Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/362

378 as soft, as if they had belonged to some snow paradise. We were never tired of watching the struggle of the sunbeams in the chalice of Monte Rosa, with the clouds, which seemed as if they would imbed themselves there; but suddenly a violent wind arose from the side of Matterhorn, and we saw the wicked giantess, as if jealous of the attention we bestowed upon Monte Rosa, encircled with a girdle of dark cloud, and assembling a whole host of the same above her head. They were evidently not to be trifled with, and we were obliged to make the best of our way to the inn. And there we have been obliged to remain ever since, enveloped in mist and cloud, which Matterhorn, the wicked witch, has gathered around us. We console ourselves with good books and good humor, but as regards the journey up Gornergratt, and its view of the Alp-panorama, both southward and northward, there is but little hope. It is as cold as in the middle of our Swedish winter, and probably we must soon relinquish our lofty abode.

We have, however, seen Monte Rosa, and its ice realm. Chamouni is nothing in comparison with it!

, September 7th.—Fear for the continuance of the mist and the cold up in the snow-region, caused us to descend to Zermatt, without reaching the summit of Gornergratt. I am sorry for it, on account of my young friends, who, in the mean time, are amiable and contented with what they have seen. And very cheerful was the return with them, on foot, through the beautiful Zermatt valley, and in good weather. We spread out our dinner on the edge of the spring, and drank of