death--their jailer being called a _conductor_. Oh! I cry with my
old friend Touchstone: 'When I was at home, I was in a better
place!'

Rather a nice house, this of the Misses Jones--old-fashioned,
neatness, and comfort. But the lady should not favor us with the
company of her guest! Bad butter for tea. And my daughters
pronounce the house perfect!

_Tuesday Morning._--Bad butter again! could eat nothing.

_Tuesday Afternoon._--Happy illustration from a smoking old woman,
this morning, of the pleasant accessories of railroad traveling.
Found only an open wagon at Gorham, and a rain impending.
Convenience of travelers much talked of, but in my opinion, the
convenience of those who transport them is alone consulted.

The approach to the mountain, dreary. The girls--Lord, help
us!--call it beautiful, sublime! Not very cold, but the driver says
the bulb has already burst on Mount Washington! What an arrant old
fool I was to propose coming up here! The 'Glen-House closed!' But
the landlord graciously, as a favor, 'took us in'--a 'take in' to
the tune of his summer-prices, no doubt. Fried salt-ham at dinner,
and mince-pie for a supplement!

Went with the girls to walk, and plunged into forest-paths, where,
instead of our broad, smiling, home meadows, and orchards, and
gardenspots, we could see nothing but the ghostly mountains in
their fog-shrouds, and precipices, and uprooted trees, and that
plague of our Egypt--Paddies--who are making a road to the summit
of Mount Washington, that men, women, and much cattle may be
dragged up to see a savage view--ninety-nine times out of a hundred
befogged!

_Wednesday._--Well, here we are! raining all night, and when I
could sleep, haunted by dire mischances, torrents, slides, etc.
Waked by a devilish gong! Hot biscuits, potatoes, and corn-bread,
on the breakfast-table; could eat none of them. Villainous tea!
Raining and sunshining alternately, so that no mortal can tell
whether to go or stay; and meantime here am I, sitting by a gloomy
window where I can see nothing but these useless mountains. Lord,
forgive me! The angels do hover about me, even here, in the shape
of my children! Etc., etc., etc.!

The cloudy evening has closed in upon us early. It has been long, but
not tedious. We began it w