WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 295 



If, gentle reader, thou wouldst allow me to indulge 

 a little longer in this harmless pen-errantry, I would tell 

 thee, that I have had my ups and downs in life, as well 

 as other people ; for I have climbed to the point of the 

 conductor above the cross on the top of St. Peter's, in 

 Rome, and left my glove there. I have stood on one foot, 

 upon the Guardian Angel's head, on the castle of St. 

 Angelo ; and, as I have just told thee, I have been low 

 down under the fall of Niagara. But this is neither here 

 nor there; let us proceed to something else. 



When the pain of my foot had become less violent, and 

 the swelling somewhat abated, I could not resist the 

 inclination I felt to go down Ontario, and so on to 

 Montreal and Quebec, and take Lakes Champlain and 

 George in my way bade to Albany. 



Just as I had made up my mind to it, a family from 

 the Bowling-green, in New York, who was going the same 

 route, politely invited me to join their party. Nothing 

 could be more fortunate. They were highly accomplished. 

 The young ladies sang delightfully ; and all contributed 

 their portion, to render the tour pleasant and amusing. 



Travellers had already filled the world with descriptions 



of the bold and sublime scenery from Lake Erie to 



Quebec : — 



" The fountain's fall, the river's flow, 

 The woody valleys, warm and low ; 

 The windy summit, wild and high, 

 Roughly rushing to the sky. " 



And there is scarce one of them who has not described 

 the achievements of former and latter times, on the 

 different battle-grounds. Here, great Wolfe expired. 

 Brave Montcalm was carried, mortally wounded, through 

 yonder gate. Here fell the gallant Brock; and there 

 General Sheaffee captured all the invaders. And in yonder 



