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used to assemble at the chalet on this occasion 

 in their holiday dresses, decorated with Alpine 

 flowers ; and with all the gaiety of youth, and 

 with songs and dances, they attended the descent 

 of their herds, which were also decked with rib- 

 bons, and bells, and garlands. At intervals the 

 party sung together the touching song of the 

 Ranz des vaches, or some of the pretty Savoyard 

 airs. 



On the morning of one of these festivals a 

 traveller, who had missed his way in crossing the 

 mountain, happened to apply at the chalet for 

 assistance. The youthful crowd were actually 

 setting out the song which announced the ge- 

 neral movement had already commenced when 

 seeing that the traveller was faint and in want of 

 assistance, they stopped and hastened to relieve 

 him. They gave him such refreshment as they 

 could, and, unmindful of their own interrupted 

 pleasures, they delayed their march to give him 

 time to recover. When he was sufficiently re- 

 vived by their hospitality, he accompanied the 

 gay party to the village ; and, charmed by their 

 simple manners, he joined as well as he could in 

 their happy and innocent festivity. 



The traveller was an English officer, who had 

 been wounded. He was then enjoying the bracing 

 air and wild scenery of Savoy ; and though he 

 intended to winter in Italy, he wished to loiter 

 a little longer among the glens and mountains of 



