I weatheredsomemerrysnow-storms, andspentsomecheerfulwintereveningsbymyfireside, whilethesnowwhirledwildlywithout, andeventhehootingoftheowlwashushed. Formanyweeks I metnooneinmywalksbutthosewhocameoccasionallytocutwoodandsledittothevillage. Theelements, however, abettedmeinmaking a paththroughthedeepestsnowinthewoods, forwhen I hadoncegonethroughthewindblewtheoakleavesintomytracks, wheretheylodged, andbyabsorbingtheraysofthesunmeltedthesnow, andsonotonlymade a mybedformyfeet, butinthenighttheirdarklinewasmyguide. Forhumansociety I wasobligedtoconjureuptheformeroccupantsofthesewoods. Withinthememoryofmanyofmytownsmentheroadnearwhichmyhousestandsresoundedwiththelaughandgossipofinhabitants, andthewoodswhichborderitwerenotchedanddottedhereandtherewiththeirlittlegardensanddwellings, thoughitwasthenmuchmoreshutinbytheforestthannow. Insomeplaces, withinmyownremembrance, thepineswouldscrapebothsidesof a chaiseatonce, andwomenandchildrenwhowerecompelledtogothiswaytoLincolnaloneandonfootdiditwithfear, andoftenran a goodpartofthedistance. Thoughmainlybut a humbleroutetoneighboringvillages, orforthewoodman's team, itonceamusedthetravellermorethannowbyitsvariety, andlingeredlongerinhismemory. Wherenowfirmopenfieldsstretchfromthevillagetothewoods, itthenranthrough a mapleswampon a foundationoflogs, theremnantsofwhich, doubtless, stillunderliethepresentdustyhighway, fromtheStratton, nowtheAlms-HouseFarm, toBrister's Hill.
1
Eastofmybean-field, acrosstheroad, livedCatoIngraham, slaveofDuncanIngraham, Esquire, gentleman, ofConcordvillage, whobuilthisslave a house, andgavehimpermissiontoliveinWaldenWoods;—Cato, notUticensis, butConcordiensis. Somesaythathewas a GuineaNegro. Thereare a fewwhorememberhislittlepatchamongthewalnuts, whichheletgrowuptillheshouldbeoldandneedthem; but a youngerandwhiterspeculatorgotthematlast. Hetoo, however, occupiesanequallynarrowhouseatpresent. Cato's half-obliteratedcellar-holestillremains, thoughknowntofew, beingconcealedfromthetravellerby a fringeofpines. Itisnowfilledwiththesmoothsumach (Rhusglabra), andoneoftheearliestspeciesofgoldenrod (Solidagostricta) growsthereluxuriantly.
2
Here, bytheverycornerofmyfield, stillnearertotown, Zilpha, a coloredwoman, hadherlittlehouse, whereshespunlinenforthetownsfolk, makingtheWaldenWoodsringwithhershrillsinging, forshehad a loudandnotablevoice. Atlength, inthewarof 1812, herdwellingwassetonfirebyEnglishsoldiers, prisonersonparole, whenshewasaway, andhercatanddogandhenswereallburneduptogether. Sheled a hardlife, andsomewhatinhumane. Oneoldfrequenterofthesewoodsremembers, thatashepassedherhouseonenoonheheardhermutteringtoherselfoverhergurglingpot—"Yeareallbones, bones!" I haveseenbricksamidtheoakcopsethere.
3
Downtheroad, ontherighthand, onBrister's Hill, livedBristerFreeman, "a handyNegro," slaveofSquireCummingsonce—therewheregrowstilltheappletreeswhichBristerplantedandtended; largeoldtreesnow, buttheirfruitstillwildandciderishtomytaste. Notlongsince I readhisepitaphintheoldLincolnburying-ground, a littleononeside, neartheunmarkedgravesofsomeBritishgrenadierswhofellintheretreatfromConcord—whereheisstyled "SippioBrister"—ScipioAfricanushehadsometitletobecalled—"a manofcolor," asifhewerediscolored. Italsotoldme, withstaringemphasis, whenhedied; whichwasbutanindirectwayofinformingmethatheeverlived. WithhimdweltFenda, hishospitablewife, whotoldfortunes, yetpleasantly—large, round, andblack, blackerthananyofthechildrenofnight, such a duskyorbasneverroseonConcordbeforeorsince.
4
Fartherdownthehill, ontheleft, ontheoldroadinthewoods, aremarksofsomehomesteadoftheStrattonfamily; whoseorchardoncecoveredalltheslopeofBrister's Hill, butwaslongsincekilledoutbypitchpines, excepting a fewstumps, whoseoldrootsfurnishstillthewildstocksofmany a thriftyvillagetree.
5
Neareryettotown, youcometoBreed's location, ontheothersideoftheway, justontheedgeofthewood; groundfamousforthepranksof a demonnotdistinctlynamedinoldmythology, whohasacted a prominentandastoundingpartinourNewEnglandlife, anddeserves, asmuchasanymythologicalcharacter, tohavehisbiographywrittenoneday; whofirstcomesintheguiseof a friendorhiredman, andthenrobsandmurdersthewholefamily—New-EnglandRum. Buthistorymustnotyettellthetragediesenactedhere; lettimeinterveneinsomemeasuretoassuageandlendanazuretinttothem. Herethemostindistinctanddubioustraditionsaysthatonce a tavernstood; thewellthesame, whichtemperedthetraveller's beverageandrefreshedhissteed. Herethenmensalutedoneanother, andheardandtoldthenews, andwenttheirwaysagain.
6
Breed's hutwasstandingonly a dozenyearsago, thoughithadlongbeenunoccupied. Itwasaboutthesizeofmine. Itwassetonfirebymischievousboys, oneElectionnight, if I donotmistake. I livedontheedgeofthevillagethen, andhadjustlostmyselfoverDavenant's "Gondibert," thatwinterthat I laboredwith a lethargy—which, bytheway, I neverknewwhethertoregardas a familycomplaint, havinganunclewhogoestosleepshavinghimself, andisobligedtosproutpotatoesin a cellarSundays, inordertokeepawakeandkeeptheSabbath, orastheconsequenceofmyattempttoreadChalmers' collectionofEnglishpoetrywithoutskipping. ItfairlyovercamemyNervii. I hadjustsunkmyheadonthiswhenthebellsrungfire, andinhothastetheenginesrolledthatway, ledby a stragglingtroopofmenandboys, and I amongtheforemost, for I hadleapedthebrook. Wethoughtitwasfarsouthoverthewoods—wewhohadruntofiresbefore—barn, shop, ordwelling-house, oralltogether. "It's Baker's barn," criedone. "ItistheCodmanplace," affirmedanother. Andthenfreshsparkswentupabovethewood, asiftherooffellin, andweallshouted "Concordtotherescue!" Wagonsshotpastwithfuriousspeedandcrushingloads, bearing, perchance, amongtherest, theagentoftheInsuranceCompany, whowasboundtogohoweverfar; andeverandanontheenginebelltinkledbehind, moreslowandsure; andrearmostofall, asitwasafterwardwhispered, cametheywhosetthefireandgavethealarm. Thuswekeptonliketrueidealists, rejectingtheevidenceofoursenses, untilat a turnintheroadweheardthecracklingandactuallyfelttheheatofthefirefromoverthewall, andrealized, alas! thatwewerethere. Theverynearnessofthefirebutcooledourardor. Atfirstwethoughttothrow a frog-pondontoit; butconcludedtoletitburn, itwassofargoneandsoworthless. Sowestoodroundourengine, jostledoneanother, expressedoursentimentsthroughspeaking-trumpets, orinlowertonereferredtothegreatconflagrationswhichtheworldhaswitnessed, includingBascom's shop, and, betweenourselves, wethoughtthat, werewethereinseasonwithour "tub," and a fullfrog-pondby, wecouldturnthatthreatenedlastanduniversaloneintoanotherflood. Wefinallyretreatedwithoutdoinganymischief—returnedtosleepand "Gondibert." Butasfor "Gondibert," I wouldexceptthatpassageintheprefaceaboutwitbeingthesoul's powder—"butmostofmankindarestrangerstowit, asIndiansaretopowder."
7
Itchancedthat I walkedthatwayacrossthefieldsthefollowingnight, aboutthesamehour, andhearing a lowmoaningatthisspot, I drewnearinthedark, anddiscoveredtheonlysurvivorofthefamilythat I know, theheirofbothitsvirtuesanditsvices, whoalonewasinterestedinthisburning, lyingonhisstomachandlookingoverthecellarwallatthestillsmoulderingcindersbeneath, mutteringtohimself, asishiswont. Hehadbeenworkingfaroffintherivermeadowsallday, andhadimprovedthefirstmomentsthathecouldcallhisowntovisitthehomeofhisfathersandhisyouth. Hegazedintothecellarfromallsidesandpointsofviewbyturns, alwayslyingdowntoit, asiftherewassometreasure, whichheremembered, concealedbetweenthestones, wheretherewasabsolutelynothingbut a heapofbricksandashes. Thehousebeinggone, helookedatwhattherewasleft. Hewassoothedbythesympathywhichmymerepresenceimplied, andshowedme, aswellasthedarknesspermitted, wherethewellwascoveredup; which, thankHeaven, couldneverbeburned; andhegropedlongaboutthewalltofindthewell-sweepwhichhisfatherhadcutandmounted, feelingfortheironhookorstaplebywhich a burdenhadbeenfastenedtotheheavyend—allthathecouldnowclingto—toconvincemethatitwasnocommon "rider." I feltit, andstillremarkitalmostdailyinmywalks, forbyithangsthehistoryof a family.
Fartherinthewoodsthananyofthese, wheretheroadapproachesnearesttothepond, Wymanthepottersquatted, andfurnishedhistownsmenwithearthenware, andleftdescendantstosucceedhim. Neitherweretheyrichinworldlygoods, holdingthelandbysufferancewhiletheylived; andthereoftenthesheriffcameinvaintocollectthetaxes, and "attached a chip," forform's sake, as I havereadinhisaccounts, therebeingnothingelsethathecouldlayhishandson. Onedayinmidsummer, when I washoeing, a manwhowascarrying a loadofpotterytomarketstoppedhishorseagainstmyfieldandinquiredconcerningWymantheyounger. Hehadlongagobought a potter's wheelofhim, andwishedtoknowwhathadbecomeofhim. I hadreadofthepotter's clayandwheelinScripture, butithadneveroccurredtomethatthepotsweusewerenotsuchashadcomedownunbrokenfromthosedays, orgrownontreeslikegourdssomewhere, and I waspleasedtohearthatsofictileanartwaseverpracticedinmyneighborhood.
10
ThelastinhabitantofthesewoodsbeforemewasanIrishman, HughQuoil (if I havespelthisnamewithcoilenough), whooccupiedWyman's tenement—Col. Quoil, hewascalled. Rumorsaidthathehadbeen a soldieratWaterloo. Ifhehadlived I shouldhavemadehimfighthisbattlesoveragain. Histradeherewasthatof a ditcher. NapoleonwenttoSt. Helena; QuoilcametoWaldenWoods. All I knowofhimistragic. Hewas a manofmanners, likeonewhohadseentheworld, andwascapableofmorecivilspeechthanyoucouldwellattendto. Hewore a greatcoatinmidsummer, beingaffectedwiththetremblingdelirium, andhisfacewasthecolorofcarmine. HediedintheroadatthefootofBrister's Hillshortlyafter I cametothewoods, sothat I havenotrememberedhimas a neighbor. Beforehishousewaspulleddown, whenhiscomradesavoideditas "anunluckycastle," I visitedit. Therelayhisoldclothescurledupbyuse, asiftheywerehimself, uponhisraisedplankbed. Hispipelaybrokenonthehearth, insteadof a bowlbrokenatthefountain. Thelastcouldneverhavebeenthesymbolofhisdeath, forheconfessedtomethat, thoughhehadheardofBrister's Spring, hehadneverseenit; andsoiledcards, kingsofdiamonds, spades, andhearts, werescatteredoverthefloor. Oneblackchickenwhichtheadministratorcouldnotcatch, blackasnightandassilent, notevencroaking, awaitingReynard, stillwenttoroostinthenextapartment. Inthereartherewasthedimoutlineof a garden, whichhadbeenplantedbuthadneverreceiveditsfirsthoeing, owingtothoseterribleshakingfits, thoughitwasnowharvesttime. ItwasoverrunwithRomanwormwoodandbeggar-ticks, whichlaststucktomyclothesforallfruit. Theskinof a woodchuckwasfreshlystretcheduponthebackofthehouse, a trophyofhislastWaterloo; butnowarmcapormittenswouldhewantmore.
11
Nowonly a dentintheearthmarksthesiteofthesedwellings, withburiedcellarstones, andstrawberries, raspberries, thimble-berries, hazel-bushes, andsumachsgrowinginthesunnyswardthere; somepitchpineorgnarledoakoccupieswhatwasthechimneynook, and a sweet-scentedblackbirch, perhaps, waveswherethedoor-stonewas. Sometimesthewelldentisvisible, whereonce a springoozed; nowdryandtearlessgrass; oritwascovereddeep—nottobediscoveredtillsomelateday—with a flatstoneunderthesod, whenthelastoftheracedeparted. What a sorrowfulactmustthatbe—thecoveringupofwells! coincidentwiththeopeningofwellsoftears. Thesecellardents, likedesertedfoxburrows, oldholes, areallthatisleftwhereoncewerethestirandbustleofhumanlife, and "fate, freewill, foreknowledgeabsolute," insomeformanddialectorotherwerebyturnsdiscussed. Butall I canlearnoftheirconclusionsamountstojustthis, that "CatoandBristerpulledwool"; whichisaboutasedifyingasthehistoryofmorefamousschoolsofphilosophy.
12
Stillgrowsthevivaciouslilac a generationafterthedoorandlintelandthesillaregone, unfoldingitssweet-scentedflowerseachspring, tobepluckedbythemusingtraveller; plantedandtendedoncebychildren's hands, infront-yardplots—nowstandingbywallsidesinretiredpastures, andgivingplacetonew-risingforests;—thelastofthatstirp, solesurvivorofthatfamily. Littledidtheduskychildrenthinkthatthepunyslipwithitstwoeyesonly, whichtheystuckinthegroundintheshadowofthehouseanddailywatered, wouldrootitselfso, andoutlivethem, andhouseitselfintherearthatshadedit, andgrownman's gardenandorchard, andtelltheirstoryfaintlytothelonewanderer a half-centuryaftertheyhadgrownupanddied—blossomingasfair, andsmellingassweet, asinthatfirstspring. I markitsstilltender, civil, cheerfullilaccolors.
13
Butthissmallvillage, germofsomethingmore, whydiditfailwhileConcordkeepsitsground? Weretherenonaturaladvantages—nowaterprivileges, forsooth? Ay, thedeepWaldenPondandcoolBrister's Spring—privilegetodrinklongandhealthydraughtsatthese, allunimprovedbythesemenbuttodilutetheirglass. Theywereuniversally a thirstyrace. Mightnotthebasket, stable-broom, mat-making, corn-parching, linen-spinning, andpotterybusinesshavethrivedhere, makingthewildernesstoblossomliketherose, and a numerousposterityhaveinheritedthelandoftheirfathers? Thesterilesoilwouldatleasthavebeenproofagainst a low-landdegeneracy. Alas! howlittledoesthememoryofthesehumaninhabitantsenhancethebeautyofthelandscape! Again, perhaps, Naturewilltry, withmefor a firstsettler, andmyhouseraisedlastspringtobetheoldestinthehamlet.
14
I amnotawarethatanymanhaseverbuiltonthespotwhich I occupy. Delivermefrom a citybuiltonthesiteof a moreancientcity, whosematerialsareruins, whosegardenscemeteries. Thesoilisblanchedandaccursedthere, andbeforethatbecomesnecessarytheearthitselfwillbedestroyed. Withsuchreminiscences I repeopledthewoodsandlulledmyselfasleep.
15
Atthisseason I seldomhad a visitor. Whenthesnowlaydeepestnowandererventurednearmyhousefor a weekorfortnightat a time, butthere I livedassnugas a meadowmouse, orascattleandpoultrywhicharesaidtohavesurvivedfor a longtimeburiedindrifts, evenwithoutfood; orlikethatearlysettler's familyinthetownofSutton, inthisState, whosecottagewascompletelycoveredbythegreatsnowof 1717 whenhewasabsent, andanIndianfounditonlybytheholewhichthechimney's breathmadeinthedrift, andsorelievedthefamily. ButnofriendlyIndianconcernedhimselfaboutme; norneededhe, forthemasterofthehousewasathome. TheGreatSnow! Howcheerfulitistohearof! Whenthefarmerscouldnotgettothewoodsandswampswiththeirteams, andwereobligedtocutdowntheshadetreesbeforetheirhouses, and, whenthecrustwasharder, cutoffthetreesintheswamps, tenfeetfromtheground, asitappearedthenextspring.
16
Inthedeepestsnows, thepathwhich I usedfromthehighwaytomyhouse, abouthalf a milelong, mighthavebeenrepresentedby a meanderingdottedline, withwideintervalsbetweenthedots. For a weekofevenweather I tookexactlythesamenumberofsteps, andofthesamelength, comingandgoing, steppingdeliberatelyandwiththeprecisionof a pairofdividersinmyowndeeptracks—tosuchroutinethewinterreducesus—yetoftentheywerefilledwithheaven's ownblue. Butnoweatherinterferedfatallywithmywalks, orrathermygoingabroad, for I frequentlytrampedeightortenmilesthroughthedeepestsnowtokeepanappointmentwith a beechtree, or a yellowbirch, oranoldacquaintanceamongthepines; whentheiceandsnowcausingtheirlimbstodroop, andsosharpeningtheirtops, hadchangedthepinesintofirtrees; wadingtothetopsofthehighesthillswhentheshowwasnearlytwofeetdeepon a level, andshakingdownanothersnow-stormonmyheadateverystep; orsometimescreepingandflounderingthitheronmyhandsandknees, whenthehuntershadgoneintowinterquarters. Oneafternoon I amusedmyselfbywatching a barredowl (Strixnebulosa) sittingononeofthelowerdeadlimbsof a whitepine, closetothetrunk, inbroaddaylight, I standingwithin a rodofhim. Hecouldhearmewhen I movedandcronchedthesnowwithmyfeet, butcouldnotplainlyseeme. When I mademostnoisehewouldstretchouthisneck, anderecthisneckfeathers, andopenhiseyeswide; buttheirlidssoonfellagain, andhebegantonod. I toofelt a slumberousinfluenceafterwatchinghimhalfanhour, ashesatthuswithhiseyeshalfopen, like a cat, wingedbrotherofthecat. Therewasonly a narrowslitleftbetweentheirlids, bywhichhepreserved a peninsularrelationtome; thus, withhalf-shuteyes, lookingoutfromthelandofdreams, andendeavoringtorealizeme, vagueobjectormotethatinterruptedhisvisions. Atlength, onsomeloudernoiseormynearerapproach, hewouldgrowuneasyandsluggishlyturnaboutonhisperch, asifimpatientathavinghisdreamsdisturbed; andwhenhelaunchedhimselfoffandflappedthroughthepines, spreadinghiswingstounexpectedbreadth, I couldnotheartheslightestsoundfromthem. Thus, guidedamidthepineboughsratherby a delicatesenseoftheirneighborhoodthanbysight, feelinghistwilightway, asitwere, withhissensitivepinions, hefound a newperch, wherehemightinpeaceawaitthedawningofhisday.
17
As I walkedoverthelongcausewaymadefortherailroadthroughthemeadows, I encounteredmany a blusteringandnippingwind, fornowherehasitfreerplay; andwhenthefrosthadsmittenmeononecheek, heathenas I was, I turnedtoittheotheralso. NorwasitmuchbetterbythecarriageroadfromBrister's Hill. For I cametotownstill, like a friendlyIndian, whenthecontentsofthebroadopenfieldswereallpiledupbetweenthewallsoftheWaldenroad, andhalfanhoursufficedtoobliteratethetracksofthelasttraveller. Andwhen I returnednewdriftswouldhaveformed, throughwhich I floundered, wherethebusynorthwestwindhadbeendepositingthepowderysnowround a sharpangleintheroad, andnot a rabbit's track, noreventhefineprint, thesmalltype, of a meadowmousewastobeseen. Yet I rarelyfailedtofind, eveninmidwinter, somewarmandspringlyswampwherethegrassandtheskunk-cabbagestillputforthwithperennialverdure, andsomehardierbirdoccasionallyawaitedthereturnofspring.
18
Sometimes, notwithstandingthesnow, when I returnedfrommywalkatevening I crossedthedeeptracksof a woodchopperleadingfrommydoor, andfoundhispileofwhittlingsonthehearth, andmyhousefilledwiththeodorofhispipe. Oron a Sundayafternoon, if I chancedtobeathome, I heardthecronchingofthesnowmadebythestepof a long-headedfarmer, whofromfarthroughthewoodssoughtmyhouse, tohave a social "crack"; oneofthefewofhisvocationwhoare "menontheirfarms"; whodonned a frockinsteadof a professor's gown, andisasreadytoextractthemoraloutofchurchorstateastohaul a loadofmanurefromhisbarn-yard. Wetalkedofrudeandsimpletimes, whenmensataboutlargefiresincold, bracingweather, withclearheads; andwhenotherdessertfailed, wetriedourteethonmany a nutwhichwisesquirrelshavelongsinceabandoned, forthosewhichhavethethickestshellsarecommonlyempty.
19
Theonewhocamefromfarthesttomylodge, throughdeepestsnowsandmostdismaltempests, was a poet. A farmer, a hunter, a soldier, a reporter, even a philosopher, maybedaunted; butnothingcandeter a poet, forheisactuatedbypurelove. Whocanpredicthiscomingsandgoings? Hisbusinesscallshimoutatallhours, evenwhendoctorssleep. Wemadethatsmallhouseringwithboisterousmirthandresoundwiththemurmurofmuchsobertalk, makingamendsthentoWaldenvaleforthelongsilences. Broadwaywasstillanddesertedincomparison. Atsuitableintervalstherewereregularsalutesoflaughter, whichmighthavebeenreferredindifferentlytothelast-utteredortheforth-comingjest. Wemademany a "brannew" theoryoflifeover a thindishofgruel, whichcombinedtheadvantagesofconvivialitywiththeclear-headednesswhichphilosophyrequires.
20
I shouldnotforgetthatduringmylastwinteratthepondtherewasanotherwelcomevisitor, whoatonetimecamethroughthevillage, throughsnowandrainanddarkness, tillhesawmylampthroughthetrees, andsharedwithmesomelongwinterevenings. Oneofthelastofthephilosophers—Connecticutgavehimtotheworld—hepeddledfirstherwares, afterwards, ashedeclares, hisbrains. Thesehepeddlesstill, promptingGodanddisgracingman, bearingforfruithisbrainonly, likethenutitskernel. I thinkthathemustbethemanofthemostfaithofanyalive. Hiswordsandattitudealwayssuppose a betterstateofthingsthanothermenareacquaintedwith, andhewillbethelastmantobedisappointedastheagesrevolve. Hehasnoventureinthepresent. Butthoughcomparativelydisregardednow, whenhisdaycomes, lawsunsuspectedbymostwilltakeeffect, andmastersoffamiliesandrulerswillcometohimforadvice.
21
"Howblindthatcannotseeserenity!"
22
A truefriendofman; almosttheonlyfriendofhumanprogress. AnOldMortality, sayratheranImmortality, withunweariedpatienceandfaithmakingplaintheimageengraveninmen's bodies, theGodofwhomtheyarebutdefacedandleaningmonuments. Withhishospitableintellectheembraceschildren, beggars, insane, andscholars, andentertainsthethoughtofall, addingtoitcommonlysomebreadthandelegance. I thinkthatheshouldkeep a caravansaryontheworld's highway, wherephilosophersofallnationsmightputup, andonhissignshouldbeprinted, "Entertainmentforman, butnotforhisbeast. Enteryethathaveleisureand a quietmind, whoearnestlyseektherightroad." Heisperhapsthesanestmanandhasthefewestcrotchetsofany I chancetoknow; thesameyesterdayandtomorrow. Ofyorewehadsaunteredandtalked, andeffectuallyputtheworldbehindus; forhewaspledgedtonoinstitutioninit, freeborn, ingenuus. Whicheverwayweturned, itseemedthattheheavensandtheearthhadmettogether, sinceheenhancedthebeautyofthelandscape. A blue-robedman, whosefittestroofistheoverarchingskywhichreflectshisserenity. I donotseehowhecaneverdie; Naturecannotsparehim.
23
Havingeachsomeshinglesofthoughtwelldried, wesatandwhittledthem, tryingourknives, andadmiringtheclearyellowishgrainofthepumpkinpine. Wewadedsogentlyandreverently, orwepulledtogethersosmoothly, thatthefishesofthoughtwerenotscaredfromthestream, norfearedanyangleronthebank, butcameandwentgrandly, likethecloudswhichfloatthroughthewesternsky, andthemother-o'-pearlflockswhichsometimesformanddissolvethere. Thereweworked, revisingmythology, rounding a fablehereandthere, andbuildingcastlesintheairforwhichearthofferednoworthyfoundation. GreatLooker! GreatExpecter! toconversewithwhomwas a NewEnglandNight's Entertainment. Ah! suchdiscoursewehad, hermitandphilosopher, andtheoldsettler I havespokenof—wethree—itexpandedandrackedmylittlehouse; I shouldnotdaretosayhowmanypounds' weighttherewasabovetheatmosphericpressureoneverycircularinch; itopeneditsseamssothattheyhadtobecalkedwithmuchdulnessthereaftertostoptheconsequentleak;—but I hadenoughofthatkindofoakumalreadypicked.
24
Therewasoneotherwithwhom I had "solidseasons," longtoberemembered, athishouseinthevillage, andwholookedinuponmefromtimetotime; but I hadnomoreforsocietythere.