Travels in Alaska 



point of a spur that puts out from the main range in a 

 northerly direction. It seems to have been a rounded, 

 broad-backed ridge which has been sculptured into 

 its present irregular form by short residual glaciers, 

 some of which, a mile or two long, are still at work. 



As I lingered, gazing on the vast show, luminous 

 shadowy clouds seemed to increase in glory of color 

 and motion, now fondling the highest peaks with in- 

 finite tenderness of touch, now hovering above them 

 like eagles over their nests. 



When night was drawing near, I ran down the 

 flowery slopes exhilarated, thanking God for the gift 

 of this great day. The setting sun fired the clouds. 

 All the world seemed new-born. Every thing, even 

 the commonest, was seen in new light and was looked 

 at with new interest as if never seen before. The 

 plant people seemed glad, as if rejoicing with me, the 

 little ones as well as the trees, while every feature of 

 the peak and its traveled boulders seemed to know 

 what I had been about and the depth of my joy, as if 

 they could read faces. 



