Mountain and Forest Rambles. 205 



and by ways known only to our guide. For nearly two 

 hours we held on the even tenor of our way, diverging only 

 to taste the cold, pure water, at the base of the spur of some 

 mighty hill, which rushed out as from an immense bore and 

 instantly assumed the port and guise of a mountain torrent. 

 Such a fountain of such water, what a treasure would it prove 

 to any city corporation, who could convert it into an aque- 

 duct of health and salubrity ! 



The only wild animal we encountered was a splendid 

 fellow of a fox, who seemed at first disposed to make ac- 

 quaintance, but on second sober thought relinquished the 

 plan. Shortly after, we noticed the marks of settlement, in 

 sundry fishing rods, extemporaneously made of some saplings, 

 thrown aside near the stream, as if they had done their 

 work, and might be consigned to neglect. The trees grew 

 thimier, too, and we could see old Mansfield on our right 

 hand, looming up against the evening sky. At length " we 

 were out of the woods and might whistle." It was not a 

 great while that we tarried ; a few tempting raspberries and a 

 social word with an elderly dame, who was picking her first 

 green peas on the evening of the 12th of August, were 

 matters of not much detention. Our steed was put to, our- 

 selves ensconced again in the wagon, and we were borne in 

 the bright starlight towards good Mr. Dodge's public house, 

 laden with the spoils of a long ramble on the Green Moun- 

 tains of Vermont. That was a proud day to two lovers of 

 nature and two such seekers of minute vegetation, which 

 enabled us, thanks to a propitious sky and to a willing and 

 accommodating guide, to traverse the summit, ravine and 

 gorge of Mansfield, and to collect the species of fern which 

 PuRSH discovered, near that very spot it may be, at least in 

 the same range, and to gather lichenes, carices, (fcc, which 

 TucKERMAN and other worthies had rendered classic through 

 their acquaintance. 



Salem, March, 1852, 



Little that we could say would add anything to the interest 

 of Mr. Russell's communication ; yet we cannot omit the 



