The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-06-25
A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE ON
MOUNT GEMS.

Late one afternoon in January, a winter or
two ago, | received letter announcing to me
the dangerous illness of dear friend and rel
ative. L was at Geneva and my friend at
Turin. must leave instantly if 1 hoped to
SEQ her alive. The quickest route was over
Mount Cents, for the new road had just been
opened by which travellers could reach Turin by
passing only two nights and day on the Jour
ney, giving time for rest at Chambery. was,
however, most uncomfortably placed in regard
to the journey. had two young children, and
my Swiss Jonne had left me that day to pay
visit of two weeks to her relatives in Bas
Nalais. l had thought it quite an undertaking
to have the charge of the children during her
absence; hore was greater one, surely. They
could not be left behind me, and I had not
time to engage another maid indeed I had
only just enough time to hurry down to the
bureau Of the MesSagerie Felerale to SEQ what
seats 1 could get.
OF course I found the coupe engaged; for
when ono is in disagreeable position the
difficulties that spring up on all sides can be
named Legion, they are so numerous. Tho
polite clerk told me it was engaged only SO far
as Chambery, and gave me hope of obtain
ing 1t there, as the weather was so cold that
the coupe was not likely to have through pas
sengers. There were only two seats disen-
gagged in the whole diligence, and they were in
the tnterieure. could not help hesitating, it
was so unpleasant for q woman to travel alone
in such disagreeablo place. But what could
do? "Go, of course" said Courage, and
trust to the children for protection" The dill
gence was being arranged while I stood hesi-
tating at the window of the bureau, talking
about tho seats with the courteous empLoye who
very good naturedly sympathzed with my dis
tressj in fifteen minutes they would be off
My hesitation was put an end to by the arrival
of the connlissiondire l had employed to have
my passport Uised for me at the Sandman con-
sups. lost no moro time, paid for my seats,
lifted my children into the interieure and fol-
lowed them. 1t was soon crowded with men.
All nations seemed to be there represented, and
until midnight their conversation was very
animated-a perfect Babel of tongues.
had, on entering, put my little girl in the
corner, and took my seat next to her, holding
my little boy, who was the youngest, on my lap.
My next neighbor was German, and soon af
ter taking his seat he showed disposition to
be friendly. At the Sandman frontier he
handed out my passport, ofliciously, as if l
belonged to him; offered repeatedly to relieve
me Of my child, and evidently desired to make
himself agreeable, but in such n manner as to
cause all the hedgehog in my nature to put out
its thorns. am no longer in my first youth,
nor can 1 be called pretty, but found that l
was more attractive to my German neighbor
than was pleasant to me. lie sat very close
to me, saying once in while,
Nahc zusammen sitzen macht CUTE Gesell-
schaft "-(Close sitting makes good company.
Such night as passed But tho iaterieure
being crowded was somo little protection from
the disagreeable attentions of my neghbor
l hugged my little boy close to my breast
while my Nittle girl slept soundly on my shoul-
der, and turned a deaf ear to the remarks Of
the German. At last he slept, and attempted
to rest his head on my other shoulder. I had
anticipated from his manner some such pro-
ceeding, and had taken tho precaution to put
there some pins, points outward. He quickly
raised his head, muttering angrily:
Vermaledeites Weih ~ (Confound the
womanD .-.. .-. .t..rt#
was too alarmed to feel any disposition iC
laugh and, moreover, my heart was full o.
apprehensions for my friend M. She
might at that moment be dead. Memories O.
our youth swept up before me. Hours of JOY
and hours Of sorrow we had had together
Gay weddings that had ended in tears solemn
death beds over which we had mourned. 81
many darlings had passed away, and she, sa
wing my two children, was now my last earthly
possession. '...-... tt...,
" Be merciful, o God" inwardly groaned
and rested my burning, dry, aching eyes on tn,
soft curly head Of my boy, who, with his sister
slept soundy that blessed child, sleep "tha
the thunder cannot break" looked at them
and enyied their unconsciousness Of danger