The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-10-28
AMONG VERMONT HILLS.
THE GREEN MOUNTAINS IN DOG
DAYS.


The Paradise of BOtanists.
William H. Maher published in the
Toledo, o., SATURDAY. Blade of last week
very interesting account of a trip re-
Gently taken to Rutland county in an en-
deavor to escape from the summer heat.
He says:
We wrote to q cousin in Rutland ask
ing her to find us home in farm
house on the mountains, and then
took turns tanning each other till
her answer came.
One of the family had visited Rutland
once upon a time, and her description of
the mountain tops lost in the clouds, of
the babbling brooks and cool wales, OF
the beautiful foliage and happy farmers,
added to our desires, and when an ans
wer came to our letter that a farm
house was open to us, we turned our
faces to the North and followed the
happy anticipation of our hearts.
My own daughter is just out of semi
nary now, and l was growing old. 1t
was my realization of this that sent me to
Vermont. | fear that you will think l
am long in getting there, but from New
Haven, Conn, to Rutland is only six
hours ride, taking the Connecticut River
railroad at Springfield, Mass, and con-
road.
In that ride one passes through score
of villages that tempt him to leave the
cars and trust himself to their friendli-
ness. One such place is pre-eminent in
our memory, that is Ludlow, Vermont.
Out of all the summers travels this
charming spot seems to speak lOudest to
us in entieing tones to visit it in the flu
ture. To have a home for week IN one
of those charming houses that dot the
hillside makes me happy by anticipation,
and if the dream is never realized still
shall long remember the enchanting
looking spot. | am told that one can
get good board for So per week.
also intend some day to stop at
Bellows Falls and enjoy the river there,
and then spend day at Brattleboro,
only "a miles away. But we passed
through these places, and stopped at a
little station three from Rutland-North
Clarendon. Here is a quiet farm house,
at the foot of Bald mountain, and with
Mount Killington, 1880 feet high (the
highest peak in Vermont), looking down
upon us. we sought and found rest.
| believe one might move away from
the sea and forget its roar and its COM
panionship, but do not think one could
ever forget the hills or mountains of his
youth, or cease to mourn for them If he
left them.
How they shelter yon How they join
with you in all your moods! Though L
have boon quarter of century away
from the hills of my childhood, think,
almost every evening, of the way the
sun sank behind them, and of the glow
in the western skyat twilight, or OF the
frowning storms that seem to have birth
upon those hill tops
But how tame these seem as we stand
at the foot of these Green Mountains
and "lift our eyes unto the hills!" We
ut once begin to compare them with the
Rocky Mountains, with the Sierra Neva-
da, and while we do not agree as to a
verdict, we both say, These, too, are
grand"
We recall day in California. in
Truckee, when on our way to Lake
Tahoe. The mountain sides seemed to
meet and pass into the sky. Great
pines that were said to be POO hundred
feet high, looked like bushes, and we
said that at last we had seen noun
tain. One does not realize it when rid
ing over it, You are told that you are
5000 feet above the sea, but you are not
higher than the surrounding landscape,
and the effect of the height is lost. But
when standing at the foot of hill that
pierces the clouds. whether it is 1000
feet or 5000 feet, 1t impresses one by its
majesty, and he trembles at his own in
significance, while he creeps to its shell
tering feet. California was grand and
wild: here it is grand and charming:
the two pictures are helpful to each
other.
Down below us three miles away, yet
seemingly not one-quarter that. was fair
Rutland, and her electric lights APP
peared to be a shower of stars caught in
their descent on boughs of trees. 1t was
a pretty picture, and one that we turned
to many times every evening of our
stay.
The morning is ushered in by the
growing of the cock, the gentle lowing
of cattle. the noise of milk pals, the
COWS going to pasture, and the appetiZ-
ing sounds of preparation for breakfast
The night had been cool and invited one
to sleep. The country road had been
deserted as soon as it was dark, and the
long hours were undisturbed except by
the momentary flash of the midnight ex
press.
The MONDAY sun was hot, but the air
was dry, pure, bracing, and we held our
selves back from doing all we were in
clined to do lest we might in our ignor
ance of the climate, work ourselves
harm.
Then the well! Ye who drink water
of a clay complexion and of more thar
doubtful purity, think of well of water
on the mountain side, above all drains
and Out-buildings, clear as crystal, cold
as ice, sweeter than wine! The old
Oaken bucket brought it up to YOU
reach, and one could scarcely resist the
temptation to quaff too frequently. Pure
air and pure water what will they no
do for humanity? Here they were, anC
here also were we to enjoy them.
The botanists tell me that Vermont il
their Paradise. | can well believe it
In our short stay we collected over q
specimens for our herbarium within
few rods of our temporary home.
Our sitting room was the shade unde
several splendid sugar NAPLES in from
of the door, where hammock wa
swung. Across the road was a row o
10 or u handsome butternut trees
wherein the squirrels flashed in and on
and occasionally chartered at us saucily
rs if telling us to Ego West"
Always in the air was the roar of tn
rocky river that circled our farm, an,
Rutland was shining in the sun, Of
sparkling with electric gems.
Passing uD the road short distanc
one came to an opening, and there a
his feet, and extending to the foot of tn
= lfT.r oh,