Charles, of course, inherited the title and estate of his brother, and, increasing in piety1 and virtue2 as he increased in years, became an ornament3 to the high station in which he was placed, and a blessing4 to the people amongst whom he dwelt. He carried out all Ernest’s projects of charity with zeal5; and when, on attaining6 the age of twenty-one, the management of his own estate came into his hands, he erected7 the church upon his grounds which he had designed so long before, and often listened within its walls to the words of truth from the lips of his early preceptor.
For Madge and Ben Charles procured8 respectable situations, and would have done the same for their brother; but the wish of the boy was to be a soldier, and accordingly, when old enough, he enlisted9. Blunt
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and rough as he remained, the conduct of the youth showed the power of Christianity even in a hard, rugged10 nature. The life of Ernest had not been thrown away, nor had his prayers been unheard.
After many years of service in his own country, Lawless embarked11 with his regiment12 for the Crimea, and was present at the engagement of the Alma. As he rushed on, one of the foremost in the action, he received a musket-ball on his chest, and fell, as his comrades believed, never to rise more. How was it that he sprang again from the ground, uninjured and undismayed? The Russian ball had struck him, indeed, but had found a bloodless resting-place—it had lodged13 in the Bible which he carried in his breast, the dying gift of Ernest of Fontonore!
Mr. Hope sank under an attack of apoplexy, a few years after the death of his nephew. The man of the world was called away in the midst of his business, his schemes of ambition, at the time that he had attained14 the object of his hopes, by being elected member for Allborough. The expenses of his canvass15, and residence in town, and the extravagance in which his wife had indulged, had ruined a fortune which had never been a large one; and Mrs. Hope had the misery16, intolerable to her proud spirit, of passing the rest of her days a dependant17 on the generosity18 of her nephew. Truly might she say, in reviewing her past life, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!”
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And what was the fate of the pretty, affected19 Clementina, the butterfly hovering20 over the blossoms of pleasure?
Let us pass over the space of nearly twenty years, and behold21 the vain young beauty as she appears now that the first silver lines begin to streak22 her auburn hair, and all the gay visions of her youth have faded for ever.
Let us enter unseen that low parsonage house, from which comes the merry sound of youthful voices. The snow on the ground, the chill in the air, the red firelight flickering23 so cheerfully through the diamond-paned window overhung with ivy24, all tell that the season is winter. The room in which we find ourselves seems all too small for the party of happy, noisy children assembled within it. This is the first day of the new year, and a merry day it is to the family in Oakdale parsonage. Unfailing is the arrival of the welcome box, which at this season finds its way from Fontonore, and every one is present to witness its opening, from the ruddy schoolboy, home for the holidays, to the little infant in arms. Even the pale-faced pastor25 himself has laid aside his book and closed his desk, to join in the innocent mirth of his children: you might know him, by the likeness26 which he bears to her, to be the brother of Ellen Searle.
But who is the thin, careworn-looking mother, who appears in the centre of the merry group? Is it possible
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to recognize in that quiet parson’s wife, in her simple cap, and her plain woollen dress, the once gay Clementina? What a wondrous27 change has been wrought28 by change of circumstances—or rather, by religious principles and domestic affection! Clementina’s home is now her world, and the wants of her large family, and the claims of the poor, leave little margin29 for show. Yet there is a cheerfulness in her tone, and a sweetness in her smile, which in earlier days neither had possessed30; the merry voices of her children, her husband’s kind words, and the blessings31 of the humble32 members of his flock, far more than make up to her for the now half-forgotten flatteries and follies33 of Vanity Fair.
To the eldest34 boy the post of honour is committed. He draws out parcel after parcel from the depths of the box, and calling out aloud the name labelled upon each, gives it to its eager proprietor35.
“Mamma, this is for you,” and a square, flat parcel, was placed in the hands of Clementina Searle. It contained two small framed paintings by Charles, to adorn36 the bare walls of her humble little home. Perhaps there was something in the subject of those drawings which recalled thoughts of former days, for the lady’s eyes grew moist as she looked upon them.
The one represented a mossy ruin, gray with age, and near it a rustic37 gate, on which leaned a youthful pilgrim. A staff was in his hand, a burden on his back,
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and he was looking upwards38, with an anxious eye, on the cloudy, lowering sky above him.
THE WELCOME BOX.
The other represented a clear broad river, glittering in the rays of the setting sun. Beyond it were banks clothed with verdure and beauty, with a rich, red glow over all, and the openings between the wreaths of golden clouds seemed to give glimpses of brighter glories beyond. The same pilgrim appeared, one foot still in the stream, the other on the beautiful shore; his face could not be seen, but the sunny beams shone like a halo round his head; the burden was gone, and instead of the staff his hand grasped the conqueror39’s palm.
“How fondly he is remembered yet,” thought
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Clementina; “the brother’s love seems but to strengthen with time.” She was interrupted by the voice of her son Ernest.
“Mamma, see what a beautiful book Mr. Ewart has sent me! It looks like an old friend in a new dress, for I am sure that it is just the same as the one that you read to us on Sundays, only that mine is so prettily40 bound and illustrated41, so I like it much better than yours.”
THE NEW BOOK.
“No binding42 could add to the value of mine,” replied the mother, with a gentle sigh; “it was given to me by a dear friend now in heaven, who was the first to
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teach me from its pages the way to the Celestial43 City. In the life and death of that young servant of God, early called to his endless rest, but not until his work was done, I find pictures of the scenes described in that book—they are to me Illustrations of the Pilgrim’s Progress!”
And now, dear Reader, you who have traced with me the steps of the Young Pilgrim, through the various stages of his mortal life, suffer one word from your friend ere we part. Do you know anything of the pilgrimage of which you have here read? I ask not, Have you walked soberly through Vanity Fair, keeping yourself unspotted from the world?—if you have struggled with Apollyon, and been conqueror in the fight, or passed with a firm and unflinching step through the Valley of the Shadow of Death? But have you stood beneath the cross of the Saviour44, and found its power to remove the burden of sin? Have you ever even felt that sin is a burden, and knocked earnestly at the gate of Mercy? Or are you yet dwelling45 in the City of Destruction, thinking, caring nothing for the things belonging to your peace, laughing at the idea of a pilgrimage to Heaven, or putting it off for a more convenient season? Oh, for the sake of your own immortal46 soul, awake to your danger ere it be too late! The wicket-gate of Mercy is still opened to prayer; the blood which flowed from the cross still can wash away sin; the Holy Spirit is still willing to guide your
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steps on the narrow way, up the Hill of Difficulty, down the Valley of Humiliation47, through sunshine and darkness, through life and through death—to the eternal mansions48 prepared for you in Heaven!
The End
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1
piety
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| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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6
attaining
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的现在分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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7
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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8
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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9
enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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10
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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13
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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14
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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canvass
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| v.招徕顾客，兜售；游说；详细检查，讨论 | |
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16
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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17
dependant
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| n.依靠的，依赖的，依赖他人生活者 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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21
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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23
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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pastor
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| n.牧师，牧人 | |
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26
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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28
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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30
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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32
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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33
follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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34
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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36
adorn
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| vt.使美化，装饰 | |
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37
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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38
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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40
prettily
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| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
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41
illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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42
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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43
celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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44
saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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45
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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46
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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47
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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48
mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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