Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-08-10
A TRIP TO WILLoUGHBYLAKE
WRITTEN FOR THE MONITOR

A TRIP TO WILLOUGHBYL LAKE.
WRITTEN FOR THE MONITOR
In company with party of friends
we set out for trip to Willoughby.
The day proved most propitious.
Our company consisted of eleven
persons, representing ages from n
years to infancy. Such was the
buoyancy of spirits that it was diff
cult to tell who was the younger. We
left the pleasant, active village of
Barton and soon found ourselves
climbing the hills toward Westmore,
not difficult of ascent, but yet, Ver-
mont hills. Soon Barton mountain
came into view. This mountain is
entirely within the town of Barton,
about three thousand feet in height,
with a precipitous face on the east,
and fertile portions high on its sides.
From the summit grand view may
be obtained of all the northern and
eastern sections of the county, lin
Guiding lakes Memphremagog Will
oughby and Seymour, and many
pleasant villages and hamlets. Watch
ing this with delight as we passed
along we soon found ourselves at the
height of land and began to descend
towards the lake. Whatever this
mountain may possess beyond its
massive granite and grand proper
tons, the land about its base is fer
tile and shows thrifty farmers. We
soon saw the mountains on either
side of Willoughby. These are some
times called by old Bible names,
"Mount Pisgah and Mount Tabor"
Intent upon viewing the scenery we
soon find ourselves at the foot of the
lake, and hear the simultaneous ex-
clamation, show beautifully" We
pass along on the east side Of the
lake, admiring more and more the
varied scenery that presents itself to
view. Our admiration is changed to
wonder as we behold the massive
rocks towering almost perpendicularly
to an altitude of several hundred feet.
When we reached the head of the lake
we began to feel that we had seen
abont all that there was to be seen,
as we had now passed the entire
length of the lake on one shore, TAX
ing into view the other shore with its
lofty mountains and the varying pro-
portions of the lake itself; but we
had not seen all. 9
Alighting in a pleasant camping
ground, the lunch baskets were
brought forth, table was improvis-
ed, the Divine blessing invoked and
a dinner served, which was keenly
relished after the exercise and pleas
ure of the long ride. Not far away
is the Willoughby Lake House,
ssbeautiful for situation and the
home or temporary resting place of
many sojourner from city and town,
who seek rest, recreation and he alth
under the shadows of Pisgah and Hor.
But as we wait, the little steamer,
"Magic," which glides across the rip
pling water like a swan, approaches,
and we greet a merry band who have
come across the water with Capt.
Ayerill. The Captain makes two OIL
three regular trips daily, and kindly
carries those who take passage with
| him to various points of interest
about the water. Some of the party
were not anxious to trust themselves
to the mercy of the water, but the
genial face of Captain Averill, and
the intention of several to take a
boat ride determined all to take pass.
age down the beautiful lake. We
found in a little while that what We
had already seen was but small part
at most. A description of this beau
tiful lake and its surroundings i.
just impossible. After passing dowl
little way we find ourselves in .
deep gulf with huge mountains tow
ering on either side of us. Watch
ing them we find ever varying scene
presented to the eye. Looking to tn
right we see huge letter x in full
view, and who knows what it stand
, for? Strike off the bottom and Their
t is the letter V. Every child know
I that stands for .sGreen Mountains.
Look to the right little and Their
, in the solid rock is u. S., and whe
, these letters are Englished we hav
. the SCREEN Mountains of the Unite,
States" A little farther on and W
D see huge hog lying inthe dirt; the
: a duck and little farther and W
e see mountain profile Of the inimita
e BILE Ben Butler. the man of whom
q has been said that che has so man
s sides that it don't matter which sid
d OF law case he is on, he can argu