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all musty prejudices are in a fair way to be obliterated。 And how will
Christian rejoice to hear of this happy transformation of his old
antagonist！ I promise myself great pleasure in informing him of it；
when we reach the Celestial City。〃
The passengers being all comfortably seated； we now rattled away
merrily； accomplishing a greater distance in ten minutes than
Christian probably trudged over in a day。 It was laughable while we
glanced along； as it were； at the tail of a thunderbolt； to observe
two dusty foot…travellers； in the old pilgrim…guise； with cockle…shell
and staff； their mystic rolls of parchment in their hands； and their
intolerable burthens on their backs。 The preposterous obstinacy of
these honest people； in persisting to groan and stumble along the
difficult pathway； rather than take advantage of modern
improvements； excited great mirth among our wiser brotherhood。 We
greeted the two pilgrims with many pleasant gibes and a roar of
laughter； whereupon； they gazed at us with such woful and absurdly
compassionate visages； that our merriment grew tenfold more
obstreperous。 Apollyon； also； entered heartily into the fun； and
contrived to flirt the smoke and flame of the engine； or of his own
breath； into their faces； and envelope them in an atmosphere of
scalding steam。 These little practical jokes amused us mightily； and
doubtless afforded the pilgrims the gratification of considering
themselves martyrs。
At some distance from the railroad； Mr。 Smooth…it…away pointed to a
large； antique edifice； which； he observed； was a tavern of long
standing； and had formerly been a noted stopping…place for pilgrims。
In Bunyan's road…book it is mentioned as the Interpreter's House。
〃I have long had a curiosity to visit that old mansion；〃 remarked
I。
〃It is not one of our stations； as you perceive；〃 said my
companion。 〃The keeper was violently opposed to the railroad； and well
he might be； as the track left his house of entertainment on one side；
and thus was pretty certain to deprive him of all his reputable
customers。 But the foot…path still passes his door； and the old
gentleman now and then receives a call from some simple traveller； and
entertains him with fare as old…fashioned as himself。〃
Before our talk on this subject came to a conclusion； we were
rushing by the place where Christian's burthen fell from his
shoulders； at the sight of the Cross。 This served as a theme for Mr。
Smooth…it…away； Mr。 Live…for…the…world； Mr。 Hide…sin…in…the…heart； Mr。
Scaly…conscience； and a knot of gentlemen from the town of
Shun…repentance； to descant upon the inestimable advantages
resulting from the safety of our baggage。 Myself； and all the
passengers indeed； joined with great unanimity in this view of the
matter； for our burthens were rich in many things esteemed precious
throughout the world； and especially； we each of us possessed a
great variety of favorite Habits； which we trusted would not be out of
fashion； even in the polite circles of the Celestial City。 It would
have been a sad spectacle to see such an assortment of valuable
articles tumbling into the sepulchre。 Thus pleasantly conversing on
the favorable circumstances of our position； as compared with those of
past pilgrims； and of narrow…minded ones at the present day； we soon
found ourselves at the foot of the Hill Difficulty。 Through the very
heart of this rocky mountain a tunnel has been constructed； of most
admirable architecture； with a lofty arch and a spacious double…track；
so that； unless the earth and rocks should chance to crumble down；
it will remain an eternal monument of the builder's skill and
enterprise。 It is a great though incidental advantage； that the
materials from the heart of the Hill Difficulty have been employed
in filling up the Valley of Humiliation； thus obviating the
necessity of descending into that disagreeable and unwholesome hollow。
〃This is a wonderful improvement； indeed；〃 said I。 〃Yet I should
have been glad of an opportunity to visit the Palace Beautiful； and be
introduced to the charming young ladies… Miss Prudence； Miss Piety；
Miss Charity； and the rest… who have the kindness to entertain
pilgrims there。〃
〃Young ladies！〃 cried Mr。 Smooth…it…away； as soon as he could speak
for laughing。 〃And charming young ladies！ Why； my dear fellow； they
are old maids； every soul of them… prim； starched； dry； and angular…
and not one of them； I will venture to say； has altered so much as the
fashion of her gown； since the days of Christian's pilgrimage。〃
〃Ah； well； said I； much comforted； 〃then I can very readily
dispense with their acquaintance。〃
The respectable Apollyon was now putting on the steam at a
prodigious rate； anxious； perhaps； to get rid of the unpleasant
reminiscences connected with the spot where he had so disastrously
encountered Christian。 Consulting Mr。 Bunyan's road…book； I
perceived that we must now be within a few miles of the Valley of
the Shadow of Death； into which doleful region； at our present
speed； we should plunge much sooner than seemed at all desirable。 In
truth； I expected nothing better than to find myself in the ditch on
one side； or the quag on the other。 But on communicating my
apprehensions to Mr。 Smooth…it…away； he assured me that the
difficulties of this passage； even in its worst condition； had been
vastly exaggerated； and that； in its present state of improvement； I
might consider myself as safe as on any railroad in Christendom。
Even while we were speaking； the train shot into the entrance of
this dreaded Valley。 Though I plead guilty to some foolish
palpitations of the heart； during our headlong rush over the
causeway here constructed； yet it were unjust to withhold the
highest encomiums on the boldness of its original conception； and
the ingenuity of those who executed it。 It was gratifying； likewise；
to observe how much care had been taken to dispel the everlasting
gloom； and supply the defect of cheerful sunshine； not a ray of
which has ever penetrated among these awful shadows。 For this purpose；
the inflammable gas； which exudes plentifully from the soil； is
collected by means of pipes； and thence communicated to a quadruple
row of lamps； along the whole extent of the passage。 Thus a radiance
has been created； even out of the fiery and sulphurous curse that
rests for ever upon the Valley； a radiance hurtful； however； to the
eyes； and somewhat bewildering； as I discovered by the changes which
it wrought in the visages of my companions。 In this respect； as
compared with natural daylight； there is the same difference as
between truth and falsehood； but if the reader have ever travelled
through the dark Valley； he will have learned to be thankful for any
light that he could get； if not from the sky above； then from the
blasted soil beneath。 Such was the red brilliancy of these lamps； that
they appeared to build walls of fire on both sides of the track；
between which we held our course at lightning speed； while a
reverberating thunder filled the Valley with its echoes。 Had the
engine run off the track… a catastrophe； it is whispered； by no
means unprecedented… the bottomless pit； if there be any such place；
would undoubtedly have received us。 Just as some dismal fooleries of
this nature had made my heart quake； there came a tremendous shriek；
careering along the Valley as if a thousand devils had burst their
lungs to utter it； but which proved to be merely the whistle of the
engine； on arriving at a stopping…place。
The spot； where we had now paused； is the same that our friend
Bunyan… truthful man； but infected with many fantastic notions… has
designated； in terms plainer than I like to repeat； as the mouth of
the infernal region。 This； however； must be a mistake； inasmuch as Mr。
Smooth…it…away； while we remained in the smoky and lurid cavern；
took occasion to prove that Tophet has not even a metaphorical
existence。 The place； he assured us； is no other than the crater of
a half…extinct volcano； in which the Directors had caused forges to be
set up； for the manufacture of railroad iron。 Hence； also； is obtained
a plentiful supply of fuel for the use of the engines。 Whoever had
gazed into the dismal obscurity of the broad cavern…mouth； whence ever
and anon darted huge tongues of dusky flame… and had seen the strange；
half…shaped monsters； and visions of faces horribly grotesque； into
which the smoke seemed to wreathe itself… and had heard the awful
murmurs； and shrieks； and deep shuddering whispers of the blast；
sometimes forming themselves into words almost articulate… would
have seized upon Mr。 Smooth…it…away's comfortable explanation； as
greedily as we did。 The inhabitants of the cavern； moreover； were
unlovely personages； dark； smoke…begrimed； generally deformed； with
mis…shapen feet； and a glow of dusky redness in their eyes； as if
their hearts had caught fire； and were blazing out of the upper
windows。 It struck me as a peculiarity； that the laborers at the
forge； and those who brought fuel to the engine； when they be