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66 BERGEN’'S PARK. t

 

All the English younger sons who do not go into the
church or army, come to Colorado. Well may this
particular ranchman be proud; for the ranch which he
owns, in partnership with his friend, is fit for a royal
domain. It is royally grand and beautiful, and though
so high up, is largely under cultivation, yielding the
best of wheat, oats, barley, and all varieties of vegeta-
bles, while for grazing purposes it is unsurpassed.
Nothing can be lovelier, more still and peaceful, than
this magnificent ranch, lapped on the mountain slopes,
and set about with primeval pine forests. Through it
runs a clear trout stream, fringed with willows, and
low-lying meadows and rolling uplands are almost alike
green and flowery. It is a vast amphitheatre—mostly
wild, of course, yet has a strangely pastoral and home-
like aspect. It reminds one of the ‘Happy Valley of
Rasselas’ in its sublime seclusion. The scene has all
the purity of atmosphere, all the sombre inspiration of
the mountain; all the tranquillity and coziness of the
valley land. |

“We found the brilliant noon-day hot, even here, but
the nights were deliciously cool and balmy. Heaven |
came graciously down to us, since we had come to |
meet it half way, and bathed our tired bodies and weary |
spirits in divine coolness and peace.

“ Bergen’s Park contains some of those curious and
imposing monumental rocks of red sandstone, which

are such a marked feature in all this region. They are

 

of a peculiarly weird character, and full of grotesque
forms and faces, such as we find about old cathedrals.

on

 

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