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AfterastillwinternightIawokewiththeimpressionthatsomequestionhadbeenputtome,whichIhadbeenendeavoringinvaintoanswerinmysleep,aswhat—how—when—where?
ButtherewasdawningNature,inwhomallcreatureslive,lookinginatmybroadwindowswithsereneandsatisfiedface,andnoquestiononherlips.
Iawoketoanansweredquestion,toNatureanddaylight.
Thesnowlyingdeepontheearthdottedwithyoungpines,andtheveryslopeofthehillonwhichmyhouseisplaced,seemedtosay,Forward!
Natureputsnoquestionandanswersnonewhichwemortalsask.Shehaslongagotakenherresolution.
"OPrince,oureyescontemplatewithadmirationandtransmittothesoulthewonderfulandvariedspectacleofthisuniverse.
Thenightveilswithoutdoubtapartofthisgloriouscreation;butdaycomestorevealtousthisgreatwork,whichextendsfromearthevenintotheplainsoftheether."
Thentomymorningwork.FirstItakeanaxeandpailandgoinsearchofwater,ifthatbenotadream.
Afteracoldandsnowynightitneededadivining–rodtofindit.
Everywintertheliquidandtremblingsurfaceofthepond,whichwassosensitivetoeverybreath,andreflectedeverylightandshadow,becomessolidtothedepthofafootorafootandahalf,sothatitwillsupporttheheaviestteams,andperchancethesnowcoversittoanequaldepth,anditisnottobedistinguishedfromanylevelfield.
Likethemarmotsinthesurroundinghills,itclosesitseyelidsandbecomesdormantforthreemonthsormore.
Standingonthesnow–coveredplain,asifinapastureamidthehills,Icutmywayfirstthroughafootofsnow,andthenafootofice,andopenawindowundermyfeet,where,kneelingtodrink,Ilookdownintothequietparlorofthefishes,pervadedbyasoftenedlightasthroughawindowofgroundglass,withitsbrightsandedfloorthesameasinsummer;thereaperennialwavelessserenityreignsasintheambertwilightsky,correspondingtothecoolandeventemperamentoftheinhabitants.
Heavenisunderourfeetiswellasoverourheads.
Earlyinthemorning,whileallthingsarecrispwithfrost,mencomewithfishing–reelsandslenderlunch,andletdowntheirfinelinesthroughthesnowyfieldtotakepickerelandperch;wildmen,whoinstinctivelyfollowotherfashionsandtrustotherauthoritiesthantheirtownsmen,andbytheirgoingsandcomingsstitchtownstogetherinpartswhereelsetheywouldberipped.
Theysitandeattheirluncheoninstoutfear–naughtsonthedryoakleavesontheshore,aswiseinnaturalloreasthecitizenisinartificial.
Theyneverconsultedwithbooks,andknowandcantellmuchlessthantheyhavedone.
Thethingswhichtheypracticearesaidnotyettobeknown.
Hereisonefishingforpickerelwithgrownperchforbait.
Youlookintohispailwithwonderasintoasummerpond,asifhekeptsummerlockedupathome,orknewwhereshehadretreated.
How,pray,didhegettheseinmidwinter?
Oh,hegotwormsoutofrottenlogssincethegroundfroze,andsohecaughtthem.
Hislifeitselfpassesdeeperinnaturethanthestudiesofthenaturalistpenetrate;himselfasubjectforthenaturalist.
Thelatterraisesthemossandbarkgentlywithhisknifeinsearchofinsects;theformerlaysopenlogstotheircorewithhisaxe,andmossandbarkflyfarandwide.Hegetshislivingbybarkingtrees.
Suchamanhassomerighttofish,andIlovetoseenaturecarriedoutinhim.
Theperchswallowsthegrub–worm,thepickerelswallowstheperch,andthefisher–manswallowsthepickerel;andsoallthechinksinthescaleofbeingarefilled.
WhenIstrolledaroundthepondinmistyweatherIwassometimesamusedbytheprimitivemodewhichsomeruderfishermanhadadopted.
Hewouldperhapshaveplacedalderbranchesoverthenarrowholesintheice,whichwerefourorfiverodsapartandanequaldistancefromtheshore,andhavingfastenedtheendofthelinetoasticktopreventitsbeingpulledthrough,havepassedtheslacklineoveratwigofthealder,afootormoreabovetheice,andtiedadryoakleaftoit,which,beingpulleddown,wouldshowwhenhehadabite.
Thesealdersloomedthroughthemistatregularintervalsasyouwalkedhalfwayroundthepond.
Ah,thepickerelofWalden!whenIseethemlyingontheice,orinthewellwhichthefishermancutsintheice,makingalittleholetoadmitthewater,Iamalwayssurprisedbytheirrarebeauty,asiftheywerefabulousfishes,theyaresoforeigntothestreets,eventothewoods,foreignasArabiatoourConcordlife.
Theypossessaquitedazzlingandtranscendentbeautywhichseparatesthembyawideintervalfromthecadaverouscodandhaddockwhosefameistrumpetedinourstreets.
Theyarenotgreenlikethepines,norgraylikethestones,norbluelikethesky;buttheyhave,tomyeyes,ifpossible,yetrarercolors,likeflowersandpreciousstones,asiftheywerethepearls,theanimalizednucleiorcrystalsoftheWaldenwater.
They,ofcourse,areWaldenalloverandallthrough;arethemselvessmallWaldensintheanimalkingdom,Waldenses.
Itissurprisingthattheyarecaughthere—thatinthisdeepandcapaciousspring,farbeneaththerattlingteamsandchaisesandtinklingsleighsthattraveltheWaldenroad,thisgreatgoldandemeraldfishswims.
Ineverchancedtoseeitskindinanymarket;itwouldbethecynosureofalleyesthere.
Easily,withafewconvulsivequirks,theygiveuptheirwateryghosts,likeamortaltranslatedbeforehistimetothethinairofheaven.
AsIwasdesiroustorecoverthelonglostbottomofWaldenPond,Isurveyeditcarefully,beforetheicebrokeup,earlyin'46,withcompassandchainandsoundingline.
Therehavebeenmanystoriestoldaboutthebottom,orrathernobottom,ofthispond,whichcertainlyhadnofoundationforthemselves.
Itisremarkablehowlongmenwillbelieveinthebottomlessnessofapondwithouttakingthetroubletosoundit.
IhavevisitedtwosuchBottomlessPondsinonewalkinthisneighborhood.
ManyhavebelievedthatWaldenreachedquitethroughtotheothersideoftheglobe.
Somewhohavelainflatontheiceforalongtime,lookingdownthroughtheillusivemedium,perchancewithwateryeyesintothebargain,anddriventohastyconclusionsbythefearofcatchingcoldintheirbreasts,haveseenvastholes"intowhichaloadofhaymightbedriven,"iftherewereanybodytodriveit,theundoubtedsourceoftheStyxandentrancetotheInfernalRegionsfromtheseparts.
Othershavegonedownfromthevillagewitha"fifty–six"andawagonloadofinchrope,butyethavefailedtofindanybottom;forwhilethe"fifty–six"wasrestingbytheway,theywerepayingouttheropeinthevainattempttofathomtheirtrulyimmeasurablecapacityformarvellousness.
ButIcanassuremyreadersthatWaldenhasareasonablytightbottomatanotunreasonable,thoughatanunusual,depth.
Ifathomediteasilywithacod–lineandastoneweighingaboutapoundandahalf,andcouldtellaccuratelywhenthestoneleftthebottom,byhavingtopullsomuchharderbeforethewatergotunderneathtohelpme.
Thegreatestdepthwasexactlyonehundredandtwofeet;towhichmaybeaddedthefivefeetwhichithasrisensince,makingonehundredandseven.
Thisisaremarkabledepthforsosmallanarea;yetnotaninchofitcanbesparedbytheimagination.Whatifallpondswereshallow?Woulditnotreactonthemindsofmen?
Iamthankfulthatthispondwasmadedeepandpureforasymbol.
Whilemenbelieveintheinfinitesomepondswillbethoughttobebottomless.
Afactory–owner,hearingwhatdepthIhadfound,thoughtthatitcouldnotbetrue,for,judgingfromhisacquaintancewithdams,sandwouldnotlieatsosteepanangle.
Butthedeepestpondsarenotsodeepinproportiontotheirareaasmostsuppose,and,ifdrained,wouldnotleaveveryremarkablevalleys.
Theyarenotlikecupsbetweenthehills;forthisone,whichissounusuallydeepforitsarea,appearsinaverticalsectionthroughitscentrenotdeeperthanashallowplate.
Mostponds,emptied,wouldleaveameadownomorehollowthanwefrequentlysee.
WilliamGilpin,whoissoadmirableinallthatrelatestolandscapes,andusuallysocorrect,standingattheheadofLochFyne,inScotland,whichhedescribesas"abayofsaltwater,sixtyorseventyfathomsdeep,fourmilesinbreadth,"andaboutfiftymileslong,surroundedbymountains,observes,"Ifwecouldhaveseenitimmediatelyafterthediluviancrash,orwhateverconvulsionofnatureoccasionedit,beforethewatersgushedin,whatahorridchasmmustithaveappeared!
"Sohighasheavedthetumidhills,solow
Downsunkahollowbottombroadanddeep,
Capaciousbedofwaters."
Butif,usingtheshortestdiameterofLochFyne,weapplytheseproportionstoWalden,which,aswehaveseen,appearsalreadyinaverticalsectiononlylikeashallowplate,itwillappearfourtimesasshallow.
SomuchfortheincreasedhorrorsofthechasmofLochFynewhenemptied.
Nodoubtmanyasmilingvalleywithitsstretchingcornfieldsoccupiesexactlysucha"horridchasm,"fromwhichthewatershavereceded,thoughitrequirestheinsightandthefarsightofthegeologisttoconvincetheunsuspectinginhabitantsofthisfact.
Oftenaninquisitiveeyemaydetecttheshoresofaprimitivelakeinthelowhorizonhills,andnosubsequentelevationoftheplainhavebeennecessarytoconcealtheirhistory.
Butitiseasiest,astheywhoworkonthehighwaysknow,tofindthehollowsbythepuddlesafterashower.
Theamountofitis,theimaginationgiveittheleastlicense,divesdeeperandsoarshigherthanNaturegoes.
So,probably,thedepthoftheoceanwillbefoundtobeveryinconsiderablecomparedwithitsbreadth.
AsIsoundedthroughtheiceIcoulddeterminetheshapeofthebottomwithgreateraccuracythanispossibleinsurveyingharborswhichdonotfreezeover,andIwassurprisedatitsgeneralregularity.
Inthedeepestpartthereareseveralacresmorelevelthanalmostanyfieldwhichisexposedtothesun,wind,andplow.
Inoneinstance,onalinearbitrarilychosen,thedepthdidnotvarymorethanonefootinthirtyrods;andgenerally,nearthemiddle,Icouldcalculatethevariationforeachonehundredfeetinanydirectionbeforehandwithinthreeorfourinches.
Someareaccustomedtospeakofdeepanddangerousholeseveninquietsandypondslikethis,buttheeffectofwaterunderthesecircumstancesistolevelallinequalities.
Theregularityofthebottomanditsconformitytotheshoresandtherangeoftheneighboringhillsweresoperfectthatadistantpromontorybetrayeditselfinthesoundingsquiteacrossthepond,anditsdirectioncouldbedeterminedbyobservingtheoppositeshore.
Capebecomesbar,andplainshoal,andvalleyandgorgedeepwaterandchannel.
WhenIhadmappedthepondbythescaleoftenrodstoaninch,andputdownthesoundings,morethanahundredinall,Iobservedthisremarkablecoincidence.
Havingnoticedthatthenumberindicatingthegreatestdepthwasapparentlyinthecentreofthemap,Ilaidaruleonthemaplengthwise,andthenbreadthwise,andfound,tomysurprise,thatthelineofgreatestlengthintersectedthelineofgreatestbreadthexactlyatthepointofgreatestdepth,notwithstandingthatthemiddleissonearlylevel,theoutlineofthepondfarfromregular,andtheextremelengthandbreadthweregotbymeasuringintothecoves;andIsaidtomyself,Whoknowsbutthishintwouldconducttothedeepestpartoftheoceanaswellasofapondorpuddle?
Isnotthistherulealsofortheheightofmountains,regardedastheoppositeofvalleys?
Weknowthatahillisnothighestatitsnarrowestpart.
Offivecoves,three,orallwhichhadbeensounded,wereobservedtohaveabarquiteacrosstheirmouthsanddeeperwaterwithin,sothatthebaytendedtobeanexpansionofwaterwithinthelandnotonlyhorizontallybutvertically,andtoformabasinorindependentpond,thedirectionofthetwocapesshowingthecourseofthebar.
Everyharboronthesea–coast,also,hasitsbaratitsentrance.
Inproportionasthemouthofthecovewaswidercomparedwithitslength,thewateroverthebarwasdeepercomparedwiththatinthebasin.
Given,then,thelengthandbreadthofthecove,andthecharacterofthesurroundingshore,andyouhavealmostelementsenoughtomakeoutaformulaforallcases.
InordertoseehownearlyIcouldguess,withthisexperience,atthedeepestpointinapond,byobservingtheoutlinesofasurfaceandthecharacterofitsshoresalone,ImadeaplanofWhitePond,whichcontainsaboutforty–oneacres,and,likethis,hasnoislandinit,noranyvisibleinletoroutlet;andasthelineofgreatestbreadthfellverynearthelineofleastbreadth,wheretwooppositecapesapproachedeachotherandtwooppositebaysreceded,Iventuredtomarkapointashortdistancefromthelatterline,butstillonthelineofgreatestlength,asthedeepest.
Thedeepestpartwasfoundtobewithinonehundredfeetofthis,stillfartherinthedirectiontowhichIhadinclined,andwasonlyonefootdeeper,namely,sixtyfeet.
Ofcourse,astreamrunningthrough,oranislandinthepond,wouldmaketheproblemmuchmorecomplicated.
IfweknewallthelawsofNature,weshouldneedonlyonefact,orthedescriptionofoneactualphenomenon,toinferalltheparticularresultsatthatpoint.
Nowweknowonlyafewlaws,andourresultisvitiated,not,ofcourse,byanyconfusionorirregularityinNature,butbyourignoranceofessentialelementsinthecalculation.
Ournotionsoflawandharmonyarecommonlyconfinedtothoseinstanceswhichwedetect;buttheharmonywhichresultsfromafargreaternumberofseeminglyconflicting,butreallyconcurring,laws,whichwehavenotdetected,isstillmorewonderful.
Theparticularlawsareasourpointsofview,as,tothetraveller,amountainoutlinevarieswitheverystep,andithasaninfinitenumberofprofiles,thoughabsolutelybutoneform.
Evenwhencleftorboredthroughitisnotcomprehendedinitsentireness.
WhatIhaveobservedofthepondisnolesstrueinethics.Itisthelawofaverage.
Sucharuleofthetwodiametersnotonlyguidesustowardthesuninthesystemandtheheartinman,butdrawslinesthroughthelengthandbreadthoftheaggregateofaman'sparticulardailybehaviorsandwavesoflifeintohiscovesandinlets,andwheretheyintersectwillbetheheightordepthofhischaracter.
Perhapsweneedonlytoknowhowhisshorestrendandhisadjacentcountryorcircumstances,toinferhisdepthandconcealedbottom.
Ifheissurroundedbymountainouscircumstances,anAchilleanshore,whosepeaksovershadowandarereflectedinhisbosom,theysuggestacorrespondingdepthinhim.
Butalowandsmoothshoreproveshimshallowonthatside.
Inourbodies,aboldprojectingbrowfallsofftoandindicatesacorrespondingdepthofthought.
Alsothereisabaracrosstheentranceofoureverycove,orparticularinclination;eachisourharborforaseason,inwhichwearedetainedandpartiallyland–locked.
Theseinclinationsarenotwhimsicalusually,buttheirform,size,anddirectionaredeterminedbythepromontoriesoftheshore,theancientaxesofelevation.
Whenthisbarisgraduallyincreasedbystorms,tides,orcurrents,orthereisasubsidenceofthewaters,sothatitreachestothesurface,thatwhichwasatfirstbutaninclinationintheshoreinwhichathoughtwasharboredbecomesanindividuallake,cutofffromtheocean,whereinthethoughtsecuresitsownconditions—changes,perhaps,fromsalttofresh,becomesasweetsea,deadsea,oramarsh.
Attheadventofeachindividualintothislife,maywenotsupposethatsuchabarhasrisentothesurfacesomewhere?
Itistrue,wearesuchpoornavigatorsthatourthoughts,forthemostpart,standoffandonuponaharborlesscoast,areconversantonlywiththebightsofthebaysofpoesy,orsteerforthepublicportsofentry,andgointothedrydocksofscience,wheretheymerelyrefitforthisworld,andnonaturalcurrentsconcurtoindividualizethem.
AsfortheinletoroutletofWalden,Ihavenotdiscoveredanybutrainandsnowandevaporation,thoughperhaps,withathermometerandaline,suchplacesmaybefound,forwherethewaterflowsintotheponditwillprobablybecoldestinsummerandwarmestinwinter.
Whentheice–menwereatworkherein'46–7,thecakessenttotheshorewereonedayrejectedbythosewhowerestackingthemupthere,notbeingthickenoughtoliesidebysidewiththerest;andthecuttersthusdiscoveredthattheiceoverasmallspacewastwoorthreeinchesthinnerthanelsewhere,whichmadethemthinkthattherewasaninletthere.
Theyalsoshowedmeinanotherplacewhattheythoughtwasa"leach–hole,"throughwhichthepondleakedoutunderahillintoaneighboringmeadow,pushingmeoutonacakeoficetoseeit.
Itwasasmallcavityundertenfeetofwater;butIthinkthatIcanwarrantthepondnottoneedsolderingtilltheyfindaworseleakthanthat.
Onehassuggested,thatifsucha"leach–hole"shouldbefound,itsconnectionwiththemeadow,ifanyexisted,mightbeprovedbyconveyingsome,coloredpowderorsawdusttothemouthofthehole,andthenputtingastraineroverthespringinthemeadow,whichwouldcatchsomeoftheparticlescarriedthroughbythecurrent.
WhileIwassurveying,theice,whichwassixteeninchesthick,undulatedunderaslightwindlikewater.
Itiswellknownthatalevelcannotbeusedonice.
Atonerodfromtheshoreitsgreatestfluctuation,whenobservedbymeansofalevelonlanddirectedtowardagraduatedstaffontheice,wasthreequartersofaninch,thoughtheiceappearedfirmlyattachedtotheshore.Itwasprobablygreaterinthemiddle.
Whoknowsbutifourinstrumentsweredelicateenoughwemightdetectanundulationinthecrustoftheearth?
Whentwolegsofmylevelwereontheshoreandthethirdontheice,andthesightsweredirectedoverthelatter,ariseorfalloftheiceofanalmostinfinitesimalamountmadeadifferenceofseveralfeetonatreeacrossthepond.
WhenIbegantocutholesforsoundingtherewerethreeorfourinchesofwaterontheiceunderadeepsnowwhichhadsunkitthusfar;butthewaterbeganimmediatelytorunintotheseholes,andcontinuedtorunfortwodaysindeepstreams,whichworeawaytheiceoneveryside,andcontributedessentially,ifnotmainly,todrythesurfaceofthepond;for,asthewaterranin,itraisedandfloatedtheice.
Thiswassomewhatlikecuttingaholeinthebottomofashiptoletthewaterout.
Whensuchholesfreeze,andarainsucceeds,andfinallyanewfreezingformsafreshsmoothiceoverall,itisbeautifullymottledinternallybydarkfigures,shapedsomewhatlikeaspider'sweb,whatyoumaycallicerosettes,producedbythechannelswornbythewaterflowingfromallsidestoacentre.
Sometimes,also,whentheicewascoveredwithshallowpuddles,Isawadoubleshadowofmyself,onestandingontheheadoftheother,oneontheice,theotheronthetreesorhillside.
WhileyetitiscoldJanuary,andsnowandicearethickandsolid,theprudentlandlordcomesfromthevillagetogeticetocoolhissummerdrink;impressively,evenpathetically,wise,toforeseetheheatandthirstofJulynowinJanuary—wearingathickcoatandmittens!
whensomanythingsarenotprovidedfor.
Itmaybethathelaysupnotreasuresinthisworldwhichwillcoolhissummerdrinkinthenext.
Hecutsandsawsthesolidpond,unroofsthehouseoffishes,andcartsofftheirveryelementandair,heldfastbychainsandstakeslikecordedwood,throughthefavoringwinterair,towintrycellars,tounderliethesummerthere.
Itlookslikesolidifiedazure,as,faroff,itisdrawnthroughthestreets.
Theseice–cuttersareamerryrace,fullofjestandsport,andwhenIwentamongthemtheywerewonttoinvitemetosawpit–fashionwiththem,Istandingunderneath.
Inthewinterof'46–7therecameahundredmenofHyperboreanextractionswoopdownontoourpondonemorning,withmanycarloadsofungainly–lookingfarmingtools—sleds,plows,drill–barrows,turf–knives,spades,saws,rakes,andeachmanwasarmedwithadouble–pointedpike–staff,suchasisnotdescribedintheNew–EnglandFarmerortheCultivator.
Ididnotknowwhethertheyhadcometosowacropofwinterrye,orsomeotherkindofgrainrecentlyintroducedfromIceland.
AsIsawnomanure,Ijudgedthattheymeanttoskimtheland,asIhaddone,thinkingthesoilwasdeepandhadlainfallowlongenough.
Theysaidthatagentlemanfarmer,whowasbehindthescenes,wantedtodoublehismoney,which,asIunderstood,amountedtohalfamillionalready;butinordertocovereachoneofhisdollarswithanother,hetookofftheonlycoat,ay,theskinitself,ofWaldenPondinthemidstofahardwinter.
Theywenttoworkatonce,plowing,barrowing,rolling,furrowing,inadmirableorder,asiftheywerebentonmakingthisamodelfarm;butwhenIwaslookingsharptoseewhatkindofseedtheydroppedintothefurrow,agangoffellowsbymysidesuddenlybegantohookupthevirginmoulditself,withapeculiarjerk,cleandowntothesand,orratherthewater—foritwasaveryspringysoil—indeedalltheterrafirmatherewas—andhaulitawayonsleds,andthenIguessedthattheymustbecuttingpeatinabog.
Sotheycameandwenteveryday,withapeculiarshriekfromthelocomotive,fromandtosomepointofthepolarregions,asitseemedtome,likeaflockofarcticsnow–birds.
ButsometimesSquawWaldenhadherrevenge,andahiredman,walkingbehindhisteam,slippedthroughacrackinthegrounddowntowardTartarus,andhewhowassobravebeforesuddenlybecamebuttheninthpartofaman,almostgaveuphisanimalheat,andwasgladtotakerefugeinmyhouse,andacknowledgedthattherewassomevirtueinastove;orsometimesthefrozensoiltookapieceofsteeloutofaplowshare,oraplowgotsetinthefurrowandhadtobecutout.
Tospeakliterally,ahundredIrishmen,withYankeeoverseers,camefromCambridgeeverydaytogetouttheice.
Theydivideditintocakesbymethodstoowellknowntorequiredescription,andthese,beingsleddedtotheshore,wererapidlyhauledoffontoaniceplatform,andraisedbygrapplingironsandblockandtackle,workedbyhorses,ontoastack,assurelyassomanybarrelsofflour,andthereplacedevenlysidebyside,androwuponrow,asiftheyformedthesolidbaseofanobeliskdesignedtopiercetheclouds.
Theytoldmethatinagooddaytheycouldgetoutathousandtons,whichwastheyieldofaboutoneacre.
Deeprutsand"cradle–holes"werewornintheice,asonterrafirma,bythepassageofthesledsoverthesametrack,andthehorsesinvariablyatetheiroatsoutofcakesoficehollowedoutlikebuckets.
Theystackedupthecakesthusintheopenairinapilethirty–fivefeethighononesideandsixorsevenrodssquare,puttinghaybetweentheoutsidelayerstoexcludetheair;forwhenthewind,thoughneversocold,findsapassagethrough,itwillwearlargecavities,leavingslightsupportsorstudsonlyhereandthere,andfinallytoppleitdown.
AtfirstitlookedlikeavastbluefortorValhalla;butwhentheybegantotuckthecoarsemeadowhayintothecrevices,andthisbecamecoveredwithrimeandicicles,itlookedlikeavenerablemoss–grownandhoaryruin,builtofazure–tintedmarble,theabodeofWinter,thatoldmanweseeinthealmanac—hisshanty,asifhehadadesigntoestivatewithus.
Theycalculatedthatnottwenty–fivepercentofthiswouldreachitsdestination,andthattwoorthreepercentwouldbewastedinthecars.
However,astillgreaterpartofthisheaphadadifferentdestinyfromwhatwasintended;for,eitherbecausetheicewasfoundnottokeepsowellaswasexpected,containingmoreairthanusual,orforsomeotherreason,itnevergottomarket.
Thisheap,madeinthewinterof'46–7andestimatedtocontaintenthousandtons,wasfinallycoveredwithhayandboards;andthoughitwasunroofedthefollowingJuly,andapartofitcarriedoff,therestremainingexposedtothesun,itstoodoverthatsummerandthenextwinter,andwasnotquitemeltedtillSeptember,1848.
Thusthepondrecoveredthegreaterpart.
Likethewater,theWaldenice,seennearathand,hasagreentint,butatadistanceisbeautifullyblue,andyoucaneasilytellitfromthewhiteiceoftheriver,orthemerelygreenishiceofsomeponds,aquarterofamileoff.
Sometimesoneofthosegreatcakesslipsfromtheice–man'ssledintothevillagestreet,andliesthereforaweeklikeagreatemerald,anobjectofinteresttoallpassers.
IhavenoticedthataportionofWaldenwhichinthestateofwaterwasgreenwilloften,whenfrozen,appearfromthesamepointofviewblue.
Sothehollowsaboutthispondwill,sometimes,inthewinter,befilledwithagreenishwatersomewhatlikeitsown,butthenextdaywillhavefrozenblue.
Perhapsthebluecolorofwaterandiceisduetothelightandairtheycontain,andthemosttransparentisthebluest.
Iceisaninterestingsubjectforcontemplation.
Theytoldmethattheyhadsomeintheice–housesatFreshPondfiveyearsoldwhichwasasgoodasever.
Whyisitthatabucketofwatersoonbecomesputrid,butfrozenremainssweetforever?
Itiscommonlysaidthatthisisthedifferencebetweentheaffectionsandtheintellect.
ThusforsixteendaysIsawfrommywindowahundredmenatworklikebusyhusbandmen,withteamsandhorsesandapparentlyalltheimplementsoffarming,suchapictureasweseeonthefirstpageofthealmanac;andasoftenasIlookedoutIwasremindedofthefableofthelarkandthereapers,ortheparableofthesower,andthelike;andnowtheyareallgone,andinthirtydaysmore,probably,Ishalllookfromthesamewindowonthepuresea–greenWaldenwaterthere,reflectingthecloudsandthetrees,andsendingupitsevaporationsinsolitude,andnotraceswillappearthatamanhaseverstoodthere.
PerhapsIshallhearasolitaryloonlaughashedivesandplumeshimself,orshallseealonelyfisherinhisboat,likeafloatingleaf,beholdinghisformreflectedinthewaves,wherelatelyahundredmensecurelylabored.
ThusitappearsthattheswelteringinhabitantsofCharlestonandNewOrleans,ofMadrasandBombayandCalcutta,drinkatmywell.
InthemorningIbathemyintellectinthestupendousandcosmogonalphilosophyoftheBhagvat–Geeta,sincewhosecompositionyearsofthegodshaveelapsed,andincomparisonwithwhichourmodernworldanditsliteratureseempunyandtrivial;andIdoubtifthatphilosophyisnottobereferredtoapreviousstateofexistence,soremoteisitssublimityfromourconceptions.
Ilaydownthebookandgotomywellforwater,andlo!
thereImeettheservantoftheBramin,priestofBrahmaandVishnuandIndra,whostillsitsinhistempleontheGangesreadingtheVedas,ordwellsattherootofatreewithhiscrustandwaterjug.
Imeethisservantcometodrawwaterforhismaster,andourbucketsasitweregratetogetherinthesamewell.
ThepureWaldenwaterismingledwiththesacredwateroftheGanges.
WithfavoringwindsitiswaftedpastthesiteofthefabulousislandsofAtlantisandtheHesperides,makestheperiplusofHanno,and,floatingbyTernateandTidoreandthemouthofthePersianGulf,meltsinthetropicgalesoftheIndianseas,andislandedinportsofwhichAlexanderonlyheardthenames.
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