The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-12-07
a SINGULAR DREAM.

IN Glasgow club OF young men, which
f:Om the extreme prodjgacy Of its mem
beers, and tue Righteousness of their or
-gies, was commonly called Hell Club
Besides their nightly or weekly meetings
they held one Grand saturnalia, in which
each one tried to excel the other in
drunkenness aud blasphemy; and Oh
these occasions there was'no star amongst
them whose lurid light was more conspic-
uous than that of Mr.. Archibald B.,
who, endowed With brilliant talents aud
handsome person, had held out great
promise in his bOyhood, aud 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 fol-
lowing dream:
He fancied that he himself was mount
ed on afayorite black horse that he al
ways rode, and was proceeding toward
his own housc-tlen country seat en-.
bosercd with trees, aud situated upon a
hill now entirely built over, forming a
part of the city-wben a stranger, whom
the darkness of the night prevented him
from discerning, suddenly seized his
horses rein, saying: r.
"You must 60 with me-"
"And who are you?" exclaimed the
young man, with vollcy Of oa,hs, while
he struggled to free himself.
That you will SEQ by and BY" re.
turned the other, in tone that excited
unaccountable terror in the youth, who,
plugging the spurs into his horse, at
tempted to hyJ but in vain. However
fast the animalo few, the stranger was
still beside him, till at length, in his
desperate efforts to escape. the rider was
thrown, but, instead of being dashed to
the earth, ashe expected, he found him.
self falling, falling, falling still, as il
sinking into the bowels of the earth.
AT length. period being put to this
mysterious dissent, he found breath to
inquire of lis companion. who was still
beside him, whittier they were going.
"Whcre AIN |? Where are you ia.
king ne r he exclaimed.
10 he'll replied the stranger, and
Immediately inlcrnlineablc echoes repeat
cd the fearful sound-"ro hell. 10 hell
10 hell" "
At length alight appeared, which
soon increased TO blaze; bat instead Of
the cries and groans and lamentations
which the terrified traveller expected,
nothing met his ear but sounds of music.
mirth and jollity. and he found Limselfat
the entranee of a superb building, far
exceeding any be had seen constructed
by human hands. With. too, what
scene! No amusement, employment, or
pursuit OF man on earth but was here be.
ing carried on with vehemence that ex.
cited his cnuttcrable amazemrut.- There
the young and lovely still swa,mcd thro'
the mazes oTthe giddy dance There the
painting steed still bore its brutal rider
through the exci,emcn,s Of the race.
There, over the midnight bowl, the in.
temperate still drawlcd out the wanton
song Of maullin blasphenny. The gamb.
Ter piled for ever his endless game, and
the slaves Of mammon -toiled through
eternity their bitter task while all the
magnfcenee Of earth paled before that
which now met his view.
He soon perceived that he was among
old acquaintance, whom he knew to be
dead, and each, he observed, was pursu-
ing the object, whatever it was, that had
formerly engrossed him. Finding him
self relieved of the presence of his uu.
welcome conductor; he vcntured 10 ad.
dress his former friend Mrs. b, whom
be saw sitting, as had been her wont Cd
earth, absorbed at loo--requesting her TO
to rest from the game, aud introduce
him to the pleasures Of the place, which
appeared to him TO be very unlike what
he expected, and indeed an extremely
agreeable one. But, with cry Of ago
ny she answered that there was no rest
in heIl-that they must over toll on at
these very pleasures, And innumerable
voices echoed through the interminiablc
vaults-"Tberc is no rest in hell"
whilst throwing open their vests, each
disclosed in his bosom an ever burning
fame. These, they said, were The plea
cures of helI--thcir choice on earth was
now inevitable doom. In the midst Of