Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress: In Words of One Syllable

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  [Transcriber's Note: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= anditalic text is surrounded by _underscores_.]

  At last there came a grave man to the gate, whose namewas Goodwill.

  (_Page 15_) (_The Pilgrim's Progress._)]

  BUNYAN'S

  PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.

  IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.

  BY SAMUEL PHILLIPS DAY,

  AUTHOR OF "THE RARE ROMANCE OF REYNARD THE FOX," IN WORDS OF ONESYLLABLE.

  _ILLUSTRATED._

  A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK.

  COPYRIGHT, 1895, BY THE CASSELL PUBLISHING CO.

  _All rights reserved._

  Contents

  I. THE DEN AND THE DREAM 5 II. THE SLOUGH OF DESPOND 8 III. WORLDLY-WISEMAN 10 IV. THE WICKET-GATE 15 V. THE INTERPRETER'S HOUSE 18 VI. THE CROSS AND THE CONTRAST 19 VII. THE HILL DIFFICULTY 28 VIII. THE PALACE BEAUTIFUL 30 IX. APOLLYON 39 X. THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH 42 XI. CHRISTIAN AND FAITHFUL 44 XII. TALKATIVE 50 XIII. VANITY FAIR 56 XIV. CHRISTIAN AND HOPEFUL 64 XV. DOUBTING CASTLE AND GIANT DESPAIR 69 XVI. THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS 77 XVII. THE ENCHANTED GROUND AND THE WAY DOWN TO IT 81 XVIII. THE LAND OF BEULAH--THE FORDS OF THE RIVER--AT HOME 87

  THE

  PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.

  CHAPTER I.

  THE DEN AND THE DREAM.

  AS I went through the wilds of this world, I came to a place where wasa den, and I laid me down in that place to sleep; and as I slept Idreamt a dream; and lo, I saw a man clad in rags, with a book in hishand, and a great load on his back! I saw him read in the book, and ashe read, he wept and shook.

  In this plight, then, he went home, and kept calm as long as he could,that his wife and bairns should not see his grief; but he could notlong hold his speech, for that his woe grew more hard to bear. "Oh, mydear wife," said he, "and you, the bairns of my heart, I am quite lost,for a load lies hard on me. More than this, I am told that this ourtown will be burnt with fire from the skies, and you, my sweet babes,shall come to grief, save some way can be found to get clear of harm."At this his kin were in sore fear; for that they had just cause todread some dire ill had got hold of his head. So, when morn was come,they would know how he did: and he told them, "Worse and worse." Hespoke to them once more, but they gave no heed to his words. Hence hewent to his room to pray for them, and to ease his grief. He would,too, take long walks in the fields, and read and pray at times: andthus for some days he spent his time.

  Now I saw on a time, when he took a stray walk in the fields, that hewas bent on his book and in deep grief of mind; and as he read he burstout, "What shall I do?"

  I saw, too, that his eyes went this way and that way, as if he wouldrun: yet he could not tell which way to go. I then saw a man whose namewas Evangelist come to him and ask, "Why dost thou cry?" Quoth he,"Sir, I see by the book in my hand that death is my doom, and that I amthen to meet my Judge: and I find that I do not will to do the first,while I dread the last." Then said Evangelist, "Why not will to die,since this life is full of ills?" The man said, "The cause is I fearthat this load that is on my back will sink me more low than the grave,and I shall go down to hell."

  Then said Evangelist, "If this be thy state, why dost thou standstill?" Said he, "It is for that I know not where to go." Then he gavehim a roll of smooth skin, on which were writ the plain words, "Fleefrom the wrath to come." The man read it, and said, "To what place mustI flee?" Then said Evangelist, "Do you see yon small gate?" The mansaid, "I think I do." Then said his guide, "Go up at once to it; atwhich, when thou dost knock, it shall be told thee what thou shalt do."

  So I saw in my dream that the man did run. Now he had not run far fromhis own door, but his wife and bairns saw it, and in a loud voice theystrove to get him to come back; but the man put the tips of his thumbsin his ears and ran on.

  His friends also came out, and some bade him haste back. Of those whodid so, there were two that sought to fetch him back by force. The nameof the one was Obstinate; and the name of the next, Pliable. Now bythis time the man was a good way off; but they went in quest of him,and in a short time came up with him. Then said he, "Friends, for whatare ye come?" Quoth they, "To urge you to go back with us": but hesaid, "That can by no means be. You dwell in the City of Destruction:and when you die there, you will sink down to a place that burns withfire. Take heed, good friends, and go with me."

  OBSTINATE GOES BACK TO THE CITY OF DESTRUCTION.]

  "What!" said Obstinate, "and leave our friends and all that brings usjoy and ease?"

  "Yes," said Christian (for that was his name); "I seek a life thatfades not. Read it so, if you will, in my book."

  "Tush!" said Obstinate, "I heed not your book: will you go back with usor no?"

  "No, not I," said Christian.

  _Obs._--"Come then, friend Pliable, let us go home."

  Then said Pliable, "The things he looks for are of more worth thanours. My heart urges me to go with him."

  _Obs._--"What! Be led by me and go back."

  _Chr._--"Come with me, friend Pliable; there are such things to be hadwhich I spoke of, and much more bliss. If you heed not what I say, readhere in this book."

  "Well, friend Obstinate," said Pliable, "I mean to go with this goodman, and to cast in my lot with him. But, my good mate, do you know theway to this place?"

  _Chr._--"I am told by a man, whose name is Evangelist, to speed me to asmall gate that is in front of us, where we shall be put in the rightway."

  "And I will go back to my place," said Obstinate. "I will not make oneof such flat fools."