Weekly Trinity journal., 1862-04-12
a Singular Dream.

4 Singular Dream.
Some ninety years ago there fourishcd in
Glasgow, Scotland club Of young men. which,
from the extreme prof gacy of the members, and
and the lccnciousness of their orgies was called
the He'll Club. Beside their nightly or weekly
meetings. they held one grand saturnalia, in
which each one tried to exceed the other in
drunkenness and blasphemy and on these COCA
sions there was no star among them whose lurd
light was more CONSPICUOUS than that OF young
Archibald B., who endowed with brilliant
talents and a handsome person, had held out
great promise in his boyhood, and raised hopes
which bad been completely trustated by his sub
sequent reckless dissipation One morning, alter
returning from the annual festival. Archibald
B., having retired TO bed, dreamed the fol-
lowing dream:
He fancPd that he himself was mounted on a
favorite black horse that he always rode, and was
proceeding towards his own house--then a coun-
try seat embowered with trees, and forming a
part of the city-when stranger. whom the
darkness of the night prevented his discerning,
suddenly seized bis horses reign, and said
" You must go with me-"
"And who are YOU" exclaimed the young
man, with volley of oaths, while he struggled
to free himself.
"That you will see by and by" returned the
other. in a tone that excited unaccountable ter
ror in the youth, who plunged his spurs into his
horse, attempting to fly, but all in vain.
However fast the animal flew, the stranger was
beside him, till at length, in his desperate effort
to escape, he was thrown but instead OF being
dashed to the earth as he expected. he found HIM
self falling, falling-still us if sinking I'D the
bowels of the earth
At length, period being put to this mysteri-
ous descent, he found breath to inquire of his
companion, who was still beside him, whittier
they were going.
"Where am |? Where are you taking me p
he exclaimed.
"To hcll!" replied the stranger, and immcdi'
ately innumerablc echoes repeated the fearful
sound
"To hell to bell to hell !"
AT length light appeared, which soon in
creased TO blaze ; but instead of cries, the
groans and lamentations, nothing met bis ear but
the sound o! music, mirth and jolity: and he
found himself at the entrance OF a superb build
lug, far exceeding any be had seen constructed
by human hands. Within, too, what scene!
No amusement or pursuit of man on earth but
was being there carried on with vengeance that
excited his unutterabe amazement. There the
young and lovely still swarmed through the ma
zes Of the giddy dance. There the painting steed
still bore the brutal rider through the excitement
of the goaded race. There the midnight
bowl the intemperate still drawled out the Wan
ton song of maudin basphemy. The gambler
piled forever his endless game, and the slaves OF
Mammon toilcd through eternity their bitter task
whilst all the magni6cence of the earth paled
before that which now met his view.
He soon perceived that he was among old ac-
ouaintances whom he knew to be dead, and each,
he observed, was pursuing the object,whatever 1t
was, that had formerly engrossed him when
finding himself relieved from the presence of his
unwecome conductor, he ventured to address his
former friend, Mrs d., whom he saw sitting as
had been her wont on earth, absorbed at " loo,"
"a tai Inn IN net frnt ibo antp nd
roduce him to the pleasures of the place, which
now appeared to be very unlike what he eX-
pcctcd, and indeed, Il very agreeable one But,
with a 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 interminabe vaults
There is no rest in hell !" while, throwing
open their garments, each disclosed III their bos'
ON an ever-burning flame. Those, they said,
were the pleasures of hell ; their choice Oh earth
WAS now their rrevOcabe doom.
In the midst Of the horror inspired by this scene
his conductor returned and at his earnest en-
treaty, restored him again to earth as he quilted
him he said
Remember, in year and day we meet
again"
At this crisis of bis dream the sleeper awoke,
reverished and ILL.,, aud whether from the effect
Of the dream or bis preceding orgies he was so
unwell as to be obliged 10 keep his bed for sew
eral day., during which period be had time for
serious reflections which terminated in resolu-
tion to abandon the club and his licentous COM
panons altogether.
He was no sooner WELL however, than they
hocked around him, bent on recovering so valu-
able member of their society ; and having wrung
from him a confession OF the cause of bis defec
ton, by ridculing which, may be supposed,
they soon contrived to make him ashamed of his
good resolution. He Joined them again, and
resumed his former course of life, and when the
annual saturnalia came around, he found himself
with his glass in hand at the table.
When the President, rising to make the accus-
toned speech began with saying, Gentlemen,
this being leap year, it is a year and day since
our last anniversary" etc, the words struck
through the young mans ears like knell.-
Ashamed, however, to expose his weakness TO the
ieers of his companions, he sat out the feast,
plying himself with the wine even more Literally
than usual, in order to drown his intrusive
thoughts, ill in the gloom OF winters morn
morning, he mounted bis horse and rode home
Some hours afterwards, the horse was iound
III his saddle and bride on, quitely standing
y the road side, about half way between ihc
city and BIS house, whilst few yards oil lay
the corp'e of bia master.
This IL a true story and no fiction. The CIR
instances happened as here related. An ac'
'Hlt of it was published at the time, but was
Ssed through the influence of the family,
u one of the few copies preserved this