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old farmhouse； it grew so dim I could scarcely see it at all！ Having thus
published abroad my Declaration of Independence； nailed my defiance to
the door； and otherwise established myself as a free person； I turned over
in my bed and took another delicious nap。
Do you know； friend； we can be free of many things that dominate our
lives by merely crying out a rebellious 〃Avaunt！〃
But in spite of this bold beginning； I assure you it required several
days to break the habit of cows and hens。 The second morning I awakened
again at five o'clock； but my leg did not make for the side of the bed； the
third morning I was only partially awakened； and on the fourth morning I
slept like a millionaire （or at least I slept as a millionaire is supposed to
sleep！） until the clock struck seven。
For some days after I left homeand I walked out as casually that
morning as though I were going to the barnI scarcely thought or tried to
think of anything but the Road。 Such an unrestrained sense of liberty； such
an exaltation of freedom； I have not known since I was a lad。 When I came
to my farm from the city many years ago it was as one bound； as one who
had lost out in the World's battle and was seeking to get hold again
somewhere upon the realities of life。 I have related elsewhere how I thus
came creeping like one sore wounded from the field of battle； and how；
among our hills； in the hard； steady labour in the soil of the fields； with
new and simple friends around me； I found a sort of rebirth or resurrection。
I that was worn out； bankrupt both physically and morally； learned to live
again。 I have achieved something of high happiness in these years；
something I know of pure contentment； and I have learned two or three
deep and simple things about life： I have learned that happiness is not to
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be had for the seeking； but comes quietly to him who pauses at his
difficult task and looks upward。 I have learned that friendship is very
simple； and； more than all else； I have learned the lesson of being quiet； of
looking out across the meadows and hills； and of trusting a little in God。
And now； for the moment； I am regaining another of the joys of youth…
…that of the sense of perfect freedom。 I made no plans when I left home； I
scarcely chose the direction in which I was to travel； but drifted out； as a
boy might； into the great busy world。 Oh； I have dreamed of that！ It seems
almost as though； after ten years； I might again really touch the highest
joys of adventure！
So I took the Road as it came； as a man takes a woman； for better or
worseI took the Road； and the farms along it； and the sleepy little
villages； and the streams from the hillsidesall with high enjoyment。 They
were good coin in my purse！ And when I had passed the narrow horizon of
my acquaintanceship； and reached country new to me； it seemed as though
every sense I had began to awaken。 I must have grown dull； unconsciously；
in the last years there on my farm。 I cannot describe the eagerness of
discovery I felt at climbing each new hill； nor the long breath I took at the
top of it as I surveyed new stretches of pleasant countryside。
Assuredly this is one of the royal moments of all the yearfine； cool；
sparkling spring weather。 I think I never saw the meadows richer and
greenerand the lilacs are still blooming； and the catbirds and orioles are
here。 The oaks are not yet in full leaf； but the maples have nearly reached
their full mantle of verdurethey are very beautiful and charming to see。
It is curious how at this moment of the year all the world seems astir。 I
suppose there is no moment in any of the seasons when the whole army of
agriculture； regulars and reserves； is so fully drafted for service in the
fields。 And all the doors and windows； both in the little villages and on the
farms； stand wide open to the sunshine； and all the women and girls are
busy in the yards and gardens。 Such a fine； active； gossipy； adventurous
world as it is at this moment of the year！
It is the time； too； when all sorts of travelling people are afoot。 People
who have been mewed up in the cities for the winter now take to the open
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roadall the peddlers and agents and umbrella…menders； all the nursery
salesmen and fertilizer agents； all the tramps and scientists and poetsall
abroad in the wide sunny roads。 They； too； know well this hospitable
moment of the spring； they； too； know that doors and hearts are open and
that even into dull lives creeps a bit of the spirit of adventure。 Why； a
farmer will buy a corn planter； feed a tramp； or listen to a poet twice as
easily at this time of year as at any other！
For several days I found myself so fully occupied with the bustling life
of the Road that I scarcely spoke to a living soul； but strode straight ahead。
The spring has been late and cold： most of the corn and some of the
potatoes are not yet in； and the tobacco lands are still bare and brown。
Occasionally I stopped to watch some ploughman in the fields： I saw with
a curious； deep satisfaction how the moist furrows； freshly turned；
glistened in the warm sunshine。 There seemed to be something right and
fit about it； as well as human and beautiful。 Or at evening I would stop to
watch a ploughman driving homeward across his new brown fields；
raising a cloud of fine dust from the fast drying furrow crests。 The low sun
shining through the dust and glorifying it； the weary…stepping horses； the
man all sombre…coloured like the earth itself and knit into the scene as
though a part of it； made a picture exquisitely fine to see。
And what a joy I had also of the lilacs blooming in many a dooryard；
the odour often trailing after me for a long distance in the road； and of the
pungent scent at evening in the cool hollows of burning brush heaps and
the smell of barnyards as I went bynot unpleasant； not offensiveand
above all； the deep； earthy； moist odour of new…ploughed fields。
And then； at evening； to hear the sound of voices from the dooryards
as I pass quite unseen； no words； but just pleasant； quiet intonations of
human voices； borne through the still air； or the low sounds of cattle in the
barnyards； quieting down for the night； and often； if near a village； the
distant； slumbrous sound of a church bell； or even the rumble of a train
how good all these sounds are！ They have all come to me again this week
with renewed freshness and impressiveness。 I am living deep again！
It was not； indeed； until last Wednesday that I began to get my fill；
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temporarily； of the outward satisfaction of the Roadthe primeval takings
of the sensesthe mere joys of seeing； hearing； smelling； touching。 But on
that day I began to wake up； I began to have a desire to know something
of all the strange and interesting people who are working in their fields； or
standing invitingly in their doorways； or so busily afoot in the country
roads。 Let me add； also； for this is one of the most important parts of my
present experience； that this new desire was far from being wholly esoteric。
I had also begun to have cravings which would not in the least be satisfied
by landscapes or dulled by the sights and sounds of the road。 A whiff here
and there from a doorway at mealtime had made me long for my own
home； for the sight of Harriet calling from the steps： 〃Dinner； David。〃
But I had covenanted with myself long before starting that I would
literally 〃live light in spring。〃 It was the one and primary condition I made
with myselfand made with serious purposeand when I came away I had
only enough money in my pocket and sandwiches in my pack to see me
through the first three or four days。 Any man may brutally pay his way
anywhere； but it is quite another thing to be accepted by your humankind
not