Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/123

Rh down the precipice, because pass one another we cannot, that's clear!”

My bearers took a view of the case also, but soon made up their minds. With hands and feet they prevailed upon the sober cow to turn round on the narrow path at the risk of her life, and she now became my pioneer until a wider space allowed her to get out of the way, which she did with a couple of joyful leaps, which I seconded in my heart.

We are now in the Canton Wallis. Snow-fields gleam forth on every side, but also with these verdant and grassy pastures. On one of these, close beside the glacier, grazed a large herd of cattle, attended by a herdsman and his dog.

This day's journey appeared to me very long, in the cold and mist; and more than once I silently wondered that any one could be so thoughtless as to undertake it. Twilight had already commenced, when at length we reached “La Furca,” in such a dense fog, that I could distinguish nothing but the lofty hill up which we ascended, and the snow-covered roof of the little inn, which affected me as the mariner on the stormy sea, at the sight of land.

How pleasant it seemed here to sit down in the warm salle of the snug little, almost comfortable, herberge, and refresh myself with a good supper of tea, potatoes, and fresh butter. We ate and drank, we played chess, check-mated each other, and, before we separated, thanked God together for the day. P. has the gift of prayer, which it seems to me the Reformed Protestants, in an especial manner, possess, perhaps because family worship is more practiced by them