New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-04-26
Only a story.
Translated from the German Chrscn Anderson, 70
the Albany Atlas and Argus,l

courtyard and the cat was sporting in the sunshine,
and was licking y from her own paw ana I one
there so ineomparably green, and all the little birds
were chipping and twittering, just IL it were
great festival And indeed might say 1t was for
il was the Sabbath. The bells were ringing aud the
people we're going. in their best apparel to church.
and they all looked happy Every thing and
every indeed was full of joy, for it was such a
warm and beautiful day that one might well excairn
God is so Infinitely good to men J"
| But in the church the preacher stood up in the
pulpit aud spoke so loud and so harsh He said
| that men were goddess, and that God would punish
them for it and that when they died the wicked
! would 90 TO hell where they would burn forever /.
and he said that they would never die and their Ere
never be quenched, and that they never would have
peace or rest. It was fearful to hear him and he
said il, too with such positiveness. He told them
that hell was pest hole where the filth of the whole
world was collected. where there was no cooling in
the ever-burnng sulphur fame that 1t was bottom
less, and that they would sink and sink into eternal
silence II was horrible only TO hear the description
Of IT, but the preacher spoke from full heart and
| all the people were terribly frightened.
| In the evening at bedtime, the preacher saw his
wife sitting silent and sunk in thought
"What is the matter with thee y inquired he.
"The NATTER said she, "the matter is, that | am
not able to bring my thoughts together. cannot
| altogether comprehend what you said, that there
| were many goddess persons, and they must burn
| forever for ever! o. how long! anu but poor
sinful woman but could never bring il into nv
how then could God do it who is so Infinitely good
| and who knows how evil comes from without and
within No, cannot conceive it, although you in
| sist upon itn
1t was Autumn. The leaves were falling from the
tree the earnest severe preacher sitting by the
| bedside OF dying persona pious believer was
closing her eyes. It the preachers wife
elf any one can find rest in the grave and mercy
with her God thou art that onen said the preacher
and be folded her hands and uttered a prayer over
be dead.
1t night a cold wind swept over the preachers
head be opened his eyes and it seemed to him il
the moon was shining into his room, but the moon
shone not it was human form which was standing
before his bed he saw the spirit of his deceased
wife, and she looked at him with such an express
sion Of sadness, as if she wished to say something to
him.
And he lifted himself up in his bed and stretched
forth his arms towards her. And is the eternal rest
denied to thee also2 Must thou suffer Thou, the
| best, the faithfulestY
And the dead bowed her head assentinry and laid
her hand upon her breast.
And can procure rest in the grave for theeg
Yes, was the response.
And how
Give me a hair, only single hair from the head
OF the sinner whose fire will never be quenehed of
the sinner whom God will condemn to the eternal
pains of HE'LL
And thou caust then so easily be relieved. thou
pure, thou faithful one 7 replied be.
Then follow me, said the dead. Thou mavist
hover by my side whithersoeyer thy thoughts direct
thee for SO much is granted to u.s. Invisible TO
men we may visit them Ia their most secret recesses
| but thou must point out with hand the man
who is devoted TO eternal torments and he must be
found before the growing of the cock
And quickly as If borne on a thought they reached
the Great City, and from the walls Of the houses
bazed in flaming characters the names of the deadly
sins: Pride, Ayarice, Drunkenness, Sensualty in
short the whole seven-colored bow of sins
Yes, there, as believed. as knew said the
preacher. there dwell those who are condemned to
Nm afr al bafo. Al
illuminated doorway, and the broad stairs were splen.
did with carpets and flowers and through the festive
halls resounded the music OF a ball.
The porter stood there clad in velvet and silk with
silver mounted cane. Our ball Is almost as good
as the Kings said be- uni turned towards the tbronp
that filled the streets. From head to toe the thought
shone forth from him: Poor rabble who are staring
u az the doors in comparisonto me, you are all mean
m asses Of rags
PRIDE said the dead, 'seest thou him ?,-,Him.
replied the preacher. Yes hut he is fool nothing
but fool and will not be damned to eternal fire ana
torments Nothing but fool ? echoed through the
whole house OF Pride for that what they all we're
And they few to the four bare walls OF the miser,
where, lean aud shivering with cold an old man d
MED himself food and drink, and chung with all his
thoughts TO his money They saw how he sprang
ike one burning with fever from his miserable pallet
OF straw, and drew stone from the wall where Law
his gold coins in stocking, and how he fnmbed his
tattered vest in which gold pieces sewed up and
how bis damp fingers trembled
He is sick; that is insanity ioyless insanity |
filed with anguish and evil dreams And thew de. |
parted hastily and stood before the cells of prison
where the criminals sleeping, In long rows side
by side Like wild beast, sprung one OF them from |
his sleep, uttering horrible cry. He thrust his sharp
elbows into the sides of the sleeper who Law next TO
him, and the latter turned himself sleepy towards
him, and said
Hold thy jaw, thou beast aud sleep. It is night
Every night replied the other Yes every
night, he comes and bowls and torments me In the |
heat Of the moment have done needless things; /
was born with an evil disposition which has brought
me here for second time. But, as have offended |
nave been punished. One thing only have not CON
fessed. as was leaving here after nv first impris-
onment, and passing the residence of my master one
thought after another boiled up within me- | drew
match against the wall 1t came somewhat too near
the matched roof everything was burnt; everything
was In tiames, as am. myself, helped 10 save oc
cnpants and the cattle. Nothing that had life was
burnt except flock Of pigeons and the house dog |
had not thought OF him. One could hear him howl |
and TINS bowling hear when | wish 10 sleep and |
II fall asleep, then comes the dog again no large
and shaggy he lays himself upon my breast howls |
presses upon me, STILES me- Listen to what am tel
lung you--but thou canst the whole night and
l sleep not quarter of an hour And the blood |
rushed into the eyes of the frenzied man and he
threw himself upon his companion and struck him in |
the face with his clenched list
That silly fellow has another Of his crazy fits ;
was ne cry Of those around and the other prisoners
seized him, struggled with him. and bent him In
double, tll they got his head between his knees |
then they bound him fast while the blood was start
ing from bis eyes and from every pore.
You are killing the unhappy man, cried the |
preacher and as he stretched ont his hand as II 10
defend the sinner-the poor sinner, who even here |
was obliged TO make such bitter atonement for his |
ofienses-the scene was changed. They flew through
the halls OF the rich and the novels of the poor
Sensuaty, Envy and all the Deadly Sins passed in
turn before them, while guiding angel read to them
the oienses OF the sinners aud the excuse for them
This was feeble indeed before God bat God knows |
the heart he knows all the evil which comes from |
within and without-Iie who is Mercy and Love |
The hand OF the preacher trembed-he ventured not
to stretch II forth TO pluck hair from the head Of
the sinner. And tears streamed from his ewes like
the waters of mercy and love which quench the fires
of hell. Then the cock crowed
'Mercful God Thou wilt grant her that rest in |
the grave which have not been able to procure for
her.
4 enjoy it already said the dead It was thy harsh
Judgment, thy gloomy human ideas of God and his |
creatures which drove me to thee. Learn the nature
81 men. Even in the wicked there is portion Of |
God, portion which will triumph over aud extiu. |
guish the fires of Heli'
And kiss was imprinted on the lips of the preach.
er, and II became light around him Gods clear sun
was shining in his chamber where his wife sti living
gentle and full OF love, had awaked him from dream
which had been sent of God.
AN uNREHEARsED STAGE EFFECT. A circuu. |
stance provocative OF hearty and general laughter
took Mace A.