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

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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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