The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-03-25
For the National Era.
SUNRISE ON THE RIGI.

"a dawn of light in the East gradually dims
the Pickering stars, and betokens morning. /
soon becomes streak of gold along the hori-
zon, and is reflected in . pale, pink tint upon
the SHOWS of the Pernese Alps. Summit after
summit slowly catches the same golden hue;
the dark space between the Rigi is next illu-
mined; forest, lakes, hills, rivers, towns, and
villages, gradually become revealed, but look
cold and indistinct until the red orb surnounts
the mountain top. and darts his beams across
the landscape. The shadows are then rolled
back, as it were, and in q few moments the
whole scene around is glowing sunshine."-
Murrays Hand Book.
"Tongues of msny-colored light vibrrated be-
meath the strata of clouds, now dappled, mot
tied, streaked with FIRE. Those on either hand,
of q light Aaky, salmon-tint, those in the
path and portal of the dawn, of q gorgeous
blending and blazoning of golden glories. The
mists ell abroad stirred uneasily. Tufts of
feathery down came up out of the mass, soft
floating films lifted from the surface, and
streamed away dissolving. Strange hues came
out on lake and shore, far, far below, The air,
the very air, became conscious of q coming
change, and the pale tops of distant Alps
sparkled like diamonds. On the
gray edge of the horizon, under the emblazon.
ed strata, came q sudden coal of FIRE, as shot
from the altar of Heaven. 1t dazzled, it wa
vered, it consumed. Its lambert lines length
ened sidelong. At length, not a coal, but Q
shield, as the shield Of Jehovah, stood above
the East, and it was day. The vapor-sea
heaved snd broke, and rolled up the mountain
sides. The lakes flashed back the conquering
splendor. The wide panorama, asleep no
more, was sstir with teeming light. "-Beecher.
LuxERSE, august l8, 1857.
What went ye mp to see2
"Sunrise on the Rigi."
What saU YET
A hail storm.
And then?
Lightnings flashed and thunders rolled, and
rain fell in torrents; after which, tho bow Of
promise promised rain on this occasion, span
ned the Rigi. The sun set with faint smile
that was dimly reflected in rosy traces upon
the peaks of the snowy Alps. Twelve beauti
full lakes cleaned in the light of the setting
sun, and the spires of Zurich, Zug, and Arth
were for moment visible. fingered in ths
pavilion upon the Culns, wrapped in cloak ani
shawl, till the cold became intense. had
melted in thinnest apparel on my way up, bu
this had gladly exchanged for winter suit
which / had taken the precaution to strap Il
my saddle, yet was very cold. As the las
summer beam had ceased to gid the distan
mountain tops, and they were gradually disap
pearing in the gathering mists, I returned to tn
hotel, and from my window watched the arrivs
of fresh parties, some on horseback and some OF
foot, but all thoroughly drenched by the heav.
shower that had been so fortunate as TO Is
| cape.
Soon the deep-toned bell announced the fac
that his solar majesty had retired, coupled wit
quite another agreeable one, after q thre
hours ride on horseback, viz: dinner. In tn
shortest possible time, two hundred unfortr
mates were seated in the sale d manager, and
was amusing TO see the shifts to which some
them had been put ff
We could only bring sbsoluts necessities
the Culm, because we could only take sue