ion. Suddenly it
began to grow lighter; the dark clouds, like the Arabs, folded their
tents, and silently stole away. The sun, the warm, bright, morning sun,
shone forth in marvelous splendor.

What a scene then burst upon our vision!

Pine, and fir, and tall spruce, every tree and shrub, in place of
leaves, had assumed a dress of milk white feathers. How dazzling it was.
The eye could hardly bear the strong reflected light. A forest of
feathers! We had never seen this effect in such perfection before. And
now the sun, kissing these feathery sprays with warmth and burning
ardor, made them blush rosy red, like the cheeks of a young maiden
pressed by amorous lips. The feathery robe of the branches was as frail
as false modesty, and melted away like good resolutions under strong
temptation, so that in half an hour the snow had entirely disappeared
wherever the sun had discovered and visited it. The deep green of the
uncovered foliage only sparkled with the dewy moisture that was left, as
though dropping tears of shame at being thus denuded of their gauzy
veil. Never shall we forget the varied and beautiful appearance of the
foliage under these rapid changes. It was like a theatrical exhibition,
where a nearly transparent scene dissolves before the eyes of the
audience. The sky, before so dark and brooding, was now all smiles; the
sun, after its dalliance with the foliage, seemed to have taken new
life; and the atmosphere even became clear and transparent, as it had
hardly been when we came up the other side of the mountain to enter the
valley.

For a brief time the views were grand and far-reaching as we sped
rapidly on our way, descending towards the plain. Undoubtedly it was
safe enough, since accidents seldom happen; but it looked a little
careless, to one not accustomed to the road, to come down its narrow
winding course, just clearing such frightful chasms, drawn by a team of
six horses at the full gallop. By degrees the weather changed again into
a sombre mood; the clouds gathered in close array, and began to pelt us,
first with hailstones, but, having apparently soon exhausted the
supply, were content to soak us with a deluge of water. But we only
laughed at this, for had we not accomplished the Yosemite in spite of
prognostications to the contrary, and the assurance that it was too late
in the season to attempt it? We were rejoiced now that we had not heeded
the stories about people who had, in former seasons, b