Walden: The Village

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Walden: The Village

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  • Princeton_Ed: Princeton Ed. of Walden
  • Version_A: Walden, Version A (1847)
  • Version_B: Walden, Version B (1849)
  • Version_C: Walden, Version C (1849)
  • Version_D: Walden, Version D (1852)
  • Version_E: Walden, Version E (late 1852 - 1853)
  • Version_F: Walden, Version F (1853-1854)
  • Version_G: Walden, Version G (1854)

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Published by Walden: Fluid Text is published by Digital Thoreau at The State University of New York College at Geneseo..

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XVersion
The Villagen
Note: [No chapter title appears in the manuscript apart from the table of contents.] (R. Clapper)
1a
Village 1a written: A rewritten: B

(Ronald Clapper)
After sitting still in my house reading and writing or working in my field After hoeing or perhaps reading and writing or working in my field AFTER hoeing, or perhaps reading and writing, AFTER hoeing, or perhaps reading and writing, AFTER hoeing, or perhaps reading and writing, AFTER hoeing, or perhaps reading and writing, AFTER hoeing, or perhaps reading and writing, AFTER hoeing, or perhaps reading and writing, in the forenoon, I usually bathed again in the pond, swimming across one of its coves for a stint, and smoothed out the last wrinkle of thought or shook the dust of labor from my feet & clothes, and for the afternoon was as free as the bird that has built its nest and reared its brood smoothed out the last wrinkle of thought or shook the dust of labor from my feet and clothes, or smoothed out the last wrinkle which study had made and for the afternoon was as free as the bird that has built its nest and reared its brood washed the dust of labor from my person, or smoothed out the last wrinkle which study had made, and for the afternoon was absolutely free. washed the dust of labor from my person, or smoothed out the last wrinkle which study had made, and for the afternoon was absolutely free. washed the dust of labor from my person, or smoothed out the last wrinkle which study had made, and for the afternoon was absolutely free. washed the dust of labor from my person, or smoothed out the last wrinkle which study had made, and for the afternoon was absolutely free. washed the dust of labor from my person, or smoothed out the last wrinkle which study had made, and for the afternoon was absolutely free. washed the dust of labor from my person, or smoothed out the last wrinkle which study had made, and for the afternoon was absolutely free. Every day or two I strolled to the village to hear some of the gossip which is incessantly going on here—either circulating there, either circulating there, circulating either there, circulating either there, circulating either there, circulating either there, circulating either there, circulating either from mouth to mouth, or from newspaper to newspaper, and which, taken in homœopathic doses, was really as refreshing in its way as the rustle of leaves and the peeping of frogs. As I walked in the woods to see the birds and squirrels, so I walked in the village to see the men and boys; instead of the wind among the pines I heard the carts rattle. In one direction from my house there was a colony of muskrats in the river meadows; under the grove of elms and buttonwoods in the other horizon was a village of busy men, as curious to me as if they had been prairie dogs, each sitting at the mouth of its burrow, or running over to a neighbor’s to gossipand gossipand gossip. gossip. gossip. gossip. gossip. gossip. I went there frequently to observe their habits. The village seemed seemed appeared appeared appeared appeared appeared appeared to me a great news room; and on on on on on on on on one side, to support it, as once once once once once once once once at Redding & Company’s in in on on on on on on State Street, they kept nuts and raisins, or salt and meal and other groceries. Some have such a vast appetite for the former commodity, that is, the news, that is, the news, that is, the news, that is, the news, that is, the news, that is, the news, that is, the news, that is, the news, and such sound digestive organs, that they can sit forever in public avenues without stirring, and let it simmer and whisper through them like the Etesian winds, or as if inhaling ether, it only producing numbness and insensibility to pain,— otherwise it would often be very painful to hear, otherwise it would often be painful to hear, otherwise it would often be painful to hear, otherwise it would often be painful to hear, otherwise it would often be painful to hear, otherwise it would often be painful to hear, otherwise it would often be painful to hear, otherwise it would often be painful to hear, —without affecting the consciousness. I hardly ever failed, when I rambled through the village, to see a row of such worthies, either sitting on a ladder sunning themselves, with their bodies inclined forward and their eyes glancing along the line this way and that, from time to time, with a voluptuous expression of satisfaction expression of satisfaction expression, expression, expression, expression, expression, expression, or else leaning against a barn with their hands in their pockets, like caryatides, as if to prop it up. They, being commonly out of doors, heard whatever was in the wind. These are the coarsest mills, in which all gossip is first rudely digested or cracked up before it is emptied into finer and more delicate hoppers within doors. within doors. within doors. within doors. within doors. within doors. I could not help observing I could not help observing observed I observed I observed I observed I observed I observed I observed that the vitals of the village were the grocery, the bar-room, the post-office, and the bank; and, as a necessary part of the machinery, they kept a bell, a big gun, and a fire-engine, at convenient places; and the houses were so arranged as to make the most of the world and of mankind mankind, mankind, mankind, mankind, mankind, mankind, mankind, in lanes and fronting one another, so that every traveller had to run the gantlet, and every man, woman, and child might get a lick at him. Of course, those who were stationed nearest to the head of the line, where they could most see and be seen, and have the first slap blow blow blow blow blow blow blow at him, paid the highest prices for their places; and the few straggling inhabitants in the outskirts, where long gaps in the line began to occur, where and and and and and and and the traveller could get over walls and or or or or or or or or turn aside into cow-paths, and so escape, paid a very slight ground or window tax. 1b
Village 1b written: A rewritten: B
A: Economy 90 follows Village 1a and precedes Village 1b.
B: A fair copy was made of only of the Sirens, and kept out of danger … escaped to the woods again.

(Ronald Clapper)
Signs were hung out on all sides to allure the village traveler him allure him; allure him; allure him; allure him; allure him; allure him; allure him; some to catch him by the appetite, as the tavern and victualling cellar; some by the fancy, as the dry goods store and the jeweller’s; and others by the hair or the feet or the skirts, as the barber, the shoemaker, or the tailor. Besides, there was a still more terrible standing invitation to call at every one of these houses, and company expected about these times. For the most part I escaped wonderfully from these dangers, either by proceeding at once boldly and without deliberation to the goal, as is recommended to those who run the gantlet, or by keeping my thoughts on high things, like Orpheus, who, “loudly singing the praises of the gods to his lyre, drowned the voices of the Sirens, and kept out of danger.” Sometimes I bolted suddenly, and nobody could tell my whereabouts, for I did not stand much about gracefulness, and never hesitated at a fence or a hole in the wall fence or a hole in the wall gap in a fence. gap in a fence. gap in a fence. gap in a fence. gap in a fence. gap in a fence. I was even accustomed to make an irruption into some houses, where I was well entertained, and after learning the kernals and kernels and kernels and kernels and kernels and kernels and kernels and kernels and very last sieve-ful of news, what had subsided, the prospects of war and peace, and whether the world was likely to hold together much longer, I was let out through the rear avenues, and so escaped to the woods again.
2a
Village 2a written: B rewritten: B

(Ronald Clapper)
It was very pleasant, when I staid late in town, when I stayed late in the village town when I staid late in town, when I staid late in town, when I staid late in town, when I staid late in town, when I staid late in town, when I staid late in town, to launch myself upon into into into into into into into the night, especially if it was dark and tempestuous, and set sail from some bright village r
Revision note: B1: saloon
saloon parlor
parlor parlor parlor parlor parlor parlor
or lecture room, r
Revision note: B1:
with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulders
with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulder, with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulder, with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulder, with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulder, with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulder, with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulder,
for my snug harbor in the woods, having made all tight without without without without without without without without and withdrawn under hatches with a merry crew of thoughts, leaving only my outer man at the helm, r
Revision note: B1:
or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing.
or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing. or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing. or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing. or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing. or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing. or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing.
I had many a genial r
Revision note: B1: fireside thought
fireside thought by the cabin fire
thought by the cabin fire thought by the cabin fire thought by the cabin fire thought by the cabin fire thought by the cabin fire thought by the cabin fire
r
Revision note: B1: as I sailed as I sailed
as I sailed, as I sailed
“as I sailed.” “as I sailed.” “as I sailed.” “as I sailed.” “as I sailed.” “as I sailed.”
I was never cast away nor distressed in any weather, r
Revision note: B1: but went beating with my heart in the teeth of the fiercest gales
though I encountered some severe storms.
though I encountered some severe storms. though I encountered some severe storms. though I encountered some severe storms. though I encountered some severe storms. though I encountered some severe storms. though I encountered some severe storms.
2b
Village 2b written: B rewritten: B

(Ronald Clapper)
r
Revision note: B1: The instincts are to a certain extent a sort of independent nobility—of equal date with the mind or crown—ancient dukes and princes of the royal blood. They are perhaps the mind of our ancestors subsided in us. The experience of the race. Even in common nights it is darker in the woods
Even in common nights it is darker in the woods even in common nights
It is darker in the woods, even in common nights, It is darker in the woods, even in common nights, It is darker in the woods, even in common nights, It is darker in the woods, even in common nights, It is darker in the woods, even in common nights, It is darker in the woods, even in common nights,
than most suppose. I frequently had to look up at the opening between the trees above the path r
Revision note: B1: in order to ascertain my course route,
in order to ascertain learn my route
in order to learn my route, in order to learn my route, in order to learn my route, in order to learn my route, in order to learn my route, in order to learn my route,
and, where there was no r
Revision note: B1: cleared path
cleared path
cart-path, cart-path, cart-path, cart-path, cart-path, cart-path,
to feel with my feet the faint winding track track track track track track track which I had worn, or govern myself steer steer steer steer steer steer steer by the known relation of particular trees which I felt with my hands, passing between two pines for instance, for instance, for instance, for instance, for instance, for instance, for instance, not more than eighteen inches apart, r
Revision note: B1:
in the midst of the woods, in the midst of the woods, in the midst of the woods, in the midst of the woods, in the midst of the woods, in the midst of the woods,
invariably, in the darkest night when nothing could be seen—but all things must be felt night. night. night. night. night. night. 2c
Village 2c written: B rewritten: B, F
F: A fair copy was made of only and I have thought that perhaps my body … to the mouth without assistance.

(Ronald Clapper)
The complete navigation of the body by the mind but prophecies the sovereignty of the latter over the whole of nature. All matter is capable of entertaining thought. I have thought sometimes Sometimes, Sometimes, Sometimes, Sometimes, Sometimes, Sometimes, after coming home r
Revision note: B1: thus through the woods
thus through the woods
thus thus thus thus thus thus
late in a dark and muggy night, when my feet felt the way path path path path path path path which my eyes could not see, dreaming and absent-minded all the way, until I was aroused by having to raise my hand to lift the latch, r
Revision note: B1: for sometimes I have not been able to remember recall
for once I was not I have not been able to recall
I have not been able to recall I have not been able to recall I have not been able to recall I have not been able to recall I have not been able to recall I have not been able to recall
a single step of my walk, r
Revision note: B1:
and
and and and and and and
I have thought that perhaps my body would find its way home if its master should forsake it, as the hand finds its way to the mouth without assistance. 2d
Village 2d written: F

(Ronald Clapper)
Two or three several times, when a visitor stayed chanced to stay Several times, when a visitor chanced to stay Several times, when a visitor chanced to stay into evening, and it proved a dark night, I was obliged to conduct him to the cart-path in the rear of my the the the house, and then point out to him the direction he was to pursue, and in keeping which he was to be guided rather by his feet than his eyes. One very dark night I directed thus on their way two young men who had been fishing in the pond, who otherwise would have been at a loss what course to take pond. pond. They lived about a mile off through the woods, and were quite used to the route. A day or two after one of them told me that they wandered about the greater part of the night, close by their own premises, and did not get home till toward morning, by which time, as there were had been had been had been several heavy showers in the course of the night meanwhile, mean while, mean while, and the leaves were very wet, they were drenched to their skins. I have heard of many going astray even in the village streets, when the darkness was so thick that you could cut it with a knife, as the phrase saying saying is. Some who live in the outskirts, having come to town shopping a-shopping a-shopping in their wagons, have been obliged to put up for the night; and gentlemen and ladies making a call have gone half a mile out of their way, feeling the sidewalk only with their feet, with their feet, with their feet, and not knowing when they turned, and were have been obliged to inquire the way at the first house they discovered. Even one of the village doctors was thus lost in the centre of the village, on one of his nocturnal missions, & spent nearly the whole night fumbling about & feeling the fences & houses, being on several accounts ashamed to arouse his neighbors & inquire so learn where he was If one with the vision of an owl, or as in broad day light could have watched his motions they would have appeared very ridiculous indeed turned. turned. It is a surprising and memorable, & I may add as well as as well as as well as valuable experience, to be lost in the woods especially at night. Sometimes any time. Often any time. Often any time. Often in a snow storm, even by day, one will come out upon a well-known road, and yet find it impossible to tell which way leads to the village. Though he knows that he has travelled it a thousand times, your reason tells you that you have travelled it a thousand times yet you can recognize no feature in it but it is as strange to you as if it were in Tartary he cannot recognize a feature in it, but it is as strange to him as if it were a road in Siberia he cannot recognize a feature in it, but it is as strange to him as if it were a road in Siberia. he cannot recognize a feature in it, but it is as strange to him as if it were a road in Siberia. By night, of course, the perplexity is infinitely greater. In our most trivial walks, we are constantly, though unconsciously, though unconsciously, though unconsciously, steering like pilots by certain well-known beacons and headlands, and if we go beyond our usual course we still carry in our minds the bearing of some neighboring cape; and not till we are completely lost, or turned round,—for a man needs only to be turned round once with his eyes shut in this world to be lost,—do we appreciate the vastness and strangeness of Nature. Every man has to learn the points of compass again as often as he awakes, whether from sleep or from or or any abstraction. In fact not Not Not till we are lost, in other words, not till we have lost the world, in other words, not till we have lost the world, in other words, not till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves, and realize where we are and the infinite extent of our relations.
3
Village 3 written: C rewritten: E
C: The Pope’s Homers … the wind passes over it, bends is interlined in pencil (the quotation in ink).
E: A fair copy was made of only One afternoon, near the end … this way to the pond, I suffered no.

(Ronald Clapper)
One afternoon, near the end of the first summer, when I went to the village to get a shoe from the cobbler’s, I was seized and thrown thrown thrown put put put put into jail, because, as I have elsewhere related, I did not pay a tax to, or recognize the authority of, the state which buys and sells men, women, and children, like cattle at the door of its senate house—(How should I regard the one who treats my brother thus?)—and was then endeavoring to wrest its territory from a neighboring nation senate-house. senate-house. senate-house. senate-house. senate-house. I had gone down to the woods for other purposes. But wherever a man goes men will pursue & paw him with their dirty institutions. If they could would fain constrain him to belong to their desperate odd-fellow society But, wherever a man goes, men will pursue and paw him with their dirty institutions, and, if they can, constrain him to belong to their desperate odd-fellow society. But, wherever a man goes, men will pursue and paw him with their dirty institutions, and, if they can, constrain him to belong to their desperate odd-fellow society. But, wherever a man goes, men will pursue and paw him with their dirty institutions, and, if they can, constrain him to belong to their desperate odd-fellow society. But, wherever a man goes, men will pursue and paw him with their dirty institutions, and, if they can, constrain him to belong to their desperate odd-fellow society. But, wherever a man goes, men will pursue and paw him with their dirty institutions, and, if they can, constrain him to belong to their desperate odd-fellow society. It is true, I might have resisted forcibly with more or less effect, might have run “amok” against society; but I preferred that society should run “amok” against me, it being the desperate party. To be sure I might have resisted forcibly with more or less effect,—might have run amuck against society, but I preferred that society should run amuck against me it being the desperate party It is true, I might have resisted forcibly with more or less effect, might have run “amok” against society; but I preferred that society should run “amok” against me, it being the desperate party. It is true, I might have resisted forcibly with more or less effect, might have run “amok” against society; but I preferred that society should run “amok” against me, it being the desperate party. It is true, I might have resisted forcibly with more or less effect, might have run “amok” against society; but I preferred that society should run “amok” against me, it being the desperate party. However, I was released the next day, obtained my mended shoe, and returned to the woods in season to get my dinner of huckleberries on Fair-Haven Hill. By the way, I I I I I I was never molested by any person but those who represent represented represented represented represented represented represented the state. I had no lock nor bolt but for the desk which held my papers, not even a nail to put over my latch or windows. I never fastened my door night or day, though I was to be absent several days; not even when the next fall I spent a fortnight in the woods of Maine. not even when the next fall I spent a fortnight in the woods of Maine. not even when the next fall I spent a fortnight in the woods of Maine. not even when the next fall I spent a fortnight in the woods of Maine. And yet my house was more more more more more more respected than if it had been surrounded by a file of soldiers. The weary traveller tired rambler tired rambler tired rambler tired rambler tired rambler tired rambler could rest and warm himself by my fire, the literary amuse himself with the few books on my table, or the curious, by opening my closet door, see what was left of my dinner, and what prospect I had for of for of for of of of of a supper. Yet, though many people of every class came this way to the pond, I suffered no serious serious serious serious serious serious inconvenience from these sources, and I never missed any thing but one small book, a volume of Homer, which perhaps was improperly gilded, and this perhaps was improperly gilded, and this perhaps was improperly gilded, and this perhaps was improperly gilded, and this perhaps was improperly gilded, and this I trust a soldier of our camp has found by this time. by this time. by this time. by this time. by this time. by this time. I am convinced, that if all men were to live as simply as I then then then then then then did, thieving and robbery would be unknown. These take place only in communities where some have got more than is sufficient while others have not enough. The Pope’s Homers would soon get properly distributed.—
 
Probably it was in this sense that Tibullus wrote “Nec “Nec “Nec “Nec “Nec “Nec bella fuerunt,
 
Faginus astabat dum scyphus ante dapes.”
 
“Nor wars did men molest,
 
When only beechen bowls were in request.”
“You who govern public affairs, what need have you to employ punishments? Love virtue, and the people will be virtuous. The virtues of a superior man are like the wind; the virtues of a common man are like the grass; the grass, when the wind passes over it, bends.”
XVersion
The Villagen
Note: [No chapter title appears in the manuscript apart from the table of contents.] (R. Clapper)
1a
Village 1a written: A rewritten: B

(Ronald Clapper)
After sitting still in my house reading and writing or working in my field After hoeing or perhaps reading and writing or working in my field AFTER hoeing, or perhaps reading and writing, AFTER hoeing, or perhaps reading and writing, AFTER hoeing, or perhaps reading and writing, AFTER hoeing, or perhaps reading and writing, AFTER hoeing, or perhaps reading and writing, AFTER hoeing, or perhaps reading and writing, in the forenoon, I usually bathed again in the pond, swimming across one of its coves for a stint, and smoothed out the last wrinkle of thought or shook the dust of labor from my feet & clothes, and for the afternoon was as free as the bird that has built its nest and reared its brood smoothed out the last wrinkle of thought or shook the dust of labor from my feet and clothes, or smoothed out the last wrinkle which study had made and for the afternoon was as free as the bird that has built its nest and reared its brood washed the dust of labor from my person, or smoothed out the last wrinkle which study had made, and for the afternoon was absolutely free. washed the dust of labor from my person, or smoothed out the last wrinkle which study had made, and for the afternoon was absolutely free. washed the dust of labor from my person, or smoothed out the last wrinkle which study had made, and for the afternoon was absolutely free. washed the dust of labor from my person, or smoothed out the last wrinkle which study had made, and for the afternoon was absolutely free. washed the dust of labor from my person, or smoothed out the last wrinkle which study had made, and for the afternoon was absolutely free. washed the dust of labor from my person, or smoothed out the last wrinkle which study had made, and for the afternoon was absolutely free. Every day or two I strolled to the village to hear some of the gossip which is incessantly going on here—either circulating there, either circulating there, circulating either there, circulating either there, circulating either there, circulating either there, circulating either there, circulating either from mouth to mouth, or from newspaper to newspaper, and which, taken in homœopathic doses, was really as refreshing in its way as the rustle of leaves and the peeping of frogs. As I walked in the woods to see the birds and squirrels, so I walked in the village to see the men and boys; instead of the wind among the pines I heard the carts rattle. In one direction from my house there was a colony of muskrats in the river meadows; under the grove of elms and buttonwoods in the other horizon was a village of busy men, as curious to me as if they had been prairie dogs, each sitting at the mouth of its burrow, or running over to a neighbor’s to gossipand gossipand gossip. gossip. gossip. gossip. gossip. gossip. I went there frequently to observe their habits. The village seemed seemed appeared appeared appeared appeared appeared appeared to me a great news room; and on on on on on on on on one side, to support it, as once once once once once once once once at Redding & Company’s in in on on on on on on State Street, they kept nuts and raisins, or salt and meal and other groceries. Some have such a vast appetite for the former commodity, that is, the news, that is, the news, that is, the news, that is, the news, that is, the news, that is, the news, that is, the news, that is, the news, and such sound digestive organs, that they can sit forever in public avenues without stirring, and let it simmer and whisper through them like the Etesian winds, or as if inhaling ether, it only producing numbness and insensibility to pain,— otherwise it would often be very painful to hear, otherwise it would often be painful to hear, otherwise it would often be painful to hear, otherwise it would often be painful to hear, otherwise it would often be painful to hear, otherwise it would often be painful to hear, otherwise it would often be painful to hear, otherwise it would often be painful to hear, —without affecting the consciousness. I hardly ever failed, when I rambled through the village, to see a row of such worthies, either sitting on a ladder sunning themselves, with their bodies inclined forward and their eyes glancing along the line this way and that, from time to time, with a voluptuous expression of satisfaction expression of satisfaction expression, expression, expression, expression, expression, expression, or else leaning against a barn with their hands in their pockets, like caryatides, as if to prop it up. They, being commonly out of doors, heard whatever was in the wind. These are the coarsest mills, in which all gossip is first rudely digested or cracked up before it is emptied into finer and more delicate hoppers within doors. within doors. within doors. within doors. within doors. within doors. I could not help observing I could not help observing observed I observed I observed I observed I observed I observed I observed that the vitals of the village were the grocery, the bar-room, the post-office, and the bank; and, as a necessary part of the machinery, they kept a bell, a big gun, and a fire-engine, at convenient places; and the houses were so arranged as to make the most of the world and of mankind mankind, mankind, mankind, mankind, mankind, mankind, mankind, in lanes and fronting one another, so that every traveller had to run the gantlet, and every man, woman, and child might get a lick at him. Of course, those who were stationed nearest to the head of the line, where they could most see and be seen, and have the first slap blow blow blow blow blow blow blow at him, paid the highest prices for their places; and the few straggling inhabitants in the outskirts, where long gaps in the line began to occur, where and and and and and and and the traveller could get over walls and or or or or or or or or turn aside into cow-paths, and so escape, paid a very slight ground or window tax. 1b
Village 1b written: A rewritten: B
A: Economy 90 follows Village 1a and precedes Village 1b.
B: A fair copy was made of only of the Sirens, and kept out of danger … escaped to the woods again.

(Ronald Clapper)
Signs were hung out on all sides to allure the village traveler him allure him; allure him; allure him; allure him; allure him; allure him; allure him; some to catch him by the appetite, as the tavern and victualling cellar; some by the fancy, as the dry goods store and the jeweller’s; and others by the hair or the feet or the skirts, as the barber, the shoemaker, or the tailor. Besides, there was a still more terrible standing invitation to call at every one of these houses, and company expected about these times. For the most part I escaped wonderfully from these dangers, either by proceeding at once boldly and without deliberation to the goal, as is recommended to those who run the gantlet, or by keeping my thoughts on high things, like Orpheus, who, “loudly singing the praises of the gods to his lyre, drowned the voices of the Sirens, and kept out of danger.” Sometimes I bolted suddenly, and nobody could tell my whereabouts, for I did not stand much about gracefulness, and never hesitated at a fence or a hole in the wall fence or a hole in the wall gap in a fence. gap in a fence. gap in a fence. gap in a fence. gap in a fence. gap in a fence. I was even accustomed to make an irruption into some houses, where I was well entertained, and after learning the kernals and kernels and kernels and kernels and kernels and kernels and kernels and kernels and very last sieve-ful of news, what had subsided, the prospects of war and peace, and whether the world was likely to hold together much longer, I was let out through the rear avenues, and so escaped to the woods again.
2a
Village 2a written: B rewritten: B

(Ronald Clapper)
It was very pleasant, when I staid late in town, when I stayed late in the village town when I staid late in town, when I staid late in town, when I staid late in town, when I staid late in town, when I staid late in town, when I staid late in town, to launch myself upon into into into into into into into the night, especially if it was dark and tempestuous, and set sail from some bright village r
Revision note: B1: saloon
saloon parlor
parlor parlor parlor parlor parlor parlor
or lecture room, r
Revision note: B1:
with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulders
with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulder, with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulder, with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulder, with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulder, with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulder, with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulder,
for my snug harbor in the woods, having made all tight without without without without without without without without and withdrawn under hatches with a merry crew of thoughts, leaving only my outer man at the helm, r
Revision note: B1:
or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing.
or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing. or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing. or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing. or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing. or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing. or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing.
I had many a genial r
Revision note: B1: fireside thought
fireside thought by the cabin fire
thought by the cabin fire thought by the cabin fire thought by the cabin fire thought by the cabin fire thought by the cabin fire thought by the cabin fire
r
Revision note: B1: as I sailed as I sailed
as I sailed, as I sailed
“as I sailed.” “as I sailed.” “as I sailed.” “as I sailed.” “as I sailed.” “as I sailed.”
I was never cast away nor distressed in any weather, r
Revision note: B1: but went beating with my heart in the teeth of the fiercest gales
though I encountered some severe storms.
though I encountered some severe storms. though I encountered some severe storms. though I encountered some severe storms. though I encountered some severe storms. though I encountered some severe storms. though I encountered some severe storms.
2b
Village 2b written: B rewritten: B

(Ronald Clapper)
r
Revision note: B1: The instincts are to a certain extent a sort of independent nobility—of equal date with the mind or crown—ancient dukes and princes of the royal blood. They are perhaps the mind of our ancestors subsided in us. The experience of the race. Even in common nights it is darker in the woods
Even in common nights it is darker in the woods even in common nights
It is darker in the woods, even in common nights, It is darker in the woods, even in common nights, It is darker in the woods, even in common nights, It is darker in the woods, even in common nights, It is darker in the woods, even in common nights, It is darker in the woods, even in common nights,
than most suppose. I frequently had to look up at the opening between the trees above the path r
Revision note: B1: in order to ascertain my course route,
in order to ascertain learn my route
in order to learn my route, in order to learn my route, in order to learn my route, in order to learn my route, in order to learn my route, in order to learn my route,
and, where there was no r
Revision note: B1: cleared path
cleared path
cart-path, cart-path, cart-path, cart-path, cart-path, cart-path,
to feel with my feet the faint winding track track track track track track track which I had worn, or govern myself steer steer steer steer steer steer steer by the known relation of particular trees which I felt with my hands, passing between two pines for instance, for instance, for instance, for instance, for instance, for instance, for instance, not more than eighteen inches apart, r
Revision note: B1:
in the midst of the woods, in the midst of the woods, in the midst of the woods, in the midst of the woods, in the midst of the woods, in the midst of the woods,
invariably, in the darkest night when nothing could be seen—but all things must be felt night. night. night. night. night. night. 2c
Village 2c written: B rewritten: B, F
F: A fair copy was made of only and I have thought that perhaps my body … to the mouth without assistance.

(Ronald Clapper)
The complete navigation of the body by the mind but prophecies the sovereignty of the latter over the whole of nature. All matter is capable of entertaining thought. I have thought sometimes Sometimes, Sometimes, Sometimes, Sometimes, Sometimes, Sometimes, after coming home r
Revision note: B1: thus through the woods
thus through the woods
thus thus thus thus thus thus
late in a dark and muggy night, when my feet felt the way path path path path path path path which my eyes could not see, dreaming and absent-minded all the way, until I was aroused by having to raise my hand to lift the latch, r
Revision note: B1: for sometimes I have not been able to remember recall
for once I was not I have not been able to recall
I have not been able to recall I have not been able to recall I have not been able to recall I have not been able to recall I have not been able to recall I have not been able to recall
a single step of my walk, r
Revision note: B1:
and
and and and and and and
I have thought that perhaps my body would find its way home if its master should forsake it, as the hand finds its way to the mouth without assistance. 2d
Village 2d written: F

(Ronald Clapper)
Two or three several times, when a visitor stayed chanced to stay Several times, when a visitor chanced to stay Several times, when a visitor chanced to stay into evening, and it proved a dark night, I was obliged to conduct him to the cart-path in the rear of my the the the house, and then point out to him the direction he was to pursue, and in keeping which he was to be guided rather by his feet than his eyes. One very dark night I directed thus on their way two young men who had been fishing in the pond, who otherwise would have been at a loss what course to take pond. pond. They lived about a mile off through the woods, and were quite used to the route. A day or two after one of them told me that they wandered about the greater part of the night, close by their own premises, and did not get home till toward morning, by which time, as there were had been had been had been several heavy showers in the course of the night meanwhile, mean while, mean while, and the leaves were very wet, they were drenched to their skins. I have heard of many going astray even in the village streets, when the darkness was so thick that you could cut it with a knife, as the phrase saying saying is. Some who live in the outskirts, having come to town shopping a-shopping a-shopping in their wagons, have been obliged to put up for the night; and gentlemen and ladies making a call have gone half a mile out of their way, feeling the sidewalk only with their feet, with their feet, with their feet, and not knowing when they turned, and were have been obliged to inquire the way at the first house they discovered. Even one of the village doctors was thus lost in the centre of the village, on one of his nocturnal missions, & spent nearly the whole night fumbling about & feeling the fences & houses, being on several accounts ashamed to arouse his neighbors & inquire so learn where he was If one with the vision of an owl, or as in broad day light could have watched his motions they would have appeared very ridiculous indeed turned. turned. It is a surprising and memorable, & I may add as well as as well as as well as valuable experience, to be lost in the woods especially at night. Sometimes any time. Often any time. Often any time. Often in a snow storm, even by day, one will come out upon a well-known road, and yet find it impossible to tell which way leads to the village. Though he knows that he has travelled it a thousand times, your reason tells you that you have travelled it a thousand times yet you can recognize no feature in it but it is as strange to you as if it were in Tartary he cannot recognize a feature in it, but it is as strange to him as if it were a road in Siberia he cannot recognize a feature in it, but it is as strange to him as if it were a road in Siberia. he cannot recognize a feature in it, but it is as strange to him as if it were a road in Siberia. By night, of course, the perplexity is infinitely greater. In our most trivial walks, we are constantly, though unconsciously, though unconsciously, though unconsciously, steering like pilots by certain well-known beacons and headlands, and if we go beyond our usual course we still carry in our minds the bearing of some neighboring cape; and not till we are completely lost, or turned round,—for a man needs only to be turned round once with his eyes shut in this world to be lost,—do we appreciate the vastness and strangeness of Nature. Every man has to learn the points of compass again as often as he awakes, whether from sleep or from or or any abstraction. In fact not Not Not till we are lost, in other words, not till we have lost the world, in other words, not till we have lost the world, in other words, not till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves, and realize where we are and the infinite extent of our relations.
3
Village 3 written: C rewritten: E
C: The Pope’s Homers … the wind passes over it, bends is interlined in pencil (the quotation in ink).
E: A fair copy was made of only One afternoon, near the end … this way to the pond, I suffered no.

(Ronald Clapper)
One afternoon, near the end of the first summer, when I went to the village to get a shoe from the cobbler’s, I was seized and thrown thrown thrown put put put put into jail, because, as I have elsewhere related, I did not pay a tax to, or recognize the authority of, the state which buys and sells men, women, and children, like cattle at the door of its senate house—(How should I regard the one who treats my brother thus?)—and was then endeavoring to wrest its territory from a neighboring nation senate-house. senate-house. senate-house. senate-house. senate-house. I had gone down to the woods for other purposes. But wherever a man goes men will pursue & paw him with their dirty institutions. If they could would fain constrain him to belong to their desperate odd-fellow society But, wherever a man goes, men will pursue and paw him with their dirty institutions, and, if they can, constrain him to belong to their desperate odd-fellow society. But, wherever a man goes, men will pursue and paw him with their dirty institutions, and, if they can, constrain him to belong to their desperate odd-fellow society. But, wherever a man goes, men will pursue and paw him with their dirty institutions, and, if they can, constrain him to belong to their desperate odd-fellow society. But, wherever a man goes, men will pursue and paw him with their dirty institutions, and, if they can, constrain him to belong to their desperate odd-fellow society. But, wherever a man goes, men will pursue and paw him with their dirty institutions, and, if they can, constrain him to belong to their desperate odd-fellow society. It is true, I might have resisted forcibly with more or less effect, might have run “amok” against society; but I preferred that society should run “amok” against me, it being the desperate party. To be sure I might have resisted forcibly with more or less effect,—might have run amuck against society, but I preferred that society should run amuck against me it being the desperate party It is true, I might have resisted forcibly with more or less effect, might have run “amok” against society; but I preferred that society should run “amok” against me, it being the desperate party. It is true, I might have resisted forcibly with more or less effect, might have run “amok” against society; but I preferred that society should run “amok” against me, it being the desperate party. It is true, I might have resisted forcibly with more or less effect, might have run “amok” against society; but I preferred that society should run “amok” against me, it being the desperate party. However, I was released the next day, obtained my mended shoe, and returned to the woods in season to get my dinner of huckleberries on Fair-Haven Hill. By the way, I I I I I I was never molested by any person but those who represent represented represented represented represented represented represented the state. I had no lock nor bolt but for the desk which held my papers, not even a nail to put over my latch or windows. I never fastened my door night or day, though I was to be absent several days; not even when the next fall I spent a fortnight in the woods of Maine. not even when the next fall I spent a fortnight in the woods of Maine. not even when the next fall I spent a fortnight in the woods of Maine. not even when the next fall I spent a fortnight in the woods of Maine. And yet my house was more more more more more more respected than if it had been surrounded by a file of soldiers. The weary traveller tired rambler tired rambler tired rambler tired rambler tired rambler tired rambler could rest and warm himself by my fire, the literary amuse himself with the few books on my table, or the curious, by opening my closet door, see what was left of my dinner, and what prospect I had for of for of for of of of of a supper. Yet, though many people of every class came this way to the pond, I suffered no serious serious serious serious serious serious inconvenience from these sources, and I never missed any thing but one small book, a volume of Homer, which perhaps was improperly gilded, and this perhaps was improperly gilded, and this perhaps was improperly gilded, and this perhaps was improperly gilded, and this perhaps was improperly gilded, and this I trust a soldier of our camp has found by this time. by this time. by this time. by this time. by this time. by this time. I am convinced, that if all men were to live as simply as I then then then then then then did, thieving and robbery would be unknown. These take place only in communities where some have got more than is sufficient while others have not enough. The Pope’s Homers would soon get properly distributed.—
 
Probably it was in this sense that Tibullus wrote “Nec “Nec “Nec “Nec “Nec “Nec bella fuerunt,
 
Faginus astabat dum scyphus ante dapes.”
 
“Nor wars did men molest,
 
When only beechen bowls were in request.”
“You who govern public affairs, what need have you to employ punishments? Love virtue, and the people will be virtuous. The virtues of a superior man are like the wind; the virtues of a common man are like the grass; the grass, when the wind passes over it, bends.”

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