Solitude Solitude The title “Solitude” is inserted at the top of the leaf containing Solitude 1. Solitude For an analysis of the structure of this chapter, see Ross (1970)

A drawing of Thoreau's cabin at Walden. Only rabbit, now roam the fields . . . the days of animated life appears in the manuscript, but more may be contained on the missing leaf (#79) which precedes. Sympathy with the fluttering alder . . . the smooth reflecting surface does not appear in the manuscript. This is a delicious evening, when the whole body This is a delicious evening, when the whole body This is a delicious evening, when the whole body is seems to be seems to be is one sense, and imbibes delight through every pore. I go and come with a strange liberty in Nature, a part of herself. As I walk along the one sense, and imbibes delight through every pore. I go and come with a strange liberty in Nature, a part of herself. As I walk along the one sense, and imbibes delight through every pore. I go and come with a strange liberty in Nature, a part of herself. As I walk along the stony shore of the pond in my shirt sleeves, stony shore of the pond stony shore of the pond in my shirt-sleeves shore of the pond, stony shore of the pond in my shirt sleeves, though it is cool though it is cool though it is cool as well as as well as and also as well as as well as cloudy and windy, and I see cloudy and windy, and I see cloudy and windy, and I see nothing special to attract me, no peculiarity, which I can describe nothing in particular to attract me, nothing in particular special to attract me, nothing special to attract me, no peculiarity, which I can describe, all the elements are unusually congenial to me. The bullfrogs trump to usher in the night, and the note of the whippoorwill is borne on the rippling wind from over the water. yet all things are very all the elements are unspeakably congenial to me. Again the frogs peep trump to celebrate the sacred hours of the night, and the whippoorwill sings in the note of the whippoorwill is borne on the rippling wind from over the water. all the elements are unusually congenial to me. The bullfrogs trump to usher in the night, and the note of the whippoorwill is borne on the rippling wind from over the water. yet all things are very congenial to me. The frogs peep to celebrate the sacred hours of the night, and the whippoorwill sings in the rippling wind. Sympathy with My breath is in Sympathy with Sympathy with the fluttering alder and poplar leaves almost takes away my breath; yet, like the lake, my the fluttering alder and poplar leaves almost takes away my breath; yet, like the lake, my serenity is thoughts are serenity is serenity is rippled but not ruffled. These small waves raised by the evening wind are as rippled but not ruffled. These small waves raised by the evening wind are as remote far remote remote from storm as the smooth reflecting surface. from storm as the smooth reflecting surface. Though it is now Though it is now Though it is now dark, the wind still blows and roars in the wood, the waves still dash, night, the waves still dash dark, the wind still blows and roars in the wood, the waves still dash, night, the waves still dash, the wind still blows and roars in the wood, dark, the wind still blows and roars in the wood, the waves still dash, and some creatures lull the rest with their notes. The repose is never complete. The wildest animals and some creatures lull the rest with their notes. The repose is never complete. The wildest animals and some creatures lull the rest with their notes. The repose is never complete. The wildest animals do not repose, but seem not to do not repose and but do not repose, but seem not to repose and seek their prey now; the fox, and skunk, and seek their prey now; the fox, and skunk, and seek their prey now; the fox, and skunk, and rabbit, rabbit, now now roam the fields and woods without fear. roam the fields and woods without fear. They are Nature's watchmen,—links which connect the days of animated life. We associate wildness with the night—and silence—But the repose is never complete; nature has her watchmen who are links connecting the days of animated life. Nature has her These are Nature’s watchmen who are or the links connecting the days of animated life. They are Nature’s watchmen,—links which connect the days of animated life. They are Nature's watchmen,—links which connect the days of animated life. A drawing of a skunk from Thoreau's journal, ca. March 1854.

A fair copy was made of only When I return to my house . . .and generally of what sex or. When I return to my house I find that visitors have been When I return to my house I find that visitors have been there here there there and left their cards, either a bunch of and left their cards, either a bunch of flowers, or a wreath of evergreen, violets or houstonias or wintergreen or pyrus if it be spring, flowers, or a wreath of evergreen, or a name in pencil on a yellow walnut leaf or a chip. or a name in pencil on a yellow walnut leaf or a chip. They if it be fall. For those Those They who come rarely to the woods who come rarely to the woods take will commonly take commonly take take some little piece of the forest into their hands to play with by the way, which they leave, some little piece of the forest into their hands to play with by the way, which they leave, either either either intentionally or accidentally. One has peeled a willow wand, intentionally or accidentally. One has peeled a willow wand, woven and woven and woven woven it into a ring, and dropped it on my table. I could always tell if visitors had called in my absence, either by the bended twigs or grass, or the print of their shoes, and generally of what sex or age it into a ring, and dropped it on my table. I could always tell if visitors had called in my absence, either by the bended twigs or grass, or the print of their shoes, and generally of what sex or age or quality or quality they were by some slight trace left, as a flower dropped, or a bunch of grass plucked and thrown away, even as far off as the railroad, half a mile distant, or by the lingering odor of a cigar or pipe. they were by some slight trace left, as a flower dropped, or a bunch of grass plucked and thrown away, even as far off as the railroad, half a mile distant, or by the lingering odor of a cigar or pipe. As has been pointed out, there was a much nearer community of Irish shanties along the railroad track, but T preferred to ignore these in W. Nay, Nay, I was frequently notified of the passage of a traveller along the highway sixty rods off by the scent of his I was frequently notified of the passage of a traveller along the highway sixty rods off by the scent of his pipe. pipe. Indeed my senses were as acute as Indians’ in this respect, and I saw how his habit of observation was cultivated. pipe.

There There is commonly seems always to be seems always to be is commonly is commonly sufficient space about us. Our horizon is never quite at our elbows. The sufficient space about us. Our horizon is never quite at our elbows. The thick thick thick wood is not just at wood is not just at our my our door, nor the pond, but somewhat is always clearing, door, nor the pond, but somewhat is always clearing, familiar and worn by us, appropriated and fenced in some way, & familiar & worn by us appropriated and fenced in some way & familiar & worn by us, familiar and worn by us, appropriated and fenced in some way, and reclaimed from Nature. For what reason have I this vast range and circuit, and reclaimed from Nature. For what reason have I this vast range and circuit, some square miles in nature—a square mile and more in nature, square mile and more some square miles some square miles of unfrequented forest, for my privacy, abandoned to me by men? of unfrequented forest, for my privacy, abandoned to me by men? My nearest neighbor is Surely we do not live crowded. My nearest neighbor is more than My nearest neighbor is more than My nearest neighbor is a mile distant, and no house is visible from a mile distant, and no house is visible from any place but the hill-tops any place but the hill-tops any place but the hill-tops within half a mile of my own. I have my horizon bounded by woods all to myself; within half a mile of my own. I have my horizon bounded by woods all to myself; a I have a I have a a distant view of the railroad where it touches the pond on the one hand, and of the fence which skirts the woodland road on the other. But for the most part it is as solitary where I live as on the prairies. It is as much Asia or Africa as New England. I have, as it were, my own sun and moon and stars, Tuerk suggests this is an echo of "They know their own sun and their own stars" (Aeneid, VI, 640-1).and a little world all to myself. At night there was never a traveller passed my house, or knocked at my door, more than if I were the first or last man; unless it were in the spring, distant view of the railroad where it touches the pond on the one hand, and of the fence which skirts the woodland road on the other. But for the most part it is as solitary where I live as on the prairies. It is as much Asia or Africa as New England. I have, as it were, my own sun and moon and stars, Tuerk suggests this is an echo of "They know their own sun and their own stars" (Aeneid, VI, 640-1). and a little world all to myself. At night there was never a traveller passed my house, or knocked at my door, more than if I were the first or last man; unless it were in the spring, when at long intervals some came when some came occasionally when some came occasionally when at long intervals some came from the village to fish for from the village to fish for pouts, pouts in the pond, and, pouts, A common New England freshwater fish. —they plainly fished much more in the Walden Pond of their own natures, and baited their hooks with darkness,—but they soon retreated, usually with light baskets, and left “the —they plainly fished much more in the Walden Pond of their own natures, and baited their hooks with darkness,—but they soon retreated, usually with light baskets, and left “the world to darkness and to vale to solitude & vale to solitude and world to darkness and to world to darkness and to me,” and the "And leaves the world to darkness and to me" (Thomas Gray, "Elegy in a Country Churchyard"). black dark black kernel of the night was never profaned by any human neighborhood. I believe that men are generally still a little afraid of the dark, though the witches are kernel of the night was never profaned by any human neighborhood. I believe that men are generally still a little afraid of the dark, though the witches are Salem had been the site of witch trials in the late seventeenth century. all all all hung, and Christianity and candles hung, and Christianity and candles have been introduced. are have been invented. have been invented introduced. have been introduced. A drawing of a Pout's nest from Thoreau's journals, ca. June 1859.

A fair copy was made of only Yet I experienced sometimes that the most sweet and tender and thought of them since . . . Beautiful daughter of Toscar. The rest of Solitude 4 was on a leaf (#83) in A that was taken into B and renumbered (#95).] Fair copies were made of only kindred to me, even in scenes which we are . . . Beautiful daughter of Toscar. Yet I experienced Yet I experienced sometimes occasionally occasionally sometimes sometimes that the most sweet and tender, the most innocent and encouraging society may be found in that the most sweet and tender, the most innocent and encouraging society may be found in any every any natural object, even for the poor misanthrope and most melancholy man. There can be no very black melancholyAccording to the physiological theory of the humors, the predominance of black bile caused melancholy. to him who lives in the midst of Nature and has his senses still. There was never yet such a storm but it was Æolian musicAeolus was the Greek god of the winds. One of T's favorite musical instruments was the Aeolian harp, whose strings made a sound when struck by wind. T's own self-made instrument is now in the Concord Museum. to a healthy and innocent ear. Nothing can rightly compel a simple and brave man to a vulgar sadness. While I enjoy the friendship of the seasons I trust that nothing can make life a burden to me. The gentle rain which waters my beans and keeps me in the house to-day is not drear and melancholy, but good for me too. Though it prevents my hoeing them, it is of far more worth than my hoeing. natural object, even for the poor misanthrope and most melancholy man. There can be no very black melancholyAccording to the physiological theory of the humors, the predominance of black bile caused melancholy. to him who lives in the midst of Nature and has his senses still. There was never yet such a storm but it was Æolian musicAeolus was the Greek god of the winds. One of T's favorite musical instruments was the Aeolian harp, whose strings made a sound when struck by wind. T's own self-made instrument is now in the Concord Museum. to a healthy and innocent ear. Nothing can rightly compel a simple and brave man to a vulgar sadness. While I enjoy the friendship of the seasons I trust that nothing can make life a burden to me. The gentle rain which waters my beans and keeps me in the house to-day is not drear and melancholy, but good for me too. Though it prevents my hoeing them, it is of far more worth than my hoeing. If it should continue so long as to cause the seeds to rot in the ground and destroy the potatoes in the low lands, it would still be good for the grass on the uplands, and, being good for the grass, it would be good for me. If it should continue so long as to cause the seeds to rot in the ground and destroy the potatoes in the low lands it would still be good for the grass on the uplands, though the farmers say it is not so sweet xxxxx xxx & being good for the grass it will be good for me If it should continue so long as to cause the seeds to rot in the ground and destroy the potatoes in the low lands, it would still be good for the grass on the uplands, and, being good for the grass, it would be good for me. Sometimes, when I compare myself with other men, it seems as if I were more favored by the gods than they, Sometimes, when I compare myself with other men, it seems as if I were more favored by the gods than they, & tags?> beyond any deserts that and beyond any deserts that beyond any deserts that I am conscious of; as if I had a warrant and surety at their hands which my fellows have not, and were especially guided and guarded. I do not flatter myself, but if it be possible they flatter me. I do not flatter myself, but if it be possible, they flatter me. So perchance it appears to each of us They are unaccountably kind to me Notwithstanding a sense of unworthiness which possesses me, for the most part the spirit of the universe seems unaccountably kind to me, & I seem to enjoy an unusual share of happiness. Yet I think that there may be a settlement to come. I do not flatter myself, but if it be possible they flatter me. I have never felt I have never felt lonesome, lonely lonesome lonesome, or in the least oppressed by a sense of solitude, but once, and that was a few weeks after I or in the least oppressed by a sense of solitude, but once, and that was a few weeks after I came to the woods, went to the pond to live woods came to the woods, when, for an hour, I doubted if the near neighborhood of man was not essential to a serene and healthy life. To be alone was something unpleasant. But I was at the same time conscious of a slight insanity in my mood, and seemed to foresee my recovery. In the midst of a gentle rain while these thoughts prevailed, when, for an hour, I doubted if the near neighborhood of man was not essential to a serene and healthy life. To be alone was something unpleasant. But I was at the same time conscious of a slight insanity in my mood, and seemed to foresee my recovery. In the midst of a gentle rain while these thoughts prevailed, I was suddenly sensible of there suddenly seemed I was suddenly sensible of such sweet and beneficent society in Nature, in the very pattering of the drops, and in every sound and sight around my house, an infinite and unaccountable friendliness all at once like an atmosphere sustaining me, as made the fancied advantages of human neighborhood insignificant, and I have never thought of them since. Every little pine needle expanded and swelled with sympathy and befriended me. I was so distinctly made aware of the presence of something kindred to me, even in scenes which we are accustomed to call wild and dreary, and also that the nearest of blood to me and humanest was not a person nor a villager, that I thought no place could ever be strange to me again.— such sweet and beneficent society in Nature, in the very pattering of the drops, and in every sound and sight around my house, an infinite and unaccountable friendliness all at once like an atmosphere sustaining me, as made the fancied advantages of human neighborhood insignificant, and I have never thought of them since. Every little pine needle expanded and swelled with sympathy and befriended me. I was so distinctly made aware of the presence of something kindred to me, even in scenes which we are accustomed to call wild and dreary, and also that the nearest of blood to me and humanest was not a person nor a villager, that I thought no place could ever be strange to me again.— “Mourning untimely consumes the sad; Few are their days in the land of the living, Beautiful daughter of Toscar." From Patrick MacGregor's "translation" of Ossian, The Genuine Remains of Ossian, "Croma" (London, 1841, 193).

In those driving north-east rains . . . groove a walking-stick is interlined in pencil; I passed it again . . . harmless sky eight years ago does not appear in the manuscript. Some of my pleasantest hours were during the long rain rain rain storms in the spring or fall, which confined me to the house for the afternoon as well as the forenoon, soothed by their ceaseless roar and pelting; when then then when an early twilight ushered in a long evening in which many thoughts had time to take root and unfold themselves. A drawing of clouds from Thoreau's journal, ca. July 1851. In those driving north-east In those driving north-east In those driving north-east rains storms storms rains which tried the village houses so, when the maids stood ready with mop and pail in front entries to keep the deluge out, I sat behind which tried the village houses so, when the maids stood ready with mop and pail in front entries to keep the deluge out, I sat behind which tried the village houses so, when the maids stood ready with mop and pail in front entries to keep the deluge out, I sat behind my my the my door in my little house, which was all entry, and thoroughly enjoyed its protection. In one door in my little house, which was all entry, and thoroughly enjoyed its protection. In one door in my little house, which was all entry, and thoroughly enjoyed its protection. In one heavy very heavy heavy thunder shower the lightning struck a large pitch pine across the pond, making a very conspicuous and perfectly regular spiral groove from top to bottom, an inch or more deep, and four or five inches wide, as thunder shower the lightning struck a large pitch pine across the pond, making a very conspicuous and perfectly regular spiral groove from top to bottom, an inch or more deep, and four or five inches wide, as thunder shower the lightning struck a large pitch pine across the pond, making a very conspicuous and perfectly regular spiral groove from top to bottom, an inch or more deep, and four or five inches wide, as you one oneyou would groove a would groove a would groove a walking-stick. walking-stick. walking-stick, going round the tree three times and descending faster as the trunk grew larger yet the tree it did not appear to have suffered essentially. I passed it I passed it again the other day, and was struck with awe lately and was somewhat awestruck again the other day & was struck with awe on looking up and beholding that on looking up and beholding that mark, now broad & regular groove mark now more distinct than ever, more distinct than ever, where mark where a terrific and resistless bolt came down out of the harmless sky eight years ago. agoand I felt that we had not learned much since the days of Tullus Hostilius. It saved the earth from trivialness. The woodpeckers have at length begun to bore its one side.

A fair copy was made of only Men frequently say to me . . . This will vary with different. A fair copy was made of only Men frequently say to me, “I should think you would feel. Men Men frequently generally frequently generally frequently say to me, “I should think you would feel lonesome down there, and want to be nearer to folks, rainy and snowy days and nights especially.” I am tempted to reply to such, lonely lonesome down there. I should think you would & want to be nearer to folks, rainy and snow snowy days and nights especially.” But I am tempted to reply to such, lonesome down there, and want to be nearer to folks, rainy and snowy days and nights especially.” I am tempted to reply to such, —This whole earth which we inhabit is but a point in space. How far apart, think you, dwell the two most distant inhabitants of yonder star, the breadth of whose disk cannot be appreciated by our instruments? Why should I feel lonely? is not our planet in the Milky Way? This which you put seems to me not to be the most important question. What sort of space is that which separates a man from his fellows and makes him solitary? I have found that no exertion of on the part of of the legs can bring two minds much nearer to one another. What What after all What do we want most to dwell near to? Not to many men surely, the depot, the post-office, the bar-room, the meeting-house, the school-house, the grocery, merely surely —the depot—or the post office—or the bar-room—or the meeting house or the school house, or the grocery—or surely, the depot, the post-office, the bar-room, the meeting-house, the school-house, the grocery, Beacon Hill, or the Five Points,Beacon Hill is the eminence on which the state house stands in Boston. Five Points was a section of lower Manhattan notorious for its squalor and crime. where men most congregate, but are more numerous than anywhere—but, I should say are more numerous than anywhere—but, I should say are more numerous than anywhere else most congregate but I should say most congregate, but to the to the perennial perennial perennial source of our life, whence in all our experience we have found that to issue; as the willow stands near the water and sends out its roots in that direction. This will vary with different natures, but this is the place where a wise man will dig his cellar. cellar. Yet Most men are not so wise as a tree, or rather are like those trees which being badly located make only wood and leaves and bear no fruit. cellar. … I one evening overtook one of my townsmen, who has accumulated what is called what is called what is called “a handsome property”, —though I never got a fair view of it,— —though I never got a fair view of it,— —though I never got a fair view of it,— on the Walden road, driving a pair of cattle to market, who inquired of me how I could bring my mind to give up so many of the comforts of life. I answered that I was very sure I liked it passably well; I was not joking. And so I went home to my bed, and left him to pick his way through the darkness and the mud to Brighton,Brighton, now part of Boston, was then the site of numerous slaughterhouses and farmers' markets. "Bright" was a common farm name for a favored ox. —or Bright-town,— —some 15 miles distant,— —or Bright-town,— which place he would reach some time in the morning. A drawing of clouds in the sky from Thoreau's journal, ca. April 1852.

Any prospect of awakening or coming to life to a dead man The life of the spirit Any prospect of awakening or coming to life to a dead man Any prospect of awakening or coming to life to a dead man makes indifferent all times and places. The place where that may occur That place where it is seen The place where that may occur The place where that may occur is always the same, and indescribably pleasant to all our senses. For the most part we allow only outlying We had allowed only neighboring For the most part we allow only outlying For the most part we allow only outlying and transient circumstances to make our occasions. They are, in fact, the cause causes cause of our distraction. Nearest to all things is that power which fashions their being. Next to us the grandest laws are continually being executed. Next to us is not the workman whom we have hired, with whom we love so well to talk, but the workman whose work we are.

“How vast and profound is the influence of the subtile powers of Heaven and of Earth!” “How vast and profound is the influence of the subtile powers of Heaven and of Earth!” “How vast and profound is the influence of the subtile powers of Heaven and of Earth!”

“We seek “One seeks “We seek to perceive them, and to perceive them, and to perceive them, and we do one does we do not see them; not see them; not see them; we seek one seeks we seek to hear them, and to hear them, and to hear them, and we do one does we do not hear them; identified with the substance of things, they cannot be separated from them.” not hear them; identified with the substance of things, they cannot be separated from them.” not hear them; identified with the substance of things, they cannot be separated from them.”

“They cause that in all the universe men purify and sanctify their hearts, and “They cause that in all the universe men purify and sanctify their hearts, and “They cause that in all the universe men purify and sanctify their hearts, and clothe themselves in their holiday garments put on their holiday clothes clothe themselves in their holiday garments clothe themselves in their holiday garments to offer sacrifices and oblations to their ancestors. It is an ocean of subtile intelligences. They are every where, above us, on our left, on our right; they environ us on all sides.”Confucius, The Doctrine of the Mean, XVI, 1-3. to offer sacrifices and oblations to their ancestors. It is an ocean of subtile intelligences. They are every where, above us, on our left, on our right; they environ us on all sides.”Confucius, The Doctrine of the Mean, XVI, 1-3. to offer sacrifices and oblations to their ancestors. It is an ocean of subtile intelligences. They are every where, above us, on our left, on our right; they environ us on all sides.”Confucius, The Doctrine of the Mean, XVI, 1-3.

We are the subjects of an experiment which which I confess which is not a little interesting to me. Can we not do without dispense with do without the society of our gossips a little while under these circumstances, —have our own thoughts to cheer us? —If you want society mind your business. —have our own thoughts to cheer us? Confucius Confucius Confucius says truly, says, says truly, “Virtue does not remain as an abandoned orphan; it must of necessity have neighbors.”Confucian Analects, IV, xxv. “Virtue does not remain as an abandoned orphan; it must of necessity have neighbors.”Confucian Analects, IV, xxv. “Virtue does not remain as an abandoned orphan; it must of necessity have neighbors.”Confucian Analects, IV, xxv. A drawing of clouds with rain, from Thoreau's journal, ca. April 1857.

I may be affected by a theatrical . . . so far as he was concerned was added to the manuscript on a separate leaf. With thinking we may be beside ourselves in a sane sense. ourselves. ourselves in a sane sense. By a conscious effort of the mind we can stand aloof from actions and their consequences; the consequences of actions; their consequences; and all things, good both good good and bad, go by us like a torrent. We are not wholly involved in Nature. I may be either the drift-wood in the stream, or Indra in the sky looking down on it.In Hindu mythology, the Vedic god who presides over the deities in the middle realm (the air). I A man I may be affected by a theatrical exhibition; on the other hand, I may not be affected by an actual event which appears to concern me much more. him never so much. me much more. I only know myself as a human entity; the scene, so to speak, of thoughts and affections; and am sensible of a certain doubleness by which I can stand as remote from myself as from another. However intense my experience,T was constantly aware of the fact that he was never able to lose himself completely in any emotion. I am conscious of the presence and criticism of a part of me, which, as it were, is not a part of me, but spectator, sharing no experience, but taking note of it; and that is no more I than it is you. When the play, it may be the tragedy, of life is over, the spectator goes his way. It was a kind of fiction, a work of the imagination only, so far as he was concerned. This doubleness may easily make us poor neighbors and friends sometimes.

Solitude 12a is preceded by Visitors 1. I find it I find it wholesome healthy wholesome wholesome to be alone the to be alone the greater greatest greater part of the time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating. I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude. We are for the most part more lonely when we go abroad part of the time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating. I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude. We are for the most part more lonely when we go abroad among men amongst folks among men than when we stay in our chambers. A man thinking or working is always alone, let him be where he will.

Solitude 12b follows Solitude 13. Solitude is not Nor, on the other hand, is solitude Nor, on the other hand, is solitude Solitude is not Solitude is not measured by the miles of space that intervene between a man and his fellows. The really really really diligent student in one of the crowded hives of Cambridge College Cambridge Collegea university Cambridge College Once again, Harvard College, from which T had graduated. is as solitary as a dervish in the desert. A print depicting Harvard University, ca. September 1850.

The farmer can work alone in the field or the woods all day, hoeing or chopping, chopping wood, chopping, and not feel lonesome, because he is employed; but when he comes home at night he cannot sit down in a room alone, at the mercy of his his own his thoughts, but must be where he can “see the folks,” and recreate, and as he thinks as he thinks as he thinks remunerateIn the first edition a comma appeared after "remunerate," but T struck it out in his copy. himself for his day’s solitude; and hence he wonders how the student can sit alone in the house all night and most of the day without ennui and “the blues;” but he does not realize that the student, though in the house, is still at work in his field, and chopping in his woods, as the farmer in his, and in turn his turn turn seeks the same recreation and society that the latter does, though it may be a more condensed form of it. he does. the latter does, though it may be a more condensed form of it.

A fair copy was made of only all important and hearty communications . . . that we should touch him; the rest of Solitude 13 is contained, along with Solitude 12a and 12c, on a leaf (#87) in A that was taken into B and renumbered (#101). Society is commonly too cheap. We meet at very short intervals, not having had time to acquire any new value for each other. We meet at meals three times a day, and give each other a new taste of that old musty cheese that we are. We have had to agree on a certain set of rules, called etiquette and politeness, to make this frequent meeting tolerable, and that we need not come to open war. We meet at the post-office, and at the sociable, and about the fireside every night; we live thick and are in each other’s way, and stumble over one another, and I think that we thus lose some respect for one another. Certainly less frequency would suffice for all important and hearty communications. Consider the girls in a factory,—never alone, hardly in their dreams.A famous social experiment of the time was conducted in Lowell, Massachusetts, where girls were hired to work in the textile mills and lived in factory dormitories nearby. Reformers roundly praised the artistic products of their leisure time, but T questioned the effect on their individual spirits. It would be better if there were but one inhabitant to a square mile, as where I live. The value of a man is not in his skin, that we should touch him.

Solitude 14 was added to the manuscript on a partial leaf. I have heard of a man lost in the woods and dying of famine and exhaustion at the foot of a tree, whose loneliness was relieved by the grotesque visions with with with which, owing to bodily weakness, his and a his his diseased imagination surrounded him, he was surrounded surrounded him surrounded him, and which he believed to be real. relieved real. real. I have been unable to discover the source of this story. So also, owing to bodily and mental health and strength, we may be continually cheered by a like but more normal and natural society, and come to know that we are never alone. There are may be those who owing to bodily & mental health & strength rather are continually cheered by the like a like though more simple & natural society and never realize that they are alone. There may be those who owing to bodily and mental health & strength rather are continually cheered by a like but more natural society, and never realize that they are alone. So also, owing to bodily and mental health and strength, we may be continually cheered by a like but more normal and natural society, and come to know that we are never alone.

I have a great deal of company in my house; especially in the morning, when nobody calls. Let me I will I will Let me Let me suggest a few comparisons, that so that that some one may convey an idea of my situation. I am no more lonely alone lonely lonely than the loon in the pond that laughs so loud, aloud so loud, so loud, or than Walden Pond itself. What company has that lonely lake, I pray? And yet it has not the blue devils,Blue devils: a popular name for hypochondriac melancholy. but the blue angels in it, in the azure tint of its waters. waters. I am no more lonely than the north star waters. The sun is alone, except in thick weather, when there sometimes appear to be two, but one is a mock sun.A common natural phenomenon known as a parhelion or sundog. God is alone,—but the devil, he is far from being by no means by no means far from being far from being alone;When Jesus cast the evil spirit out of an unclean man, "He asked him, 'What is thy name?' and he answered, saying, 'My name is Legion: for we are many'" (Mark 5:9). he sees a great deal of company; he is legion. he is legion. he is legion. I am no more lonely than a single mullein or dandelion single mullein or dandelion single mullein or dandelion in a pasture, or a bean leaf, or sorrel, sorrel, or a single dandelion— and / ?> sorrel, or a horse-fly, or a bumble-bee. I am no more lonely lonesome lonely lonely than the Mill Brook,The Mill Brook still flows through the center of Concord, although now partly underground. or a weathercock, or the northstar, or the northstar, or the northstar, or the south wind, or an April shower, or a January thaw, or the first only first first spider in a new house.

I have occasional visits in the long winter evenings, when the snow falls fast and the wind howls in the wood, from an old settlerSince a few lines later T refers to the old settler as someone thought to be dead, it is likely that he is referring to Pan, the Greek god of all the inhabitants of the country. "The great God Pan is dead" is from Plutarch's "Why the Oracles Cease to Give Answers." Charles Anderson (77-8) questions the usual interpretation of this as Pan. Cameron (1991) suggests T is referring to Hawthorne's "Gray Champion." and original proprietor, who is reported to have dug Walden Pond, and stoned it, and fringed it with pine woods; who tells me stories of old time and of new eternity; and between us we manage to manage to manage to pass a cheerful evening with social mirth and pleasant views of things, even without apples or cider,—a most wise and humorous friend, whom I love much, who keeps himself more secret than ever did Goffe or Whalley;Two of the regicides under indictment for killing King Charles I in 1649. They fled to America and hid in various places in the Connecticut River Valley. and though he is thought to be dead, none can show where he is buried. An elderly dame,Mother Nature. too, dwells in my neighborhood, invisible to most persons, in whose odorous herbMedicinal herbs. garden I love to stroll sometimes, gathering simples and listening to her fables; for she has a genius of unequalled fertility, and her memory runs back farther than mythology, the mythology, mythology, and she can tell me the original of every fable, and on what fact every one is founded, for the incidents occurred when she was young. a little girl young. young. A ruddy and lusty old dame, who delights in all weathers and seasons, and is likely to outlive all her children yet.

The indescribable innocence and beneficence of Nature,—of sun and wind and rain, of summer and winter,—such health, such cheer, they afford forever! and such sympathy have they ever with our race, that all Nature would be affected, and the sun’s brightness fade, and the winds would sigh humanely, and the clouds rain tears, keep rain, rain tears, and the woods shed their leaves and put on mourning in midsummer, if any man should ever for a just cause grieve. Shall I not have intelligence with the earth? Am I not partly leaves and vegetable mould myself? myself? God is my father & my friend—men are my brothers—but nature is my mother & my sister. myself?

What is the pillT is probably thinking of Morrison's Pill, which Carlyle describes in the chapter of that name in Past and Present. which will keep us well, serene, contented? Not my or thy great-grandfather’s, but our great-grandmother Nature’s universal, vegetable, botanic medicines, by which she has kept herself young always, outlived so many old ParrsThomas Parr, reputedly born in 1483, who died in Salop, England, in 1635 at the age of 152. in her day, and fed her health with their decaying fatness. For my panacea, instead of one of those quack vialsPatent medicines of the day, hawked from village to village in covered wagons. of a mixture dipped from out of from AcheronThe modern Souli River, which according to Greek mythology was in communication with the realms of Pluto. and the Dead Sea, which come out of those long shallow black-schooner looking wagons which we sometimes see made to carry bottles, let me have a draught of undiluted morning air. Morning air! If men will not drink of this at the fountain-head of the day, why, then, we must even bottle up some and sell it in the shops, for the benefit of those who have lost their subscription ticket to morning time in this world. But remember, remember that remember, it will not keep quite till noon-day even in the coolest cellar, but drive out the stopples long ere that and follow westward the steps of Aurora.A Roman goddess, the forerunner of the sun. I am no worshipper of Hygeia,The Greek goddess of health. who was the daughter of that old herb-doctor Æsculapius,The "blameless physician" of the Iliad. and who is represented on monuments holding a serpent in one hand, and in the other a cup out of which the serpent sometimes drinks; drank; drinks; but rather of Hebe,According to some ancient authorities, Juno conceived Hebe after eating lettuce. As Eddleman demonstrates, T is quoting almost word for word from Lemprière's Classical Dictionary. cupbearer to Jupiter, who was the daughter of Juno and wild lettuce, and who who had the power of restoring gods and men to the vigor of youth. She was probably the only thoroughly sound-conditioned, healthy, and robust young lady that ever walked the this the globe, and wherever she came it was spring.