American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-07-18

OF proud dimensions were like twisted belts of
gIlttering tin-mountains like mole-hlls-and
villages speckled the even surface of the dis
tant green like sheep upon their pasture ranges.
The look Immediately below was like peering
into the depth of transluscent water. At length
this mass of clouds began to quicken in move
ment, eddying about ami twirling in counter
currents, and anon the ragged bulk broke into
floating waves, moving hither and yOn in SEEM
ing confusion, till the whole we'll nigh vanished
from sight, leaving no hindrance to ones gaze
upon the broad expanse, except the distant blue
at the shutting in of the horizon. What no
pen has yet revealed "a full description of the
"Mount" with the look thereffom, | shall not
attempr. 1t would take ones life time to ex
plore the whole, and as for a descripton-the
Hand that created these wonders is alone
able to depict them to the understanding Of
man. The regning silence induced a cores
ponding silence on our part. No sound came
up from beneath-the breeze was too gentle to
be heaTd-no living thing or moving object
could be discovered in the dim distance. All
was lonely. We had no evidence to prove we
were not alone in creation. And this was SOL
itude. | never knew what it was. 1t cngen-
dered species Of awe difficult to describe
Whilst musing upon the scene, solitary but
terflY came floating along leisurely balancing
its way in the air, thinking doubtless, few of
its ephemeral moments might as safely be
spent here amid the handy-works OF Natures
whim, as beneath, among the lords of creation,
where, lifts gay Plumage CHANGED TO escape the
attention of some naturalist, its fate was only
reserved for the first urchin who boosted
crown to his hat, to secure it by open chase or
deceptive wles.
In open view, and not far from the summit
of Mt. Washington, lies in CLASSY quescent
state pond or lake of modest professions as
to size, but singularly attractive from its pecu-
liar location, the source of the Ammonoosuck,
a contributary of the Connecticut River
Whilst muslng upon its placid appearance my
mind fell in reverie which led me TO compare
it with the progress of mankind, from infancy
to dotage. Like the infant asleep upon the
lap of its nurse, it lies hushed in slumbering
quietude baskng in peaceful safety unruffied by
the hurly-burly OF surrounding events From
its lower edge trickles tiny rll, so gentle that
ones palm could stay its further progress, and
easily turn 1t back to its native source Gath
ering strength in its course, streamlet goes
purng on, warblng sweet accents of thought
less innocence as if incoherently hummlng its
own lullaby. Anon, a babblng brook bounds
and leaps: like boy at his gambols, dashing
hither and thther unmindful Of the end in view,
or the course pursued, till its whim is stayed
by over-exertion. How like youth in his first
usefulness, we find our little rill grown in
strength, rushing on over lodges and sleeps,
with here and there amid the whIrl of ardent
excitement, an eddying repose. clear and calm,
inviting The anglers patient care with rod and
line. Further on comes manhood in his
strength. The rll gathered to slightly stream,
claims rank and station with its kindred rivers,
the ripping currents, compaceht hooks, and
widowed banks of which contribute to the hun
ter's skill, the fishers spear, and the trapper's
canoe. AS the stream reaches the mountain
gorges, swelled by the storms of the seasons,
perplexities thicken to thwart its will-now
sore reverses-now alternate sunshine and
shade, till winding It's way amid accumulated
difficulties, it again energies from its threatened
enthralment and hidden obscurity and by the
sheer strength of its own impetuosity it dashes
into a short lived brilllancy, sparkling anew in
overcoming the straits and restraints allotted TO
its course, and now in the ups and downs gifts
career like the troublous life journey of man in
his pride; ever restless, always pursuing-brav-
ing dangers and scorning all obstacles to his
purpose--it rolls blindly on till pent up in
limits and entangled with trials OF its own WOO
ing,-it boldly dashes away with impetuous
fury and hgh-metted disdaln, hounderlng from
ledge to ledge, and madly leaping from cliff to
cliff, it at length punges with reckless daring
into the deepest whrlp pool of turmoil and strife,
seeking relief as it were, in fastening to know
its DOOM Sobered by time, and tanned down
by experience, man now in his prime, placidly
pursues his aim to garner in for future wants
So the stream here, with its broad surface, fair
Ia. I'D cIa tar nlafc paadilu uialdc tic
accumulated treasures to the fsherman's net,
the fowler's snare, and the hunters skill. And
lastly, like the man of years, with the burthen
of state and the weight of care stamped upon
his brow, he calmly moves on with oignified
composure and stolid gravity, till he is gather
ed to his kindred dust and lost in torgettulness.
So does our once tiny rill-now sweled to
majestic expanse of waters, upon the broad
bosom of which are borne world of navies,
and innumerable craft laden with the riches of
nations, and the wealth of Chimes move on
with stupendous grandeur, till it mngles in old
oceans pillows, and its identity is lost in ming
ling with might OF waters.
| gathered handful of snow from the cleft
of a rock, part of which ate, and the balance
| fashioned into ball, such as | once loved to
hur at my playmates in school boys contests,
and left upon a prominent stone Tor the next
conner stopped down as did our first parent,
to trickli spring that had sccoped out
hollow in rock, near the summit, and quaffed
from its 'crysta basin draught as pure as was
the air that hoated about US. Gathering few
specimens of the surrounding rocks, fragment
of which | broke from the topmost stone OF
pile heaped upon the extreme height, we re-
traced our steps, first partaking OF a collation.
prepared and taken up by the guide, as rich as
acceptable. In descending one of the most alb
rupt precipices, could not but help rejecting
that should my trusty steed, whose crupper
was already we'll nigh the autipodes of her head
in freakish moment, flourish her heels alott,