German composition

Section 26 Description of a Glacier

I must now explain to you⁠1 what a glacier is. You see before you⁠2 thirty or forty mountain-peaks, and between these peaks what⁠3 seem to you frozen rivers. The snow, from⁠4 time to time melting and dripping down the sides of the mountain, and congealing in the elevated hollows between the peaks, forms a half-fluid mass, a river of ice⁠5, which is called (S. 4, N. 4) a glacier. As⁠6 the whole mass lies upon a slanting surface, and is not entirely solid throughout, it⁠7 is continually pushing, with a gradual but imperceptible motion, down⁠8 into the valley below.—Mrs. Beecher Stowe.

Notes

1 Use the 2nd pers. sing.

2 Place the words ‘before you’ after the object.

3 glaubst du zu Eis erstarrte Flüsse zu erblicken.

4 which (App. § 16) from time to time melts, drips down on the mountain-sides (Bergabhänge), and congeals (gefrieren), etc., see S. 16, N. 4. Supply the adverb wieder before the verb ‘congeals’. The elevated hollow, die höher gelegene Felsspalte.

5 Eisstrom, m.

6 As = Since, da (App. § 16); to be entirely solid throughout, durch und durch fest sein.

7 it — pushing, so senkt sie sich fortwährend; with a... but, mit einer zwar... doch.

8 down — below, in das unten liegende Thal hinab.