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agree, for she took as great a fancy to our dear Myra as you did yourself." The sudden entrance of their good landlord here terminated their conversation.

They all retired sooner than usual that night, as they had to rise early the next morning: when it came, the separation came with it. But I pass over the good wishes and farewells felt and spoken by all parties, not forgetting old Abel, who was to leave on the same day on his homeward journey, stopping at Trueman's house in the way. A farmer, whom Right-mind knew, happened to be going nearly all the same road in his cart, so he gave him the advan

tage of his company and conveyance.

The worthy host said he should feel quite deserted when they were all gone, and therefore made Marcus promise to remain that day at his house; to which he immediately assented, at the same time expressing a wish to follow, at some future day, the steps of the pilgrims.

And now I saw in my dream, that the latter having taken their leave, and all last words been spoken on both sides with much cordiality, they once more resumed their travels, and walked forth from the town. I observed, too, that though they truly appre

DEPARTURE FROM THE TOWN OF "VANITY." 169

ciated the kindness they had received there, they all felt quite glad to be emancipated from it, and to find themselves again amidst trees, meadows, and brooks, having long sighed for the fresh air, rendered fragrant by passing over turf, wild thyme, and flowers, and the varied views, sounds, and scents of the country, so congenial to their tastes and habits. As they walked along, their talk was first of the place and persons they had just left, and afterwards of that to which they were bound, and from which they trusted they were not now so very far distant.

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Of that happy country," observed Paul, “no pilgrim has ever returned from, to give us a description, but we have the King's own word that it is beyond what hath entered the heart, or thoughts, of man to conceive; therefore the highest idea we can form of felicity and glory, must be infinitely surpassed by that blessed reality."

"How strange it seems to me," said Luke, "that, knowing this to be true, men in general should seem so reluctant to think of the future world; or if they do, with a fear rather than a wish for their near approach to it! The realisation of their most ambitious schemes on earth must fall very far short of what they would enjoy, even in the lowest place in

heaven, yet how frequently do they barter this for the most paltry and transient gratifications !"

Now I remarked that they had not proceeded a great way further, when the opinion they had just expressed was in some degree exemplified, for within a couple of hours they came to the silver mine mentioned in Christian's pilgrimage, and there they saw three of the workmen near the entrance of it, busily employed in lading carrying and some of the precious metal, to be sent to the Town of Vanity.

Paul and Luke conversed a little with these men, who looked toil-worn and pallid. They said, that most of their companions scarcely ever saw the light of day, dwelling constantly under ground, and appearing more like moving corpses than living beings.

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You see," said Luke, to his brother, "what men will go through to procure this glittering metal." "Yes," said the elder of the men, "that they will, indeed; for I remember, not above two years ago, an unfortunate fellow crippling himself for life, and, indeed, being nearly killed, in his covetous attempt to carry off some of this silver."

"Ah! and how was that, friend?" asked Paul.

Man. Why, you see, sir, the master, who is pro

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prietor of the mine, had given us all a holiday, on occasion of his wedding; so this man, whose name was Moneylove, thought it would be a good opportunity to come here secretly accordingly, as soon as he knew the miners were all clear off for the day, he comes with a potato-sack on his arm. Well, he gets down with much difficulty, being unacquainted with the safest way of going into the mine (for he confessed all this afterwards), and then he collects all the largest pieces of the ore he can find, and puts them in his sack, not being satisfied till he gets it full. Then he prepares to ascend, but having wandered about for some time in search of the treasure, cannot tell, amongst the many rugged ways and windings there, which he came down; however, by the light of a lamp always burning, he begins to scramble up one, but when three or four yards high, the rocky sides of the cavity project almost perpendicularly, and he is afraid to go up or down: then he sees at a few feet on one side of him a little niche or step, where he could gain a more secure footing; he makes a strong effort to reach it, but just as he thinks he has gained the spot, the weight of his sack pulls him down, and he falls to the ground and breaks his leg."

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"Poor creature!" exclaimed Grace; one cannot help pitying him, though, to be sure, it was his own fault."

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and we

Ay, indeed," resumed the miner; could not help pitying him when we came back and found him groaning with pain, where he had lain for several hours, with no one to help or comfort him. However, I do believe it cured him of his besetting sin, which, perhaps, nothing else would; and in other respects he was not a bad man for he acknowledged that his suffering was a just punishment for the theft his avarice had tempted him to commit. He entreated us not to inform against him, promising he would never be guilty of the like crime again; so we granted his petition, for we thought he had been pretty well punished, being rendered incapable of following his employment of a farmer's head-workman and gardener. So two of our men and myself conveyed him to his home, which was not far distant, and it was supposed that he had fallen down some of these steep craggy places, which you see abound near the mine, by accident. Then we witnessed the consternation of his poor wife and two children, who had been anxiously awaiting his return. A surgeon, who occasionally attended the

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