The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-14

who had been to the top OF Mount Washington
can imagine When the guide proclaimed that
the point had been gained, and that they stood
ON the very top, our traveller doubted, fearing
that the guide, finding all persuasions 10 return
iruitless, had determined to deceive him. SIS
this positively the top Of the hill2" "Yes, sir,
positively" "Will you swear 10 it?" "Yes,
sur" "Hold up your right hand."' The guide
held il up. "You solemnly swear, that to your
knowledge this place on which we stand is com
monty called the top OF Mount Washington,
and Is the spot TO which you conduct all travel
lers who come to ascend the mountain. So help
you GodP The guide took the oath, and added,
"fhs, sir, is the pile of stones which the travel
lers who come up here have heaped up" The
gentleman put his hand upon the pile, and ex-
claimed, u am satisfied; now let US return"-
The descent was accomplished with great diff
Guilty, and at imminent peril, for the snow had
so covered the path that il could not be seen at
all, and il was not until noon OF the next day
that they arrived safely back to Crawford's.
We reached the Notch just after noon The
entrance of the chasm is formed by two rocks
standing perpendicularly at the distance of TWEEN
ty-two feet from each other; one about twenty,
the other twelve feet In height. This opens you
into a narrow defle, extending two miles in
length between two huge cliffs, apparently rent
asunder by some great convulsion of Nature.
This CONFUSION Dr. Dwight thinks was the De-
LUCE, since there are no proofs Of volcanic action
any where in this region. Half the space is oc
cupied by the Saco river and the other half BY
the road. AS you proceed in this pass, the huge
mountains Of bare cliffs and rocks tower above
you on either side, and the view behind you is
completely shut in, while that before opens upon
bluffs and precipices of granite. Trees spring
out from the rough projections and wrench
themselves from the narrow crevices, giving an
air Of caprice to the scene. The river winds,
bubbling over rocky bed in some places, run
ming in deep channel in others. tuning this
moment round its mimic whirlpool, and the next
starting of in its deep worn channel. And then
the cascades, up to the very skies, leaping in
white foam down precipice after p,ecipice, look
ing like some pure white riband floating in the
air How the waters sparkle in the sunshine
and rembe in the breeze, and bend downward
thousand ways in their rapid course! The
fine basin of solid rock, too, in which they lie, so
still, and pure and cold
6 A place itself so sweet and lonely,
Seems fit for lovers and lovers only"
The dark, deep forest, is in keeping with the
whole its low, sea-like music, lulling your
whole spirit into symphony with the beauty and
grandeur of rock, water, and scaur More than
half way through this valley stands the house
occupied by the Wieys, the unfortunate family
who were buried in an avalanche of the noun
tains in 1924 The story is a sad one, and
every one who remembers the interest to which
the tale was steHed, after the event happened,
visits the place with melancholy associations.
After you emerge from the Notch the noun
tains begin speedily TO open with increased ma
Jesty, and often rise to perpendicular height of
little less than mile. The bosom Of both
ranges on each side of you is overspread by
m nj eVp ba larn
trees. The conical frs and spruces cover the
tops OF the smaller hills, and give an eastern
air TO the scenery. Farther up vegetation
seems stinted, and forest of trees, scarce high
er than ones head, shows the region of sterility
and cold. Farther still, the smooth gray rocks,
or the scanty earth, enveloped in a shroud of
dark-colored moss, point out the region of perpe-
tual winter. ~
A few hours ride from the Notch brings one
TO the house of Ethan A. Crawford par emf
nence the Man of the Hills MCPHERSON who
had visited the White Hills will ever forget the
good nature directness, honesty, and mirthful-
ness, of mine host of themountains In perso-
nal appearance he is a most imposing man,
standing six feet seven inches in his stockings,
and exceedingly stout and well-proportioned--
As runner and wrestler, he is we-known at
the village gatherings, while in leaping he would
easily Guido the juvenile feats Of old Christopher
North: nor would he fear to encounter the hy-
ing tailor o. Ettrick, aud Hrplin Hurcheon,
who at hap-stap and loup, bate Christopher a.
till sticks He is very strong, TOO, having Of
tenimes CARR, d a lady in his arms halfway up
Mount Washington. Imagine such man with
a rough, brown face, well tanned by exposure
TO sun and wind, but smiling benevolence upon
you, putting on fur hat, over which brush has
never been drawn, with a coarse homespun coat
and pantaloons, a shir-collar open at the neck,
and stout cow-hide shoes, and you have aglimpse
OF our host and friend Ethan "A. Crawford Go
up 10 him and ask him whatever question you
please, so il be but civilly put, and mark the
good nature streaming out from his eyes as he
answers you. Request from him a favor TO
yourself or your friends, and see how readily
and cheerfuly he moves TO do il. Follow up
your questions and demands !; ak things which
you know he cannot obtain for you without
great inconvenience TO himself or households;
nay, more, worry his dogs, override his horses,
leave open his garden-gate, dirty his parlor, and
still he Is the same impeuurbably good -natured
Ethan A. Crawford
The family are Of Scotch descent, and have
lived for three generations among The noun.
tans. was told the following anecdote some
years ago, respecting the manner in which the
property now belonging TO the Crawiords was
obtained from old Gov. Wentworth
The Governor, who was fond of seeing hui
man nature under every form and in the absence
OF all ceremony and constraint--a taste which
the dignity Of his station prevented from being
graliied at his own house-was in the habit,
while he resided al Marlborough, Of max
ing excursions, without ceremony, and often
into The various parts Of the
State Ia one Of these tours be came upon
the new lighthouse Of the Scotch squatter.
and hnding the good man away al his work, he
endeavored - render himself very agreeable to
the busom wife At home. Ignorant &c the high
station Of her guest, the lady stouily opposed
his proiiered gallanirles and the return of her
husband from the woods, complained 10 him Of
the inclvilIty Of the stranger. Crawford, who.
like his descendants of this day. was man OF