Chapter I: Front Matter

_Page 22._]

THE
YOUNG PILGRIM.

A Tale
_ILLUSTRATIVE OF “THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.”_

BY
A. L. O. E.,
AUTHOR OF “THE SHEPHERD OF BETHLEHEM,”
“THE SILVER CASKET,” ETC.

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.

London:
T. NELSON AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW.
EDINBURGH; AND NEW YORK.
1887.

Preface.

It may perhaps be necessary to give a brief explanation of the object of this little work. It has been written as a CHILD’S COMPANION TO THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS. That invaluable work is frequently put into youthful hands long before the mind can unravel the deep allegory which it contains; and thus its precious lessons are lost, and it is only perused as an amusing tale.

I would offer my humble work as a kind of _translation_, the term which was applied to it by a little boy to whom I was reading it in manuscript—a translation of ideas beyond youthful comprehension into the common language of daily life. I would tell the child, through the medium of a simple tale, that Bunyan’s dream is a solemn reality, that the feet of the young may tread the pilgrim’s path, and press on to the pilgrim’s reward.

I earnestly wish that I had been able more completely to carry out the object set before me; but difficulties have arisen from the very nature of my work. I have been obliged to make mine _a very free translation_, full both of imperfections and omissions. This is more especially the case where subjects are treated of in the Pilgrim’s Progress which concern the deeper experience of the soul. Of fearful inward struggles and temptations, such as befell the author of that work, the gloom and horrors of the Valley of the Shadow of Death, the little ones who early set out on pilgrimage usually know but little. They find the stepping-stones across the Slough of Despond, and are rarely seized by Giant Despair. It would be worse than useless to represent the Christian pilgrimage as more gloomy and painful than children are likely to find it.

There are other valuable parts of the Pilgrim’s Progress, such as the sojourn in the House Beautiful, which is believed by many to represent Christian communion, which could hardly be enlarged upon in a design like mine; while the present altered appearance of Vanity Fair has compelled me to wander still further from my original, if I would draw a picture that could be recognized at the present day, and be useful to the rising generation.

Such as it is, I earnestly pray the Lord of pilgrims to vouchsafe his blessing on my little work. To point out to His dear children the holy guiding light which marks the strait gate and the narrow path of life, and bid them God speed on their way, is an office which I most earnestly desire, yet of which I feel myself unworthy. I may at least hope to lead my young readers to a nobler instructor, to induce them to peruse with greater interest and deeper profit the pages of the Pilgrim’s Progress, and to apply to their own characters and their own lives the precious truths conveyed in that allegory.

A. L. O. E.

Contents.

I. THE PILGRIM’S CALL, 13

II. DIFFICULTIES ON SETTING OUT, 25

III. MAN’S WAY OF WORKS, 33

IV. GOD’S GIFT OF GRACE, 44

V. A GLIMPSE OF THE CROSS, 52

VI. THE PILGRIM IN HIS HOME, 62

VII. THE ARBOUR ON THE HILL, 68

VIII. DANGERS, DIFFICULTIES, AND DOUBTS, 79

IX. THE ARMOUR AND THE BATTLE, 90

X. SHADOW AND SUNSHINE, 102

XI. THE TOUCHSTONE OF TRIAL, 111

XII. PILGRIMS CONVERSE BY THE WAY, 122

XIII. DISTANT GLIMPSE OF VANITY FAIR, 132

XIV. VEXATIONS OF VANITY FAIR, 143

XV. CITIZENS OF VANITY FAIR, 151

XVI. NEW AND OLD COMPANIONS, 159

XVII. LIFE IN THE GREAT CITY, 167

XVIII. FOGS AND MISTS, 181

XIX. DISAPPOINTMENT, 189

XX. THE PERILOUS MINE, 197

XXI. GREEN PASTURES AND STILL WATERS, 206

XXII. A FEW STEPS ASIDE, 215

XXIII. REGRETS, BUT NOT DESPAIR, 230

XXIV. A NEW DANGER, 239

XXV. THE LAKE AMONG THE ROCKS, 253

XXVI. COMING TO THE RIVER, 264

XXVII. THE CLOSE OF THE PILGRIMAGE, 271

XXVIII. CONCLUSION, 280

List of Illustrations.

MR. EWART AND MARK, _Frontispiece_

AT THE GATE, 14

MARK AND HIS MOTHER, 29

HERDING SHEEP, 39

AT THE CHURCH, 57

MARK’S KINDNESS, 67

MARK’S INDIGNATION AT DECEIT, 76

MARK RESTORING THE LOST BIBLE, 86

MARK DISCOVERED BY LORD FONTONORE, 105

CHARLES’S STRUGGLE, 117

CHARLES AND HIS MOTHER’S PORTRAIT, 140

CLEMENTINA AT THE PIANO, 149

RETURNING FROM CHURCH, 162

THE PARTING WITH MR. EWART, 169

THE CONVERSATION IN THE PARK, 179

DRESSED FOR THE BALL, 188

CLEMENTINA AND ERNEST, 192

CHARLES AND FITZWIGRAM, 204

MR. STAINES AND THE TUTOR, 218

THE DISMISSAL, 228

THE CONFESSION AND ENTREATY, 233

THE NEW TUTOR, 242

THE APOLOGY, 251

THE RESCUE, 260

JACK RECEIVING THE BIBLE, 276

THE WELCOME BOX, 284

THE NEW BOOK, 285

THE YOUNG PILGRIM.