Afterhoeing,orperhapsreadingandwriting,intheforenoon,Iusuallybathedagaininthepond,swimmingacrossoneofitscovesforastint,andwashedthedustoflaborfrommyperson,orsmoothedoutthelastwrinklewhichstudyhadmade,andfortheafternoonwasabsolutelyfree.EverydayortwoIstrolledtothevillagetohearsomeofthegossipwhichisincessantlygoingonthere,circulatingeitherfrommouthtomouth,orfromnewspapertonewspaper,andwhich,takeninhom?opathicdoses,wasreallyasrefreshinginitswayastherustleofleavesandthepeepingoffrogs.AsIwalkedinthewoodstoseethebirdsandsquirrels,soIwalkedinthevillagetoseethemenandboysinsteadofthewindamongthepinesIheardthecartsrattle.Inonedirectionfrommyhousetherewasacolonyofmuskratsintherivermeadowsunderthegroveofelmsandbuttonwoodsintheotherhorizonwasavillageofbusymen,ascurioustomeasiftheyhadbeenprairiedogs,eachsittingatthemouthofitsburrow,orrunningovertoaneighbor’stogossip.Iwenttherefrequentlytoobservetheirhabits.Thevillageappearedtomeagreatnewsroomandononeside,tosupportit,asonceatRedding&Company’sonStateStreet,theykeptnutsandraisins,orsaltandmealandothergroceries.Somehavesuchavastappetitefortheformercommodity,thatis,thenews,andsuchsounddigestiveorgans,thattheycansitforeverinpublicavenueswithoutstirring,andletitsimmerandwhisperthroughthemliketheEtesianwinds,orasifinhalingether,itonlyproducingnumbnessandinsensibilitytopain,—otherwiseitwouldoftenbepainfultohear,—withoutaffectingtheconsciousness.Ihardlyeverfailed,whenIrambledthroughthevillage,toseearowofsuchworthies,eithersittingonaladdersunningthemselves,withtheirbodiesinclinedforwardandtheireyesglancingalongthelinethiswayandthat,fromtimetotime,withavoluptuousexpression,orelseleaningagainstabarnwiththeirhandsintheirpockets,likecaryatides,asiftopropitup.They,beingcommonlyoutofdoors,heardwhateverwasinthewind.T