The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-01-10
From All The Year Round
UNDER THE SNOW.
IN TWO poRTIoNs.-PoRTIoNT THE FIRST.

Il
ALTHOUGH Switzerland is famous, all the
world over, for its lofty mount ains, STILL in for
eign countries, many lads of my age, and in my
station of life, may not exactly know that the
Jura is a chain of mountains formed by several
parallel chains which extend from Basic, in
Switzerland, quite up to France and little way
into it. running in the direction northeast to
southwest The length of the Jura is about
one hundred and forty miles It contains q
great number of deep valleys and several noun
tains whose submits are very lofty.
mention these dry details at the outset in
order that you may better understand what
happened t. me; for it is in great measure, the
difference of the height of the mountains which
makes them habitable or not. The higher they
are the sharper is the cold there, the shorter is
the summer the scantier ia the vegetation, and
the earlier does the snow cover it. Some of
these mountains are even so lofty that the snow
upon their tops is never completely and entirely
melted, but remains in patches in the hollows.
Nevertheless, all the mountains of tho Jura lose
their upper garment of snow every year; some
sort OF heritage springs on the highest submits !;
at many points they are clothed with magnifi.
cent woods of beech, oak, and especially frs !,
while other parts afford excellent pastur
ground, on which very fine cattle are reared
and particularly oxen COWS, and goats. Not>
withstanding which, these beautiful mountains
are scarcely habitable more than FIVE months in
the year, from May or June to the beginning
OF October.
As soon as the SHOWS are melted and the sum-
mits, are clothed again with green our villages.
which are all built in the valleys or on the lower
slopes, send their herds up the mountain. This
departure is quite holiday and Yet we herds
men have to spend the whole summer away
from our families, leading hard working life,
with many privations. We live almost entirely
On milk and chees9 diet, which we call by a
general name, tGttage, having often nothing else
to drink, by way OF change, but water FROM
The spring. We spend cur time in grazing our
herds, and in making those large and handsome
,cheescs which are known as Gruyere.
Every herdSman has, up in the mountain, a
chalet, which is a wretched place for human
habitation, although mostly built of stone. 1t
is rooted with small dealed plank called bar-
Geau1 heavy stones, land i'll rows upon them,
press them down, and prevent the storms from
stripping them Off The interior of chalet is
divided into three apartments; we'll closed sta
bic or COW house to lodge the cattle at night
narrow and cool dairy where the milk is kept in
broad wooden bowls and kitchen, which also
serves as bedroom, where The herdsman not
unfrequently sleeps or bed of straw. The
kitchen is furnished wirh a vast chimney, in
The milk and helping to convert it into cheese.
As the chalet is our residence the whole sum
mer long, we are obliged to store it with many
little articles of necessity, to save having to go
down the valley to fetch them when wanted
Unexpectedly.
Our season hardly finishes before St. Dennis
day, the 9th of October We then quit the
mountain, again making holiday, delighted
20 return to our families. But we do not lead
IN idle life in the village, any more than we did
ut the chalet. We ar, accustomed to depend
on ourelves, and are obliged to turn eur hands
10 every thing. We make household utensils,
tools, aud furniture we carve wood into fancy
articles, which are aiterward dispersed all over
Europe. But, what is of the most Importance.
the winter allows us spare time for our educa-
ion, If the path to the school is not always
opon, the children are made to learn their les
somS at home. The art of writing is not forgot
en-, and by reading aloud we amuse and instruct
others as well as ourselves. 1t was good thing
fer me that ! was so brought up. If 1 had not
had these resources in my trouble, know not
what would have become ofme. One thing, at
least, is clear, the journal which follows could
not have existed. Although only Swiss coun-
try lad, l have been enabled to write some sort
OF history. Here it is, as I was enabled to
note it down from day to day.
November 22.--Snce it is the will of God that
L and my grand father should be imprisoned in
this chalet l intend to record in writing what
happened to US. II We are destined to perish
here, our friends and relations will learn how
our last days were spent; if we are delivered
this journal will preserve the recollection of
our dangers and our sufferings. 1t is also my
giandfathers wish that should undertake it.
The day before yesterday in the village, we
had been expecting my father for several weeks
past. ST. Dennis day was over all the herds
had come down from the mountain, together
with their keepers. Ny father alone failed to
make his appearance and we began to ask,
" What can possibly detain him ~ | lost my
mother three years ago,but my uncle and aunts
assured me that need not make myself unea-
gy; that probably there remained some grass to
be eaten, and that was why my father had kept
the herd little later up the mountain.
At last my grandfather became alarmed. He
said d" will go myself and see why Francois
does not come l shall not be sorry to see the
chalet once more. Who knows whether l shall
be able to visit it next summer? Will you like
to go with me?''
1t was the very request l was going to make,
for, as l have no mother, we are almost always
together. We were soon ready to start. We
mounted slowly, sometimes following narrow
gorges, sometimes skirting the brink of deep
precipices. About quarter ofleague before We
came TO the chalet,I was attracted by curiosity
to the edge OF a very steep rock. My grand>
f,ther, who had told me more than once that he
did not like my doing SO, fastened forward to
pull me back; but large stone, rolling back
ward 8 he stepped apon it, caused him to sprain
his foot and put him to considerable pain. But
i'll few minutes he felt b liter, and we hoped
that no bad consequences would ensue. With
the help of his stout holly stick, and by leaning
on my shoulder, he was able to drag himself to
this place.
My father was greatly surprised to see us. He
was busy preparing for his departure so that if
we had quietly waited at home one day longer,
his arrival would have put an end to our unea-
siness. That very same evening Pierre was to
set out with the remainder of the cheeses.
After short repose, my grandfather asked
ME Are you tired, Louis ~ The manner in
which he made the enquiry seemed to indicate
some secret intention, and did not give very
decided answer. was thinking, he added,
that it might be prudent to send the boy on
with Pierre. The wind has changed during the
last hour, and may perhaps bring US bad weather
in the course of the night.
Ny father expressed the same fear, and urged
me to follow the same counsel.
l ad much rather wait for YOU I said,
4" grandfather with his lame foot, stands in great
need of good nights rest"
i
gardsd with greedy eyes. My father understood
tee signal, and served US some soup made of
maize -four and milk which we ate like soldiers,
all out of one bowl. 1t was agreed that we
should all go down together next day, which
was yesterday. After which l went to bed
and fell asleep, without paying much attention
10 what was said by my father and grandfather,
who had long conversation in an undertone
after supper
Next morning was quite surprised to see the
mountain all covered with white. The snow
was still falling with unusual heaviness. driven
by violent wind. I should have been highly
amused, had not remarked my relations anx-
iety. was very uneasy myself when l saw
my grandfather take few steps and drag him
selfalong without great difficulty, supporting
him1elf by the furniture and against the wall
The accident of the day before had caused his
foot to swell, and made it very painful
Go, he said, "lead the child before the
snow is deeper. You see it is impossible for