192 LAND OF THE LINGERING SNOW. 



nothing grand or impressive about the mountain 

 apart from the simple fact of its height, two 

 thousand feet. The carriage road to the sum- 

 mit proceeds part way along the eastern base, 

 then meets a road from Princeton and turns 

 abruptly northwestward, makes several great 

 serpent curves upon the northern and north- 

 western face, and finally gains the summit from 

 the east. The road is remarkably well sur- 

 veyed, and is kept in good order. The eccen- 

 tric stable horse, which up to the moment of 

 our reaching the ascent had shown a willingness 

 to go anywhere but to the mountain, started up 

 the slope with such zeal that I found it impos- 

 sible to keep up with him on foot. This made 

 our progress rather more rapid than pleasant, 

 and the charming glimpses of scenery below us 

 and at a distance were only half appreciated. 

 Most of the trees on the mountain seemed to be 

 of recent growth, but among them dozens of 

 scattered giants rose to show what lumbermen's 

 greed might have left in the way of a forest if 

 it had been restrained. Some of these large 

 trees were sugar-maples, while others were yellow 

 birches and beeches. The most striking flowers 

 along the mountain road were creamy white 

 bunches of early elder, pinkish purple rhodora, 

 and rose-colored azalea just coming into bloom. 

 Birds were few and far between on the moun- 



