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Sounds
But while we are confined to books； though the most select and
classic； and read only particular written languages； which are
themselves but dialects and provincial； we are in danger of
forgetting the language which all things and events speak without
metaphor； which alone is copious and standard。 Much is published；
but little printed。 The rays which stream through the shutter will
be no longer remembered when the shutter is wholly removed。 No
method nor discipline can supersede the necessity of being forever
on the alert。 What is a course of history or philosophy； or poetry；
no matter how well selected； or the best society； or the most
admirable routine of life； compared with the discipline of looking
always at what is to be seen？ Will you be a reader； a student
merely； or a seer？ Read your fate； see what is before you； and walk
on into futurity。
I did not read books the first summer； I hoed beans。 Nay； I
often did better than this。 There were times when I could not
afford to sacrifice the bloom of the present moment to any work；
whether of the head or hands。 I love a broad margin to my life。
Sometimes； in a summer morning； having taken my accustomed bath； I
sat in my sunny doorway from sunrise till noon； rapt in a revery；
amidst the pines and hickories and sumachs； in undisturbed solitude
and stillness； while the birds sing around or flitted noiseless
through the house； until by the sun falling in at my west window； or
the noise of some traveller's wagon on the distant highway； I was
reminded of the lapse of time。 I grew in those seasons like corn in
the night； and they were far better than any work of the hands would
have been。 They were not time subtracted from my life； but so much
over and above my usual allowance。 I realized what the Orientals
mean by contemplation and the forsaking of works。 For the most
part； I minded not how the hours went。 The day advanced as if to
light some work of mine； it was morning； and lo； now it is evening；
and nothing memorable is accomplished。 Instead of singing like the
birds； I silently smiled at my incessant good fortune。 As the
sparrow had its trill； sitting on the hickory before my door； so had
I my chuckle or suppressed warble which he might hear out of my
nest。 My days were not days of the week； bearing the stamp of any
heathen deity； nor were they minced into hours and fretted by the
ticking of a clock； for I lived like the Puri Indians； of whom it is
said that 〃for yesterday； today； and tomorrow they have only one
word； and they express the variety of meaning by pointing backward
for yesterday forward for tomorrow； and overhead for the passing
day。〃 This was sheer idleness to my fellow…townsmen； no doubt； but
if the birds and flowers had tried me by their standard； I should
not have been found wanting。 A man must find his occasions in
himself； it is true。 The natural day is very calm； and will hardly
reprove his indolence。
I had this advantage； at least； in my mode of life； over those
who were obliged to look abroad for amusement； to society and the
theatre； that my life itself was become my amusement and never
ceased to be novel。 It was a drama of many scenes and without an
end。 If we were always； indeed； getting our living； and regulating
our lives according to the last and best mode we had learned； we
should never be troubled with ennui。 Follow your genius closely
enough； and it will not fail to show you a fresh prospect every
hour。 Housework was a pleasant pastime。 When my floor was dirty； I
rose early； and； setting all my furniture out of doors on the grass；
bed and bedstead making but one budget； dashed water on the floor；
and sprinkled white sand from the pond on it； and then with a broom
scrubbed it clean and white； and by the time the villagers had
broken their fast the morning sun had dried my house sufficiently to
allow me to move in again； and my meditations were almost
uninterupted。 It was pleasant to see my whole household effects out
on the grass； making a little pile like a gypsy's pack； and my
three…legged table； from which I did not remove the books and pen
and ink； standing amid the pines and hickories。 They seemed glad to
get out themselves； and as if unwilling to be brought in。 I was
sometimes tempted to stretch an awning over them and take my seat
there。 It was worth the while to see the sun shine on these things；
and hear the free wind blow on them； so much more interesting most
familiar objects look out of doors than in the house。 A bird sits
on the next bough； life…everlasting grows under the table； and
blackberry vines run round its legs； pine cones； chestnut burs； and
strawberry leaves are strewn about。 It looked as if this was the
way these forms came to be transferred to our furniture； to tables；
chairs； and bedsteads because they once stood in their midst。
My house was on the side of a hill； immediately on the edge of
the larger wood； in the midst of a young forest of pitch pines and
hickories； and half a dozen rods from the pond； to which a narrow
footpath led down the hill。 In my front yard grew the strawberry；
blackberry； and life…everlasting； johnswort and goldenrod； shrub
oaks and sand cherry； blueberry and groundnut。 Near the end of May；
the sand cherry （Cerasus pumila） adorned the sides of the path with
its delicate flowers arranged in umbels cylindrically about its
short stems； which last； in the fall； weighed down with goodsized
and handsome cherries； fell over in wreaths like rays on every side。
I tasted them out of compliment to Nature； though they were scarcely
palatable。 The sumach （Rhus glabra） grew luxuriantly about the
house； pushing up through the embankment which I had made； and
growing five or six feet the first season。 Its broad pinnate
tropical leaf was pleasant though strange to look on。 The large
buds； suddenly pushing out late in the spring from dry sticks which
had seemed to be dead； developed themselves as by magic into
graceful green and tender boughs； an inch in diameter； and
sometimes； as I sat at my window； so heedlessly did they grow and
tax their weak joints； I heard a fresh and tender bough suddenly
fall like a fan to the ground； when there was not a breath of air
stirring； broken off by its own weight。 In August； the large masses
of berries； which； when in flower； had attracted many wild bees；
gradually assumed their bright velvety crimson hue； and by their
weight again bent down and broke the tender limbs。
As I sit at my window this summer afternoon； hawks are circling
about my clearing； the tantivy of wild pigeons； flying by two and
threes athwart my view； or perching restless on the white pine
boughs behind my house； gives a voice to the air； a fish hawk
dimples the glassy surface of the pond and brings up a fish； a mink
steals out of the marsh before my door and seizes a frog by the
shore； the sedge is bending under the weight of the reed…birds
flitting hither and thither； and for the last half…hour I have heard
the rattle of railroad cars； now dying away and then reviving like
the beat of a partridge； conveying travellers from Boston to the
country。 For I did not live so out of the world as that boy who； as
I hear； was put out to a farmer in the east part of the town； but
ere long ran away and came home again； quite down at the heel and
homesick。 He had never seen such a dull and out…of…the…way place；
the folks were all gone off； why； you couldn't even hear the
whistle！ I doubt if there is such a place in Massachusetts now：
〃In truth； our village has become a butt
For one of those fleet railroad shafts； and o'er
Our peaceful plain its soothing sound is Concord。〃
The Fitchburg Railroad touches the pond about a hundred rods
south of where I dwell。 I usually go to the village along its
causeway； and am； as it were； related to society by this link。 The
men on the freight trains； who go over the whole length of the road；
bow to me as to an old acquaintance； they pass me so often； and
apparently they take me for an employee； and so I am。 I too would
fain be a track…repairer somewhere in the orbit of the earth。
The whistle of the locomotive penetrates my woods summer and
winter； sounding like the scream of a hawk sailing over some
farmer's yard； informing me that many restless city merchants are
arriving within the circle of the town； or adventurous country
traders from the other side。 As they come under one horizon； they
shout their warning to get off the track to the other； heard
sometimes through the circles of two towns。 Here come your
groceries； country； your rations； countrymen！ Nor is there any man
so independent on his farm that he can say them nay。 And here's
your pay for them！ screams the countryman's whistle； timber like
long battering…rams going twenty miles an hour