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This incident made a considerable impression on my mind； and
contributed with other circumstances to indispose me to a
permanent residence in the city of Vanity； although； of course； I
was not simple enough to give up my original plan of gliding
along easily and 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 personwhether at feast； theatre； or church；
or trafficking for wealth and honors； or whatever he might be
doing； 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 forever
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 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
tombstones 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…itaway； 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 congratulating 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 woe；
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
forever。 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 journeythe 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。
Smoothitaway。 〃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…by！ 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 coldso deadly
cold； with the chill that will never leave those waters until
Death be drowned in his own riverthat with a shiver and a
heartquake I awoke。 Thank Heaven it was a Dream！