White Sulphur papers; or, Life at the springs of Western Virginia

14 WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS.
We had been travelling for two days, from the
time we left the landing near Frederickburgh, upon
the usual route for travellers from the north, coming
from Washington, we had passed by Orange court
house, Charlottesville, in sight of Monticello, and
through Standton, and had become well initiated
into all the modes of Virginia travel and road accommodations,
of neither of which we had found
any cause to complain, but w^hich, on the contrary,
had afforded us much reason for being satisfied.
We had left the last peaks of the Blue Ridge far
behind us, and a few hour's further ride, brought us
to the foot of the far-famed Warm Spring Mountain,
whose frowning tops had been before us for
some hours. We here descended from the stage,
preferring to make our way on foot ; leaving the
driver to follow w^ith his horses at his leisure.
As the traveller approaches the mountain, he begins
to surmise how or in what manner he shall ever
be able to surmount this broad barrier of the
Allegany,
which rises up before him to dispute his passage.
The ascent to the top is about two miles,
over a narrow, well-beaten road, which, rising gradually,
edges around the body of the mountain like a
great winding stairway.
It w^as early in the morning,
the sun had but just risen, and, with elastic steps,
we commenced the ascent; stopping ever and anon
to admire the verdant glories which broke upon us in