Year: 1876

It seemed as though [ had been sud
denly aroused from nay slumbers ]
looked around, and found myself in the
centre of gay crowd. The first sensa
ton | experienced was that of being
borne along with a peculiar gentle mo-
ton looked around, and found | was
in a long train Of cars, which were gid-
ing over a railway many miles in length
1t was composed Of many cars Every
car opened at the TOP, was filled with
men and women, all gaily dressed, all
happy, all laughing, talking and singing.
The peculiar gentle motion of the cars
interested me. There was no grating,
such as we hear on a railroad This, l
say, interested me- I looked over the
side and to my astonishment found the
railroad and cars made of glass. The
glass wheels moved over the glass rails
without the least noise or oscillation
The soft, gliding motion produced a feel
ing of exquisite happiness was hap
ny 1t seemed as if everything was at
rest within. l was full of peace.


While l was wondering over this cir
cumstance, new sight attracted my gaze
All along the road, on either side, within
a foot Of the track, were laid long lines
of collins, and every one contained a
corpse, dressed for burial, with it's cold
white face turned upward to the light
The sight filed me with horror | yelled
in agony, but could make DO sound The
gay throng around me only redOublod
their songs and laughter at the sight of
my agony; and we swept on, gliding on
with glass wheels over the glass railroad,
every moment nearer to the bend of the
road, far, far in the distance.


"Who are these p l cried, at last,
pointing to the dead IN the collins.


'There are the persons who made the
trip before US" was the reply of the gay
est person near me.


What trip p | asked.


"Why, the trip we are now making
the trip on the glass railway" was the
answer.


why do they lie on the road each one
in his coffin p


was answered by a whisper and a
halflaugh which froze my bio d:


They were dashed to death at the end
of the railroad, said the person whom !
addressed


you know the railroad terminates at
an abyss, which Is without bottom or
measure. 1t Is lined with pointed rocks.
As each car arrives, it precipitates its
passe ngers into the abyss. They aaT
dashed to pieces against the rocks, and
their bodies are brought here and placed
In the coffius, rs a warning to other pas
sengers, but no one minds it, we are so
happy on the glass railroad


l can never describe the horror with
which these words inspired me.


"What Is tho name Of the glass rail
road 2 / asked.


The person, whom l addressed, replied
in the same strain


at is very easy to get into the ears, but
very hard to get out; for once IN these
cars every one is delighted with the soft
gliding motion. The cars move so gent
lyl Yes, this is the railroad of HABIT,
and with glass wheels we are whirled
over a glass railroad into a fathOmless
abyss ] n a few moments Wei be there
aud they'll bring our bodies and put
them in cofiOs as warning to others,
but nobody will mind it, will theY?'


] was shocked with horror. / strug-
gled to breathe, and made frantic efforts
to leap from the cars, and in the struggle
awoke. l knew it was only dream, and
yet, whenever | think of it, can see that
long train of cars move gently over the
glass railroad can see the dead il
their collins, clear and distinct. on each
side of the road. While the laughing of
the gay and happy passengers FesOund in
my ears, only SEQ tn ose cold faces Of
the dead, with their CLASSY eyes uplifted,