The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-03-14

and for the mountain. Both were new
and comparatively untried. Now like
the going up with my Herren."
He paused moment and then went
on:
"How well remember that ascent,
though it's full a dozen years ago! ]
think I never had much pleasanter
day. Twas very anxious, though, and
highly excited. Once or twice ]
thought of turning back. Twas afraid
it would be too hard for Aennchen. and
i began. to feel a responsibility that /
know the brave girl who was with me
was SO very dear to me. However, it
was wonderful how well she went. We
gave her, of course, all the help we
could; but then she made such good
use of help. You know what mean,
Herr. Some people can't well be
helped on mountains-some ladies es-
pecially. If you put their feet on good
places for holding, they can't hold at
all; and then they have no talent for
balancing themselves. Now Aennchen
was very clever. She could step safely.
and hold firmly and balance herself
properly. She was light and active
then, and she never had SchUtndel. she
never was dizzy. Her nerves were firm
and her health was perfect, and then
she was strong. She went at a good
pace and did everything that l told her
to do. She didn't very often want a
rest, and then she was SO cheerful and
sweet tempered! Whenever she looked
at me she smiled; but she was too good
a mountaineer to talk much while
climbing. l have hal Herren, some
times, who would talk until they used
up their wind and they couldn't talk
any more. Talk whe n you stop, and
not while you are going. say; unless,
indeed, there be something--som adj
vice or order-that must be said dur
ing actual hard work.
"You understand that [ was making
Versuch, trial, with my Aennchen,
| and it was success, it was. l felt so
proud of her; and my comrade, Christ
ian Landsmann, he admired her, too, l
can assure you. We did not sleep so
high up as this hut, but passed the
night on slab of rocks down there on
the cravate. looked at the place as
we passed it to-day, and 1 promise you
that l remember that night. 1 didn't
say anything to you about it, because l
did not know then that was going to
tell you about Aennchen. We wrap
ped her up as warmly as we could, and
we managed without rugs. She was
tired and fell asleep almost directly.
Christian and talked together long
time about the climb of the morrow,
and then we slept. I ought to tell you
that Aennchen would attend to the pro-
visions, and that she tried, in her wo-
mans way, to make us comfortable.
We guides and hunters can make coffee,
as you know; but she did it better than
we could, and it was so pleasant to
have her up there, and see her move
about and hear her talk. o, she was
dear girl!
We started early-so soon, indeed, as
it was light-for we had an untried and
difficult climb before us, and we had
such dear companion! Christian and
l arranged to turn back if we found the
work too hard for her: but 1 own that
thought she would be able to hold her
own with us.
we shall follow to-m0rrow-and our lit
tie party started cheerily.
1--WE had plenty of rope. At some
places l went on ahead till l had firm
hold, and then let down the rope, and
Christian made it fast round Aennchen,
and then she was pulled up over the bad
part. The rocks, as you will see to-
morrow, are sometimes very steep and
high and smoOth-no good holding.
Occasionally there are lodges and cracks
and tissues, good enough for me or for
Max there, but not very good for every
one. Aennchen was never willful, as
some ladies are; never gave us any
trouble. She had confidence in us, and
had good sense enough to let us help
her when we thought that she wanted
help. And so we went on and on, al
ways safely, till we got to the foot of
the final peak-there is a rope over the
place now-and found the last bit very
ugly. We hauled Aennchen up, in our
way; she never showed sign of fear,
and, at last, we stood upon the summit.
We jodelled down, that they might hear
us in the valley. We had no glass, and
could not see so far down; but we heard
that several people had seen us as we
went up, and had seen woman on that
terrible new peak.
"Aennchen was little tired, and
she lay down for short time on the
top. 1 gave her little brandy and
great kiss, and she soon revived, and
was quite delighted to be on the Wies-
enhorn with me. The weather was fine
and the sun was hot; but there were
mists in the valley and the view over
Italy was not good. But Aennchen
did not care for that We were so hap
Ply.
"You both of you know the north
side? Yes? thought so. For my part,
consider the descent on that side to be
dangerous-mored dangerous than this
side-and 1 was little anxious when
we started to 90 down. came last.
Christian led and Aennchen was roped
between US. She knew that we had to
take care and to look only to her steps.
l told her how to go, and she did it
very well. Luckily the mountain was
in good order-hope we shall find it as
good to-morrow-and we had only one
slip.
"Aennchen trod with her heels upon
streak of ice and slipped. l felt sick,
for l knew what such slip there might
lead to, and / loved her so! Istood firm,
and called to Christian. He didn't turn
round, but stood like wall. Ihadsee
the slip from the beginning. We both
stood the shock, though there was hard
~ any hold, and in second the brave,
active Aennchen had rcgained her feet,
and the danger was over. Oh, how
glad felt!
~ will show you the place to-mor-
row. There is viii thin strand of
rope fixed close to it, which shows the