Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-07-06
BY SARA KEABLEs HUNT.

An Adventure on NOnni Pi>gah.
BY SARA KEABLEs HUNT.
One clear day, last August, party o
twelve started from Il rambling old farm
house about ten miles from Mt. Pisgah, on'
of the peaks of the Catskills, and drove
away towards its green-covered sides. The
farmer and his wife went too, and the party
was merrier for their going. Among tn,
others were four young ladies' school-teach
ers from New York-their ''loads of care
laid aside and all dignity put by, ready fol
any amount of frolic. One was young
gentle little body we called Lou. She had
the bluest eyes, always twinkling with laugh
ter, pink checks, and n mouth radiant with
good humor Fond of nature, she would &c
roaming through the woods and come back
with wonderful specimens of ferns, mosses
and leaves. She could ride the widest colts,
drive the strongest and most spirited horses,
and, altogether, possessed Just such dispo-
sition rs farm life for two months could
make happy Her soul gloried in the noun
tain scenery; the rolling land stretching
away i'll wonderful beauty had charms for her
that some could never see.
And so, as We drove on our way TO Mt
Pisgah that morning, knew that the little
''school a'am" was drinking in all the
glory Just growing. mind and body, on the
varied scene. She never missed "A flower
that we passed, not IL squirrel could escape
her quick eye, and her ears heard the ripple
of the tiny cascades before any one else could
detect sound.
She worked ten months i'll the year, besides
teaching night school in the winter eve
nings, and her vacation was a JOY and rest to
her among these grand old mountains as she
stored away many a precious treasure IN her
brain with which to regale herself when the
working days came again.
We had reached the end of the carriage
road at last, and now commenced the ascent
up the steep path, over the dried leaves and
fallen branches, reaching. finally, the run
ming water and sitting down on the green,
mossy rocks to enjoy our tempting lunch !;
after which, We went on, and without any
thing TO interrupt our progress, good half
hour of steady climbing brought us out upon
the cleared ground upon the top of the peak.
What a glorious view was spread out be-
fore us,-the faint outline of the Green
Mountains far off; at our right the Berkshire
Hills like dim clouds in the horizon; the
rolling land like n SEA of life and yerdurc,
dotted with its lakes and cities. How hush
ed it looked One could hardly believe il
bore upon its bosom Il tide of restless hui
manity, surging with hopes and fears, Joys
AMI sorrows. We fingered upon the lofty
peak, gazing with mingled emotions upon
the scene below us, until warned by the sun
TO commence our descent. Lou walked
slowly, stopping often to look up and down
through the forest of trees suddenly the
silencf gan to oppress her; she hurried on,
wonde. that the voices OF her friends had
ceased. Gu, on, over the cracking leaves,
still no nearSr to the sound of their voices.
Louis heart gave great throb.
'l must have taken the wrong direction"
she said, under her breath. Then, lifting
her voice. she gave Il loud halloo. The sound
came back i'll long, ghostly echo. but that
was all-no answering shout from her CON-
panions.
What should she do, She stood leaning
against tree, to think calmly moment. but
her heart beat SO wildly she could almost
hear it. OF course her friends would dis
cover her absence when they reached the
foot of the mountain, and come in search OF
her; but it was getting late, ana the thick
trees would soon shut out the sunlight. She
determined to retruce her steps, and start
again from the summit the second time,
hoping to regain the night direction. As she
arrived at this conclusion, suddenly voice
broke the stiffness. and turning she saw Il
man, his black hair cut close to his head, his
face pale and haggard, his eyes glitterlne
with an unnatural hrilliancy. Lou eazcd
upon him III horrilied silence What man OF
the woods was this.
Woman, said he, approaching her, and
speaking in n hollow voice. "who art tn on?
Would'st thou know upon whose face thou
gazest? | am Moses, commanded by the
Lord to ascend this mountain and gaze upon
the promised land. Alas. | can never reach
it,"
His eyes flashed us he spoke. and he threw
his arms wildly above his head. "Ah." he
moaned, IL have had "A weary journey; life
is a weary road, at best.
Louis heart was beating So sh, could hard
ly breathe. She knew that she had II maniac
To deal with. This man must he some es-
capped lunatic'' flashed through her mind IN
an instant.
She was brave little woman, and poss-
essed OF extraordinary presence of mind; a
Christian, too, and, with one earnest prayer
to God to direct her, she looked the man
steadily ia the face with those pure, blue eyes
Of hers.
II rejoice to behold the light OF thy coun-
tenance, q servant of the great Jehovah
she said adopting the language which she
thought would best humor his whim, and
quiet hIs mind Thou hast done mighty
signs ana wonders m tnr ltIu ui lpNll IN
the sight Of all Israel. but De not now cast
down, be strong and Of good courage. fear
not neither be afraid of thine enemies. for
the Lord thy God, II" 1t Is tbnt doth 20 with
thee. He will not inil thee nor iursake thee.
The fierce light faded from the man face.
lie leaned wearily against tree. "Doht
thou know" he said, Il am an hundred and
twenty years old tins day? can no more 90
a Al. 4. a
unto me, Thou shalt not 20 over Jordan.
and | ascend this mountain to view the prom
Used hand and then to die. But who ant
thou" he whispered, leaning forward, and
looking her closely in the face "Ah, ! see.
I he great God hath sent AN angel /" conduct
me to my sepulchre. Lead On. q thou di-
vine messenger, and will follow thee whith-
crsocyer thou goest
Lon decided IT would he better to- humor
his whm, and, pointing up, she commenced
ascending, repeating now and then Bible
vcrsr. The man followed quietly enough ut
Iirst, untI they began to see the blue sky
through an opening IN the trees Then, sud
denly springing forward, ho give Wild
shrek and seized her arm.
81 will 90 no further" ne crcd. Il will
not die, 1hon art no angel, thou ant IA
fend hcndi | will stifle thee. thou shalt
find thine own sepulchrc IN thus mountain
She could feel his hot breath closer and
closer in her face; his eyes seemed burning
into hers like Goals of lire; her wrist was