84 COLLECTOR'S RAMBLES 



dear, or even endurable to many, yet, in spite of 

 poverty, appearing satisfied with their life. At last 

 the children were tucked away for the night in their 

 dark corner, and, taking my candle, I went up to my 

 little loft ; but very little did I sleep, for on one side 

 my heels, on the other my knees, protruded from the 

 narrow bed, and no amount of arranging could induce 

 the scant clothing to cover my entire body at once ; 

 and as the cold breeze fanned the unprotected portion, 

 I came to the conclusion, before morning, that I should 

 need considerable toughening before I could really enjoy 

 that mode of living. 



The next morning, with pick and shovel, I started for 

 the caves, which were only about half a mile distant; 

 and after wandering about in the wet ferns and grasses, 

 I came to the mouth of a very large cave, where a brook 

 ran directly into the hill. I cautiously let myself down 

 the rocky opening, and, lighting my candle, began to 

 explore the gloomy interior. The roof of the cave be- 

 came higher and higher as I went on, until finally the 

 passage expanded into an immense hall. The ceiling 

 was covered with stalactites, which hung down like 

 great icicles, beautifully translucent, and sparkling 

 crystals reflected the candle's light from the sides of 

 the cave. In many places large pillars, white as snow, 

 rose from the floor, looking very ghostly in the dim 

 light. No sound disturbed the almost deathly stillness, 

 save the occasional spat of water dropping from the 



