A "Thousand-Mile TValk 



woods. After a few miles of level ground in 

 luxuriant tangles of brooding vines, I began the 

 ascent of the Cumberland Mountains, the first 

 real mountains that my foot ever touched or 

 eyes beheld. The ascent was by a nearly regu- 

 lar zigzag slope, mostly covered up like a tun- 

 nel by overarching oaks. But there were a few 

 openings where the glorious forest road of Ken- 

 tucky was grandly seen, stretching over hill 

 and valley, adjusted to every slope and curve 

 by the hands of Nature — the most sublime 

 and comprehensive picture that ever entered 

 my eyes. Reached the summit in six or seven 

 hours — a strangely long period of up-grade 

 work to one accustomed only to the hillocky 

 levels of Wisconsin and adjacent States. 



