The Village
n
Note: [No chapter title appears in the
manuscript apart from the table of contents.] (R. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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