Litchfield enquirer., 1850-09-26

! be 10th to cross it in 8 crowded omnibus especially, if each passenger were en cumbered with as heavy luggage as tha gentleman and myself. Nevertheless we got over without accident, and soor found ourselves at the station house, This very neat and spacious edifce il erected on the site of the little Wicke Gate, which formerly, as all old pilgrims will recollect. stood directly across tn, highway, and, by its inconvenient narrow ness, was great obstruction to the tray eller of liberal mind and expansive stom ach. The reader of John Bunyan will be glad to know, that Christians old friend, Evangelist, who was accustomed to supply each pilgrim with mystic roll, now presides at the ticket office = Some malicious persons, it is true, deny the identity of this reputable character with the Evangelist of old times, and even pretend to bring competent evidence of an imposture. Without involving my~ selfin the dispute, I shall merely observe, that. so far as my experience goes, the square pieces of pasteboard, now deliv> cred to passengers, are much more con- venient and useful along the road, than the antique roll of parchment. Whether they will be as readily received at the gate of the Celestial City, l decline giv- ing an opinion.
 A large number of passengers were already at the station house, awaiting the departure of the cars. By the as- pect an demeanor of these persons, it was easy to judge that the feelings of the community had undergone very favor able change, in reference to the celestial pilgrimage. It would have done Bum yan's heart good to see it. Instead of a lonely and ragged man, with huge burden on his back, plodding along sor> rowfully on foot, while the whole city hooted after him, here were parties of the first gentry and most respectable people in the neighborhood, setting forth towards the Celestial City, as cheerfully as if the pilgrimage were merely a sum- mer tour. Among the gentlemen were characters of deserved eminence, magis- trates, politicians, and men of wealth, by whose example, religion could not but be greatly recommended to their meaner brethren. In the ladies apartment, too. 1 rejoice to distinguish some of those flowers of fashionable society, who are so we'll fitted to adorn the most elevated circles of the Celestial City. There was much pleasant conversation about the news of the day, topics of business. poll tics, or the lighter matters of amusement j; while religion, though indubility the main thing at heart, was thrown tastefully into the back ground. Even an infidel would have heard little or nothing to shock his sensibility.
 One great convenience of the new method of going on pilgrimage, must not forget to mention. Our enormous burthens, instead of being carried on our shoulders, as had been the custom of old. were all snugly deposited in the baggage ! car, and, as was assured, would be de. lvered to their respective owners at the journeys end. Another thing, likewise, the benevolent reader will be delighted to understand. It may be remembered that there was an ancient feud between Prince Beelzebub and the keeper of the Wicket Gate, and that the former distin- guished parsonage was accustomed to shoot deadly arrows at honest pilgrims, while knocking at the door. This dis pute, much to the credit as we'll of the illustrious potentate above mentioned, as of the worthy and enlightened Directors of the railroad, has been pacifcally arr ranged, on the principle of mutual com- promise. The Princes subjects are no W pretty numerously employed about the station house, some in taking care of the baggage, others in collecting fuel. feed ing the engines, and such congenial occu- pations and 1 can conscientiously affirm, that persons more attentive to their busi- ness, more willing to accommodate, or more generally agreeable to the passen- gers, are not to be found on any railroad Every good heart must surely exult at SC satisfactory an arrangement of an imme. morial difficulty.
 "Where is MT. Great heart ?" inquired I. "Beyond a doubt, the Directors have engaged that famous old champion to be the chief conductor on the rail. road 2"
 "Why mo-" said Mir. mooth-it-away with a dry cough. He was offered the ,;;.uation of brakeman; but, to tell the truth, our friend Great-heart has grown preposterously stiff and narrow in his old age. He has so often guided pilgrim: over the road, on foot, that he consider. it sin to travel in any other fashion, Besides, the old fellow had entered SC heartily into the ancient feud with prince Beelzebub. that he would have beer perpetually at blows or i'll language witt some of the Prince's subjects. and thu' embroiled us anew. So, on the whole we were not sorry when honest Great ] heart went off to the Celestial city in { huff. and left us at liberty too choos'