3. When Mr. Fearing came to the river where was no bridge, there again
he was in a heavy case. Now, he said, he should be drowned for ever and
never see that Face with comfort he had come so many miles to behold. And
here also I took notice of what was very remarkable; the water of that
river was lower at this time than ever I saw it in all my life. So he
went over at last not much above wet-shod. Fore-fancy and fore-arrange,
if it be possible, for a passage like that. When he was going tip to the
gate Mr. Greatheart began to take his leave of him, and to wish him a
good reception above. "I shall," he said, "I shall." Be fore-assured,
also, of a reception like that.
4. In process of time there came a post to the town again, and his
business was this time with Mr. Ready-to-halt. So he inquired him out
and said to him, "I am come to thee in the name of Him whom thou hast
loved and followed, though upon crutches. And my message is to tell thee
that He expects thee at His table to sup with Him in His kingdom the next
day after Easter." After this Mr. Ready-to-halt called for his fellow-
pilgrims and told them, saying, "I am sent for, and God shall surely
visit you also. These crutches," he said, "I bequeath to my son that he
may tread in my steps, with a hundred warm wishes that he may prove
better than I have done." When he came to the brink of the river, he
said, "Now I shall have no more need of these crutches, since yonder are
horses and chariots for me to ride on." The last words he was heard to
say were, "Welcome life!" Let all ready-to-halt hearts fore-fancy all
that.
5. Then Mr. Feeble-mind called for his friends and told them what errand
had been brought to him, and what token he had received of the truth of
the message. "As for my feeble mind," he said, "that I shall leave
behind me, for I shall have no need of that in the place whither I go.
When I am gone, Mr. Valiant, I desire that you would bury it in a dung-
hill." This done, and the day being come in which he was to depart, he
entered the river as the rest. His last words were, "Hold out faith and
patience." Fore-fancy such an end as that to your feeble mind also.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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