Camel's Hump.


BEING this morning within two and one-

half-miles-of this celebrated summit of the

Green Mountains, I yield for the first time in

my life, to an inclination to visit it, accompanied

by Bro. H. Dyke. And hoping

to interest at least some of the readers,  

I furnish a few notes by the way.

The Green Mountains, from which Vermont

derives its name, extend quite through

the State from south to north, and, following

the western range, divide it into two very

nearly equal parts.

Up the rugged cliffs we ascend on horseback

and on foot, till we stand upon this far

famed eminence four thousand one hundred

and eighty-three feet above the level. The

wind rudely shakes the observatory from

which I now write. Here we find a barren,

rocky point, or rather nearly a solid ledge,

covering an area, perhaps, of fifteen or

twenty acres, the south end of which presents

a bold front one hundred and sixty feet in

depth. As we approach the edge of it, bracing

against the boisterous wind, holding our

hats firmly upon our heads, caution suggests

to us not to go too far. A lady of courage

and hardihood is said to have eaten her dinner,

last summer, sitting on the edge of this

ledge, with her feet hanging over the precipice.

Of this entire lofty range of mountains,

the Chin of Mansfield rises the highest,

although only about one hundred feet higher

than this. It is also visited by many more of

the traveling public, being favored now with

an open carriage road to the height.

Favored with a beautiful October morning,

we gaze with delight upon the diversified

scenery, till it fades away in the dim distance.

The eye sweeps over numerous ranges of

mountains towering high above the fertile

valleys, countless forests clothed with 

variegated foliage, extensive fields, flourishing

 villages, verdant hills, bounding streams, 

productive farms dotted with the comfortable

 homes of the industrious husbandmen. Aided

by the spy-glass, we could see much of

the State, a portion of New Hampshire, New

York, and Canada, and the entire length of

Lake Champlain.

Truly, say some of our readers, especially

those who never saw the Green Mountains,

it must indeed pay well to climb these mountains

to feast the eye with such delightful

scenery. This is so, but it will pay ten

thousand times better to give your hearts to

God, to go on step by step in the path of

obedience, till you stand high up on the rock

of truth, in holy communion with the great

Creator; and finally plant your feet on the

earth made new. Though "the eye is not

satisfied with seeing," yet with spirits refreshed,

and inspired with the buoyant hope

of an endless life in the world to come, we

conclude our visit to Camel's Hump, in solemn

prayer to God, and hasten our steps down

the mountain side to our post of duty, hoping

with all the redeemed to stand upon

Mount Zion and survey the delightful fields

of Paradise in the world to come.

"There on those high and flowery plains,

Our spirits ne'er shall tire;

And in perpetual, joyful strains,

Redeeming love admire."



A. S. HUTCIHINS.

Camel's Hump, 

October, 1871.