St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-07
Our Swiss Guide,

Not the least interesting part of
mountaineering is the perpetual up
springing of lessons and illustrations and
analogies. Sometimes an idea starts
up which has, for ones self. all the de
lIcIous charm of quite new thought,
though very likely it may have flashed
upon the minds of scores of other traV-
eliers; sometimes very old and tamil-
lar one presents itself, and we have the
pleasure of proving it, perhaps for the
first time, by practical experience. In
noting one little group of illustrations
among many, those which cluster round
the idea of Il Guide" we shall not be
careful to steer clear of such old ideas.
though we may hope to add some
freshness to them.
The application throughout will he
So very obvious to any mind accus-
toned to take the least interest in the
anal"gieS of spiritual life. that we
prefer giving the points of illustration
only, leaving the reader to supply the
''heavenly meaning which shall under
lie each sentence.
Curiou>ly enough. the name of our
favorite Swiss guide, the one who in
spired us with most confidence. and To
whom we Should most like To entruSi
ourselves i'll any future tour, at once
gave the keynote of thought ii WAS
JOseph. While we inStinctivcly trusted
his Sagacity and strength. il was addi-
ti"nallH pleasant to find that our bright
Young guide was a believer in the Lord
Jesus Christ. our true Joseph. He had
remarked that his great physical
strength and health Wa> the most
splendid earthly gift" but on our men
ti"n of the most glorious gitl of all.
our Saviour. Christ Himself. he rcioincd
fcrNentlN. "Ah. one can never estimate
the value of that gift -
Bui To proceed To our illustrations
!. The tiIst duty of Il really tilst
rate guide. when arranging for Il long
snow or glacier excursions. Is to sec
that We are property provided with cN-
crNthimg uecdtul. He ;scrrtain> !hat
YOU have suo~ -spcctacle>. without
which the glare of the SNOW is not sim
ply incunNeuicnt. but injurious. aud
wells. without which Nou stand Il fair
chance of hnding y"ur face completely
Hay ed, if i should he Il sunny day.
He examines the spikes ot your alpcn
stock and the nails of Your boots. and
inquiries after Nour wraps. and often
gives curi"u>lN Y practical advice ~ la
other points III Nour outfit. He not
only tells Nuu what ynu must have ~
to provision. but. if the excursion in
wolves Il might in some mountain hut.
ne sends ON the ueressar, fucI and food
and sometimes even heddinr. In all
these matters YOU do not need tn rrnuhI,
yourself ut all; if you will only leave it
altogether to him. he will think of ,y-
crvthiny. arrange every thing. and pru-
vide ever>thinm; and when the tim,
comes Won will find uIl in order Nou
shoes fresh nailed. NuIu. ,Iu,u,tnrk u,,,
spiked. the porter semi on with nro,i
sion. and the coil of >trnrr ROM, and
the ice-axr al read, for the ,IitiiruI,
places which \nu do NOT ,r, know of.
But many travellers do NOT even
know that th, Guide is thn, vjIliru and
cunIntenf they on not ask. or p,l-
hans even decline his aid and advice
Instead of Throwing it all upon his re-.
sponsihliiv. they take all the trouh,
themselves. aud then generally find
something gone wrong, or Suncthiu.
overlooked.
- Hetore yuu start the nui,Ic ha,
disposed of all those heavier mattcl.
hich y"u could not possibly carry ion
Yourself Very often the, aIe tnkcr
| completely out of your sight. Encum-
bercd with these, N"H could not cNcI
set ont on Nuur Journey. much les,
progress quickly and plca>antiy.
But there are always plenty of liltl,
affairs which seem mere. unthinns al
first. but which are soon found to l.,
real burdens. The guide is perfectly
willing to relieve you of III tiic~,
| They are no weight to him: he uuit,
smiles at the idea ot its hcin. an,
trouble To him To carry them. but lhcl
make Il serious difference to YOU. II,
offers to take them at first. and if Noi
| decline. though he NAV not p,rhap,
offer again. he will chcerfullv take then
when. later ON. Won feel their weigh
and hand them one b\ one to him. til
the very last is given up. and vou wall
lightly and freely. 4 beginner say.
She ..would rather carry her little knap
sack. il is really no weight at all - an,
thinks Il parcel or two in her poke
..cau't make any difference" and pre-
f,rs wearing her waterproot. brr;ius,
..it isn't at all heav,.- But she has no
rome ia, before she is very pIad. if
sensible Girl. to give up her knapsack
tiny thonph il he and then she find
thnt , w,ternroof won't do for cIimhin,
and hands that over: and presently sh
even empties her po,ket. and tb, ruiJ
trudpes AWAY with il all. Then She i
su,prised to find what a difference
does make. and understand, why he
friend. who knew the guide, WAYS hrt
fer and rnye M every single thinr f.
him ,t first is oettiur alone so cool an,
fresh and elostic,lIy Rut mark tL,
the weigbt of = burden is s.lJnm rnnj