The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-05-22

iHe rcSpccldDic hpOuyOu was uOW put
ting on the steam at prodigious rate; anx-
ions, perhaps, to get rid of the unpleasant
remiscences connected with the spot where
he had so disastrously encountered Christian.
Consulting Mr.. Bunyan's road-book, 1 per-
ceived that we must now be within few
miles of the Valley of the Shadow of Death
into.which doleful region, lat ourpresent speed,
we, should plunge much sooner than seemed
al all desirable. In truth, expected nothing
better than to find myself in the ditch on one
side, or the quag on the other. But, on
communicating my apprehensions TO Mr..
Smooth-it-away, he assured me that the diff
culties of this passage, even in its worst con-
dition had been greatly exaggerated; and
that, in its present state of improvement,
might consider myself as safe as on any rail-
road in Christendom.
Even while we were speaking, the train
shot into the entrance of this dreaded Val
ley. Though plead guilty to some foolish
palpitations Of the heart, during our headlong
rush over the causeway here constructed, yet
it were unjust to withhold the highest enco-
miums on the boldness of its original concep-
ton, and the ingenuity ofthose who executed
it. 1t was gratifying, likewise, to observe
how much care had been taken to expel the
everlasting gloom, and supply the defect Of
cheerful sunshine; not a ray of which has
ever penetrated among these awful shadows.
For this purpose. the infiammable gas, which
exudes plentifully from the soil, is collected
by means of pipes, and thence communicated
to a quadruple row of lamps, along the whole
extent ofthe passage. Thus radiance has
been created lout of the fiery sulphurous
curse that rests forever upon the Valley; a
radiance hurtful, however, to the eyes, and
somewhat bewildering, as discovered by the
changes whichit wrought in the visages of
my companions. In this respect. as compared
with natural daylight, there is the same diff
erence as between truth and falsehood but
if the reader have ever travelled through the
dark Valley, he will have learned to be thank
full for any light he could get; if not from
the sky above, then from the blasted soil be-
meath. Such was the red brilliancy Of these
lamps, that they appeared to build walls of
fire on both sides Of the track, between which
we held our course at lightning speed, while
revibrating thunder filled the Valley with
its echoes. Had the engine run off the track
IA catastrophe by no means unprecedented
the bottomless pit, if there be any such
place, would undoubtedly have received US.
Just as some dismal fooleries of this nature
had made my heart quake, there came ire
mendous shrek, careering along the Valley
as if a thousand devils had burst their lungs
to utter it, but which proved to be merely the
whistle of the engine, on arriving at stop
ping place.
The spot where we had now paused, is the
same that our friend B unyan-atruthfulm man,
l. I'll
designated, in terms palmer than like to re-
peat, as the mouth Of the internal REGION
This, however, mus, be mistake; inasmuch
as Mr.. Smooth-it-away, while we remained
in the smoky and lurid cavern, took occasion
to prove that Tophet was not even a meta
phorical existence. The place, he assured
us, is no other than the crater Of half extinct
volcano, in which the directors have caused
FORCES to be set up, for the manufacture of
railroad iron. Hence, also, is obtained a
plentiful supply Of fuel for the use of the en-
gines. Whoever has gazed into the dismal
obscurity of the broad cavern mouth, whence
ever and anon darted huge tongues of dusky
flame,-and had seen the strange half-shaped
monsters. and visions of faces horribly gro
tesuue, into which the smoke seemed TO
wreathe itself,-and had heard the awful MUIR
murs, and shrieks, and deep shuddering whis-
pers of the blast, sometimes forming itself in
to words almost articulate,-woud have
seized upon Mr.. Smooth-it-away's comfort
able explanation, as greedily as we did. The
inhabitants of the cavern, moreover. were I'M
lovely personages, dark, smoke-begrimmed,
generally deformed, with s-shapen feet, land
glow of dusky redness in their eyes; as if
their hearts had caught fire, and were blaZ-
ing out of the upper windows. Itstruck me as
peculiarly, that the laborers at the forge,
and those who brought fuel TO the engine,
when they began to draw short breath, pos
lively emitted smoke from their mouth and
nostrils.
Among the oilers about the train, most of
whom were putting cigars which they had
lighted at the flame Of the crater, was per-
picked to notice several who, to my certain
knowledge, had heretofore set forth by rail-
road for he Celestial City. They looked
dark, wild and smoky, with singular resem-
blance, indeed, to the native inhabitants; like
whom, also, they had disagreeable propen-
sity to ill-natured gibes and sneers, the habit
ofwhich had wrought settled contortion of
their visages. Having been on speaking
terms with one ofthese persons-an indolent,
good for-nothing fellow, who went by the
name of Take-it-easy-I called to him, and
inquired what was his bushes there.
'Did you not start" said /, "for the Celes
tial City,"
THAT'S fact, said Mr.. Take-it-easy, care
lessly putting some smoke into my eyes
"But heard such bad accounts, that l new
er took pains to climb the hill, on which the
City stands. No business doing-no fun
going on-nothing to drink. and no smoking
a drumming of church music
from morning till night l would not stay in
such place, if they offered me house-room
and living Free"
"But, my good Mr.. Take-it-easy," cried
l, 'why take up your residence here, Of all
places in the world p
"Oh," said the loafer, with a grin, sit is
very warm hereabouts, and meet with plen-
ty Of old acquaintance, and altogether the
place suits me. / hope to see you back
again some day soon. A pleasantjourney to
you."
While he was speaking, the bell Of the en-
CINE rang, and we dashed away, after drop
ping few passengers, but receiving no new
ones. Rafting onward through the Valley,
we were dazzled with the fiercely cleaning
gas lamps, as before. But sometimes of in