ndIndianmealapeckeach.
Isometimesdreamofalargerandmorepopuloushouse,standinginagoldenage,ofenduringmaterials,andwithoutginger-breadwork,whichshallstillconsistofonlyoneroom,avast,rude,substantial,primitivehall,withoutceilingorplastering,withbareraftersandpurlinssupportingasortoflowerheavenoverone’shead,—usefultokeepoffrainandsnowwherethekingandqueenpostsstandouttoreceiveyourhomage,whenyouhavedonereverencetotheprostrateSaturnofanolderdynastyonsteppingoverthesillacavernoushouse,whereinyoumustreachupatorchuponapoletoseetheroofwheresomemayliveinthefire-place,someintherecessofawindow,andsomeonsettles,someatoneendofthehall,someatanother,andsomealoftonrafterswiththespiders,iftheychooseahousewhichyouhavegotintowhenyouhaveopenedtheoutsidedoor,andtheceremonyisoverwherethewearytravellermaywash,andeat,andconverse,andsleep,withoutfurtherjourneysuchashelterasyouwouldbegladtoreachinatempestuousnight,containingalltheessentialsofahouse,andnothingforhouse-keepingwhereyoucanseeallthetreasuresofthehouseatoneview,andeverythinghangsuponitspeg,thatamanshoulduseatoncekitchen,pantry,parlor,chamber,store-house,andgarretwhereyoucanseesonecessaryathingasabarreloraladder,soconvenientathingasacupboard,andhearthepotboil,andpayyourrespectstothefirethatcooksyourdinnerandtheoventhatbakesyourbread,andthenecessaryfurnitureandutensilsarethechiefornamentswherethewashingisnotputout,northefire,northemistress,andperhapsyouaresometimesrequestedtomovefromoffthetrap-door,whenthecookwoulddescendintothecellar,andsolearnwhetherthegroundissolidorhollowbeneathyouwithoutstamping.Ahousewhoseinsideisasopenandmanifestasabird’snest,andyoucannotgoinatthefrontdoorandoutatthebackwithoutseeingsomeofitsinhabitantswheretobeaguestistobepresentedwiththefreedomofthehouse,andnottobecarefullyexcludedfromseveneighthsofit,shutupinaparticularcell,andtoldtomakeyourselfathomethere,—insolitaryconfinement.Nowadaysthehostdoesnotadmityoutohishearth,buthasgotthemasontobuildoneforyourselfsomewhereinhisalley,andhospitalityistheartofkeepingyouatthegreatestdistance.Thereisasmuchsecrecyaboutthecookingasifhehadadesigntopoisonyou.IamawarethatIhavebeenonmanyaman’spremises,andmighthavebeenlegallyorderedoff,butIamnotawarethatIhavebeeninmanymen’shouses.ImightvisitinmyoldclothesakingandqueenwholivedsimplyinsuchahouseasIhavedescribed,ifIweregoingtheirwaybutbackingoutofamodernpalacewillbeallthatIshalldesiretolearn,ifeverIamcaughtinone.
Itwouldseemasiftheverylanguageofourparlorswouldloseallitsnerveanddegenerateintopalaverwholly,ourlivespassatsuchr