Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-07-17
VOLUME 35, NO. SO.

speStre, some spirit OF the mountains, which
entices uson only to deceive us, we come
TO wha, sets all doubt to rest. and calls for
a long pull and strong pull. we'll strung
muscles active lungs. and cool head; VIC
come to the solid granite blocks,,o the Jag
ged ridges and the precipitous slopes Of the
sharp peak OF Cbocorua. Up, and still up
We 60, pausing now TO get breath, and
again TO feast the eyes upon the splendid
picture spread out like map beneath.
turning first this way and then that, to find
some erevice in which small shrubs have got
enough Of hold to serve as aids in pulling
Up our tired bodies. Again and again we
arc sure that one more pull will place us
upon the summit. and again and again do
wc still sec the peak above our heads. Now
We come 10 a steep but smooth slope, not
too steep perhaps to ascend. provided We
were su,e Of 4 soft bed TO light upon II our
slipping shoes should play us false. but two
steep when we see the two thousand feet
down which we should certainly roll IL any
thing gave way. So we abandon this
smooth looking road. and take The rougher
but safer mode afforded by the sharp an
giles and deep crevices of the eastern side;
and after few more vigorous pulls We
throw ourselves with humping hearts and
beating brains and unstrung muscles upon
the top OF Chocorua. Ten minutes restor-
rs the equilibrium OF the ply ical machine.
and leaves US able to appreciate what VIC
sec around and below. To the west north,
aud north east-mouniains, range behind
range, and peak be yond peak, until we
touch the horizons ring-to the south and
south east lakes and the Ossipee valley fill
up the view. Our whole route from Center
iiarbor. is spread out like map before US.
Winnepisautee Lake, Red Hill. Ossipee
and Green Mountain, Peasant Mt. in Den.
marx, and the lakes in Fryeburg. the Green
Hill OF Conway, kearsarge (alias Pequaw-
ket.) the Mote, Doublebead. Baldiace, the
Wildcat and Cartes mountains. the Rattle
snake. Carrisain, W Hey, Crawford. Rcso.
lute, Webster. jackson, Pleasant. Frank
lin, MuGroe, and over all and above all
among the mountains as among the men
Washington.
Sweeping around 10 the west and south
west, the Twins, Lafayette, and other mem.
bers Of the Francona group, Osceoia, Tri-
pyramid, Whilefacc, Passacoanaway. and
namelcss mountains 10 Sandwich. complete
the vast panorama. and strike US with the
peculiar aptness Of the ex lamatioD OF old
Darby Field, who when he first bebeld this
picture characterized it As "Dlwatug Ter
riblc"
/ Cbocorua is 5000 feet in height, Abo,o
the sea but absolute elevation is only Que
element in 4 mountain, as regards the Civ
ing OF fine view isolation is the other.
When mountain peak is prominently
visible from all points Of the compass, We
NAV infer the converse, viz: that a vide
extent Of country i visible from the peak.
This is the ease with Chocorua. and also
kearsarge, near North Conway.
/ After an hour upon the summit, we COM
menced the descent slowly and easily. get
ting the views going down. which we had at
our backs going up. We roiraced our path
TO the eastern spur, turned once more for
parting view OF the grand old obelisk
plunged into the woods down, down down
out at the bottom. across the pasture. ibro
the orchard. to our hOle' afcr an all
seuoc OF between five aud six lonrs. one Of
winch was spent on the top Of the mountain.
According go the lggeud, the ola iud an.
Chocorua. at the time Of his death at tho
hands Of The white settlers, cursed The AZ
fairs OF tue pale faces, IN the most approved
New York Ledger stylc, aud We are iG-
formed by the legend that the cattle in that
region become sickly and die
I Our host confirmed portion Of this tale.
in as much as hc told Il. that rattle did not
grow well on hrs place. but there must have
been flaw 10 old Chocorua's formula for
cursing or else be vas not dul sworn and
authorized to perform that sort Of business,
for our host told us that The bad effect Of
the water in bis neghborhood, was neuira-
lied by feeding occasionally small quanii-
+ ties Of common clay to tue cattle, in the
same way as salt Is fed to them.
Refreshing ourselves with substa antial
lunch. we shook hands with our Cbocotua
acquaintance. and walked up TO North Con-
way. Upon approaching tbe village, We
found the S1co river between rs and our
stopping place and no bridge on which to
cross 4 dozen years o. experience, how
ever. in tIa,chng on foot. had taught us 10
deal with occurrences Of bis sort aud di-
vrsiing ourselves OF The lower four feet Of
clothing. wc held our bundles over our
heads. and IN spite Of three feet Of swift wa
ter, and a bottom somewhat rough. we
landed safe and sound upon the eastern side
Of the river and shortly afterwards found
ourselves comfortably seated At the table of