twice-told tales- the celestial railroad-第5章

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commodiously　by　railroad。　Still；　I　grew　anxious　to　be　gone。　There

was　one　strange　thing　that　troubled　me；　amid　the　occupations　or

amusements　of　the　Fair；　nothing　was　more　common　than　for　a　person…

whether　at　a　feast；　theatre；　or　church；　or　trafficking　for　wealth

and　honors；　or　whatever　he　might　be　doing；　and　however　unseasonable

the　interruption…　suddenly　to　vanish　like　a　soap…bubble；　and　be

never　more　seen　of　his　fellows；　and　so　accustomed　were　the　latter　to

such　little　accidents；　that　they　went　on　with　their　business；　as

quietly　as　if　nothing　had　happened。　But　it　was　otherwise　with　me。

　　　Finally；　after　a　pretty　long　residence　at　the　Fair；　I　resumed　my

journey　towards　the　Celestial　City；　still　with　Mr。　Smooth…it…away　at

my　side。　At　a　short　distance　beyond　the　suburbs　of　Vanity；　we　passed

the　ancient　silver　mine；　of　which　Demas　was　the　first　discoverer；

and　which　is　now　wrought　to　great　advantage；　supplying　nearly　all

the　coined　currency　of　the　world。　A　little　further　onward　was　the　spot

where　Lot's　wife　had　stood　for　ages；　under　the　semblance　of　a　pillar

of　salt。　Curious　travellers　have　long　since　carried　it　away　piecemeal。

Had　all　regrets　been　punished　as　rigorously　as　this　poor　dame's

were；　my　yearning　for　the　relinquished　delights　of　Vanity　Fair　might

have　produced　a　similar　change　in　my　own　corporeal　substance；　and　left

me　a　warning　to　future　pilgrims。

　　　The　next　remarkable　object　was　a　large　edifice；　constructed　of

moss…grown　stone；　but　in　a　modern　and　airy　style　of　architecture。

The　engine　came　to　a　pause　in　its　vicinity　with　the　usual　tremendous

shriek。

　　　〃This　was　formerly　the　castle　of　the　redoubted　giant　Despair；〃

observed　Mr。　Smooth…it…away；　〃but；　since　his　death；　Mr。　Flimsy…faith

has　repaired　it；　and　now　keeps　an　excellent　house　of　entertainment

here。　It　is　one　of　our　stopping…places。〃

　　　〃It　seems　but　slightly　put　together；〃　remarked　I；　looking　at　the

frail；　yet　ponderous　walls。　〃I　do　not　envy　Mr。　Flimsy…faith　his

habitation。　Some　day　it　will　thunder　down　upon　the　heads　of　the

occupants。〃

　　　〃We　shall　escape；　at　all　events；〃　said　Mr。　Smooth…it…away；　〃for

Apollyon　is　putting　on　the　steam　again。〃

　　　The　road　now　plunged　into　a　gorge　of　the　Delectable　Mountains；

and　traversed　the　field　where；　in　former　ages；　the　blind　men

wandered　and　stumbled　among　the　tombs。　One　of　these　ancient

tomb…stones　had　been　thrust　across　the　track；　by　some　malicious

person；　and　gave　the　train　of　cars　a　terrible　jolt。　Far　up　the

rugged　side　of　a　mountain；　I　perceived　a　rusty　iron　door；　half

overgrown　with　bushes　and　creeping　plants；　but　with　smoke　issuing　from

its　crevices。

　　　〃Is　that；〃　inquired　I；　〃the　very　door　in　the　hill…side；　which　the

shepherds　assured　Christian　was　a　by…way　to　Hell？〃

　　　〃That　was　a　joke　on　the　part　of　the　shepherds；〃　said　Mr。

Smooth…it…away；　with　a　smile。　〃It　is　neither　more　nor　less　than　the

door　of　a　cavern；　which　they　use　as　a　smoke…house　for　the

preparation　of　mutton　hams。〃

　　　My　recollections　of　the　journey　are　now；　for　a　little　space；　dim

and　confused；　inasmuch　as　a　singular　drowsiness　here　overcame　me；

owing　to　the　fact　that　we　were　passing　over　the　Enchanted　Ground；

the　air　of　which　encourages　a　disposition　to　sleep。　I　awoke；

however；　as　soon　as　we　crossed　the　borders　of　the　pleasant　land　of

Beulah。　All　the　passengers　were　rubbing　their　eyes；　comparing　watches；

and　con…gratulating　one　another　on　the　prospect　of　arriving　so

seasonably　at　the　journey's　end。　The　sweet　breezes　of　this　happy　clime

came　refreshingly　to　our　nostrils；　we　beheld　the　glimmering　gush　of

silver　fountains；　overhung　by　trees　of　beautiful　foliage　and　delicious

fruit；　which　were　propagated　by　grafts　from　the　celestial　gardens。

Once；　as　we　dashed　onward　like　a　hurricane；　there　was　a　flutter　of

wings；　and　the　bright　appearance　of　an　angel　in　the　air；　speeding

forth　on　some　heavenly　mission。　The　engine　now　announced　the　close

vicinity　of　the　final　Station…house；　by　one　last　and　horrible

scream；　in　which　there　seemed　to　be　distinguishable　every　kind　of

wailing　and　wo；　and　bitter　fierceness　of　wrath；　all　mixed　up　with

the　wild　laughter　of　a　devil　or　a　madman。　Throughout　our　journey；　at

every　stopping…place；　Apollyon　had　exercised　his　ingenuity　in　screwing

the　most　abominable　sounds　out　of　the　whistle　of　the　steam…engine；　but

in　this　closing　effort　he　outdid　himself；　and　created　an　infernal

uproar；　which；　besides　disturbing　the　peaceful　inhabitants　of

Beulah；　must　have　sent　its　discord　even　through　the　celestial　gates。

　　　While　the　horrid　clamor　was　still　ringing　in　our　ears；　we　heard

an　exulting　strain；　as　if　a　thousand　instruments　of　music；　with

height；　and　depth；　and　sweetness　in　their　tones；　at　once　tender　and

triumphant；　were　struck　in　unison；　to　greet　the　approach　of　some

illustrious　hero；　who　had　fought　the　good　fight　and　won　a　glorious

victory；　and　was　come　to　lay　aside　his　battered　arms　for　ever。　Looking

to　ascertain　what　might　be　the　occasion　of　this　glad　harmony；　I

perceived；　on　alighting　from　the　cars；　that　a　multitude　of　shining

ones　had　assembled　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　to　welcome　two　poor

pilgrims；　who　were　just　emerging　from　its　depths。　They　were　the　same

whom　Apollyon　and　ourselves　had　persecuted　with　taunts　and　gibes；

and　scalding　steam；　at　the　commencement　of　our　journey…　the　same　whose

unworldly　aspect　and　impressive　words　had　stirred　my　conscience；

amid　the　wild　revellers　of　Vanity　Fair。

　　　〃How　amazingly　well　those　men　have　got　on！〃　cried　I　to　Mr。

Smooth…it…away。　〃I　wish　we　were　secure　of　as　good　a　reception。〃

　　　〃Never　fear…　never　fear！〃　answered　my　friend。　〃Come…　make　haste；

the　ferry…boat　will　be　off　directly；　and　in　three　minutes　you　will

be　on　the　other　side　of　the　river。　No　doubt　you　will　find　coaches　to

carry　you　up　to　the　city　gates。〃

　　　A　steam　ferry…boat；　the　last　improvement　on　this　important　route；

lay　at　the　river…side；　puffing；　snorting；　and　emitting　all　those　other

disagreeable　utterances；　which　betoken　the　departure　to　be

immediate。　I　hurried　on　board　with　the　rest　of　the　passengers；　most　of

whom　were　in　great　perturbation；　some　bawling　out　for　their　baggage；

some　tearing　their　hair　and　exclaiming　that　the　boat　would　explode

or　sink；　some　already　pale　with　the　heaving　of　the　stream；　some　gazing

affrighted　at　the　ugly　aspect　of　the　steersman；　and　some　still　dizzy

with　the　slumberous　influences　of　the　Enchanted　Ground。　Looking　back

to　the　shore；　I　was　amazed　to　discern　Mr。　Smooth…it…away　waving　his

hand　in　token　of　farewell！

　　　〃Don't　you　go　over　to　the　Celestial　City？〃　exclaimed　I。

　　　〃Oh；　no！〃　answered　he　with　a　queer　smile；　and　that　same

disagreeable　contortion　of　visage　which　I　had　remarked　in　the

inhabitants　of　the　Dark　Valley。　〃Oh；　no！　I　have　come　thus　far　only　for

the　sake　of　your　pleasant　company。　Good　bye！　We　shall　meet　again。〃

　　　And　then　did　my　excellent　friend；　Mr。　Smooth…it…away；　laugh

outright；　in　the　midst　of　which　cachinnation；　a　smoke…wreath　issued

from　his　mouth　and　nostrils；　while　a　twinkle　of　lurid　flame　darted　out

of　either　eye；　proving　indubitably　that　his　heart　was　all　of　a　red

blaze。　The　impudent　fiend！　To　deny　the　existence　of　Tophet；　when　he

felt　its　fiery　tortures　raging　within　his　breast！　I　rushed　to　the　side

of　the　boat；　intending　to　fling　myself　on　shore。　But　the　wheels；　as

they　began　their　revolutions；　threw　a　dash　of　spray　over　me；　so

cold…　so　deadly　cold；　with　the　chill　that　will　never　leave　those

waters；　until　Death　be　drowned　in　his　own　river…　that；　with　a　shiver

and　a　heart…quake；　I　awoke。　Thank　heaven；　it　was　a　Dream！





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

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