English
IthinkthatIlovesocietyasmuchasmost,andamreadyenoughtofastenmyselflikeabloodsuckerforthetimetoanyfull–bloodedmanthatcomesinmyway.
Iamnaturallynohermit,butmightpossiblysitoutthesturdiestfrequenterofthebar–room,ifmybusinesscalledmethither.
Ihadthreechairsinmyhouse;oneforsolitude,twoforfriendship,threeforsociety.
Whenvisitorscameinlargerandunexpectednumberstherewasbutthethirdchairforthemall,buttheygenerallyeconomizedtheroombystandingup.
Itissurprisinghowmanygreatmenandwomenasmallhousewillcontain.
Ihavehadtwenty–fiveorthirtysouls,withtheirbodies,atonceundermyroof,andyetweoftenpartedwithoutbeingawarethatwehadcomeveryneartooneanother.
Manyofourhouses,bothpublicandprivate,withtheiralmostinnumerableapartments,theirhugehallsandtheircellarsforthestorageofwinesandothermunitionsofpeace,appeartobeextravagantlylargefortheirinhabitants.
Theyaresovastandmagnificentthatthelatterseemtobeonlyverminwhichinfestthem.
IamsurprisedwhentheheraldblowshissummonsbeforesomeTremontorAstororMiddlesexHouse,toseecomecreepingoutoverthepiazzaforallinhabitantsaridiculousmouse,whichsoonagainslinksintosomeholeinthepavement.
OneinconvenienceIsometimesexperiencedinsosmallahouse,thedifficultyofgettingtoasufficientdistancefrommyguestwhenwebegantoutterthebigthoughtsinbigwords.
Youwantroomforyourthoughtstogetintosailingtrimandrunacourseortwobeforetheymaketheirport.
Thebulletofyourthoughtmusthaveovercomeitslateralandricochetmotionandfallenintoitslastandsteadycoursebeforeitreachestheearofthehearer,elseitmayplowoutagainthroughthesideofhishead.
Also,oursentenceswantedroomtounfoldandformtheircolumnsintheinterval.
Individuals,likenations,musthavesuitablebroadandnaturalboundaries,evenaconsiderableneutralground,betweenthem.
Ihavefounditasingularluxurytotalkacrossthepondtoacompanionontheoppositeside.
Inmyhouseweweresonearthatwecouldnotbegintohear—wecouldnotspeaklowenoughtobeheard;aswhenyouthrowtwostonesintocalmwatersonearthattheybreakeachother'sundulations.
Ifwearemerelyloquaciousandloudtalkers,thenwecanaffordtostandveryneartogether,cheekbyjowl,andfeeleachother'sbreath;butifwespeakreservedlyandthoughtfully,wewanttobefartherapart,thatallanimalheatandmoisturemayhaveachancetoevaporate.
Ifwewouldenjoythemostintimatesocietywiththatineachofuswhichiswithout,orabove,beingspokento,wemustnotonlybesilent,butcommonlysofarapartbodilythatwecannotpossiblyheareachother'svoiceinanycase.
Referredtothisstandard,speechisfortheconvenienceofthosewhoarehardofhearing;buttherearemanyfinethingswhichwecannotsayifwehavetoshout.
Astheconversationbegantoassumealoftierandgrandertone,wegraduallyshovedourchairsfartheraparttilltheytouchedthewallinoppositecorners,andthencommonlytherewasnotroomenough.
My"best"room,however,mywithdrawingroom,alwaysreadyforcompany,onwhosecarpetthesunrarelyfell,wasthepinewoodbehindmyhouse.
Thitherinsummerdays,whendistinguishedguestscame,Itookthem,andapricelessdomesticswepttheflooranddustedthefurnitureandkeptthethingsinorder.
Ifoneguestcamehesometimespartookofmyfrugalmeal,anditwasnointerruptiontoconversationtobestirringahasty–pudding,orwatchingtherisingandmaturingofaloafofbreadintheashes,inthemeanwhile.
Butiftwentycameandsatinmyhousetherewasnothingsaidaboutdinner,thoughtheremightbebreadenoughfortwo,morethanifeatingwereaforsakenhabit;butwenaturallypractisedabstinence;andthiswasneverfelttobeanoffenceagainsthospitality,butthemostproperandconsideratecourse.
Thewasteanddecayofphysicallife,whichsooftenneedsrepair,seemedmiraculouslyretardedinsuchacase,andthevitalvigorstooditsground.
Icouldentertainthusathousandaswellastwenty;andifanyeverwentawaydisappointedorhungryfrommyhousewhentheyfoundmeathome,theymaydependuponitthatIsympathizedwiththematleast.
Soeasyisit,thoughmanyhousekeepersdoubtit,toestablishnewandbettercustomsintheplaceoftheold.
Youneednotrestyourreputationonthedinnersyougive.
Formyownpart,Iwasneversoeffectuallydeterredfromfrequentingaman'shouse,byanykindofCerberuswhatever,asbytheparadeonemadeaboutdiningme,whichItooktobeaverypoliteandroundabouthintnevertotroublehimsoagain.
IthinkIshallneverrevisitthosescenes.
IshouldbeproudtohaveforthemottoofmycabinthoselinesofSpenserwhichoneofmyvisitorsinscribedonayellowwalnutleafforacard:—
"Arrivedthere,thelittlehousetheyfill,
Nelookeforentertainmentwherenonewas;
Restistheirfeast,andallthingsattheirwill:
Thenoblestmindthebestcontentmenthas."
WhenWinslow,afterwardgovernorofthePlymouthColony,wentwithacompaniononavisitofceremonytoMassasoitonfootthroughthewoods,andarrivedtiredandhungryathislodge,theywerewellreceivedbytheking,butnothingwassaidabouteatingthatday.
Whenthenightarrived,toquotetheirownwords—"Helaidusonthebedwithhimselfandhiswife,theyattheoneendandweattheother,itbeingonlyplankslaidafootfromthegroundandathinmatuponthem.
Twomoreofhischiefmen,forwantofroom,pressedbyanduponus;sothatwewereworsewearyofourlodgingthanofourjourney."
Atoneo'clockthenextdayMassasoit"broughttwofishesthathehadshot,"aboutthriceasbigasabream.
"Thesebeingboiled,therewereatleastfortylookedforashareinthem;themosteatofthem.
Thismealonlywehadintwonightsandaday;andhadnotoneofusboughtapartridge,wehadtakenourjourneyfasting."
Fearingthattheywouldbelight–headedforwantoffoodandalsosleep,owingto"thesavages'barbaroussinging,(fortheyusetosingthemselvesasleep,)"andthattheymightgethomewhiletheyhadstrengthtotravel,theydeparted.
Asforlodging,itistruetheywerebutpoorlyentertained,thoughwhattheyfoundaninconveniencewasnodoubtintendedforanhonor;butasfaraseatingwasconcerned,IdonotseehowtheIndianscouldhavedonebetter.
Theyhadnothingtoeatthemselves,andtheywerewiserthantothinkthatapologiescouldsupplytheplaceoffoodtotheirguests;sotheydrewtheirbeltstighterandsaidnothingaboutit.
AnothertimewhenWinslowvisitedthem,itbeingaseasonofplentywiththem,therewasnodeficiencyinthisrespect.
Asformen,theywillhardlyfailoneanywhere.
IhadmorevisitorswhileIlivedinthewoodsthanatanyotherperiodinmylife;ImeanthatIhadsome.
ImetseveralthereundermorefavorablecircumstancesthanIcouldanywhereelse.
Butfewercametoseemeontrivialbusiness.
Inthisrespect,mycompanywaswinnowedbymymeredistancefromtown.
Ihadwithdrawnsofarwithinthegreatoceanofsolitude,intowhichtheriversofsocietyempty,thatforthemostpart,sofarasmyneedswereconcerned,onlythefinestsedimentwasdepositedaroundme.
Beside,therewerewaftedtomeevidencesofunexploredanduncultivatedcontinentsontheotherside.
WhoshouldcometomylodgethismorningbutatrueHomericorPaphlagonianman—hehadsosuitableandpoeticanamethatIamsorryIcannotprintithere—aCanadian,awoodchopperandpost–maker,whocanholefiftypostsinaday,whomadehislastsupperonawoodchuckwhichhisdogcaught.
He,too,hasheardofHomer,and,"ifitwerenotforbooks,"would"notknowwhattodorainydays,"thoughperhapshehasnotreadonewhollythroughformanyrainyseasons.
SomepriestwhocouldpronouncetheGreekitselftaughthimtoreadhisverseintheTestamentinhisnativeparishfaraway;andnowImusttranslatetohim,whileheholdsthebook,Achilles'reprooftoPatroclusforhissadcountenance.—
"Whyareyouintears,Patroclus,likeayounggirl?"
"OrhaveyoualoneheardsomenewsfromPhthia?
TheysaythatMenoetiuslivesyet,sonofActor,
AndPeleuslives,sonofAEacus,amongtheMyrmidons,
Eitherofwhomhavingdied,weshouldgreatlygrieve."
Hesays,"That'sgood."Hehasagreatbundleofwhiteoakbarkunderhisarmforasickman,gatheredthisSundaymorning.
"Isupposethere'snoharmingoingaftersuchathingto–day,"sayshe.
TohimHomerwasagreatwriter,thoughwhathiswritingwasabouthedidnotknow.
Amoresimpleandnaturalmanitwouldbehardtofind.
Viceanddisease,whichcastsuchasombremoralhueovertheworld,seemedtohavehardlyanyexistanceforhim.
Hewasabouttwenty–eightyearsold,andhadleftCanadaandhisfather'shouseadozenyearsbeforetoworkintheStates,andearnmoneytobuyafarmwithatlast,perhapsinhisnativecountry.
Hewascastinthecoarsestmould;astoutbutsluggishbody,yetgracefullycarried,withathicksunburntneck,darkbushyhair,anddullsleepyblueeyes,whichwereoccasionallylitupwithexpression.
Heworeaflatgrayclothcap,adingywool–coloredgreatcoat,andcowhideboots.
Hewasagreatconsumerofmeat,usuallycarryinghisdinnertohisworkacoupleofmilespastmyhouse—forhechoppedallsummer—inatinpail;coldmeats,oftencoldwoodchucks,andcoffeeinastonebottlewhichdangledbyastringfromhisbelt;andsometimesheofferedmeadrink.
Hecamealongearly,crossingmybean–field,thoughwithoutanxietyorhastetogettohiswork,suchasYankeesexhibit.Hewasn'ta–goingtohurthimself.
Hedidn'tcareifheonlyearnedhisboard.
Frequentlyhewouldleavehisdinnerinthebushes,whenhisdoghadcaughtawoodchuckbytheway,andgobackamileandahalftodressitandleaveitinthecellarofthehousewhereheboarded,afterdeliberatingfirstforhalfanhourwhetherhecouldnotsinkitinthepondsafelytillnightfall—lovingtodwelllonguponthesethemes.
Hewouldsay,ashewentbyinthemorning,"Howthickthepigeonsare!
Ifworkingeverydaywerenotmytrade,IcouldgetallthemeatIshouldwantbyhunting–pigeons,woodchucks,rabbits,partridges—bygosh!
IcouldgetallIshouldwantforaweekinoneday."
Hewasaskilfulchopper,andindulgedinsomeflourishesandornamentsinhisart.
Hecuthistreeslevelandclosetotheground,thatthesproutswhichcameupafterwardmightbemorevigorousandasledmightslideoverthestumps;andinsteadofleavingawholetreetosupporthiscordedwood,hewouldpareitawaytoaslenderstakeorsplinterwhichyoucouldbreakoffwithyourhandatlast.
Heinterestedmebecausehewassoquietandsolitaryandsohappywithal;awellofgoodhumorandcontentmentwhichoverflowedathiseyes.Hismirthwaswithoutalloy.
SometimesIsawhimathisworkinthewoods,fellingtrees,andhewouldgreetmewithalaughofinexpressiblesatisfaction,andasalutationinCanadianFrench,thoughhespokeEnglishaswell.
WhenIapproachedhimhewouldsuspendhiswork,andwithhalf–suppressedmirthliealongthetrunkofapinewhichhehadfelled,and,peelingofftheinnerbark,rollitupintoaballandchewitwhilehelaughedandtalked.
Suchanexuberanceofanimalspiritshadhethathesometimestumbleddownandrolledonthegroundwithlaughteratanythingwhichmadehimthinkandtickledhim.
Lookingrounduponthetreeshewouldexclaim—"ByGeorge!
Icanenjoymyselfwellenoughherechopping;Iwantnobettersport."
Sometimes,whenatleisure,heamusedhimselfalldayinthewoodswithapocketpistol,firingsalutestohimselfatregularintervalsashewalked.
Inthewinterhehadafirebywhichatnoonhewarmedhiscoffeeinakettle;andashesatonalogtoeathisdinnerthechickadeeswouldsometimescomeroundandalightonhisarmandpeckatthepotatoinhisfingers;andhesaidthathe"likedtohavethelittlefellersabouthim."
Inhimtheanimalmanchieflywasdeveloped.
Inphysicalenduranceandcontentmenthewascousintothepineandtherock.
Iaskedhimonceifhewasnotsometimestiredatnight,afterworkingallday;andheanswered,withasincereandseriouslook,"Gorrappit,Ineverwastiredinmylife."
Buttheintellectualandwhatiscalledspiritualmaninhimwereslumberingasinaninfant.
HehadbeeninstructedonlyinthatinnocentandineffectualwayinwhichtheCatholicprieststeachtheaborigines,bywhichthepupilisnevereducatedtothedegreeofconsciousness,butonlytothedegreeoftrustandreverence,andachildisnotmadeaman,butkeptachild.
WhenNaturemadehim,shegavehimastrongbodyandcontentmentforhisportion,andproppedhimoneverysidewithreverenceandreliance,thathemightliveouthisthreescoreyearsandtenachild.
Hewassogenuineandunsophisticatedthatnointroductionwouldservetointroducehim,morethanifyouintroducedawoodchucktoyourneighbor.Hehadgottofindhimoutasyoudid.Hewouldnotplayanypart.
Menpaidhimwagesforwork,andsohelpedtofeedandclothehim;butheneverexchangedopinionswiththem.
Hewassosimplyandnaturallyhumble—ifhecanbecalledhumblewhoneveraspires—thathumilitywasnodistinctqualityinhim,norcouldheconceiveofit.Wisermenweredemigodstohim.
Ifyoutoldhimthatsuchaonewascoming,hedidasifhethoughtthatanythingsograndwouldexpectnothingofhimself,buttakealltheresponsibilityonitself,andlethimbeforgottenstill.Heneverheardthesoundofpraise.
Heparticularlyreverencedthewriterandthepreacher.Theirperformancesweremiracles.
WhenItoldhimthatIwroteconsiderably,hethoughtforalongtimethatitwasmerelythehandwritingwhichImeant,forhecouldwritearemarkablygoodhandhimself.
Isometimesfoundthenameofhisnativeparishhandsomelywritteninthesnowbythehighway,withtheproperFrenchaccent,andknewthathehadpassed.
Iaskedhimifheeverwishedtowritehisthoughts.
Hesaidthathehadreadandwrittenlettersforthosewhocouldnot,buthenevertriedtowritethoughts—no,hecouldnot,hecouldnottellwhattoputfirst,itwouldkillhim,andthentherewasspellingtobeattendedtoatthesametime!
Iheardthatadistinguishedwisemanandreformeraskedhimifhedidnotwanttheworldtobechanged;butheansweredwithachuckleofsurpriseinhisCanadianaccent,notknowingthatthequestionhadeverbeenentertainedbefore,"No,Ilikeitwellenough."
Itwouldhavesuggestedmanythingstoaphilosophertohavedealingswithhim.
Toastrangerheappearedtoknownothingofthingsingeneral;yetIsometimessawinhimamanwhomIhadnotseenbefore,andIdidnotknowwhetherhewasaswiseasShakespeareorassimplyignorantasachild,whethertosuspecthimofafinepoeticconsciousnessorofstupidity.
Atownsmantoldmethatwhenhemethimsaunteringthroughthevillageinhissmallclose–fittingcap,andwhistlingtohimself,heremindedhimofaprinceindisguise.
Hisonlybookswereanalmanacandanarithmetic,inwhichlasthewasconsiderablyexpert.
Theformerwasasortofcyclopaediatohim,whichhesupposedtocontainanabstractofhumanknowledge,asindeeditdoestoaconsiderableextent.
Ilovedtosoundhimonthevariousreformsoftheday,andheneverfailedtolookattheminthemostsimpleandpracticallight.
Hehadneverheardofsuchthingsbefore.Couldhedowithoutfactories?Iasked.
Hehadwornthehome–madeVermontgray,hesaid,andthatwasgood.Couldhedispensewithteaandcoffee?
Didthiscountryaffordanybeveragebesidewater?
Hehadsoakedhemlockleavesinwateranddrankit,andthoughtthatwasbetterthanwaterinwarmweather.
WhenIaskedhimifhecoulddowithoutmoney,heshowedtheconvenienceofmoneyinsuchawayastosuggestandcoincidewiththemostphilosophicalaccountsoftheoriginofthisinstitution,andtheveryderivationofthewordpecunia.
Ifanoxwerehisproperty,andhewishedtogetneedlesandthreadatthestore,hethoughtitwouldbeinconvenientandimpossiblesoontogoonmortgagingsomeportionofthecreatureeachtimetothatamount.
Hecoulddefendmanyinstitutionsbetterthananyphilosopher,because,indescribingthemastheyconcernedhim,hegavethetruereasonfortheirprevalence,andspeculationhadnotsuggestedtohimanyother.
Atanothertime,hearingPlato'sdefinitionofaman—abipedwithoutfeathers—andthatoneexhibitedacockpluckedandcalleditPlato'sman,hethoughtitanimportantdifferencethatthekneesbentthewrongway.
Hewouldsometimesexclaim,"HowIlovetotalk!ByGeorge,Icouldtalkallday!"
Iaskedhimonce,whenIhadnotseenhimformanymonths,ifhehadgotanewideathissummer.
"GoodLord"—saidhe,"amanthathastoworkasIdo,ifhedoesnotforgettheideashehashad,hewilldowell.
Maybethemanyouhoewithisinclinedtorace;then,bygorry,yourmindmustbethere;youthinkofweeds."
Hewouldsometimesaskmefirstonsuchoccasions,ifIhadmadeanyimprovement.
OnewinterdayIaskedhimifhewasalwayssatisfiedwithhimself,wishingtosuggestasubstitutewithinhimforthepriestwithout,andsomehighermotiveforliving."Satisfied!"
saidhe;"somemenaresatisfiedwithonething,andsomewithanother.
Oneman,perhaps,ifhehasgotenough,willbesatisfiedtositalldaywithhisbacktothefireandhisbellytothetable,byGeorge!"
YetInever,byanymanoeuvring,couldgethimtotakethespiritualviewofthings;thehighestthatheappearedtoconceiveofwasasimpleexpediency,suchasyoumightexpectananimaltoappreciate;andthis,practically,istrueofmostmen.
IfIsuggestedanyimprovementinhismodeoflife,hemerelyanswered,withoutexpressinganyregret,thatitwastoolate.
Yethethoroughlybelievedinhonestyandthelikevirtues.
Therewasacertainpositiveoriginality,howeverslight,tobedetectedinhim,andIoccasionallyobservedthathewasthinkingforhimselfandexpressinghisownopinion,aphenomenonsorarethatIwouldanydaywalktenmilestoobserveit,anditamountedtothere–originationofmanyoftheinstitutionsofsociety.
Thoughhehesitated,andperhapsfailedtoexpresshimselfdistinctly,healwayshadapresentablethoughtbehind.
Yethisthinkingwassoprimitiveandimmersedinhisanimallife,that,thoughmorepromisingthanamerelylearnedman's,itrarelyripenedtoanythingwhichcanbereported.
Hesuggestedthattheremightbemenofgeniusinthelowestgradesoflife,howeverpermanentlyhumbleandilliterate,whotaketheirownviewalways,ordonotpretendtoseeatall;whoareasbottomlessevenasWaldenPondwasthoughttobe,thoughtheymaybedarkandmuddy.
Manyatravellercameoutofhiswaytoseemeandtheinsideofmyhouse,and,asanexcuseforcalling,askedforaglassofwater.
ItoldthemthatIdrankatthepond,andpointedthither,offeringtolendthemadipper.
FaroffasIlived,Iwasnotexemptedfromtheannualvisitationwhichoccurs,methinks,aboutthefirstofApril,wheneverybodyisonthemove;andIhadmyshareofgoodluck,thoughthereweresomecuriousspecimensamongmyvisitors.
Half–wittedmenfromthealmshouseandelsewherecametoseeme;butIendeavoredtomakethemexerciseallthewittheyhad,andmaketheirconfessionstome;insuchcasesmakingwitthethemeofourconversation;andsowascompensated.
Indeed,Ifoundsomeofthemtobewiserthantheso–calledoverseersofthepoorandselectmenofthetown,andthoughtitwastimethatthetableswereturned.
Withrespecttowit,Ilearnedthattherewasnotmuchdifferencebetweenthehalfandthewhole.
Oneday,inparticular,aninoffensive,simple–mindedpauper,whomwithothersIhadoftenseenusedasfencingstuff,standingorsittingonabushelinthefieldstokeepcattleandhimselffromstraying,visitedme,andexpressedawishtoliveasIdid.
Hetoldme,withtheutmostsimplicityandtruth,quitesuperior,orratherinferior,toanythingthatiscalledhumility,thathewas"deficientinintellect."Thesewerehiswords.
TheLordhadmadehimso,yethesupposedtheLordcaredasmuchforhimasforanother.
"Ihavealwaysbeenso,"saidhe,"frommychildhood;Ineverhadmuchmind;Iwasnotlikeotherchildren;Iamweakinthehead.ItwastheLord'swill,Isuppose."
Andtherehewastoprovethetruthofhiswords.Hewasametaphysicalpuzzletome.
Ihaverarelymetafellowmanonsuchpromisingground—itwassosimpleandsincereandsotrueallthathesaid.
And,trueenough,inproportionasheappearedtohumblehimselfwasheexalted.
Ididnotknowatfirstbutitwastheresultofawisepolicy.
Itseemedthatfromsuchabasisoftruthandfranknessasthepoorweak–headedpauperhadlaid,ourintercoursemightgoforwardtosomethingbetterthantheintercourseofsages.
Ihadsomeguestsfromthosenotreckonedcommonlyamongthetown'spoor,butwhoshouldbe;whoareamongtheworld'spoor,atanyrate;guestswhoappeal,nottoyourhospitality,buttoyourhospitalality;whoearnestlywishtobehelped,andprefacetheirappealwiththeinformationthattheyareresolved,foronething,nevertohelpthemselves.
Irequireofavisitorthathebenotactuallystarving,thoughhemayhavetheverybestappetiteintheworld,howeverhegotit.Objectsofcharityarenotguests.
Menwhodidnotknowwhentheirvisithadterminated,thoughIwentaboutmybusinessagain,answeringthemfromgreaterandgreaterremoteness.
Menofalmosteverydegreeofwitcalledonmeinthemigratingseason.
Somewhohadmorewitsthantheyknewwhattodowith;runawayslaveswithplantationmanners,wholistenedfromtimetotime,likethefoxinthefable,asiftheyheardthehoundsa–bayingontheirtrack,andlookedatmebeseechingly,asmuchastosay,—
"OChristian,willyousendmeback?
Onerealrunawayslave,amongtherest,whomIhelpedtoforwardtowardthenorthstar.
Menofoneidea,likeahenwithonechicken,andthataduckling;menofathousandideas,andunkemptheads,likethosehenswhicharemadetotakechargeofahundredchickens,allinpursuitofonebug,ascoreofthemlostineverymorning'sdew—andbecomefrizzledandmangyinconsequence;menofideasinsteadoflegs,asortofintellectualcentipedethatmadeyoucrawlallover.
Onemanproposedabookinwhichvisitorsshouldwritetheirnames,asattheWhiteMountains;but,alas!
Ihavetoogoodamemorytomakethatnecessary.
Icouldnotbutnoticesomeofthepeculiaritiesofmyvisitors.
Girlsandboysandyoungwomengenerallyseemedgladtobeinthewoods.
Theylookedinthepondandattheflowers,andimprovedtheirtime.
Menofbusiness,evenfarmers,thoughtonlyofsolitudeandemployment,andofthegreatdistanceatwhichIdweltfromsomethingorother;andthoughtheysaidthattheylovedarambleinthewoodsoccasionally,itwasobviousthattheydidnot.
Restlesscommittedmen,whosetimewasantakenupingettingalivingorkeepingit;ministerswhospokeofGodasiftheyenjoyedamonopolyofthesubject,whocouldnotbearallkindsofopinions;doctors,lawyers,uneasyhousekeeperswhopriedintomycupboardandbedwhenIwasout—howcameMrs.—toknowthatmysheetswerenotascleanashers?
—youngmenwhohadceasedtobeyoung,andhadconcludedthatitwassafesttofollowthebeatentrackoftheprofessions—allthesegenerallysaidthatitwasnotpossibletodosomuchgoodinmyposition.Ay!therewastherub.
Theoldandinfirmandthetimid,ofwhateverageorsex,thoughtmostofsickness,andsuddenaccidentanddeath;tothemlifeseemedfullofdanger—whatdangeristhereifyoudon'tthinkofany?
—andtheythoughtthataprudentmanwouldcarefullyselectthesafestposition,whereDr.B.mightbeonhandatamoment'swarning.
Tothemthevillagewasliterallyacommunity,aleagueformutualdefence,andyouwouldsupposethattheywouldnotgoa–huckleberryingwithoutamedicinechest.
Theamountofitis,ifamanisalive,thereisalwaysdangerthathemaydie,thoughthedangermustbeallowedtobelessinproportionasheisdead–and–alivetobeginwith.Amansitsasmanyrisksasheruns.
Finally,thereweretheself–styledreformers,thegreatestboresofall,whothoughtthatIwasforeversinging,—
ThisisthehousethatIbuilt;
ThisisthemanthatlivesinthehousethatIbuilt;
buttheydidnotknowthatthethirdlinewas,
Thesearethefolksthatworrytheman
ThatlivesinthehousethatIbuilt.
Ididnotfearthehen–harriers,forIkeptnochickens;butIfearedthemen–harriersrather.
Ihadmorecheeringvisitorsthanthelast.
Childrencomea–berrying,railroadmentakingaSundaymorningwalkincleanshirts,fishermenandhunters,poetsandphilosophers;inshort,allhonestpilgrims,whocameouttothewoodsforfreedom'ssake,andreallyleftthevillagebehind,Iwasreadytogreetwith—"Welcome,Englishmen!welcome,Englishmen!"
forIhadhadcommunicationwiththatrace.
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