The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-07-27

their names, and the countries known 70 them
- home. California, Wisconsin, Delaware and
Massachusetts,, were jointly represented by our
party, and our names male memorable by an
indelibls signsture In he book. Casting our
eye down the opposite page. We recognised g.
miliar names, and thinking our friends had Just
len looked for tho data. which showed tho
months Of January, February. March &C., tho
number Of records for each month being notices.
than one nor more than Ave. We discovered
that Il was only on special occasions that this
precious register Is produced. This worthy
landlord Increasingly laments tho great mistake
OF hi, liie--tbr, be Il whispered to our fair
friends, hs Is o bachelor! lie warned us, BY
all that Is sacred, not to follow In his footsteps.
Next morning We len, 70 climb the rugged
steep Of Mount Kisrssrge. Thednve, OF about
6fteen miles, Is through beautiful tract. Tho
mountains bound tho horizon with varied tints
Of blue and grey. The Saco winds through tho
valley In ftful moods, like shining trail, ever
changing its course, and stiIl creeping down
and down, swallowing every brook and rill It
meets. while graceful elms and sentry naples
and whispering pines bend over Its banks In
watchful tenderness.
At the mountain base our comfortable CIR
riagcs are exchanged for saddles and mountain
teeds, and brought into opportune play our
boosted skill In horse physiognomy, selecting
our tavorite from the number. The guide. Anx-
ious to impress upon rs the necessity Of his
attendance and direction, repeated at conyen-
lent intervals his warning, charging all TO fol-
low the precise footsteps Of the foremost horse,
from whose bride lie never loosed his hand. not
forgetting the addenium, "thrcc steps one sido
might be our ruin" This became somewhat
amiAing when wide, grassy, gentle ascent
gave ample room to diverge, any step aside
calling from the party simultaneous rcpeti-
ton Of the old gentleman's caution.
Near the path, cool spring Of refreshing
water gushes from the mountain side, and hero
Is erected little wooden cross, on which PEN
ciled hand points to the spring. namel "Tho
Sibyls Well" II bears this inscription:
"weary pilgrim watch and pray
For the kind soul VI Sibyl Gray
Who built THIS cross anu wen.
Who Is sibyl Gray, And what had the owner
Of that name to do with the little spring
we're queries not without interest.
Had Il been some old time stained shaft ,Doss-
grown and crumbling, fancy had pictured
romance about II, and adorned II with clusters
Of mystic imagery, TO he woven into vivid ffe-
tales. Romance aics from pine shingles and
pencil sketches, and recognizes nothing brought
into existence within two weeks.
Steep were the heights we climbed, and blew
the winds in hurricane gales, but when fairly
on the rocky summit, $500 feet above the sur
rounding country, the sublime, soul.inspiring
view woke such glowing thrills Of admiration
that We were repaid tenfold for the ascent
Stretching below. the great basin was dotted
here and there with clusters Of white spceks-
the myriad ponds and lakelets, shining bright
ly, rs they lay tucked up by green embank-
pents, looked up into the broad sky oil loving
ly. The saco, with It's fantastical, whimsical
curvings, was traceable by line Of sand. Tho
trees looked sitting dorm, and the firms nap
ping, while the glorious range rose mp In SOL
emn majesty aud guarded the whole realm be-
low. The house Is much shattered, and unin-
habitablc, but the walls and stair-casss remain,
allowing US to ascend to the cupola.
When satisfied with gaming, We commenced
our slow and cautious descent, exercising tho
mind Of our careful Captain by sometimes
stepping aside into chosen path Of our own,
each time, however. being convinced we should
never see tho foot Of the mount wsdid, how
eve, thanks to his care. He will not be soon
forgotten, nor the entertainment which fol-
lowed at the North Conway House. nor Uncle
John, ror the register.
Truly yours, DONALD ID.