The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1874-04-17

There was MORAL in tina. dream,'--Ai!fprd
Bard. g sd
at seemed to me-" said the bard,
sas though | had been suddenly
aroused from my slumbers. ] look
ed around, and found myself in the
center of gay and happy crowd, -
The first sensation | experienced
was that of being borne along with
a peculiar gentle motion. | looked
around, and found that was ia
one of long train Of cars, that
were running over a railway
/ could see the train far ahead; it
was turning a bend in the railway,
and seemed to be many miles in
length. II was composed of cars
Each car opened at the top, was fill
ed with men and women-all happy,
all laughing, talking or singing. The
peculiar gentle motion Of the car In.
teressed me. | looked over the side,
and, to my establishment, found the
railroad and cars were made of
glass. The glass wheels moved
over the glass rails without the least
| noise or oscillation. The soft, Gid
ing motion produced feeling of ex-
quisite happiness. ! was SO happy |!
| 1t seemed to me as if everything was
at rest with me Twas full of peace.
While | was wondering over the
circumstances, new sight attracted
| my gaze. All along the road, on
either side, within foot of the track,
were lines of collins, one on either
side of the road, and every one con
tanning corpse, dressed for burial,
with its cold white face upturned to
the light. The sight filed me with
unutterable horror / yelled in ago
ny, but could make no sound. ss'phe
gay party around me only redoubled
their singing and laughter at the
sight Of my agony, and we swept on
and on, gliding withthe glass wheels
over the glass railroad, every mo-
ment coming nearer and nearer to
| the bend that formed an angle with
the road. far in the distance.
| "Who are these I" / cried at last,
pointing to the dead in the collins
by our side.
"These are persons who made this
trip before u.s." replied one Of those
near me. Ht
/ "What trip 2" asked.
"Why, the trip we are now maxi
ing; the trip in these glass cars,
over this glass railway was the
answer.
"Why do they lie along the road
each one in his coffin r. af
| was answered with a whisper
and half laugh, which seemed to
freeze my blood:
"They were dashed to pieces at
the end of the road" said he whom |
addressed. "You know the railroad
terminates at an abyss that is with
out bottom or measure. It is lined
with pointed rocks. AS each car
arrives at the end, it precipitates its
passengers into the abyss. They
are dashed to pieces against the
rocks, and their bodies are brought
up here and placed in collins, as q
warning toiother passengers, but no
one minds it, we're SO happy on the
| glass railroad"
/ lean never describe the horror
with which these words inspired me.
| "Wbat is the name Of this rail-
road ~ asked.
The person whom ! addressed re-
piled 10 d low voice !:
III il the railroad Of Habit. Its
very easy to get into one of these
cars. Everybody is delighted with
the soft, gliding motion. The cars
move on so gently! Yes, it is the
railroad Of Habit, and with glass
wheels we are whirling over the
glass railroad towards the fathomless
abyss. In few moments wen be
there, and then they viii bring our
bodies and put them in coffins as q
warning to others, but nobody will
mind it will theyg
/ | was choked with horror; ! strug-
| gled for breath--made frantic efforts
to leap from the cars, and 10 the
struggle awoke. knew It was
only dream, and yet, whenever
think Of it, lean see that long line
Of cars moving gently over the glass
railroad. can see the oars faI
ahead, as they are turning the bend
of the road. I see the dead IN theii
cofins, clear and distinct ron either
| side Of the road--while the laughter
and singing Of the gays and happy
passengers resouDd 10 my ears, on
| " see those cold faces Of the dead,
with their CLASSY eyes uPlifted,
and their frozen hands upon their
shrouds. 1t was horrible dream.
And the bardps changing features
and Frightening eyes attested the
emotion xhich bad been aroused BY
| the mere memory Of the dead.
1t was a horrible dream. A long
train of glass cars, gliding over q
glass railway, freighted with youth,
beauty and music, while on the 9th.
er hand are stretched the victims Of
yesterday, as timely but UNDECIDED
warning.