The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1854-08-04

that was initiliEilie.
Ard nos a cola trembling crcpl over 4
,he OBJ maa. yet be could NOS hclp H.- .
ica'nr be feli cnimnccd. apcll-boand.
for lho murmurs within ihc bottle seem
Cd to bold communion with himself and
to be answered from the very depths Of
his brain. IL tried to speak, TO utter
counter charm he made his cahalas-
tie sign, Lui all TO 30 purpose for his
tongue refused 10 give voire 20 the
strange workings and warnings within
him. and an awful conciousness grew up
in his mind that a subtle spirit in his
own heart was converting with subtle
spirits ia the mysterious bottle.
III. first impulse was to ny his sec
onl was 10 tear or The seal with which
Prudence bad covered the neck Of the
bottle. For an instant lac hesilated but
in rash momcnt.aciing under the inhu-
encc Of some unaccouuinble spell. he
gave the seal wrench and sealed the
business. For few moments, Alchy-
my stood astonishcd at his own tcmer-
ity, a, he started back insiinctiycly, aud
/ placed the open bottle upon the floor Of
the laboratory. But as nothing very
alarming onsued, he gradually took
courage and approached the vessel aud
then he discovered that subtle and
volatile spirit was fast escaping from the
aperture, and was rapidly filling the
apartment with an overpowering and
intoxicating cXhalation.
AIchymy regarded the vapor with
much surprise but presently he felt him
sell irresislibly attracted towards the
seductive odor ofihe essence that cscap-
ed from it, Influenced by some charm
/ he hesiiaied at first, but at length his
curiosity overcame his judgement, and
placing the bottle to his lips, he slipped
and slipped, and slipped but finding it
Impossible TO come 10 any satisfactory
conclusions 10y any such dribbling pro-
cess rs that, the fatal bottle became
I glued to his mouth and he swallowed
copious draught Of its contents. Al.
chymy knew that he had imbibed a sub
tie spirit for there gradually crept over
him drowsiness, his eyes rolled in
their sockets, his senses reeled, and the
essence Of the bottle rushed through ey-
cry vein and artery of his frame, until
he fell at last insensible upon the floor.
While he was in this condition, vi
sion of a strange, awful but indefinite
form hoated before his eyes-a hideous
figure that seemed TO be neither man
nor woman, appeared before him. Its
face was bloatcd, haggard, worn into
many iurrows and ruts, and distorted
by maddened passions: and lis with
cred body was so covered with filth
and rags that its sex was not to be dis
tnguished 1t held drinking cup in
It's tremulous grasp, which it continual
ly applied with fierce thirst to it.
parched, feyeri,h lips and as it sighed
for drink, its breath poisoned the very
sunbeams.
And Alchymy knew that he had lib
Grated an evil spirit, for soon after in hi
vision, he saw issuing out Of the neck o
the bottle other wicked and powerful
demons, similar TO the one he had swal
lowed. At first they came forth il
small numbers, but they soon swellct
, into myriads over the earth like waters
, from n gushing well.
, But what appeared most incompre
! hensible to Alchymy was, that the foot
: steps of these hideous hags should b
r followed by a host Of obsequious wor
shippers, who laid down all their mos
priced and cherished objects in barte
, for drink out of their maddcning cups
, Joyous hearts, happy homes, health
e honour, nay, their very souls, were FIRE
= ly offered in exchange for a perniciou
. and deadly poison. Though the feaI
{ ful demon stood impeached to every one
. in the name ofall things pure and beau
5 tiful, "a the piiilcss invader Of every hu
o man blessing-nay tho it devoured il
4 victims a, MONDAY, and sowed the Ian
e broadcast with misery, violence, an
10 crime, yet none Of these evils appearc'
+ to warn the poor delnded victims Of th
Tremendous sacrifice they were making
/ for although the very air was laden vii
o. sighs and dcsoiaiion, AMI .qualor "a
I upon every brow, and covered The "a
+ scenes with tie spirit Of the demon
4 presence, yet the worshippers ofere
!. themselves Up in hecatombs upon th
# alars Of these Evil Spirits.
f Every where is commissioned agent
~ Piled their fatal cnp--eyerywhere the
p. spread abroad the means Of in,cmperai
I, indulgeuce--all over the land so it Al
pcarcd to Alchymy in his yision) my
IN Als of dcm5ns were systematically an
10 diligently employed, eniiclng. corrup
h. ing, and recruiting the wasted ranks
O.. the staggering, rolling and fallen dey
"A tees, and sustaining, with terrible Ell
4. iency. the whole banefal system Of de
a. truction.
m Il was astonishing 10 witness the q
l. f-c, Of the fatal emp upon different ii
" dividuals. In some II b.ghicd all q
d social affections. ami violated ihe san
IL tuary of domestic peace is a brief spa
= Of time. II appeared 20 be bitter 9
a 10 al social bles.iuss for g warr'
~ ...... 49,. al ali she .