Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-12-27
A Summer Above the
Clouds.

AAo - As~AAO' |
mountain pass, festive train of cat
tie is slowly winding. At every alb
rupt turn, they huddle together in
momentary bewilderment, till the
herdsman's horn, ,reverberating among
the pine-covered hills, treasures them,
and they bound forward after the
leading bell-cow.
Closing mp the rear with drove of
goats was the senner's young assist
ant, Arnold, and Margretta, his en-
ployer's little daughter, whose wilful-
ness had conquered her fathers OBJ
jections to the dangerous but long
! desired trip.
Arnold, though doubtful whether
girls could learn to play on the alp |
horn and leap chasms as he did, was,
nevertheless, rejoiced at the prospect
of company among the lonely glaciers,
and promised himself no end of fun
at her expense
Margretta, who was anything but
timid, followed her youthful guide
like wild gazelle, laughingly assur-
ing him that she would soon manage
his 'smusical horn as we'll as he,
and leap across cracks in the earth.
But, when even dwarf pines no
longer adorned the barren heights,
and rock upon rock lowered grim
above them, she grew very quiet, land,
edging closer to him, whispered that
it was lawful solemn
Arnold's alp-stick and sturdy arm
rendered faithful assistance in climb
ing; and, after much laborious exer-
else, joyous peal from horns salut-
ed their appearance in their snowy
summer home.
A rude, -thatched hut, an
other long and lower one for shelter
ing the cattle, seemed as if dropped
at random on the green, still dotted
here aud there with thin crusts of
snow.
''Want ride, Margretta laugh
ed Arnold, pointing to the clouds
floating at their feet, and enjoying
the silent amazement in which she
seemed lost.
"We are actually above the clouds !"
she exclaimed, taking deep breath.
cit can't he very far to heaven from
here o, Arnold, when die, want
to be up here. I'm sure little high
er up, where it shines and glitters so,
it must be very near the angels"
'sThat's where l herd my goats.
By and by, l will show you the rare
herbs and flowers they scratch from
under the snow, and the ice caves iu
$ which / waken such beautiful echoes
0 with my horn. Often, when I'm lone
ly, have regular conversation with
n my thousand different voices. 1t
> makes things real lively up here, if
one isn't afraid"
But the goat-herd counted without
his host in promising to show Mar
gretta more wonders. After being
e presented with goat and kid for
company, her father strictly forbade
It her venturing out of sight of the hut ;
s for the women folks were kept too
busy with the milk and cheese man.
u agement to hunt lost adventurers.
- The first week she was perfectly
!. con ynted, cultivating her goats S
d friendship and exploring the sunny
regions around the hut. But so much
4 was to be seen and discovered just a
y little beyond the allowed distance
that gradually she made sly excur-
=; sions, accompanied by her goat, (which
l she soon trained into following her
y by means of delicious tufts of grass
fastened to her apron string for the
:. animals occasional reach.
a. Evenings, the tho would watch fol
Arnold's descent from the higher
e Alps. Then there was lively greet.
e ing between Margretta's goat and
d Arnold's herd. There seemed to be
no end to the butting of heads, and
D licking of noses, and leaps over each
1 other, among the animals.
ID After closely watching the mer
folks milk the goats-which, more
le mischievous than cows, made moth.
i'd ing of bouncing a senner, as Swiss
q, herdsmen are called, over his milk.
% stool, and down the hill, if be was
not very watchful and forehanded-
- Margretta thought she would milk
r. her goat, too.
% 1t was in secluded spot where
Margretta patted and stroked hel
t, goat preparatory to the milking ex
20 pertinent. If she was bounced, no
'e body could see it, anyway. She coax
- ed the kid to the other side of its
mother, as an inducement to keeE
a her quiet, and then proceeded tt
- - draw milk very cautiously.
9 One stream into the canteen to two
ar on the ground was not so bad for
beginner; and Margretta was grow
10, ing quite confident, when she sudden
IS. ly sent stream sharp into the kid'
ee eye. A distressed s'ba-al" from i
- nettled its mother, who turned quick
Of ly, and gave Margretta and her can
teen an unexpected impetus dow
ne the hill, somerset fashion.
1t, "You old mountain hag Yol
u freckled witch You ugly, disagreea
- - BILE animal, you! You'll be glad o
4 - H. l.