Year: 1875

There was no braver guide or more
skillful hunter, that ever set foot upon
the Matterhorn or crawled over the dan
gerous glaciers of Monta Rosa, than III
ric Peterson. He was a man of immense
strength and great daring, and had often
tracked the great wilderness of snow
when those who followed the same call
ing willingly remained in their cottages
in the well protected villages. He laugh
ed at his companions when they talked
of danger, and made light Of the fears
of his good wife when she trembled at
the bowling of the fierce winds, or the
avalanche of snow that now and then
swept down with irresistible force upon
the little chaplets. With well-spiked
shoes, stout alpenstock, confidence in
himself, and firm and fervent trust in
God, he avowed that man was as safe
upon the topmost heights of the cloud
piercing Matterhorn as in the brook
threaded valley of TourmaEches. But
the timid heart of womanhood could not
look upon the matter in the same light,
although her trust in the good Lord was
equally strong, and o,when she saw him
taking down his trusty rife,powder-horn
and heavily shod iron staff,one morning,
she clung to him and begged that he
would not 60 upon the mountains.


"There is every sign of Storm" she
said. You know how terrible they are
We have food enough in the cottage
Do stay at home with me and the little
ones"


"That would I, wife," was the reply,
chad not seen an ibeX as was coming
home yesterday, He was a stout old
fellow, with huge horns; and / fancie9
he was almost laughing at me, and crept
around the cliff upon which he was stand
ing"


"But, Uric, think of the storm that is
certainly coming"


II have been in many one, and care
nothing for them. love the free whist,
ling of the wind upon the mountain-tops
and the whirling of the feathery snow.
! So, good wife, get me something to eat.
1 must be off before the day dawns "
With heavy sigh the woman did as she
was requested, and with his fond kiss
still lingering on her lips she saw him
climb the mountain side, until turn in
the path hid him from her view. Then
she sunk upon her knees by the bedside
of her still slumbering children,a and com
mitted him into the keeping of that God
who had thus far preserved him in the
midst of every danger. Meantime, Ul
ric fastened on with light foot 1t was
still dark in the valley but far above him
he could see the white peaks glittering in
the dim light of the morning and the
fast paling stars. Higher and higher he
climbed; and soon The sun arose, shed
ding its rays Of gold upon the icy piles
and making them flash as if builded o.
myriads of diamonds. To stranger il
would have been dazzling sight: to the
brave hunter it had lost something of it:
charm by familiarity, and lie pressed on


ward and upward, The road grew moro
rough and difficult, He was obliged to
pick his way, to Chamber up steep crags


but at last he reached the edge of a large
glacier. He sat down and rested for ;
little time, satisfied his hunger, examined
his shoes and the point of his alpen
stock, and again set bravely forth, leap
ing the yawning charms, and guarding
against the treacherous cracks.


A wall of polished ice arose befor


him, and he knew that he would hav