Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-03-20

RED INTO the central regions, that when the
pilgrims had disappeared down the pass, a
sound as of the falling of weight into wa
ter was distinctly heard: and those who adj
venturously had clomb the neighbouring
precipices asserted that the eve looked
down an lmpenerable darkness, though the
eer could certainly catch the noise Of waves
breaking and surglng against wall Of rock.
Hence, the inhabitants used to call It the
Dark River and to speak moarnfully Of
their journey thither aud they grew sad as
they neared the West.
But even more wonderful peculiarly of
this island was a mystic territory tina, lay
to the south, somewhat out Of tn common
track TO the Dark River. II consisted Of a
large circle Of plains, groves, rocks, and
mighty mountains, so piled together as to
appear to distant gazer one huge em-
nence. Aud on nearer approach DELE
cate tissue ioaied over all, 50 dad nothing
could be seen distinctly; but only confused
giimpses now aud then, could be obtained
OF palms aud laurels, aud hill-peaks, aud
domes, and glItterlng mInarets. The whole
region was begid with a natural rampant Of
lofty rocks The ouly entrance into IT was
through caverns which, here and there APP
peared in the natural bastions of the cir
cling ellis The inhabitants of the plain
knew even less of this place than of the
Dark River, aud they delested it even more.
They SAID that music as from the Threats of
myriod of nighungales, foated at morn
and at eyentlde from this mystic spot so
captivating, SO enhancing, that he who
heard II sas compelled to enter into the
governed entrances, wherelrom. i'he return
ed al all, 1t was IN a sad and distressing plight
la fact the inhabitants were good easy,
listiess people, whose highest aim was to
keep themselves well fed, aud to drown all
thought Of the Dark River IN merrimeni.-
Hence they abhorred the unknown aud ,he
extraordinary. They liked to eat, drink,
dance, sing, Ion on green slopes, and sleep
under lowery hedgerows; aud they despis-
ed or dreaded all thai tended to break their
sleek monotony OF pleasure Accordingly
very few of them came within the sound of
the music Of The Mystic Mount; and many
passed away without having learned It's local
ity, OF even ITS existence. Some aDteuturers
once entered the Jaws of the cavern, ured
by the fairy songs they heard around the
mount, bntthey returned bru sed and wound
ed, and SAID that Immediately after they en-
te'e1' rude hands siezed them TO strip 'htm'
an" "hen they resisted, Grove them back
through The cavern's mouth WIN blows
"ese al" als spoke me most Dplefly against
ne h)stc Mount. But once again party
"i daring sP'u's came w'ihin hearing OF the
music, ana entered Ihey consented io the
SEIZURE ct lheir clothes, aud were then turned
naked INTO dark cavern ahouudng with
spars "a Il eplluiprs They wandered uloru
Tor considerable lme, aud then seeing hight
TO the let, they turned down narrow ave-
nue., and soon found themselves once u2ore AZ
me outside, close to where they had urssna'-
~ entered. Ashamed al returning 10 tielr
lfit"1s I'D sucA conuil'"h, hel tfled I" gam
te-adniiss'on. Bat TINS was denied them,
oud naked and bleeding they had TO return To
lHeif laniiies ana trends J. cse' OF course,
l'lned lne others in theIf appalling aescfii'-
nous "' lne 'ilsiic Mount ana used all 'HS'f
lhuue"1e in dssuading others from APP
pf"1chlng H. Ia spite 81 Wcm, however
some had entered II rom time 10 ume' VINO
never returned.
mus uese si"pIe people d"ell In lne'f
"''0''' 1"u u"N"""n 'sia"u' lucy ".1
4 ie" wants, and none that we're not instantly
Sa''siiea. ! he earth gre" suslena"ce e"ou =
without ihoor Tor all Tie inhabitants ana
t"e' nad ii'ue TO do beyond scheming no" q,
0eeH'ie lneif journey to The Dark RIVER, and
+ ,"h""ish aii thoughts other approach 70 H.
/, was d ne oi long, dreamy ignooie and '"'
glorious case But at length the hour and
'uv ""h arrived ana sleden revolution
Ni. upon 'neF sluggish, Vo'up'uons NE
1" lhe course oiihle chld Was nofh VINO
from ms earliest boyhood, manifested
marked pec"iarity q uanher. instead o
peng content, like the olher laos' 10 ca
nun ana dance WIN inc iue sifls, he
would reilfe To soillafy places, ana spen'
who'd days musing on the grass. Or he
would herd with the Old men, and ask then
all manner otquesilons abon, the Dark Rh
CT aud the Mysuc Mount, aud the haps an'
haz~dsoi Island Life As be grew older
these peculiariu6s, instead OF wearing a
way, grew more markedly manifest; h'
joined IA none Of their innocent, but toolisl
pasimes; be even udieuled their Ways o
life, aud when he reached the time OF man
hood he WAS feared ana re'eFenced by all IA
inhabitants as a singular aud superior be
. ing