turnedupasluggishportentousandoutlandishspottedsalamander,atraceofEgyptandtheNile,yetourcontemporary.WhenIpausedtoleanonmyhoe,thesesoundsandsightsIheardandsawanywhereintherow,apartoftheinexhaustibleentertainmentwhichthecountryoffers.
Ongaladaysthetownfiresitsgreatguns,whichecholikepopgunstothesewoods,andsomewaifsofmartialmusicoccasionallypenetratethusfar.Tome,awaythereinmybean-fieldattheotherendofthetown,thebiggunssoundedasifapuffballhadburstandwhentherewasamilitaryturnoutofwhichIwasignorant,Ihavesometimeshadavaguesenseallthedayofsomesortofitchinganddiseaseinthehorizon,asifsomeeruptionwouldbreakouttheresoon,eitherscarlatinaorcanker-rash,untilatlengthsomemorefavorablepuffofwind,makinghasteoverthefieldsanduptheWaylandroad,broughtmeinformationofthe“trainers.”Itseemedbythedistanthumasifsomebody’sbeeshadswarmed,andthattheneighbors,accordingtoVirgil’sadvice,byafainttintinnabulumuponthemostsonorousoftheirdomesticutensils,wereendeavoringtocallthemdownintothehiveagain.Andwhenthesounddiedquiteaway,andthehumhadceased,andthemostfavorablebreezestoldnotale,IknewthattheyhadgotthelastdroneofthemallsafelyintotheMiddlesexhive,andthatnowtheirmindswerebentonthehoneywithwhichitwassmeared.
IfeltproudtoknowthatthelibertiesofMassachusettsandofourfatherlandwereinsuchsafekeepingandasIturnedtomyhoeingagainIwasfilledwithaninexpressibleconfidence,andpursuedmylaborcheerfullywithacalmtrustinthefuture.
Whentherewereseveralbandsofmusicians,itsoundedasifallthevillagewasavastbellows,andallthebuildingsexpandedandcollapsedalternatelywithadin.Butsometimesitwasareallynobleandinspiringstrainthatreachedthesewoods,andthetrumpetthatsingsoffame,andIfeltasifIcouldspitaMexicanwithagoodrelish,—forwhyshouldwealwaysstandfortrifles?—andlookedroundforawoodchuckoraskunktoexercisemychivalryupon.Thesemartial