The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-09-22
From the New Monthly Magazine.
\ Il AL. l.. OF j | I'll y y -.
FROM THE DANISH OF 5. S. BLICHER
MRS. BJSIIEY

had often beheld the highest hill in Den
mark, but had not hitherto assembled it
Frequently as had been in its neighborhood,
he objects of my journeys had always requir-
I'd me to turn of in another direction, and |
was thus obliged to content myself with see
ing at some distance the DANISH Schwarz-
wald; and as passed on, to cast hurried
glance down the valleys to the charming lake.
dotted with green, leafy islets, and which
winds, as it were, round Jagged tongues of
land. At length | overcamc all obstacles,
and resolved to devote two davs to pleas
urc-trip amidst this much-admired scenery.
NV cousin Ludwig, wi.o haC lust arrived
from the capital, agreed to accompany me.
The morning was clear and warm and gave
the promise of fine evening: but shortly
after midday there gradually arose in the
south west range of whitiSh clouds, tin.cd
at the sides with flame color. NV cousin did
not notice them; but |, who anu experienced
in the sirns of the weather, recognized these
indications of thunder. and announced to him
" that the evening could not he as fine as the
morning" We were riding exactly in such
direction that we had these clouds opposite
to us, and could, therefore. perceive how
they kept rising higher and higher how the V
I..,v,n 10, low az tt, k,,., ,,,I hou Il,
lowered like mountains of snow over the
summit Of the hill. Imagination = cturcd
them to us like the Al pS Of Swi'zcr!anl. and
we tried to fancy ourselves in that molntain-
ous country saw Sh~cckhorn. Wet:er-
horn, and the .Iungtian in the valleys be-
tween the clouds we pictured to ourselves the
glaciers; and when a solitary mass of clonh
breaking suddenly. sank down and seemed
to minclc with The mountain chain. we called
it an avalanche whirh would ovcrwhclm vii
larcS and scattered chalet> with ever a~tinc y
snow We continued. absolutely with child
i>h pleasure, TO tiGure 10 ourselves in ;hr
skies the majestic scenery Of the Alps and
were quite wrapt up in our voluntary self
deception, when the sudden roar of thunder
awokc us from our fantastic dreams. Nrcalv
there stretched scarcely the thinnc>t lire of
lioht in thc heavens above us. and lc wood
which Law before rs seemed As if in moncn,
cnvclopcd in thick cloud of mist by the fa>'
falling rain. We had been too onr ,lilalorv
and now we rode a> harl as possible to reach
,hc nearest village: and we were soaked to
the skin before We got - Aliur. where We
~ou.': ,..r..;er ,.r l., ~ ';.,n - xay.
The owner of the place. an elderly farmer
who seemed sort of halt->avaG, foreigner to
Us, received us with o,d Danish hospitality
he had our horses taken TO his stable. and in
vi:cd ourselves INTO his warm parIor. a.
soon As he observed our drenchcd conli ion
he offered us garments belonging to his tive
sons. to wear while our wet ones were dried
hv the blazing hearth. ,I,vfully did we avail
ourselves of his kind proposal; and in room
up stairs. called tn, best apartment, we soor
mad" the comfortable change of apparel
while laughing and joking at onr uncxpcrt
ed trave>tic. Equipped as peasant lads, il
their Sanlay's clothes. we shortly after re
Joined the family. Our host was much a
mu>cd at the changrin our outward men. an,
warmly extollrd onr homc'q appearance
while his two daughters smiled, and stole s.,
olanrcS at us
Hiu~hcl the Nalkyric~. willis. they they .rrnc
ana au yh"d.
The cotlcc-urn stood rca,!~ on the table
surrounded by china cups: the refreshing
beverage, amply provided with brown sugar
and rich. unadultcratel cream, poured on
and handed by one of the pretty daughter
speedily restored genial heat to our chile
blood: and then the father of the famil
thought it time to inquire the names, occr,p;
. tons, and places Of abode, of his unexpectc
guests.
' Meanwhile the thunderstorm had passed
way; the sun smiled again in the cloudlc
west; far away to the east. indeed. ccul
t still bc heard the distant whiStlinc and ra
: ting of the winds, but where we were a
was mild and tranquil. The spirits of II
storm had folded their dripping wings, ar
the raln-drops sparkled Ike diamonds upc
every leaf and Hover. The evening prom
!, iscd once more to resemble the mornr
: in beauty.
S "And now for the ascent of the mountain ,
we exclaimed to each other
But your clothes ," interrupted the farm
err. We fastened into an outer room, whc;
r the other fair daughter was busy driving ther
but, alas they were still quite damp, ar
, she said she feared she cond not promise th
they would he in fit condition to put on f
at least an hour; and then it would probab
. be too late to enjoy the view from the tc
:. OF the hill, as the ascent, proceeding fro
| where We were at that moment, would tax
: perhaps, another hour What was to be done
= the good-natured countryman helped us o.
of our dilemma
elf you are not ashamed of wearing II
e boys clothes" said he, why should you n
keep them on"
/, :" That is capital idea" we both reple
and thanking him for the offer, as We shoe
S hands with him cordially, we asked hi
where we could find guide.
IL will myself be your guide," he said,
he took from corner a juniper stick for eac
, of us. We then lost no time in commencir