Thispondneverbreaksupsosoonastheothersinthisneighborhood,onaccountbothofitsgreaterdepthanditshavingnostreampassingthroughittomeltorwearawaytheice.
ItcommonlyopensaboutthefirstofApril,aweekortendayslaterthanFlint'sPondandFairHaven,beginningtomeltonthenorthsideandintheshallowerpartswhereitbegantofreeze.
Itindicatesbetterthananywaterhereaboutstheabsoluteprogressoftheseason,beingleastaffectedbytransientchangesoftemperature.
AseverecoldofafewdaysdurationinMarchmayverymuchretardtheopeningoftheformerponds,whilethetemperatureofWaldenincreasesalmostuninterruptedly.
AthermometerthrustintothemiddleofWaldenonthe6thofMarch,1847,stoodat32x,orfreezingpoint;neartheshoreat33x;inthemiddleofFlint'sPond,thesameday,at32+x;atadozenrodsfromtheshore,inshallowwater,undericeafootthick,at36x.
Thisdifferenceofthreeandahalfdegreesbetweenthetemperatureofthedeepwaterandtheshallowinthelatterpond,andthefactthatagreatproportionofitiscomparativelyshallow,showwhyitshouldbreakupsomuchsoonerthanWalden.
So,also,everyonewhohaswadedabouttheshoresofthepondinsummermusthaveperceivedhowmuchwarmerthewaterisclosetotheshore,whereonlythreeorfourinchesdeep,thanalittledistanceout,andonthesurfacewhereitisdeep,thannearthebottom.
Inspringthesunnotonlyexertsaninfluencethroughtheincreasedtemperatureoftheairandearth,butitsheatpassesthroughiceafootormorethick,andisreflectedfromthebottominshallowwater,andsoalsowarmsthewaterandmeltstheundersideoftheice,atthesametimethatitismeltingitmoredirectlyabove,makingituneven,andcausingtheairbubbleswhichitcontainstoextendthemselvesupwardanddownwarduntilitiscompletelyhoneycombed,andatlastdisappearssuddenlyinasinglespringrain.
Icehasitsgrainaswellaswood,andwhenacakebeginstorotor"comb,"thatis,assumetheappearanceofhoneycomb,whatevermaybeitsposition,theaircellsareatrightangleswithwhatwasthewatersurface.
Wherethereisarockoralogrisingneartothesurfacetheiceoveritismuchthinner,andisfrequentlyquitedissolvedbythisreflectedheat;andIhavebeentoldthatintheexperimentatCambridgetofreezewaterinashallowwoodenpond,thoughthecoldaircirculatedunderneath,andsohadaccesstobothsides,thereflectionofthesunfromthebottommorethancounterbalancedthisadvantage.
Whenawarmraininthemiddleofthewintermeltsoffthesnow–icefromWalden,andleavesaharddarkortransparenticeonthemiddle,therewillbeastripofrottenthoughthickerwhiteice,arodormorewide,abouttheshores,createdbythisreflectedheat.
Everymorning,generallyspeaking,theshallowwaterisbeingwarmedmorerapidlythanthedeep,thoughitmaynotbemadesowarmafterall,andeveryeveningitisbeingcooledmorerapidlyuntilthemorning.Thedayisanepitomeoftheyear.
Onepleasantmorningafteracoldnight,February24th,1850,havinggonetoFlint'sPondtospendtheday,Inoticedwithsurprise,thatwhenIstrucktheicewiththeheadofmyaxe,itresoundedlikeagongformanyrodsaround,orasifIhadstruckonatightdrum–head.
Thepondbegantoboomaboutanhouraftersunrise,whenitfelttheinfluenceofthesun'sraysslanteduponitfromoverthehills;itstretcheditselfandyawnedlikeawakingmanwithagraduallyincreasingtumult,whichwaskeptupthreeorfourhours.
Butinthemiddleoftheday,beingfullofcracks,andtheairalsobeinglesselastic,ithadcompletelylostitsresonance,andprobablyfishesandmuskratscouldnotthenhavebeenstunnedbyablowonit.
Theponddoesnotthundereveryevening,andIcannottellsurelywhentoexpectitsthundering;butthoughImayperceivenodifferenceintheweather,itdoes.
Fogsandrainsandwarmersunsaregraduallymeltingthesnow;thedayshavegrownsensiblylonger;andIseehowIshallgetthroughthewinterwithoutaddingtomywood–pile,forlargefiresarenolongernecessary.
Iamonthealertforthefirstsignsofspring,tohearthechancenoteofsomearrivingbird,orthestripedsquirrel'schirp,forhisstoresmustbenownearlyexhausted,orseethewoodchuckventureoutofhiswinterquarters.
Astheweathergrewwarmeritwasnotsensiblywornawaybythewater,norbrokenupandfloatedoffasinrivers,but,thoughitwascompletelymeltedforhalfarodinwidthabouttheshore,themiddlewasmerelyhoneycombedandsaturatedwithwater,sothatyoucouldputyourfootthroughitwhensixinchesthick;butbythenextdayevening,perhaps,afterawarmrainfollowedbyfog,itwouldhavewhollydisappeared,allgoneoffwiththefog,spiritedaway.
In1845Waldenwasfirstcompletelyopenonthe1stofApril;in'46,the25thofMarch;in'47,the8thofApril;in'51,the28thofMarch;in'52,the18thofApril;in'53,the23dofMarch;in'54,aboutthe7thofApril.
Everyincidentconnectedwiththebreakingupoftheriversandpondsandthesettlingoftheweatherisparticularlyinterestingtouswholiveinaclimateofsogreatextremes.
Whenthewarmerdayscome,theywhodwellneartheriverheartheicecrackatnightwithastartlingwhoopasloudasartillery,asifitsicyfetterswererentfromendtoend,andwithinafewdaysseeitrapidlygoingout.
Oneoldman,whohasbeenacloseobserverofNature,andseemsasthoroughlywiseinregardtoallheroperationsasifshehadbeenputuponthestockswhenhewasaboy,andhehadhelpedtolayherkeel—whohascometohisgrowth,andcanhardlyacquiremoreofnaturalloreifheshouldlivetotheageofMethuselah—toldme—andIwassurprisedtohearhimexpresswonderatanyofNature'soperations,forIthoughtthattherewerenosecretsbetweenthem—thatonespringdayhetookhisgunandboat,andthoughtthathewouldhavealittlesportwiththeducks.
Therewasicestillonthemeadows,butitwasallgoneoutoftheriver,andhedroppeddownwithoutobstructionfromSudbury,wherehelived,toFairHavenPond,whichhefound,unexpectedly,coveredforthemostpartwithafirmfieldofice.
Notseeinganyducks,hehidhisboatonthenorthorbacksideofanislandinthepond,andthenconcealedhimselfinthebushesonthesouthside,toawaitthem.
Theicewasmeltedforthreeorfourrodsfromtheshore,andtherewasasmoothandwarmsheetofwater,withamuddybottom,suchastheduckslove,within,andhethoughtitlikelythatsomewouldbealongprettysoon.
Afterhehadlainstillthereaboutanhourheheardalowandseeminglyverydistantsound,butsingularlygrandandimpressive,unlikeanythinghehadeverheard,graduallyswellingandincreasingasifitwouldhaveauniversalandmemorableending,asullenrushandroar,whichseemedtohimallatoncelikethesoundofavastbodyoffowlcomingintosettlethere,and,seizinghisgun,hestartedupinhasteandexcited;buthefound,tohissurprise,thatthewholebodyoftheicehadstartedwhilehelaythere,anddriftedintotheshore,andthesoundhehadheardwasmadebyitsedgegratingontheshore—atfirstgentlynibbledandcrumbledoff,butatlengthheavingupandscatteringitswrecksalongtheislandtoaconsiderableheightbeforeitcametoastandstill.
Atlengththesun'srayshaveattainedtherightangle,andwarmwindsblowupmistandrainandmeltthesnowbanks,andthesun,dispersingthemist,smilesonacheckeredlandscapeofrussetandwhitesmokingwithincense,throughwhichthetravellerpickshiswayfromislettoislet,cheeredbythemusicofathousandtinklingrillsandrivuletswhoseveinsarefilledwiththebloodofwinterwhichtheyarebearingoff.
FewphenomenagavememoredelightthantoobservetheformswhichthawingsandandclayassumeinflowingdownthesidesofadeepcutontherailroadthroughwhichIpassedonmywaytothevillage,aphenomenonnotverycommononsolargeascale,thoughthenumberoffreshlyexposedbanksoftherightmaterialmusthavebeengreatlymultipliedsincerailroadswereinvented.
Whenthefrostcomesoutinthespring,andeveninathawingdayinthewinter,thesandbeginstoflowdowntheslopeslikelava,sometimesburstingoutthroughthesnowandoverflowingitwherenosandwastobeseenbefore.
Innumerablelittlestreamsoverlapandinterlaceonewithanother,exhibitingasortofhybridproduct,whichobeyshalfwaythelawofcurrents,andhalfwaythatofvegetation.
Asitflowsittakestheformsofsappyleavesorvines,makingheapsofpulpyspraysafootormoreindepth,andresembling,asyoulookdownonthem,thelaciniated,lobed,andimbricatedthallusesofsomelichens;oryouareremindedofcoral,ofleopard'spawsorbirds'feet,ofbrainsorlungsorbowels,andexcrementsofallkinds.
Itisatrulygrotesquevegetation,whoseformsandcolorweseeimitatedinbronze,asortofarchitecturalfoliagemoreancientandtypicalthanacanthus,chiccory,ivy,vine,oranyvegetableleaves;destinedperhaps,undersomecircumstances,tobecomeapuzzletofuturegeologists.
Thevariousshadesofthesandaresingularlyrichandagreeable,embracingthedifferentironcolors,brown,gray,yellowish,andreddish.
Whentheflowingmassreachesthedrainatthefootofthebankitspreadsoutflatterintostrands,theseparatestreamslosingtheirsemi–cylindricalformandgraduallybecomingmoreflatandbroad,runningtogetherastheyaremoremoist,tilltheyformanalmostflatsand,stillvariouslyandbeautifullyshaded,butinwhichyoucantracetheoriginalformsofvegetation;tillatlength,inthewateritself,theyareconvertedintobanks,likethoseformedoffthemouthsofrivers,andtheformsofvegetationarelostintheripplemarksonthebottom.
Thewholebank,whichisfromtwentytofortyfeethigh,issometimesoverlaidwithamassofthiskindoffoliage,orsandyrupture,foraquarterofamileononeorbothsides,theproduceofonespringday.
WhenIseeontheonesidetheinertbank—forthesunactsononesidefirst—andontheotherthisluxuriantfoliage,thecreationofanhour,IamaffectedasifinapeculiarsenseIstoodinthelaboratoryoftheArtistwhomadetheworldandme—hadcometowherehewasstillatwork,sportingonthisbank,andwithexcessofenergystrewinghisfreshdesignsabout.
IfeelasifIwerenearertothevitalsoftheglobe,forthissandyoverflowissomethingsuchafoliaceousmassasthevitalsoftheanimalbody.
Internally,whetherintheglobeoranimalbody,itisamoistthicklobe,awordespeciallyapplicabletotheliverandlungsandtheleavesoffat(jnai,labor,lapsus,tofloworslipdownward,alapsing;jiais,globus,lobe,globe;alsolap,flap,andmanyotherwords);externallyadrythinleaf,evenasthefandvareapressedanddriedb.
Theradicalsoflobearelb,thesoftmassoftheb(singlelobed,orB,doublelobed),withtheliquidlbehinditpressingitforward.
Evenicebeginswithdelicatecrystalleaves,asifithadflowedintomouldswhichthefrondsofwaterplantshaveimpressedonthewaterymirror.
Thewholetreeitselfisbutoneleaf,andriversarestillvasterleaveswhosepulpisinterveningearth,andtownsandcitiesaretheovaofinsectsintheiraxils.
Whenthesunwithdrawsthesandceasestoflow,butinthemorningthestreamswillstartoncemoreandbranchandbranchagainintoamyriadofothers.
Ifyoulookcloselyyouobservethatfirsttherepushesforwardfromthethawingmassastreamofsoftenedsandwithadrop–likepoint,liketheballofthefinger,feelingitswayslowlyandblindlydownward,untilatlastwithmoreheatandmoisture,asthesungetshigher,themostfluidportion,initsefforttoobeythelawtowhichthemostinertalsoyields,separatesfromthelatterandformsforitselfameanderingchannelorarterywithinthat,inwhichisseenalittlesilverystreamglancinglikelightningfromonestageofpulpyleavesorbranchestoanother,andeverandanonswallowedupinthesand.
Itiswonderfulhowrapidlyyetperfectlythesandorganizesitselfasitflows,usingthebestmaterialitsmassaffordstoformthesharpedgesofitschannel.Sucharethesourcesofrivers.
Inthesiliciousmatterwhichthewaterdepositsisperhapsthebonysystem,andinthestillfinersoilandorganicmatterthefleshyfibreorcellulartissue.Whatismanbutamassofthawingclay?
Theearmayberegarded,fancifully,asalichen,umbilicaria,onthesideofthehead,withitslobeordrop.Thelip—labium,fromlabor(?)
Eachroundedlobeofthevegetableleaf,too,isathickandnowloiteringdrop,largerorsmaller;thelobesarethefingersoftheleaf;andasmanylobesasithas,insomanydirectionsittendstoflow,andmoreheatorothergenialinfluenceswouldhavecausedittoflowyetfarther.
True,itissomewhatexcrementitiousinitscharacter,andthereisnoendtotheheapsofliver,lights,andbowels,asiftheglobewereturnedwrongsideoutward;butthissuggestsatleastthatNaturehassomebowels,andthereagainismotherofhumanity.
Theearthisnotamerefragmentofdeadhistory,stratumuponstratumliketheleavesofabook,tobestudiedbygeologistsandantiquarieschiefly,butlivingpoetryliketheleavesofatree,whichprecedeflowersandfruit—notafossilearth,butalivingearth;comparedwithwhosegreatcentrallifeallanimalandvegetablelifeismerelyparasitic.
Youmaymeltyourmetalsandcastthemintothemostbeautifulmouldsyoucan;theywillneverexcitemeliketheformswhichthismoltenearthflowsoutinto.
Erelong,notonlyonthesebanks,butoneveryhillandplainandineveryhollow,thefrostcomesoutofthegroundlikeadormantquadrupedfromitsburrow,andseekstheseawithmusic,ormigratestootherclimesinclouds.
Whenthegroundwaspartiallybareofsnow,andafewwarmdayshaddrieditssurfacesomewhat,itwaspleasanttocomparethefirsttendersignsoftheinfantyearjustpeepingforthwiththestatelybeautyofthewitheredvegetationwhichhadwithstoodthewinter—life–everlasting,goldenrods,pinweeds,andgracefulwildgrasses,moreobviousandinterestingfrequentlythaninsummereven,asiftheirbeautywasnotripetillthen;evencotton–grass,cat–tails,mulleins,johnswort,hard–hack,meadow–sweet,andotherstrong–stemmedplants,thoseunexhaustedgranarieswhichentertaintheearliestbirds—decentweeds,atleast,whichwidowedNaturewears.
Iamparticularlyattractedbythearchingandsheaf–liketopofthewool–grass;itbringsbackthesummertoourwintermemories,andisamongtheformswhichartlovestocopy,andwhich,inthevegetablekingdom,havethesamerelationtotypesalreadyinthemindofmanthatastronomyhas.
Weareaccustomedtohearthiskingdescribedasarudeandboisteroustyrant;butwiththegentlenessofaloverheadornsthetressesofSummer.
Attheapproachofspringtheredsquirrelsgotundermyhouse,twoatatime,directlyundermyfeetasIsatreadingorwriting,andkeptupthequeerestchucklingandchirrupingandvocalpirouettingandgurglingsoundsthateverwereheard;andwhenIstampedtheyonlychirrupedthelouder,asifpastallfearandrespectintheirmadpranks,defyinghumanitytostopthem.No,youdon't—chickaree—chickaree.
Theywerewhollydeaftomyarguments,orfailedtoperceivetheirforce,andfellintoastrainofinvectivethatwasirresistible.
Thefaintsilverywarblingsheardoverthepartiallybareandmoistfieldsfromthebluebird,thesongsparrow,andthered–wing,asifthelastflakesofwintertinkledastheyfell!
Thegrassflamesuponthehillsideslikeaspringfire—"etprimitusoriturherbaimbribusprimoribusevocata"—asiftheearthsentforthaninwardheattogreetthereturningsun;notyellowbutgreenisthecolorofitsflame;—thesymbolofperpetualyouth,thegrass–blade,likealonggreenribbon,streamsfromthesodintothesummer,checkedindeedbythefrost,butanonpushingonagain,liftingitsspearoflastyear'shaywiththefreshlifebelow.
Itisalmostidenticalwiththat,forinthegrowingdaysofJune,whentherillsaredry,thegrass–bladesaretheirchannels,andfromyeartoyeartheherdsdrinkatthisperennialgreenstream,andthemowerdrawsfromitbetimestheirwintersupply.
Waldenismeltingapace.Thereisacanaltworodswidealongthenortherlyandwesterlysides,andwiderstillattheeastend.
Ihearasongsparrowsingingfromthebushesontheshore—olit,olit,olit—chip,chip,chip,chechar—chewiss,wiss,wiss.Hetooishelpingtocrackit.
Howhandsomethegreatsweepingcurvesintheedgeoftheice,answeringsomewhattothoseoftheshore,butmoreregular!
Itisglorioustobeholdthisribbonofwatersparklinginthesun,thebarefaceofthepondfullofgleeandyouth,asifitspokethejoyofthefisheswithinit,andofthesandsonitsshore—asilverysheenasfromthescalesofaleuciscus,asitwerealloneactivefish.
Thechangefromstormandwintertosereneandmildweather,fromdarkandsluggishhourstobrightandelasticones,isamemorablecrisiswhichallthingsproclaim.Itisseeminglyinstantaneousatlast.
Suddenlyaninfluxoflightfilledmyhouse,thoughtheeveningwasathand,andthecloudsofwinterstilloverhungit,andtheeavesweredrippingwithsleetyrain.Ilookedoutthewindow,andlo!
whereyesterdaywascoldgrayicetherelaythetransparentpondalreadycalmandfullofhopeasinasummerevening,reflectingasummereveningskyinitsbosom,thoughnonewasvisibleoverhead,asifithadintelligencewithsomeremotehorizon.
Iheardarobininthedistance,thefirstIhadheardformanyathousandyears,methought,whosenoteIshallnotforgetformanyathousandmore—thesamesweetandpowerfulsongasofyore.
Thepitchpinesandshruboaksaboutmyhouse,whichhadsolongdrooped,suddenlyresumedtheirseveralcharacters,lookedbrighter,greener,andmoreerectandalive,asifeffectuallycleansedandrestoredbytherain.Iknewthatitwouldnotrainanymore.
Asitgrewdarker,Iwasstartledbythehonkingofgeeseflyinglowoverthewoods,likewearytravellersgettinginlatefromSouthernlakes,andindulgingatlastinunrestrainedcomplaintandmutualconsolation.
Standingatmydoor,Icouldbeartherushoftheirwings;when,drivingtowardmyhouse,theysuddenlyspiedmylight,andwithhushedclamorwheeledandsettledinthepond.
InthemorningIwatchedthegeesefromthedoorthroughthemist,sailinginthemiddleofthepond,fiftyrodsoff,solargeandtumultuousthatWaldenappearedlikeanartificialpondfortheiramusement.
ButwhenIstoodontheshoretheyatonceroseupwithagreatflappingofwingsatthesignaloftheircommander,andwhentheyhadgotintorankcircledaboutovermyhead,twenty–nineofthem,andthensteeredstraighttoCanada,witharegularhonkfromtheleaderatintervals,trustingtobreaktheirfastinmuddierpools.
ForaweekIheardthecircling,gropingclangorofsomesolitarygooseinthefoggymornings,seekingitscompanion,andstillpeoplingthewoodswiththesoundofalargerlifethantheycouldsustain.
InAprilthepigeonswereseenagainflyingexpressinsmallflocks,andinduetimeIheardthemartinstwitteringovermyclearing,thoughithadnotseemedthatthetownshipcontainedsomanythatitcouldaffordmeany,andIfanciedthattheywerepeculiarlyoftheancientracethatdweltinhollowtreeserewhitemencame.
Inalmostallclimesthetortoiseandthefrogareamongtheprecursorsandheraldsofthisseason,andbirdsflywithsongandglancingplumage,andplantsspringandbloom,andwindsblow,tocorrectthisslightoscillationofthepolesandpreservetheequilibriumofnature.
Aseveryseasonseemsbesttousinitsturn,sothecominginofspringislikethecreationofCosmosoutofChaosandtherealizationoftheGoldenAge.—
Weshouldbeblessedifwelivedinthepresentalways,andtookadvantageofeveryaccidentthatbefellus,likethegrasswhichconfessestheinfluenceoftheslightestdewthatfallsonit;anddidnotspendourtimeinatoningfortheneglectofpastopportunities,whichwecalldoingourduty.
Youmayhaveknownyourneighboryesterdayforathief,adrunkard,orasensualist,andmerelypitiedordespisedhim,anddespairedoftheworld;butthesunshinesbrightandwarmthisfirstspringmorning,recreatingtheworld,andyoumeethimatsomeserenework,andseehowitisexhaustedanddebauchedveinsexpandwithstilljoyandblessthenewday,feelthespringinfluencewiththeinnocenceofinfancy,andallhisfaultsareforgotten.
Thereisnotonlyanatmosphereofgoodwillabouthim,butevenasavorofholinessgropingforexpression,blindlyandineffectuallyperhaps,likeanew–borninstinct,andforashorthourthesouthhill–sideechoestonovulgarjest.
Youseesomeinnocentfairshootspreparingtoburstfromhisgnarledrindandtryanotheryear'slife,tenderandfreshastheyoungestplant.
Whythejailerdoesnotleaveopenhisprisondoors—whythejudgedoesnotdismishiscase—whythepreacherdoesnotdismisshiscongregation!
"Areturntogoodnessproducedeachdayinthetranquilandbeneficentbreathofthemorning,causesthatinrespecttotheloveofvirtueandthehatredofvice,oneapproachesalittletheprimitivenatureofman,asthesproutsoftheforestwhichhasbeenfelled.
Inlikemannertheevilwhichonedoesintheintervalofadaypreventsthegermsofvirtueswhichbegantospringupagainfromdevelopingthemselvesanddestroysthem.
"Afterthegermsofvirtuehavethusbeenpreventedmanytimesfromdevelopingthemselves,thenthebeneficentbreathofeveningdoesnotsufficetopreservethem.
Assoonasthebreathofeveningdoesnotsufficelongertopreservethem,thenthenatureofmandoesnotdiffermuchfromthatofthebrute.
Onthe29thofApril,asIwasfishingfromthebankoftheriverneartheNine–Acre–Cornerbridge,standingonthequakinggrassandwillowroots,wherethemuskratslurk,Iheardasingularrattlingsound,somewhatlikethatofthestickswhichboysplaywiththeirfingers,when,lookingup,Iobservedaveryslightandgracefulhawk,likeanighthawk,alternatelysoaringlikearippleandtumblingarodortwooverandover,showingtheundersideofitswings,whichgleamedlikeasatinribboninthesun,orlikethepearlyinsideofashell.
Itdidnotsimplyflutterlikeabutterfly,norsoarlikethelargerhawks,butitsportedwithproudrelianceinthefieldsofair;mountingagainandagainwithitsstrangechuckle,itrepeateditsfreeandbeautifulfall,turningoverandoverlikeakite,andthenrecoveringfromitsloftytumbling,asifithadneversetitsfootonterrafirma.
Itappearedtohavenocompanionintheuniverse—sportingtherealone—andtoneednonebutthemorningandtheetherwithwhichitplayed.
Thetenantoftheair,itseemedrelatedtotheearthbutbyanegghatchedsometimeinthecreviceofacrag;—orwasitsnativenestmadeintheangleofacloud,wovenoftherainbow'strimmingsandthesunsetsky,andlinedwithsomesoftmidsummerhazecaughtupfromearth?Itseyrynowsomecliffycloud.
Ihavepenetratedtothosemeadowsonthemorningofmanyafirstspringday,jumpingfromhummocktohummock,fromwillowroottowillowroot,whenthewildrivervalleyandthewoodswerebathedinsopureandbrightalightaswouldhavewakedthedead,iftheyhadbeenslumberingintheirgraves,assomesuppose.
Thereneedsnostrongerproofofimmortality.Allthingsmustliveinsuchalight.ODeath,wherewasthysting?OGrave,wherewasthyvictory,then?
Weneedthetonicofwildness—towadesometimesinmarsheswherethebitternandthemeadow–henlurk,andheartheboomingofthesnipe;tosmellthewhisperingsedgewhereonlysomewilderandmoresolitaryfowlbuildshernest,andtheminkcrawlswithitsbellyclosetotheground.
Atthesametimethatweareearnesttoexploreandlearnallthings,werequirethatallthingsbemysteriousandunexplorable,thatlandandseabeinfinitelywild,unsurveyedandunfathomedbyusbecauseunfathomable.Wecanneverhaveenoughofnature.
Wemustberefreshedbythesightofinexhaustiblevigor,vastandtitanicfeatures,thesea–coastwithitswrecks,thewildernesswithitslivinganditsdecayingtrees,thethunder–cloud,andtherainwhichlaststhreeweeksandproducesfreshets.
Wearecheeredwhenweobservethevulturefeedingonthecarrionwhichdisgustsanddisheartensus,andderivinghealthandstrengthfromtherepast.
Therewasadeadhorseinthehollowbythepathtomyhouse,whichcompelledmesometimestogooutofmyway,especiallyinthenightwhentheairwasheavy,buttheassuranceitgavemeofthestrongappetiteandinviolablehealthofNaturewasmycompensationforthis.
IlovetoseethatNatureissorifewithlifethatmyriadscanbeaffordedtobesacrificedandsufferedtopreyononeanother;thattenderorganizationscanbesoserenelysquashedoutofexistencelikepulp—tadpoleswhichheronsgobbleup,andtortoisesandtoadsrunoverintheroad;andthatsometimesithasrainedfleshandblood!
Poisonisnotpoisonousafterall,norareanywoundsfatal.Compassionisaveryuntenableground.Itmustbeexpeditious.
EarlyinMay,theoaks,hickories,maples,andothertrees,justputtingoutamidstthepinewoodsaroundthepond,impartedabrightnesslikesunshinetothelandscape,especiallyincloudydays,asifthesunwerebreakingthroughmistsandshiningfaintlyonthehillsideshereandthere.
OnthethirdorfourthofMayIsawalooninthepond,andduringthefirstweekofthemonthIheardthewhip–poor–will,thebrownthrasher,theveery,thewoodpewee,thechewink,andotherbirds.
Thephoebehadalreadycomeoncemoreandlookedinatmydoorandwindow,toseeifmyhousewascavern–likeenoughforher,sustainingherselfonhummingwingswithclinchedtalons,asifsheheldbytheair,whileshesurveyedthepremises.
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