Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-04-09
meditation inspired by the lonely \

meditation inspired by the lonely
greatness Of the mountains is liable 10
DC interrupted by the bright spark
ling Of coach wheels in the valley be-
low.
! have heard some say that they
were disappointed in the scenery; the
truth was, that they knew not what
they expected to see, and had never
learned TO admire The beautiful and
grand Of nature. They would have
been just as much disappointed in ,is-
Iting the passes Of the Alps. The dc.
feet is not in nature but in themselves.
Certainly nothing can be finer than
the boldncss with which the mountains
Oh each side Of the pass approach
each other, as if to form an eternal
barrier; or the loud voice with which
the rivers force their way through
them, as if repeating to- the hills the
command Of God, to give way before
them. The road hangs like gallery
OH the side Of the mountain, which RI
ses to vast height directly above il +;
in the valley before the road, is riv-
er whose farther bank is formed by
another mountain. As the traveller
passes in this narrow road, he is al.
most sprinkled by the spray from
two or three brooks, which fall from
a great height directly above him,
springing from rock to rock, through
little clumps ofmountain ash, and dash
ing themselves into white foam from
the highest place where the eye can
see them, till they fall at his feet.
The sun is nearly lost beneath the
narrow horizon of the WILEY, and his
light is beautifully cast OH the highest
ridges, and here and there on the sides
Of the vast walls that seem TO close
entirely around.it; while the blue of
the sky has depth and brilliancy,
which if represented in a painting
would be pronounced too bright for
narure.
In the pass ofthc mountains, though
at some distance from the narrowcst
dc6le, on field sloping from the foot
of the mountain to the road, is a small
house, not inhabited at the time when
was there. 1t was built, believe,
for the security Of travellers, who are
frequently ovcrtaken here by the win
ter storms, which rush through the
pass with tremendous power. There
is no other house to be found for many
miles, and lives would often be lost in
the drifting snow, were it not for this
little dwelling, which however, has
few attractions to one not hard pres
sed by a storm. The sashes Of the
windows were carefully placed in the
corner Of the room the doors were
swinging on their hinges, and every
thing about the place had that pecu-
lair Of solitude which is always found
in the forsaken abodes Of man. Sc
cured my horse in the little stable, and
and walked about the place to select
the best points of view. Without OBJ
serving which way rambled, pas
sed on in the road, and had already
left the house at the considerable dis
tance, when was surprised at the
sight Of an old man sitting by the way
side. 1t was not n very remarkable
occurrence even for that region but
| had supposed that was alone
with nature, and was not we'll pleased
that the charm ofsolitude was broken.
But we Immediately began to con-
verse together, for ceremony was a
stranger in that region. With that
freedom which seems not ungracc(ul
in the aged, he inquired if my object
was to visit the mountains. readily
satisfied him on this point, and found,
that my confidence was likely to be
more than repaid. "I knew these
mountains" said he, before the old
French war; but l was a boy then,
and did not know that any ofthe states
were more level than thus. When !
was labouring man, thought moth.
ing about them; but since I have
grown old, and a walk oftwelve miles
is enough TO fatigue me, think NOR
Of these things than in my business
years. ] remember when they gave
that highest peak the name Of Wash.
ington! You look as ifsomc Of those
rougher and sleeper SUBMITS were
higher just SO it was with the man
some said that others wcrs greater
men, but we are easily deceived; and
sec that cloud, which has swept the
tops of the other peaks "a il sailed