They had reached the table land of the heights which looked down
upon Charlemont, at a moment when the beauty of the scene could
scarcely fail to impress itself upon the most indifferent observer.
The elder of the travellers, who happened to be in advance, was
immediately arrested by it; and, staying the progress of his horse,
with hand lifted above his eye, looked around him with a delight
which expressed itself in an abrupt ejaculation, and brought his
companion to his side. The sun had just reached that point in his
descent, which enabled him to level a shaft of rosy light from
the pinnacle of the opposite hill, into the valley below, where it
rested among the roofs of two of the cottages, which arose directly
in its path. The occupants of these two cottages had come forth,
as it were, in answer to the summons; and old and young, to the
number of ten or a dozen persons, had met, in the winding pathway
between, which led through the valley, and in front of every cottage
which it contained. The elder of the cottagers sat upon the huge
trunk of a tree, which had been felled beside the road, for the
greater convenience of the traveller; and with eyes turned in the
direction of the hill on which the sunlight had sunk and appeared
to slumber, seemed to enjoy the vision with no less pleasure than
our senior traveller. Two tall damsels of sixteen, accompanied by
a young man something older, were strolling off in the direction
of the woods; while five or six chubby girls and boys were making
the echoes leap and dance along the hills, in the clamorous delight
which they felt in their innocent but stirring exercises. The whole
scene was warmed with the equal brightness of the natural and the
human sun. Beauty was in the sky, and its semblance, at least, was
on the earth. God was in the heavens, and in his presence could
there be other than peace and harmony among men!