The Columbian fountain., 1846-03-28
EDITED AND
WASHINGTON.
Mountains,

i bcIc IL some dllference, my young
friends, between good warm feather bed
and hard icy rock; and if we thought Of
u more frequently, it might make us more
lgrateful for the comforts we enjoy"
IL will never be chamois hunter" said
Leonard, removing himselfto thr other knee
OF the traveller; "for Ishould not have awink
Of sleep all night long"
Notwithstanding the privation they en-
dure," said the traveller, s.and the dangers
to which they are exposed; chamois hum
ters are passionately fond of their calling.
A celebrated traveller, who went several
Journeys on the Alps with young man,
heard him declare, though his father, and
his grandfather before him, were both killed
in hunting the chamois, and though he felt
persuaded that he should be killed too, (for
it is said that no chamos hunter expects to
die in his bed,) yet if any one would give
him fortune, he would not abandon cha
mois hunting. In about two years after,
in taking a leap, this young mans foot fail
ed him, on the brink Of precipice, when
he fell from the rock, and was dashed to
pieces"
"WeIl," said Gilbert, with shrug of
his shoulders, "you won't catch me cha
mois hunting"
"You would cut but poor figure as a
chamois hunter," rejoined the traveller,
g until you had acquired the hardy habits
of mountalneer."
Mr.. Lovel then made a few suitable re-
marks as to the state of mind, which, all
must allow, an immortal being should ha-
bitually possess who engaged in such
perilous life: as it was impossible for him
to expect an interval to seek reconciliation
with God when the moment of death ap-
preached. lie then reminded his children
that, in fact, all persons, of every age, were
as liable to sudden death as the chamois
hunter; and sought to impress on their
minds the Importance of being reconciled
to their Saviour, at all times and in all cir
cumstances.
O. the tops of the high mountains of
Sw 4erland," continued the traveller, I" an
intense cold almost constantly prevails,
with hard gales Of wind, and damp fogs
During the greatest part of the year the
clouds hang beneath the peaks of the
mountains, and resemble sea, from which
the peaks rise like so many islands. A
cataract, and sometimes two or three, may
be seen tumbling from every mountain !;
and, as the clouds frequently hide the tops
Of the rushing streams, the water appears
to pour down from the skies"
Edmund. That must look very odd !!
| should much like to 60 to Switzerland.
ITapeler. The water, in falling from
one rock to another, makes an astonishing
noise, and raises mist round it, on which
the sun beams frequently exhibit rainbows
of the ivelest colors.
Notwithstanding the intense cold of
Switzerland, the summer heats are scarce
ly. bearable in the valleys, and the inhabi-
tants betake themselves to the mountains.
In many places, within small compass,
the four seasons ofthe year may be obser-
we'd at the same time, and summer and win
ter are so near each other, that, it is said /,
snow may be taken up with one hand, and
flowers plucked with the other.
Gilbert. never heard of SO strange a
place before.
Traveller. Switzerland is visited bv thou
sands OF people, who go from curiosity to
witness its mountainous and romantic see
merry; but il is one thing to visit place and
enjoy its beauties, and another to dwell
there and endure its priyations. The in.
habitants of mountainous countries are ne
cessarily poor, SO far as respects property,
but health is more valuable than hocks and
herds, and contentment is better than silver
and gold II has been remarked, that the
inhabtant Of mountainous country is al
ways ardently attached to the place of his
birth, The very storms around him bind
him the more strongly to his native home
And as a babe, when soaring sounds molest,
Cngs close and closer to the mothers breast,
SO the loud torrent and the whirlwinds roar,
But bind him to bis native mountains more.
MANY persons have lost their lives in al
tempting to get to the top Of Mont Blanc.
The glaciers, (rocks Of ice which are form
ed on the sides of the mountains,) and the
avalanches, masses of frozen snow which
hang in all directions, are so dangerous
that few have been daring enough to ven-
ture on so fearful an expedition
At every step the danger greater grows,
, And loud the piercing wind in anger blows,
Mid rocks of ice and everlasting SHOWS.
! Dr. Paccard, who first succeeded in getting
to the top, was almost blinded by the wind
!. and snow his pulse was auckened, he