There,too,Iadmired,thoughIdidnotgather,thecranberries,smallwaxengems,pendantsofthemeadowgrass,pearlyandred,whichthefarmerpluckswithanuglyrake,leavingthesmoothmeadowinasnarl,heedlesslymeasuringthembythebushelandthedollaronly,andsellsthespoilsofthemeadstoBostonandNewYork;destinedtobejammed,tosatisfythetastesofloversofNaturethere.
Thebarberry'sbrilliantfruitwaslikewisefoodformyeyesmerely;butIcollectedasmallstoreofwildapplesforcoddling,whichtheproprietorandtravellershadoverlooked.
ItwasveryexcitingatthatseasontoroamthethenboundlesschestnutwoodsofLincoln—theynowsleeptheirlongsleepundertherailroad—withabagonmyshoulder,andasticktoopenburswithinmyhand,forIdidnotalwayswaitforthefrost,amidtherustlingofleavesandtheloudreproofsoftheredsquirrelsandthejays,whosehalf–consumednutsIsometimesstole,fortheburswhichtheyhadselectedweresuretocontainsoundones.
Theygrewalsobehindmyhouse,andonelargetree,whichalmostovershadowedit,was,wheninflower,abouquetwhichscentedthewholeneighborhood,butthesquirrelsandthejaysgotmostofitsfruit;thelastcominginflocksearlyinthemorningandpickingthenutsoutofthebursbeforetheyfell,Irelinquishedthesetreestothemandvisitedthemoredistantwoodscomposedwhollyofchestnut.
Diggingonedayforfishworms,Idiscoveredtheground–nut(Apiostuberosa)onitsstring,thepotatooftheaborigines,asortoffabulousfruit,whichIhadbeguntodoubtifIhadeverdugandeateninchildhood,asIhadtold,andhadnotdreamedit.
Ihadoftensinceseenitscrumpledredvelvetyblossomsupportedbythestemsofotherplantswithoutknowingittobethesame.
ThistuberseemedlikeafaintpromiseofNaturetorearherownchildrenandfeedthemsimplyhereatsomefutureperiod.
Inthesedaysoffattedcattleandwavinggrain–fieldsthishumbleroot,whichwasoncethetotemofanIndiantribe,isquiteforgotten,orknownonlybyitsfloweringvine;butletwildNaturereignhereoncemore,andthetenderandluxuriousEnglishgrainswillprobablydisappearbeforeamyriadoffoes,andwithoutthecareofmanthecrowmaycarrybackeventhelastseedofcorntothegreatcornfieldoftheIndian'sGodinthesouthwest,whenceheissaidtohavebroughtit;butthenowalmostexterminatedground–nutwillperhapsreviveandflourishinspiteoffrostsandwildness,proveitselfindigenous,andresumeitsancientimportanceanddignityasthedietofthehuntertribe.
SomeIndianCeresorMinervamusthavebeentheinventorandbestowerofit;andwhenthereignofpoetrycommenceshere,itsleavesandstringofnutsmayberepresentedonourworksofart.
Already,bythefirstofSeptember,Ihadseentwoorthreesmallmaplesturnedscarletacrossthepond,beneathwherethewhitestemsofthreeaspensdiverged,atthepointofapromontory,nextthewater.Ah,manyataletheircolortold!
Andgraduallyfromweektoweekthecharacterofeachtreecameout,anditadmireditselfreflectedinthesmoothmirrorofthelake.
Eachmorningthemanagerofthisgallerysubstitutedsomenewpicture,distinguishedbymorebrilliantorharmoniouscoloring,fortheolduponthewalls.
ThewaspscamebythousandstomylodgeinOctober,astowinterquarters,andsettledonmywindowswithinandonthewallsoverhead,sometimesdeterringvisitorsfromentering.
Eachmorning,whentheywerenumbedwithcold,Isweptsomeofthemout,butIdidnottroublemyselfmuchtogetridofthem;Ievenfeltcomplimentedbytheirregardingmyhouseasadesirableshelter.
Theynevermolestedmeseriously,thoughtheybeddedwithme;andtheygraduallydisappeared,intowhatcrevicesIdonotknow,avoidingwinterandunspeakablecold.
Likethewasps,beforeIfinallywentintowinterquartersinNovember,IusedtoresorttothenortheastsideofWalden,whichthesun,reflectedfromthepitchpinewoodsandthestonyshore,madethefiresideofthepond;itissomuchpleasanterandwholesomertobewarmedbythesunwhileyoucanbe,thanbyanartificialfire.
Mybricks,beingsecond–handones,requiredtobecleanedwithatrowel,sothatIlearnedmorethanusualofthequalitiesofbricksandtrowels.
Themortaronthemwasfiftyyearsold,andwassaidtobestillgrowingharder;butthisisoneofthosesayingswhichmenlovetorepeatwhethertheyaretrueornot.
Suchsayingsthemselvesgrowharderandadheremorefirmlywithage,anditwouldtakemanyblowswithatroweltocleananoldwiseacreofthem.
ManyofthevillagesofMesopotamiaarebuiltofsecond–handbricksofaverygoodquality,obtainedfromtheruinsofBabylon,andthecementonthemisolderandprobablyharderstill.
Howeverthatmaybe,Iwasstruckbythepeculiartoughnessofthesteelwhichboresomanyviolentblowswithoutbeingwornout.
Asmybrickshadbeeninachimneybefore,thoughIdidnotreadthenameofNebuchadnezzaronthem,IpickedoutitsmanyfireplacebricksasIcouldfind,tosaveworkandwaste,andIfilledthespacesbetweenthebricksaboutthefireplacewithstonesfromthepondshore,andalsomademymortarwiththewhitesandfromthesameplace.
Indeed,Iworkedsodeliberately,thatthoughIcommencedatthegroundinthemorning,acourseofbricksraisedafewinchesabovethefloorservedformypillowatnight;yetIdidnotgetastiffneckforitthatIremember;mystiffneckisofolderdate.
Iwaspleasedtoseemyworkrisingsosquareandsolidbydegrees,andreflected,that,ifitproceededslowly,itwascalculatedtoendurealongtime.
Thechimneyistosomeextentanindependentstructure,standingontheground,andrisingthroughthehousetotheheavens;evenafterthehouseisburneditstillstandssometimes,anditsimportanceandindependenceareapparent.Thiswastowardtheendofsummer.ItwasnowNovember.
Thenorthwindhadalreadybeguntocoolthepond,thoughittookmanyweeksofsteadyblowingtoaccomplishit,itissodeep.
WhenIbegantohaveafireatevening,beforeIplasteredmyhouse,thechimneycarriedsmokeparticularlywell,becauseofthenumerouschinksbetweentheboards.
YetIpassedsomecheerfuleveningsinthatcoolandairyapartment,surroundedbytheroughbrownboardsfullofknots,andrafterswiththebarkonhighoverhead.
Myhouseneverpleasedmyeyesomuchafteritwasplastered,thoughIwasobligedtoconfessthatitwasmorecomfortable.
Shouldnoteveryapartmentinwhichmandwellsbeloftyenoughtocreatesomeobscurityoverhead,whereflickeringshadowsmayplayateveningabouttherafters?
Theseformsaremoreagreeabletothefancyandimaginationthanfrescopaintingsorotherthemostexpensivefurniture.
Ihadgotacoupleofoldfire–dogstokeepthewoodfromthehearth,anditdidmegoodtoseethesootformonthebackofthechimneywhichIhadbuilt,andIpokedthefirewithmorerightandmoresatisfactionthanusual.
Mydwellingwassmall,andIcouldhardlyentertainanechoinit;butitseemedlargerforbeingasingleapartmentandremotefromneighbors.
Alltheattractionsofahousewereconcentratedinoneroom;itwaskitchen,chamber,parlor,andkeeping–room;andwhateversatisfactionparentorchild,masterorservant,derivefromlivinginahouse,Ienjoyeditall.
Catosays,themasterofafamily(patremfamilias)musthaveinhisrusticvilla"cellamoleariam,vinariam,doliamulta,utilubeatcaritatemexpectare,etrei,etvirtuti,etgloriaeerit,"thatis,"anoilandwinecellar,manycasks,sothatitmaybepleasanttoexpecthardtimes;itwillbeforhisadvantage,andvirtue,andglory."
Ihadinmycellarafirkinofpotatoes,abouttwoquartsofpeaswiththeweevilinthem,andonmyshelfalittlerice,ajugofmolasses,andofryeandIndianmealapeckeach.
Isometimesdreamofalargerandmorepopuloushouse,standinginagoldenage,ofenduringmaterials,andwithoutgingerbreadwork,whichshallstillconsistofonlyoneroom,avast,rude,substantial,primitivehall,withoutceilingorplastering,withbareraftersandpurlinssupportingasortoflowerheavenoverone'shead—usefultokeepoffrainandsnow,wherethekingandqueenpostsstandouttoreceiveyourhomage,whenyouhavedonereverencetotheprostrateSaturnofanolderdynastyonsteppingoverthesill;acavernoushouse,whereinyoumustreachupatorchuponapoletoseetheroof;wheresomemayliveinthefireplace,someintherecessofawindow,andsomeonsettles,someatoneendofthehall,someatanother,andsomealoftonrafterswiththespiders,iftheychoose;ahousewhichyouhavegotintowhenyouhaveopenedtheoutsidedoor,andtheceremonyisover;wherethewearytravellermaywash,andeat,andconverse,andsleep,withoutfurtherjourney;suchashelterasyouwouldbegladtoreachinatempestuousnight,containingalltheessentialsofahouse,andnothingforhouse–keeping;whereyoucanseeallthetreasuresofthehouseatoneview,andeverythinghangsuponitspeg,thatamanshoulduse;atoncekitchen,pantry,parlor,chamber,storehouse,andgarret;whereyoucanseesonecessaryathing,asabarreloraladder,soconvenientathingasacupboard,andhearthepotboil,andpayyourrespectstothefirethatcooksyourdinner,andtheoventhatbakesyourbread,andthenecessaryfurnitureandutensilsarethechiefornaments;wherethewashingisnotputout,northefire,northemistress,andperhapsyouaresometimesrequestedtomovefromoffthetrap–door,whenthecookwoulddescendintothecellar,andsolearnwhetherthegroundissolidorhollowbeneathyouwithoutstamping.
Ahousewhoseinsideisasopenandmanifestasabird'snest,andyoucannotgoinatthefrontdoorandoutatthebackwithoutseeingsomeofitsinhabitants;wheretobeaguestistobepresentedwiththefreedomofthehouse,andnottobecarefullyexcludedfromseveneighthsofit,shutupinaparticularcell,andtoldtomakeyourselfathomethere—insolitaryconfinement.
Nowadaysthehostdoesnotadmityoutohishearth,buthasgotthemasontobuildoneforyourselfsomewhereinhisalley,andhospitalityistheartofkeepingyouatthegreatestdistance.
IamawarethatIhavebeenonmanyaman'spremises,andmighthavebeenlegallyorderedoff,butIamnotawarethatIhavebeeninmanymen'shouses.
ImightvisitinmyoldclothesakingandqueenwholivedsimplyinsuchahouseasIhavedescribed,ifIweregoingtheirway;butbackingoutofamodernpalacewillbeallthatIshalldesiretolearn,ifeverIamcaughtinone.
Itwouldseemasiftheverylanguageofourparlorswouldloseallitsnerveanddegenerateintopalaverwholly,ourlivespassatsuchremotenessfromitssymbols,anditsmetaphorsandtropesarenecessarilysofarfetched,throughslidesanddumb–waiters,asitwere;inotherwords,theparlorissofarfromthekitchenandworkshop.
Howcanthescholar,whodwellsawayintheNorthWestTerritoryortheIsleofMan,tellwhatisparliamentaryinthekitchen?
However,onlyoneortwoofmyguestswereeverboldenoughtostayandeatahasty–puddingwithme;butwhentheysawthatcrisisapproachingtheybeatahastyretreatrather,asifitwouldshakethehousetoitsfoundations.
Ibroughtoversomewhiterandcleanersandforthispurposefromtheoppositeshoreofthepondinaboat,asortofconveyancewhichwouldhavetemptedmetogomuchfartherifnecessary.
InlathingIwaspleasedtobeabletosendhomeeachnailwithasingleblowofthehammer,anditwasmyambitiontotransfertheplasterfromtheboardtothewallneatlyandrapidly.
Irememberedthestoryofaconceitedfellow,who,infineclothes,waswonttoloungeaboutthevillageonce,givingadvicetoworkmen.
Venturingonedaytosubstitutedeedsforwords,heturneduphiscuffs,seizedaplasterer'sboard,andhavingloadedhistrowelwithoutmishap,withacomplacentlooktowardthelathingoverhead,madeaboldgesturethitherward;andstraightway,tohiscompletediscomfiture,receivedthewholecontentsinhisruffledbosom.
Iadmiredanewtheeconomyandconvenienceofplastering,whichsoeffectuallyshutsoutthecoldandtakesahandsomefinish,andIlearnedthevariouscasualtiestowhichtheplastererisliable.
IwassurprisedtoseehowthirstythebrickswerewhichdrankupallthemoistureinmyplasterbeforeIhadsmoothedit,andhowmanypailfulsofwaterittakestochristenanewhearth.
IhadthepreviouswintermadeasmallquantityoflimebyburningtheshellsoftheUniofluviatilis,whichourriveraffords,forthesakeoftheexperiment;sothatIknewwheremymaterialscamefrom.
Thepondhadinthemeanwhileskimmedoverintheshadiestandshallowestcoves,somedaysorevenweeksbeforethegeneralfreezing.
Thefirsticeisespeciallyinterestingandperfect,beinghard,dark,andtransparent,andaffordsthebestopportunitythateveroffersforexaminingthebottomwhereitisshallow;foryoucanlieatyourlengthoniceonlyaninchthick,likeaskaterinsectonthesurfaceofthewater,andstudythebottomatyourleisure,onlytwoorthreeinchesdistant,likeapicturebehindaglass,andthewaterisnecessarilyalwayssmooththen.
Therearemanyfurrowsinthesandwheresomecreaturehastravelledaboutanddoubledonitstracks;and,forwrecks,itisstrewnwiththecasesofcaddis–wormsmadeofminutegrainsofwhitequartz.
Perhapsthesehavecreasedit,foryoufindsomeoftheircasesinthefurrows,thoughtheyaredeepandbroadforthemtomake.
Ifyouexamineitcloselythemorningafteritfreezes,youfindthatthegreaterpartofthebubbles,whichatfirstappearedtobewithinit,areagainstitsundersurface,andthatmorearecontinuallyrisingfromthebottom;whiletheiceisasyetcomparativelysolidanddark,thatis,youseethewaterthroughit.
Thesebubblesarefromaneightiethtoaneighthofaninchindiameter,veryclearandbeautiful,andyouseeyourfacereflectedinthemthroughtheice.
Therearealsoalreadywithintheicenarrowoblongperpendicularbubblesabouthalfaninchlong,sharpconeswiththeapexupward;oroftener,iftheiceisquitefresh,minutesphericalbubblesonedirectlyaboveanother,likeastringofbeads.
Isometimesusedtocastonstonestotrythestrengthoftheice,andthosewhichbrokethroughcarriedinairwiththem,whichformedverylargeandconspicuouswhitebubblesbeneath.
OnedaywhenIcametothesameplaceforty–eighthoursafterward,Ifoundthatthoselargebubbleswerestillperfect,thoughaninchmoreoficehadformed,asIcouldseedistinctlybytheseamintheedgeofacake.
Butasthelasttwodayshadbeenverywarm,likeanIndiansummer,theicewasnotnowtransparent,showingthedarkgreencolorofthewater,andthebottom,butopaqueandwhitishorgray,andthoughtwiceasthickwashardlystrongerthanbefore,fortheairbubbleshadgreatlyexpandedunderthisheatandruntogether,andlosttheirregularity;theywerenolongeronedirectlyoveranother,butoftenlikesilverycoinspouredfromabag,oneoverlappinganother,orinthinflakes,asifoccupyingslightcleavages.
Beingcurioustoknowwhatpositionmygreatbubblesoccupiedwithregardtothenewice,Ibrokeoutacakecontainingamiddlingsizedone,andturneditbottomupward.
Itwaswhollyinthelowerice,butcloseagainsttheupper,andwasflattish,orperhapsslightlylenticular,witharoundededge,aquarterofaninchdeepbyfourinchesindiameter;andIwassurprisedtofindthatdirectlyunderthebubbletheicewasmeltedwithgreatregularityintheformofasaucerreversed,totheheightoffiveeighthsofaninchinthemiddle,leavingathinpartitiontherebetweenthewaterandthebubble,hardlyaneighthofaninchthick;andinmanyplacesthesmallbubblesinthispartitionhadburstoutdownward,andprobablytherewasnoiceatallunderthelargestbubbles,whichwereafootindiameter.
IinferredthattheinfinitenumberofminutebubbleswhichIhadfirstseenagainsttheundersurfaceoftheicewerenowfrozeninlikewise,andthateach,initsdegree,hadoperatedlikeaburning–glassontheicebeneathtomeltandrotit.
Atlengththewintersetingoodearnest,justasIhadfinishedplastering,andthewindbegantohowlaroundthehouseasifithadnothadpermissiontodosotillthen.
Nightafternightthegeesecamelumberinginthedarkwithaclangorandawhistlingofwings,evenafterthegroundwascoveredwithsnow,sometoalightinWalden,andsomeflyinglowoverthewoodstowardFairHaven,boundforMexico.
Severaltimes,whenreturningfromthevillageattenoreleveno'clockatnight,Iheardthetreadofaflockofgeese,orelseducks,onthedryleavesinthewoodsbyapond–holebehindmydwelling,wheretheyhadcomeuptofeed,andthefainthonkorquackoftheirleaderastheyhurriedoff.
In1845Waldenfrozeentirelyoverforthefirsttimeonthenightofthe22dofDecember,Flint'sandothershallowerpondsandtheriverhavingbeenfrozentendaysormore;in'46,the16th;in'49,aboutthe31st;andin'50,aboutthe27thofDecember;in'52,the5thofJanuary;in'53,the31stofDecember.
Thesnowhadalreadycoveredthegroundsincethe25thofNovember,andsurroundedmesuddenlywiththesceneryofwinter.
Myemploymentoutofdoorsnowwastocollectthedeadwoodintheforest,bringingitinmyhandsoronmyshoulders,orsometimestrailingadeadpinetreeundereacharmtomyshed.
Howmuchmoreinterestinganeventisthatman'ssupperwhohasjustbeenforthinthesnowtohunt,nay,youmightsay,steal,thefueltocookitwith!Hisbreadandmeataresweet.
Thereareenoughfagotsandwastewoodofallkindsintheforestsofmostofourtownstosupportmanyfires,butwhichatpresentwarmnone,and,somethink,hinderthegrowthoftheyoungwood.
InthecourseofthesummerIhaddiscoveredaraftofpitchpinelogswiththebarkon,pinnedtogetherbytheIrishwhentherailroadwasbuilt.ThisIhauleduppartlyontheshore.
Iamusedmyselfonewinterdaywithslidingthispiecemealacrossthepond,nearlyhalfamile,skatingbehindwithoneendofalogfifteenfeetlongonmyshoulder,andtheotherontheice;orItiedseverallogstogetherwithabirchwithe,andthen,withalongerbirchoralderwhichhadabookattheend,draggedthemacross.
Thoughcompletelywaterloggedandalmostasheavyaslead,theynotonlyburnedlong,butmadeaveryhotfire;nay,Ithoughtthattheyburnedbetterforthesoaking,asifthepitch,beingconfinedbythewater,burnedlonger,asinalamp.
Gilpin,inhisaccountoftheforestborderersofEngland,saysthat"theencroachmentsoftrespassers,andthehousesandfencesthusraisedonthebordersoftheforest,"were"consideredasgreatnuisancesbytheoldforestlaw,andwereseverelypunishedunderthenameofpurprestures,astendingadterroremferarum—adnocumentumforestae,etc.,"tothefrighteningofthegameandthedetrimentoftheforest.
ButIwasinterestedinthepreservationofthevenisonandthevertmorethanthehuntersorwoodchoppers,andasmuchasthoughIhadbeentheLordWardenhimself;andifanypartwasburned,thoughIburneditmyselfbyaccident,Igrievedwithagriefthatlastedlongerandwasmoreinconsolablethanthatoftheproprietors;nay,Igrievedwhenitwascutdownbytheproprietorsthemselves.
IwouldthatourfarmerswhentheycutdownaforestfeltsomeofthatawewhichtheoldRomansdidwhentheycametothin,orletinthelightto,aconsecratedgrove(lucumconlucare),thatis,wouldbelievethatitissacredtosomegod.
TheRomanmadeanexpiatoryoffering,andprayed,Whatevergodorgoddessthouarttowhomthisgroveissacred,bepropitioustome,myfamily,andchildren,etc.
Itisremarkablewhatavalueisstillputuponwoodeveninthisageandinthisnewcountry,avaluemorepermanentanduniversalthanthatofgold.
Michaux,morethanthirtyyearsago,saysthatthepriceofwoodforfuelinNewYorkandPhiladelphia"nearlyequals,andsometimesexceeds,thatofthebestwoodinParis,thoughthisimmensecapitalannuallyrequiresmorethanthreehundredthousandcords,andissurroundedtothedistanceofthreehundredmilesbycultivatedplains."
Inthistownthepriceofwoodrisesalmoststeadily,andtheonlyquestionis,howmuchhigheritistobethisyearthanitwasthelast.
Mechanicsandtradesmenwhocomeinpersontotheforestonnoothererrand,aresuretoattendthewoodauction,andevenpayahighpricefortheprivilegeofgleaningafterthewoodchopper.
Itisnowmanyyearsthatmenhaveresortedtotheforestforfuelandthematerialsofthearts:theNewEnglanderandtheNewHollander,theParisianandtheCelt,thefarmerandRobinHood,GoodyBlakeandHarryGill;inmostpartsoftheworldtheprinceandthepeasant,thescholarandthesavage,equallyrequirestillafewsticksfromtheforesttowarmthemandcooktheirfood.NeithercouldIdowithoutthem.
Ihadanoldaxewhichnobodyclaimed,withwhichbyspellsinwinterdays,onthesunnysideofthehouse,IplayedaboutthestumpswhichIhadgotoutofmybean–field.
AsmydriverprophesiedwhenIwasplowing,theywarmedmetwice—oncewhileIwassplittingthem,andagainwhentheywereonthefire,sothatnofuelcouldgiveoutmoreheat.
Asfortheaxe,Iwasadvisedtogetthevillageblacksmithto"jump"it;butIjumpedhim,and,puttingahickoryhelvefromthewoodsintoit,madeitdo.
InpreviousyearsIhadoftengoneprospectingoversomebarehillside,whereapitchpinewoodhadformerlystood,andgotoutthefatpineroots.Theyarealmostindestructible.
Stumpsthirtyorfortyyearsold,atleast,willstillbesoundatthecore,thoughthesapwoodhasallbecomevegetablemould,asappearsbythescalesofthethickbarkformingaringlevelwiththeearthfourorfiveinchesdistantfromtheheart.
Withaxeandshovelyouexplorethismine,andfollowthemarrowystore,yellowasbeeftallow,orasifyouhadstruckonaveinofgold,deepintotheearth.
Greenhickoryfinelysplitmakesthewoodchopper'skindlings,whenhehasacampinthewoods.OnceinawhileIgotalittleofthis.
Whenthevillagerswerelightingtheirfiresbeyondthehorizon,ItoogavenoticetothevariouswildinhabitantsofWaldenvale,byasmokystreamerfrommychimney,thatIwasawake.—
IsometimesleftagoodfirewhenIwenttotakeawalkinawinterafternoon;andwhenIreturned,threeorfourhoursafterward,itwouldbestillaliveandglowing.
Oneday,however,asIwassplittingwood,IthoughtthatIwouldjustlookinatthewindowandseeifthehousewasnotonfire;itwastheonlytimeIremembertohavebeenparticularlyanxiousonthisscore;soIlookedandsawthatasparkhadcaughtmybed,andIwentinandextinguisheditwhenithadburnedaplaceasbigasmyhand.
Butmyhouseoccupiedsosunnyandshelteredaposition,anditsroofwassolow,thatIcouldaffordtoletthefiregooutinthemiddleofalmostanywinterday.
Themolesnestedinmycellar,nibblingeverythirdpotato,andmakingasnugbedeventhereofsomehairleftafterplasteringandofbrownpaper;foreventhewildestanimalslovecomfortandwarmthaswellasman,andtheysurvivethewinteronlybecausetheyaresocarefultosecurethem.
Theanimalmerelymakesabed,whichhewarmswithhisbody,inashelteredplace;butman,havingdiscoveredfire,boxesupsomeairinaspaciousapartment,andwarmsthat,insteadofrobbinghimself,makesthathisbed,inwhichhecanmoveaboutdivestedofmorecumbrousclothing,maintainakindofsummerinthemidstofwinter,andbymeansofwindowsevenadmitthelight,andwithalamplengthenouttheday.
Though,whenIhadbeenexposedtotherudestblastsalongtime,mywholebodybegantogrowtorpid,whenIreachedthegenialatmosphereofmyhouseIsoonrecoveredmyfacultiesandprolongedmylife.
Butthemostluxuriouslyhousedhaslittletoboastofinthisrespect,norneedwetroubleourselvestospeculatehowthehumanracemaybeatlastdestroyed.
WegoondatingfromColdFridaysandGreatSnows;butalittlecolderFriday,orgreatersnowwouldputaperiodtoman'sexistenceontheglobe.
ThenextwinterIusedasmallcooking–stoveforeconomy,sinceIdidnotowntheforest;butitdidnotkeepfiresowellastheopenfireplace.
Itwillsoonbeforgotten,inthesedaysofstoves,thatweusedtoroastpotatoesintheashes,aftertheIndianfashion.
Thestovenotonlytookuproomandscentedthehouse,butitconcealedthefire,andIfeltasifIhadlostacompanion.Youcanalwaysseeafaceinthefire.
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