ON BALD MOUNTAIN. WHAT WE SAW 175 



and spent about two hours on the heights. We gathered 

 wild strawberries out of the crevices of the rocks ; looked 

 upon lakes and less lofty mountains as though they were 

 spread out upon a map ; looked down into an ancient bea- 

 ver-meadow in a valley on the north side of the mountain, 

 through which a little stream was quietly wandering ; and 

 inscribed our names on the timbers of Oolvin's Signal Sta- 

 tion. The southern fact; of the mountain is almost, perpen- 

 dicular rock, and its summit is nearly bald, whence its 

 name. We ga/ed far to the west ward, toward the region 

 of church-spires and happy homes ; but, as far as the eye 

 could reach and distinguish, the forest extended in hilly 

 \vaves and billows. On the east, afar oil', was lilue Moun- 

 tain. Northward we dimly saw mountains which we could 

 not distinguish ; and on every side, forest and lake and 

 hill and mountain stretched awa\ into the distance. Uut 

 the most beautiful sight was below us -'First, Second. 

 Third and Fourth Lakes in the Fulton Chain glittering 

 links, indeed, as we saw them shining in the clear MIII 

 light, 



Nothing repavv better in the woods than climbing moun- 

 tain-. The views from their summits aiv not only exeeed 

 ingly grand and beautiful, but one also gains a comprehen- 

 sion of the vast ness and tin- general features of the wilder- 

 lie-^ that untiling else can give. 



If we had any doubts about .the propriety of taking our 

 breakfast out of the water in the soberest and least sports- 

 man like wa\ . that Sunday morning, we had no misgivings 

 whatever about our mountain church-going, when we re- 



