Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-06-16
Che family Circle,
Johnny Climbs into Geography.

IltO UCOs dUHNs
Is this the highest mountain in the
world?'' Johnny asked. surprised and be-
wildered by the new aspect of the strange
great world we look down upon from our
high position on topof the Wild Cat Hill.
Mountains We're something new to
Johnny. The hills Of Prospect P;,rk Were
the highest he had ever seen before, cx-
cept some Elr-off ranges he caught Gimp
>eS of from the car window rs we came
into the country. He could hardly believe
me when told him they were rs high rs
the one we had climbed Nth 80 much
labor that bright SUNNI morning.
They loo ked SMALL | said, Just as our
house looks small away down there in the
valley. b, cause of the distlnce.'
There among the trees by the river |
can see it-and the white church on the
hill. too. and the brick s,hool-huuse They
look like toy houses. The hill looks fla,
almost; its awful steep from grand pas
|, that the mountain back there where the
woods are?'
"Crrtainly," | said Don't You see
The gray line where the high rocks are9''
Everything is 50 queer the little f-
low went on, gradually getting used to
the new appearance of things, land 50
small. Its like Il picture. The river
looks as though could step across it
and how far it goes
1t was a pretty sight truly to see the
river winding down from the distant
mountains. now still and black between
wooded shores. now tlickcrinT in the sun
rs 1t dashed over rapids, here spreading
round green islands, there pouring over
white falls or sleeping under bridges. No
wonder the boy gazeL with wide eyes
wonderln9lv. rs if upon Il bit Of fairy
| land
Where does it come from" he inquir-
ed at last.
1.-The river?"
cs, the river
| pointed to where a blne peak stood ~
against the sky. with a While cloud trail
NC from its top like Il snowy banner and
told him that on the further side of thai
mountain was 4 beautiful lake, and tn,
river came ont of 1t running between old
White Cap Gus the mountains name j.,
and the steep mountain to the left of it.
Are those mountains too" johnny
exclaimed How smooth and blu,
they look, like clouds almost. Are theI,
Trees on theme
" Except where they look white, re-
piled. " y few Years ago Il great fir,
burned all the trees off that ftt-topp Il
looks ne th,n,-h ,.nvnraI VIII, .nny All
thlt white streak on tn highest noun
t:tin is bare rock. too. One time after :
heavy rain all the trees that nrcw there
Sid down the mountain with ali the loose
'arth. leaving that LONG rocky scar. Il.
broad the river and rs lon- ~ from
here. tn ,rr,n,lp,.
"Whv i dissent sa,m h:.,,4r than INV.
hand, said Johnny. Itm1Sr hr :, VERY
,reat mountain -hirher tn IN thj-.,
"Vcrv much hi.hcr-m,y h. * l,irl
rs all thr>. hill, round here piled tom o
each other" said
Johnny looked at them a lnnr time
irving very hard tothink how bio thai
would be. Finally he sud: "D5 Won
think thtt this mount.,in Will ever be. =,
bio a> that
No.. replied, :" | don't think if eve,
will. Il j. more likely TO rrt smaller
All the mountains round here seem to L.,
wearing out
"Wrarjur ont, DO mountains ever vo.,,
out? How can the, -
Not exactly Il, vonr h,. or shoes DO
| replied; still they are constantly wear
inc away lit hv llltlr. and must finally
become much smaller than they are now
You can ,et. for vo,,r,rlf''
"C,n To- .J,hnnv asked .,,,o.l,.
..What wears them the clou Iso''
johnny hal seen the ruin clou |, lriv-
INC over the mountli furiouslv. with 4
great ro.r of wind and thunder. ana il
was natural tina. hc should think of thcr-
first.
But why didn't they break down the
| rccS, them" ne went on :, moment after
ioub;inr the correc MSS of his suspicion
1T i rather wat comes out of tn,
Clouds" | said
"On. know" said JOHNNY, the ]ioht-
ninr"'
:" The li.lltning> help a little, may he.
but the rain does most. You saw how
muddy the river WIS Yesterday after the
-howrr?'
"Gucss Iid =. s,iI Johnny .It sno;l.1
the svimminr.'
Where did the mud come from9'