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

which leads 10 Mount WASHINGTON, We COM
menced the weary ascent, anxious TO meet
our friends returning from Mount Wash.
ington, at the foot of Mount Pleasant. The
way seemed endless-but after a long and
tedious ascent, the trees hogan to diminish
in size, and finally to give place to dwarf
| pines and shrub oaks from which, after a
Two hours ascent, we merged into open day,
upon the bare rocks. The scene which
burst upon our view, was magnificent in the
J exlreme-a sea et mountains, or of noun.
| tain waves. But the most attractive object
from this point, was the distant view of the
party of the morning, winding their way
down the dark sides of old Mount Washing,
ton, on a seTpentine path, with their guides
and horses, all now disappearing behind
sharp and rugged cliff, and anon creeping
into view 10 long and sinnous line, their
light dresses and gay costumes contrasting
strangely with the bleak and barren rocks,
did indeed present scene so picturesque as
to be seldom equalled. As both parties
were compelled to scale the ridges of rock,
and cross the ravineS which lay between US,
we frequently lost sight of each other; but
the distant view Of a cavalcade of horses.
riders and footmen, ascending aud descend.
ing the rocky ridges, all parties being near.
ly four thousand feeI high, was such one
as needs 10 be seen to be appreciated. At
I last we met at the base of the particular
cone denominated Mount Pleasant, when
the rocks again echoed with cheerful voices.
Our friends were too much wearied 10 Join
us in the ascent.
Leaving the Mount Washington bride
path, We assembled the cone of Mount Plea
To 0c he
which opened upon US from this lofty ele>
vaiicn, is idle, certainly to SO unpracticed
pen as mine. Nothing of earthly mould
was above US, with the single exception Of
Mount Washington, and this, as usual, was
enveloped in dark and lowering cloud.
So i. had been during the day, and our
friends, enjoying the satisfaction of saying
that they had been on the highest land east
Of the Mississippi, were deprived Of the
magnificent view which ODe enjoyed, except
for an interval of a few short minutes, when
the cloud lifted from it's rocky crest, only
long enough to excite the most intense de-
sire that it should not again close around
them. The view from neither hill, howev.
er, dlscloses anything but mouniains.-
"Alps on Alps arise,' and scarcely foot
Of cultivated earth is disclosed in the view.
The whole scene, however, is one great
sublimity. The lofty mountains spread
out on every side, and for so great dis
lance, are constantly exciting the wonder
as we'll as the admiration of the beholGer.
{" gazed upon the mountain tops, .,.
had pierced liz twain the passing cloud,
And wondered at their giant forms,
So dark, magnificent and proud"
In the full enjoyment Of this rich scene.
time passed unheeded by us-bul not so
with our faithful guide. He reminded US
of the long and weary way over which we
were to relrace our steps. But before nouns
ting our ponies, we will cast another glance
al the chief Of hills, towering above its fel-
lows in serene majesty, as does the charac'
ter of him whose name it wears, among the
men of earth.
" And there. as ever, steep and drear,
That pyramid Of Nature springs!
He owns no rival turret near,
No sovereign, but the King of kings.
While many nation hath passed by,
And many an Age, unknown liz STORY,
HIS walls and battlements on high
He rears, IN melancholy glory"
The descent was even more tedious than
the ascent, but the hours were made cheer.
ful by a familiar interchange of thoughts
and feelings, in relation to The great Arch.
itect whose works and goodness are the
sources of all our enjuyments.
A glowing sunset illuminated the deeply
shaded path near the base of the m0unta ms,
from which we soon emerged with grateful
hearts, to meet our wearied friends, and TO
partake with them repasl of most delicious
trout taken from the neighburiDg mountain
streams. A pleasant day had filled Tom
Crawford'S house with fresh arrivals of
health and pleasure seekers, with whom an
agreeable evening was passed, listening oc.
casionaily to the sweet tones of the piano
within, and anon, to the winding of the
thrilling horn and its various echoes with
out.
Another morning sun, which was the
[ anniversary of the destruction OF the Will
ley family, witnessed as threading our way
through the beautifully elongated basin.
| which so delighted US the day before from
Mount Willard, IL the Wiley House. The
, sad story OF this iil.fa,ed family has been so
often told. tina, will not here repeat 1t in
detail. To those who know 1t not, it is
sufficient to shy, that family of nine per
sons were buried by a terrible avalanche
from the mountain side, jus. as they had
escaped from their dwelling 10 seek a
place Of safety elsewhere, while The house
remained untouched, though surrounded
by acres and acres Of earth, rocks and trees,
which had been torn from the mountain
side by protracted storm Of rain, and
which came down upon them with roar
like mighty rushing winds and waters, that
was heard for many miles around.
. After contemplating this melancholy
scene for a short time, and casting a few
stones upon the rude monument near the
way side, We continued our ride through
this deep valley for six miles further, till
we reached old man Crawford's." He
has fine Hotel, with little cultivated
country around it. the first we had seen
since entering the mountains. The Saco
had here attained 10 respectable size, and
we continued to follow il in its winding
course between The mountains to Bartlett,
where we dined at Mr.. "Sittingzes." On