Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1849-10-18
Travelling Sketches

the Erancenia Notch, than which, and ITS
s s a more interesting spot
he found amidst the " Chryst"l Hills"
/" Oh that some bacd would rise, true heir Of
With The iull power of heavenly poesy,
To gather M each old romantic story
That fingers round these scenes IN memory
And consecrate 10 Immortality;
Some western Scott, within whose bosom
thrills
That fire which burneth to eternity,
To pour his spirit Ger hese mighty h':Is,
And make them classic ground, thrice hallow'
ed by his spriIs!"
Here doth no, make that thrill Of awe. that
feeling
ofstern sublimity, which overpowers
The mind and sense ct m whose foot 10 sea-
The near White Mountain Notch's giant
towers;
Here is less grandeur but more beauty :
bowers
For milder, varied pleasure in the sun.
Blue ponds and st, cams are glancing, firing
ed with flowers;
There, all is vast AID overwhelming: one
sG fayette, the other matches Washington
With the blessing of fine health and
high spirits, we seated ourselves in our
carriages, and in company with a stage
load Of other visitors, left these beautiful
scenes, to thread our way down, and out
into the open country again, on our way
Fabyan's, whose hotel we reached after
driving some Eve and twenty miles, over
a billy country, through Bethlehem and
Carroll.
While refreshing our horses at Beth
lehem, stages drove up loaded with pas
sengers both from and for the mountains,
and in the animated scene which sur
rounded US for a few moments, it was
difficult to determine, whether those who
were anticipating pleasure. like ourselves,
from the scene; before us, or those who
had participated, were the most happy.
Contenting ourselves with the prospect
before US, soe drove on, and soon crossed
the beautiful Amonusuck, which we kept
near until quite to Fabyan's. No wild
beast crossed our track thus far, but we
saw by the way-side noble deer, not
quite at large, having only the liberty Of
a respectable park. Fabyan's is fine
large hotel, situated on plain very much
broader than that occupied by the Notch
House at Franconia, and is fanked by
mountains of much less elevation and
beauty. The hotel, however, at which
we dined and spent some three hours,
commands fair distant view of Mount
Washington, Mount Clay, Mount Web
ster. Mount Franklin, &C., and must be a
delightful resort for those unaccustomee
to country scenes, and the pure noun
tain air. During the whole Of our stay
there, and on most other occasions while
we were in the vicinity, and could see the
towering sides of Mt. Washington, its
crest was enveloped in clouds. This dark
pail of nature settling SO frequently and
almost constantly upon it. gives to it an
air Of gloomy grandeur, which excites in
the beholder a feeling Of awe, as well as
OF admiration.
Leaving Fabyan's after dinner, we
drove six miles farther on, chiefly thro
the forest, to "Tom Crawford's," as be.
ing the more eligible point from which
to ascend the mountains. On this short
ride we discovered another of the "var
MINT" which we were subsequently in
formed was "badger." He was en-
sconsed in high tree, and some of our
party, anxious for closer view, g tried
what virtue there was in stones" but he
was not as easily moved as the crude
boy" and a sandy soil yielding but
few missiles, they were obliged to desist.
It was lovely hour when we descended
from our carriages at Tom Crawford's,
and was soon enlivened by the arrival Of
large party, who with the descending
sun had returned from Mt. Washington.
Pitiable Ladies they could not well
conceal the evidences of their fatigue, and
one at least Of the party assembled to her
room on her hands and knees, confessing
that she could do no better.
The gate to the famous Notch is near
this hotel land is narrow passage OF some
80 or 40 feet in width, fianked by almost
perpendicular rocks some fifty feet high,
from which elevation they slope to lofty
mountains on either hand. Strolling into
this narrow pass after tea, we were sud
denly charmed with sweet instrumental
music. floating out upon the evening air,
and echoed back from the opposing
mountain side. At first we could not
trace it to its source, but on winding our
way out towards the gate, we discovered
two gentlemen perched in the rocks far
above us, whose souls seemed as full of
melody as their instruments were of
music.
Early on the following morning, the
majority of our party. with several others.
were seen mounting the dozen hard rib
bed and faded ponies. which were bro't
out for the day expedition to Mt. Wash
ington. Two guides, and a well patched
pair Of panniers, were the accompania-
ments ofthirtecn ofCrawford's guests, who
were soon out Of sight from the hotel. on