264 FIRST JOURNEY IN EUROPE. [1839, 



neighborhood ; once or twice I have been accompanied 

 by Madame Wolff and the two daughters. They are 

 very fond of walking, and often make long excursions 

 on foot. The two daughters walk as fast as I can, 

 and in fact one of them nearly tired me down the 

 other day, when we were hurrying in order to watch 

 the effect of the setting sun on Mont Blanc. I have 

 taken quite a fancy to this river, the Rhone. I made 

 my acquaintance with it when it was but a babbling 

 brook ; I have trudged along with it for many a mile, 

 until it grew to a headstrong stream, and became so 

 turbulent and muddy that it was obliged to jump into 

 the lake to wash itself clean, and when it leaves the 

 lake it is as clear as crystal, emerald, I should say, 

 for it is about that color. A few months ago I saw 

 the same river in its old age, just falling into the 

 ocean. Walked back along the shore of the lake ; 

 reached the house just in time to join in the evening 

 worship, a sweet hymn was sung (in French), one 

 of the young ladies leading with the piano and all 

 joining with their voices, and hearts, too, I doubt not ; 

 and then the venerable old man read a chapter, which 

 I could understand very well, and closed with a simple 

 and fervent prayer. You cannot know yourself how 

 pleasant it is, after being jolted about in the rude 

 world for months, to get again with a pious family. 

 The house is just without the town, surrounded with a 

 large garden and fine trees and shrubbery, and all 

 very pleasant. Some days after, we made another ex- 

 cursion to visit their pastor. He was not at home, so 

 I missed him, but saw his pretty garden. On the two 

 Sundays I have heard one of the pastors of the Evan- 

 gelical Society preach in the morning, and the clergy- 

 man of the English chapel in the afternoon. I have 



