ASCENT TO MOUNT TAHAWUS. 23 



towards the western horizon. The only relief to this 

 solitude is the lakes that dot the bosom of the forest 

 in every direction. But there is one as far as the 

 eye can reach, which, either from its overshadowed 

 position, or the natural hue of its water, is black as 

 ink. It looks in its still and dark aspect like the pool 

 of death ! But what a tremendous gulf surrounds you, 

 as you thus stand nearly six thousand feet in the air, 

 on this isolated dome! On one side, where the forest 

 comes boldly up to the base, an avalanche of earth 

 has swept, cutting a lane for itself through the strong 

 trees, like the scythe of the mower through the grass. 

 But just take one more sweep of the eye around 

 the horizon before those clouds which come dashing 

 so like spirits through the gulfs, leaving a night- cap 

 on every summit in their progress, shall obstruct the 

 vision. You take in an area of nearly four hundred 

 miles in circumference just by turning on your heel. 

 Oh, how thought crowds on thought, and emotion 

 struggles with emotion, as you stand and gaze on this 

 scene where the Almighty seems to have wrought 

 with his sublimest power ! Cities and kingdoms — the 

 battling of armies — the struggles of the multitude, 

 and the ambition and strifes of men, sink away into 

 insignificance. The troubles of life seem small, and 

 its petty anxieties and cares are all forgotten. God 

 and nature seem one, and sublimity and power their 

 only attributes. One cannot refrain from asking 

 himself unceasingly, did His strong arm heave those 

 mountains on high and lay their deep foundations ? 

 Did His hand spread this limitless mantle of green 



