Iweatheredsomemerrysnowstorms,andspentsomecheerfulwintereveningsbymyfire-side,whilethesnowwhirledwildlywithout,andeventhehootingoftheowlwashushed.FormanyweeksImetnooneinmywalksbutthosewhocameoccasionallytocutwoodandsledittothevillage.Theelements,however,abettedmeinmakingapaththroughthedeepestsnowinthewoods,forwhenIhadoncegonethroughthewindblewtheoakleavesintomytracks,wheretheylodged,andbyabsorbingtheraysofthesunmeltedthesnow,andsonotonlymadeadrybedformyfeet,butinthenighttheirdarklinewasmyguide.ForhumansocietyIwasobligedtoconjureuptheformeroccupantsofthesewoods.Withinthememoryofmanyofmytownsmentheroadnearwhichmyhousestandsresoundedwiththelaughandgossipofinhabitants,andthewoodswhichborderitwerenotchedanddottedhereandtherewiththeirlittlegardensanddwellings,thoughitwasthenmuchmoreshutinbytheforestthannow.Insomeplaces,withinmyownremembrance,thepineswouldscrapebothsidesofachaiseatonce,andwomenandchildrenwhowerecompelledtogothiswaytoLincolnaloneandonfootdiditwithfear,andoftenranagoodpartofthedistance.Thoughmainlybutahumbleroutetoneighboringvillages,orforthewoodman’steam,itonceamusedthetravellermorethannowbyitsvariety,andlingeredlongerinhismemory.Wherenowfirmopenfieldsstretchfromthevillagetothewoods,itthenranthroughamapleswamponafoundationoflogs,theremnantsofwhich,doubtless,stillunderliethepresentdustyhighway,fromtheStratton,nowtheAlmsHouse,Farm,toBrister’sHill.
Eastofmybean-field,acrosstheroad,livedCatoIngraham,slaveofDuncanIngraham,Esquire,gentleman,ofConcordvillage,whobuilthisslaveahouse,andgavehimpermissiontoliveinWaldenWoods—Cato,notUticensis,butConcordiensis.SomesaythathewasaGuineaNegro.Thereareafewwhorememberhislittlepatchamongthewalnuts,whichheletgrowuptillheshouldbeoldandneedthembutayoungerandwhiterspeculatorgotthematlast.Hetoo,however,occupiesanequallynarrowhouseatpresent.Cato’shalf-obliteratedcellarholestillremains,thoughknowntofew,beingconcealedfromthetravellerbyafringeofpines.Itisnowfilledwiththesmoothsumach(Rhusglabra,)andoneoftheearliestspeciesofgolden-rod(Solidagostricta)growsthereluxuriantly.
Here,bytheverycornerofmyfield,stillnearertotown,Zilpha,acoloredwoman,hadherlitt