188 _ BALD-SUMMIT.

a solitary family ; and oftentimes the clouds, whence fell
the rain, and whence the snow-storm drifted down into
the valley, hung lower than this bleak and lonely dwell-
ing-place.

On the highest point of the hill was a heap of stones,
in the centre of which was stuck a long pole, with a lit-
tle flag fluttermg at the end of it.. Hustace led the chul-
dren thither, and bade them look around, and see how
large a tract of our beautiful world they could take in at
a glance. And their eyes grew wider as they looked.

Monument Mountain, to the southward, was still in
the centre of the scene, but seemed to have sunk and
subsided, so that it was now but an undistinguished
member of a large family of hills. Beyond it, the
Taconic range looked higher and bulkier than before.
Our pretty lake was seen, with all its little bays and in-
lets; and not that alone, but two or three new lakes were
opening their blue eyes to the sun. Several white vil-
lages, each with its steeple, were scattered about in
the distance. There were so many farm-houses, with
their acres of woodland, pasture, mowing-fields, and till-
age, that the children could hardly make room in their
minds to receive all these different objects. There, too,
was Tanglewood, which they had hitherto thought such
an important apex of the world. It now occupied so
small a space, that they gazed far beyond it, and on
either side, and searched a good while with all their eyes,
before discovering whereabout it stood.

White, fleecy clouds were hanging in the air, and
threw the dark spots of their shadow here and there over