Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-11-07

anu INV thc iacoo Vi OuE lclioW eAploioio
We had not gone dozen yards. when
coming into an open chamber we began
looking about for some place of egress.
When Mr. Rice, in other words, the
Utgard-Loki of this underworld, showed
us small opening and said we must pass
that for SO it was ordained to all spirits
who were jewellers of this Nfileheim, we
did not quite see the possibilities, at least
for some of us, but we readjusted ourselves
to mode Of locomotion favorite with US,
so report says, at IN early stage OF our
existence, in other words adopted four
footed style more expedient than graceful,
and for-well, our Utgard Lok said about
a quarter OF a mile. but we were sure it
was five miles, we alternated BET ween this
position, going though he "shutes" and
Il perpendicular one, as we entered the
numerous chambers, where with our heads
tipped back we gazed on he be; uties OF
his sparkling underworld, "oh s. and
"oh's" ssueing like exclamation point
! from cur gaping mouths, while the hot
taluw from our tilted candles. dribbled
ovel our faces and meandered down the
| In the dining ROOM a large aparm |
with soft green walls, we whitfield out cur
lights. and hushed ourselves into utter
silence. You may not believe it as the
majority Of The party we're ladies, but WE
did.
We were told that just beyond this
chamber they had struck ore,n we were
sure from the feeling of our heads that we
L.. a 49,
reaching this place and fearing IL similar-
ty in strikes. we declined prospecting for
galeEa, and after trying to track our
names on the gray rocks, Footsteps on
the sands OF Time as it were, with the
smoke from our candles and making no
very signal success of it, we began to
retrace our steps.
Away to the right through side street
lay the beautiful Fairy Grotto' and
between ourselves and it lay stretch of
60 feet through which one must pass, adopt
ing style locomotion reached by one OF
the aoorigines of the Garden of Eden. HeIe
VS. dilemma! We must see the Grotto;
for that had we come, but crawl through
that opening-how could we? Besn e,
what lift the space was not big enough?
There was no way OF finding out except
by trying. and we tried, but before We
were half way through we stopped to
rest and give thanks that the good Lord
did not make snakes of us. 1t is not nice
way to travel. But, ah! the beauties o.
that enchanted chamber, when we reached
it. Spar, white glttering spar, above ana
all about. Pure snowy white was the
vaulted roof, fretted in delicate tracery like
interviewer coral; while down over the
sloping sides, like frozen cataract.
curved and wound the cleaning glittering ,
masses, and from every projection the
long icicle like stalacties depended, is 7
Trail in appearance as to lead one to mag
inc that they could be broken by the
slightest touch. "
A little to one side of the grotto, like {
huge futed column, sheet of spar reach.
ing from floor to ceiling was so translucent $
hat the light from Il candle held on thu
opposite Size CLEANED through, giving il :
"aried Standings, a wierd and beautiful T
light, light that was never before Oh
sea or land. and reminded one somehow.
ot Johns description of the city who's
wall was of jasper, and the city was OF
pure gold, like unto clear glass
Away beyond, into miniature cavern.
We tHlc" oui iiSHlt oHly ~ HdVe IL lOSSet | =
otck to US from myriad sparkling points,
where grotto after grotto stretched awa,
nto fairy land, to nom land wher,
nly the smallest of elves might wander.
t was NOT until we had been reminded 7
hat it was growing late and that we wer,
tx miles from the city, that we begu
lowly to retrace our steps, Stopping IL
dmire again each of the smaller cham
ers as we passed through them Herr
uge stalagmites reared their heads Iik
oary sentnels set to guard some hidden
reasure, and anon dainty staactie> .
eaching down had clasped hands with Il
ONE OF the bravest OF them, and as thu
ears went by they had grown inseparable
We drank clear cold wafer IRON wei
'rmed of solid spar and filled by some o ,
azure $ secret processes; filled our pock
IS with iron ore. and brown clouded ella,
} firm Is to take a considerable polish
nj bits OF spar as white as a fitke OF
low, and wondered that we should tinn
II this beauty hidden down here seventy
sc feet into the heart of the earth. Blu
IT candles were almost cones we made
tslc to reach the bolt, IN of the SHAFT.
lust the rope, and swing slowly up into
le day light again.
MAUDE MEREDITH.