t
hurt their souls. I choose scenes from real life, as they are not too
hard for you to grasp, when I fit them to your own case; and it is the
love I have for your souls that prompts me to show you these things.

Christiana:--Pray let us see some more.

Interpreter then took them to his field, which was sown with wheat and
corn; but when they came to look, the ears were cut off, and there was
nought but the straw left.

Interpreter:--What shall we do with the crop?

Christiana:--Burn some, and use the rest to dress the ground with.

Interpreter:--Fruit, you see, is the thing you look for, and for want of
that you cast off the whole crop. Take heed that in this you do not seal
your own doom; for by fruit I mean works.

Now when they came back to the house the meal was not yet spread, so did
Christiana beg of Interpreter to show or tell them some more things.

Interpreter:--So much the more strong a man's health is, so much the
more prone is he to sin. The more fat the sow is, the more she loves
the mire. It is not so hard to sit up a night or two, as to watch for a
whole year; just as it is not so hard to start well as it is to hold
out to the end. One leak will sink a ship, and one sin will kill a man's
soul. If a man would live well, let him keep his last day in mind.

Now when Christiana, Mercy and the boys bad all had a good night's rest,
they rose with the sun, and made a move to leave; but Interpreter told
them to wait a while. For, said he, you must go hence in due form, such
is the rule of the house.

Then he told Innocent to take them to the bath, and there wash the
dust from them. This done, they came forth fresh and strong, and as
Interpreter said, Fair as the moon.

Next he told those near him to bring the seal, and when it was brought
he set his mark on them that they might be known in each place where
they went.

Then said Interpreter: Bring vests for them. And they were clad in robes
as white as snow, so that it made each start to see the rest shine with
so bright a light.

Interpreter then sent for one of his men whose name was Great-heart, and
bade that he should be clad in a coat of mail, with sword and shield,
and that he should take them to a house, the name of which was
Beautiful, where they would rest.

Then Interpreter took his leave of them, with a good wish for each. So
they went on their way, and thus they sang:--

"O move me, Lord, to watch and pray, From sin my heart to clear;