第19章

Heinterestedmebecausehewassoquietandsolitaryandsohappywithal；awellofgoodhumorandcontentmentwhichoverflowedathiseyes。Hismirthwaswithoutalloy。SometimesIsawhimathisworkinthewoods，fellingtrees，andhewouldgreetmewithalaughofinexpressiblesatisfaction，andasalutationinCanadianFrench，thoughhespokeEnglishaswell。WhenIapproachedhimhewouldsuspendhiswork，andwithhalf-suppressedmirthliealongthetrunkofapinewhichhehadfelled，and，peelingofftheinnerbark，rollitupintoaballandchewitwhilehelaughedandtalked。Suchanexuberanceofanimalspiritshadhethathesometimestumbleddownandrolledonthegroundwithlaughteratanythingwhichmadehimthinkandtickledhim。Lookingrounduponthetreeshewouldexclaim——“ByGeorge！Icanenjoymyselfwellenoughherechopping；Iwantnobettersport。“Sometimes，whenatleisure，heamusedhimselfalldayinthewoodswithapocketpistol，firingsalutestohimselfatregularintervalsashewalked。

Inthewinterhehadafirebywhichatnoonhewarmedhiscoffeeinakettle；andashesatonalogtoeathisdinnerthechickadeeswouldsometimescomeroundandalightonhisarmandpeckatthepotatoinhisfingers；andhesaidthathe“likedtohavethelittlefellersabouthim。“

Inhimtheanimalmanchieflywasdeveloped。Inphysicalenduranceandcontentmenthewascousintothepineandtherock。I

askedhimonceifhewasnotsometimestiredatnight，afterworkingallday；andheanswered，withasincereandseriouslook，“Gorrappit，Ineverwastiredinmylife。“Buttheintellectualandwhatiscalledspiritualmaninhimwereslumberingasinaninfant。

HehadbeeninstructedonlyinthatinnocentandineffectualwayinwhichtheCatholicprieststeachtheaborigines，bywhichthepupilisnevereducatedtothedegreeofconsciousness，butonlytothedegreeoftrustandreverence，andachildisnotmadeaman，butkeptachild。WhenNaturemadehim，shegavehimastrongbodyandcontentmentforhisportion，andproppedhimoneverysidewithreverenceandreliance，thathemightliveouthisthreescoreyearsandtenachild。Hewassogenuineandunsophisticatedthatnointroductionwouldservetointroducehim，morethanifyouintroducedawoodchucktoyourneighbor。Hehadgottofindhimoutasyoudid。Hewouldnotplayanypart。Menpaidhimwagesforwork，andsohelpedtofeedandclothehim；butheneverexchangedopinionswiththem。Hewassosimplyandnaturallyhumble——ifhecanbecalledhumblewhoneveraspires——thathumilitywasnodistinctqualityinhim，norcouldheconceiveofit。Wisermenweredemigodstohim。Ifyoutoldhimthatsuchaonewascoming，hedidasifhethoughtthatanythingsograndwouldexpectnothingofhimself，buttakealltheresponsibilityonitself，andlethimbeforgottenstill。Heneverheardthesoundofpraise。Heparticularlyreverencedthewriterandthepreacher。Theirperformancesweremiracles。WhenItoldhimthatIwroteconsiderably，hethoughtforalongtimethatitwasmerelythehandwritingwhichImeant，forhecouldwritearemarkablygoodhandhimself。Isometimesfoundthenameofhisnativeparishhandsomelywritteninthesnowbythehighway，withtheproperFrenchaccent，andknewthathehadpassed。Iaskedhimifheeverwishedtowritehisthoughts。Hesaidthathehadreadandwrittenlettersforthosewhocouldnot，buthenevertriedtowritethoughts——no，hecouldnot，hecouldnottellwhattoputfirst，itwouldkillhim，andthentherewasspellingtobeattendedtoatthesametime！

Iheardthatadistinguishedwisemanandreformeraskedhimifhedidnotwanttheworldtobechanged；butheansweredwithachuckleofsurpriseinhisCanadianaccent，notknowingthatthequestionhadeverbeenentertainedbefore，“No，Ilikeitwellenough。“Itwouldhavesuggestedmanythingstoaphilosophertohavedealingswithhim。Toastrangerheappearedtoknownothingofthingsingeneral；yetIsometimessawinhimamanwhomIhadnotseenbefore，andIdidnotknowwhetherhewasaswiseasShakespeareorassimplyignorantasachild，whethertosuspecthimofafinepoeticconsciousnessorofstupidity。Atownsmantoldmethatwhenhemethimsaunteringthroughthevillageinhissmallclose-fittingcap，andwhistlingtohimself，heremindedhimofaprinceindisguise。

Hisonlybookswereanalmanacandanarithmetic，inwhichlasthewasconsiderablyexpert。Theformerwasasortofcyclopaediatohim，whichhesupposedtocontainanabstractofhumanknowledge，asindeeditdoestoaconsiderableextent。Ilovedtosoundhimonthevariousreformsoftheday，andheneverfailedtolookattheminthemostsimpleandpracticallight。Hehadneverheardofsuchthingsbefore。Couldhedowithoutfactories？Iasked。Hehadwornthehome-madeVermontgray，hesaid，andthatwasgood。Couldhedispensewithteaandcoffee？Didthiscountryaffordanybeveragebesidewater？Hehadsoakedhemlockleavesinwateranddrankit，andthoughtthatwasbetterthanwaterinwarmweather。

WhenIaskedhimifhecoulddowithoutmoney，heshowedtheconvenienceofmoneyinsuchawayastosuggestandcoincidewiththemostphilosophicalaccountsoftheoriginofthisinstitution，andtheveryderivationofthewordpecunia。Ifanoxwerehisproperty，andhewishedtogetneedlesandthreadatthestore，hethoughtitwouldbeinconvenientandimpossiblesoontogoonmortgagingsomeportionofthecreatureeachtimetothatamount。

Hecoulddefendmanyinstitutionsbetterthananyphilosopher，because，indescribingthemastheyconcernedhim，hegavethetruereasonfortheirprevalence，andspeculationhadnotsuggestedtohimanyother。Atanothertime，hearingPlato’sdefinitionofaman——abipedwithoutfeathers——andthatoneexhibitedacockpluckedandcalleditPlato’sman，hethoughtitanimportantdifferencethatthekneesbentthewrongway。Hewouldsometimesexclaim，“HowIlovetotalk！ByGeorge，Icouldtalkallday！“Iaskedhimonce，whenIhadnotseenhimformanymonths，ifhehadgotanewideathissummer。“GoodLord“——saidhe，“amanthathastoworkasIdo，ifhedoesnotforgettheideashehashad，hewilldowell。Maybethemanyouhoewithisinclinedtorace；then，bygorry，yourmindmustbethere；youthinkofweeds。“Hewouldsometimesaskmefirstonsuchoccasions，ifIhadmadeanyimprovement。OnewinterdayIaskedhimifhewasalwayssatisfiedwithhimself，wishingtosuggestasubstitutewithinhimforthepriestwithout，andsomehighermotiveforliving。“Satisfied！“

saidhe；“somemenaresatisfiedwithonething，andsomewithanother。Oneman，perhaps，ifhehasgotenough，willbesatisfiedtositalldaywithhisbacktothefireandhisbellytothetable，byGeorge！“YetInever，byanymanoeuvring，couldgethimtotakethespiritualviewofthings；thehighestthatheappearedtoconceiveofwasasimpleexpediency，suchasyoumightexpectananimaltoappreciate；andthis，practically，istrueofmostmen。

IfIsuggestedanyimprovementinhismodeoflife，hemerelyanswered，withoutexpressinganyregret，thatitwastoolate。Yethethoroughlybelievedinhonestyandthelikevirtues。

Therewasacertainpositiveoriginality，howeverslight，tobedetectedinhim，andIoccasionallyobservedthathewasthinkingforhimselfandexpressinghisownopinion，aphenomenonsorarethatIwouldanydaywalktenmilestoobserveit，anditamountedtothere-originationofmanyoftheinstitutionsofsociety。

Thoughhehesitated，andperhapsfailedtoexpresshimselfdistinctly，healwayshadapresentablethoughtbehind。Yethisthinkingwassoprimitiveandimmersedinhisanimallife，that，thoughmorepromisingthanamerelylearnedman’s，itrarelyripenedtoanythingwhichcanbereported。Hesuggestedthattheremightbemenofgeniusinthelowestgradesoflife，howeverpermanentlyhumbleandilliterate，whotaketheirownviewalways，ordonotpretendtoseeatall；whoareasbottomlessevenasWaldenPondwasthoughttobe，thoughtheymaybedarkandmuddy。

Manyatravellercameoutofhiswaytoseemeandtheinsideofmyhouse，and，asanexcuseforcalling，askedforaglassofwater。

ItoldthemthatIdrankatthepond，andpointedthither，offeringtolendthemadipper。FaroffasIlived，Iwasnotexemptedfromtheannualvisitationwhichoccurs，methinks，aboutthefirstofApril，wheneverybodyisonthemove；andIhadmyshareofgoodluck，thoughthereweresomecuriousspecimensamongmyvisitors。

Half-wittedmenfromthealmshouseandelsewherecametoseeme；butIendeavoredtomakethemexerciseallthewittheyhad，andmaketheirconfessionstome；insuchcasesmakingwitthethemeofourconversation；andsowascompensated。Indeed，Ifoundsomeofthemtobewiserthantheso-calledoverseersofthepoorandselectmenofthetown，andthoughtitwastimethatthetableswereturned。

Withrespecttowit，Ilearnedthattherewasnotmuchdifferencebetweenthehalfandthewhole。Oneday，inparticular，aninoffensive，simple-mindedpauper，whomwithothersIhadoftenseenusedasfencingstuff，standingorsittingonabushelinthefieldstokeepcattleandhimselffromstraying，visitedme，andexpressedawishtoliveasIdid。Hetoldme，withtheutmostsimplicityandtruth，quitesuperior，orratherinferior，toanythingthatiscalledhumility，thathewas“deficientinintellect。“Thesewerehiswords。TheLordhadmadehimso，yethesupposedtheLordcaredasmuchforhimasforanother。“Ihavealwaysbeenso，“saidhe，“frommychildhood；Ineverhadmuchmind；Iwasnotlikeotherchildren；Iamweakinthehead。ItwastheLord’swill，I

suppose。“Andtherehewastoprovethetruthofhiswords。Hewasametaphysicalpuzzletome。Ihaverarelymetafellowmanonsuchpromisingground——itwassosimpleandsincereandsotrueallthathesaid。And，trueenough，inproportionasheappearedtohumblehimselfwasheexalted。Ididnotknowatfirstbutitwastheresultofawisepolicy。Itseemedthatfromsuchabasisoftruthandfranknessasthepoorweak-headedpauperhadlaid，ourintercoursemightgoforwardtosomethingbetterthantheintercourseofsages。

Ihadsomeguestsfromthosenotreckonedcommonlyamongthetown’spoor，butwhoshouldbe；whoareamongtheworld’spoor，atanyrate；guestswhoappeal，nottoyourhospitality，buttoyourhospitalality；whoearnestlywishtobehelped，andprefacetheirappealwiththeinformationthattheyareresolved，foronething，nevertohelpthemselves。Irequireofavisitorthathebenotactuallystarving，thoughhemayhavetheverybestappetiteintheworld，howeverhegotit。Objectsofcharityarenotguests。Menwhodidnotknowwhentheirvisithadterminated，thoughIwentaboutmybusinessagain，answeringthemfromgreaterandgreaterremoteness。Menofalmosteverydegreeofwitcalledonmeinthemigratingseason。Somewhohadmorewitsthantheyknewwhattodowith；runawayslaveswithplantationmanners，wholistenedfromtimetotime，likethefoxinthefable，asiftheyheardthehoundsa-bayingontheirtrack，andlookedatmebeseechingly，asmuchastosay，——

“OChristian，willyousendmeback？

Onerealrunawayslave，amongtherest，whomIhelpedtoforwardtowardthenorthstar。Menofoneidea，likeahenwithonechicken，andthataduckling；menofathousandideas，andunkemptheads，likethosehenswhicharemadetotakechargeofahundredchickens，allinpursuitofonebug，ascoreofthemlostineverymorning’sdew——andbecomefrizzledandmangyinconsequence；menofideasinsteadoflegs，asortofintellectualcentipedethatmadeyoucrawlallover。Onemanproposedabookinwhichvisitorsshouldwritetheirnames，asattheWhiteMountains；but，alas！I

havetoogoodamemorytomakethatnecessary。

Icouldnotbutnoticesomeofthepeculiaritiesofmyvisitors。

Girlsandboysandyoungwomengenerallyseemedgladtobeinthewoods。Theylookedinthepondandattheflowers，andimprovedtheirtime。Menofbusiness，evenfarmers，thoughtonlyofsolitudeandemployment，andofthegreatdistanceatwhichIdweltfromsomethingorother；andthoughtheysaidthattheylovedarambleinthewoodsoccasionally，itwasobviousthattheydidnot。Restlesscommittedmen，whosetimewasantakenupingettingalivingorkeepingit；ministerswhospokeofGodasiftheyenjoyedamonopolyofthesubject，whocouldnotbearallkindsofopinions；doctors，lawyers，uneasyhousekeeperswhopriedintomycupboardandbedwhenIwasout——howcameMrs——toknowthatmysheetswerenotascleanashers？——youngmenwhohadceasedtobeyoung，andhadconcludedthatitwassafesttofollowthebeatentrackoftheprofessions——allthesegenerallysaidthatitwasnotpossibletodosomuchgoodinmyposition。Ay！therewastherub。Theoldandinfirmandthetimid，ofwhateverageorsex，thoughtmostofsickness，andsuddenaccidentanddeath；tothemlifeseemedfullofdanger——whatdangeristhereifyoudon’tthinkofany？——andtheythoughtthataprudentmanwouldcarefullyselectthesafestposition，whereDr。B。mightbeonhandatamoment’swarning。Tothemthevillagewasliterallyacommunity，aleagueformutualdefence，andyouwouldsupposethattheywouldnotgoa-huckleberryingwithoutamedicinechest。Theamountofitis，ifamanisalive，thereisalwaysdangerthathemaydie，thoughthedangermustbeallowedtobelessinproportionasheisdead-and-alivetobeginwith。Amansitsasmanyrisksasheruns。

Finally，thereweretheself-styledreformers，thegreatestboresofall，whothoughtthatIwasforeversinging，——

ThisisthehousethatIbuilt；

ThisisthemanthatlivesinthehousethatIbuilt；

buttheydidnotknowthatthethirdlinewas，ThesearethefolksthatworrythemanThatlivesinthehousethatIbuilt。

Ididnotfearthehen-harriers，forIkeptnochickens；butI

fearedthemen-harriersrather。

Ihadmorecheeringvisitorsthanthelast。Childrencomea-berrying，railroadmentakingaSundaymorningwalkincleanshirts，fishermenandhunters，poetsandphilosophers；inshort，allhonestpilgrims，whocameouttothewoodsforfreedom’ssake，andreallyleftthevillagebehind，Iwasreadytogreetwith——

“Welcome，Englishmen！welcome，Englishmen！“forIhadhadcommunicationwiththatrace。