Awaka mu Kibuga

Mu kiseera kino omwana wa Christiana, James, yali akuze n'atuuka mu myaka egisaana, Gaius n'amuwa Phebe (eyali omwana we) okuba mukyala we. Baamala ennaku kkumi mu nnyumba ya Gaius, oluvannyuma ne basiibula. Naye ku lunaku olw'enkomerero yabakolera embaga, ne balya ne banywa bonna.

Omutima-Omuzira:—Kaakano, Gaius, ekiseera kituuse okugenda; kale mbuulira kye nkubanja olw'okumala ebbanga eddene mu nnyumba yo ey'abagenyi, kubanga tumaze wano emyaka egiwerako.

Gaius:—Mu nnyumba yange tewali asasula; kubanga Omusamaliya omulungi yaŋŋamba nti nnaamusaba ye olw'ensaasaanya yonna gye nnaakozesa. Awo ne bamusiibula ne bagenda mu lugendo lwabwe, ne basisinkana ebyentiisa n'okutya okwa buli ngeri, okutuusa lwe baatuuka mu kifo ekyayitibwanga Akatale k'Obutaliimu. Eyo ne bagenda mu nnyumba ya Mnason, eyagamba abagenyi be nti: Bwe wanaabaawo ekintu kye mwetaaga, mukigambe busa, naffe tunaakola kye tusobola okukibafunira.

Kale nno, ne bagamba, twandyagadde nnyo okulaba abamu ku bantu abalungi ab'omu kibuga kino.

Awo Mnason n'akuba ekigere kye wansi, amangwago Grace n'ajja, n'amutuma okuleeta abamu ku mikwano gye abaali mu nnyumba, ne batuula bonna okulya.

Awo Mnason n'agamba, bwe yagolola omukono gwe okulaga Christiana: Mikwano gyange, nnina abagenyi wano abali mu lugendo okugenda e Sayuuni. Naye mulowooza ono ye ani? Ono ye mukyala wa Omukristaayo, oyo (ne munne Omwesigwa) abasajja b'omu kibuga kino gwe baayisa obubi ennyo.

Kale, ne bagamba, ani eyandirowoozezza okusisinkana Christiana mu kifo kino! Kabaka gw'oyagala era gw'oweereza akutuuse gy'ali, mu mirembe!

Awo ne bamugamba nti omusaayi gwa Omwesigwa gwali gubazitoowerera ku mitima gyabwe ng'omugugu; era nti kasookedde bamwokya, tewali basajja balala baaweerezebwa ku muti ogw'okwokerwako mu Katale k'Obutaliimu. Mu nnaku ziri, ne bagamba, abantu abalungi tebaayinza kutambula mu nguudo, naye kaakano basobola okulaga emitwe gyabwe.

Christiana ne batabani be ne Okusaasira ne bafuula ekifo kino amaka gaabwe okumala emyaka egiwerako, era mu kuyita kw'ebiro Mnason, eyalina mukyala ne bawala babiri, n'awaayo omwana we omubereberye, erinnya lye Grace, eri Samuel okuba mukyala we, ne Martha eri Joseph.

Awo, olunaku olumu, omusota omunene ennyo ne guva mu kibira ne gutta abamu ku bantu b'ekibuga. Tewali n'omu ku bo eyagumira okugwolekera, naye bonna baddukanga bwe baawulira nti gusembera kumpi, kubanga gwattanga abaana amakumi n'amakumi.

Naye Omutima-Omuzira n'abasajja abalala abaali mu nnyumba ya Mnason ne basalawo okutta omusota guno, balyoke bawonye ekibuga. Awo ne bafuluma okugusisinkana, era ku lubereberye omusota ne gulaba ng'atebafaako; naye olwokubanga baali basajja ba maanyi mu kulwana, ne baguzza emabega. Awo ne bagukwekera, ne bagugwako, okutuusa oluvannyuma lwe baamanya nti gusaanidde okufa olw'ebiwundu byagwo. Olw'ekikolwa kino Omutima-Omuzira n'abalala ne bafuna okwagalibwa ekibuga kyonna.

Kaakano ekiseera kyabwe eky'okweyongera mu lugendo ne kisembera. Omutima-Omuzira n'akulembera ng'omukulembeze waabwe; era ne ndaba mu kirooto kyange nga batuuka ku mugga oguli ku ludda luno olw'Ensozi Ennungi Ennyo, awaali emiti emirungi nga gimeruka ku buli lubalama, ng'ebikoola byagyo birungi eri obulamu, era ennimiro nga nnamu okumala omwaka gwonna; era wano bandigalamidde ne baba mu mirembe. Wano nno, waaliwo n'ebisibo by'endiga, era ennyumba yali ezimbiddwa mw'okulabiririra abaana b'endiga, era waaliwo Omu eyabakuuma, eyabasitulanga mu mikono gye n'abateeka mu kifuba kye.

Awo Christiana n'agamba bakyala abato abana okuteeka abaana baabwe ku mabbali g'omugga guno, baleme kubaako kye babuliddwa mu biro ebijja. Kubanga, yagamba, singa babula oba bazibe, y'anaabakomyawo; anaawa amaanyi abalwadde, era wano tebaabulwenga mmere, kunywa, oba ngoye. Awo ne baleka abaana baabwe abato mu mukono gwe.

Bwe baatuuka mu Ttalo lw'Ekkubo-ery'oku-mabbali ne batuula ku muddaliza Omukristaayo gye yali agenze ne Asuubira, Omuzira Okuggwaamu-Essuubi bwe yasiba bombi mu Kigo ky'Okubuusabuusa. Ne batuula okulowooza ekisinga obulungi kye baakola, kaakano nga bali ekibiina eky'amaanyi, era nga balina omusajja nga Omutima-Omuzira okubakulembera; kwe kugamba, obanga tekyandibadde kirungi okumenyaamenya Ekigo ky'Okubuusabuusa, era singa wabaddewo emyoyo egyavu egyasibiddwa omwo egiri mu lugendo okugenda mu Kibuga eky'Eggulu, okugiwa eddembe. Omu n'agamba kino omulala n'agamba kiri; oluvannyuma Omutima-Omuzira n'agamba: Tubuulirwa mu kitabo ky'Ekigambo kya Katonda, nti tuteekwa okulwana okulwana okulungi. Era, mbeegayirira, tulwane n'ani okuggyako Omuzira Okuggwaamu-Essuubi? Kale ani anaagenda nange?

Batabani ba Christiana abana ne bagamba: Ffe tunaagenda; kubanga baali bato era ba maanyi; awo ne baleka bakyala baabwe ne bagenda.

Bwe baakonkona ku mulyango, Omuzira Okuggwaamu-Essuubi ne mukyala we Entiisa ne bajja gye bali.

Omuzira Okuggwaamu-Essuubi:—Ani era ye muntu ki eyagumye okujja ku mulyango gw'Omuzira Okuggwaamu-Essuubi?

Omutima-Omuzira:—Ye nze, omukulembeze w'abo abali mu lugendo okugenda e Sayuuni. Era nkulagira ggulawo enzigi zo era ofulume, kubanga nzize okukutta n'okumenya ennyumba yo.

Omuzira Okuggwaamu-Essuubi:—Ki, abali nga Omutima-Omuzira banaantiisa? Nedda!

Awo n'ateeka enkufiira ey'ekyuma ku mutwe gwe, era ng'ayambadde n'engabo y'ekifuba ey'omuliro, ne yeekwata n'embukuuli mu mukono gwe, n'afuluma okulwanyisa abalabe be.

Awo abasajja bano omukaaga ne bamusemberera, ne balwanira obulamu bwabwe, okutuusa Okuggwaamu-Essuubi lwe yagwa wansi n'attibwa Omutima-Omuzira. Oluvannyuma ne bagwa ku nnyumba ye, naye kyabatwalira ennaku mukaaga okugimenya. Baasangamu Mr. Despondency n'omwana we Much-afraid, ne babawa eddembe.

Awo bonna ne bagenda ku Nsozi Ennungi Ennyo. Ne bakwana n'abasajja abaali balunda ebisibo byabwe, abaabalaga ekisa nga bwe baali baakolera Omukristaayo ne Asuubira.

Muleese ekibiina ekirungi, ne bagamba. Mbeegayirira, mwabasanga wa?

Awo omukulembeze waabwe n'abategeeza engeri byonna gye byagenda.

Ne bwe waayitawo akaseera ne batuuka ku Ttaka Eddogo, empewo w'ereetera abantu otulo. Kaakano baali tebannagenda wala, olufu olukwafu ne lubagwako, ne batasobola kulaba okumala akaseera; era olwokubanga tebaayinza kutambula na kulaba, ne basigala kumpi n'omukulembeze waabwe nga bayambibwa ebigambo. Naye omu n'agwa mu kisaka, omulala n'akwatibwa mu bitosi, n'abamu ku bato ne babuza engatto zaabwe mu bitosi. Woowe, ngudde! omu n'agamba. Oli ludda wa? omulala n'ayogera; ate ow'okusatu n'agamba, Nkwatiddwa mu kisaka!

Awo ne batuuka ku ntebe, eyayitibwanga Slothful's Friend, eyalina ebisaka n'ebimera nga bikyetoolodde, okusiikiriza abo abaatuula okuva mu njuba. Naye Christiana n'abalala baawuliriza bulungi nnyo bye baabuulirwa omukulembeze waabwe, ne bwe baali bakooye olw'okutegana, tewali n'omu ku bo eyalina wadde okwagala okuyimirira awo; kubanga baamanya nti kyandibadde kufa okwebaka wadde akaseera akatono ku Ttaka Eddogo.

Kaakano olwokubanga bwali bukyali bwa kizikiza, omukulembeze waabwe n'akoleeza ettabaaza alyoke atunuulire ekifaananyi ky'ekkubo lye (ekitabo ky'Ekigambo kya Katonda); era singa yali takoze bw'atyo, bonna bandibuze, kubanga ku nkomerero y'ekkubo waaliyo ekinnya, ekijjudde ebitosi, era tewali asobola kugamba obuziba bwakyo.

Awo ne ndowooza nti: Ani ali eyo atandyagadde okuba n'ekimu ku bifaananyi bino oba ebitabo mwatunuulira ng'ali mu kubuusabuusa, nga tamanyi kkubo ki ly'asaanidde okukwata?

Mangwago ne batuuka ku ntebe, kwe kwatuula abasajja babiri, Heedless ne Too-bold; Christiana n'abalala ne banyeenya emitwe gyabwe kubanga baalaba nti abasajja bano baali mu mbeera mbi. Tebaamanya kye baali basaanidde okukola: okweyongerayo ne babaleka nga beebase, oba okugezaako okubazuukusa. Kaakano omukulembeze n'ayogera nabo n'amannya gaabwe; naye teyawulira ddoboozi lyonna okuva ku mimwa gyabwe. Awo Omutima-Omuzira oluvannyuma n'abanyeenyanyeenya, n'akola kyonna kye yasobola okubazuukusa.

Omu ku bombi, erinnya lye Heedless, n'agamba, Nedda: nnaakusasula bwe ndifuna amabanja gange.

Ku kino omukulembeze n'anyeenya omutwe gwe.

Awo Too-bold n'ayogera: Nnaalwana ng'ekiseera kyonna gye nsobola okukwata ekitala kyange.

Bwe yamala okwogera kino bonna abaali bayimiridde okumpi ne baseka.

Christiana:—Kino kitegeeza ki?

Omutima-Omuzira:—Boogera mu tulo twabwe. Bw'obakuba oba n'obanyeenya, banaayogera bwe batyo, kubanga otulo twabwe tuli ng'otw'omusajja ali ku muti gw'ekyombo, amayengo g'ennyanja bwe gamukuba.

Awo Christiana, Okusaasira n'ekibiina kyabwe ne beeyongerayo n'okutya, ne basaba omukulembeze waabwe ettabaaza ku kitundu ky'ekkubo ekyasigalayo.

Naye olwokubanga okukaaba kw'abaana abato abaavu kwali kwa ddoboozi olw'obutawummulako, bonna ne bafukamira ne basaba obuyambi. Era, mu kiseera lwe baali bagenze ekkubo ettono, empewo n'esituka n'egoba olufu; awo, kaakano nga empewo etangalijje, ne beeyongerayo mu lugendo lwabwe.

Awo ne batuuka mu nsi ya Beula, omwaka gy'ojja emisana n'ekiro. Wano ne bawummulako, ne balya ku bibala ebyali biwanise ku matabi agaali gibeetoolodde. Naye otulo twonna twe baali bayinza okwagala mu nsi ng'eno twali twa kaseera katono; kubanga endege zaakuba amaloboozi amawoomi, era ekitangaala eky'amasanyalaze ne kibbulukukira ku maaso gaabwe, ne bagolokoka mangu okutambulatambula ku kkubo lino ery'ekitangaala, ebigere ebitali birungi we bitagumira kulinnyako.

Kaakano ne bawulira okuleekaana nga kusituka, kubanga waaliwo oluyoogaano mu kibuga nti omubaka yali azze okuva mu Kibuga eky'Eggulu ng'aleeta ebigambo eby'essanyu lingi eri Christiana, mukyala wa Omukristaayo. Awo ne bamunoonya, n'ennyumba mwe yali n'esangibwa.

Awo omubaka n'ateeka ebbaluwa mu mikono gye, ebigambo byayo nga bwe biti: Mirembe, Christiana omulungi! Nkuleetera obubaka nti Mukama akuyita, oyimirire okumpi n'entebe ye ey'obwakabaka mu ngoye enjeru, mu nnaku kkumi.

Oyo eyaleeta ebbaluwa bwe yamala okugimusomera, n'amuwa akabonero nti byali bigambo bya mazima n'okwagala, era n'agamba nti yali azze okumugamba ayanguwe okugenda. Akabonero kaali kasaale akalina omumwa ogwogi, akaali kamubuulira nti mu kiseera ebbaluwa kye yayogerako, kimusaanira okufa.

Christiana n'awulira n'essanyu nti okutegana kwe kwali kunaatera okukoma, era nti yali agenda okuddamu okubeera ne Omukristaayo we omwagalwa.

Awo n'atumya batabani be ne bakyala baabwe okujja gy'ali. Bano n'abawa ebigambo eby'okugumya. N'abagamba engeri gye yali asanyufu okubalaba nga bali kumpi naye mu kiseera ng'ekyo. N'agezaako, era, okufuula okufa kwe ye, kaakano nga kuli kumpi, okuba okw'omugaso gye bali, okuva mu kiseera kino okutuusa ku ssaawa buli omu ku bo lw'anaava mu nsi eno. Essuubi lye lyali nti kiyinza okuyamba okubaluŋŋamya mu kkubo lyabwe; nti Okukkiriza kwe yali abayigirizza okunywerera, kwandigudde wansi ennyo mu mitima gyabwe; era nti emirimu gyabwe gyonna gyandivudde mu kwagala Katonda. Yali asobola kusaba bwokka nti bandikutte ebigambo bino mu birowoozo, ne bateeka obwesige bwabwe bwonna mu Oyo eyeetikka ebibi byabwe ku Musalaba, era eyattibwa okubalokola.

Olunaku bwe lwatuuka lwe yali asaanidde okugenda mu nsi ey'okwagala n'amazima, ekkubo lyali lijjudde abo abaali baagala okumulaba ng'atandika olugendo lwe; era ebigambo eby'enkomerero bye yawulirwa ng'ayogera byali: Nzija, Mukama wange, okubeera naawe.