64 HSalks in New England 



put his hand on that white snow-cap ; Haystack 

 looms blue further north, Monadnoc s grand dome 

 shows its dark spruce belt, and gentle Wachusett 

 rises blandly in the east. While one views the 

 vast panorama of mountain and valley, the sense 

 grows upon him of the perfect oneness of the 

 whole scene, and of all scenes of Nature, as pass 

 ing exhibitions of the constant life, which originates 

 and informs them all. Here are we, midgets of a 

 moment, which we call human life and mark out 

 into hours and days and years, fretting over the 

 vexing incidents of that moment. We are excited, 

 eager, angry, emulating, envying, disappointed, 

 despairing. And yet we know we shall presently 

 be gone where all such emotions shall appear to 

 us as the snow mists from the height ; and we shall 

 wonder that we were moved by so slight considera 

 tions. 



