I thinkthat I lovesocietyasmuchasmost, andamreadyenoughtofastenmyselflike a bloodsuckerforthetimetoanyfull-bloodedmanthatcomesinmyway. I amnaturallynohermit, butmightpossiblysitoutthesturdiestfrequenterofthebar-room, ifmybusinesscalledmethither.
1
I hadthreechairsinmyhouse; oneforsolitude, twoforfriendship, threeforsociety. Whenvisitorscameinlargerandunexpectednumberstherewasbutthethirdchairforthemall, buttheygenerallyeconomizedtheroombystandingup. Itissurprisinghowmanygreatmenandwomen a smallhousewillcontain. I havehadtwenty-fiveorthirtysouls, withtheirbodies, atonceundermyroof, andyetweoftenpartedwithoutbeingawarethatwehadcomeveryneartooneanother. Manyofourhouses, bothpublicandprivate, withtheiralmostinnumerableapartments, theirhugehallsandtheircellarsforthestorageofwinesandothermunitionsofpeace, appeartobeextravagantlylargefortheirinhabitants. Theyaresovastandmagnificentthatthelatterseemtobeonlyverminwhichinfestthem. I amsurprisedwhentheheraldblowshissummonsbeforesomeTremontorAstororMiddlesexHouse, toseecomecreepingoutoverthepiazzaforallinhabitants a ridiculousmouse, whichsoonagainslinksintosomeholeinthepavement.
2
Oneinconvenience I sometimesexperiencedinsosmall a house, thedifficultyofgettingto a sufficientdistancefrommyguestwhenwebegantoutterthebigthoughtsinbigwords. Youwantroomforyourthoughtstogetintosailingtrimandrun a courseortwobeforetheymaketheirport. Thebulletofyourthoughtmusthaveovercomeitslateralandricochetmotionandfallenintoitslastandsteadycoursebeforeitreachestheearofthehearer, elseitmayplowoutagainthroughthesideofhishead. Also, oursentenceswantedroomtounfoldandformtheircolumnsintheinterval. Individuals, likenations, musthavesuitablebroadandnaturalboundaries, even a considerableneutralground, betweenthem. I havefoundit a singularluxurytotalkacrossthepondto a companionontheoppositeside. Inmyhouseweweresonearthatwecouldnotbegintohear—wecouldnotspeaklowenoughtobeheard; aswhenyouthrowtwostonesintocalmwatersonearthattheybreakeachother's undulations. Ifwearemerelyloquaciousandloudtalkers, thenwecanaffordtostandveryneartogether, cheekbyjowl, andfeeleachother's breath; butifwespeakreservedlyandthoughtfully, wewanttobefartherapart, thatallanimalheatandmoisturemayhave a chancetoevaporate. Ifwewouldenjoythemostintimatesocietywiththatineachofuswhichiswithout, orabove, beingspokento, wemustnotonlybesilent, butcommonlysofarapartbodilythatwecannotpossiblyheareachother's voiceinanycase. Referredtothisstandard, speechisfortheconvenienceofthosewhoarehardofhearing; buttherearemanyfinethingswhichwecannotsayifwehavetoshout. Astheconversationbegantoassume a loftierandgrandertone, wegraduallyshovedourchairsfartheraparttilltheytouchedthewallinoppositecorners, andthencommonlytherewasnotroomenough.
3
My "best" room, however, mywithdrawingroom, alwaysreadyforcompany, onwhosecarpetthesunrarelyfell, wasthepinewoodbehindmyhouse. Thitherinsummerdays, whendistinguishedguestscame, I tookthem, and a pricelessdomesticswepttheflooranddustedthefurnitureandkeptthethingsinorder.
4
Ifoneguestcamehesometimespartookofmyfrugalmeal, anditwasnointerruptiontoconversationtobestirring a hasty-pudding, orwatchingtherisingandmaturingof a loafofbreadintheashes, inthemeanwhile. Butiftwentycameandsatinmyhousetherewasnothingsaidaboutdinner, thoughtheremightbebreadenoughfortwo, morethanifeatingwere a forsakenhabit; butwenaturallypractisedabstinence; andthiswasneverfelttobeanoffenceagainsthospitality, butthemostproperandconsideratecourse. Thewasteanddecayofphysicallife, whichsooftenneedsrepair, seemedmiraculouslyretardedinsuch a case, andthevitalvigorstooditsground. I couldentertainthus a thousandaswellastwenty; andifanyeverwentawaydisappointedorhungryfrommyhousewhentheyfoundmeathome, theymaydependuponitthat I sympathizedwiththematleast. Soeasyisit, thoughmanyhousekeepersdoubtit, toestablishnewandbettercustomsintheplaceoftheold. Youneednotrestyourreputationonthedinnersyougive. Formyownpart, I wasneversoeffectuallydeterredfromfrequenting a man's house, byanykindofCerberuswhatever, asbytheparadeonemadeaboutdiningme, which I tooktobe a verypoliteandroundabouthintnevertotroublehimsoagain. I think I shallneverrevisitthosescenes. I shouldbeproudtohaveforthemottoofmycabinthoselinesofSpenserwhichoneofmyvisitorsinscribedon a yellowwalnutleaffor a card:—
5
Arrivédthere, thelittlehousetheyfill,
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Nelookeforentertainmentwherenonewas;
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Restistheirfeast, andallthingsattheirwill:
8
Thenoblestmindthebestcontentmenthas."
9
WhenWinslow, afterwardgovernorofthePlymouthColony, wentwith a companionon a visitofceremonytoMassasoitonfootthroughthewoods, andarrivedtiredandhungryathislodge, theywerewellreceivedbytheking, butnothingwassaidabouteatingthatday. Whenthenightarrived, toquotetheirownwords—"Helaidusonthebedwithhimselfandhiswife, theyattheoneendandweattheother, itbeingonlyplankslaid a footfromthegroundand a thinmatuponthem. Twomoreofhischiefmen, forwantofroom, pressedbyanduponus; sothatwewereworsewearyofourlodgingthanofourjourney." Atone o'clockthenextdayMassasoit "broughttwofishesthathehadshot," aboutthriceasbigas a bream. "Thesebeingboiled, therewereatleastfortylookedfor a shareinthem; themosteatofthem. Thismealonlywehadintwonightsand a day; andhadnotoneofusbought a partridge, wehadtakenourjourneyfasting." Fearingthattheywouldbelight-headedforwantoffoodandalsosleep, owingto "thesavages' barbaroussinging, (fortheyusetosingthemselvesasleep,)" andthattheymightgethomewhiletheyhadstrengthtotravel, theydeparted. Asforlodging, itistruetheywerebutpoorlyentertained, thoughwhattheyfoundaninconveniencewasnodoubtintendedforanhonor; butasfaraseatingwasconcerned, I donotseehowtheIndianscouldhavedonebetter. Theyhadnothingtoeatthemselves, andtheywerewiserthantothinkthatapologiescouldsupplytheplaceoffoodtotheirguests; sotheydrewtheirbeltstighterandsaidnothingaboutit. AnothertimewhenWinslowvisitedthem, itbeing a seasonofplentywiththem, therewasnodeficiencyinthisrespect.
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Asformen, theywillhardlyfailoneanywhere. I hadmorevisitorswhile I livedinthewoodsthanatanyotherperiodinmylife; I meanthat I hadsome. I metseveralthereundermorefavorablecircumstancesthan I couldanywhereelse. Butfewercametoseemeontrivialbusiness. Inthisrespect, mycompanywaswinnowedbymymeredistancefromtown. I hadwithdrawnsofarwithinthegreatoceanofsolitude, intowhichtheriversofsocietyempty, thatforthemostpart, sofarasmyneedswereconcerned, onlythefinestsedimentwasdepositedaroundme. Beside, therewerewaftedtomeevidencesofunexploredanduncultivatedcontinentsontheotherside.
11
Whoshouldcometomylodgethismorningbut a trueHomericorPaphlagonianman—hehadsosuitableandpoetic a namethat I amsorry I cannotprintithere—a Canadian, a woodchopperandpost-maker, whocanholefiftypostsin a day, whomadehislastsupperon a woodchuckwhichhisdogcaught. He, too, hasheardofHomer, and, "ifitwerenotforbooks," would "notknowwhattodorainydays," thoughperhapshehasnotreadonewhollythroughformanyrainyseasons. SomepriestwhocouldpronouncetheGreekitselftaughthimtoreadhisverseintheTestamentinhisnativeparishfaraway; andnow I musttranslatetohim, whileheholdsthebook, Achilles' reprooftoPatroclusforhissadcountenance.—"Whyareyouintears, Patroclus, like a younggirl?"—
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"OrhaveyoualoneheardsomenewsfromPhthia?
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TheysaythatMenoetiuslivesyet, sonofActor,
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AndPeleuslives, sonofÆacus, amongtheMyrmidons,
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Eitherofwhomhavingdied, weshouldgreatlygrieve."
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Hesays, "That's good." Hehas a greatbundleofwhiteoakbarkunderhisarmfor a sickman, gatheredthisSundaymorning. "I supposethere's noharmingoingaftersuch a thingto-day," sayshe. TohimHomerwas a greatwriter, thoughwhathiswritingwasabouthedidnotknow. A moresimpleandnaturalmanitwouldbehardtofind. Viceanddisease, whichcastsuch a sombremoralhueovertheworld, seemedtohavehardlyanyexistenceforhim. Hewasabouttwenty-eightyearsold, andhadleftCanadaandhisfather's house a dozenyearsbeforetoworkintheStates, andearnmoneytobuy a farmwithatlast, perhapsinhisnativecountry. Hewascastinthecoarsestmould; a stoutbutsluggishbody, yetgracefullycarried, with a thicksunburntneck, darkbushyhair, anddullsleepyblueeyes, whichwereoccasionallylitupwithexpression. Hewore a flatgrayclothcap, a dingywool-coloredgreatcoat, andcowhideboots. Hewas a greatconsumerofmeat, usuallycarryinghisdinnertohiswork a coupleofmilespastmyhouse—forhechoppedallsummer—in a tinpail; coldmeats, oftencoldwoodchucks, andcoffeein a stonebottlewhichdangledby a stringfromhisbelt; andsometimesheofferedme a drink. Hecamealongearly, crossingmybean-field, thoughwithoutanxietyorhastetogettohiswork, suchasYankeesexhibit. Hewasn't a-goingtohurthimself. Hedidn't careifheonlyearnedhisboard. Frequentlyhewouldleavehisdinnerinthebushes, whenhisdoghadcaught a woodchuckbytheway, andgoback a mileand a halftodressitandleaveitinthecellarofthehousewhereheboarded, afterdeliberatingfirstforhalfanhourwhetherhecouldnotsinkitinthepondsafelytillnightfall—lovingtodwelllonguponthesethemes. Hewouldsay, ashewentbyinthemorning, "Howthickthepigeonsare! Ifworkingeverydaywerenotmytrade, I couldgetallthemeat I shouldwantbyhunting-pigeons, woodchucks, rabbits, partridges—bygosh! I couldgetall I shouldwantfor a weekinoneday."
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Hewas a skilfulchopper, andindulgedinsomeflourishesandornamentsinhisart. Hecuthistreeslevelandclosetotheground, thatthesproutswhichcameupafterwardmightbemorevigorousand a sledmightslideoverthestumps; andinsteadofleaving a wholetreetosupporthiscordedwood, hewouldpareitawayto a slenderstakeorsplinterwhichyoucouldbreakoffwithyourhandatlast.
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Heinterestedmebecausehewassoquietandsolitaryandsohappywithal; a wellofgoodhumorandcontentmentwhichoverflowedathiseyes. Hismirthwaswithoutalloy. Sometimes I sawhimathisworkinthewoods, fellingtrees, andhewouldgreetmewith a laughofinexpressiblesatisfaction, and a salutationinCanadianFrench, thoughhespokeEnglishaswell. When I approachedhimhewouldsuspendhiswork, andwithhalf-suppressedmirthliealongthetrunkof a pinewhichhehadfelled, and, peelingofftheinnerbark, rollitupinto a ballandchewitwhilehelaughedandtalked. Suchanexuberanceofanimalspiritshadhethathesometimestumbleddownandrolledonthegroundwithlaughteratanythingwhichmadehimthinkandtickledhim. Lookingrounduponthetreeshewouldexclaim—"ByGeorge! I canenjoymyselfwellenoughherechopping; I wantnobettersport." Sometimes, whenatleisure, heamusedhimselfalldayinthewoodswith a pocketpistol, firingsalutestohimselfatregularintervalsashewalked. Inthewinterhehad a firebywhichatnoonhewarmedhiscoffeein a kettle; andashesaton a logtoeathisdinnerthechickadeeswouldsometimescomeroundandalightonhisarmandpeckatthepotatoinhisfingers; andhesaidthathe "likedtohavethelittlefellersabouthim."
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Inhimtheanimalmanchieflywasdeveloped. Inphysicalenduranceandcontentmenthewascousintothepineandtherock. I askedhimonceifhewasnotsometimestiredatnight, afterworkingallday; andheanswered, with a sincereandseriouslook, "Gorrappit, I neverwastiredinmylife." Buttheintellectualandwhatiscalledspiritualmaninhimwereslumberingasinaninfant. HehadbeeninstructedonlyinthatinnocentandineffectualwayinwhichtheCatholicprieststeachtheaborigines, bywhichthepupilisnevereducatedtothedegreeofconsciousness, butonlytothedegreeoftrustandreverence, and a childisnotmade a man, butkept a child. WhenNaturemadehim, shegavehim a strongbodyandcontentmentforhisportion, andproppedhimoneverysidewithreverenceandreliance, thathemightliveouthisthreescoreyearsandten a child. Hewassogenuineandunsophisticatedthatnointroductionwouldservetointroducehim, morethanifyouintroduced a woodchucktoyourneighbor. Hehadgottofindhimoutasyoudid. Hewouldnotplayanypart. Menpaidhimwagesforwork, andsohelpedtofeedandclothehim; butheneverexchangedopinionswiththem. Hewassosimplyandnaturallyhumble—ifhecanbecalledhumblewhoneveraspires—thathumilitywasnodistinctqualityinhim, norcouldheconceiveofit. Wisermenweredemigodstohim. Ifyoutoldhimthatsuch a onewascoming, hedidasifhethoughtthatanythingsograndwouldexpectnothingofhimself, buttakealltheresponsibilityonitself, andlethimbeforgottenstill. Heneverheardthesoundofpraise. Heparticularlyreverencedthewriterandthepreacher. Theirperformancesweremiracles. When I toldhimthat I wroteconsiderably, hethoughtfor a longtimethatitwasmerelythehandwritingwhich I meant, forhecouldwrite a remarkablygoodhandhimself. I sometimesfoundthenameofhisnativeparishhandsomelywritteninthesnowbythehighway, withtheproperFrenchaccent, andknewthathehadpassed. I askedhimifheeverwishedtowritehisthoughts. Hesaidthathehadreadandwrittenlettersforthosewhocouldnot, buthenevertriedtowritethoughts—no, hecouldnot, hecouldnottellwhattoputfirst, itwouldkillhim, andthentherewasspellingtobeattendedtoatthesametime!
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I heardthat a distinguishedwisemanandreformeraskedhimifhedidnotwanttheworldtobechanged; butheansweredwith a chuckleofsurpriseinhisCanadianaccent, notknowingthatthequestionhadeverbeenentertainedbefore, "No, I likeitwellenough." Itwouldhavesuggestedmanythingsto a philosophertohavedealingswithhim. To a strangerheappearedtoknownothingofthingsingeneral; yet I sometimessawinhim a manwhom I hadnotseenbefore, and I didnotknowwhetherhewasaswiseasShakespeareorassimplyignorantas a child, whethertosuspecthimof a finepoeticconsciousnessorofstupidity. A townsmantoldmethatwhenhemethimsaunteringthroughthevillageinhissmallclose-fittingcap, andwhistlingtohimself, heremindedhimof a princeindisguise.
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Hisonlybookswereanalmanacandanarithmetic, inwhichlasthewasconsiderablyexpert. Theformerwas a sortofcyclopaediatohim, whichhesupposedtocontainanabstractofhumanknowledge, asindeeditdoesto a considerableextent. I lovedtosoundhimonthevariousreformsoftheday, andheneverfailedtolookattheminthemostsimpleandpracticallight. Hehadneverheardofsuchthingsbefore. Couldhedowithoutfactories? I asked. Hehadwornthehome-madeVermontgray, hesaid, andthatwasgood. Couldhedispensewithteaandcoffee? Didthiscountryaffordanybeveragebesidewater? Hehadsoakedhemlockleavesinwateranddrankit, andthoughtthatwasbetterthanwaterinwarmweather. When I askedhimifhecoulddowithoutmoney, heshowedtheconvenienceofmoneyinsuch a wayastosuggestandcoincidewiththemostphilosophicalaccountsoftheoriginofthisinstitution, andtheveryderivationofthewordpecunia. Ifanoxwerehisproperty, andhewishedtogetneedlesandthreadatthestore, hethoughtitwouldbeinconvenientandimpossiblesoontogoonmortgagingsomeportionofthecreatureeachtimetothatamount. Hecoulddefendmanyinstitutionsbetterthananyphilosopher, because, indescribingthemastheyconcernedhim, hegavethetruereasonfortheirprevalence, andspeculationhadnotsuggestedtohimanyother. Atanothertime, hearingPlato's definitionof a man—a bipedwithoutfeathers—andthatoneexhibited a cockpluckedandcalleditPlato's man, hethoughtitanimportantdifferencethatthekneesbentthewrongway. Hewouldsometimesexclaim, "How I lovetotalk! ByGeorge, I couldtalkallday!" I askedhimonce, when I hadnotseenhimformanymonths, ifhehadgot a newideathissummer. "GoodLord"—saidhe, "a manthathastoworkas I do, ifhedoesnotforgettheideashehashad, hewilldowell. Maybethemanyouhoewithisinclinedtorace; then, bygorry, yourmindmustbethere; youthinkofweeds." Hewouldsometimesaskmefirstonsuchoccasions, if I hadmadeanyimprovement. Onewinterday I askedhimifhewasalwayssatisfiedwithhimself, wishingtosuggest a substitutewithinhimforthepriestwithout, andsomehighermotiveforliving. "Satisfied!" saidhe; "somemenaresatisfiedwithonething, andsomewithanother. Oneman, perhaps, ifhehasgotenough, willbesatisfiedtositalldaywithhisbacktothefireandhisbellytothetable, byGeorge!" Yet I never, byanymanoeuvring, couldgethimtotakethespiritualviewofthings; thehighestthatheappearedtoconceiveofwas a simpleexpediency, suchasyoumightexpectananimaltoappreciate; andthis, practically, istrueofmostmen. If I suggestedanyimprovementinhismodeoflife, hemerelyanswered, withoutexpressinganyregret, thatitwastoolate. Yethethoroughlybelievedinhonestyandthelikevirtues.
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Therewas a certainpositiveoriginality, howeverslight, tobedetectedinhim, and I occasionallyobservedthathewasthinkingforhimselfandexpressinghisownopinion, a phenomenonsorarethat I wouldanydaywalktenmilestoobserveit, anditamountedtothere-originationofmanyoftheinstitutionsofsociety. Thoughhehesitated, andperhapsfailedtoexpresshimselfdistinctly, healwayshad a presentablethoughtbehind. Yethisthinkingwassoprimitiveandimmersedinhisanimallife, that, thoughmorepromisingthan a merelylearnedman's, itrarelyripenedtoanythingwhichcanbereported. Hesuggestedthattheremightbemenofgeniusinthelowestgradesoflife, howeverpermanentlyhumbleandilliterate, whotaketheirownviewalways, ordonotpretendtoseeatall; whoareasbottomlessevenasWaldenPondwasthoughttobe, thoughtheymaybedarkandmuddy.
23
Many a travellercameoutofhiswaytoseemeandtheinsideofmyhouse, and, asanexcuseforcalling, askedfor a glassofwater. I toldthemthat I drankatthepond, andpointedthither, offeringtolendthem a dipper. Faroffas I lived, I wasnotexemptedfromtheannualvisitationwhichoccurs, methinks, aboutthefirstofApril, wheneverybodyisonthemove; and I hadmyshareofgoodluck, thoughthereweresomecuriousspecimensamongmyvisitors. Half-wittedmenfromthealmshouseandelsewherecametoseeme; but I endeavoredtomakethemexerciseallthewittheyhad, andmaketheirconfessionstome; insuchcasesmakingwitthethemeofourconversation; andsowascompensated. Indeed, I foundsomeofthemtobewiserthantheso-calledoverseersofthepoorandselectmenofthetown, andthoughtitwastimethatthetableswereturned. Withrespecttowit, I learnedthattherewasnotmuchdifferencebetweenthehalfandthewhole. Oneday, inparticular, aninoffensive, simple-mindedpauper, whomwithothers I hadoftenseenusedasfencingstuff, standingorsittingon a bushelinthefieldstokeepcattleandhimselffromstraying, visitedme, andexpressed a wishtoliveas I did. Hetoldme, withtheutmostsimplicityandtruth, quitesuperior, orratherinferior, toanythingthatiscalledhumility, thathewas "deficientinintellect." Thesewerehiswords. TheLordhadmadehimso, yethesupposedtheLordcaredasmuchforhimasforanother. "I havealwaysbeenso," saidhe, "frommychildhood; I neverhadmuchmind; I wasnotlikeotherchildren; I amweakinthehead. ItwastheLord's will, I suppose." Andtherehewastoprovethetruthofhiswords. Hewas a metaphysicalpuzzletome. I haverarelymet a fellowmanonsuchpromisingground—itwassosimpleandsincereandsotrueallthathesaid. And, trueenough, inproportionasheappearedtohumblehimselfwasheexalted. I didnotknowatfirstbutitwastheresultof a wisepolicy. Itseemedthatfromsuch a basisoftruthandfranknessasthepoorweak-headedpauperhadlaid, ourintercoursemightgoforwardtosomethingbetterthantheintercourseofsages.
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I hadsomeguestsfromthosenotreckonedcommonlyamongthetown's poor, butwhoshouldbe; whoareamongtheworld's poor, atanyrate; guestswhoappeal, nottoyourhospitality, buttoyourhospitalality; whoearnestlywishtobehelped, andprefacetheirappealwiththeinformationthattheyareresolved, foronething, nevertohelpthemselves. I requireof a visitorthathebenotactuallystarving, thoughhemayhavetheverybestappetiteintheworld, howeverhegotit. Objectsofcharityarenotguests. Menwhodidnotknowwhentheirvisithadterminated, though I wentaboutmybusinessagain, answeringthemfromgreaterandgreaterremoteness. Menofalmosteverydegreeofwitcalledonmeinthemigratingseason. Somewhohadmorewitsthantheyknewwhattodowith; runawayslaveswithplantationmanners, wholistenedfromtimetotime, likethefoxinthefable, asiftheyheardthehounds a-bayingontheirtrack, andlookedatmebeseechingly, asmuchastosay,—
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"O Christian, willyousendmeback?
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Onerealrunawayslave, amongtherest, whom I helpedtoforwardtowardthenorthstar. Menofoneidea, like a henwithonechicken, andthat a duckling; menof a thousandideas, andunkemptheads, likethosehenswhicharemadetotakechargeof a hundredchickens, allinpursuitofonebug, a scoreofthemlostineverymorning's dew—andbecomefrizzledandmangyinconsequence; menofideasinsteadoflegs, a sortofintellectualcentipedethatmadeyoucrawlallover. Onemanproposed a bookinwhichvisitorsshouldwritetheirnames, asattheWhiteMountains; but, alas! I havetoogood a memorytomakethatnecessary.
27
I couldnotbutnoticesomeofthepeculiaritiesofmyvisitors. Girlsandboysandyoungwomengenerallyseemedgladtobeinthewoods. Theylookedinthepondandattheflowers, andimprovedtheirtime. Menofbusiness, evenfarmers, thoughtonlyofsolitudeandemployment, andofthegreatdistanceatwhich I dweltfromsomethingorother; andthoughtheysaidthattheyloved a rambleinthewoodsoccasionally, itwasobviousthattheydidnot. Restlesscommittedmen, whosetimewasantakenupingetting a livingorkeepingit; ministerswhospokeofGodasiftheyenjoyed a monopolyofthesubject, whocouldnotbearallkindsofopinions; doctors, lawyers, uneasyhousekeeperswhopriedintomycupboardandbedwhen I wasout—howcameMrs.—toknowthatmysheetswerenotascleanashers?—youngmenwhohadceasedtobeyoung, andhadconcludedthatitwassafesttofollowthebeatentrackoftheprofessions—allthesegenerallysaidthatitwasnotpossibletodosomuchgoodinmyposition. Ay! therewastherub. Theoldandinfirmandthetimid, ofwhateverageorsex, thoughtmostofsickness, andsuddenaccidentanddeath; tothemlifeseemedfullofdanger—whatdangeristhereifyoudon't thinkofany?—andtheythoughtthat a prudentmanwouldcarefullyselectthesafestposition, whereDr. B. mightbeonhandat a moment's warning. Tothemthevillagewasliterally a com-munity, a leagueformutualdefence, andyouwouldsupposethattheywouldnotgo a-huckleberryingwithout a medicinechest. Theamountofitis, if a manisalive, thereisalwaysdangerthathemaydie, thoughthedangermustbeallowedtobelessinproportionasheisdead-and-alivetobeginwith. A mansitsasmanyrisksasheruns. Finally, thereweretheself-styledreformers, thegreatestboresofall, whothoughtthat I wasforeversinging,—
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Thisisthehousethat I built;
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Thisisthemanthatlivesinthehousethat I built;
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buttheydidnotknowthatthethirdlinewas,
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Thesearethefolksthatworrytheman
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Thatlivesinthehousethat I built.
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I didnotfearthehen-harriers, for I keptnochickens; but I fearedthemen-harriersrather.