14000 MILES 



and the house on the mountain, especially as we felt 

 compelled to walk, lest the hard pull prove too much for 

 Charlie. Just before we reached the Mountain House we 

 got into our phaeton, and all signs of repentance must 

 have fled, for a lady on the piazza exclaimed, as we drove 

 up, that we must be the ladies she had read of in the 

 Transcript, for we looked as if we were having such a 

 good time ! 



Once there, no one could have any regrets. The night 

 was perfect. We asked leave to change our seats at the 

 supper table, in order to add the sunset to our bill of 

 fare ; and in the evening we were cordially welcomed by 

 the guests, who gathered around the open fire in the 

 large parlor. At ten o'clock we all went out to see the 

 moon rise over the mountain. A gentleman coming up 

 the mountain saw it rise several times, and we got the 

 effect of these repetitions by walking down a little way. 



The morning was as lovely as the night, and the view 

 simply beautiful, satisfying in all moods. There was no 

 sensation of awe or isolation, but a feeling that one could 

 be content forever. Kearsarge is about three thousand 

 feet high. We were already fifteen hundred feet up, and 

 directly after breakfast we started for the summit. No 

 other parties were ready for a climb that morning, so full 

 directions for the bridle path and walking sticks were 

 given us, and with maps, drinking cup and revolver 

 strapped about us, we were ready for any emergency. 



There is nothing more bewitching than an old bridle 

 path, and we enjoyed every moment of the hour it took 

 us to reach the summit. If the lovely, woodsy ascent 

 and final scramble over the rocks had not fully rewarded 



5-i 



