Thedaybefore，myattentionhadfrequentlybeenattractedbythewildbeautiesofthecountrywepassedthrough.
Therockswhichtossedtheirfantasticheadssohighwereoftencoveredwithpinesandfirs，variedinthemostpicturesquemanner.
Littlewoodsfilleduptherecesseswhenforestsdidnotdarkenthescene，andvalleysandglens，clearedofthetrees，displayedadazzlingverdurewhichcontrastedwiththegloomoftheshadingpines.Theeyestoleintomanyacovertwheretranquillityseemedtohavetakenupherabode，andthenumberoflittlelakesthatcontinuallypresentedthemselvesaddedtothepeacefulcomposureofthescenery.Thelittlecultivationwhichappeareddidnotbreaktheenchantment，nordidcastlesreartheirturretsalofttocrushthecottages，andprovethatmanismoresavagethanthenativesofthewoods.Iheardofthebearsbutneversawthemstalkforth，whichIwassorryfor;Iwishedtohaveseenoneinitswildstate.
Inthewinter，Iamtold，theysometimescatchastraycow，whichisaheavylosstotheowner.
Thefarmsaresmall.Indeedmostofthehouseswesawontheroadindicatedpoverty，orratherthatthepeoplecouldjustlive.