第43章

AlargenumberofpassengerswerealreadyattheStation-house，

awaitingthedepartureofthecars。Bytheaspectanddemeanorof

thesepersons，itwaseasytojudgethatthefeelingsofthecommunity

hadundergoneaveryfavorablechange，inreferencetothecelestial

pilgrimage。ItwouldhavedoneBunyan’sheartgoodtoseeit。

Insteadofalonelyandraggedman，withahugeburthenonhisback，

ploddingalongsorrowfullyonfoot，whilethewholecityhooted

afterhim，herewerepartiesofthefirstgentryandmost

respectablepeopleintheneighborhood，settingforthtowardsthe

CelestialCity，ascheerfullyasifthepilgrimageweremerelya

summertour。Amongthegentlemenwerecharactersofdeservedeminence，

magistrates，politicians，andmenofwealth，bywhoseexamplereligion

couldnotbutbegreatlyrecommendedtotheirmeanerbrethren。In

theladies’apartment，too，Irejoicedtodistinguishsomeofthose

flowersoffashionablesociety，whoaresowellfittedtoadornthe

mostelevatedcirclesoftheCelestialCity。Therewasmuchpleasant

conversationaboutthenewsoftheday，topicsofbusiness，

politics，orthelightermattersofamusement；whilereligion，

thoughindubitablythemainthingatheart，wasthrowntastefullyinto

theback-ground。Evenaninfidelwouldhaveheardlittleornothingto

shockhissensibility。

Onegreatconvenienceofthenewmethodofgoingonpilgrimage，I

mustnotforgettomention。Ourenormousburthens，insteadofbeing

carriedonourshoulders，ashadbeenthecustomofold，wereall

snuglydepositedinthebaggage-car，and，asIwasassured，wouldbe

deliveredtotheirrespectiveownersatthejourney’send。Another

thing，likewise，thebenevolentreaderwillbedelightedto

understand。Itmayberememberedthattherewasanancientfeud

betweenPrinceBeelzebubandthekeeperoftheWicket-Gate，andthat

theadherentsoftheformerdistinguishedpersonagewereaccustomedto

shootdeadlyarrowsathonestpilgrims，whileknockingatthedoor。

Thisdispute，muchtothecreditaswelloftheillustrious

potentateabove-mentioned，asoftheworthyandenlightened

Directorsoftherailroad，hasbeenpacificallyarranged，onthe

principleofmutualcompromise。ThePrince’ssubjectsarenowpretty

numerouslyemployedabouttheStation-house，someintakingcareof

thebaggage，othersincollectingfuel，feedingtheengines，and

suchcongenialoccupations；andIcanconscientiouslyaffirm，that

personsmoreattentivetotheirbusiness，morewillingtoaccommodate，

ormoregenerallyagreeabletothepassengers，arenottobefound

onanyrailroad。Everygoodheartmustsurelyexultatsosatisfactory

anarrangementofanimmemorialdifficulty。

“WhereisMr。Great-heart？”inquiredI。“Beyondadoubt，the

Directorshaveengagedthatfamousoldchampiontobechief

conductorontherailroad？”

“Why，no。”saidMr。Smooth-it-away，withadrycough。“Hewas

offeredthesituationofbrake-man；but，totellyouthetruth，our

friendGreat-hearthasgrownpreposterouslystiffandnarrowinhis

oldage。Hehassooftenguidedpilgrimsovertheroad，onfoot，

thatheconsidersitasintotravelinanyotherfashion。Besides，

theoldfellowhadenteredsoheartilyintotheancientfeudwith

PrinceBeelzebub，thathewouldhavebeenperpetuallyatblowsor

illlanguagewithsomeofthePrince’ssubjects，andthushave

embroiledusanew。So，onthewhole，wewerenotsorrywhenhonest

Great-heartwentofftotheCelestialCityinahuff，andleftusat

libertytochooseamoresuitableandaccommodatingman。Yonder

comestheconductorofthetrain。Youwillprobablyrecognizehimat

once。”

Theengineatthismomenttookitsstationinadvanceofthe

cars，looking，Imustconfess，muchmorelikeasortofmechanical

demonthatwouldhurryustotheinfernalregions，thanalaudable

contrivanceforsmoothingourwaytotheCelestialCity。Onitstop

satapersonagealmostenvelopedinsmokeandflame，which-notto

startlethereader-appearedtogushfromhisownmou