To be sure , it was not quite so high as Chimborazo , or Mont Blanc , and was even a good deal lower than old Graylock . But , at any rate , it was higher than a thousand ant-hillocks , or a million of mole hills ; and , when measured by the short strides of little children , might be reckoned a very respectable mountain . And was Cousin Eustace with the party ? Of that you may be certain ; else how could the book go on a step further ? He was now in the middle of the spring vacation , and looked pretty much as we saw him four or five months ago , except that , if you gazed quite closely at his upper lip , you could discern the funniest little bit of a mustache upon it . Setting aside this mark of mature manhood , you might have considered Cousin Eustace just as much a boy as when you first became acquainted with him . He was as merry , as playful , as good-humored , as light of foot and of spirits , and equally a favorite with the little folks , as he had always been . This expedition up the mountain was entirely of his contrivance . All the way up the steep ascent , he had encouraged the elder children with his cheerful voice ; and when Dandelion , Cowslip , and Squash-blossom grew weary , he had lugged them along , alternately , on his back . In this manner , they had passed through the orchards and pastures on the lower part of the hill , and had reached the wood , which extends thence towards its bare summit . The month of May , thus far , had been more amiable than it often is , and this was as sweet and genial a day as the heart of man or child could wish . In their progress up the hill , the small people had found enough of violets , blue and white , and some that were as golden as if they had the touch of Midas on them . That sociablest of flowers , the little Housatonia , was very abundant . It is a flower that never lives alone , but which loves its own kind , and is always fond of dwelling with a great many friends and relatives around it . Sometimes you see a family of them , covering a space no bigger than the palm of your hand ; and sometimes a large community , whitening a whole tract of pasture , and all keeping one another in cheerful heart and life . Within the verge of the wood there were columbines , looking more pale than red , because they were so modest , and had thought proper to seclude themselves too anxiously from the sun . There were wild geraniums , too , and a thousand white blossoms of the strawberry . The trailing arbutus was not yet quite out of bloom ; but it hid its precious flowers under the last year 's withered forest-leaves , as carefully as a mother-bird hides its little young ones . It knew , I suppose , how beautiful and sweet-scented they were . So cunning was their concealment , that the children sometimes smelt the delicate richness of their perfume , before they knew whence it proceeded .
Amid so much new life , it was strange and truly pitiful to behold , here and there , in the fields and pastures , the hoary periwig XXXXX dandelions that had already gone to seed .
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