Мхи старої садиби
The Celestial Railroad
Foot-it-to-heaven,"hasrefused,andwilleverrefuse,tograntanactofincorporationforthisrailroad;andunlessthatbeobtained,nopassengercaneverhopetoenterhisdominions.Whereforeeverymanwhobuysaticketmustlayhisaccountwithlosingthepurchasemoney,whichisthevalueofhisownsoul."
"Poh,nonsense!"saidMr.Smooth-it-away,takingmyarmandleadingmeoff,"thesefellowsoughttobeindictedforalibel.IfthelawstoodasitoncedidinVanityFairweshouldseethemgrinningthroughtheironbarsoftheprisonwindow."
Thisincidentmadeaconsiderableimpressiononmymind,andcontributedwithothercircumstancestoindisposemetoapermanentresidenceinthecityofVanity;although,ofcourse,Iwasnotsimpleenoughtogiveupmyoriginalplanofglidingalongeasilyandcommodiouslybyrailroad.Still,Igrewanxioustobegone.Therewasonestrangethingthattroubledme.AmidtheoccupationsoramusementsoftheFair,nothingwasmorecommonthanforaperson—whetheratfeast,theatre,orchurch,ortraffickingforwealthandhonors,orwhateverhemightbedoing,tovanishlikeasoapbubble,andbenevermoreseenofhisfellows;andsoaccustomedwerethelattertosuchlittleaccidentsthattheywentonwiththeirbusinessasquietlyasifnothinghadhappened.Butitwasotherwisewithme.
Finally,afteraprettylongresidenceattheFair,IresumedmyjourneytowardstheCelestialCity,stillwithMr.Smooth-it-awayatmyside.
