ritiesofmyvisitors.Girlsandboysandyoungwomengenerallyseemedgladtobeinthewoods.Theylookedinthepondandattheflowers,andimprovedtheirtime.Menofbusiness,evenfarmers,thoughtonlyofsolitudeandemployment,andofthegreatdistanceatwhichIdweltfromsomethingorotherandthoughtheysaidthattheylovedarambleinthewoodsoccasionally,itwasobviousthattheydidnot.Restlesscommittedmen,whosetimewasalltakenupingettingalivingorkeepingitministerswhospokeofGodasiftheyenjoyedamonopolyofthesubject,whocouldnotbearallkindsofopinionsdoctors,lawyers,uneasyhousekeeperswhopriedintomycupboardandbedwhenIwasout,—howcameMrs.——toknowthatmysheetswerenotascleanashers?—youngmenwhohadceasedtobeyoung,andhadconcludedthatitwassafesttofollowthebeatentrackoftheprofessions,—allthesegenerallysaidthatitwasnotpossibletodosomuchgoodinmyposition.Ay!therewastherub.Theoldandinfirmandthetimid,ofwhateverageorsex,thoughtmostofsickness,andsuddenaccidentanddeathtothemlifeseemedfullofdanger,—whatdangeristhereifyoudon’tthinkofany?—andtheythoughtthataprudentmanwouldcarefullyselectthesafestposition,whereDr.B.mightbeonhandatamoment’swarning.Tothemthevillagewasliterallyacom-munity,aleagueformutualdefence,andyouwouldsupposethattheywouldnotgoa-huckleberryingwithoutamedicinechest.Theamountofitis,ifamanisalive,thereisalwaysdangerthathemaydie,thoughthedangermustbeallowedtobelessinproportionasheisdead-and-alivetobeginwith.Amansitsasmanyrisksasheruns.Finally,thereweretheself-styledreformers,thegreatestboresofall,whothoughtthatIwasforeversinging,—
ThisisthehousethatIbuilt
ThisisthemanthatlivesinthehousethatIbuilt
buttheydidnotknowthatthethirdlinewas,—
Thesearethefolksthatworrytheman
ThatlivesinthehousethatIbuilt.
Ididnotfearthehen-harriers,forIkeptnochickensbutIfearedthemen-harriersrather.
Ihadmorecheeringvisitorsthanthelast.Childrencomea-berrying,railroadmentakingaSundaymorningwalkincleanshirts,fishermenandhunters,poetsandphilosophersinshort,allhonestpilgrims,whocameouttothewoodsforfreedom’ssake,andreallyleftthevillagebehind,Iwasreadytogreetwith,—“Welcome,Englishmen!welcome,Englishmen!”forIhadhadcommunicationwiththatrace.