WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>Part two of cupid Cyclopedia by Oliver Hereford and John

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<v Speaker 1>Cecil Clay. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.

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<v Speaker 1>Part two Amoria. Amoria is the most ancient and honorable

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<v Speaker 1>country upon the Earth's surface, and is without question the

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<v Speaker 1>most intensely populated. It is a green and fertile country,

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<v Speaker 1>and the principal occupation of its people is horticultural husbandry.

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<v Speaker 1>The form of government is home rule, and to become

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<v Speaker 1>a citizen, although born in the country, it is required

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<v Speaker 1>that at least one complete journey be made from end

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<v Speaker 1>to end of the country's principal highway. This at first

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<v Speaker 1>seems an odd requirement, but there is good reasoning behind it. First,

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<v Speaker 1>as this great highway, known as the Path of True Love,

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<v Speaker 1>in its devious windings, touch is practically every portion of

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<v Speaker 1>the Kingdom, the trip is likely to open the traveler's

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<v Speaker 1>eyes and teach him much of the resources and conditions

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<v Speaker 1>of the country he wishes to call his own. Second,

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<v Speaker 1>as the road is rough and in places sometimes seemingly impassable,

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<v Speaker 1>the trip will test the determination and stability of the

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<v Speaker 1>most hearty. Turn to the map, and we find Amoria

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<v Speaker 1>bounded on three sides by misanthropia, the state of indifference,

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<v Speaker 1>and the sea of oblivion emptying into which the Quarrel

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<v Speaker 1>River forever pours its flotsam and jetsam. On the upper side,

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<v Speaker 1>you will see it as bounded by the edge of

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<v Speaker 1>the map. This is because it is too cold in

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<v Speaker 1>that direction to sustain human life. Reader's note. Here in

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<v Speaker 1>the text occurs a map which is amply described in

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<v Speaker 1>the text that follows end note. Let us now follow

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<v Speaker 1>upon the map the course of this historic road. Far

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<v Speaker 1>up in the corner of the map we find Mount Curiosity,

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<v Speaker 1>its snow capped peaks, lost in the soft gray veil

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<v Speaker 1>of mist that has prevented the scientist from determining its

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<v Speaker 1>greatest heights. The ascent of the mountain is usually made

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<v Speaker 1>on the side where it comes nearest to the state

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<v Speaker 1>of indifference. See note why here a well known path

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<v Speaker 1>known as the path of least resistance takes one by

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<v Speaker 1>such a gradual and agreeable route that little or no

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<v Speaker 1>effort is realized in the climb, and it is usually

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<v Speaker 1>as surprise when just a little below the frost line,

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<v Speaker 1>one comes suddenly upon a little plateau high high in

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<v Speaker 1>the heavens. Here the air is salubrious, and the temperature,

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<v Speaker 1>even the view is so wonderful in the early on

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<v Speaker 1>that the most phlegmatic will become enthusiastic. This little plateau

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<v Speaker 1>is known as the Plateau Platonic, and is quite flat.

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<v Speaker 1>In spite of its beauty and charm. Few travelers are

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<v Speaker 1>satisfied to rest here long. In leaving the plateau, one

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<v Speaker 1>must have a care, for there are two paths quite

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<v Speaker 1>similar in appearance, one leading up the mountain to nowhere

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<v Speaker 1>and loneliness, and the other the commencement of the path

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<v Speaker 1>of true love. The careful traveler need not mistake the path,

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<v Speaker 1>for beside the entrance, at about the height of a

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<v Speaker 1>man's heart, and nailed to a great oak, is a

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<v Speaker 1>crudely fashioned hand with finger pointing the way. This is

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<v Speaker 1>called the hand of fate. Alas, too few take the

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<v Speaker 1>trouble to look for this guide, and many take the

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<v Speaker 1>wrong path, while those who, by sheer luck take the

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<v Speaker 1>right night one are easily discouraged because of the very

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<v Speaker 1>uncertain condition of mind They soon find themselves in These

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<v Speaker 1>usually lose heart before going a long way, or in

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<v Speaker 1>their careless method of progress, take some wrong turning and

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<v Speaker 1>come to a swift and bad end. But we will

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<v Speaker 1>follow the progress of the traveler who believes and signs.

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<v Speaker 1>It is hard to describe those first impressions, as one

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<v Speaker 1>comes swinging down the mountain side and sees winding far

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<v Speaker 1>out across the verdant Valley of Dreams, dotted here and

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<v Speaker 1>there with its picturesque castles, the path of true love

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<v Speaker 1>like a silver thread. It seems so bright and pure,

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<v Speaker 1>and off to the right, there is such a happy

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<v Speaker 1>pink glow in the sky that one usually finds himself

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<v Speaker 1>humming some old love song. Luckily the traveler who puts

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<v Speaker 1>a clover in his buttonhole while crossing the Valley of dreams,

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<v Speaker 1>for all too soon the cold winds that sweep across

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<v Speaker 1>the Lake Indifference and make the trip around it a

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<v Speaker 1>perilous and discouraging one will be chilling his marrow. He

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<v Speaker 1>will need both courage and luck. When rounding the upper

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<v Speaker 1>end of the lake, he comes upon the rough and

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<v Speaker 1>rocky stretch of road running along the edge of a

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<v Speaker 1>fearful precipice, which overhangs the lake and is known as

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<v Speaker 1>the Height of Indifference. Here, one false step and all

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<v Speaker 1>is lost. Past this danger, the road turns from the

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<v Speaker 1>lake but the traveler has hardly time to congratulate himself

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<v Speaker 1>upon the warmer conditions when he is confronted by a

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<v Speaker 1>most disconcerting range of mountains known as the Mountains of opposition.

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<v Speaker 1>If you do not cross the mountains, the mountains will

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<v Speaker 1>double cross you. So push on and with tact and

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<v Speaker 1>determination they will be overcome. The mountains passed, a smooth

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<v Speaker 1>bit of road is reached, and brighter weather that after

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<v Speaker 1>the lowering clouds. The storms and many obstacles met with

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<v Speaker 1>in the mountains will likely mislead the traveler into thinking

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<v Speaker 1>his troubles over light hearted, he will push forward hurriedly,

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<v Speaker 1>taking little heed of the fast increasing cold. Fortunately, adjust

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<v Speaker 1>at the edge of the map, and just upon the

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<v Speaker 1>longitude of respect, the road takes a sudden, sharp turn,

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<v Speaker 1>but it is almost from bad to worse, for it

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<v Speaker 1>plunges the traveler into the forest of misunderstanding, a dark

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<v Speaker 1>and dismal place that will fill the strongest with misgivings.

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<v Speaker 1>The only way is to stick close to the road.

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<v Speaker 1>This is sometimes hard in the darkness, as there are

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<v Speaker 1>many bypaths. Travelers, once off the correct road, have been

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<v Speaker 1>known to wander for years without once seeing the sunlight.

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<v Speaker 1>About half way through the forest, there is a road

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<v Speaker 1>turning to the right, it seems the easier way, dipping

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<v Speaker 1>down as it does, into a little valley and across

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<v Speaker 1>a turbulent little stream, beyond which it disappears from sight

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<v Speaker 1>in the tangle of brilliant foliage covering Mount Folly. Unhappy

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<v Speaker 1>he who takes this turn, for there is many a

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<v Speaker 1>slippery stone in the bed of this stream, and the

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<v Speaker 1>crossing is not a happy one if one would turn

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<v Speaker 1>back at the first slip, But human nature is stubborn,

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<v Speaker 1>and few do. Besides, there seems little choice between the

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<v Speaker 1>dismal forest behind and the lure of Mount Folly ahead.

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<v Speaker 1>Folly lasts but a day, however, and the foliage soon

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<v Speaker 1>loses its attractive coloring. The foolish wayfarer, then, pushing on,

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<v Speaker 1>finds himself again confronted by the turbulent stream, but easier

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<v Speaker 1>to cross, this time a little way further. The path

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<v Speaker 1>ends at what appears to be a refreshing spring. It

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<v Speaker 1>is the spring of untruth, and he who lies to

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<v Speaker 1>drink of its waters will ever be a slave of

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<v Speaker 1>the drug. Again, as one is nearing the edges of

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<v Speaker 1>the black forest, is another road leading off to the

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<v Speaker 1>left and to the Spring of Mistrust. Turn not aside

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<v Speaker 1>nor drink of this spring. Its waters are bitter, and

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<v Speaker 1>this turning but takes one back into the depths of

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<v Speaker 1>the dismal forest. Emerging from the black forests of Misunderstanding,

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<v Speaker 1>the road winds across a fertile and easy going prairie land, twice,

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<v Speaker 1>crossing the acid waters of bicker Brook see Note twenty three,

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<v Speaker 1>and crossing the Quarrel River, takes its course along the

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<v Speaker 1>foot of what by many is considered the most beautiful

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<v Speaker 1>mountain in Amoria mount Unselfishness. The going is easy here,

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<v Speaker 1>and when one comes to a little road branching off

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<v Speaker 1>and running right up the mountain side, he is apt

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<v Speaker 1>to feel very little inclination to take it. Nearly every

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<v Speaker 1>traveler knows by hearsay that this is a short cut

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<v Speaker 1>one should take. But standing at the foot of the mountain,

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<v Speaker 1>with a broad, smooth road on one hand, and this

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<v Speaker 1>little used, difficult mountain path, it is hardly more than

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<v Speaker 1>a blazed trail on the other. It is much to

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<v Speaker 1>the traveler's credit who attempts it at all. Quite a

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<v Speaker 1>few do, however, begin the ascent, but almost without exception,

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<v Speaker 1>have not the strength to continue and turn back to

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<v Speaker 1>the main highway, only to be shortly plunged again and

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<v Speaker 1>again in the cold and caustic waters of the Quarrel River.

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<v Speaker 1>As the road crosses and recrosses it. There are no

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<v Speaker 1>bridges here, and many a poor traveler becomes exhausted in

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<v Speaker 1>the mad battle with the current, hopelessly loses all self

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<v Speaker 1>control and is carried away to be lost in the

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<v Speaker 1>sea of oblivion. At the river's mouth is lost Hope Island.

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<v Speaker 1>This is really nothing more than a bar, and superstition

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<v Speaker 1>has it that there, on stormy nights, when the tide

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<v Speaker 1>is coming in congregate those poor lost souls, and it

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<v Speaker 1>is claimed on good authority that the discords of their

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<v Speaker 1>mormful songs can be heard even as far as the

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<v Speaker 1>edges of the desert of Absence. After these several crossings

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<v Speaker 1>of the Quarrel River, the road again becomes easy, and

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<v Speaker 1>travel should be a pleasure. But the traveler is weary

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<v Speaker 1>from the recent struggle with the river, and is almost

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<v Speaker 1>thankful for the flat stretch of road where it first

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<v Speaker 1>crosses the desert of Absence. Often better if this bit

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<v Speaker 1>of road were longer for before the traveler entirely regains

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<v Speaker 1>his former vim, he is deep in the unhealthy mists

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<v Speaker 1>and quicksands of the slew of despond and it is

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<v Speaker 1>in a very weakened condition that he commences the second

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<v Speaker 1>crossing of the Desert of Absence. In this condition is

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<v Speaker 1>it strange that one loiter in the oasis of flirtation,

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<v Speaker 1>the one bright spot in an otherwise dull desert. But

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<v Speaker 1>an oasis and a flirtation have their limits, and when

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<v Speaker 1>one's thirst is satisfied, one wants to move on. And well,

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<v Speaker 1>this is for the traveler on the path of true love.

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<v Speaker 1>For only a little and the desert is past, and

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<v Speaker 1>the road leads for many happy miles through the sweetest

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<v Speaker 1>and most beautiful meadow land, where the warm sunlight, the

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<v Speaker 1>songs of the birds, and the sweet odor of new

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<v Speaker 1>mown hay repay one for all the hardships of the past,

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<v Speaker 1>and so stimulate the traveler that he strikes out upon

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<v Speaker 1>the third crossing of the Desert of Absence with a

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<v Speaker 1>light step and a song in his heart. And though

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<v Speaker 1>the trip is longer, it seems far shorter than either

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<v Speaker 1>of the previous crossings. So happy indeed has he been,

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<v Speaker 1>and with the soft airs of the desert making his

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<v Speaker 1>heart grow fonder. The way seems so easy that the

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<v Speaker 1>sudden obstruction of two of the lesser spurs of the

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<v Speaker 1>mountains of opposition fill him with misgiving, and the valley

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<v Speaker 1>between them is well named Blue Valley see Note thirteen.

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<v Speaker 1>In such a condition of mind, the traveler plunges down

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<v Speaker 1>the mountain side and is soon deep in a great

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<v Speaker 1>gloomy forest, not likely to raise his spirits, but rather

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<v Speaker 1>calculated to depress them still more ugeen then the elation.

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<v Speaker 1>When bursting at length from the depression of the forest

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<v Speaker 1>of gloom, the traveler sees before him that transcendently beautiful mountain,

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<v Speaker 1>Mount Hope. Well, may he hold his breath and gaze

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<v Speaker 1>in rapture, for before him rises the most beautiful mountain

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<v Speaker 1>in all the world, and will ever be as long

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<v Speaker 1>as life lasts, with its velvety slopes and shaded dells,

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<v Speaker 1>its little silver rills tinkling down the mountain side, sounding

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<v Speaker 1>like fairy laughter through the trees, the gently stirring air,

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<v Speaker 1>freighted with the perfume of myriads of fragrant blossoms, and

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<v Speaker 1>overall a tender rose colored glow reflected from the soft,

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<v Speaker 1>pinky clouds that forever tenderly rests upon the mountain stop.

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<v Speaker 1>It is indeed the most beautiful of nature's jewels, so

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<v Speaker 1>it seems, with hope so long deferred to, that tired

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<v Speaker 1>eyed struggler upon Love's highway, often heartsick and oppressed by

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<v Speaker 1>the vicissitudes of the way. For here he may rest, and,

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<v Speaker 1>gazing again out over the deer valley of dreams, rejuvenate

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<v Speaker 1>the yearning, the ambition, and the determination that have brought

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<v Speaker 1>him through so much. To these he must now add hope,

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<v Speaker 1>And so equipped and refreshed, he dashes a second time

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<v Speaker 1>through the forest of gloom, and, though confronted by the

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<v Speaker 1>most stubborn and rocky section known as the parent peak

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<v Speaker 1>in the entire range of the mountains of Opposition, his

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<v Speaker 1>past experience and his added strength carry him over with

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<v Speaker 1>little effort, and coming down the last steep slope, his

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<v Speaker 1>heart gives abound as his eye follows the smooth roadway

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<v Speaker 1>stretching invitingly across a nearly level expanse of well cultivated country,

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<v Speaker 1>thickly dotted with the happy homes of those who had

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<v Speaker 1>once been travelers like himself. If he be not short sighted,

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<v Speaker 1>he is able to see even as far ahead as

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<v Speaker 1>to where the road and his lonely journey end in

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<v Speaker 1>heavenly Mount Heart's Desire. As he passes along, many a

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<v Speaker 1>cheerful face smiles out at him from the doorways, and

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<v Speaker 1>many a cheerful word of welcome and greeting encourage him

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<v Speaker 1>to hasten. The smiles of the rosy cheeked children seem

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<v Speaker 1>especially sweet to him. The journey's end, the goal is reached.

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<v Speaker 1>Naught remains further for the traveler now except the oath

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<v Speaker 1>of allegiance, which is performed with considerable ceremony in the

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<v Speaker 1>little church just around the corner to the left. Note.

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<v Speaker 1>Mount Heart's Desire is of an attractive shape and thickly

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<v Speaker 1>surrounded by orange blossoms. No two travelers agree as to

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<v Speaker 1>its height, but we are of the opinion that it

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<v Speaker 1>must be about five feet three or four inches. Within

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<v Speaker 1>it is a little shrine called Trust, which is the

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<v Speaker 1>duty of every worshiper to protect. Note why it seems

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<v Speaker 1>more than a mere coincidence that the path of least

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<v Speaker 1>resistance should run up Mount Curiosity on the side nearest

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<v Speaker 1>to the borders of the State of Indifference, and there

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<v Speaker 1>is a very ancient tradition that the first person to

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<v Speaker 1>make the ascent came from that easy going country. We

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<v Speaker 1>believe this tradition to be another version of the Adam

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<v Speaker 1>and Eve's story, and feel that it conclusively proves us

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<v Speaker 1>right in our calculations as to the exact location of

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<v Speaker 1>the Garden of Eden. We claim it was situated in

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<v Speaker 1>that part of the State of Indifference, near to and

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<v Speaker 1>in full view of Mount Curiosity, and that Adam was

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<v Speaker 1>the first man to make the climb. We also believe

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<v Speaker 1>that Adam became lost on the mountain side and never

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<v Speaker 1>returned to Eden, and that the Path of True Love

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<v Speaker 1>gives a pretty good idea of his subsequent wanderings, of

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<v Speaker 1>which so little heretofore has been known. At any rate,

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<v Speaker 1>vast numbers from the State of Indifference make the ascent

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<v Speaker 1>of Mount Curiosity every year, and many of our best

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<v Speaker 1>citizens have come from that state Note twenty three. At

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<v Speaker 1>this point, after the more or less extended journey through

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<v Speaker 1>the unhealthy forest of misunderstanding, the traveler must have a care,

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<v Speaker 1>especially if he be of a sensitive nature, for the

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<v Speaker 1>shock of the first plunge through bicker Brook will often

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<v Speaker 1>throw one into a distemper or fever. Some going out

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<v Speaker 1>salutely out of their heads, wander far afield. Herein lies

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<v Speaker 1>a grave danger because of the nearness of the road

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<v Speaker 1>at this point to the boundaries of Misanthropia, which state

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<v Speaker 1>is little more than a barren waste. The peculiar mental

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<v Speaker 1>attitude of its inhabitants gives strength to the theory advanced

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<v Speaker 1>in Amoria that its population is made up of those poor,

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<v Speaker 1>fever ridden souls who have wandered from the path of

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<v Speaker 1>true love and gone quite mad Note thirteen. The higher

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<v Speaker 1>one climbs, the duller the thud. So with the traveler

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<v Speaker 1>who has been dreaming across sweet meadowland and balmy wastes,

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<v Speaker 1>when suddenly confronted by a renewal of obstacles which his

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<v Speaker 1>optimism had made him believe past forever. And it is

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<v Speaker 1>in a nervous and uncertain state of mind we find

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<v Speaker 1>him groping his way through the mists that always fill

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<v Speaker 1>Blue Valley. Here is a great danger, for with the

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<v Speaker 1>steep mountains on three sides, the traveler, if he once

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<v Speaker 1>stumble from the road, is apt to follow the depression

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<v Speaker 1>of the valley, until morbid and benumbed, he wander into

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<v Speaker 1>the state of indifference. The same danger, in a lesser degree,

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<v Speaker 1>is lurking in the Forest of Gloom. Appendix. The appendix

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<v Speaker 1>has been removed end of Part two.