Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-08-21
MOUNTAIN OF THE LOVERS.

tain, and how lie du WIN ner, ana now tney
ended their days on the same spot.
owe think the scene was in Switzerland (;
but the mountain, though high enough to
tax his stout heart to the uppermost, must
have been among the lowest. Let us fancy
it good lofty hill, in the summer time
1t was, at any rate, so high, that the father
of the lady proud noble, thought it i'm
possible for young man, burdened, TO scale
it. For this reason alone, in scorn, he
babe him TO do it, and his daughter should
be his.
''The peasantry assembled in the valley
to witness so extraordinary sight. They
measured the mountain with their eyes
they communed with one another, and shook
their heads but all admired the young
man; and some of his fellows, looking at
their mistress, thought they could do as
much. The father was on horseback, a.
part and sullen, repenting that he had sub
.lected his daughter even TO the shew of
sucha hazard but he thought it would teach
his interiors lesson. The young man
(the son OF a small land proprietor, who had
some pretensions to wealth, though none to
nobility stood respectlul-looking but con-
iident, rejoicing in his heart that he should
win his mistress, though at the cost of no.
bic pain, which he could hardly think of as
pain, considering who it was he was to
carry. If he died for it, he should at least
have had her in his arms, and have looked
herin the face. To clasp her person in
that manner was pleasure which he con-
templated with such trans9o rt, as is known
only to real lovers for none Others knows
how respect heightens the Joy of dispensing
ieri'fify citrcrfrs ana rriafecs grurerur INC
respect.
"The lady stood by the side Of her faith
er, pale, DESTROYS, and dreading. She
thought her lover would succeed, bat
only because she thought him in every re-
spect the noblest Of his sex, and that moth
ing was too much for his strengthan and vaor
Great fears came over her nevertheless.-l
She knew not what might happen in the
chances common to all. She felt the BIT
terness Of being herself the burden to him
and the task and dared neither 10 look at
her father nor the mountain. She fixed
her eyes now on the crowd (Which she be-
held noD and now on her hand and her
fingers ends, which she doubled up towards |
her with pretty pretence-the only decep-
ton she had ever used. Once or twice a
daughter or mother slipped out of the
crowd, and coming up to her, notwithstand-
ing the fears of the lord baron, kissed that
hand which she knew not what TO do with.
"The father said, NOW sir. put an end
TO this mummery;" and the lover, turning
pale for the first time, took up the lady.
"The spectators rejoice to see the man
ncr in which he moves off, slow but secure,
and as if to encourage his mistress they
mount the hill they proceed well he halts
an instant before he gets midway, and
seems refusing something then ascends a,
quicker rate ;and now being at the mid
may point, shifts the lady from one side to
the other. The spectators give great
shout. The baron,wilh an air of indifference,
bites the tip of his gauntler, and casts on
them an eye of rebuke.-At the shout the ,
lover resumes his way. Slow, but not fee ,
BILE in his step, yet it gets slower. He A,
stops again, and they think they see the !
lady kiss him on the forehead. The wo- /,
men begin TO tremble, but the men say =
he will be victorious. He resumes again II,
he is halfway between the middle and the =
top he rushes, he stops, he staggers but :
ioes not fall. Another shout from the !,
men, and he resumes once more ;two-thirds =
81 the remaining part of the way are con-
luered. They are certain the lady kisses
Inn on the forehead and on the eyes,
The women burst into tears, and the stout :
est men look pale. He asccnds slower o
han ever, but seeming to be more sure Q
lie hats, but is only to plant lis foot to go e
IN again and thus he picks his way, plan
ing his loot at every step, and then gaining
sround with an effort. The lady lifts up
Ter arms, as if to tighten him. See he is
lmost at the top; he stops, he struggles,
he moves sideways taking very little steps, Il
md bringing one foot every time close to 0
he other. Movie is all but on the top; !
le halts again he is fixed he staggers.- n
\ groan goes through the multitude. Sud- "
lenly, he turns full front towards the top :; Pr
IS luckily almost level he staggers, but v
is forward Yes; every limb in the y !,
pultitude makes movement as lift would II
ssst him /; see at last he is on the top, and N
lown he falls fiat with his burden. An S,
enormous shout He has won; he has won: r.
low he has right to caress lis mistress, q,
nd she is caressing him for neither of n,