Economy

WhenIwrotethefollowingpages,orratherthebulkofthem,Ilivedalone,inthewoods,amilefromanyneighbor,inahousewhichIhadbuiltmyself,ontheshoreofWaldenPond,inConcord,Massachusetts,andearnedmylivingbythelaborofmyhandsonly.Ilivedtheretwoyearsandtwomonths.AtpresentIamasojournerincivilizedlifeagain. Ishouldnotobtrudemyaffairssomuchonthenoticeofmyreadersifveryparticularinquirieshadnotbeenmadebymytownsmenconcerningmymodeoflife,whichsomewouldcallimpertinent,thoughtheydonotappeartomeatallimpertinent,but,consideringthecircumstances,verynaturalandpertinent.SomehaveaskedwhatIgottoeatifIdidnotfeellonesomeifIwasnotafraidandthelike.OthershavebeencurioustolearnwhatportionofmyincomeIdevotedtocharitablepurposesandsome,whohavelargefamilies,howmanypoorchildrenImaintained.IwillthereforeaskthoseofmyreaderswhofeelnoparticularinterestinmetopardonmeifIundertaketoanswersomeofthesequestionsinthisbook.Inmostbooks,theI,orfirstperson,isomittedinthisitwillberetainedthat,inrespecttoegotism,isthemaindifference.Wecommonlydonotrememberthatitis,afterall,alwaysthefirstpersonthatisspeaking.IshouldnottalksomuchaboutmyselfiftherewereanybodyelsewhomIknewaswell.Unfortunately,Iamconfinedtothisthemebythenarrownessofmyexperience.Moreover,I,onmyside,requireofeverywriter,firstorlast,asimpleandsincereaccountofhisownlife,andnotmerelywhathehasheardofothermen’slivessomesuchaccountashewouldsendtohiskindredfromadistantlandforifhehaslivedsincerely,itmusthavebeeninadistantlandtome.Perhapsthesepagesaremoreparticularlyaddressedtopoorstudents.Asfortherestofmyreaders,theywillacceptsuchportionsasapplytothem.Itrustthatnonewillstretchtheseamsinputtingonthecoat,foritmaydogoodservicetohimwhomitfits. Iwouldfainsaysomething,notsomuchconcerningtheChineseandSandwichIslandersasyouwhoreadthesepages,whoaresaidtoliveinNewEnglandsomethingaboutyourcondition,especiallyyouroutwardconditionorcircumstancesinthisworld,inthistown,whatitis,whetheritisnecessarythatitbeasbadasitis,whetheritcannotbeimprovedaswellasnot.IhavetravelledagooddealinConcordandeverywhere,inshops,andoffices,andfields,theinhabitantshaveappearedtometobedoingpenanceinathousandremarkableways.WhatIhaveheardofBrahminssittingexposedtofourfiresandlookinginthefaceofthesunorhangingsuspended,withtheirheadsdownward,overflamesorlookingattheheavensovertheirshoulders“untilitbecomesimpossibleforthemtoresumetheirnaturalposition,whilefromthetwistofthenecknothingbutliquidscanpassintothestomach”ordwelling,chainedforlife,atthefootofatreeormeasuringwiththeirbodies,likecaterpillars,thebreadthofvastempiresorstandingononelegonthetopsofpillars,—eventheseformsofconsciouspenancearehardlymoreincredibleandastonishingthanthesceneswhichIdailywitness.ThetwelvelaborsofHerculesweretriflingincomparisonwiththosewhichmyneighborshaveundertakenfortheywereonlytwelve,andhadanendbutIcouldneverseethatthesemensleworcapturedanymonsterorfinishedanylabor.TheyhavenofriendIolastoburnwithahotirontherootofthehydra’shead,butassoonasoneheadiscrushed,twospringup. Iseeyoungmen,mytownsmen,whosemisfortuneitistohaveinheritedfarms,houses,barns,cattle,andfarmingtoolsforthesearemoreeasilyacquiredthangotridof.Betteriftheyhadbeenbornintheopenpastureandsuckledbyawolf,thattheymighthaveseenwithclearereyeswhatfieldtheywerecalledtolaborin.Whomadethemserfsofthesoil?Whyshouldtheyeattheirsixtyacres,whenmaniscondemnedtoeatonlyhispeckofdirt?Whyshouldtheybegindiggingtheirgravesassoonastheyareborn?Theyhavegottoliveaman’slife,pushingallthesethingsbeforethem,andgetonaswellastheycan.HowmanyapoorimmortalsoulhaveImetwellnighcrushedandsmotheredunderitsload,creepingdowntheroadoflife,pushingbeforeitabarnseventy-fivefeetbyforty,itsAugeanstablesnevercleansed,andonehundredacresofland,tillage,mowing,pasture,andwood-lot!Theportionless,whostrugglewithnosuchunnecessaryinheritedencumbrances,finditlaborenoughtosubdueandcultivateafewcubicfeetofflesh. Butmenlaborunderamistake.Thebetterpartofthemanissoonplowedintothesoilforcompost.Byaseemingfate,commonlycallednecessity,theyareemployed,asitsaysinanoldbook,layinguptreasureswhichmothandrustwillcorruptandthievesbreakthroughandsteal.Itisafool’slife,astheywillfindwhentheygettotheendofit,ifnotbefore.ItissaidthatDeucalionandPyrrhacreatedmenbythrowingstonesovertheirheadsbehindthem:— Indegenusdurumsumus,experiensquelaborum, Etdocumentadamusquasimusoriginenati. Or,asRaleighrhymesitinhissonorousway,— “Fromthenceourkindhard-heartedis,enduringpainandcare, Approvingthatourbodiesofastonynatureare.” Somuchforablindobediencetoablunderingoracle,throwingthestonesovertheirheadsbehindthem,andnotseeingwheretheyfell. Mostmen,eveninthiscomparativelyfreecountry,throughmereignoranceandmistake,aresooccupiedwiththefactitiouscaresandsuperfluouslycoarselaborsoflifethatitsfinerfruitscannotbepluckedbythem.Theirfingers,fromexcessivetoil,aretooclumsyandtrembletoomuchforthat.Actually,thelaboringmanhasnotleisureforatrueintegritydaybydayhecannotaffordtosustainthemanliestrelationstomenhislaborwouldbedepreciatedinthemarket.Hehasnotimetobeanythingbutamachine.Howcanherememberwellhisignorance—whichhisgrowthrequires—whohassooftentousehisknowledge?Weshouldfeedandclothehimgratuitouslysometimes,andrecruithimwithourcordials,beforewejudgeofhim.Thefinestqualitiesofournature,likethebloomonfruits,canbepreservedonlybythemostdelicatehandling.Yetwedonottreatourselvesnoroneanotherthustenderly. Someofyou,weallknow,arepoor,findithardtolive,aresometimes,asitwere,gaspingforbreath.Ihavenodoubtthatsomeofyouwhoreadthisbookareunabletopayforallthedinnerswhichyouhaveactuallyeaten,orforthecoatsandshoeswhicharefastwearingorarealreadywornout,andhavecometothispagetospendborrowedorstolentime,robbingyourcreditorsofanhour.Itisveryevidentwhatmeanandsneakinglivesmanyofyoulive,formysighthasbeenwhettedbyexperiencealwaysonthelimits,tryingtogetintobusinessandtryingtogetoutofdebt,averyancientslough,calledbytheLatins?salienum,another’sbrass,forsomeoftheircoinsweremadeofbrassstillliving,anddying,andburiedbythisother’sbrassalwayspromisingtopay,promisingtopay,tomorrow,anddyingtoday,insolventseekingtocurryfavor,togetcustom,byhowmanymodes,onlynotstate-prisonoffenceslying,flattering,voting,contractingyourselvesintoanutshellofcivilityordilatingintoanatmosphereofthinandvaporousgenerosity,thatyoumaypersuadeyourneighbortoletyoumakehisshoes,orhishat,orhiscoat,orhiscarriage,orimporthisgroceriesforhimmakingyourselvessick,thatyoumaylayupsomethingagainstasickday,somethingtobetuckedawayinanoldchest,orinastockingbehindtheplastering,or,moresafely,inthebrickbanknomatterwhere,nomatterhowmuchorhowlittle. Isometimeswonderthatwecanbesofrivolous,Imayalmostsay,astoattendtothegrossbutsomewhatforeignformofservitudecalledNegroSlavery,therearesomanykeenandsubtlemastersthatenslavebothnorthandsouth.Itishardtohaveasouthernoverseeritisworsetohaveanorthernonebutworstofallwhenyouaretheslave-driverofyourself.Talkofadivinityinman!Lookattheteamsteronthehighway,wendingtomarketbydayornightdoesanydivinitystirwithinhim?Hishighestdutytofodderandwaterhishorses!Whatishisdestinytohimcomparedwiththeshippinginterests?DoesnothedriveforSquireMake-a-stir?Howgodlike,howimmortal,ishe?Seehowhecowersandsneaks,howvaguelyallthedayhefears,notbeingimmortalnordivine,buttheslaveandprisonerofhisownopinionofhimself,afamewonbyhisowndeeds.Publicopinionisaweaktyrantcomparedwithourownprivateopinion.Whatamanthinksofhimself,thatitiswhichdetermines,orratherindicates,hisfate.Self-emancipationevenintheWestIndianprovincesofthefancyandimagination,—whatWilberforceistheretobringthatabout?Think,also,oftheladiesofthelandweavingtoiletcushionsagainstthelastday,nottobetraytoogreenaninterestintheirfates!Asifyoucouldkilltimewithoutinjuringeternity. Themassofmenleadlivesofquietdesperation.Whatiscalledresignationisconfirmeddesperation.Fromthedesperatecityyougointothedesperatecountry,andhavetoconsoleyourselfwiththebraveryofminksandmuskrats.Astereotypedbutunconsciousdespairisconcealedevenunderwhatarecalledthegamesandamusementsofmankind.Thereisnoplayinthem,forthiscomesafterwork.Butitisacharacteristicofwisdomnottododesperatethings. Whenweconsiderwhat,tousethewordsofthecatechism,isthechiefendofman,andwhatarethetruenecessariesandmeansoflife,itappearsasifmenhaddeliberatelychosenthecommonmodeoflivingbecausetheypreferredittoanyother.Yettheyhonestlythinkthereisnochoiceleft.Butalertandhealthynaturesrememberthatthesunroseclear.Itisnevertoolatetogiveupourprejudices.Nowayofthinkingordoing,howeverancient,canbetrustedwithoutproof.Whateverybodyechoesorinsilencepassesbyastrueto-daymayturnouttobefalsehoodto-morrow,meresmokeofopinion,whichsomehadtrustedforacloudthatwouldsprinklefertilizingrainontheirfields.Whatoldpeoplesayyoucannotdoyoutryandfindthatyoucan.Olddeedsforoldpeople,andnewdeedsfornew.Oldpeopledidnotknowenoughonce,perchance,tofetchfreshfueltokeepthefirea-goingnewpeopleputalittledrywoodunderapot,andarewhirledroundtheglobewiththespeedofbirds,inawaytokilloldpeople,asthephraseis.Ageisnobetter,hardlysowell,qualifiedforaninstructorasyouth,forithasnotprofitedsomuchasithaslost.Onemayalmostdoubtifthewisestmanhaslearnedanythingofabsolutevaluebyliving.Practically,theoldhavenoveryimportantadvicetogivetheyoung,theirownexperiencehasbeensopartial,andtheirliveshavebeensuchmiserablefailures,forprivatereasons,astheymustbelieveanditmaybethattheyhavesomefaithleftwhichbeliesthatexperience,andtheyareonlylessyoungthantheywere.Ihavelivedsomethirtyyearsonthisplanet,andIhaveyettohearthefirstsyllableofvaluableorevenearnestadvicefrommyseniors.Theyhavetoldmenothing,andprobablycannottellmeanythingtothepurpose.Hereislife,anexperimenttoagreatextentuntriedbymebutitdoesnotavailmethattheyhavetriedit.IfIhaveanyexperiencewhichIthinkvaluable,IamsuretoreflectthatthismyMentorssaidnothingabout. Onefarmersaystome,“Youcannotliveonvegetablefoodsolely,foritfurnishesnothingtomakeboneswith”andsohereligiouslydevotesapartofhisdaytosupplyinghissystemwiththerawmaterialofboneswalkingallthewhilehetalksbehindhisoxen,which,withvegetable-madebones,jerkhimandhislumberingploughalonginspiteofeveryobstacle.Somethingsarereallynecessariesoflifeinsomecircles,themosthelplessanddiseased,whichinothersareluxuriesmerely,andinothersstillareentirelyunknown. Thewholegroundofhumanlifeseemstosometohavebeengoneoverbytheirpredecessors,boththeheightsandthevalleys,andallthingstohavebeencaredfor.AccordingtoEvelyn,“thewiseSolomonprescribedordinancesfortheverydistancesoftreesandtheRomanpr?torshavedecidedhowoftenyoumaygointoyourneighbor’slandtogathertheacornswhichfallonitwithouttrespass,andwhatsharebelongstothatneighbor.”Hippocrateshasevenleftdirectionshowweshouldcutournailsthatis,evenwiththeendsofthefingers,neithershorternorlonger.UndoubtedlytheverytediumandennuiwhichpresumetohaveexhaustedthevarietyandthejoysoflifeareasoldasAdam.Butman’scapacitieshaveneverbeenmeasurednorarewetojudgeofwhathecandobyanyprecedents,solittlehasbeentried.Whateverhavebeenthyfailureshitherto,“benotafflicted,mychild,forwhoshallassigntotheewhatthouhastleftundone?” Wemighttryourlivesbyathousandsimpletestsas,forinstance,thatthesamesunwhichripensmybeansilluminesatonceasystemofearthslikeours.IfIhadrememberedthisitwouldhavepreventedsomemistakes.ThiswasnotthelightinwhichIhoedthem.Thestarsaretheapexesofwhatwonderfultriangles!Whatdistantanddifferentbeingsinthevariousmansionsoftheuniversearecontemplatingthesameoneatthesamemoment!Natureandhumanlifeareasvariousasourseveralconstitutions.Whoshallsaywhatprospectlifeofferstoanother?Couldagreatermiracletakeplacethanforustolookthrougheachother’seyesforaninstant?Weshouldliveinalltheagesoftheworldinanhouray,inalltheworldsoftheages.History,Poetry,Mythology!—Iknowofnoreadingofanother’sexperiencesostartlingandinformingasthiswouldbe. ThegreaterpartofwhatmyneighborscallgoodIbelieveinmysoultobebad,andifIrepentofanything,itisverylikelytobemygoodbehavior.WhatdemonpossessedmethatIbehavedsowell?Youmaysaythewisestthingyoucan,oldman,—youwhohavelivedseventyyears,notwithouthonorofakind,—Ihearanirresistiblevoicewhichinvitesmeawayfromallthat.Onegenerationabandonstheenterprisesofanotherlikestrandedvessels. Ithinkthatwemaysafelytrustagooddealmorethanwedo.Wemaywaivejustsomuchcareofourselvesaswehonestlybestowelsewhere.Natureisaswelladaptedtoourweaknessastoourstrength.Theincessantanxietyandstrainofsomeisawellnighincurableformofdisease.Wearemadetoexaggeratetheimportanceofwhatworkwedoandyethowmuchisnotdonebyus!or,whatifwehadbeentakensick?Howvigilantweare!determinednottolivebyfaithifwecanavoiditallthedaylongonthealert,atnightweunwillinglysayourprayersandcommitourselvestouncertainties.Sothoroughlyandsincerelyarewecompelledtolive,reverencingourlife,anddenyingthepossibilityofchange.Thisistheonlyway,wesaybutthereareasmanywaysastherecanbedrawnradiifromonecentre.Allchangeisamiracletocontemplatebutitisamiraclewhichistakingplaceeveryinstant.Confuciussaid,“Toknowthatweknowwhatweknow,andthatwedonotknowwhatwedonotknow,thatistrueknowledge.”Whenonemanhasreducedafactoftheimaginationtobeafacttohisunderstanding,Iforeseethatallmenatlengthestablishtheirlivesonthatbasis. LetusconsiderforamomentwhatmostofthetroubleandanxietywhichIhavereferredtoisabout,andhowmuchitisnecessarythatwebetroubled,or,atleast,careful.Itwouldbesomeadvantagetoliveaprimitiveandfrontierlife,thoughinthemidstofanoutwardcivilization,ifonlytolearnwhatarethegrossnecessariesoflifeandwhatmethodshavebeentakentoobtainthemoreventolookovertheoldday-booksofthemerchants,toseewhatitwasthatmenmostcommonlyboughtatthestores,whattheystored,thatis,whatarethegrossestgroceries.Fortheimprovementsofageshavehadbutlittleinfluenceontheessentiallawsofman’sexistenceasourskeletons,probably,arenottobedistinguishedfromthoseofourancestors. Bythewords,necessaryoflife,Imeanwhatever,ofallthatmanobtainsbyhisownexertions,hasbeenfromthefirst,orfromlongusehasbecome,soimportanttohumanlifethatfew,ifany,whetherfromsavageness,orpoverty,orphilosophy,everattempttodowithoutit.Tomanycreaturesthereisinthissensebutonenecessaryoflife,Food.Tothebisonoftheprairieitisafewinchesofpalatablegrass,withwatertodrinkunlessheseekstheShelteroftheforestorthemountain’sshadow.NoneofthebrutecreationrequiresmorethanFoodandShelter.Thenecessariesoflifeformaninthisclimatemay,accuratelyenough,bedistributedundertheseveralheadsofFood,Shelter,Clothing,andFuelfornottillwehavesecuredthesearewepreparedtoentertainthetrueproblemsoflifewithfreedomandaprospectofsuccess.Manhasinvented,notonlyhouses,butclothesandcookedfoodandpossiblyfromtheaccidentaldiscoveryofthewarmthoffire,andtheconsequentuseofit,atfirstaluxury,arosethepresentnecessitytositbyit.Weobservecatsanddogsacquiringthesamesecondnature.ByproperShelterandClothingwelegitimatelyretainourowninternalheatbutwithanexcessofthese,orofFuel,thatis,withanexternalheatgreaterthanourowninternal,maynotcookeryproperlybesaidtobegin?Darwin,thenaturalist,saysoftheinhabitantsofTierradelFuego,thatwhilehisownparty,whowerewellclothedandsittingclosetoafire,werefarfromtoowarm,thesenakedsavages,whowerefartheroff,wereobserved,tohisgreatsurprise,“tobestreamingwithperspirationatundergoingsucharoasting.”So,wearetold,theNewHollandergoesnakedwithimpunity,whiletheEuropeanshiversinhisclothes.Isitimpossibletocombinethehardinessofthesesavageswiththeintellectualnessofthecivilizedman?AccordingtoLiebig,man’sbodyisastove,andfoodthefuelwhichkeepsuptheinternalcombustioninthelungs.Incoldweatherweeatmore,inwarmless.Theanimalheatistheresultofaslowcombustion,anddiseaseanddeathtakeplacewhenthisistoorapidorforwantoffuel,orfromsomedefectinthedraught,thefiregoesout.Ofcoursethevitalheatisnottobeconfoundedwithfirebutsomuchforanalogy.Itappears,therefore,fromtheabovelist,thattheexpression,animallife,isnearlysynonymouswiththeexpression,animalheatforwhileFoodmayberegardedastheFuelwhichkeepsupthefirewithinus,—andFuelservesonlytopreparethatFoodortoincreasethewarmthofourbodiesbyadditionfromwithout,—ShelterandClothingalsoserveonlytoretaintheheatthusgeneratedandabsorbed. Thegrandnecessity,then,forourbodies,istokeepwarm,tokeepthevitalheatinus.Whatpainsweaccordinglytake,notonlywithourFood,andClothing,andShelter,butwithourbeds,whichareournight-clothes,robbingthenestsandbreastsofbirdstopreparethisshelterwithinashelter,asthemolehasitsbedofgrassandleavesattheendofitsburrow!Thepoormaniswonttocomplainthatthisisacoldworldandtocold,nolessphysicalthansocial,wereferdirectlyagreatpartofourails.Thesummer,insomeclimates,makespossibletomanasortofElysianlife.Fuel,excepttocookhisFood,isthenunnecessarythesunishisfire,andmanyofthefruitsaresufficientlycookedbyitsrayswhileFoodgenerallyismorevarious,andmoreeasilyobtained,andClothingandShelterarewhollyorhalfunnecessary.Atthepresentday,andinthiscountry,asIfindbymyownexperience,afewimplements,aknife,anaxe,aspade,awheelbarrow,&c.,andforthestudious,lamplight,stationery,andaccesstoafewbooks,ranknexttonecessaries,andcanallbeobtainedatatriflingcost.Yetsome,notwise,gototheothersideoftheglobe,tobarbarousandunhealthyregions,anddevotethemselvestotradefortenortwentyyears,inorderthattheymaylive,—thatis,keepcomfortablywarm,—anddieinNewEnglandatlast.Theluxuriouslyricharenotsimplykeptcomfortablywarm,butunnaturallyhotasIimpliedbefore,theyarecooked,ofcourseàlamode. Mostoftheluxuries,andmanyofthesocalledcomfortsoflife,arenotonlynotindispensable,butpositivehindrancestotheelevationofmankind.Withrespecttoluxuriesandcomforts,thewisesthaveeverlivedamoresimpleandmeagrelifethanthepoor.Theancientphilosophers,Chinese,Hindoo,Persian,andGreek,wereaclassthanwhichnonehasbeenpoorerinoutwardriches,nonesorichininward.Weknownotmuchaboutthem.Itisremarkablethatweknowsomuchofthemaswedo.Thesameistrueofthemoremodernreformersandbenefactorsoftheirrace.Nonecanbeanimpartialorwiseobserverofhumanlifebutfromthevantagegroundofwhatweshouldcallvoluntarypoverty.Ofalifeofluxurythefruitisluxury,whetherinagriculture,orcommerce,orliterature,orart.Therearenowadaysprofessorsofphilosophy,butnotphilosophers.Yetitisadmirabletoprofessbecauseitwasonceadmirabletolive.Tobeaphilosopherisnotmerelytohavesubtlethoughts,noreventofoundaschool,butsotolovewisdomastoliveaccordingtoitsdictates,alifeofsimplicity,independence,magnanimity,andtrust.Itistosolvesomeoftheproblemsoflife,notonlytheoretically,butpractically.Thesuccessofgreatscholarsandthinkersiscommonlyacourtier-likesuccess,notkingly,notmanly.Theymakeshifttolivemerelybyconformity,practicallyastheirfathersdid,andareinnosensetheprogenitorsofanoblerraceofmen.Butwhydomendegenerateever?Whatmakesfamiliesrunout?Whatisthenatureoftheluxurywhichenervatesanddestroysnations?Arewesurethatthereisnoneofitinourownlives?Thephilosopherisinadvanceofhisageevenintheoutwardformofhislife.Heisnotfed,sheltered,clothed,warmed,likehiscontemporaries.Howcanamanbeaphilosopherandnotmaintainhisvitalheatbybettermethodsthanothermen? WhenamaniswarmedbytheseveralmodeswhichIhavedescribed,whatdoeshewantnext?Surelynotmorewarmthofthesamekind,asmoreandricherfood,largerandmoresplendidhouses,finerandmoreabundantclothing,morenumerousincessantandhotterfires,andthelike.Whenhehasobtainedthosethingswhicharenecessarytolife,thereisanotheralternativethantoobtainthesuperfluitiesandthatis,toadventureonlifenow,hisvacationfromhumblertoilhavingcommenced.Thesoil,itappears,issuitedtotheseed,forithassentitsradicledownward,anditmaynowsenditsshootupwardalsowithconfidence.Whyhasmanrootedhimselfthusfirmlyintheearth,butthathemayriseinthesameproportionintotheheavensabove?—forthenoblerplantsarevaluedforthefruittheybearatlastintheairandlight,farfromtheground,andarenottreatedlikethehumbleresculents,which,thoughtheymaybebiennials,arecultivatedonlytilltheyhaveperfectedtheirroot,andoftencutdownattopforthispurpose,sothatmostwouldnotknowthemintheirfloweringseason. Idonotmeantoprescriberulestostrongandvaliantnatures,whowillmindtheirownaffairswhetherinheavenorhell,andperchancebuildmoremagnificentlyandspendmorelavishlythantherichest,withouteverimpoverishingthemselves,notknowinghowtheylive,—if,indeed,thereareanysuch,ashasbeendreamednortothosewhofindtheirencouragementandinspirationinpreciselythepresentconditionofthings,andcherishitwiththefondnessandenthusiasmoflovers,—and,tosomeextent,IreckonmyselfinthisnumberIdonotspeaktothosewhoarewellemployed,inwhatevercircumstances,andtheyknowwhethertheyarewellemployedornot—butmainlytothemassofmenwhoarediscontented,andidlycomplainingofthehardnessoftheirlotorofthetimes,whentheymightimprovethem.Therearesomewhocomplainmostenergeticallyandinconsolablyofany,becausetheyare,astheysay,doingtheirduty.Ialsohaveinmymindthatseeminglywealthy,butmostterriblyimpoverishedclassofall,whohaveaccumulateddross,butknownothowtouseit,orgetridofit,andthushaveforgedtheirowngoldenorsilverfetters. IfIshouldattempttotellhowIhavedesiredtospendmylifeinyearspast,itwouldprobablysurprisethoseofmyreaderswhoaresomewhatacquaintedwithitsactualhistoryitwouldcertainlyastonishthosewhoknownothingaboutit.IwillonlyhintatsomeoftheenterpriseswhichIhavecherished. Inanyweather,atanyhourofthedayornight,Ihavebeenanxioustoimprovethenickoftime,andnotchitonmysticktootostandonthemeetingoftwoeternities,thepastandfuture,whichispreciselythepresentmomenttotoethatline.Youwillpardonsomeobscurities,fortherearemoresecretsinmytradethaninmostmen’s,andyetnotvoluntarilykept,butinseparablefromitsverynature.IwouldgladlytellallthatIknowaboutit,andneverpaint“NoAdmittance”onmygate. Ilongagolostahound,abayhorse,andaturtle-dove,andamstillontheirtrail.ManyarethetravellersIhavespokenconcerningthem,describingtheirtracksandwhatcallstheyansweredto.Ihavemetoneortwowhohadheardthehound,andthetrampofthehorse,andevenseenthedovedisappearbehindacloud,andtheyseemedasanxioustorecoverthemasiftheyhadlostthemthemselves. Toanticipate,notthesunriseandthedawnmerely,but,ifpossible,Natureherself!Howmanymornings,summerandwinter,beforeyetanyneighborwasstirringabouthisbusiness,haveIbeenaboutmine!Nodoubt,manyofmytownsmenhavemetmereturningfromthisenterprise,farmersstartingforBostoninthetwilight,orwoodchoppersgoingtotheirwork.Itistrue,Ineverassistedthesunmateriallyinhisrising,but,doubtnot,itwasofthelastimportanceonlytobepresentatit. Somanyautumn,ay,andwinterdays,spentoutsidethetown,tryingtohearwhatwasinthewind,tohearandcarryitexpress!Iwell-nighsunkallmycapitalinit,andlostmyownbreathintothebargain,runninginthefaceofit.Ifithadconcernedeitherofthepoliticalparties,dependuponit,itwouldhaveappearedintheGazettewiththeearliestintelligence.Atothertimeswatchingfromtheobservatoryofsomecliffortree,totelegraphanynewarrivalorwaitingateveningonthehill-topsfortheskytofall,thatImightcatchsomething,thoughInevercaughtmuch,andthat,manna-wise,woulddissolveagaininthesun. ForalongtimeIwasreportertoajournal,ofnoverywidecirculation,whoseeditorhasneveryetseenfittoprintthebulkofmycontributions,and,asistoocommonwithwriters,Igotonlymylaborformypains.However,inthiscasemypainsweretheirownreward. FormanyyearsIwasself-appointedinspectorofsnowstormsandrainstorms,anddidmydutyfaithfullysurveyor,ifnotofhighways,thenofforestpathsandallacross-lotroutes,keepingthemopen,andravinesbridgedandpassableatallseasons,wherethepublicheelhadtestifiedtotheirutility. Ihavelookedafterthewildstockofthetown,whichgiveafaithfulherdsmanagooddealoftroublebyleapingfencesandIhavehadaneyetotheu