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It came near being a sorry fair for me on the afternoon following my
parting with the amiable brush…peddler。 The plain fact is； my success at the
Stanleys'； and the easy manner in which I had fallen in with Mr。 Canfield；
gave me so much confidence in myself as a sort of Master of the Road that
I proceeded with altogether too much assurance。
I am firmly convinced that the prime quality to be cultivated by the
pilgrim is humility of spirit； he must be willing to accept Adventure in
whatever garb she chooses to present herself。 He must be able to see the
shining form of the unusual through the dull garments of the normal。
The fact is； I walked that afternoon with my head in air and passed
many a pleasant farmstead where men were working in the fields； and
many an open doorway； and a mill or two； and a townalways looking for
some Great Adventure。
Somewhere upon this road； I thought to myself； I shall fall in with a
Great Person； or become a part of a Great Incident。 I recalled with keen
pleasure the experience of that young Spanish student of Carlyle writes in
one of his volumes； who； riding out from Madrid one day； came
unexpectedly upon the greatest man in the world。 This great man； of
whom Carlyle observes （I have looked up the passage since I came home）；
〃a kindlier； meeker； braver heart has seldom looked upon the sky in this
world；〃 had ridden out from the city for the last time in his life 〃to take
one other look at the azure firmament and green mosaic pavements and the
strange carpentry and arras work of this noble palace of a world。〃
As the old story has it； the young student 〃came pricking on hastily；
complaining that they went at such a pace as gave him little chance of
keeping up with them。 One of the party made answer that the blame lay
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with the horse of Don Miguel de Cervantes； whose trot was of the
speediest。 He had hardly pronounced the name when the student
dismounted and； touching the hem of Cervantes' left sleeve； said； 'Yes； yes；
it is indeed the maimed perfection； the all…famous； the delightful writer；
the joy and darling of the Muses！ You are that brave Miguel。'〃
It may seem absurd to some in this cool and calculating twentieth
century that any one should indulge in such vain imaginings as I have
describedand yet； why not？ All things are as we see them。 I once heard a
mana modern man； living to…daytell with a hush in his voice； and a
peculiar light in his eye； how； walking in the outskirts of an unromantic
town in New Jersey； he came suddenly upon a vigorous； bearded； rather
rough…looking man swinging his stick as he walked； and stopping often at
the roadside and often looking up at the sky。 I shall never forget the
curious thrill in his voice as he said：
〃And THAT was Walt Whitman。〃
And thus quite absurdly intoxicated by the possibilities of the road； I
let the big full afternoon slip byI let slip the rich possibilities of half a
hundred farms and scores of travelling peopleand as evening began to
fall I came to a stretch of wilder country with wooded hills and a dashing
stream by the roadside。 It was a fine and beautiful countryto look atbut
the farms； and with them the chances of dinner； and a friendly place to
sleep； grew momentarily scarcer。 Upon the hills here and there； indeed；
were to be seen the pretentious summer homes of rich dwellers from the
cities； but I looked upon them with no great hopefulness。
〃Of all places in the world；〃 I said to myself； 〃surely none could be
more unfriendly to a man like me。〃
But I amused myself with conjectures as to what might happen （until
the adventure seemed almost worth trying） if a dusty man with a bag on
his back should appear at the door of one of those well…groomed
establishments。 It came to me； indeed； with a sudden deep sense of
understanding； that I should probably find there； as everywhere else； just
men and women。 And with that I fell into a sort of Socratic dialogue with
myself：
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ME： Having decided that the people in these houses are； after all；
merely men and women； what is the best way of reaching them？
MYSELF： Undoubtedly by giving them something they want and have
not。
ME： But these are rich people from the city； what can they want that
they have not？
MYSELF： Believe me； of all people in the world those who want the
most are those who have the most。 These people are also consumed with
desires。
ME： And what； pray； do you suppose they desire？
MYSELF： They want what they have not got； they want the
unattainable： they want chiefly the rarest and most precious of all thingsa
little mystery in their lives。
〃That's it！〃 I said aloud； 〃that's it！ Mysterythe things of the spirit； the
things above ordinary livingis not that the essential thing for which the
world is sighing； and groaning； and longingconsciously； or
unconsciously？〃
I have always believed that men in their innermost souls desire the
highest； bravest； finest things they can hear； or see； or feel in all the world。
Tell a man how he can increase his income and he will be grateful to you
and soon forget you； but show him the highest； most mysterious things in
his own soul and give him the word which will convince him that the
finest things are really attainable； and he will love and follow you always。
I now began to look with much excitement to a visit at one of the
houses on the hill； but to my disappointment I found the next two that I
approached still closed up； for the spring was not yet far enough advanced
to attract the owners to the country。 I walked rapidly onward through the
gathering twilight； but with increasing uneasiness as to the prospects for
the night； and thus came suddenly upon the scene of an odd adventure。
From some distance I had seen a veritable palace set high among the
trees and overlooking a wonderful green valleyand； drawing nearer； I
saw evidences of well…kept roadways and a visible effort to make invisible
the attempt to preserve the wild beauty of the place。 I saw； or thought I
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saw； people on the wide veranda； and I was sure I heard the snort of a
climbing motor…car； but I had scarcely decided to make my way up to the
house when I came； at the turning of the country road； upon a bit of open
land laid out neatly as a garden； near the edge of which； nestling among
the trees； stood a small cottage。 It seemed somehow to belong to the great
estate above it； and I concluded； at the first glance； that it was the home of
some caretaker or gardener。
It was a charming place to see； and especially the plantation of trees
and shrubs。 My eye fell instantly upon a fine magnoliarare in this
countrywhich had not yet cast all its blossoms； and I paused for a
moment to look at it more closely。 I myself have tried to raise magnolias
near my house； and I know how difficult it is。
As I approached nearer to the cottage； I could see a man and woman
sitting on the porch in the twilight and swaying back and forth in rocking…
chairs。 I fancied it may have been only a fancythat when I first saw
them their hands were clasped as they rocked side by side。
It was indeed a charming little cottage。 Crimson ramblers； giving
promise of the bloom that was yet to come； climbed over one end of the
porch； and there were fine dark…leaved lilac…bushes near the doorway： oh；
a pleasant； friendly； quiet place！
I opened the front gate and walked straight in； as though I had at last
reached my destination。 I cannot give any idea of the lift of the heart with
which I entered upon this new adventure。 Without the premeditation and
not knowing what I should say or do； I realized that everything u