"Hawthorne, Nathaniel - The Celestial Railroad" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hawthorne Nathaniel)

have been converted into a mass like granite. The whole bog might be
filled up with similar matter."

It really seemed to me, however, that the bridge vibrated and
heaved up and down in a very formidable manner; and, spite of Mr.
Smooth-it-away's testimony to the solidity of its foundation, I should
be loth to cross it in a crowded omnibus; especially, if each
passenger were encumbered with as heavy luggage as that gentleman
and myself. Nevertheless, we got over without accident, and soon found
ourselves at the Station-house. This very neat and spacious edifice is
erected on the site of the little Wicket-Gate, which formerly, as
all old pilgrims will recollect, stood directly across the highway,
and, by its inconvenient narrowness, was a great obstruction to the
traveller of liberal mind and expansive stomach. The reader of John
Bunyan will be glad to know, that Christian's old friend Evangelist,
who was accustomed to supply each pilgrim with a mystic roll, now
presides at the ticket office. Some malicious persons, it is true,
deny the identity of this reputable character with the Evangelist of
old times, and even pretend to bring competent evidence of an
imposture. Without involving myself in a dispute, I shall merely
observe, that, so far as my experience goes, the square pieces of
pasteboard, now delivered to passengers, are much more convenient
and useful along the road, than the antique roll of parchment. Whether
they will be as readily received at the gate of the Celestial City,
I decline giving an opinion.

A large number of passengers were already at the Station-house,
awaiting the departure of the cars. By the aspect and demeanor of
these persons, it was easy to judge that the feelings of the community
had undergone a very favorable change, in reference to the celestial
pilgrimage. It would have done Bunyan's heart good to see it.
Instead of a lonely and ragged man, with a huge burthen on his back,
plodding along sorrowfully on foot, while the whole city hooted
after him, here were parties of the first gentry and most
respectable people in the neighborhood, setting forth towards the
Celestial City, as cheerfully as if the pilgrimage were merely a
summer tour. Among the gentlemen were characters of deserved eminence,
magistrates, politicians, and men of wealth, by whose example religion
could not but be greatly recommended to their meaner brethren. In
the ladies' apartment, too, I rejoiced to distinguish some of those
flowers of fashionable society, who are so well fitted to adorn the
most elevated circles of the Celestial City. There was much pleasant
conversation about the news of the day, topics of business,
politics, or the lighter matters of amusement; while religion,
though indubitably the main thing at heart, was thrown tastefully into
the back-ground. Even an infidel would have heard little or nothing to
shock his sensibility.

One great convenience of the new method of going on pilgrimage, I
must not forget to mention. Our enormous burthens, instead of being