The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-06-06

part of the way, for the road led now
into the Valley of Humiliation. and
It was a hard matter. said they, for
man to go down and catch no slip by
the way.
Right warily did Christian tread, yet
he caught a slip or two. His good
companions left him at the bottom of
the hill, after giving him bread. wine
and raisins. Then he went on; but not
for long. He had gone but little way
when he espied a foul creature coming
at him. 1t was Apollyon, and, for
little. Christian thought to run, away.
But, he considered in time that his ar
| NOR was but for the front and that
| he had none to defend his back. There
fore he resolved to stand ibis ground.
- Apoliyon was clothed In scales like
a fish and had wings like dragon.
| feet IilseaA bear, and out of his belly
cAsnsusfires and smoke and Sthis ftAouth
bowas oaestffe mouth OF liong 4.r-
.Apolfy6n addressed him dlsdainfuily
and IN divers ways, attempting to claim
him as q runaway subject and, failing
In this, promising him more wealth
than the lord OF the country might
give him. Again. he said. that1the SER
wants OF that lord almost always came
TO an III end. Neither, argued he. was
1t ever known that the lord of the
place came from his place to help his
servants or to deliver them. But"
said Apoliyon, ut Is well known that
I always stand ready to deliver mine
from him and his. either by fraud or
force"
To all this Christian answered stout
ly, forswearing Apollyon and all hts
works. Thereupon the fiend straddled
the, whole breadth OF the way and
| promised to spill the pilgrims soul
with that he threw flaming dart
sat Christians breast. but It was
caught by the good shield, Apollyon
| made at him then. throwing darts thick
| as hail. and for all that Christian be-
stirred himself, he was wounded In
head. hand and foot.
Still Christian resisted as stoutly as
before. Apollyon followed his work
again. The sore combat iatsed more
than half day. Then Apollyon leaped
upon him and. wrestling with him.
gave him. dreadful fall. Christians
sword flew from his hand.
II am sure Of thee now" said Apol-
lyon, and with that he almost pressed
him to death. so that Christian began
to despair of his life. But while Apol-
lyon was fetching a last blow, thereby
to make a full end Of the good man,
Christian reached out his hand nimbly
for his sword, and delivered a deadly
thrust, which made Apollyon give back
as one that had received his mortal
wound.
Christian made at him then so
forth his dragons wings asd sped
MIN away so that Christian saw him
no more.
He kneeled down and made a hum
bic prayer of thankfulness; then there
came forth to him an hand with some
leaves from the Tree OF Life, which
healed his hurts at once. He ate and
drank and continued his journey re-
IN In
his hand. But he met with no other
affront in the valley
At the end OF the valley. however.
the Shadow of Death. and through this
Christian must needs go. for the way
to the Celestial City led through its
1t was a very solitary place, and
Christian was worse put to II there
than in his battle with Apollyon. When
he got to It's borders he was met by
for the valley was as black as pitch
and full of satyrs. hobgoblings and dra-
CONS of the. pit There was also, they
said, a continual bowling. and yelling
cry. who there sat bound in afiiction
and irons, Over all the valley hung
the clouds of confusion. Death al
ws efssSSd ms ho %es' Fearful Gxsa to his
very heart Christian advanced into
the dreadful place, his sword still
drawn. And nrst ne saw on his right
hand and reaching as far as the val
legs reached, a very deep ditch. And
this was the ditch into which the blind
have led the blind in all ages. and both
there miserably persisted. On the left
hand he beheld a dangerous quag,
where even a good man could flnd no
bottom for his foot to stand on. And
II was the same into which King Da-
vid once fell, and would have been
smothered therein had not He that is
able plucked him out.
The way was so narrow that Chris
tian could scarce shun the ditch in
that doleful dark without slipping into
the mire. He began to sigh bitterly,
for he could not see whore he set his
foot.
About the middle of the valley Chris
tian came on the mouth OF Hell, hard
by his way. Ever and anon the flame
and smoke spewed out abundantly with
sparks and hideous noises.
He put up his sword and betook him
self to another weapon, all-prayer.
With this he went on a long while,
yet ever the flames reached toward him
and he heard such noises and rushings
to and fro that he thought to be trod-
den down like mire.
At last he thought he heard a voice,
as OF one going before him, that said:
Though I walk through the Valley