Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-30

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but it came at last, as storms of all sorts do,
when we least expected 1t. For two or three
days the weather had been very hot--so much
30 that was not disposed TO go tramping, even
Tor the sake of climbing up hill into colder
atmosphere. We had been lying off, too lazy
% write or to read. So we went q fishing after
dinner The apostles went fishing. They fshed
all night, and caught nothing we fshed all the
afternoon, and had the same success.
just before nightfall the wind began to blow,
all OF sudden, as if it had broken out in
new place. II blew all ways at once. The
little skins that were out on the lake pulled in
tor shore with oil haste, and, in less time than
have taken to tell Of it, the scene Of calm
| beauty, which the lake had presented, was
changed to that Of an angry tempesttossed sea.
The whole valley was filled with black, fierce
clouds. Rigi was clothed with thunder. Pila-
| tus was totally obscured The storm was com
| ing from his quarter, confirming the supersti-
ton of the natives, that his troubled spirit stirs
the tempest. Through single break in the
clouds could see the sunshine playing among
| the valleys away to the south, while darkness
| and gloom were all around me. The contrast
was striking and peculiar to this region, where
| the sudden elevation of the mountains makes
the transitions from one temperature to another
rapid, and brings the results to view. On the
bosom Of the lake the reflections Of the clouds
were exceedingly curious, giving almost as
many colors as the rainbow that now began to
appear on the Rigi.
/ 1t was beautiful bow. No rain had vet
fallen upon me; but there on the side Of that
| noble mountain, on whose summit had spent
the night, the blessed bow was resting SO pure,
so glorious, SO often watched by those love-
| so full of sweet suggestions Of Gods promise
that looked on it as on the face Of q friend in
strange land. 1t is just such bow rs they
have in America. The same sun and the same
showers make il, and the same God hangs it
out there, the sign Of his faithfuness, the token
of his love. Who can be afraid Of storm
when the rainbow appears But it faded, as
all bright things fade, and the dark clouds grew
darker, and q heavy clap Of thunder in the west
shook the Alps, and another, not preceded by
a streak Of chain lightning, leaping like red
serpent in the clouds, but by broad lurid sheet
of fire, filling the atmosphere, and then sudden
/ ly vanishing into darkness. The rain now came
down in sheets; the wind blew with increasing
i power, and for few moments it did indeed ap-
pear as if the prince of the powers Of the air had
been suffered to reign, and he was doing his
worst while he was left unclaimed. The ignor-
ance Of the people could readily be imposed
| upon, when such scenes as this are frequent !;
| and am told, in former times so strictly was
the ascent of Mount Patus forbidden, lest
storm should be provoked by the intrusion,
| that naturalist, Gessner, had to obtain a spe.
cial license to pursue his Investigations there.
/ The storm was Of short duration. But the
night closed in with thick heavy clouds oil
i around us. The hundreds, induced by the
| clear bright morning to GO to the summit of
Rigi for sunset and SUNRISE found that it is
| not the entertainment to which they were in
L fod fill
| five hours distant, / can see where the clouds
cap his head, where the rain is pouring there in
torrents, when the western and eastern sky is
4 enveoped in mists that obscure all view Of the
! sun, and 4 have observed that, more than half
OF the time there is as little to be seen from the
summit of Rigi as from the head of barrel in
dark cellar. The sun is shining brightly now
on the lake near me, and look up and great
| fleece, as if thousand Hocks had Welded theirs
| for a robe, is thrown over the crown Of the
mountain, making q veil that no glass can see
| through. lgs ii stt
sat in my open window taking melan-
choly pleasure in c0mmuning with the storm.
God was in it,; and not before had such o
sense of his presence in the midst of these hills
| could hear his voice in the thunder, and the
broad CLEANS Of lightning were not unlike the
glance ct his eye. ] could not look on them.
lie has said-no man shall see me and live.
Butt could trust him, and not tremble, for the
! two swallows that Just now flew into the room
found shelter from the storm, though they
feel themselves lost and far from home and I
know that He who careth for the sparrow win
not forget me, a wanderer, lonely often and far
| from my home. Indeed, rather love this com
motion Of the elements. 1t brings things to-
gether that well agree. These hills are fit to
| be q theatre of such a scene, and have been
wishing that before left the foot of Pilatus,
might see a display Of those terrors with which
he was wont to frighten the natives. have
seen it now, and shall soon leave the presence
of these mountains for those more sombre in
their grandeur, but not more interesting in their
associations.
WALK INTO THE COUNTRY.
Aug. 25.-The next morning the valleys and
mountains were draped in that doubtful mist,
which left itquite uncertain what sort Of weather
the day would prove. The landlord Of the Swan
assured me it would not rain, and as this pre-
diction was made at the risk Of losing two
guests in consequence, was bound to respect
his judgment. We resolved to trust il, and to
make an expedition into the country behind
Lucerne, cross some Of the spurs of the noun
tains, come around by the foot Of old Pilatus
and SO return to our lodgings. The whole
walk would be only about twelve or fifteen
miles, and II we should lose our way and make
it a little longer, why so much the better.
1t was just eight in the morning as we left,
and wandered slowly through the streets with
our alpenstocks or pike-stafs in hand. We
paused at a church door or two, and looked in,
where few were paying their silent devotions
before the altar, with single burning lamp,
and passing out Of the gate underneath one Of
the seven old feudal towers we took the bank
Of the river Reuss, and walked by pleasant
path, expecting every moment to find bridge,
as our road was to lead as off to the west, and
we must cross the stream to reach it. i asked
little girl, tending two babies in cottage
door, if there was any bridge in that direction,
and her ready answer Nein' or no, sent us
about in a hurry. Here was the first mile
thrown away, and, retracing our steps, we
crossed at the bridge near the wall, and taking
the high road toward Berne, were soon in the |
midst Of rural Swiss valley scenery.
"A path for mile or more on the bank Of the
river chadod hv row of E,,a x,..o. III -