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

ceived his mortal wound.
 Christian made at him then so nightly that anon the fiend spread forth his dragons wings and sped him away, so that Christian saw him no more.
 He kneeled down and made a humble 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 drink and continued his journey refreshed, keeping his sword drawn in his hand But he met with no other affront in the valley.
 At the end of the valley, however, was worse one, called the Valley of the Shadow of Death. and through this Chris tian must needs go, for the way to the Celestial City led through it's midst
 It was a very solitary place, and Christian was worse put to it there than. in his battle with Apollyon. When he got to it's borders he was met by two men, who cried to him to beware, for the valley was as black as pitch and full of satyrs hobgoblins and dragons of the pit. There was also, they said, a continual bowling and yelling as of people under unutterabIe misery who there sat bound in affliction and irons. over all the valley hung the clouds of confusion Death all ways spread his wings over it.
 Undeterred though fearful to his very heart, Christian advanced into the dread full place, his sword still drawn. And first he saw on his right hand and reaching as far as the valley 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 pefished. On the left hand he beheld a dangerous quag, where even a good man could find no bot tom for his foot to stand on. And it was the same into which King David once fell, and would have been smothered therein had not He that is able plucked him out.
 The way was so narrow that Christian could scarce shun the ditch in that doleful dark without slipping into the mire. He began to sigh bitterly, for he could not see where 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 himself 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 trodden down like mire
 At last he thought he heard voice, as of one going before him, that said Though Iva K through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear none ill., for Thou art with me-
 Then he was glad And morning. came And, looking backward, he saw more clearly the dangers that he had passed in the dark-the ditch that was on one hand and the quag on the other-the satyrs and dragons of the pit.
 The sun in mercy showed him the sec ond part of the way, more dangerous still and so beset with snares traps, gins and nets, and so full of pitfalls that had it been dark and had he thousand souls they must have been cast away here.
 The blessed light. however guided him ley. There he overlook one whom he knew, named Faithful; and together they went rejoicing.
 They had made good q long part of their road when Evangelist overlook them and warned them that they were not yet out of the gunshot of the devil. In particular did he caution them against town to which they would come soon where they would be hard beset by enemies who would strive to kill them. "But.' said Evangelist, "he that shall die there, al- though his death will be unnatural and his pain perhaps great, he will yet have the better of his fellow, because he will arrive at the Celestial City the soonest. '
 Before long they arrived at the city, which bore the name of Vanity At that town was kept a fair, open all the year long. which was known everywhere as Vanity Fair It was no new erected busi- ness, but thing of ancient standing, hav- ing been established there 5000 years