for me when he left me, for it went to his heart to find that I
would not see these things in the same light as he did. And now,
you, I, and these dear boys, reap the fruits of all his woes. I
hope, Mercy, these tears of yours will not be shed in vain, for
He who could not lie, has said that they who sow in tears shall
reap in joy.

Now when Christiana came up to the Slough Of Despond, she and her
sons made a stand, and Christiana told them that this was the
place in which her dear Christian fell. But Mercy said, Come, let
us try; all we have to do is to keep the steps well in view. Yet
Christiana made a slip or two in the mud; but at last they got
through the slough, and then they heard a voice say to them:
Blest is she who hath faith, for those things which were told her
of the Lord shall come to pass.

So now they went on once more, and Mercy said, Had I as good
grounds to hope to get in at the gate as you have, I think no
Slough Of Despond would keep me back.

Well, said Christiana, you know your sore, and I know mine, and
hard toil will it be for both of us to get to the end of the way;
for how can we think that they who set out on a scheme of so much
bliss, should steer clear of frights and fears on their way to
that bright bourn which it is their aim to reach?

When they came to the gate, it took them some time to make out a
plan of what they should say to Him who stood there; and as Mercy
was not so old as her friend, she said that it must rest with
Christiana to speak for all of them. So, she gave a knock, and