Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-23

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ished that a father would trust lad Of such
tender years (he was not more than twelvel TO
go off on such an expedition alone, in such a
region as this; and after they had parted,
slipped some money into the little fellows
hand, and said a cheering word or two, for ]
felt as if it were cruel thus to leave him.
FALL OF THE HANDEK.
The river Aar has been rushing along by US
all the morning, and now it has reached the
verge of precipice more than a hundred feet
high. At this point another stream Of only
less volume which has come down one of the
mountain sides, forces its way across the path,
and dashes boldly into the Aar on the brink
/ of the fall Like two frantic lovers, they take
| the mad leap together into the fearful gulf.
Standing above the brow Of the fall, and look
ing into the dark abyss, where the vast column
| of water stands, silvered at the summit, spread
and broken into foam as it reaches the base,
with clouds of spray rising from the boiling
/ depths below, we see cataract that combines
more of the sublime with the very beautiful
than any other in Switzerland. 1t is hard to
find spot from which to behold it in all its
majesty. think it wonld pay to make stair
case with Q projecting platform near the foot of
the fall, so that the ysiter might contemplate
the whole at single view, without the sensa-
ton of danger, which always detracts from the
! enjoyment of such spectacle.
| After we had gazed upon it from the bridge
| at the brow, we went around and down through
the forest and reached the ledge from which
we could look up and out upon the column Of
waters now pouring before us in exceeding
strength. A faint rainbow trembled midway,
but the pine trees were too thick to admit the
suns rays in full blaze upon the face Of the fall.
would have gone down to the bottom of the
abyss and experimental, as of old at Niagara,
| on the beauty of the scene when viewed over
my head; but there was no path to lead me
down, and no point below where good view
could be obtained. But the surrounding scenery
adds 50 much to the gloomy grandeur Of the
scene, that am quite willing to write this down
as real cataract, wonderful leap and rush OF
waters, in the midst of ravine Of terrific con-
struction; filing the mind with the strongest
! sense of wildness, horror, desolation, and de-
/ struction, while the image Of beauty in the
i water and the bow plays constantly over the
face of all We left it with strong emotions of
pleasureable excitement, and shall retain the
recollections Of the falls of Aar for many days.
Another hour brought us to Guttamen, a mis-
cradle lonely village, where a small and neat
looking tavern invited us to dine, though it was
hardly noon. We we're sadly imposed upon; a
bad dinner and double price for it; so that
we gave the people anything but a blessing
when we fastened away. The path by-and-by
| led under an extraordinary projection Of rock,
shelving over, and making q Pavilion. The
4 descent became more rapid, until we took to a
/ long flight of stone steps in the path; and then
4 on lower grade we came upon meadow land,
through which the grass had been cut away for
foot passengers to make shorter course than
that BY which the horses must find their way
down. We entered a little cottage and refreshed
ourselves again, with coffee and milk, and had
some pleasant talk with the old lady and one
or two of the neighbors who had dropped down
| from some mountain home; for it is even
pleasant, if no useful knowledge is gathered, to
learn the thoughts and feelings of these secluded
people, and to find that true enjoyment, con.
tentment, can exist as truly and beautifully in
the dreary heights of these Alpine pasturages,
as in the courts of kings, and little more SO.
i For we were not very far above lovely val
ley, one Of the sweetest spots that carry in
| my memory. 1t is surprising how suddenly
the line Of barrenness is passed, and the region
i of fruits and abundant vegetation bursts upon
you in this country. We had not been two
! hours from dreary Guttanen, when we emerged
from the the narrow defle into a vale, a plain,
a basin, of rare loveliness for situation and en-
bellishment. Level as threshing floor, with
| a hundred Swiss cottages scattered over it, and
| each of them surrounded with q garden stored
4 with fruits, apples, pears, ana tne like, while
| stream flowing through the midst of it, divided
the vale into two settlements, in one of which a
neat church sent up its graceful spire. We had
been lettering along down, and it was now
drawing toward evening the bell OF the old
church was ringing for evening prayers, and
the people, few Of them, were gathering in
| - nfo,p
each of them distinct pyramid, rise on as
many sides of this valley, and seem at once to
/ shut it from the world, and to stand around it
as towers Of defence, as the mountains are
| round about Jerusalem, and the Lord is around
| those who fear him. This is the vale of Upper
HASH the river Aar flows through it; on the
right as we are going, is the village Of Im-hof,
and on the left the settlement is called I'm
| Grund
| We passed a low house like all the rest, and
| three little children in row, broke out with a
1 song, a sweet Psalm tune, such as our Sabbath
school children would sing. We stopped to lis
ten, and the guide stood with us in front of the
groupe, while they sang one after another OF
! their native melodies as birds of the forest
would warble an evening song. The youngest
was not more than two years old; and when we
had given them some money for their music,
took the little thing by the nanu, anu saiu
"Come away with me-" The guide took it by
the other, and it trotted along between us with
SO much readiness, that it occurred to me in
stantly that these might be the children Of the
man who was with me. said to him, Are
these yours?" Eyes, sir," and catching up the
little thing in his arms, and kissed it fondly,
and carried it on with all the burdens already
on his back. When he had put it down and the
| children had returned asked him why it was
that no sign of recognition passed between him
and his children when he first came up to them
as they stood by the side Of the house. He told
me that he had taught them to receive him in
this way when he came by with strangers whom
he was guiding; and as they sang to receive
what money might be given them, it was better
that it should not be known there was any re.
lation between him and them. had detected
the connection by the willingness of the babe
to follow us, and the father was delighted to be
i able To discover himself to his child, and take