The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1857-08-13
At length light appeared whi N soon


increased TO blaze; but, instead Of the
cries, and groans and lamentiDgs the terri
fed traveller expected, nothing met his ear
but sounds Of music, mirth and jollity he
found himself at the entrance Of superb
building, far exceeding anv he had seen con.
structed by tunan hands. Within, too,
what scerel No amusement, employ.
ment or pu:suit Of man on earth, but what
was here being carried on with vehemence
that excited his utter amazement. There
the young and lovely still swarm through
the mazes of the giddy dancel There the
painting steed still bore his brutal rider
through the excitement of the goadcd race
There, over the midnight bowl, the intem.
peiate still drawled out the wanton song OF
blasphemy! The gambler piled forever his
endless game, and the slaves of Mammon
toiled through eternity their bitter task
while all the magniticence of earth palled
before that which now met his view.
He soon perceived that lie was among old
acquaintance, whom he knew to be dead
and each, he observed, was pursuing the OBJ.
ject, whatever it was, that had formerly en-.
crossed him, when finding himself relieved
Of the presence of his uuwelcome conductor
he ventured to address his former friend
Mrs. d., whom he saw sitting, as had been
her want on earth, absorbed al loo-reouest.
ing her to rest from the game, and intro
duce him to the pleasures of the place, which
appeared to him to be very unlike what he
had expected, and indeed an extremely agree
able one. But with what cry of agony
she answered that there was no rest in hell
that they must ever toll on at those very
pleasures; and innumerable voices echoed
through the interminable vaults, "there is
no rest in hell !" while throwing open their
vests, each disclosed in his bosom an ever.
burning flame! These, they said, were the
pleasures of hell; tGer choice on earth was
now their inevitable doom I'm the midst
of the horror, this scene inspired. his con
ductor returned, and at his earnest entreaty
restored him to earth but as he quilted him
he said, 81 Remember in year and day
we meet again !"
a: this crisis of his dream, the sleeper
awokc. feverish and III and whether from
the effect Of the dream or of his preceding
orgies, he was so unwell as TO be obliged Ia
keep his bed for several days, during which
period he had time for many serious reHec
tions, which terminated in resolution to
abandon the club and his licentious compa.
Mons altogether.
He was no sooner well. however, than
they flocked around him, bent on recovering
so valuable a member of their society and
having wrupg from him confession of the
cause Of his detection, which, as may be sup
posed, appeared TO them eminently ridcu
lous, they soon contrived to make him asham
ed Of his good resolutions. He joined them
again; resumed his former course of life, and
when the saturnalia came round, he found
himself with his glass in his hand at the ia
ble; when the President, rising to make III,
accustomed speech, began with saying
Gentlemen, this being leap year, it is a yea
and day since our last anniversary, DC.
&C." The words struck on the young man:
ear like knell but ashamed to expose hi,
weakness TO the jeers Of his companions, lie
sat out the feast, plying himself viii, even
more liberality than usual in order to drown
his intrusive thoughts; till, in the gloom o
a winters morning, he mounted his horse tc
90 home. Some hours afterward the horse
was found. with his saddle and bride on
quietly grazing by the roadside, about hal
way between the city and Mr.. BIS house
while few yards off, lay the corpse Of hi'
master.
Now, as I have said in introducing thi,
story, il is no fiction the circumstances hap
pened as here related. An account of il
was published at the time, hut the copie.
were bought by the family. Two or three
however, were preserved, and the narrative
has been reprinted.
Mrs. Cro,O's Night-side Of Nature.
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