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not leave her morning's work undone。 Morning work！ By the blushes
of Aurora and the music of Memnon； what should be man's morning work
in this world？ I had three pieces of limestone on my desk； but I
was terrified to find that they required to be dusted daily； when
the furniture of my mind was all undusted still； and threw them out
the window in disgust。 How； then； could I have a furnished house？
I would rather sit in the open air； for no dust gathers on the
grass； unless where man has broken ground。
It is the luxurious and dissipated who set the fashions which
the herd so diligently follow。 The traveller who stops at the best
houses； so called； soon discovers this； for the publicans presume
him to be a Sardanapalus； and if he resigned himself to their tender
mercies he would soon be completely emasculated。 I think that in
the railroad car we are inclined to spend more on luxury than on
safety and convenience； and it threatens without attaining these to
become no better than a modern drawing…room； with its divans； and
ottomans； and sun…shades； and a hundred other oriental things； which
we are taking west with us； invented for the ladies of the harem and
the effeminate natives of the Celestial Empire； which Jonathan
should be ashamed to know the names of。 I would rather sit on a
pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet
cushion。 I would rather ride on earth in an ox cart； with a free
circulation； than go to heaven in the fancy car of an excursion
train and breathe a malaria all the way。
The very simplicity and nakedness of man's life in the primitive
ages imply this advantage； at least； that they left him still but a
sojourner in nature。 When he was refreshed with food and sleep； he
contemplated his journey again。 He dwelt； as it were； in a tent in
this world； and was either threading the valleys； or crossing the
plains； or climbing the mountain…tops。 But lo！ men have become the
tools of their tools。 The man who independently plucked the fruits
when he was hungry is become a farmer； and he who stood under a tree
for shelter； a housekeeper。 We now no longer camp as for a night；
but have settled down on earth and forgotten heaven。 We have
adopted Christianity merely as an improved method of agri…culture。
We have built for this world a family mansion； and for the next a
family tomb。 The best works of art are the expression of man's
struggle to free himself from this condition； but the effect of our
art is merely to make this low state comfortable and that higher
state to be forgotten。 There is actually no place in this village
for a work of fine art； if any had come down to us； to stand； for
our lives； our houses and streets； furnish no proper pedestal for
it。 There is not a nail to hang a picture on； nor a shelf to
receive the bust of a hero or a saint。 When I consider how our
houses are built and paid for； or not paid for； and their internal
economy managed and sustained； I wonder that the floor does not give
way under the visitor while he is admiring the gewgaws upon the
mantelpiece； and let him through into the cellar； to some solid and
honest though earthy foundation。 I cannot but perceive that this
so…called rich and refined life is a thing jumped at； and I do not
get on in the enjoyment of the fine arts which adorn it； my
attention being wholly occupied with the jump； for I remember that
the greatest genuine leap； due to human muscles alone； on record； is
that of certain wandering Arabs； who are said to have cleared
twenty…five feet on level ground。 Without factitious support； man
is sure to come to earth again beyond that distance。 The first
question which I am tempted to put to the proprietor of such great
impropriety is； Who bolsters you？ Are you one of the ninety…seven
who fail； or the three who succeed？ Answer me these questions； and
then perhaps I may look at your bawbles and find them ornamental。
The cart before the horse is neither beautiful nor useful。 Before
we can adorn our houses with beautiful objects the walls must be
stripped； and our lives must be stripped； and beautiful housekeeping
and beautiful living be laid for a foundation： now； a taste for the
beautiful is most cultivated out of doors； where there is no house
and no housekeeper。
Old Johnson； in his 〃Wonder…Working Providence；〃 speaking of the
first settlers of this town； with whom he was contemporary； tells us
that 〃they burrow themselves in the earth for their first shelter
under some hillside； and； casting the soil aloft upon timber； they
make a smoky fire against the earth； at the highest side。〃 They did
not 〃provide them houses；〃 says he； 〃till the earth； by the Lord's
blessing； brought forth bread to feed them；〃 and the first year's
crop was so light that 〃they were forced to cut their bread very
thin for a long season。〃 The secretary of the Province of New
Netherland； writing in Dutch； in 1650； for the information of those
who wished to take up land there； states more particularly that
〃those in New Netherland； and especially in New England； who have no
means to build farmhouses at first according to their wishes； dig a
square pit in the ground； cellar fashion； six or seven feet deep； as
long and as broad as they think proper； case the earth inside with
wood all round the wall； and line the wood with the bark of trees or
something else to prevent the caving in of the earth； floor this
cellar with plank； and wainscot it overhead for a ceiling； raise a
roof of spars clear up； and cover the spars with bark or green sods；
so that they can live dry and warm in these houses with their entire
families for two； three； and four years； it being understood that
partitions are run through those cellars which are adapted to the
size of the family。 The wealthy and principal men in New England；
in the beginning of the colonies； commenced their first
dwelling…houses in this fashion for two reasons： firstly； in order
not to waste time in building； and not to want food the next season；
secondly； in order not to discourage poor laboring people whom they
brought over in numbers from Fatherland。 In the course of three or
four years； when the country became adapted to agriculture； they
built themselves handsome houses； spending on them several
thousands。〃
In this course which our ancestors took there was a show of
prudence at least； as if their principle were to satisfy the more
pressing wants first。 But are the more pressing wants satisfied
now？ When I think of acquiring for myself one of our luxurious
dwellings； I am deterred； for； so to speak； the country is not yet
adapted to human culture； and we are still forced to cut our
spiritual bread far thinner than our forefathers did their wheaten。
Not that all architectural ornament is to be neglected even in the
rudest periods； but let our houses first be lined with beauty； where
they come in contact with our lives； like the tenement of the
shellfish； and not overlaid with it。 But； alas！ I have been inside
one or two of them； and know what they are lined with。
Though we are not so degenerate but that we might possibly live
in a cave or a wigwam or wear skins today； it certainly is better to
accept the advantages； though so dearly bought； which the invention
and industry of mankind offer。 In such a neighborhood as this；
boards and shingles； lime and bricks； are cheaper and more easily
obtained than suitable caves； or whole logs； or bark in sufficient
quantities； or even well…tempered clay or flat stones。 I speak
understandingly on this subject； for I have made myself acquainted
with it both theoretically and practically。 With a little more wit
we might use these materials so as to become richer than the richest
now are； and make our civilization a blessing。 The civilized man is
a more experienced and wiser savage。 But to make haste to my own
experiment。
Near the end of March； 1845； I borrowed an axe and went down to
the woods by Walden Pond； nearest to where I intended to build my
house； and began to cut down some tall； arrowy white pines； still in
their youth； for timber。 It is difficult to begin without
borrowing； but perhaps it is the most generous course thus to permit
your fellow…men to have an interest in your enterprise。 The owner
of the axe； as he released his hold on it； said that it was the
apple of his eye； but I returned it sharper than I received it。 It
was a pleasant hillside where I worked； covered with pine woods；
through which I looked out on the pond； and a small open field in
the woods where pines and hickories were springing up。 The ice in
the pond was not yet dissolved； though there were some open spaces；
and it was all dark…colored and saturated with water。 There were
some slight flurries of snow during the days that I worked there；
but for the most part when I came out on to the railroad； on my way
home； its yellow sand