South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-10-21
A Singular Dream.

their nightly or weekly meetings, they
held one grand saturnalia, in which each
one tried to excel the other in drunkenness
and blasphcmy; AID on these occasions
there was no star amongst them whose Ia
rid light was more conspicuous than that of
young Mr. Archibald b., who endowed
with brilliant talents and handsome per-
son, had held out grea, promise in his boy
hood, and raised hopes which had been
completely frustrated by his subsequent
reckless dissipation.
One morning, after returning from this
annual festival, Mr. Archibald b., having
retired to bed dreamed the following dream
He fancied that he himself was mounted
on favorite black horse that be always
rode, and was proceeding toward his own
house-then country scat embowercd with
trees, and situated upon hill, now entire
ly built over, and forming part Of the city
when stranger, whom the darkness of
the night prevented him discerning, sud
denly seized lis horses rain, saying:
You must 90 with mo!
and who are you p exclaimed the
young man, with volley of oaths while
he struggled to free himself
That you will see by and bv,' returned
the other, in 4 tone that excited unaccount.
able terror in the youth, who, pluugiug his
spurs into his horse, attempting TO fly, but
in vain. However fast the animal flew,
the stranger was still beside him, till at
length, in his desperate efforts 10 escape,
tho rider was thrown but, instead oc be
ing dashed to the earth, as he expected,
he found himself falling-falling-falliug
still, as if sinking into the bowels of the
earth
At length, period being put to this
mysterious descent, he found breath to in
quire Of his companion, who was still beside
him, whittier they were going.
'Where am [? Where are you taking
me he cxlaimed'
TO hell replied the stranger, and i'm
mcdia,cIy interminable echoes repeated the
fearful sound, 'to hell to hell to hell!
At length a light appeared, which soon
increased to a blaze but, instead Of the
cries aud groans and lamentations which
the terrified traveller expected, nothing met
his ear but sounds of music, mirlh and iol-
lily; and he found himself at the entrance
o! superb building, far exceeding any he
had seen constructed by human hand -
Within, too, what a sccue No amusement.
employment, or pursuits Of man on earth
but was here being carried on with vehe-
menco that excited his unutterablc amaze
mcnt There the young and lovely still
swdrmed through the mszcs Of the gidly
dance There the painting siced still bore his
brutal rider through the exctements Of the
brutal race There, over the midnight
bow, the Incorporate still drawled out the
wanton song Of maullin blasphemy The
gambler piled forever his end ess game and
the slaves Of mammOn toiled through etcr-
nifty their bitter task whilst alI.the mag
inicence OF earth pale before that which
now met his view.
He soon perceived that he was amongst
old acquaintanccs, whom he kncw to be
dead, and each, he observed, was pursuing
the object, whatever It was that had former.
Iy cugrosscl him when, finding himself re
heycd Of the presence ofhis unwcicome con.
ducior he ventured to address bis former
friend Mrs D., whom he saw sitting,
rs had been her wont on earth, absorbed at
requesting her 10 rest from the game,
and to introduce BIN to the pleasures Of The
place, which appeared to him To- be very
unlike what be had expected, and indeed
an extremely agreeable ono. Bl', with
cry of agony, che answered that there wls
no rest in hell that they must over toll ON
at these very pleasures and inuumersblc
voices echoed through the intcrm.uab,c
vaults, Thora is no rest in hell - whilst
throwing open their vests, each disclosed in
his bosom an ever burning fame Those,
they sail, wcrc the pleasures vt holl; their
choice orr earth was now their inevitable
doom In tha midst Of Toe horror this
scene inspired, Dis conductor returned aud
40 bis earnest cutrelty restored him 90
earth, bu, as ba quilted him, csaiI
Remember 10 a year and day we
meet again "
At this crs Of bis dream The sleeper A.
woke, fcgersh aud ii and whether from
the effect d bis dream OF Of his preceding
orgies, Doe was SD uuwa.l as OBJ be obliged o.
keep bis ba1 for several days-duriug which
period be bad time fer many serious rcGec-
ti1Es, which terminated iu o resolution Co
abandon ihe club and bis lceuti0us c5mpln.
ions altogether
lie was 10 sooner well, however, than
they flekel around hin, bent 0n recover.
ing So valuable member of their society
aud having wrun- FROM him o confession Of
The cause o. Die DETECTION, which, as may
be supposed, appeared 90 them perfectly
ridiculous, fh.y soon c1utrvaj fo make
BIN ashamed oi his good resolutions Tie
joined them again, resumed Dis former
course Of life, aud when tdo annual satur-
malta came round, be found himself with
his glass 10 bis hand, al, The table, when
q u L. q.
ed speech, began by saying