Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-11-25
Gelerte0 Tale.
THE CHAMOIS HUNTER.
PART l.

1t was in the month Of June that revisited
Switzerland, after residence of several years in
Italy The first time of my travelling through it,
had gained but an imperfect knowledge of the
country, my Impotence to behold Italy, and its
works of Art, had induced me to hurry on my
journey, with as few delays as possible Yet the
scenes thus carelessly passed over, left on my
mind an impression of stupendous grand eur,
which time could not efface and the longer
remained in Italy, the less satisfactory found
my endeavors at attaining that boldness and aub-
lmty of style, IN landscape painting, the princi-
Piles of which felt within me, but never was able
distinctly to express. Notwithstanding my efforts
to the contrary, my pictures Involuntary assum-
ed sort of southern charao ter and had always
the modification of discovering, when they were
finished, that they were completely at variance
with those elementary ideas decomposition which
dwelt within my mind. This conviction being
at length, fully established, l determined on my
journey homewards to devote whole summer to
visiting the widest parts of Switzerland and to
give myself up entirely TO the study of my favor
tie branch of the graphic art.
Journeying from Milan, across the Simplon,
entered the Upper Valais, and directed my course
to remote valley, which some hunters had de-
scribed to me as one of the most savage and in
accessible in the whole country. This account
found to be perfectly correct the farther pene
trated into its moutain rescesses, the more wild
and terrible became the character of its scenery;
tha rs cbad thar Nv
the path grew more rugged and narrow, leading
sometimes over slippery crags, and sometimes
through tracts of pine wood, shattered by storms
Here the traveller had to leap from rock, over
roaring torrent, swelled by the melted snow and
there he was transported, from side ofthe val
ley to the other, across totterng bridge of crazy
planks, thrown together if by mere accident.
A few scattered huts, almost III ruins, added to
the desolate appearance of the scene. Their in
habtants presented picture of the most wretch
ed poverty and large proportion of them be-
longed 20 that unfortunate class of beings who,
deprived of speech and hearing, vegetate in a
state of helpless imbeciity and gaze on the stran-
ger with an air of stupid amazement.N The gro
tesque, gigantic forms of rocks and mountains,
the rushing of wild torrents, the squalid appear
ance of the scarcely human creatures around me,
and the deep stiffness of the whole scene, occa-
sonally broke only by the piercing cry of some
bird of prey, all united to plunge me into mood
of pensive musng, from which was at length a.
reused, by almost unconsciously arriving at the
dwelling of the pastor. He received me with
cordial hospitality and kindness, but seemed not
a little astonished that my love of rambling and
sketchng should have led me into so wild and
dreary region, where nothing like tolerable ac-
commodation could be found to refresh the traveller
after the fatigues he must encounter "This,'' I
replied, "was to me, quite secondary considera-
ton and assured him that the simplest fare was
what best liked" eIf this be really the case"
answered he, 81 hope we shall keep you for few
days amongst us. What we have, we give will
ingly but, truly our portion is scanty, and of
superhuitles we have none" | soon found that
this representation was sufficiently we'll founded.
Our supper consisted of piece of dried mutton
broiled marmotte, black bread of the coarsest
kind, and cheese as hard as a stone At first my
appetite revolted from these unwonted viands ;
but draught of sparkling rosy Italian wine soon
reconciled me to the rancid flavor of the ive-year
old mutton, and the nauseous fat of the marmott.
When we had drunk few glasses together, our
conversation became more animated. asked my