Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-10

OrlQVeS III Nv q SiN ~ % ~ 49,
cross the unfa,homed gulf below. Again the
scene would change, and breaking unexpected
ly upon some seques:ered valley, we would find
all the marks Of tue busy society Of men. The
hamlet seated in soft reposeSin the very lap OF
rural felicity, The villagers clustered around
their doors, or engaged in the ordinary occupa-
lions Of their secluded lives. Among the green
fields around, the herds we're seen browsing on
the rich but transitory pasture; the l'arvests
were ripening, and the trees still retained Inc
fresh verdure of The earlier year. with me
wild misanthrope, whom genius has placed a.
mid these varying scenes, we were deIghied 10
exclaim:
Harki the note,
The natural music of the mountain reed
For here the patriarchal days are not
a nastoral fablc-pipes III the liberal air,
Mix,d with the sweet bells of the sauntering herd;
NV soul would drink those echoes.-Oh that ! were
The yiewless spirit ofa lovely sound,
A living voice, q breathing harmony,
A bodless enjoyment-born and dying
With the blest tone which made me.
After crossing the long and terrific pass OF
the Furca, ] began. to descend into the the val
-leys of Uri. The glacier around rose IN every
fairy form, now darling upwards It's pyramid q
spires Of glittering chrystal, now breaking m
10 assures of transparent blue, or spreading into
fields decked with the brightest colours OF the
rose. Passing along the roasting valley OF the
Reus-the slender bridge thrown across 1t from
the shaggy sides of each mountain, where the
dauntless soldier of Russia was almos, appalled,
and the spot where romantic tradition has
recorded the gallant adventurers of a lover
when bearing his mistress from her pursuers;l
at length found myself again among softer airs
and brighter landscape, where WOODS, and lakes
..,I EaIJ. 0Ncnpd nN0n N with all the richness
OF a warmer sky.
From the canton of Uri, / extended my ram
bles into the country of the Grisons; through
which spreads the less lofty but more various
ranges Of the Rhe,ian Alps. In every direction
their ridges traverse the country, and among
them all are innumerable valleys, often the seat
of small bu, placid lakes, and always ccenes Of
rural beauty. Different too from most OF the
cantons Of Switzerland, the Protestant and
Catholic worship prevail together. In one vii
lage NAV be seen the crucihx, and the little
shrines of patron saints, as you pass along the
streets. in another, not many miles beyond, moth
ING is seen but the colder formality OF the re-
formed worship. 1t would be needless howev-
err. and undressing for me, to describe the
spots which charmed me In these solitary ram
bles. or the little incidents which attended my
excursions. / know not indeed whether what
I have Already written, will not appear to those
who may read these lines, a narrative without
an object, as il is without utility. Indeed 1t may
be 50. But those who have wandered IN Tor
eien lands will pardon me. They will know the
delight with which we recall, years after they
have passed, incidents and scenes that have al
tended the rambles of our youth-how many
hours Of pleasure, how many visions OF JOY,
broken perhaps but still delightful, rise upon
our minds, and softened if not improved by the
touch of time, shed a mild light over the even
ing of our days.
may however be permitted to close m sheet
with the mention Of a legend that heard in a
little Catholic village, beautifully situated IL one
ofthe remotest valleys Of this country. 1t is
such a one as the gentle superstitions OF the
people have given to nearly every spot, and it
has little interest, except in the firm belief, with
which it had been transmitted by the villagers
for centuries: and which it still continued with
out abatement TO receive.
have in vain endeavourcd 10 recollect the
name of the village, which has escaped my
memory in the lapse of time. ] well remem-
Der, however, that il was two or three hours al
ter midday, when ! began TO descend into one
of the most beautiful valleys OF the Grison. APP
preaching from the east the road had been for
some time winding among the declivities OF
the hills. through the rocky passages, s. thick
forests of pine, among which as they descend
ed to the valleys, the lighter forms and foliage
OF the chestnut and birch might occasionally be
seen to mingle. A sudden turn of the road
me to the extremity of the valley, and
up to the right it lay extended before
me in exquisite beauty On the east ii was
by cliffs ofrocks almost perpendicular
formed a base OF the high peak of the
Alps that rose Immediately beyond, and which
l had seen all day rising with grandeur, with
its sharp pinnacles high above the surrounding
mountains. Beyond this the sun had already
10 descend, throwing occasionally into
shade some recess of the rock, or Frightening
with unusual radiance the peak of some bare
projecting crag, or the glittering surface of the
beds OF snow, which were settled among them.
The eastern edge of the valley, and all the for
ests, which clothed in exquisite variety ofshade
the mountains that formed its opposite barrier,
received the full splendour of his rays, and
seemed to unite the richness OF autumn with the
fresh verdure of spring. Looking far up into
the vale, which was several miles in length, you
see the houses and spires OF the village.
Just above, and perched upon rocks and preci-