RAMBLES IN SWITZERLAND. THE village of Interlachen is much the same to the Jungfrau that Chamouni is to Mont Blanc. The Jungfrau has an elevation of 13,700 feet, some 2000 less than Mont Blanc; but its isolated position affords for it a much better view. Most of what we saw of it from Interlachen is a mass of rock and snow, its lower parts being concealed by nearer mountains. The Wetterhorn, Silverhorn, and other lofty summits are also seen in the vicinity. These, with glaciers, falls, cascades, grottos, and their usual accompaniments, attract many visitors; hence numerous large hotels and boarding houses have been erected here, mainly constituting the village. The Jungfrau has never been ascended, and perhaps never will be, it is so steep on all sides, but other points are gained from which excellent views of it are obtained. The village is itself interesting, and in the midst of a fertile valley. Here in the face of these cliffs, covered with perpetual snow, are fields of as fine-looking wheat as ever waved. Other grains also, grass, potatoes, apples, cherries, &c., grow luxuriantly. The shops do a large business in ornamental wood work, canes, photographic and stereoscopic views; so that at this season the place is quite busy. Numerous excursions are made from itone to Grindelwald, to see two large glaciers. At the upper one we entered a beautiful ice grotto cut far into the glacier, with a thickness of eighty feet of clear ice overhead, so that it is very light. The water drips upon you in some places, but not enough to occasion serious inconvenience. Another pleasant excursion is to Lauterbrunnen, and the Staubach fall. The latter is very fine; the water falls perpendicularly 925 feet, becoming spray and mist long before it reaches the ground. Byron called it "the tail of the pale horse." The scenery here, and likewise around Grindelwald, is beautiful. The lofty mountain sides are fertile, and from their bases up, up, there are green fields, pastures, cottages, almost to the line of perpetual snow It is wonderful that such a country should be so densely populated. Rarely will you find so many cottages for the same extent of territory. They are neat, and pretty too, showing hardy, industrious and thrifty communities, Here for the first time we heard the Alpine horn, and as it sounded and echoed among the mountains and glaciers, it resembled a concert of sweet music. RAMBLES IN SWITZERLAND. Leaving Interlachen, we came by carriage first along Lake Brienz to the village of Brienz, and then over the Brunig pass. Here the mountain scenery, though not equal to that at the Tete Noir and the Simplon, is yet grand and sublime. Several fine cascades and waterfalls were passed. The Giesbach falls are perhaps the most beautiful succession of cascades in the world. I counted ten distinct falls in view at a time, as the torrent dashes down the mountain precipices, through the green groves. A large hotel stands near for the accommodation of those visiting the romantic spot. We also passed along the shores of Lake Lungern. This lake, some eighty years since, was lowered 120 feet, by cutting a tunnel and exploding 900 pounds of powder, by which a passage was opened, and the lake drained through the valley below. The land thus gained is now green and fertile, covered with fields, gardens, orchards. and cottages Passing one or two other pretty sheets of water, we reached Lucerne at the end of a long, hard, but deeply interesting day's ride. Lucerne is pleasantly situated on the lake of the same name, with the Rigi on the east, and Mount Pilatus on the west. Here we paid our respects to the colossal lion designed by Thorwalsden, and cut in the face of a high perpendicular rock. The lion is represented in the agonies of death, with a broken spear in his side, as a monument to the Swiss soldiers who fell fighting for the liberty of their country in 1792. It is a very striking and expressive figure, and is visited by multitudes. But the chief attractions here are the mountains, especially the Rigi, from the summit of which there is the best panoramic view of Switzerland. The ascent is quite steep and laborious, occupying about three hours on horseback. But once made, the toil and fatigue are forgotten, and a thousand fold repaid by the scene presented to the view. Some ten or twelve lakes, and beautiful landscapes on every side, with innumerable hills and mountains in the distance, present altogether a scene such as you nowhere else behold. The afternoon was spent very pleasantly, a part of the exercises being snow-balling. We trust no dignity was lost, but rare sport enjoyed. The sunset view was pretty good, though somewhat obscured by clouds. As usual on such occasions, the evening was enlivened with fireworks. We stopped over night at the Culm House, hoping to see the sunrise view, which is said to be very grand here. But, like most who seek the opportunity, we were disappointed. The morning was thick and foggy, and POETRY. we considered ourselves fortunate in getting down the mountain without a thorough drenching. We spent the Sabbath at Lucerne, and there, as at Interlachen, were much edified by the services in the English church. The preaching was such as I love to hear-plain, practical, evangelical. The labour was not to display eloquence, or amaze with eccentricities, neither was there resort to dry abstractions and empty forms; but living, vital truth was sincerely and earnestly urged on the heart and conscience. The attentive audiences showed that it found a lodgment. I rejoice to find a pure gospel thus dispensed here and there in Switzerland as well as in Italy. May it yet prove a saving leaven to these lands, where it is so much needed in the midst of abounding superstition and scepticism. Never did I feel more than now the excellence of the gospel as the hope of the world. We can and must do more to diffuse its beams and hasten its complete triumph among the nations. God has blessed, and will bless our labours as a Christian people with this in view. Our churches, home and foreign missions, institutions of learning, are doing a great work, but not enough. God expects much at our hands in this vast harvest of the world. The burden and the blessing must not rest on the few; let all be partakers. We must have more workers, send out more missionaries to the destitute, do more to encourage and help those whom God is calling to the ministry. Poetry. MY GUDE AULD WIFE. O! DINNA say her bonnie face Is altered by the touch o' Time; Nor say her form has lost the grace The matchless grace that marked its prime. To me she's fairer, lovelier now Than crowned wi' bloom o' earlier days; For changefu' years have only made List to her voice! Was e'er a tone Match me its music if ye can Wi' a' the gleesome air o' youth! ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS. And then her e'e-her gentle e'e; A heaven of peace and joy instead! For though the rogue has stolen the gold, What could become that fair meek brow Like those smooth, lustrous bands of white? Might touch an angel's crown of light. For life's inevitable storms— Its waves of grief, its clouds of care, Its many trials, bravely borne, Have made these tresses what they are. If thou didst seem a flower before, The star that lights a clouded heaven. While thy dear hand is clasped in mine. The holy strength I've learned from thee. Thy smile shall teach me how to die. Anecdotes and Selections. THE MELTED MOUNTAIN.-An old warrior, lying at the point of death, said to the missionary who stood at his side-"Oh, I have been in great trouble this morning, but I am happy now. I saw an immense mountain, with precipitous sides, up which I endeavoured to climb; but when I had attained a considerable height, I lost my hold and fell to the bottom. Exhausted with perplexity and fatigue, I went to a distance and sat down to weep, and while weeping, I saw a drop of blood fall upon that mountain, and in a moment it was dissolved." "This was certainly a strange sight," remarked the missionary; THE FIRESIDE. "what construction did you put upon it?" The dying chieftain seemed astonished at the missionary's question, and replied "That mountain was my sins, and the drop which fell upon it was one drop of the precious blood of Jesus, by which the mountain of my guilt must be melted away." How striking is the illustration of the power of Christ's blood! One drop dissolves the mountain of a sinner's guilt! Oh, blessed, efficacious blood! May it fall on my sins, and on my readers' sins, and melt them away! Reader, does your guilt rise like a mountain? Go to Christ. Trust in Him. His blood will dissolve it all, and enable you to sing "O Lord, what heavenly wonders dwell In thine atoning blood! By this are sinners saved from hell, CHARLES SIMEON.-The most earnest labourers for souls may receive a new impulse to fidelity from the following incident in the life of the noble-hearted Simeon :-Charles Simeon was once summoned to the bedside of a dying brother. Entering the room, the relative extended his hand, and with some emotion said, "I am dying, and you never warned me of the state in which I was, and of the great danger I was in of neglecting the salvation of my soul." "Nay, my brother," said Simeon, "but I took every reasonable opportunity of bringing the subject of religion before you, and frequently alluded to it in my letters." "Yes," said the dying man, "but you never came to me, closed the door, and took me by the collar of my coat, and told me I was unconverted, and that if I died in that state I should be lost; and now I am dying, and, but for God's grace, I might have been for ever undone." It is said that Simeon never forgot this scene. THE RIGHT PERSUASION.-In terrible agony a soldier lay dying in the hospital. A visitor asked him, "What church are you of ?" "Of the church of Christ," he replied. "I mean, of what persuasion are you?" then inquired the visitor. "Persuasion!" said the dying man, as his eyes looked heavenward, beaming with love to the Saviour; "I am PERSUADED that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." The Fireside. A WORD ON COOKERY. THE female head of a family who wishes to keep a good table, according to her circumstances, must have a proper knowledge of several important matters, besides making a pudding, or dressing a joint of meat. Indeed, if she be not a good manager in general, it will be but occasionally, and by mere chance, that she cooks even one dish properly. |