The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-05-17
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An Avalanche on the Great ST. Bernard
had grown weary Of Geneva, and
knew by heart the mountain peaks that
cast their soft shadow on the lake. The
blue waters, the tiny sail boats, and the
vine-clad hills, that had caused such Ian
guild dreams of happiness, all lost thcil
power, and every day grew less inviting
and |, the idle tourist, cast about for n
change. The Jura, dimlv extending in
the west, suggested visit to Lyons; the
crested summit of Mont Blanc, with lis
eternal calottc of dazzling snow overlook
ing myriad of peaks, prompted return
to the vale Of Chamouni the lake quietly !
rolled towards Chillou aud its storicd
Castle. and q curious inclination pointed
to the convent of St Bernard and its
holy inmates on the rugged mountain pass
between Sa, oy aud Piedmont. | turned
over the matter in my mind at twilight
leaning over the parapct of the Pont
Rousseau, and determined on pilgrim.
age to the Hospice of the great ST. Ber-
nard
The ncxt.aftornoon | was at Martigny
en- route, aud prepared to pass the night
at the most romantic auberge could Sc
lect in the town--if group Of crazy
tumble.down tenemcnts and bastard cha
lets can be thus collectively termed. A
hearty supper Of brown bread and wild
honey over, l walked towards the bureau
of the guides, with view of selecting
the most active, stalwart fellow l could
set eyes upon, no matter how fresh his
mules or well.to.do his char a banc
But all my calculations were speedily
set aside by meeting an American friend
"a hardy, adventurous gentleman from
the West, who had been partial to prai
ries and buffalo in his carly days-whC
suggested that we should take char q
6anc as far as the mule road extended
up the pass, and then push onward un
aided to the convent. | must confess
that this arrangement did not immediate
ly strike me favorably, as it was early in
the month of June, and the peasants had
told me that the pass was still covered
with snow, and that the ice on the noun
tains was yet loose and treacherous
recounted these objections to my friend
but he was too bold traveller to permit
the gossip of the valley to interfere will
his notions of adventure. lie protested
that there was no danger; that the
"pcrils of the pass were only an idle
name that it was most unromantic &c
have clumsy, inexorable guide with hi,
eternal patois poking after one anG
then producing pocket map, with the
route feebly expressed like a mere
thread, he succeeded in tightening my
objections, until at length yielded
l was up the next morning before the
sun had climbed over the distant peaks
and packed my knapsacl, ordered an ex
ira flask of KvschioasSer, bought new
baton, and broakfasted before the char {
banc arrived. was in excellent spirits
and the sun looked SO bright and cheerful
when its beams illuminated the spire o
the village cathedral, that anticipated
a merry days tramp, According TO pre-
vious calculation, we were to arrive a
tho convent at eight o'clock in the eve
ming, possibly an hour before.
1t was about seven when wc steppe,
into the shar a Janc--and faded llck
city old one it was, with leathern cur
tains that were of no seeming service bu
to joggle about and fan the dust imme
diateIy in our eyes " I'm route !" shrek
cd the guide anu driver-Lis capacit
was double ons-and we ratified ava
amid the shouts Of score Of men, " omen