Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-02-18

twenty Other valleys, with smaller streams,
spread out like the lesser ramifcations from the
larger roots of a tree. The mountains are in
irregular ridges, with only here and there a pos
sbe passage across them The valleys are
scenes of great luxuriance and beauty, while the
mountain ridges that separate and guard them
rise into the clouds, with the we'll known char
acteristics of Alpine grandeur and submty
There is almost an endless variety in the scene
ny. You enter gradually from the lovely plains
of Turin into the mountainous region, the face
of nature becoming constantly more wild and
picturesque until you are encircled and shut in
from the world by eternal barriers, verdant at
their base, but rocked-ribbed and ancient as the
SUM- Here the forms of nature have solemn
and awe-striking grandeur which makes an ell
ement Of powerful discipline to susceptible
mind. There is, indeed, a mingling of every
quality of beauty and majesty in this scenery,
so that if you thought TO select place in which
to train up people worthy of Jehovah and faith
full to their God, of all regions in the world you
would choose these mighty Alpine solnudes.-
exquisite beauty of the scene and then again.
as you advance up the valley, you enter, perhaps
suddenly, upon region of such awful wildness
and desolation, that nothing can be more i'm,
pressve than the contrast Then, as you rise
at the head of the valley TO cross the vast
mountain ridge by which it is bounded and
which generally takes its name from the lofty
summit nearest the pass at every step your
prospect is enlarging, while Immediately around
you the crags are piled in more fantastic and
awful forms, out jutting and tremendous precp-
ces, jagged granite needless shooting naccessi-
bic to heaven, cavernous masses Of rock torn
and split assunder to folm a passage for the
roaring torrent, which sometimes they bridge
quite over at a giddy height Above you are
the tops of the snow-shnng mountains, glitter
reach the summit of the pass, and the highest
point of vision, oGentimes the view is so vast
and splendid, especially of those majestic pyra-
mds of ice and snow, that it is with the greatest
difficulty you tear yourself from it, and COM
mence your descent into another valley on the
other side. AS you 60 down, the succession of
contrasts is in the reverse order; from submty
to beauty, from savage wdness to a soGness and
luxuriance that captivates the heart with its
loneliness These various attractive features the
valleys of the Waldenses do not possess on so
vast scale as the more northern and lof;est
Alps, as Mont Blanc with the valley of Lauer-
Drummer, but yet they enclose some of the most
charming and some of the grandest scenery in
the world. The tourist might spend his sum-
mer on the Cottaln Alps alone, and meet con-
tinualy with unexplored forms and recesses of
beauty.
There is no denying or doubling the eeyating
influence of such scenery upon the mind. Nor
is it difficult to tell why mountainous region
is most favorable to nourish great thoughts and
free and resolute souls. From their youth up
ward the inhabitants are familiarized to dangers
and hardahips. Industry becomes habit and
trait Of nature. Simplicity and frugality OF
life are virtues of families, which the climate and
the soil impose upon them. They are early
risers They are nearer the coudess heavens
than the people of the plains, they breathe a
purer and more bracng air, and physically their
development is more energetic and complete
They are above the world much shut out from
intercourse with it, not in bondage to fashion on
the ambition of cities Their religious views
take possession of the mind and heart with
more tenacious attachment, and there is grave
steadastness of purpose in their adherence It
what takes their convictions, which is like the
rugged walls of rock around them. And though
a degree of cultivation of taste and Imagination
is needed for the preservation of deep sensi
tility to the beauties and sublimities of natural
scenery, yet, those grand and commanding forms
of nature which encircle the body, and form al
it were the walls of its abode, do always NOR,
or less cast their shade upon the soul, are re
heced in its silent depths, aud make it thought
ful. Standing amidst the awful forms of grea
mountains, they seem to speak to you as witt
the voice of God; they gaze at you with a sol
emn expression, CountcnanCe OF mingled re
buke and pity towards the fallen inhabitants 0
such glorious world.-New York EoangcHst