MATTLi] THE SWISS MOUNTAIN PINE 3 



child of the Alps ; one never finds it a native of the cities and towns, 

 and even if imported there it loses much of its charm. We could 

 not expect to fully appreciate an organ recital in a market place, 

 nor should we expect to fully realize the beauty of a song that by 

 its ver\' nature is made for the wild and glorious mountain valleys, 

 and whose harmonies should mingle with the echoes of the water- 

 falls and the thimdering of moimtain streams, in the narrow con- 

 fines of four stone walls. Truly, one cannot enjoy it imder such 

 conditions. But to hear it up in the mountains in its natiiral 

 surroundings among the peaks and rocks far above the green 

 valleys, to hear it there with the playing echoes of the dales, on a 

 clear, blue summer day when everything laughs and sings is both a 

 pleasure and an inspiration. 



The hour has by this time far advanced and the growing day has 

 given to the surroundings many a different aspect. The golden 

 color which first flooded everything has changed to a silvery light, 

 a veil like aspect. This again passed into a stage when the 

 different objects, more and more asstuned their individuality and 

 finally there came a point when everything stood forth in glorious 

 clarity. 



And you — you are watching these changes with a keenest of 

 interest. Your eyes now glance at the rainbow at your left, now at 

 the sunlight beams that reflect themselves from the clearer parts 

 of the icefield, or perhaps you follow the foamy river which on its 

 downward path break over rocks and cliffs until reaching the 

 valley, it settles down to a dark grey band, which at the far end 

 of the valley floor again meets gorges and chasms through which it 

 descends and so finally becomes lost to your view. 



You then perhaps scan the horizon and if you are high enough 

 you may possibly see beyond the lower moimtain and peaks, and 

 if you are extremely lucky and if the weather is very clear you may 

 see great broad wide plains hnng beyond these peaks, and cities 

 and towTis and xdllages and lakes and streams and your eyes may 

 follow the contour lines until, far beyond the boundaries of Switzer- 

 land, they seem to melt into the sky. And now by the way of 

 change you begin to narrow your field of \-ision and restrict it 

 finally to your very immediate surroundings. The ground is rather 

 barren but there are some very beautiful flowers. There are 

 carpets of little blue gentians and lots of stoneflowers. But sud- 

 denly your attention is attracted by some moving object. It is 



