THE MOUNTAINEER. 293 



To a certain extent, the moun- 

 The Moun- 



taineeer bears the stamp of Nature 

 upon him ; for, like the mountain torrent, his 

 movements are quick ; like the sudden changes 

 in the atmosphere in which he dwells, his passions 

 are easily roused ; like the oak which shades him, 

 he has a sturdy, bold and characteristic manner ; 

 like the rock on which he stands, he is true and 

 faithful, and makes a firm friend ; and the con- 

 stant presence of danger and peril inures him to 

 the contemplation of death, and renders him 

 fearless and intrepid. 



Mountaineers are conspicuous for their inde- 

 pendent manner, manly bearing, and the absence 

 of all conventional manner. 



Th IT h t Imagination cannot portray to the 

 mind the stupendous grandeur of the 

 highest .altitudes here the whole face of nature 

 bears the stamp of immortality seasons never 

 change unbroken winter ever reigns. Such 

 scenery no mortal can contemplate, and still 



