Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-11-07

TO induce them TO make tho effort, pro-
vided only they brought their courage up
to the sticking place" We left the
Glen House at ten minutes past i've
The first two or three miles is over
sandy road, thickly wooded. giving US
the rays of the declining sun, with not
breath Of air. Don't hurry, take it leis
urely and rest often,n WAS our advice
| The first three miles we found the most
wearisome. We had thrown our spring
overcoats on our arms as we started, and
soon the other coats came off, and We
quite wished we had lett the oyercoats
behind, though we remembered that such
wraprings were never superfluous at the
summit. a burning thirst soon seized
US, and some Of US prostrated ourselves
on the bare boulders, and in this way
found reliet, while others more gracefully
made OF our hands drinking-cup. and
quafled more delicately to the same effect.
We forgot to mention the fact that the
young man OF the party led off heroically
Tor the first mile or two; indeed he was
seriously contemplating reaching the
summit before the sun went down. he
became serene and sane in due time, and
before reaching the summit was several
lines heard anathematizlDg the youthful
spiig who told US, just as We were setting
out. "he had frequently made the ascent
OF the mountain in an hour and half
Our ardent youth, whose motto was
excelsior" still rushed on, but the idea
Of scaling Mount Washington in an hour
and half, fled with other dreams OF
youth" and he would scorn such hardi-
hood now. Indeed he has an unleigned
respect for the dignity and height Of this
grand old mountain. 1t would hardly be
sale, hereafter, tor person 10 speak
disparagingly, 10 his presence, OF Mount
Washington. lie solemnly declares that
there is no such rule and chain to help
one appreciate the height and majesty of
Mount Washington as The slow. measured
tread OF the pedestrian, as he tolls up the
side and shoulders OF this giant of the
hills.
Before We reach the Half Way House.
we leave the woods and come into the
open air. where we gain fresh breeze
and some OF the more delightful pictures
seen from this road, all the more beauti-
ful because so distinct and clear. When
we reach the hospitable inn, We are tired
and hungry. We inquire the bill of fare
for tea. We arc told, 1--WE do not keep
a hotel, but can give you bite Of bread
and cheese and cup Of coffee" Suffice
tito say We did ample justice to the lunch
here offered, dropped modest pittance
Of scrip tor our entertainment, and resum
ed our toilsome march.
Twilight was now creeping on. the
deep valleys below were fast sinking into
the shades OF night, and the dark mouI-
tain shadows threw themselves for many
a mile athwart The eastern landscape
Still the lingering sunlight played about
the mountain peaks around and above US
and it was a long twilight before night
set in and the stars appeared. As We
wound around each point and shoulder
of the mountain, we saw the ruddy light
that fingered in The west, which told Us
OF the greater glory witnessed by those
who were at the summit. A marvellous
light. with all the rainbow tInts wonder
! fully blended, crowned the iar-distant
mountain tops in the west, while the
Goddess OF night reigned supreme at
every other point. In our zig gag course
up the mountain. the moon rose and set
several times, ere she finally disappeared
for The night. The cir was clear. and
alter the sun was set, the stars gave forth
an unusual splendor. Among al our
experiences among these mountains (and
they have been varied and many this
last three. mi.e walk, in the starlight, we
claim as the most delightsome. We
sighed Tor melodious maiden, with
whom we might wake the echoes OF the
hills, by singing that beautiful duett, "In
the Starlight"
Suddenly, when within about mile Of
the summit, at an angle OF nearly eighty
degrees, the Tip Top House burst upon
our vision, like "a castle in The air." or,
10 change the simile, its brilliant lights,
flashing from its many windows. almost
in the zenith. seemed like cluster of
bright stars in the sky, or shower of
meteors falling to the earth. Amid these
grand sights and revelations, our weari-
ness and fatigue were forgotten; We sat
down again and again on the rocky para
pet, that protects the sloping side of the
road. to think Of Omnipotence, and revel
in his glories that shone round about and
above US. AS we burst forth with excla-
nation after exclamation at our delight
In this "latest and BEST" some of the
party stared at US with a puzzled express
sion, apparently querying in their mind
if we were sane or no. Their anxiety
seemed to be to reach the mountain top;
ours was, rather, lest that starlight stroll
should lend too soon.n In that heavenly
air. undisturbed by the gentlest zephyr.
human voices soon burst upon our ear,