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ARGENTIERE.
of faggots on her head. I recollected the
interesting account given by Saussure of his
conversation with a woman of Argentière,
into whose house he entered to request
some milk, March 1764, and I was willing
to believe that the handsome paysanne was
one of her descendants. “ An epidemic
dysentery (says Saussure) had prevailed
in the village some months before, which
carried off, in a few days, the woman’s
father, and her husband, and her brothers,
so that she was left alone with three infants
in the cradle. Her figure was noble and
commanding, and her physiognomy bore
the impression of calm but profound grief,
which rendered her appearance interesting.
After giving me some milk, she enquired
whence I came, and what was my business
among them at that season of the year.
When she understood that I was a Genevese,
she said that she could never be
made to believe that all protestants would
be damned ; there were many worthy
people among them, and God was too
good and too just to condemn them all
indiscriminately.” Then, after a moment
of reflection, she shook her head, and
added, “ But it is truly strange, that of all
ARGENTIERE.
who have departed from this world, not one
has ever returned. I (she continued, with
a strong expression of grief) who have so
deeply lamented my husband and my
brothers, who have never ceased to think
o f them, who implore them most ardently
every night to tell me where they are, and
what is their present state : Ah ! surely if
they were any where in existence, they
would not leave me in this uncertainty.
But perhaps (added she) I am not worthy
of this favour— perhaps the pure and innocent
souls of these infants (looking at the
cradle) enjoy their presence, and an happiness
which has been refused to myself.”
“ This singular mixture of reason and superstition,
expressed with force in the energetic
language of the country, the situation,
the solitude, the delirium of a mind carried
away by grief, made an impression which
will never be effaced from my remembrance.”
Voyages dans les Alpes, tom. ii.
Leaving Argentière, the river Arve,
which continues to flow below the road,
pours over a considerable precipice, and
forms a fine cascade ; soon afterwards it
diminishes to a small stream, having lost the
waters of a rivulet called la Buisine. The
B 4