ntly pure for the enjoyment of the beauties of
nature as existing in the peaceful landscape, the quiet valley, and
lonely dell, such as are to be found in the Rhinegau, let him but mount
the Swabian Alb, and he will be gratified by the sight of scenery which
he will long cherish as among the most charming images in his
remembrance. A range of mountains, so distant as scarcely to be reached
by the eye, skirted the horizon, graduated with soft grey tints and
different shades of blue, whilst a foreground of dark green hills
completed the picture. On the summit of the extended ridge innumerable
castles and towers were conspicuous, placed like watchmen as it were on
these heights to overlook the country. Their remains are now in ruins,
their stately gates and approaches no longer exist, the moats are
filled with rubbish and overgrown with moss, and their halls, once the
scenes of jovial mirth, now tell their tale in mournful silence. At the
moment, however, when Albert and his companion stood on the rock of
Beuren, many of them were to be seen in all the pride of solid and
substantial defence, ranging themselves in array like an unbroken band
of powerful men.

"This Wuertemberg is a beautiful country," cried Albert, his eye
wandering from hill to hill; "how bold, how sublime the summit and
declivities of those mountains, how picturesque those rocks and
castles! And when the eye turns to the valley of the Neckar, how truly
charming are those soft hills interspersed with orchards and vineyards,
and watered by gentle streams and rivulets; the whole being blessed by
a mild climate and a good race of people!"

"Yes, indeed," said the countryman, "this is a fine country; but it is
not to be compared to the neighbourhood of Stuttgardt, the true
lowland! There it is a real pleasure to wander about in summer or
spring, on the banks of the Neckar; nature is prolific in all her
bounties of cultivation; the vine grows to a large size and plentiful
on the hills; the boats and rafts on the river float up and down in
cheerful activity; the people are gay and happy at their work; and the
girls sing like larks!"

"Those vallies, on the Rems and Neckar, may indeed possess their
beauties," replied Albert; "but this one at our feet, and those heights
about us, possess also a peculiarly peaceful charm: what is the name of
that tower on the hill yonder? and tell me how are those distant
mountains called?"

The countryman scanned the neighbou