Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-10-05

tain, and furnishing water of surprising |
transparency and purity, whose excellence
we were well prepared to appreciate. At
the sight OF these pure streams we could
not but feel the force Of the beautiful and
expressive language Of p Psalmis,-"As
the hart panteh after water brooks, so
panteh my soul after tUye, o God" 1t
was refreshing to drink"ot these streams.
but more so to think of the pure and
cxhaustless fountains of spiritual life which
they family Swallowed forth, and after
which the christian pants as he labors Up
the steep decvl,ies, in his way towards
Heaven.
We reached the summit about o'clock
p. M. II consists Of bare rock o. severa
acres, on the east and west skirted with al
thick growth Of low balsam. Its extensive
top, presents nearly level surface, Of a
few rods in width, running from north to
south, and terminating on the south by q
perpendicular pcecipce Of several hundred
feet, from the foot of which the mountain
slopes off to the bottom of n valley at an
immense distance below. The descent ON
the north is more gradual to The valley Of
the Onion river.
The weather, at the time Of our arrival
at the summit, was not the most favorable
for the full view which we desired. There
had been rain on the preceding night and
morning, and the day had been suItry and
the sky overcast with clouds. A Ugh,
breeze sprung up from the north soon after
noon, which had much increased on our
arrival at the top of the mountain, driving
away the clouds, and gradually disclosing
the magnificent and enchanting scenery
that surrounded US. We were 1000 feet
above the level OF Lake 'Champlain- about
90 miles dls'ant-and in situation not
only to look do,cn upon that. and the broad
eXpanse which interviewed, but even upon
the lofty mountains which were scattered
in wild confusion, and rose ia majestic
grandeur on every side of US. On the
south there came up from the deep broad
chasm that forms the southern extremity
Of the "Rump," continuation of the
main range of The Green Mountains, rising
: within eiabt or ten miles, to the lofty sum.
nit Of btato HILL" IN Lincoln, but little
less elevated than the "Rump" itself. Ga
the north, beyond the deep chasm formed
: by the passage of Onion River, rose. as
with proud consciousness OF superiority,
tnc MhHsitIu ui)uu dllI, uUuuL 44UU Ieel
above the level of the Lake; while, in the
distance on the west, were spread oat the
long range Of mountains in New. York ;
aud Oh the east. the White Hills" with
their whole connecting range Of mountains
ia the granite State"
T The grandeur OF this scene was height
encd by the clouds which were sweeping
across the summit of some OF the surround
ing mountains, and half circng the beau.
lifu landscape which extends to the eastern
and western and northern limits of the
State.
But we had little time to dwell upon thi.
scene. The sun was rapidly descending
and we were adlnonlshed by the approach
of night, to prepare for It's repose. W.
selected place on the top Of the noun.
tain IN the depression which appears in the
distant view, between the northern snt
southern elevations, and where we foun(
the shelter of large rock from the north
ern blasts. Al hands fell TO work, and
cabin was soon erected, covered and foorcc
with the boughs Of the balsam, where We
enjoyed, after commencing ourselves to the
Divine protection, a night Of sweet ant
refreshing rest.
The hope OF witnessing beautiful SUI
rising, and clear sky, gave to the daw,
OF day peculiarly awakening power, an
brought us to our feet, to witness a seem
which was as unexpected as it was gram
and imposing. We had climbed The noun
tain to view a landscape; but what wa
our surprise, when the twilight first dis
closed The eXpanse around US, to witness
IN nyin linz g., ~
OF the mountains, north and south, a ia
as the eye could reach, and east to III
White Hills of New Hampshire Thong
it was, in reality, but dense mass of foo
1t seemed impossible at the early dawn t
dlspel the Illusion, and realize that it wa
any thing else than vas: body of wate
burylng in its hcep aud capacous Sosol
the thousands of human beings who W
knew were slumbering beneath its surface
:" That surface was probably two thousan
~ feet below US, and perfectly level. Tn
h tops OF the mountains projected above i
IL so as to present the appearance of island
in capes and promontories in every dlfeclio
ce around the eastern horizon. The illusid
n. was perfect, and for more than an hour "
to toasted upon the magnificent scene who
Ell it presented As the sun approached tt
n> horizon, the vast range Of the WIFI
RS Mountains of New-Hampshire BEGAN
more distinctly visible, and formed a def
Ter mite boundary to the ocean which Ia
il. spread out, with its thousand islands befo
EST US. The mass of fog extended over Il
ne bed OF Onion River, through the whole
he its winding way TO The lake; and to Of
Isl to the Illusion OF the scene, there was
nd slight motion of The surface of the fo
le- through the narrow pass at Bolton, prod
ng ced by gentle north easterIy breez
OF which seemed like the passing of II
'ur mighty waters, through their natural GU
,ur let, to the plain below.
The While we were feastiDU nm this illnsio