culation has arisen among cosmographers about the elevation of this
line. Of course, on mountains within the tropics this line will be at a
great height above the level of the sea. As you advance northward or
southward to the Poles, it will be found lower and lower, until within
the frigid zones it may be said to cease altogether--for there, as we
have said, snow covers the whole earth, and there can be no "snow-line."

"`From this, one would suppose that an exact scale might be formed,
giving the elevation of the snow-line for all latitudes. But that could
not be done. Observation has shown that it not only differs on
mountains that lie in the same latitude, but that on the same mountain
it is often higher on one side than the other--particularly on those of
great extent, as the Himmalehs of India. This is all quite natural, and
easily accounted for. The position of mountains to one another, and
their proximity or great distance from the sea, will give them a colder
or warmer atmosphere, independent of latitude. Moreover, the same
mountain may have a warmer climate on one side than the other; and of
course the snow-line will be higher on that side which is the warmer, in
consequence of the greater melting of the snow. This line, too, varies
in summer and winter for a like reason--as we see here upon our own
mountain, where it has already descended several feet since the weather
became colder. This, you will acknowledge, is all very natural; and you
will see, too, that Nature, although apparently capricious in many of
her operations, acts most regularly in this one, as perhaps in all
others.'

"`But, mamma,' inquired Harry, `can we not get to the top of the
mountain? I should like to have some snow to make snow-balls, and pelt
Frank with them.'

"`It would be a very difficult task, Master Hal; and more than either
you or I could get through with. I think Frank will escape being
snow-balled this time.'

"`But people have climbed to the top of the Himmaleh mountains; and they
are far higher than this, I am sure.'

"`Never,' interrupted Frank; `no one has ever climbed the Himmalehs.
Have they, mamma?'

"`No mortal has ever been so high as the summits of those great
mountains, which are more than five miles above the level of the ocean.
Even could they be climbed, it is not likely that any animal could live
at their top. These inaccessible things seem to have been designed by
the Creator to afford us obje