tohaulaloadofmanurefromhisbarn-yard.Wetalkedofrudeandsimpletimes,whenmensataboutlargefiresincoldbracingweather,withclearheadsandwhenotherdessertfailed,wetriedourteethonmanyanutwhichwisesquirrelshavelongsinceabandoned,forthosewhichhavethethickestshellsarecommonlyempty.
Theonewhocamefromfarthesttomylodge,throughdeepestsnowsandmostdismaltempests,wasapoet.Afarmer,ahunter,asoldier,areporter,evenaphilosopher,maybedauntedbutnothingcandeterapoet,forheisactuatedbypurelove.Whocanpredicthiscomingsandgoings?Hisbusinesscallshimoutatallhours,evenwhendoctorssleep.Wemadethatsmallhouseringwithboisterousmirthandresoundwiththemurmurofmuchsobertalk,makingamendsthentoWaldenvaleforthelongsilences.Broadwaywasstillanddesertedincomparison.Atsuitableintervalstherewereregularsalutesoflaughter,whichmighthavebeenreferredindifferentlytothelastutteredortheforth-comingjest.Wemademanya“brannew”theoryoflifeoverathindishofgruel,whichcombinedtheadvantagesofconvivialitywiththeclear-headednesswhichphilosophyrequires.
Ishouldnotforgetthatduringmylastwinteratthepondtherewasanotherwelcomevisitor,whoatonetimecamethroughthevillage,throughsnowandrainanddarkness,tillhesawmylampthroughthetrees,andsharedwithmesomelongwinterevenings.Oneofthelastofthephilosophers,—Connecticutgavehimtotheworld,—hepeddledfirstherwares,afterwards,ashedeclares,hisbrains.Thesehepeddlesstill,promptingGodanddisgracingman,bearingforfruithisbrainonly,likethenutitskernel.Ithinkthathemustbethemanofthemostfaithofanyalive.Hiswordsandattitudealwayssupposeabetterstateofthingsthanothermenareacquaintedwith,andhewillbethelastmantobedisappointedastheagesrevolve.Hehasnoventureinthepresent.Butthoughcomparativelydisregardednow,whenhisdaycomes,lawsunsuspectedbymostwilltakeeffect,andmastersoffamiliesandrulerswillcometohimforadvice.—
“Howblindthatcannotseeserenity!”
Atruefriendofmanalmosttheonlyfriendofhumanprogress.AnOldMortality,sayratheranImmortality,withunweariedpatienceandfaithmakingplaintheimageengraveninmen’sbodies,theGodofwhomtheyarebutdefacedandleaningmonuments.Withhishospitableintellectheembraceschildren,beggars,insane,andscholars,andentertainsthethoughtofall,addingt