked into the eyes of a
bright bride; and vanished. 1t revealed it,
self to the baby on tho old crone's knee, and
J lett the old croue walling by the fire. But
, whether the bcholder of its face were, now
! a King, or now a laborer, now Queen, or
: now u seamstress; lei the hand il pasicd
, be on the scepirc, or the plow, or yet too
small and neryeless to grasp anything the
, Spirit never paused in lis appointed work
\ and, sooner or luter, turned its impartial face
I on all.
{ saw Minister of State, sitting in hi:
closet; and, round about him, rising from
, the country which he governed, up 10 the
D Eternal Heavens, was low dull howl of IL.
{ norance. 1t was wild, inexplicable NUT.
j ter, confused, but full of threatening, aud i,
made all hearers hearts to quake within
: them. But, few heard. In the single city
5 where this Minister of State was seated,
+ saw Thirty Thousand children, hunted fog
$ ged, imprisoned, but not taught-who might
: have been nurured by the wolf or beur so
!. little Of humanity had they, within them or
$ without-all joining in this doleful cry. And,
4 ever among them, as among all ranks and
: grades of mortals, in all parts of the globe,
the Spirit went; and ever by thousands, in
| their british state, with all the gifts of God
: perverted in their breasts or trampled out,
! they died.
The Minister of State, whose heart was
pierced by even the little he could hear of
these terrible voices, day and night rising to
Heaven, went among the Priests and Teach
ers of all denominations, and family said -
"llarken TO this deadly cry! What shall
we tlo to stay t?"
One body of respondents answered, " teach
thisl"
Another said, "Teach that!"
Another said, "Teach neither this nor
that, but tother!"
Another quarreled with all the three
twenty others quarrelled with all the four,
and quarrelled no less bitterly among them
, selves. The voices, not stayed by this, cried
out day and night; and still, among those
4 many thousands, as among all mankind
e went the Spirit who never rested from il,
;, labor: and still in british sort, they died.
s Then a whisper murmured 10 the Ministc
of State:
"Correct this for thyself Be bold ST
U lence these voices, or viruously lose th,
q power IN the attempt TO do it, Thou cans
+, not sow grain of good seed in vain. Tho
II knowest it well. BE bold, and do thy duty!
a The Minister shrugged his shoulders, an,
y replied, " Ii is great wrong-but ii tDi
D. last my time" And so he put it from hin
a Then, the whisper went among the Priest
u and Teachers, saying to each, " In thy sou
a thou knowest it is truth, o man, that ther
Q are good things to be taught, and stay thi
cry."'
To which, each answered in like manner
! 1t is great wrong-but ii ,0iH last n,y time.
: And so he put it fiom. him.
|, saw a poisoned air, in which Life droop
ed. ! saw Disease, arrayed in all its stor
; of hideous aspects and appalling shapes, tri
umphant in every alley, by-way, court, bacl
street, and poor abode, in every place wher,
, human beings congregated-in the proudes
! and most boastfiIl places, most of all. saw
lnnumerable hosts, fore-doomed to darkness
dirt, pestilence, obscenitY. misery. md earl,