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sharpening their tops； had changed the pines into fir trees； wading
to the tops of the highest hills when the show was nearly two feet
deep on a level； and shaking down another snow…storm on my head at
every step； or sometimes creeping and floundering thither on my
hands and knees； when the hunters had gone into winter quarters。
One afternoon I amused myself by watching a barred owl （Strix
nebulosa） sitting on one of the lower dead limbs of a white pine；
close to the trunk； in broad daylight； I standing within a rod of
him。 He could hear me when I moved and cronched the snow with my
feet； but could not plainly see me。 When I made most noise he would
stretch out his neck； and erect his neck feathers； and open his eyes
wide； but their lids soon fell again； and he began to nod。 I too
felt a slumberous influence after watching him half an hour； as he
sat thus with his eyes half open； like a cat； winged brother of the
cat。 There was only a narrow slit left between their lids； by which
be preserved a pennisular relation to me； thus； with half…shut eyes；
looking out from the land of dreams； and endeavoring to realize me；
vague object or mote that interrupted his visions。 At length； on
some louder noise or my nearer approach； he would grow uneasy and
sluggishly turn about on his perch； as if impatient at having his
dreams disturbed； and when he launched himself off and flapped
through the pines； spreading his wings to unexpected breadth； I
could not hear the slightest sound from them。 Thus； guided amid the
pine boughs rather by a delicate sense of their neighborhood than by
sight； feeling his twilight way； as it were； with his sensitive
pinions； he found a new perch； where he might in peace await the
dawning of his day。
As I walked over the long causeway made for the railroad through
the meadows； I encountered many a blustering and nipping wind； for
nowhere has it freer play； and when the frost had smitten me on one
cheek； heathen as I was； I turned to it the other also。 Nor was it
much better by the carriage road from Brister's Hill。 For I came to
town still； like a friendly Indian； when the contents of the broad
open fields were all piled up between the walls of the Walden road；
and half an hour sufficed to obliterate the tracks of the last
traveller。 And when I returned new drifts would have formed；
through which I floundered； where the busy northwest wind had been
depositing the powdery snow round a sharp angle in the road； and not
a rabbit's track； nor even the fine print； the small type； of a
meadow mouse was to be seen。 Yet I rarely failed to find； even in
midwinter； some warm and springly swamp where the grass and the
skunk…cabbage still put forth with perennial verdure； and some
hardier bird occasionally awaited the return of spring。
Sometimes； notwithstanding the snow； when I returned from my
walk at evening I crossed the deep tracks of a woodchopper leading
from my door； and found his pile of whittlings on the hearth； and my
house filled with the odor of his pipe。 Or on a Sunday afternoon；
if I chanced to be at home； I heard the cronching of the snow made
by the step of a long…headed farmer； who from far through the woods
sought my house； to have a social 〃crack〃； one of the few of his
vocation who are 〃men on their farms〃； who donned a frock instead of
a professor's gown； and is as ready to extract the moral out of
church or state as to haul a load of manure from his barn…yard。 We
talked of rude and simple times； when men sat about large fires in
cold； bracing weather； with clear heads； and when other dessert
failed； we tried our teeth on many a nut which wise squirrels have
long since abandoned； for those which have the thickest shells are
commonly empty。
The one who came from farthest to my lodge； through deepest
snows and most dismal tempests； was a poet。 A farmer； a hunter； a
soldier； a reporter； even a philosopher； may be daunted； but nothing
can deter a poet； for he is actuated by pure love。 Who can predict
his comings and goings？ His business calls him out at all hours；
even when doctors sleep。 We made that small house ring with
boisterous mirth and resound with the murmur of much sober talk；
making amends then to Walden vale for the long silences。 Broadway
was still and deserted in comparison。 At suitable intervals there
were regular salutes of laughter； which might have been referred
indifferently to the last…uttered or the forth…coming jest。 We made
many a 〃bran new〃 theory of life over a thin dish of gruel； which
combined the advantages of conviviality with the clear…headedness
which philosophy requires。
I should not forget that during my last winter at the pond there
was another welcome visitor； who at one time came through the
village； through snow and rain and darkness； till he saw my lamp
through the trees； and shared with me some long winter evenings。
One of the last of the philosophers Connecticut gave him to the
world he peddled first her wares； afterwards； as he declares； his
brains。 These he peddles still； prompting God and disgracing man；
bearing for fruit his brain only； like the nut its kernel。 I think
that he must be the man of the most faith of any alive。 His words
and attitude always suppose a better state of things than other men
are acquainted with； and he will be the last man to be disappointed
as the ages revolve。 He has no venture in the present。 But though
comparatively disregarded now； when his day comes； laws unsuspected
by most will take effect； and masters of families and rulers will
come to him for advice。
〃How blind that cannot see serenity！〃
A true friend of man； almost the only friend of human progress。 An
Old Mortality； say rather an Immortality； with unwearied patience
and faith making plain the image engraven in men's bodies； the God
of whom they are but defaced and leaning monuments。 With his
hospitable intellect he embraces children； beggars； insane； and
scholars； and entertains the thought of all； adding to it commonly
some breadth and elegance。 I think that he should keep a
caravansary on the world's highway； where philosophers of all
nations might put up； and on his sign should be printed；
〃Entertainment for man； but not for his beast。 Enter ye that have
leisure and a quiet mind； who earnestly seek the right road。〃 He is
perhaps the sanest man and has the fewest crotchets of any I chance
to know； the same yesterday and tomorrow。 Of yore we had sauntered
and talked； and effectually put the world behind us； for he was
pledged to no institution in it； freeborn； ingenuus。 Whichever way
we turned； it seemed that the heavens and the earth had met
together； since he enhanced the beauty of the landscape。 A
blue…robed man； whose fittest roof is the overarching sky which
reflects his serenity。 I do not see how he can ever die； Nature
cannot spare him。
Having each some shingles of thought well dried； we sat and
whittled them； trying our knives； and admiring the clear yellowish
grain of the pumpkin pine。 We waded so gently and reverently； or we
pulled together so smoothly； that the fishes of thought were not
scared from the stream； nor feared any angler on the bank； but came
and went grandly； like the clouds which float through the western
sky； and the mother…o'…pearl flocks which sometimes form and
dissolve there。 There we worked； revising mythology； rounding a
fable here and there； and building castles in the air for which
earth offered no worthy foundation。 Great Looker！ Great Expecter！
to converse with whom was a New England Night's Entertainment。 Ah！
such discourse we had； hermit and philosopher； and the old settler I
have spoken of we three it expanded and racked my little
house； I should not dare to say how many pounds' weight there was
above the atmospheric pressure on every circular inch； it opened its
seams so that they had to be calked with much dulness thereafter to
stop the consequent leak； but I had enough of that kind of oakum
already picked。
There was one other with whom I had 〃solid seasons；〃 long to be
remembered； at his house in the village； and who looked in upon me
from time to time； but I had no more for society there。
There too； as everywhere； I sometimes expected the Visitor who
never comes。 The Vishnu Purana says； 〃The house…holder is to remain
at eventide in his courtyard as long as it takes to milk a cow； or
longer if he pleases； to await the arrival of a guest。〃 I often
performed this duty of hospitality； waited long enough to milk a
whole herd of cows； but did not see the man approaching from the
town。