Theopeningoflargetractsbytheice-cutterscommonlycauses a pondtobreakupearlier; forthewater, agitatedbythewind, evenincoldweather, wearsawaythesurroundingice. ButsuchwasnottheeffectonWaldenthatyear, forshehadsoongot a thicknewgarmenttotaketheplaceoftheold. Thispondneverbreaksupsosoonastheothersinthisneighborhood, onaccountbothofitsgreaterdepthanditshavingnostreampassingthroughittomeltorwearawaytheice. I neverknewittoopeninthecourseof a winter, notexceptingthatof '52-3, whichgavethepondssosevere a trial. ItcommonlyopensaboutthefirstofApril, a weekortendayslaterthanFlint's PondandFairHaven, beginningtomeltonthenorthsideandintheshallowerpartswhereitbegantofreeze. Itindicatesbetterthananywaterhereaboutstheabsoluteprogressoftheseason, beingleastaffectedbytransientchangesoftemperature. A severecoldof a fewdays' durationinMarchmayverymuchretardtheopeningoftheformerponds, whilethetemperatureofWaldenincreasesalmostuninterruptedly. A thermometerthrustintothemiddleofWaldenonthe 6thofMarch, 1847, stoodat 32°, orfreezingpoint; neartheshoreat 33°; inthemiddleofFlint's Pond, thesameday, at 32½°; at a dozenrodsfromtheshore, inshallowwater, underice a footthick, at 36°. Thisdifferenceofthreeand a halfdegreesbetweenthetemperatureofthedeepwaterandtheshallowinthelatterpond, andthefactthat a greatproportionofitiscomparativelyshallow, showwhyitshouldbreakupsomuchsoonerthanWalden. Theiceintheshallowestpartwasatthistimeseveralinchesthinnerthaninthemiddle. Inmidwinterthemiddlehadbeenthewarmestandtheicethinnestthere. So, also, everyonewhohaswadedabouttheshoresofthepondinsummermusthaveperceivedhowmuchwarmerthewaterisclosetotheshore, whereonlythreeorfourinchesdeep, than a littledistanceout, andonthesurfacewhereitisdeep, thannearthebottom. Inspringthesunnotonlyexertsaninfluencethroughtheincreasedtemperatureoftheairandearth, butitsheatpassesthroughice a footormorethick, andisreflectedfromthebottominshallowwater, andsoalsowarmsthewaterandmeltstheundersideoftheice, atthesametimethatitismeltingitmoredirectlyabove, makingituneven, andcausingtheairbubbleswhichitcontainstoextendthemselvesupwardanddownwarduntilitiscompletelyhoneycombed, andatlastdisappearssuddenlyin a singlespringrain. Icehasitsgrainaswellaswood, andwhen a cakebeginstorotor "comb," thatis, assumetheappearanceofhoneycomb, whatevermaybeitsposition, theaircellsareatrightangleswithwhatwasthewatersurface. Wherethereis a rockor a logrisingneartothesurfacetheiceoveritismuchthinner, andisfrequentlyquitedissolvedbythisreflectedheat; and I havebeentoldthatintheexperimentatCambridgetofreezewaterin a shallowwoodenpond, thoughthecoldaircirculatedunderneath, andsohadaccesstobothsides, thereflectionofthesunfromthebottommorethancounterbalancedthisadvantage. When a warmraininthemiddleofthewintermeltsoffthesnow-icefromWalden, andleaves a harddarkortransparenticeonthemiddle, therewillbe a stripofrottenthoughthickerwhiteice, a rodormorewide, abouttheshores, createdbythisreflectedheat. Also, as I havesaid, thebubblesthemselveswithintheiceoperateasburning-glassestomelttheicebeneath.
1
Thephenomenaoftheyeartakeplaceeverydayin a pondon a smallscale. Everymorning, generallyspeaking, theshallowwaterisbeingwarmedmorerapidlythanthedeep, thoughitmaynotbemadesowarmafterall, andeveryeveningitisbeingcooledmorerapidlyuntilthemorning. Thedayisanepitomeoftheyear. Thenightisthewinter, themorningandeveningarethespringandfall, andthenoonisthesummer. Thecrackingandboomingoftheiceindicate a changeoftemperature. Onepleasantmorningafter a coldnight, February 24th, 1850, havinggonetoFlint's Pondtospendtheday, I noticedwithsurprise, thatwhen I strucktheicewiththeheadofmyaxe, itresoundedlike a gongformanyrodsaround, orasif I hadstruckon a tightdrum-head. Thepondbegantoboomaboutanhouraftersunrise, whenitfelttheinfluenceofthesun's raysslanteduponitfromoverthehills; itstretcheditselfandyawnedlike a wakingmanwith a graduallyincreasingtumult, whichwaskeptupthreeorfourhours. Ittook a shortsiestaatnoon, andboomedoncemoretowardnight, asthesunwaswithdrawinghisinfluence. Intherightstageoftheweather a pondfiresitseveninggunwithgreatregularity. Butinthemiddleoftheday, beingfullofcracks, andtheairalsobeinglesselastic, ithadcompletelylostitsresonance, andprobablyfishesandmuskratscouldnotthenhavebeenstunnedby a blowonit. Thefishermensaythatthe "thunderingofthepond" scaresthefishesandpreventstheirbiting. Theponddoesnotthundereveryevening, and I cannottellsurelywhentoexpectitsthundering; butthough I mayperceivenodifferenceintheweather, itdoes. Whowouldhavesuspectedsolargeandcoldandthick-skinned a thingtobesosensitive? Yetithasitslawtowhichitthundersobediencewhenitshouldassurelyasthebudsexpandinthespring. Theearthisallaliveandcoveredwithpapillae. Thelargestpondisassensitivetoatmosphericchangesastheglobuleofmercuryinitstube.
2
Oneattractionincomingtothewoodstolivewasthat I shouldhaveleisureandopportunitytoseetheSpringcomein. Theiceinthepondatlengthbeginstobehoneycombed, and I cansetmyheelinitas I walk. Fogsandrainsandwarmersunsaregraduallymeltingthesnow; thedayshavegrownsensiblylonger; and I seehow I shallgetthroughthewinterwithoutaddingtomywood-pile, forlargefiresarenolongernecessary. I amonthealertforthefirstsignsofspring, tohearthechancenoteofsomearrivingbird, orthestripedsquirrel's chirp, forhisstoresmustbenownearlyexhausted, orseethewoodchuckventureoutofhiswinterquarters. Onthe 13thofMarch, after I hadheardthebluebird, songsparrow, andred-wing, theicewasstillnearly a footthick. Astheweathergrewwarmeritwasnotsensiblywornawaybythewater, norbrokenupandfloatedoffasinrivers, but, thoughitwascompletelymeltedforhalf a rodinwidthabouttheshore, themiddlewasmerelyhoneycombedandsaturatedwithwater, sothatyoucouldputyourfootthroughitwhensixinchesthick; butbythenextdayevening, perhaps, after a warmrainfollowedbyfog, itwouldhavewhollydisappeared, allgoneoffwiththefog, spiritedaway. Oneyear I wentacrossthemiddleonlyfivedaysbeforeitdisappearedentirely. In 1845 Waldenwasfirstcompletelyopenonthe 1stofApril; in '46, the 25thofMarch; in '47, the 8thofApril; in '51, the 28thofMarch; in '52, the 18thofApril; in '53, the 23d ofMarch; in '54, aboutthe 7thofApril.
3
Everyincidentconnectedwiththebreakingupoftheriversandpondsandthesettlingoftheweatherisparticularlyinterestingtouswholivein a climateofsogreatextremes. Whenthewarmerdayscome, theywhodwellneartheriverheartheicecrackatnightwith a startlingwhoopasloudasartillery, asifitsicyfetterswererentfromendtoend, andwithin a fewdaysseeitrapidlygoingout. Sothealligatorcomesoutofthemudwithquakingsoftheearth. Oneoldman, whohasbeen a closeobserverofNature, andseemsasthoroughlywiseinregardtoallheroperationsasifshehadbeenputuponthestockswhenhewas a boy, andhehadhelpedtolayherkeel—whohascometohisgrowth, andcanhardlyacquiremoreofnaturalloreifheshouldlivetotheageofMethuselah—toldme—and I wassurprisedtohearhimexpresswonderatanyofNature's operations, for I thoughtthattherewerenosecretsbetweenthem—thatonespringdayhetookhisgunandboat, andthoughtthathewouldhave a littlesportwiththeducks. Therewasicestillonthemeadows, butitwasallgoneoutoftheriver, andhedroppeddownwithoutobstructionfromSudbury, wherehelived, toFairHavenPond, whichhefound, unexpectedly, coveredforthemostpartwith a firmfieldofice. Itwas a warmday, andhewassurprisedtoseesogreat a bodyoficeremaining. Notseeinganyducks, hehidhisboatonthenorthorbacksideofanislandinthepond, andthenconcealedhimselfinthebushesonthesouthside, toawaitthem. Theicewasmeltedforthreeorfourrodsfromtheshore, andtherewas a smoothandwarmsheetofwater, with a muddybottom, suchastheduckslove, within, andhethoughtitlikelythatsomewouldbealongprettysoon. Afterhehadlainstillthereaboutanhourheheard a lowandseeminglyverydistantsound, butsingularlygrandandimpressive, unlikeanythinghehadeverheard, graduallyswellingandincreasingasifitwouldhave a universalandmemorableending, a sullenrushandroar, whichseemedtohimallatoncelikethesoundof a vastbodyoffowlcomingintosettlethere, and, seizinghisgun, hestartedupinhasteandexcited; buthefound, tohissurprise, thatthewholebodyoftheicehadstartedwhilehelaythere, anddriftedintotheshore, andthesoundhehadheardwasmadebyitsedgegratingontheshore—atfirstgentlynibbledandcrumbledoff, butatlengthheavingupandscatteringitswrecksalongtheislandto a considerableheightbeforeitcameto a standstill.
4
Atlengththesun's rayshaveattainedtherightangle, andwarmwindsblowupmistandrainandmeltthesnowbanks, andthesun, dispersingthemist, smileson a checkeredlandscapeofrussetandwhitesmokingwithincense, throughwhichthetravellerpickshiswayfromislettoislet, cheeredbythemusicof a thousandtinklingrillsandrivuletswhoseveinsarefilledwiththebloodofwinterwhichtheyarebearingoff.
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Fewphenomenagavememoredelightthantoobservetheformswhichthawingsandandclayassumeinflowingdownthesidesof a deepcutontherailroadthroughwhich I passedonmywaytothevillage, a phenomenonnotverycommononsolarge a scale, thoughthenumberoffreshlyexposedbanksoftherightmaterialmusthavebeengreatlymultipliedsincerailroadswereinvented. Thematerialwassandofeverydegreeoffinenessandofvariousrichcolors, commonlymixedwith a littleclay. Whenthefrostcomesoutinthespring, andevenin a thawingdayinthewinter, thesandbeginstoflowdowntheslopeslikelava, sometimesburstingoutthroughthesnowandoverflowingitwherenosandwastobeseenbefore. Innumerablelittlestreamsoverlapandinterlaceonewithanother, exhibiting a sortofhybridproduct, whichobeyshalfwaythelawofcurrents, andhalfwaythatofvegetation. Asitflowsittakestheformsofsappyleavesorvines, makingheapsofpulpysprays a footormoreindepth, andresembling, asyoulookdownonthem, thelaciniated, lobed, andimbricatedthallusesofsomelichens; oryouareremindedofcoral, ofleopard's pawsorbirds' feet, ofbrainsorlungsorbowels, andexcrementsofallkinds. Itis a trulygrotesquevegetation, whoseformsandcolorweseeimitatedinbronze, a sortofarchitecturalfoliagemoreancientandtypicalthanacanthus, chiccory, ivy, vine, oranyvegetableleaves; destinedperhaps, undersomecircumstances, tobecome a puzzletofuturegeologists. Thewholecutimpressedmeasifitwere a cavewithitsstalactiteslaidopentothelight. Thevariousshadesofthesandaresingularlyrichandagreeable, embracingthedifferentironcolors, brown, gray, yellowish, andreddish. Whentheflowingmassreachesthedrainatthefootofthebankitspreadsoutflatterintostrands, theseparatestreamslosingtheirsemi-cylindricalformandgraduallybecomingmoreflatandbroad, runningtogetherastheyaremoremoist, tilltheyformanalmostflatsand, stillvariouslyandbeautifullyshaded, butinwhichyoucantracetheoriginalformsofvegetation; tillatlength, inthewateritself, theyareconvertedintobanks, likethoseformedoffthemouthsofrivers, andtheformsofvegetationarelostintheripplemarksonthebottom.
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Thewholebank, whichisfromtwentytofortyfeethigh, issometimesoverlaidwith a massofthiskindoffoliage, orsandyrupture, for a quarterof a mileononeorbothsides, theproduceofonespringday. Whatmakesthissandfoliageremarkableisitsspringingintoexistencethussuddenly. When I seeontheonesidetheinertbank—forthesunactsononesidefirst—andontheotherthisluxuriantfoliage, thecreationofanhour, I amaffectedasifin a peculiarsense I stoodinthelaboratoryoftheArtistwhomadetheworldandme—hadcometowherehewasstillatwork, sportingonthisbank, andwithexcessofenergystrewinghisfreshdesignsabout. I feelasif I werenearertothevitalsoftheglobe, forthissandyoverflowissomethingsuch a foliaceousmassasthevitalsoftheanimalbody. Youfindthusintheverysandsananticipationofthevegetableleaf. Nowonderthattheearthexpressesitselfoutwardlyinleaves, itsolaborswiththeideainwardly. Theatomshavealreadylearnedthislaw, andarepregnantbyit. Theoverhangingleafseeshereitsprototype. Internally, whetherintheglobeoranimalbody, itis a moistthicklobe, a wordespeciallyapplicabletotheliverandlungsandtheleavesoffat (γεἱβω, labor, lapsus, tofloworslipdownward, a lapsing; λοβὁς, globus, lobe, globe; alsolap, flap, andmanyotherwords); externally a drythinleaf, evenasthe f and v are a pressedanddried b. Theradicalsoflobearelb, thesoftmassofthe b (singlelobed, or B, doublelobed), withtheliquid l behinditpressingitforward. Inglobe, glb, theguttural g addstothemeaningthecapacityofthethroat. Thefeathersandwingsofbirdsarestilldrierandthinnerleaves. Thus, also, youpassfromthelumpishgrubintheearthtotheairyandflutteringbutterfly. Theveryglobecontinuallytranscendsandtranslatesitself, andbecomeswingedinitsorbit. Evenicebeginswithdelicatecrystalleaves, asifithadflowedintomouldswhichthefrondsofwaterplantshaveimpressedonthewaterymirror. Thewholetreeitselfisbutoneleaf, andriversarestillvasterleaveswhosepulpisinterveningearth, andtownsandcitiesaretheovaofinsectsintheiraxils.
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Whenthesunwithdrawsthesandceasestoflow, butinthemorningthestreamswillstartoncemoreandbranchandbranchagaininto a myriadofothers. Youhereseeperchancehowblood-vesselsareformed. Ifyoulookcloselyyouobservethatfirsttherepushesforwardfromthethawingmass a streamofsoftenedsandwith a drop-likepoint, liketheballofthefinger, feelingitswayslowlyandblindlydownward, untilatlastwithmoreheatandmoisture, asthesungetshigher, themostfluidportion, initsefforttoobeythelawtowhichthemostinertalsoyields, separatesfromthelatterandformsforitself a meanderingchannelorarterywithinthat, inwhichisseen a littlesilverystreamglancinglikelightningfromonestageofpulpyleavesorbranchestoanother, andeverandanonswallowedupinthesand. Itiswonderfulhowrapidlyyetperfectlythesandorganizesitselfasitflows, usingthebestmaterialitsmassaffordstoformthesharpedgesofitschannel. Sucharethesourcesofrivers. Inthesiliciousmatterwhichthewaterdepositsisperhapsthebonysystem, andinthestillfinersoilandorganicmatterthefleshyfibreorcellulartissue. Whatismanbut a massofthawingclay? Theballofthehumanfingerisbut a dropcongealed. Thefingersandtoesflowtotheirextentfromthethawingmassofthebody. Whoknowswhatthehumanbodywouldexpandandflowouttounder a moregenialheaven? Isnotthehand a spreadingpalmleafwithitslobesandveins? Theearmayberegarded, fancifully, as a lichen, Umbilicaria, onthesideofthehead, withitslobeordrop. Thelip—labium, fromlabor (?)—lapsorlapsesfromthesidesofthecavernousmouth. Thenoseis a manifestcongealeddroporstalactite. Thechinis a stilllargerdrop, theconfluentdrippingoftheface. Thecheeksare a slidefromthebrowsintothevalleyoftheface, opposedanddiffusedbythecheekbones. Eachroundedlobeofthevegetableleaf, too, is a thickandnowloiteringdrop, largerorsmaller; thelobesarethefingersoftheleaf; andasmanylobesasithas, insomanydirectionsittendstoflow, andmoreheatorothergenialinfluenceswouldhavecausedittoflowyetfarther.
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ThusitseemedthatthisonehillsideillustratedtheprincipleofalltheoperationsofNature. TheMakerofthisearthbutpatented a leaf. WhatChampollionwilldecipherthishieroglyphicforus, thatwemayturnover a newleafatlast? Thisphenomenonismoreexhilaratingtomethantheluxurianceandfertilityofvineyards. True, itissomewhatexcrementitiousinitscharacter, andthereisnoendtotheheapsofliver, lights, andbowels, asiftheglobewereturnedwrongsideoutward; butthissuggestsatleastthatNaturehassomebowels, andthereagainismotherofhumanity. Thisisthefrostcomingoutoftheground; thisisSpring. Itprecedesthegreenandfloweryspring, asmythologyprecedesregularpoetry. I knowofnothingmorepurgativeofwinterfumesandindigestions. ItconvincesmethatEarthisstillinherswaddling-clothes, andstretchesforthbabyfingersoneveryside. Freshcurlsspringfromthebaldestbrow. Thereisnothinginorganic. Thesefoliaceousheapsliealongthebankliketheslagof a furnace, showingthatNatureis "infullblast" within. Theearthisnot a merefragmentofdeadhistory, stratumuponstratumliketheleavesof a book, tobestudiedbygeologistsandantiquarieschiefly, butlivingpoetryliketheleavesof a tree, whichprecedeflowersandfruit—not a fossilearth, but a livingearth; comparedwithwhosegreatcentrallifeallanimalandvegetablelifeismerelyparasitic. Itsthroeswillheaveourexuviaefromtheirgraves. Youmaymeltyourmetalsandcastthemintothemostbeautifulmouldsyoucan; theywillneverexcitemeliketheformswhichthismoltenearthflowsoutinto. Andnotonlyit, buttheinstitutionsuponitareplasticlikeclayinthehandsofthepotter.
Whenthegroundwaspartiallybareofsnow, and a fewwarmdayshaddrieditssurfacesomewhat, itwaspleasanttocomparethefirsttendersignsoftheinfantyearjustpeepingforthwiththestatelybeautyofthewitheredvegetationwhichhadwithstoodthewinter—life-everlasting, goldenrods, pinweeds, andgracefulwildgrasses, moreobviousandinterestingfrequentlythaninsummereven, asiftheirbeautywasnotripetillthen; evencotton-grass, cat-tails, mulleins, johnswort, hard-hack, meadow-sweet, andotherstrong-stemmedplants, thoseunexhaustedgranarieswhichentertaintheearliestbirds—decentweeds, atleast, whichwidowedNaturewears. I amparticularlyattractedbythearchingandsheaf-liketopofthewool-grass; itbringsbackthesummertoourwintermemories, andisamongtheformswhichartlovestocopy, andwhich, inthevegetablekingdom, havethesamerelationtotypesalreadyinthemindofmanthatastronomyhas. Itisanantiquestyle, olderthanGreekorEgyptian. ManyofthephenomenaofWinteraresuggestiveofaninexpressibletendernessandfragiledelicacy. Weareaccustomedtohearthiskingdescribedas a rudeandboisteroustyrant; butwiththegentlenessof a loverheadornsthetressesofSummer.
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Attheapproachofspringtheredsquirrelsgotundermyhouse, twoat a time, directlyundermyfeetas I satreadingorwriting, andkeptupthequeerestchucklingandchirrupingandvocalpirouettingandgurglingsoundsthateverwereheard; andwhen I stampedtheyonlychirrupedthelouder, asifpastallfearandrespectintheirmadpranks, defyinghumanitytostopthem. No, youdon't—chickaree—chickaree. Theywerewhollydeaftomyarguments, orfailedtoperceivetheirforce, andfellinto a strainofinvectivethatwasirresistible.
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Thefirstsparrowofspring! Theyearbeginningwithyoungerhopethanever! Thefaintsilverywarblingsheardoverthepartiallybareandmoistfieldsfromthebluebird, thesongsparrow, andthered-wing, asifthelastflakesofwintertinkledastheyfell! Whatatsuch a timearehistories, chronologies, traditions, andallwrittenrevelations? Thebrookssingcarolsandgleestothespring. Themarshhawk, sailinglowoverthemeadow, isalreadyseekingthefirstslimylifethatawakes. Thesinkingsoundofmeltingsnowisheardinalldells, andtheicedissolvesapaceintheponds. Thegrassflamesuponthehillsideslike a springfire—"etprimitusoriturherbaimbribusprimoribusevocata"—asiftheearthsentforthaninwardheattogreetthereturningsun; notyellowbutgreenisthecolorofitsflame;—thesymbolofperpetualyouth, thegrass-blade, like a longgreenribbon, streamsfromthesodintothesummer, checkedindeedbythefrost, butanonpushingonagain, liftingitsspearoflastyear's haywiththefreshlifebelow. Itgrowsassteadilyastherilloozesoutoftheground. Itisalmostidenticalwiththat, forinthegrowingdaysofJune, whentherillsaredry, thegrass-bladesaretheirchannels, andfromyeartoyeartheherdsdrinkatthisperennialgreenstream, andthemowerdrawsfromitbetimestheirwintersupply. Soourhumanlifebutdiesdowntoitsroot, andstillputsforthitsgreenbladetoeternity.
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Waldenismeltingapace. Thereis a canaltworodswidealongthenortherlyandwesterlysides, andwiderstillattheeastend. A greatfieldoficehascrackedofffromthemainbody. I hear a songsparrowsingingfromthebushesontheshore,—olit, olit, olit,—chip, chip, chip, chechar,—chewiss, wiss, wiss. Hetooishelpingtocrackit. Howhandsomethegreatsweepingcurvesintheedgeoftheice, answeringsomewhattothoseoftheshore, butmoreregular! Itisunusuallyhard, owingtotherecentseverebuttransientcold, andallwateredorwavedlike a palacefloor. Butthewindslideseastwardoveritsopaquesurfaceinvain, tillitreachesthelivingsurfacebeyond. Itisglorioustobeholdthisribbonofwatersparklinginthesun, thebarefaceofthepondfullofgleeandyouth, asifitspokethejoyofthefisheswithinit, andofthesandsonitsshore—a silverysheenasfromthescalesof a leuciscus, asitwerealloneactivefish. Suchisthecontrastbetweenwinterandspring. Waldenwasdeadandisaliveagain. Butthisspringitbrokeupmoresteadily, as I havesaid.
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Thechangefromstormandwintertosereneandmildweather, fromdarkandsluggishhourstobrightandelasticones, is a memorablecrisiswhichallthingsproclaim. Itisseeminglyinstantaneousatlast. Suddenlyaninfluxoflightfilledmyhouse, thoughtheeveningwasathand, andthecloudsofwinterstilloverhungit, andtheeavesweredrippingwithsleetyrain. I lookedoutthewindow, andlo! whereyesterdaywascoldgrayicetherelaythetransparentpondalreadycalmandfullofhopeasin a summerevening, reflecting a summereveningskyinitsbosom, thoughnonewasvisibleoverhead, asifithadintelligencewithsomeremotehorizon. I heard a robininthedistance, thefirst I hadheardformany a thousandyears, methought, whosenote I shallnotforgetformany a thousandmore—thesamesweetandpowerfulsongasofyore. O theeveningrobin, attheendof a NewEnglandsummerday! If I couldeverfindthetwighesitsupon! I meanhe; I meanthetwig. ThisatleastisnottheTurdusmigratorius. Thepitchpinesandshruboaksaboutmyhouse, whichhadsolongdrooped, suddenlyresumedtheirseveralcharacters, lookedbrighter, greener, andmoreerectandalive, asifeffectuallycleansedandrestoredbytherain. I knewthatitwouldnotrainanymore. Youmaytellbylookingatanytwigoftheforest, ay, atyourverywood-pile, whetheritswinterispastornot. Asitgrewdarker, I wasstartledbythehonkingofgeeseflyinglowoverthewoods, likewearytravellersgettinginlatefromSouthernlakes, andindulgingatlastinunrestrainedcomplaintandmutualconsolation. Standingatmydoor, I couldheartherushoftheirwings; when, drivingtowardmyhouse, theysuddenlyspiedmylight, andwithhushedclamorwheeledandsettledinthepond. So I camein, andshutthedoor, andpassedmyfirstspringnightinthewoods.
15
Inthemorning I watchedthegeesefromthedoorthroughthemist, sailinginthemiddleofthepond, fiftyrodsoff, solargeandtumultuousthatWaldenappearedlikeanartificialpondfortheiramusement. Butwhen I stoodontheshoretheyatonceroseupwith a greatflappingofwingsatthesignaloftheircommander, andwhentheyhadgotintorankcircledaboutovermyhead, twenty-nineofthem, andthensteeredstraighttoCanada, with a regularhonkfromtheleaderatintervals, trustingtobreaktheirfastinmuddierpools. A "plump" ofducksroseatthesametimeandtooktheroutetothenorthinthewakeoftheirnoisiercousins.
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For a week I heardthecircling, gropingclangorofsomesolitarygooseinthefoggymornings, seekingitscompanion, andstillpeoplingthewoodswiththesoundof a largerlifethantheycouldsustain. InAprilthepigeonswereseenagainflyingexpressinsmallflocks, andinduetime I heardthemartinstwitteringovermyclearing, thoughithadnotseemedthatthetownshipcontainedsomanythatitcouldaffordmeany, and I fanciedthattheywerepeculiarlyoftheancientracethatdweltinhollowtreeserewhitemencame. Inalmostallclimesthetortoiseandthefrogareamongtheprecursorsandheraldsofthisseason, andbirdsflywithsongandglancingplumage, andplantsspringandbloom, andwindsblow, tocorrectthisslightoscillationofthepolesandpreservetheequilibriumofnature.
A singlegentlerainmakesthegrassmanyshadesgreener. Soourprospectsbrightenontheinfluxofbetterthoughts. Weshouldbeblessedifwelivedinthepresentalways, andtookadvantageofeveryaccidentthatbefellus, likethegrasswhichconfessestheinfluenceoftheslightestdewthatfallsonit; anddidnotspendourtimeinatoningfortheneglectofpastopportunities, whichwecalldoingourduty. Weloiterinwinterwhileitisalreadyspring. In a pleasantspringmorningallmen's sinsareforgiven. Such a dayis a trucetovice. Whilesuch a sunholdsouttoburn, thevilestsinnermayreturn. Throughourownrecoveredinnocencewediscerntheinnocenceofourneighbors. Youmayhaveknownyourneighboryesterdayfor a thief, a drunkard, or a sensualist, andmerelypitiedordespisedhim, anddespairedoftheworld; butthesunshinesbrightandwarmthisfirstspringmorning, recreatingtheworld, andyoumeethimatsomeserenework, andseehowitisexhaustedanddebauchedveinsexpandwithstilljoyandblessthenewday, feelthespringinfluencewiththeinnocenceofinfancy, andallhisfaultsareforgotten. Thereisnotonlyanatmosphereofgoodwillabouthim, buteven a savorofholinessgropingforexpression, blindlyandineffectuallyperhaps, like a new-borninstinct, andfor a shorthourthesouthhill-sideechoestonovulgarjest. Youseesomeinnocentfairshootspreparingtoburstfromhisgnarledrindandtryanotheryear's life, tenderandfreshastheyoungestplant. EvenhehasenteredintothejoyofhisLord. Whythejailerdoesnotleaveopenhisprisondoors—whythejudgedoesnotdismishiscase—whythepreacherdoesnotdismisshiscongregation! ItisbecausetheydonotobeythehintwhichGodgivesthem, noracceptthepardonwhichhefreelyofferstoall.
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"A returntogoodnessproducedeachdayinthetranquilandbeneficentbreathofthemorning, causesthatinrespecttotheloveofvirtueandthehatredofvice, oneapproaches a littletheprimitivenatureofman, asthesproutsoftheforestwhichhasbeenfelled. Inlikemannertheevilwhichonedoesintheintervalof a daypreventsthegermsofvirtueswhichbegantospringupagainfromdevelopingthemselvesanddestroysthem.
Onthe 29thofApril, as I wasfishingfromthebankoftheriverneartheNine-Acre-Cornerbridge, standingonthequakinggrassandwillowroots, wherethemuskratslurk, I heard a singularrattlingsound, somewhatlikethatofthestickswhichboysplaywiththeirfingers, when, lookingup, I observed a veryslightandgracefulhawk, like a nighthawk, alternatelysoaringlike a rippleandtumbling a rodortwooverandover, showingtheundersideofitswings, whichgleamedlike a satinribboninthesun, orlikethepearlyinsideof a shell. Thissightremindedmeoffalconryandwhatnoblenessandpoetryareassociatedwiththatsport. TheMerlinitseemedtomeitmightbecalled: but I carenotforitsname. Itwasthemostetherealflight I hadeverwitnessed. Itdidnotsimplyflutterlike a butterfly, norsoarlikethelargerhawks, butitsportedwithproudrelianceinthefieldsofair; mountingagainandagainwithitsstrangechuckle, itrepeateditsfreeandbeautifulfall, turningoverandoverlike a kite, andthenrecoveringfromitsloftytumbling, asifithadneversetitsfootonterrafirma. Itappearedtohavenocompanionintheuniverse—sportingtherealone—andtoneednonebutthemorningandtheetherwithwhichitplayed. Itwasnotlonely, butmadealltheearthlonelybeneathit. Wherewastheparentwhichhatchedit, itskindred, anditsfatherintheheavens? Thetenantoftheair, itseemedrelatedtotheearthbutbyanegghatchedsometimeinthecreviceof a crag;—orwasitsnativenestmadeintheangleof a cloud, wovenoftherainbow's trimmingsandthesunsetsky, andlinedwithsomesoftmidsummerhazecaughtupfromearth? Itseyrynowsomecliffycloud.
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Besidethis I got a raremessofgoldenandsilverandbrightcupreousfishes, whichlookedlike a stringofjewels. Ah! I havepenetratedtothosemeadowsonthemorningofmany a firstspringday, jumpingfromhummocktohummock, fromwillowroottowillowroot, whenthewildrivervalleyandthewoodswerebathedinsopureandbright a lightaswouldhavewakedthedead, iftheyhadbeenslumberingintheirgraves, assomesuppose. Thereneedsnostrongerproofofimmortality. Allthingsmustliveinsuch a light. O Death, wherewasthysting? O Grave, wherewasthyvictory, then?