MOUNTAIN-TOP AND VALLEY 53 



in his apple orchard, and at Bethlehem the 

 carriage awaited us. This was a welcome change, 

 but even so we still found it difficult to draw 

 breath; and when the horses started, what a 

 dust they set flying! Truly, between the heat 

 and the drought, this lower world was in an evil 

 case. It was a road of sighs all the six miles to 

 Franconia. 



Once there, however, and supper eaten, I 

 stepped out upon the piazza and looked west- 

 ward. Venus was bright just above the near 

 horizon (the near horizon!), and against the 

 sunset sky stood a line of low woods, with de- 

 tached pine trees towering over the rest. And in 

 that sight I discovered anew, all in a moment, 

 the charm of this valley world. I had seen no- 

 thing like this from the mountain-top. Yes, good 

 as the summit prospect was, this was in some 

 respects better. If that was more magnificent, 

 more soul-expanding, this was more home-felt 

 and beautiful. And as I looked and looked, while 

 the light faded out of the sky, I was conscious 

 of a new contentment. Mountain-tops for visits, 

 I said, and may I enjoy them often; but the 

 valley to live in. 



The next morning I was no sooner abroad 

 than this happy impression was renewed and 

 deepened. It was a comfort to the feet to be 



