tumulus of the dead, imagination pictured the spot, which now spoke only of blasted hopes and desolation, wild as even it was on the very eve of that fatal day: a rich valley, inhabited by youth and age, each indulging in the hopes and pleasures peculiar to their years; looking forward to the morrow with anxious care or joy, little dreaming that an awful fate was hanging over their devoted heads, or that the mountain, which had so long yielded to their comfort and support, would in a few short hours spread death and destruction over all who dwelt beneath its shadow. The infant slept in its mother's arms as sweetly that night as it had ever done before; the jocund laugh went round; the merry song of the shepherd rang through the parting mountain with the same joyous sound; sorrow-for there is sorrow everywhere-hung with the same deadly weight upon the mourner's heart, as though it were to feed through a sad and protracted life upon its prey, while the afflicted, to whom the grim messenger alone could have spoken words of comfort, still bent the head in pious resignation, waiting their release, but not daring even to hope for it. The weary traveller, too, slept as peacefully through that night, as if the morning sun would only rise to show forth to him Nature's beauties with still greater lustre, when he would wander as fearless o'er the mountain side and through the pleasant valley, as we who now stood gazing on the fearful wreck, little dreaming that night would be their last. The scene was awful. Rocks of an immense size-huge hillocks or mounds of earth-lay beneath our feet, wrapped in one common winding-sheet; the mountain earth their sepulchre.

"On the morning of the thirtieth anniversary [Sept. 22] of this awful event we commenced the ascent of

the Rigi. The mist-like clouds hung over the Lake of Zoug and the surrounding country, so as completely to obscure the sight of everything twenty yards beyond us, producing the effect of a wide, extended sea, as it broke away and gradually settled in the valley below. The ascent of the Rigi is by a broken and precipitous route, made of large logs and stones, laid so as to form stairs. Up these stairs, on the very brink of yawning chasms, were we obliged to ride, holding firmly to the mane. While the guide led our horses in this manner, we were enabled slowly and with difficulty to ascend. We passed many crosses, which mark the different stations, and serve as resting-places for the weary pilgrim or the adventurous traveller, each little shrine being provided with benches for the purpose. Arriving at the Hospice de Notre Dame de la Neige, some of our party refreshed themselves with a cup of goat's milk and home-made bread. Another hour brought us to the summit of the Rigi. Imagine yourself standing on a precipice of many thousand feet, the clouds below you, and the clear expanse of heaven above. Watch those clouds slowly dispersing, and presenting to your view a landscape wide and extended, bounded only by mountains clad in eternal snow, towering in cold sublimity on the far-distant horizon; below, in silvery beauty at the foot of the mountain, lay the Lake of Zoug and the lakes of the four cantons. Autumn had already gemmed the woods with its richest hues. The little pleasure-boats of Lucerne, like birds upon the water, calmly pursued their various course. Villages with their glittering spires; the peasant's cot; the princely tower: all lent their aid to beautify this wild, romantic scene.

"On turning the last angle of the circuitous path, which at this junction bordered the edge of the loftiest

precipice, we met a train of nuns and friars, pilgrims from the convent of Zoug, twenty miles distant, either for the performance of some vow or for recreation. The men were of uncommon stature, remarkably noble and erect in form. The nuns were exceedingly delicate in appearance, and one in particular very beautiful, moving with an air of dignity and elegance which excited our admiration and astonishment, and gave to imagination a bold license to conjure up some tale of deep romance, where, as is usual, early, disappointed, blighted hopes-a lover dead or false-had driven from the world of fashion and elegance the lovely, the enchanting female then before us. But there were no marks of melancholy in her fine, expressive face; no pallid cheek or sunken eye to uphold us in our fantasies. All was the brightness of youth untouched by the mildew of sorrow. A radiant smile lit up her intelligent countenance, and with sweet modesty and grace she answered the few questions politeness permitted us to address to her. The dress she wore, though coarse, was particularly becoming. It consisted of a hood made up of black cloth bound with white; a large coarse wrapper of brown cloth tied round the waist with a hempen rope, from which hung a rosary and crucifix; her neck was covered with a plaited kerchief, which also went round the head underneath the hood. She looked like an offering meet for heaven.

"The dress of the friars was similar in appearance and texture, except that their heads were bare, and on their feet they wore sandals. They were venerable-looking men, with beards long and gray, fine, nay, handsome features, and possessing the manners of courtiers rather than monks. They proceeded to the house, took breakfast, and, after visiting the observatory, departed, each

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with his mountain staff in hand. A graceful inclination of the head, a kind adieu from each of the apparently happy sisterhood, and a blessing from the reverend friars, separated us from beings who, though unknown, were yet interesting from circumstances and situation.

"We amused ourselves by wandering from one interesting point to another, watching the varied appearances of the clouds, as in fantastic forms they hovered round the tops of the distant mountains, and in purchasing little articles of wooden-ware, which are carved with considerable taste by a poor man and his son, who during the summer months thus reap their harvest, and thereby provide for the necessities of a long and dreary winter. The day equalled our most sanguine hopes, and held forth the prospect of a most glorious sunset. Though late in the season, the house was crowded by travellers of various nations, feelings, and pursuits. The pedestrian in his loose blouse, fanciful сар, and mountain crook; the youthful bride, the smiling belle and no less courteous beau, together with the staid and quiet matron, and vigorous old age, all sought the point from which might be seen to best advantage the bright and glorious departure of day's radiant orb. The effect was beautiful, truly enchanting, at an elevation of many thousand feet above the level of the sea, perched, as it were, in mid air. Insensibly the mind became withdrawn from the contemplation of all earthly things, and absorbed in thoughts and feelings exalted and sublime as the lofty dome of heaven itself, which at that moment seemed entirely illumined with the last crimson rays of the setting sun, whose golden disc slowly departed to bless with his ardent beams another portion of our wondrous globe. Long before he disappeared the lakes at the foot of this precipitous mountain, and all the villages

on their borders, with the peaceful hills and forests which surrounded them, lay buried in the silence and gloom of night. Enraptured, we watched the gradual decline of day's holy light; beheld it tinge with golden red the lofty peak of snow-capped Grindenwald, rest a moment on the cold, pure, snowy bosom of the Jong Frou, then lighting the tearful mist of Pilate, something like an angel's pitying glance when it lights on scenes of human wo it cannot relieve-trembling and cheerless -fading in sorrow as it lingers yet more pure. The mantle of night, with all her bright and studded gems of sparkling lustre, covered the broad expanse of heaven, affording but a faint and dubious light. To remain any longer near the brink of a precipice so awful would have tried a heart more brave and fearless than our own. Cautiously we retired, and felt much pleasure to find ourselves surrounded by beings like ourselves, dependant on the power and greatness of Him who shall but touch the mountains and they shall smoke, and say, Be thou removed into the sea, and lo! it is done. After an anxious look at the fleecy clouds which began to flit across the summit of the surrounding mountain, and a fervent hope expressed that the morning would be alike propitious, the party dispersed, and sought repose in the frail and tottering tenement which crowned the summit of this lofty eminence.

"We slept, but not soundly; for, in truth, we had become nervously sensitive, and felt as if we were on the branch of some high tree, or on the brink of a roaring torrent; and well might we imagine ourselves strangely and unnaturally placed; for a thick white fog had covered all of earth, and nothing but the sky was visible save the moving sea of mist.

"Towards morning the wind rose and whistled round