noon
Like a few furrows of unreaped corn , which , left standing on a wide field after the rest is gathered to the garner , are swiftly borne down by the winter storm . Like a few straggling swallows , which , remaining after their fellows had , on the first unkind breath of passing autumn , migrated to genial climes , were struck to earth by the first frost of November . Like a stray sheep that wanders over the sleet-beaten hill-side , while the flock is in the pen , and dies before morning-dawn . Like a cloud , like one of many that were spread in impenetrable woof over the sky , which , when the shepherd north has driven its companions `` to drink Antipodean noon , '' fades and dissolves in the clear ether -- Such were we ! We left the fair margin of the beauteous lake of Geneva , and entered the Alpine ravines ; tracing to its source the brawling Arve , through the rock-bound valley of Servox , beside the mighty waterfalls , and under the shadow of the inaccessible mountains , we travelled on ; while the luxuriant walnut-tree gave place to the dark pine , whose musical branches swung in the wind , and whose upright forms had braved a thousand storms -- till the verdant sod , the flowery dell , and shrubbery hill were exchanged for the sky-piercing , untrodden , seedless rock , `` the bones of the world , waiting to be clothed with every thing necessary to give life and beauty . '' -LSB- 1 -RSB- Strange that we should seek shelter here ! Surely , if , in those countries where earth was wont , like a tender mother , to nourish her children , we had found her a destroyer , we need not seek it here , where stricken by keen penury she seems to shudder through her stony veins .