242 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.

preter, to pray him to grant that Mr. Great-heart should be sent unto us, that he may
be our conductor the rest of our way.” |

“Good boy,” said she, “TI had almost forgot.” So she drew up a petition, and prayed
Mr. Watchful the Porter to send it by some fit man to her good friend Mr. Inter-
preter, who, when it was come, and he had seen the contents of the petition, said to
the messenger, “ Go, tell them that I will send him.”

When the family where Christiana was saw that they had a purpose to go forward,
they called the whole house together, to give thanks to their King for sending of them
such profitable guests as these. Which done, they said unto Christiana, “ And shall
we not show thee something, according as our custom is to do to pilgrims, on which
thou mayest meditate when thou art upon the way?”

So they took Christiana, her children, and Mercy, into the closet, and showed
them one of the apples that Eve did eat of, and that which she also did give to her
husband, and that for the eating of which they were both turned out of Paradise, and
asked her what she thought that was.

Then Christiana said, “It is food or poison, I know not which.”

So they opened the matter to her, and she held up her hands and wondered.”

Then they had her to a place, and showed her Jacob’s ladder. Now, at that time
there were some angels ascending upon it.” So Christiana looked and looked, to see
the angels go up, and so did the rest of the company. Then they were going into
another place, to show them something else; but James said to his mother, “ Pray bid
them stay here a little longer, for this is a curious sight.” So they turned again, and
stood feeding their eyes with this so pleasing a prospect.

After this they had them into a place where did hang upa golden anchor. So they
bid Christiana take it down; “For,” said they, “you shall have it with you, for it is
of absolute necessity that you should, that you may lay hold of that within the veil,”
and stand steadfast, in case you should meet with turbulent weather.” So they were
glad thereof. .

Then they took them, and had them to the mount upon which Abraham our father
had offered up Isaac his son, and showed them the altar, the wood, the fire, and the
knife; for they remain to be seen to this very day.* When they had seen it, they
held up their hands, and blessed themselves, and said, “Oh! what a man for love to
his Master, and for denial to himself, was Abraham!”

After they had showed them all these things, Prudence took them into the dining-
room, where stood a pair of excellent virginals; so she played upon them, and turned
what she had showed them into this excellent song, saying: