MOUNTAIN LIFE. 533 



savage life is free from many of these troubles and 

 disquietudes ; and perfect freedom of action, even 

 if it loses somewhat of refinement, gains much 

 in liberty and the comforts of self-dependence. 

 Mountain life has delights peculiarly its own ; 

 there is a mysterious charm in these elevated 

 regions that is never felt on the plains, and the 

 further the wanderer goes from the haunts of man, 

 the stronger become those exhilarating sensations 

 which fill the heart with gladness and nerve the 

 body with energy to put forth its strength. He 

 who lives constantly with Nature, watching and 

 studying all her changing moods, feels that he has 

 a world within himself that no adverse fortune 

 can sweep away. 



It has ever seemed to me that amidst the 

 mountains the pulse of Nature beats stronger 

 and more palpably than upon the plains ; here 

 everything discovers more life and energy, and 

 speaks more emphatically of the infinite power 

 of the Ruler of the universe. The stream that 

 meanders slowly through the plains dashes im- 

 petuously down its mountain course, and even 



