r-r-r-r-n!comesfaintlyfromfarintheLincolnwoods.
Iwasalsoserenadedbyahootingowl.NearathandyoucouldfancyitthemostmelancholysoundinNature,asifshemeantbythistostereotypeandmakepermanentinherchoirthedyingmoansofahumanbeing,—somepoorweakrelicofmortalitywhohaslefthopebehind,andhowlslikeananimal,yetwithhumansobs,onenteringthedarkvalley,mademoreawfulbyacertaingurglingmelodiousness,—IfindmyselfbeginningwiththelettersglwhenItrytoimitateit,—expressiveofamindwhichhasreachedthegelatinousmildewystageinthemortificationofallhealthyandcourageousthought.Itremindedmeofghoulsandidiotsandinsanehowlings.Butnowoneanswersfromfarwoodsinastrainmadereallymelodiousbydistance,—Hoohoohoo,hoorerhooandindeedforthemostpartitsuggestedonlypleasingassociations,whetherheardbydayornight,summerorwinter.
Irejoicethatthereareowls.Letthemdotheidioticandmaniacalhootingformen.Itisasoundadmirablysuitedtoswampsandtwilightwoodswhichnodayillustrates,suggestingavastandundevelopednaturewhichmenhavenotrecognized.Theyrepresentthestarktwilightandunsatisfiedthoughtswhichallhave.Alldaythesunhasshoneonthesurfaceofsomesavageswamp,wherethesinglesprucestandshungwithusnealichens,andsmallhawkscirculateabove,andthechickadeelispsamidtheevergreens,andthepartridgeandrabbitskulkbeneathbutnowamoredismalandfittingdaydawns,andadifferentraceofcreaturesawakestoexpressthemeaningofNaturethere.
LateintheeveningIheardthedistantrumblingofwagonsoverbridges,—asoundheardfartherthanalmostanyotheratnight,—thebayingofdogs,andsometimesagainthelowingofsomedisconsolatecowinadistantbarn-yard.Inthemeanwhilealltheshorerangwiththetrumpofbullfrogs,thesturdyspiritsofancientwine-bibbersandwassailers,stillunrepentant,tryingtosingacatchintheirStygianlake,—iftheWaldennymphswillpardonthecomparison,forthoughtherearealmostnoweeds,therearefrogsthere,—whowouldfainkeepupthehilariousrulesoftheiroldfestaltables,thoughtheirvoiceshavewaxedhoarseandsolemnlygrave,mockingatmirth,andthewinehaslostitsflavor,andbecomeonlyliquortodistendtheirpaunches,andsweetintoxicationnevercomestodrownthememoryofthepast,butmeresaturationandwaterloggednessanddistention.Themostaldermanic,withhischinuponaheart-leaf,whichservesforanapkintohisdroolingchaps,underthisnorthernshorequaffsadeepdraughtoftheoncescornedwater,andpassesroundthecupwiththeejaculationtr-r-r-oonk,tr-r-r-oonk,tr-r-r-oonk!andstraightwaycomesoverthewaterfromsomedistantcovethesamepasswordrepeated,wherethenextinseniorityandgirthhasgulpeddowntohismarkandwhenthisobservancehasmadethecircuitoftheshores,thenejaculatesthemasterofceremonies,withsatisfaction,tr-r-r-oonk!andeachinhisturnrepeatsthesamedownt