The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-06


 range in the darkness for their prey, and how shall 1 escape being torn in pieces?"
 While he was lamenting he saw a very stately palace before him, the name of which was Beautiful, and resolved to pray for lodging there. Entering a mar row way that led to it. he was dismayed
 at sight of the lions. Then he paused fearing death, but the porter of the pal
 ace, whose name was Watchful, cried to | him to advance without fear, for that the i. lions were chained Christian passed | them trembling, and they roared at him,
 but did not harm him.
 Watchful called a grave and beautiful damsel named Discretion who asked him
 many searching questions Then came Prudence, Piety and Charity and held dis course with him and led him in. where all the inmates said: Come in. thou pissed
 of the Lord. This house was built by the lord of the hill on purpose to entertain such pilgrims
 They kept him two days in sweet dis course and showed him many wondrous things and read to him from the records the worthy things that had been done by
 the servants of the Lord of the place. When the morning was up they led him
 10 the top of the house and bade him look south There he saw at a great distance a most pleasant mountainous country, and these, they told him, were the De- lectable Mountains, whence he might see
 the gates of the Celestial City.
 Then they took him to the armory and accoutred him with the sword, shield, hel
 met and breastplate of all-prayer and
 gave him shoes that would not wear out Discretion, Piety, Charity and Prudence accompanied him part or the way, for the
 road led now into the Valley of Humilia- tion, and it was 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 compan- ions left him at the bottom of the hill after giving him bread, wine and rasns Then he went on but not for long. He
 had gone but little way when he espied foul creature coming at him. It was
 Apollyon and, for a little. Christian
 thought to run away. But he considered In time that his armor was but for his front and that he had none to defend his back. Therefore he resolved to stand his | ground.
 Apollyon was clothed in scales like a | fish and had wings like dragon, feet | like a bear, and out of his belly came fire 1 and smoke and his mouth was as the mouth of a lion.
 | Apollyon addressed him dsdainfully and in divers ways, attempting 10 claim him 1 as runaway subject, and, failing in this, promising him more wealth than the lord
 of the country might give him. Again, he
 said that the servants of that lord al-
 most always came to an i'll end Neither
 argued he was it ever known that the
 lord of the place came from his place to
 help his servants or to deliver them. 1 TBut.' said Apollyon, '1t is well known
 that always stand ready to deliver mine ] from him and his, either by fraud or 1 force"
 1 To all this Christian answered stoutly, forswearing Apollyon and all his works. l Thereupon the fiend straddled the whole | breadth of the way and promised to spill | the pilgrims soul.
 With that he threw a flaming dart at 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 bestirred himself, he
 was wounded in head, hand and foot. | Still Christian resisted as stoutly as be- ! fore. Apollyon followed his work again. | The sore combat lasted more than half q
 day. Then Apollyon leaped upon him and, wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful l fall. Christians sword flew from his hand. 1 "I am sure of thee now said Apollyon, | and with that he almost pressed him to 1 death so that Christian began to despair | of his life. But while Apolyon was fetch ing a last blow. thereby to make 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 re-