s,' seems the motto of these
mountaineers.

In the afternoon we drove up Mount Willard; 'straight up Ben Lomond did
we press,' but our horses seemed to find no difficulty for themselves,
and made no danger for us in the ascent. I shall not attempt to describe
the view. I have never seen any mountain prospect resembling that of the
deep ravine (abyss?) with its convex mountain-sides. The turnpike-road,
looking like a ribbon carelessly unwound, the only bit of level to be
seen, and prolonged for miles. The distant mountains that bound the
prospect you may see elsewhere, but this ravine, with the traces of the
'Willey Slide' on one side of it, has no parallel. Don't laugh at me for
the homeliness of the simile--it suggested a gigantic cradle. Here, as
elsewhere, we were dazzled by the brilliancy of the October foliage, and
having found a seat quite as convenient as a sofa, though being of rock,
not quite so easy, we loitered till the last golden hue faded from the
highest summit. And we should have staid to see the effect of the rising
moon on the summits, contrasting with the black shadows of night in the
abyss, but my father had observed that our driver had neglected the
precaution of blanketing his horses; and as a mother is not more
watchful of a sucking-child than he is of the well-being of animals, it
matters not whether they are his own, he begged us to sacrifice our
romance to their safety. Alice and I walked down the mountain; it was
but a half-hour's easy walk.

* * * * *

I have forborne talking with Alice on the subject that haunts me in
spite of myself. I know I have her sympathy and her approval; and that
should satisfy me. But this evening, as we were returning, she said:

'Did you feel any electric influence as we sat looking at the view
Crawford's '_stranger_' sketched this morning?'

'I thought of Carl,' I honestly answered, and turned the subject.

Alas! Sue, when do I not think of him?

* * * * *

PROFILE HOUSE, _Saturday Evening_.--We have again, to-day, experienced
the advantage of these open mountain-vehicles, which are quite as
'roomy' and as easy as the traveling-jails called stagecoaches, which
always remind me of Jonah's traveling accommodations. Again, to-day, we
have been enchanted with the brilliancy of the foliage. It is just at
the culminating point of beauty, and I think it does not remain at this
point more than three o