but we diversified it (my
father hates monotony, and was glad of 'something different,' as he
called it) by bowling--my father pitting Alice against me. She beat me,
according to her general luck in life.

* * * * *

_Thursday Morning, October 6th._--The weather still uncertain, but more
beautiful in its effects on these grand mountains, in their October
glory, than I can describe to you. They are grand--Mount Washington[A]
being higher than Mount Rhigi and Mount Rhigi is majestic even in the
presence of Mont Blanc and of the Jungfrau. The rich coloring of our
autumnal foliage is unknown in Europe, and how it lights up with
brilliant smiles the dark, stern face of the mountains! Even when the
sun is clouded, the beeches that skirt the evergreens look like a golden
fringe, radiant in the sun; and wherever they are seemingly rippling
adown the mountain's side, they make 'sunshine in a shady place.' The
maples are flame-colored, and in masses so bright that you can scarcely
look steadily on them; and where they are small, and stand singly, they
resemble (to compare the greater to the less) flamingos lighted on the
mountain-side. Then there is the infinite diversity of coloring--the
soft brown, the shading off into pale yellow, and the delicate
May-green. None but a White of Selborne, with his delicately-defining
pen, could describe them. While we stood on the piazza admiring and
exclaiming, the obliging Mr. Thompson brought out a very good telescope,
and adjusted it so that our eyes could explore the mountains. He pointed
out the foot and bridle-path to the summit of Mount Washington. Various
obstacles have prevented our attempting the ascent. If my father would
have trusted us to guides, there are none in October, nor trained
horses; for as the feed is brought from below, they are sent down to the
lowlands as soon as _the season_ is over. Besides, the summits are now
powdered with snow, and the paths near the summits slippery with ice.
And though I like the scramble, and the achievement of attaining a
difficult eminence, I much prefer the nearer, better defined, and less
savage views below it. Guided by my landlord, my eye had followed the
path past two huge, out-standing rocks which look like Druidical
monuments, to the summit of Mount Washington, where I had the pleasure
of descrying and announcing the figure of a man. My father and Alice
both looked, but could not make it out. I referre