Attractions of tJie Alps. 69 



grounds on the Continent before the freshness 

 of early summer has faded, and before the 

 world of tourists has begun to swarm into 

 every picturesque hole and corner of Europe. 

 An old-standing love for the Alpine region usually 

 draws me there, sooner or later, wherever I may 

 chance to turn my steps immediately after leaving 

 England. He who has once seen the mountain 

 pastures in June will find their spell too strong 

 to be resisted. 



At that early time the herdsmen have not yet 

 reached the higher pastures, and cows and goats 

 have not cropped away the flowers which scent 

 the pure cool breeze. The birds are undisturbed 

 and trustful, and still busy with their young. The 

 excellent mountain-inns are comparatively empty, 

 the Marmots whistle near at hand, and the snow 

 lies often so deep upon footpaths where a few 

 weeks later even the feeblest mountaineer would 

 be at home, that a fox, a badger, or even a little 

 troop of chamois, may occasionally be seen with- 

 out much climbing. If bad weather assails us on 

 the heights, which are liable even in June to 

 sudden snow-storms and bitter cold, we can 



