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The Celestial Railroad
Thisveryneatandspaciousedificeiserectedonthesiteofthelittlewicketgate,whichformerly,asalloldpilgrimswillrecollect,stooddirectlyacrossthehighway,and,byitsinconvenientnarrowness,wasagreatobstructiontothetravellerofliberalmindandexpansivestomachThereaderofJohnBunyanwillbegladtoknowthatChristian’soldfriendEvangelist,whowasaccustomedtosupplyeachpilgrimwithamysticroll,nowpresidesattheticketoffice.SomemaliciouspersonsitistruedenytheidentityofthisreputablecharacterwiththeEvangelistofoldtimes,andevenpretendtobringcompetentevidenceofanimposture.WithoutinvolvingmyselfinadisputeIshallmerelyobservethat,sofarasmyexperiencegoes,thesquarepiecesofpasteboardnowdeliveredtopassengersaremuchmoreconvenientandusefulalongtheroadthantheantiquerollofparchment.WhethertheywillbeasreadilyreceivedatthegateoftheCelestialCityIdeclinegivinganopinion.
Alargenumberofpassengerswerealreadyatthestation-houseawaitingthedepartureofthecars.Bytheaspectanddemeanorofthesepersonsitwaseasytojudgethatthefeelingsofthecommunityhadundergoneaveryfavorablechangeinreferencetothecelestialpilgrimage.ItwouldhavedoneBunyan’sheartgoodtoseeit.
