

G Mountain Scenery. 



often observed laboring on the farms, and even in sonic instances hold- 

 ing the plough and governing teams of horses. When wc observed 

 them working vigorously in the gardens and at the wood piles, they 

 discovered no embarrassment at seeing strangers, and doubtless from 

 habit, they felt none. The Pennsylvania Germans are very indus- 

 trious and thrifty farmers, but with some honorable exceptions, they, 

 in general, undervalue education and knowledge,* and are quite sat- 

 isfied to go on as their fathers went before them, and they almost sys- 

 tematically shut their eyes against the lights of the age ; but they an 

 truly a stable population. 



Many mountain scenes engaged our attention, particularly as we 

 approached the gap in the Blue Ridge, through which the Lehigh 

 passes. This mountain range stretches for many miles, in a straight 

 line to the right and left, presenting a regular barrier, fringed with 

 forest trees, and wooded on the entire slope, which was as steep as it 



' sustain the wood upon its sides. As we approached 

 the gap, the view became very beautiful, and as we entered it by the 

 side of the Lehigh and of the fine canal upon its left bank, the moun- 

 tain ridge, here cleft from top to bottom, and rising apparently a thou- 

 sand feet, presented, on either hand, a promontory of rocks and for- 

 ests, rising very abruptly, and forming a combination both grand and 

 beautiful. The passes of rivers through mountains are almost in- 

 variably picturesque, and it is always interesting to observe, how faith- 



and 



and 



ky 



sue their untiring course to the ocean. It is common to speak of 

 such passes as being formed by the rivers, which are often supposed 

 to have burst the barriers, and thus to have shaped their own channel. 

 This may have happened in some peculiar cases, and there are 

 doubtless many instances where the lakes, of which many must have 

 been left at the retiring both of the primeval and of the diluvial 



ocean 



posed, as they must often have been, of loose materials. But with 

 respec to most rocky passes of rivers through mountains, there ap- 

 pears no reason whatever, to believe that the war g have torn asun- 

 der the solid strata ; a more resistless energy must have b< n rcqui- 



■ In the taven | m , 7<)ljlll j( (lenves ^ ^ Cl:llence> ,,,„„ 



the whiskey or cler |. rall(U . wWeh, in U.e proportion rf three or four Rullon*, » 

 edited to each barrel of cider 



