On the morning after my arrival in Geddesburgh, as I did not feel very well, not having drunk anything for twenty-four hours or more, I thought that a walk might do me some good and therefore walked down the street and went out of the village. . . .

I soon returned to the house and sat down, still reflecting on the folly of which I had allowed myself to be guilty, not that I supposed my conduct had either offended or injured any being excepting myself, it was the consequences and not the guilt of my actions, on which I was reflecting. And had it not been for what I suffered in body, and the effect which it might have upon my reputation and business, I should have had no trouble about my conduct.

While I was occupied with these reflections, some being appeared to address me in a very familiar manner, as if we were old acquaintances. . . . A conversation then was commenced, and my strange visitor seemed to know many of the transactions which had taken place during my life, with which I supposed no one but myself acquainted. I did think it was very singular and strange that a being whom I could not discern, should not only have the power to converse with me, but also a better knowledge and recollection of some events in my life than I had myself. But though I was at some loss to account for the information which he so evidently possessed, yet I was not in the least frightened; my only feelings so far as I can now recollect, were wonder, and a desire to find out who or what it was that addressed me. After conversing with my mysterious visitant for some time on different subjects, all of which, he appeared to understand remarkably well, I made some inquiry with a view to find out with whom I was conversing. He replied by saying that he was one of a large company, that were going through the country for the purpose of making some money, but by what means he did not distinctly explain. He represented the business as being very lucrative, and asked me if I would not like to join them and have a share in whatever they made. My answer was, that I should not have the least objection, as I wanted to make some money, and I should like to know in what kind of business they were engaged. But he did not say what they were doing, and only remarked that it was profitable.

. . . He then requested me to step into the next room, which I accordingly did, supposing that he would there disclose their business, and let me know what they were doing.

But I had no sooner entered the room, than there appeared to be quite a number of them, just over my head, all talking at once, and addressing me in the most opprobrious language, which was now as profane and vindictive as can be conceived. Instead of that courteous treatment, and the information which I expected to receive, they were now all upbraiding me for my wickedness, calling me a damned fool and threatening to kill me and put me in hell.

Perhaps, it would be entirely impossible to place a human being in a situation on earth, where he could be more utterly confounded than I was, when I heard those very devils, whose existence I had denied, arraign and curse me with such bitter malignity. For a man who had believed only a moment before, that there was neither a God, nor devil, nor hell, to have all three demonstrated to him in an instant, and in such a manner too—was certainly calculated to startle him some, as well as to change his faith.

As soon as I recovered from the shock of astonishment into which this conduct and language threw me, so as to be able to speak, I said, “What? Then there is a hell?”—“Yes—you damned fool—and you will soon be in it.” Was the reply. In an instant the thought rushed into my mind,—that, if there was a hell, there must be a God, a heaven, a Savior, and the bible was true. The thought had scarcely entered my mind, when they replied, “Yes—you damned fool—it is so. But you are going to hell with us. You have lost heaven by your senseless and wicked conduct, when you might have been saved, if you had not been such a damned fool.” So great was their furious malice that they cursed, reviled and threatened, as if it were impossible even to wait until my horror of mind should kill me, and they seemed determined to crush out the spirit at once and have me in their power immediately. . . .

I can hardly describe the state of my feelings at this time—my atheism was swept out of me like chaff before a whirlwind, and I was now fully convinced, that I had indeed been a fool of the purest water. But after what I had said on the subject of atheism, and the scornful manner in which I had rejected and ridiculed the Savior, I saw no way of escape, and felt that my doom was sealed by my own hand. I had now fully learned who my mysterious visitors were, and the business in which they were engaged, and supposing myself to be entirely in their power, I expected the death and destruction with which I was threatened immediately. My blood seemed as if it were congealing and there was a cold shuddering horror creeping through every vein. But though expecting instantly both death and damnation yet neither the fear of the one nor the other produced the least effort on my part to escape from the horrible doom. Like a man who sees a monster advancing to destroy him, which he can neither resist nor flee from, and who makes up his mind to stand and await the event—certain of being destroyed—so I stood—without letting anyone know my awful situation, and without the least thought of asking for assistance either from God or from man. Expecting every moment to be hurled into eternity and sent to perdition.

Source: James Root, The Horrors of Delirium Tremens (New York: Josiah Adams, 1844), 19–24.