Christiana Read online

"What land is that?" asked Matthew.

  "'Tis called the land of Doubt. 'Tis a damp and dreary place from which few men escape alive. 'Tis no small miracle that your father escaped with his life. I hear tell that it was only by employing the key of promise that he did. My! I do wish we had it with us now."

  At this, Mercy lowered her head a bit to hide a slight smile. Perceiving it, Christiana wondered anew what mysterious secret the Interpreter had bestowed upon her.

  "So it was for these crimes that they be hanged up here?" asked Matthew.

  "Aye. And also for persuading others that their Master was a hard taskmaster; thus bringing an evil report against your Lord. They also joined with Atheist and spoke evil of the good land, saying there was no such place, or if there were it was not half so good as reported. They also began to defame his servants calling them troublesome busybodies. Further, they would call the bread of God husks, the comforts of his children fantasies, the travel and labor of pilgrims as futile."

  "Then they be traitors and hypocrites," exclaimed Mercy indignantly.

  "Aye," agreed Great-heart, "at the least. And that which gave their words more weight was that they appeared to be 'in the way'. They hid their chains and thus made it appear that they were merely resting for a time."

  "Hmmph! Deceivers as well then!" cried Mercy, now angrier yet.

  "Well!" said Christiana decidedly, "if that's what these men were, they shall never be bewailed by me! They have what they deserve. And 'tis good that they hang so near the road so as to serve as a warning to others."

  "Aye," concurred Mercy. "I am glad they were punished before we got here. Who knows what deceitful pranks they might have played upon poor weak women and children such as we."

  "I agree," said Christiana. "'Tis too bad their crimes are not engraved upon a brass plate that all who pass by might be instructed thereby."

  "Your desire is already satisfied," said Great-heart. "Go closer to the wall where they be hung and read of their crimes."

  "Not I, thank you," declined Christiana. "They can rot just fine without my knowing the details. I think I would get sick to my stomach if I got one step closer, for they still give off an offensive odor."

  "And they stink too!" exclaimed James.

  "Well," said Mercy, "I don't know about the rest of you, but I am ready to be off."

  "And so off we shall be! Forward, everyone!" commanded Great-heart.

  So they got them on their way and were right glad when they could once more breathe fresh air. Now Christiana felt the inspiration for a song surge upon her. So she out her old violin, tightened up the bow and composed a song, which went as follows:

  "Now then, you three, hang there, and be a sign

  To all that shall against the truth combine;

  And let him that comes after fear this end,

  If unto pilgrims he is not a friend.

  And thou, my soul, of all such men beware,

  That unto holiness opposers are."

  Thus they went on till they came to the foot of the Hill Difficulty where Christian had parted company with Formalist and Hypocrisy. Now at the foot of said hill, was a spring. Next to it was a broken-down sign reading: "Fountain of Truth". So Samuel said:

  "Look, Mother! A spring of water."

  "If you want to call it that," answered Christiana, wryly. "It looks more like a hog wallow to me. Don't dare drink any of it lest you catch the plague."

  "This is the spring from whence Christian refreshed himself before ascending yonder hill, Christiana," said Great-heart.

  "What! From a spring so befouled as this!"

  "'Twas not thus in his day, Madam. The time was, when this spring ran fresh and pure from the Source."

  "Then what happened? Why is it so befouled now?"

  "See all those footprints going in and out of the pool?"

  "Yes."

  "These are the tracks of worldly-minded professors and theologians who take pride in trampling heavenly pearls beneath unholy feet. They have walked in and out of this place with their muddy boots and made the water of life look like a mud-hole. Yea, there be many who look at the appearance and refuse to drink at all."

  "Then is the true water of life lost to us forever?"

  "Nay, nay, Madam. Time is one cure for the problem. Here, let me dip some of this water into a clean vessel. There we go! Now boys, you will soon see that the grit of error cannot long suspend itself in the water of truth. Soon it will be safe to drink."

  The Pilgrim's Drink of The Spring

  "So," said Christiana thoughtfully, "the lesson I perceive is that we should not drink too quickly from the wisdom of the world's so-called 'great men'."

  "Aye," answered Great-heart. "Give their theories enough time and they will settle to the bottom with the other other philosophical muck of ages past."

  Now Samuel, being such a lad as enjoyed climbing the unclimbable, had made his way up some frightful rocks to the very source of the Spring. Then called he:

  "Master Great-heart! Look! There's a boulder up here that looks like the face of a man!'

  "Aye."

  "And its base is split with crystal clear water gushing out. Thats where the water is coming from.!"

  "Aye, Samuel. This is the Rock which followed the children of Israel in their wilderness wanderings. And this rock is Christ. Up close to the source we can drink right-off without taking precautions. But not many can climb as well as you, and thus there is this other method."

  "Oh, it's not that hard. Come on up, Matthew.

  "Hmmm?" murmured Matthew, bestirring himself from his day dream. "Oh, nah. Not right now."

  Then said Great-heart, "For those of you who cannot climb so well as our young mountain goat here, the dust has settled and we can now drink our fill of some fresh clear water. Drink up everyone, for ahead we have a climb steep enough to make us all sweat."

  So, after all had quenched their thirst, Great-heart showed them the two bypaths around the hill Difficulty. Wandering off to the left was one named Danger and meandering off to the right was Destruction. Looking carefully down the two paths, the sharper eyes among them could discern the bones and skulls of those who had wandered into these two deadly ways. Said their guide, "These are dangerous paths we gaze upon, my boys."

  "But Great-heart," said Joseph with puzzlement in his voice, "there are all kinds of chains and prickly fences blocking these ways. Why would anybody work so hard to take them?"

  "Because they look so easy from here, Joseph. And the hill Difficulty looks so steep. So, assuming these two ways will rejoin the strait way around behind the hill, they will fight their way through hell and high water to go an apparently easier way."

  "'There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is death'," warned Christiana. "Better to sweat a bit than to go out of the way, for 'The way of transgressors is hard'."

  "Indeed," agreed Great-heart. "Our Lord has taught us that the road to destruction is broad and easy while the road to the kingdom is strait and narrow. But as your friend Christian did say at this point:

  "Better, though difficult, the right way to go,

  Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe."

  "So, ladies and gentlemen, shall we pluck up our courage and have at this hill?"

  "Is this hill very long, Mr. Great-heart?" asked James as he shouldered his little pack.

  "Longer than you wish, but shorter than you think, little man," answered Great-heart.

  "Oh," said he, not overly enlightened.

  Then they set forward and began to toil up the hill. But before they had got anywhere near the top, Christiana began to puff and pant, and said, "I dare say! This is a hill to make one breathe a bit! No wonder they who love their ease more than their souls choose to go an easier way! (puff, puff) My!"

  "But look at the price (puff, puff) they pay, mother," said Joseph. "See way down there on the path called 'Danger'? (puff puff) Look at all those bones!"

  "Wowie!" exclaimed James b
etween puffs. "Did all them bones used to be people?"

  "Sure did, Sonny," said Great-heart grimly. "The wise man has written in the proverbs: 'He that loveth danger shall perish therein'."

  "Oh, my!" exclaimed Christiana.

  "That's nothing!" declared Samuel, who had ventured off to the right to look over the other side. "Look down here at the path called 'Destruction'. There's lots more!"

  "Lemme see." said James, crowding over to have a looky-see. "Man, O man! (puff puff) Bunches more here than over there in Danger."

  "Aye. 'Tis for this reason that our Master warned us saying, 'Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat'."

  Now by this time the little troupe was gotten well up the hill. But you can be sure that there was panting and puffing, heaving and wheezing from all quarters. Little James, red-faced and sweaty was beginning to think he'd had quite enough of this pilgrimage business. "I wanna go home," he whined.

  "Oh, whew! I am at least ready (puff puff) for a rest," declared Mercy.

  "I'm with James," complained Matthew, holding an aching side and grimacing. "'Tis indeed a difficult way.

  "It may be a bit steep," agreed Samuel, "but I doubt that it's nearly as hard as the other two ways."

  "Psaw!" snorted Matthew angrily. "They couldn't be nearly as hard as this!"

  "Nay, but they are! How many bones do you see bleaching in the sun up here?"

  "Hmmm, none," observed Joseph. "Samuel's right, Matthew." But to this Matthew gave no heed.

  "I don't care if it is easier!" declared James. "It's too hard and too long and too boring! Let's go back!"

  "Matthew," called Christiana between pants. "Help your little brother, please."

  "Help my brother!" retorted Matthew. "I'm about ready to turn back with him!"

  "What?" queried Samuel. "Is the strongest now become the weakest?"

  "Hey! I'm sorry, kid! But my stomach hurts! I am the way I am and can't help it, all right!"

  "Never mind," said Great-heart. "Here, James. Give me that strong hand of yours. 'Atta boy! Hang on a bit longer, everyone. I can see the top of the arbor just ahead."

  Great-heart helps the pilgrims up the Hill Difficulty

  When, at last, they were all come to the arbor, they were quite willing to sit them down, for all were hot and fatigued. Then said Mercy, "How sweet is rest to them that labor! And how good of the Prince of pilgrims to provide such lovely resting places for us!"

  "I have heard about this arbor," said Christiana, admiringly. "But the half was never told me about its beauty. But we must beware of sleeping here, for I have heard that it cost poor Christian dearly."

  "Well, boys," queried Great-heart. "Now that you have tasted a bit of difficulty, what do you think about going on pilgrimage?"

  "For a little while I thought my heart was going to pop out!" exclaimed James, wiping the perspiration from his blushing brow. "But since you gave me your hand, its not so bad. I guess being a pilgrim won't be too bad if you're along."

  "And how about you, Joseph? Is it what you expected?"

  "Well, sir, Mother has told us that the way to heaven is a steep climb, while the way to hell is like a toboggan ride. 'Tis certain she is right about the first part. But as for me, I think it better to sweat for life rather than to slide to death."

  "But, Joseph," questioned Mercy, "isn't sliding downhill more fun?"

  "I suppose so, at the first," he replied thoughtfully. "But I suspect the day is coming when those who slide down will be hotter than we who clamber up."

  Then Mercy smiled at his wise reply and made a brief entry in a little book. Great-heart enthusiastically agreed with him saying, "And right you are, lad! In the end, the 'way of transgressors is hard'."

  "What are you writing, Mercy?" asked James.

  "Hmmm? Oh, just some thoughts for my diary, James. That's all."

  "Oh."

  "Come," said Christiana. "'Tis nearly dinner time. Won't you all have a bit of food to sweeten your mouths and strengthen your legs?"

  "I didn't know we had any lunch with us!" exclaimed Samuel."

  "The Interpreter sent it along with us. I have some pomegranates, a piece of honeycomb and something sweet to drink."

  "Wowie! Food!" exclaimed the younger boys.

  "I thought he must have given you something when he called you aside," said Mercy."

  "So he did. And what did he give you when you ran back?"

  Then Mercy lowered her head to hide a blush and answered shyly, "I cannot tell just yet."

  "Ah. A secret is it? But someday, perhaps?" pursued Christiana.

  "Aye. Someday."

  "Good enough for now," said Christiana. "But here, let us eat up, everyone! Matthew, take these morsels and divide them among your brothers."

  "Let Samuel do it!" grumbled Matthew. "I'm still catching my breath."

  Then was Christiana silent for a moment as she looked upon Matthew with a grieved heart. But when he would not meet her gaze, she broke off bits of refreshment for everyone, serving Matthew first. But when she came to Mercy, the maid was hesitant, saying, "'Twas given for thee and thine."

  "And what are you, if not my daughter? Besides, what I said at the first I say now again: we shall go together as sisters and have all things in common. Nothing has changed, 'Ruth'."

  So Mercy smiled and partook with the rest. "Sir, there is enough for you," said Christiana, offering some honeycomb to Great-heart. "Please come join us."

  "Nay," said he pleasantly. "'Tis for you and yours."

  "But you have come over the same hard way as we and pulled along a child or two besides. Surely a bit of refreshment . . ."

  "Thank you, Madam," said he with a courteous bow. "But you have a pilgrimage to tend to, while I may soon return to my home and partake to my fill. The food is for you."

  And so they gave thanks to their Lord and then ate and drank. Soon their strength returned, their time of travail was forgotten and everyone began to chatter merrily about this and that. At last their guide said, "Well, boys, the day wears away. Ready to be at it?"

  "More than ready!" exclaimed Samuel.

  "How about you, James?"

  "Off with us, sir!"

  "Matthew?"

  "Well, I feel a bit of numbness in my legs, but I suppose it will pass."

  "Oh? Is it serious?" asked Great-heart with concern.

  "Hmmm? Oh, nah. I'm fine. Let's do what we gotta do."

  And so they got them on their way. Then Great-heart took Christiana aside a bit and asked quietly, "Christiana. What be this numbness in Matthew's legs?"

  "'Tis the first I have heard of it, Sir. But he is not acting his usual self. He does not lead the way as he normally

  would. He seems quick to take offense and has little care for his brothers. Something is dreadfully wrong, but I can't put my finger on what it is."

  "Hmmm. Then he will bear close watching for a time."

  "Yes, sir. Thank you for your interest."

  Now they had not gone more than a bow shot or so when Christiana perceived that she had left the bottle of new wine back at the arbor. "Matt . . . er uh, Samuel?"

  "Yes, mother?"

  "Son, I have forgotten our juice back at the arbor. Be a good lad and fetch it for me, will you? We'll wait here."

  "No need to wait. I'll catch up."

  "My!" exclaimed Mercy as they resumed walking. "This place is a place for forgetting. Christian forgot his roll, Christiana forgot her juice. Mr. Great-heart? What is the reason for this?"

  "'Tis usually caused either by sleep or forgetfulness. Some sleep when they should stay awake, while others forget when they should remember."

  "So Christian was the sleeper and we are the forgetters."

  "Aye."

  "But why in this place?"

  "Because 'tis in times of rest and ease that God's people face their greatest dangers."

  "Why so, do you
suppose?"

  "Oh, likely because in such places we are tempted to feel freed from our toils. In our relief, we are tempted to chatter aimlessly about this or that and thus forget to give thanks to the One who gave us rest. 'Tis by this neglect of thankfulness that many have their rejoicing end in tears and their sunshine turn to clouds."

  "Like Christian did."

  "And as we nearly did," added Christiana. "Henceforth let us keep our conversation on more profitable matters."