8 Meditations on Mountains. [Juxy, 
keen freshness of that mountain air, which played over you while you 
slept, and bathed you in perfume, pure and uncontaminated from the 
living plants. 
Whatever may have been the causes, there you are—dressed, hale and 
buoyant, just as the approaching sun tints with gold the under edge of 
the lowest streaky cloud in the east. But, early though you be, 
you are not the first; the shepherds and herds are on the hills and the 
meadows, and, as you cross the threshold, Angus Gilchrist stands ready 
to bid good morning, and pledge you the matin cup. Do not refuse or 
linger, for Angus intends to take you to the top of that knoll, which 
you would worship as a mountain, if you had it at home, there to show 
you the most exciting sight in nature—the first smile of the sun upon a 
wide landscape. Thus you have not much time for observation ; and 
the strength of your lungs is pretty well tried as you trot in echelon 
from terrace to terrace. At last, however, you gain a point some eight 
or ten hundred feet above the lake; and you gain it before the sun 
makes his appearance ; there is a stone seat, “rest, and be thankful,” 
and look about you. The lake below—the patch of green that follows 
the windings of the little river—the clumps of trees—the little huts, 
from each of which a column of smoke twines upward in the calm 
morning air—the brown heath, over which you came the preceding 
day—the lowland valley, filled with the soft white cloud of night, 
with only the trees appearing like little islets in an arm of the sea, and all 
as gay and fresh as if newly awakened into growth and life. Anon, the 
sunbeams come dancing in; the earth glows, the water glitters, and, as 
the dew around you evaporates, the mountain side is painted with rain- 
bows. Even the irrational creation (as we call them, without knowing 
much about the matter) feel the genial ray: and in lowing, bleating, 
chirping, and chattering, send up their mingled matin song. Here 
you sit and meditate for a while, and then fetching a circuit of a mile or 
two, return to the farm-house, to victual yourself for the arduous part of 
your journey. I need not wish you a good appetite; you will find a 
glorious breakfast ; eat away, and then we start. 
