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but for the most part when I came out on to the railroad； on my way
home； its yellow sand heap stretched away gleaming in the hazy
atmosphere； and the rails shone in the spring sun； and I heard the
lark and pewee and other birds already come to commence another year
with us。 They were pleasant spring days； in which the winter of
man's discontent was thawing as well as the earth； and the life that
had lain torpid began to stretch itself。 One day； when my axe had
come off and I had cut a green hickory for a wedge； driving it with
a stone； and had placed the whole to soak in a pond…hole in order to
swell the wood； I saw a striped snake run into the water； and he lay
on the bottom； apparently without inconvenience； as long as I stayed
there； or more than a quarter of an hour； perhaps because he had not
yet fairly come out of the torpid state。 It appeared to me that for
a like reason men remain in their present low and primitive
condition； but if they should feel the influence of the spring of
springs arousing them； they would of necessity rise to a higher and
more ethereal life。 I had previously seen the snakes in frosty
mornings in my path with portions of their bodies still numb and
inflexible； waiting for the sun to thaw them。 On the 1st of April
it rained and melted the ice； and in the early part of the day；
which was very foggy； I heard a stray goose groping about over the
pond and cackling as if lost； or like the spirit of the fog。
So I went on for some days cutting and hewing timber； and also
studs and rafters； all with my narrow axe； not having many
communicable or scholar…like thoughts； singing to myself；
Men say they know many things；
But lo！ they have taken wings
The arts and sciences；
And a thousand appliances；
The wind that blows
Is all that any body knows。
I hewed the main timbers six inches square； most of the studs on
two sides only； and the rafters and floor timbers on one side；
leaving the rest of the bark on； so that they were just as straight
and much stronger than sawed ones。 Each stick was carefully
mortised or tenoned by its stump； for I had borrowed other tools by
this time。 My days in the woods were not very long ones； yet I
usually carried my dinner of bread and butter； and read the
newspaper in which it was wrapped； at noon； sitting amid the green
pine boughs which I had cut off； and to my bread was imparted some
of their fragrance； for my hands were covered with a thick coat of
pitch。 Before I had done I was more the friend than the foe of the
pine tree； though I had cut down some of them； having become better
acquainted with it。 Sometimes a rambler in the wood was attracted
by the sound of my axe； and we chatted pleasantly over the chips
which I had made。
By the middle of April； for I made no haste in my work； but
rather made the most of it； my house was framed and ready for the
raising。 I had already bought the shanty of James Collins； an
Irishman who worked on the Fitchburg Railroad； for boards。 James
Collins' shanty was considered an uncommonly fine one。 When I
called to see it he was not at home。 I walked about the outside； at
first unobserved from within； the window was so deep and high。 It
was of small dimensions； with a peaked cottage roof； and not much
else to be seen； the dirt being raised five feet all around as if it
were a compost heap。 The roof was the soundest part； though a good
deal warped and made brittle by the sun。 Doorsill there was none；
but a perennial passage for the hens under the door board。 Mrs。 C。
came to the door and asked me to view it from the inside。 The hens
were driven in by my approach。 It was dark； and had a dirt floor
for the most part； dank； clammy； and aguish； only here a board and
there a board which would not bear removal。 She lighted a lamp to
show me the inside of the roof and the walls； and also that the
board floor extended under the bed； warning me not to step into the
cellar； a sort of dust hole two feet deep。 In her own words； they
were 〃good boards overhead； good boards all around； and a good
window〃 of two whole squares originally； only the cat had passed
out that way lately。 There was a stove； a bed； and a place to sit；
an infant in the house where it was born； a silk parasol；
gilt…framed looking…glass； and a patent new coffee…mill nailed to an
oak sapling； all told。 The bargain was soon concluded； for James
had in the meanwhile returned。 I to pay four dollars and
twenty…five cents tonight； he to vacate at five tomorrow morning；
selling to nobody else meanwhile： I to take possession at six。 It
were well； he said； to be there early； and anticipate certain
indistinct but wholly unjust claims on the score of ground rent and
fuel。 This he assured me was the only encumbrance。 At six I passed
him and his family on the road。 One large bundle held their all
bed； coffee…mill； looking…glass； hens all but the cat； she took
to the woods and became a wild cat； and； as I learned afterward；
trod in a trap set for woodchucks； and so became a dead cat at last。
I took down this dwelling the same morning； drawing the nails；
and removed it to the pond…side by small cartloads； spreading the
boards on the grass there to bleach and warp back again in the sun。
One early thrush gave me a note or two as I drove along the woodland
path。 I was informed treacherously by a young Patrick that neighbor
Seeley； an Irishman； in the intervals of the carting； transferred
the still tolerable； straight； and drivable nails； staples； and
spikes to his pocket； and then stood when I came back to pass the
time of day； and look freshly up； unconcerned； with spring thoughts；
at the devastation； there being a dearth of work； as he said。 He
was there to represent spectatordom； and help make this seemingly
insignificant event one with the removal of the gods of Troy。
I dug my cellar in the side of a hill sloping to the south；
where a woodchuck had formerly dug his burrow； down through sumach
and blackberry roots； and the lowest stain of vegetation； six feet
square by seven deep； to a fine sand where potatoes would not freeze
in any winter。 The sides were left shelving； and not stoned； but
the sun having never shone on them； the sand still keeps its place。
It was but two hours' work。 I took particular pleasure in this
breaking of ground； for in almost all latitudes men dig into the
earth for an equable temperature。 Under the most splendid house in
the city is still to be found the cellar where they store their
roots as of old； and long after the superstructure has disappeared
posterity remark its dent in the earth。 The house is still but a
sort of porch at the entrance of a burrow。
At length； in the beginning of May； with the help of some of my
acquaintances； rather to improve so good an occasion for
neighborliness than from any necessity； I set up the frame of my
house。 No man was ever more honored in the character of his raisers
than I。 They are destined； I trust； to assist at the raising of
loftier structures one day。 I began to occupy my house on the 4th
of July； as soon as it was boarded and roofed； for the boards were
carefully feather…edged and lapped； so that it was perfectly
impervious to rain； but before boarding I laid the foundation of a
chimney at one end； bringing two cartloads of stones up the hill
from the pond in my arms。 I built the chimney after my hoeing in
the fall； before a fire became necessary for warmth； doing my
cooking in the meanwhile out of doors on the ground； early in the
morning： which mode I still think is in some respects more
convenient and agreeable than the usual one。 When it stormed before
my bread was baked； I fixed a few boards over the fire； and sat
under them to watch my loaf； and passed some pleasant hours in that
way。 In those days； when my hands were much employed； I read but
little； but the least scraps of paper which lay on the ground； my
holder； or tablecloth； afforded me as much entertainment； in fact
answered the same purpose as the Iliad。
It would be worth the while to build still more deliberately
than I did； considering； for instance； what foundation a door； a
window； a cellar； a garret； have in the nature of man； and perchance
never raising any superstructure until we found a better reason for
it than our temporal necessities even。 There is some of the same
fitness in a man's building his own house that there is in a bird's
building its own nest。 Who knows but if men constructed their
dwellings with their own hands； and provided food for themselves and
families simply and honestly enough； the poetic faculty would be
universally developed； as birds universally sing when they are so
engaged？ But alas！ we do like cowbirds and cuckoos； which lay their
eggs in nests wh