The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-06-24
A White Mountain Adventure.

once lhe nero OF very startling adven-
ture.
l will relate it for you, dear children, and
l hope your fathers and mothers too, will be
interested in my true story, which is to
teach you that your very lires may depend
on your instant obedience to their com.
mands.
When Charley was FIVE year, old, he and
his brother John two years older, accompa-
MED their father and mother on a Journey
to the White Mountains. The family did
not travel by cars and stage, but in the good
old fashioned way, with their own horse and
carriage.
We lind our travellers one bright summer
morning among the Franconia mountains
They had spent the previous night at the
F!ume House, and were now per.uing their
journey to the Frarconia Notch. As thev rode
quietly along, mamma consulted the guide
| book, (Eastman's White Mountain Guide
and they read and talked of the profile (old
man of the mountain) and the crystal mirror
(lake) at his teet, of echo lake, too, land the
many, many wonders and beauties of the
Notch, which they had almost reached.
And here" said mamma, laughingly, as
she turned the leaves of the book, fright
here in these woods somewhere, it must mean,
is another wonder wonder of both nature
aud art--so it seems"
Read it to US read it to u.s." cried the
| boys. SO mamma read.
"About two and half miles southwark Of
the Profile House, is Walkers Observatory.
A tail pine, standing by the side of the road
poss -ssing v onderful capabilities as an obser-
vatory, was brought to its fated end by trim
ming away the branches, and fastening an
easy succession of winding stairs around its
truik. As the tree is strong, and well secur-
ed by iron chains, we may feel reasonably
safe in ascendine>te the lookout at the top.
a really commanding view is gained from
this halt-natural and half-artifcial observa-
tory. From no other place in the lowland
can you obtain so good view of the valley
between the mountain ranges"
"Oh, here it is said papa, :" is it best tc
stop? ?"
DO Oh please do stop shouted the
boys.
"Well We will" said their father, for the
boys will never forget" "Ho! Charley
boy, was there ever such a famous tree te
climb ?"
Now, as said, Charley is the hero of my
story, so | must tell you more Of him. First
since it has to do with my story, he wa,
wonderful climber, and had been, through
all the eventful, five years Of his life ; having
on hand and knees, mounted to the thir(
story of the great nall at granfathers' Ions
before he could 90 alone. For all h
was great brave boy, he was still the ba
)" soft, white, rosy, curly-headed, and a
full of dinpIes, aud fond cuddling ways, a
ever vas mothers baby.
When, the previous evening, all radian
from his excursion to the Flume, he ran, fo
the first time. into the parlor at the Flum
House, one of the group assembled there ex
claimed:
"Oh you little curly-headed angel! wher
did YOU come from?"
So at once he was their pet, and the pet 0
the house. Dark-eyed Johnny, who wa
mothers companion and confdant, ever de
voted and true, won golden opinions fror
all, but Charley was the pet fathers smother
everybody's pet.
So our party came to the foot Of the tree.
"Charey boy is such brave climber
said mamma, 81 suppose he will be at the to
first of all"
All cast fond look on the boy who, a
ready in advance, turned his bright face a
aslow with happy excitement upon them. Ol
had that look been the last.
So they wound their way slowly up, Cha
ley just in advance, $50 they .houghD talkin
Of the scenery, and answering Johnny
thoughtful and oyermature questions wine
ing round and round, up, up, up,-Charlt
just round the turn, out of sight, y
near-
Oh no Oh terror up, up in the dizl
air, above the tops of the highest trees, the
is cry, gasping, faltering, frightened cry
81 trying still to be brave.
H. Mamma, where are you9 What shall
III do, mamma Eraything goes round so ,
hcrc."
You are only dizzy, my darling, sit rig
down on the stair; don't step, don't step,
right down." So went up mothers answ
from white lips, and an agonized heart,
true to mothers instinct, loud, clear, al
cheerful as bell.
nd Up sped the father, crying out encoura
ri insly:
Good Charley, sit still, papa is coming"
t. What sight met his view as he reach
his boy, and, clasping him to his heart, sho'
1t. ed back, "all safe !"
, Yes, all safe sat the boy, right on the Of
er edge Of a stair just where the broken re-
ing gave no protection, more than a hi
dred feet from the rocks below, his chez
aglow, his eyes agleam, his red lips part
&C. in happy smiles, obediently waiting his ia
orc oon;nr etens. wondering the while "