Winter Animals
WHEN the ponds were firmly frozen, they afforded not only
a new and shorter route
routes
new and shorter routes
new and shorter routes
to many points, but new views from their
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Revision note: F1: midst
midst
surfaces
surfaces
surfaces
of the familiar landscape around them.
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Sometimes When
Sometimes when
When
When
I crossed Flint’s Pond,
the first time this winter, it being
after it was
after it was
after it was
covered with snow, though I had often paddled about and skated over it, it
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was
appeared
appeared
was
was
was
so unexpectedly wide and so strange that I could think of nothing but Baffin’s Bay.
The Lincoln hills rose up around me at the extremity of a snowy plain, in which I
did not
remember to have stood before; and
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in misty weather the fishermen
in misty weather the fishermen
the fishermen,
the fishermen,
at an indeterminable distance
over the ice
over the ice,
over the ice,
moving slowly
about like sealers
about
about
with their wolfish dogs,
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creatures of northern mythology
passed for sealers or Esquimaux, or in misty weather
loomed like fabulous creatures
passed for sealers or Esquimaux, or in misty weather loomed like fabulous creatures,
passed for sealers or Esquimaux, or in misty weather loomed like fabulous creatures,
and I did not know whether they
would prove
were
were
were
giants or pygmies. I took this course when I went to lecture
in Lincoln in the evening,
travelling in no road and passing no house between my own hut
and the
lecture
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between
room 2 or 3 miles distant
room.
room.
In Goose Pond,
which lay in my
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way to Flint’s
way,
way,
a colony of muskrats dwelt, and raised their cabins high above the ice, though none
could be seen
abroad when I crossed it. Walden, being like the rest usually bare of snow,
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or with only shallow & interrupted drift flakes on
it
or with only shallow & interrupted drift flakes
drifts on it
or with only shallow and interrupted drifts on it,
or with only shallow and interrupted drifts on it,
was my yard,
where I
could walk freely when the snow was
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nearly
nearly
nearly
two feet deep on a level
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in the woods and fields
elsewhere
elsewhere
elsewhere
and the villagers were confined to their streets. There, far from the village street,
and except
at very long intervals, from the jingle of sleigh-bells, I slid and skated, as in
a vast moose-yard well
trodden, overhung by oak woods and solemn pines bent down with snow or bristling with
icicles.
For sounds in winter nights,
and often in winter days,
and often in winter days,
and often in winter days,
I heard the forlorn but melodious note of
the hooting owl of which I have
spoken
a hooting owl
a hooting owl
indefinitely far; such a
sound
seemingly
sound
sound
as the frozen earth would yield if struck with a suitable plectrum, the very
lingua vernacula
of Walden Wood, and quite familiar to me at last, though I never saw the bird
while it was
making it, and I am not quite sure whether it
was a cat or a horned owl. It is usually called the hooting owl
making it.
making it.
I seldom opened my door in a
winter or even a summer
winter
winter
evening without hearing it;
Hoo hoo hoo, hoorer hoo
, sounded
sonorously, and the first three syllables accented somewhat like
how der
do
; or sometimes
hoo hoo
only. One night in the beginning of
winter, before the pond froze over, about nine o’clock, I was startled by the loud
honking of a goose,
and, stepping to the door, heard the sound of their wings like a tempest in the woods
as they flew low
over my house.
and as they
They
They
passed over the pond toward Fair Haven, seemingly deterred from settling by my light,
their
commodore honking all the while with a regular beat. Suddenly an unmistakable cat-owl
from very near me,
with the most harsh and tremendous voice I ever heard
from any inhabitant of the
wood
woods,
woods,
woods,
woods,
woods,
woods,
woods,
responded at regular intervals to the goose, as if determined to
disgrace and expose and disgrace
expose and disgrace
expose and disgrace
expose and disgrace
expose and disgrace
expose and disgrace
expose and disgrace
expose and disgrace
this intruder from Hudson’s Bay by exhibiting a greater compass and volume of voice
in a
native, and
boo-hoo
him out of Concord
horizon. It was the most thrilling concert I ever heard—
Concord, did I say?
horizon. It was the most thrilling concert I ever heard—
Concord, did I say?
horizon. It was the most thrilling concert I ever heard—
Concord, did I say?
horizon. It was the most thrilling concert I ever heard—
Concord, did I say?
horizon. It was the most thrilling concert I ever heard—
Concord, did I say?
horizon.— (, did I say?)
horizon.
horizon.
What do you mean by alarming the citadel
at this time of night consecrated to me? Do you think I am
ever caught napping at such an
hour as this
hour as this
hour as this
hour as this
hour as this
hour as this
hour,
hour,
and that I have not got lungs and a larynx as well as yourself?
Boo-hoo, boo-hoo, boo-hoo
!
I hardly ever opened my door in a winter or even in a summer evening without
hearing the
its note of this owl—though never so near at hand and loud before
I hardly ever opened my door in a winter or even in a summer evening without
hearing the
its note of this owl—though never so near at hand and loud before
I hardly ever opened my door in a winter or even in a summer evening without
hearing the
its note of this owl—though never so near at hand and loud before
I hardly ever opened my door in a winter or even in a summer evening without
hearing the
its note of this owl—though never so near at hand and loud before
I hardly ever opened my door in a winter or even in a summer evening without
hearing the
its note of this owl—though never so near at hand and loud before
It was the most thrilling discord I ever heard. Yet
And still if you had a discriminating ear, there were in it the
elements of a Concord such as these plains never saw or heard, which
“Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue
In every , that should move
The stones of Walden shore to rise & mutiny.”
It was one of the most thrilling discords I ever heard. And yet, if you had a discriminating
ear, there were in it the elements of a concord such as these plains never saw nor
heard.
It was one of the most thrilling discords I ever heard. And yet, if you had a discriminating
ear, there were in it the elements of a concord such as these plains never saw nor
heard.
I
also heard the whooping
of the ice in the pond, my great bed-fellow in that part of Concord, as if it
were restless in its bed and would fain turn over,
were hypsy and
were hypsy and
were hypsy and
were hypsy and
were hypsy and
were hypsy and
were
were
troubled with flatulency and
did not sleep well
bad dreams
did not sleep well
bad dreams
did not sleep well
bad dreams
did not sleep well
bad dreams
did not sleep well
bad dreams
did not sleep well
bad dreams
bad dreams;
bad dreams;
or I was waked by the cracking of the ground by the frost, as if some one had driven
a team
against my door, and in the morning
found
would find
found
would find
found
would find
found
would find
found
would find
found
would find
would find
would find
a crack in the earth a quarter of a mile long and
half
a third of
half
a third of
half
a third of
half
a third of
half
a third of
half
a third of
a third of
a third of
an inch wide.
Sometimes in clear nights I heard the foxes, as they ranged over the snow crust
Sometimes in clear nights I heard the foxes, as they ranged over the snow crust
Sometimes in clear nights I heard the foxes, as they ranged over the snow crust
Sometimes in clear nights I heard the foxes, as they ranged over the snow crust
Sometimes in clear nights I heard the foxes, as they ranged over the snow crust
Sometimes in clear nights I heard the foxes as they ranged over the snow
crust in moonlight nights
Sometimes I heard the foxes as they ranged over the snow crust, in moonlight nights,
Sometimes I heard the foxes as they ranged over the snow crust, in moonlight nights,
in search of a partridge or other game, barking raggedly and demoniacally like forest
dogs, as
if
if
if
if
if
if
if
if
laboring with some anxiety,
or else seeking expression
or else seeking expression
or else seeking expression
or else seeking expression
or else seeking expression
or else seeking expression
or seeking expression,
or seeking expression,
struggling
for light and
for light and
for light and
for light and
for light and
for light and
for light and
for light and
to be dogs outright and run freely in the streets;
for if we take the ages into our account, may there not be a civilization going
on among brutes as well as men?for if we take the ages into
our account may there not be a civilization going on among brutes as well as men?
for if we take the ages into our account, may there not be a civilization going on
among brutes
as well as men?
for if we take the ages into our account, may there not be a civilization going on
among brutes
as well as men?
for if we take the ages into our account, may there not be a civilization going on
among brutes
as well as men?
for if we take the ages into our account, may there not be a civilization going on
among brutes
as well as men?
for if we take the ages into our account, may there not be a civilization going on
among brutes
as well as men?
for if we take the ages into our account, may there not be a civilization going on
among brutes
as well as men?
for if we take the ages into our account, may there not be a civilization going on
among brutes
as well as men?
They
even like imperfect & rudimental men
even like imperfect & rudimental men
even like imperfect & rudimental men
even like imperfect & rudimental men
even like imperfect & rudimental men
even seemed like imperfect & rudimental
to be rudimental
seemed to me to be rudimental,
seemed to me to be rudimental,
burrowing men, still standing on their defence, awaiting their transformation. Sometimes
one came
near to my window,
at
in the night—attracted by the
my light, and
at
in the night—attracted by the
my light, and
at
in the night—attracted by the
my light, and
at
in the night—attracted by the
my light, and
at
in the night—attracted by the
my light, and
in the night, attracted by my light, and
attracted by my light,
attracted by my light,
barked a vulpine curse at me, and then retreated.
Usually the red squirrel
Sciurus Hudsonius
(Sciurus Hudsonius)
(Sciurus Hudsonius)
waked me in the dawn, coursing over the roof and up and down the sides of
my house, by fits & starts
my house, by fits & starts
my house, by fits & starts
my house, by fits & starts
my house, by fits & starts
my
the house, by fits and starts,
the house,
the house,
as if sent out of the woods
on purpose to arouse me
on purpose to arouse me
on purpose to arouse me
on purpose to arouse me
on purpose to arouse me
on
for this purpose to arouse me
for this purpose.
for this purpose.
During
In the course of
In the course of
In the course of
In the course of
In the course of
In the course of
In the course of
In the course of
of the winter I threw out
some
half a bushel of ears of
half a bushel of ears of
half a bushel of ears of
half a bushel of ears of
half a bushel of ears of
half a bushel of ears of
half a bushel of ears of
half a bushel of ears of
sweet-corn, which had
never
not
never
not
never
not
never
not
never
not
not
never
not
not
not
got ripe,
upon
on to
on to
on to
on to
on to
on to
on to
on to
the snow crust by my door, and was amused by watching the motions of the various
animals
that
that
that
that
that
that
which
which
were baited by it. In the twilight and the night the rabbits came regularly and made
a hearty meal.
By day-light & in fact all
By day-light & in fact all
By day-light & in fact all
By day-light & in fact all
By day-light & in fact all
By day-light, and in fact all
All
All
day long the red squirrels came and went, and afforded me much entertainment by their
manœuvres.
One would approach at first warily through the shrub- oaks, running over the snow
crust by fits and
starts like a leaf blown by the wind, now a few paces this way, with wonderful speed
and waste of energy,
making inconceivable haste with his “trotters,”
as
if it were for a wager,
and now as many paces that way, but and now as many paces that way but
and now as many paces that way, but
and now as many paces that way, but
and now as many paces that way, but
and now as many paces that way, but
and now as many paces that way, but
and now as many paces that way, but
and now as many paces that way, but
never getting on more than half a rod at a time; and then suddenly pausing with a
ludicrous
expression and a gratuitous somerset,
as if all the eyes in the universe were fixed
upon
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
him,—
for all the motions of a squirrel, even in the most solitary
recesses of the forest, imply spectators as much as those of a dancing girl,for
all the motions of a squirrel in the most silent & darkest recesses of the forest
imply
spectators as much as the motions of a dancing girl. In short
for all the motions of a squirrel, even in the most solitary
recesses of the forest, imply spectators as much as those of a dancing girl,for
all the motions of a squirrel in the most silent & darkest recesses of the forest
imply
spectators as much as the motions of a dancing girl. In short
for all the motions of a squirrel, even in the most solitary
recesses of the forest, imply spectators as much as those of a dancing girl,for
all the motions of a squirrel in the most silent & darkest recesses of the forest
imply
spectators as much as the motions of a dancing girl. In short
for all the motions of a squirrel, even in the most solitary
recesses of the forest, imply spectators as much as those of a dancing girl,for
all the motions of a squirrel in the most silent & darkest recesses of the forest
imply
spectators as much as the motions of a dancing girl. In short
for all the motions of a squirrel, even in the most solitary
recesses of the forest, imply spectators as much as those of a dancing girl,for
all the motions of a squirrel in the most silent & darkest recesses of the forest
imply
spectators as much as the motions of a dancing girl. In short
for all the motions of a squirrel, even in the most silent and darkest
solitary recesses of the forest, imply spectators as much as those of a dancing
girl,—in short
for all the motions of a squirrel, even in the most solitary recesses of the forest,
imply
spectators as much as those of a dancing girl,
for all the motions of a squirrel, even in the most solitary recesses of the forest,
imply
spectators as much as those of a dancing girl,
—wasting more time in delay and circumspection than would have sufficed to walk the
whole
distance,— I never saw one walk,—and then suddenly, before you could say Jack Robinson,
he would be in the
tip top
top
top
top
top
top
top
top
of a young pitch-pine,
screwing
screwing
screwing
screwing
screwing
screwing
winding
winding
winding
up his clock
and chiding all imaginary spectators,
and soliloquizing & talking to all the
universe and itself
at the same time
soliloquizing and talking to all the universe at the same time,
soliloquizing and talking to all the universe at the same time,
soliloquizing and talking to all the universe at the same time,
soliloquizing and talking to all the universe at the same time,
soliloquizing and talking to all the universe at the same time,
soliloquizing and talking to all the universe at the same time,
soliloquizing and talking to all the universe at the same time,
—for no reason that I could ever detect, or he himself was aware of, I suspect. At
length he
reached
reached
reached
reached
reached
reached
would reach
would reach
would reach
the corn, and selecting a suitable ear,
would frisk
would frisk
would frisk
would frisk
would frisk
would frisk
frisk
frisk
about in the same uncertain trigonometrical way to the top-most stick of my wood-pile,
before my
window,
looking
where he looked
where he looked
where he looked
where he looked
where he looked
where he looked
where he looked
where he looked
me in the face, and there sit for hours,
supplying himself with a new ear from time to time,
supplying himself with a new ear from time to time,
supplying himself with a new ear from time to time,
nibbling at first
voraciously ear after ear
voraciously ear after ear
voraciously ear after ear
voraciously ear after ear
voraciously ear after ear
voraciously ear after ear
voraciously
voraciously
and throwing the half-naked cobs
about wastefully
about wastefully
about wastefully
about wastefully
about wastefully
about wastefully
about;
about;
till at length he grew
more dainty still
more dainty still
more dainty still
more dainty still
more dainty still
more dainty still
more dainty still
more dainty still
and played with his food, tasting only the inside of the kernel, and the ear, which
was held
balanced over the stick by one paw, slipped from his careless grasp and fell to the
ground, when he would
look over at it
uncertain
with ludicrous uncertainty
uncertain
with ludicrous uncertainty
uncertain
with ludicrous uncertainty
uncertain
with ludicrous uncertainty
uncertain
with ludicrous uncertainty
with a ludicrous expression of uncertainty
with a ludicrous expression of uncertainty,
with a ludicrous expression of uncertainty,
as if suspecting that it had life, with a mind not made up whether to get it again,
or a new one,
or be off;
now thinking of corn, then listening to hear what was in the
wind.
now thinking of corn, then listening to hear what was in the wind.
now thinking of corn, then listening to hear what was in the wind.
now thinking of corn, then listening to hear what was in the wind.
now thinking of corn, then listening to hear what was in the wind.
now thinking of corn, then listening to hear what was in the wind.
now thinking of corn, then listening to hear what was in the wind.
now thinking of corn, then listening to hear what was in the wind.
And so
And so
And so
And so
And so
And so
So
So
the little impudent fellow would waste many an ear in a forenoon; till at last, seizing
some
longer and plumper one, considerably bigger than himself, and skilfully balancing
it, he would set out
with it to the woods, like a tiger with a buffalo, by the same zig-zag course and
frequent pauses,
He scratched
scratching
scratching
scratching
scratching
scratching
scratching
scratching
scratching
along with it as if it were too heavy for him and falling all the while, making its
fall a
diagonal between a perpendicular and horizontal, being determined to put it through
at any rate;— a
singularly frivolous and whimsical fellow;— and so he would get off with it to where
he lived,
and
and
and
and
and
and
perhaps
perhaps
perhaps
carry it to the top of a pine tree forty or fifty rods distant, and I
afterwards noticed
would afterwards notice
would afterwards find
would afterwards find
would afterwards find
would afterwards find
would afterwards find
would afterwards find
would afterwards find
would afterwards find
the cobs strewn about the woods in various directions.
At
length also
length
length
length
length
length
length
length
the jays arrive, whose discordant screams
had been
were heard
were heard
were heard
were heard
were heard
were heard
were heard
were heard
long before, as they were warily making their approach
a quarter
an eighth
an eighth
an eighth
an eighth
an eighth
an eighth
an eighth
an eighth
of a mile off, and in a stealthy
sneaking and cowardly
sneaking and cowardly
sneaking and cowardly
sneaking and cowardly
sneaking and cowardly
sneaking and cowardly
and sneaking
and sneaking
manner they
drew
draw near flitting from tree to tree—and picked
pick
drew
draw near flitting from tree to tree—and picked
pick
drew
draw near flitting from tree to tree—and picked
pick
drew
draw near flitting from tree to tree—and picked
pick
drew
draw near flitting from tree to tree—and picked
pick
draw near flitting from tree to tree and pick
flit from tree to tree, nearer and nearer, and pick
flit from tree to tree, nearer and nearer, and pick
up the kernels which the squirrels have dropped. Then, sitting on a pitch-pine bough,
they
attempt to swallow in their haste a kernel which
is too big for their throats and chokes them; and after great labor they disgorge
it, and spend an hour in the endeavor to crack it by repeated blows with their bills.
They were
manifestly thieves, and I had not much respect for them; but the squirrels, though
at first shy, went
to work as if they were taking what was their own.
Meanwhile also came the chickadees in flocks,
and
which
which
picking up the crumbs the squirrels had dropped,
they flew
flew
flew
to the nearest twig, and placing them under their claws, hammered away at them with
their
little
bills, in order to reduce them still further,
bills,
bills,
as if it were an insect in the bark, till they were sufficiently reduced for their
slender
throats. A little flock of these tit-mice came daily to pick a dinner out of my wood-pile,
or the
crumbs at my door, with faint flitting lisping
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Revision note: F1: song
song
notes
notes,
notes,
like the tinkling of icicles in the grass,
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Revision note: F1:
or else
or else
or else
with sprightly
day day day
or
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Revision note: F1:
sometimes a
sometimes
more rarely in spring-like days a
more rarely, in spring-like days, a
more rarely, in spring-like days, a
wiry summery
phe
-
be
from the
wood-side. They were so familiar that at length one alighted on an armful of wood
which I was carrying
in, and pecked at the sticks without fear. I
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Revision note: F1:
had once had
had once had
once had
once had
a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment while I was hoeing in a village garden,
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Revision note: F1: in the summer, and I felt myself more distinguished by this circumstance than
in the summer, and I felt myself
that I was more distinguished by this
thatcircumstance than I should have been
and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been
and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been
by any epaulet I could have worn.
All the emotions and the life of the squirrel imply spectators—They
The squirrels
The squirrels
The squirrels
The squirrels
The squirrels
The squirrels
The squirrels
The squirrels
also
also
also
grew at last to be quite familiar, and
sometimes
occasionally
occasionally
occasionally
occasionally
occasionally
occasionally
occasionally
occasionally
stepped upon my shoe, when that was the nearest way.
When the ground was not yet quite covered, and again near the end of winter, when
the snow was
melted on my south hill-side and about my wood-pile, the partridges came out of the
woods morning
and evening to feed there.
When the ground was not yet quite covered, and again near the end of winter, when
the snow was
melted on my south hill-side and about my wood-pile, the partridges came out of the
woods morning
and evening to feed there.
When the ground was not yet quite covered, and again near the end of winter, when
the snow was
melted on my south hill-side and about my wood-pile, the partridges came out of the
woods morning
and evening to feed there.
Whichever
way
side you walk in the woods the partridge bursts away on whirring
wings, jarring the snowy dust
snow from the dry leaves and twigs on
high—which comes sifting down in the sunbeams like a golden mist
golden dust
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Revision note: F1: side you walk
walked in the woods the partridge bursts
burst away on whirring wings, jarring the snow from the dry leaves and twigs on high
which comes
came sifting down in the sunbeams like golden dust
side you walked
walk in the woods the partridge burst
bursts away on whirring wings, jarring the snow from the dry leaves and twigs on high,
which came
comes sifting down in the sunbeams like golden dust
side you walk in the woods the partridge bursts away on whirring wings, jarring the
snow from the
dry leaves and twigs on high, which comes sifting down in the sunbeams like golden
dust;
side you walk in the woods the partridge bursts away on whirring wings, jarring the
snow from the
dry leaves and twigs on high, which comes sifting down in the sunbeams like golden
dust;
for this brave bird is not to be scared by winter.
Audubon
One observer says that it “is often snowed up and covered over; or
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Revision note: F1: One observer says that it “is often snowed up and covered over; or
One observer says that it “is often snowed up and covered over; or
It is frequently covered up by drifts, and, it is said
It is frequently covered up by drifts, and, it is said,
It is frequently covered up by drifts, and, it is said,
“sometimes plunges from on wing into the soft snow, where it remains concealed for
a day or
two.”
I used to
start them in the open land
when
when
also where
also, where
also, where
they had come out of the woods at sunset to “bud”
the wild apple-trees. They will come regularly every evening to particular
trees, where the cunning sportsman lies in wait for them,
and
and
and
the distant orchards next the woods suffer thus not a
little. If you ask the farmer why he gets no more fruit, he will tell you it is
because his trees are so severely budded by the partridges
little. If you ask the farmer why he gets no more fruit, he will tell you it is
because his trees are so severely budded by the partridges. But
little.
little.
I am glad that the partridge gets fed, at any rate. It is Nature’s own bird
that
that
which
which
which
lives on buds and diet-drink.
In dark winter mornings,
or
or
or
in short winter afternoons, I sometimes heard a pack of hounds threading all the
woods with
hounding cry and yelp, unable to resist the instinct of the chase, and the note of
the hunting horn at
intervals,
showing that man too is
showing
roving that man too is
was
proving that man was
proving that man was
in the rear. The woods
would
ring again and yet no fox bursts
burst
bursts
would
ring again and yet no fox bursts
burst
bursts
ring again, and yet no fox bursts
ring again, and yet no fox bursts
forth on to the open level of the pond, nor following pack pursuing their Actæon.
And
perchance at evening I see
perchance
perhaps at evening I see
saw
see
perhaps at evening I see
perhaps at evening I see
the hunters returning with a single brush
trailing from their sleigh for a trophy, seeking their inn.
The hunters tell me If the fox would remain in the bosom of the frozen
earth, the hunters tell me, he would be safe enough
The hunters
They tell me that if the fox would remain in the bosom of the frozen earth, he would be
safe enough
They tell me that if the fox would remain in the bosom of the frozen earth he would
be
safe,
They tell me that if the fox would remain in the bosom of the frozen earth he would
be
safe,
or if he would run in a straight line away no fox-hound could overtake him; but,
having left his
pursuers far behind, he stops to rest and listen till they come up,
again, and meanwhile
when he runs he
again, and when he runs he
and when he runs he
and when he runs he
circles round to his old haunts, where the hunters await him.
Nevertheless he practices
shows considerable cunning, for he will
sometimes
Nevertheless he shows considerable cunning, for he will sometimes
Sometimes, however, he will
Sometimes, however, he will
Sometimes, however, he will
run upon a wall many rods, and then leap off far to one side, and he appears to know
that water will
obliterate
not retain
not retain
not retain
not retain
his scent.
One hunter tells
A hunter told
A hunter told
A hunter told
A hunter told
me that he once saw a fox pursued by hounds burst out on to Walden when the ice was
covered with
shallow puddles,
run
he ran part way across & then return
returned
run part way across, and then return
run part way across, and then return
run part way across, and then return
to the same shore. Ere long the hounds arrived, but here they lost the scent. Sometimes
a
pack of hounds
pack
pack
pack
hunting by themselves would pass my door, and circle round my house, and yelp and
hound without
regarding me, as if afflicted by a species of madness, so that nothing could divert
them from the
pursuit. Thus they circle until they fall
on
upon
upon
upon
upon
the recent trail of a fox,
for
for
for
for
a wise hound will forsake every thing else for this.
One day a man came to my hut from Lexington Sometimes a hunter
man would come to my hut from a neighboring
town
One day a man came to my hut from Lexington
One day a man came to my hut from Lexington
One day a man came to my hut from Lexington
to inquire after his hound that made a large track, and had been hunting for a week
by himself. But I fear that he was not the wiser for all I told him, for every time
I attempted
to answer his questions he interrupted me by asking, “What do you do here?” He had
lost a dog, but
found a man.
by himself. But I fear that he was not the wiser for all I told him, for every time
I attempted
to answer his questions he interrupted me by asking, “What do you do here?” He had
lost a dog, but
found a man.
by himself. But I fear that he was not the wiser for all I told him, for every time
I attempted
to answer his questions he interrupted me by asking, “What do you do here?” He had
lost a dog, but
found a man.
One old hunter
who has a dry tongue, who
sometimes
used to come to in Walden once every year when
the water was warmest, and at such times
used to come to in Walden once every year when
the water was warmest, and at such times
used to come to in Walden once every year when
the water was warmest, and at such times
looked in upon me, told me, that many years ago he took his gun one afternoon and
went out for a
cruise in Walden Wood; and as he walked the Wayland
road he heard the cry of hounds approaching, and
presently
ere long
ere long
ere long
a fox leaped the wall into the road, and as quick as
thoughts
thought
thought
thought
thought
leaped the other wall out of the road, and his swift bullet had not touched him.
then following some
Some
Some
Some
way behind came an old hound and her three pups in full pursuit, hunting on their
own account, and
disappeared again in the woods. Late in the afternoon, as he was resting in the thick
woods
beyond
south of
south of
south of
south of
Walden, he heard the voice of the hounds far over toward Fair Haven still pursuing
the fox; and on
they came, their hounding cry which made all the woods ring sounding nearer and nearer,
now from
Well-Meadow,
now from the Baker Farm. For a long time he stood
still and listened to their music, so sweet to a hunter’s ear, when suddenly the fox
appeared,
with coursing pace, and
threading the solemn aisles with an easy coursing pace, whose sound was
concealed by
threading the solemn aisles with an easy coursing pace, whose sound was concealed
by
threading the solemn aisles with an easy coursing pace, whose sound was concealed
by
threading the solemn aisles with an easy coursing pace, whose sound was concealed
by
a sympathetic rustle of the leaves, swift and still, keeping the ground, leaving
his pursuers far
behind; and, leaping upon a rock amid the woods, he sat erect
and
and
and
and
listening, with his back to the hunter. For a moment compassion restrained the latter’s
arm; but
that was a short-lived mood, and as quick as thought can follow thought his piece
was levelled, and
whang!
—the fox rolling over the rock lay dead on the ground. The hunter still kept
his place and listened to the hounds. Still on they came, and now the near woods resounded
through all
their aisles with their demoniac cry. At length the old hound burst into view with
muzzle to the ground,
and snapping the air as if possessed, and ran directly to the rock; but spying the
fox dead on the ground
dead fox
dead fox
dead fox
she suddenly ceased her hounding, as if struck dumb with amazement, and walked round
and round him
in silence; and one by one her pups arrived, and, like their mother, were sobered
into silence by the
mystery. Then the hunter came forward and stood in
the midst of the dogs
their midst
their midst,
their midst,
their midst,
and the mystery was solved. They waited in silence while he skinned the fox, then
followed the
brush a while, and at length turned off into the woods again. That evening a
Squire came to the Concord
hunter’s cottage to inquire for his hounds, and told how for a week they had been
hunting on their own
account from Weston woods. The Concord hunter told him what he knew and offered him
the skin; but the
other declined it and departed. He did not find his hounds that night, but the next
day
he learned
learned
learned
learned
that they had crossed the river and put up at a farm-house for
the night, whence, having been well fed, they took their
departure early in the morning.
the night, whence, having been well fed, they took their departure early in the morning.
the night, whence, having been well fed, they took their departure early in the morning.
the night, whence, having been well fed, they took their departure early in the morning.
The hunter who told me this could remember one Sam Nutting,
who used to hunt bears on Fair Haven Ledges,
and
exchange their skins for rum in Concord village;
r
Revision note: F1: Nay, he said
told him
Nay, he
who told him
who told him,
who told him,
even, that he had seen a moose
there. Nutting had a famous fox-hound named Burgoyne,—he pronounced it
Bugine,—which my informant used to borrow.
In “Mr Ephraim Jones His Wast Book Anno Domini 1742”
In “Mr Ephraim Jones His Wast Book Anno Domini 1742”
In the “Wast Book” of an old trader of this town who was also a Captain, Town Clerk
&
Representative
In the “Wast Book” of an old trader of this town, who
was also a captain, town-clerk, and representative,
I find the following
entries
entries
entry.
Jan. 18th, 1742-3, “John Melven Cr. by 1 Grey Fox 0-2-3;”
Feb. 14 1743 Aaron Parker is cr by 100 squirell skins 0—6—3
Feb. 14 1743 Aaron Parker is cr by 100 squirell skins 0—6—3
they are not now found here;
and in his ledger, Feb. 7th, 1743, Hezekiah Stratton has credit “by ½ a Catt
skin 0-1-4 ½;” of course, a wild-cat,
for Stratton was a sergeant in the old French war,
and would not have got credit for hunting less noble game.
Deer skins were daily sold probably to make breeches and mittens of
Deer skins were daily sold probably to make breeches and mittens of
Or was given for deer skins & they were daily sold
Credit is given for deer skins also, and they were daily sold.
One man still preserves the horns of the last deer
that was killed in this vicinity,
r
Revision note: F1:
and another has told me the particulars of the hunt in
which his uncle was engaged These are pleasant memorials of the past
and another has told me the particulars of the hunt in which his uncle was
engaged. These are pleasant memorials of the past.
and another has told me the particulars of the hunt in which his uncle was engaged.
and another has told me the particulars of the hunt in which his uncle was engaged.
The hunters were formerly a
merry and a numerous
numerous and merry
numerous and merry
crew here. I remember
r
Revision note: F1:
well
well
one gaunt Nimrod
in my boyhood
who would catch up a leaf
by the roadside, when I was a boy,
who would catch up a leaf by the road-side
who would catch up a leaf by the road-side
and play a strain on it wilder and more melodious, if my memory serves me, than any
hunting
horn.
At midnight, when there was a moon, I
r
Revision note: F1: used sometimes to meet
used sometimes to meet
used sometimes to meet
sometimes met
sometimes met
with hounds in my path prowling about the woods, which would skulk out of my way,
as if afraid,
and stand silent amid the bushes till I had passed.
Squirrels & wild mice also disputed for my store of nuts
Squirrels and wild mice disputed for my store of nuts.
There were scores of pitch-pines
in my field
around my house,
around my house,
around my house,
around my house,
around my house,
around my house,
around my house,
from one to
three
three
three
three
three
three
four
four
inches in diameter, which had been gnawed by
the mice
the mice
the mice
the mice
mice or moles
mice or moles
mice or moles
mice
the previous
winter it was
winter,
winter,
winter,
winter,
winter,
winter,
winter,
—a Norwegian winter for them, for the snow lay long and deep, and they
had
were obliged
were obliged
were obliged
were obliged
were obliged
were obliged
were obliged
to mix a large proportion of pine
meal
bark
bark
bark
bark
bark
bark
bark
bark
with their other diet. These trees were alive and apparently flourishing at midsummer,
and
had many of them
many of them had
many of them had
many of them had
many of them had
many of them had
many of them had
many of them had
grown a foot, though completely girdled;
and sometimes laid bare for the space of a foot—but now after the lapse of another
winter I perceive that such are already without exception dead. For this n
Note: a missing leaf follows (R. Clapper)
and sometimes laid bare for the space of a foot—but now after the lapse of another
winter I perceive that such are already without exception dead. For this n
Note: a missing leaf follows (R. Clapper)
and sometimes laid bare for the space of a foot—but now after the lapse of another
winter I perceive that such are already without exception dead. For this n
Note: a missing leaf follows (R. Clapper)
and sometimes laid bare for the space of a foot—but now after the lapse of another
winter I perceive that such are already without exception dead. For this n
Note: a missing leaf follows (R. Clapper)
but after another winter such were without exception dead. I think it is
Herodotus who remarks that pines do not spring up again from the root when cut down;
but I
have observed that sometimes when a young white pine is broken off though
very near the ground its branches come upward, and often one of them takes the place
of the leading stem which is gone.
but after another winter such were without exception dead.
but after another winter such were without exception dead.
but after another winter such were without exception dead.
It is remarkable that a single mouse should thus be allowed a whole pine tree
for its dinner,
gnawing round instead of up and down it;
gnawing round instead of up and down it;
gnawing round instead of up and down it;
but perhaps it is necessary in order to thin these trees, which are wont to
spring
grow
grow
grow
up densely.
The hares (
Lepus Americanus
)
were very
familiar and when I came home late at night one would commonly go off with a
squeak and a bounce from my door
familiar.
familiar.
One had her form
under my house all winter, separated from me only by the flooring, and she
aroused
startled
startled
startled
me each morning by her hasty departure when I began to stir,— thump, thump, thump,
striking her
head against the
floor
floor
floor
timbers in her hurry. They used to come round my door at dusk to nibble the potato
parings
which I had thrown out, and were so nearly the color of the ground that they could
hardly be
distinguished when still. Sometimes in the twilight I alternately lost and recovered
sight of one
sitting motionless under my window. When
I opened my door in the
evening, off they would go with a squeak and a bounce.
They only excited my pity near at hand
Near at hand they only excited my pity.
Near at hand they only excited my pity.
Near at hand they only excited my pity.
Near at hand they only excited my pity.
Near at hand they only excited my pity.
Near at hand they only excited my pity.
Near at hand they only excited my pity.
One evening one sat by my door
three
two
two
two
two
two
two
two
paces from me, at first trembling with fear, yet unwilling to move; a poor wee thing,
lean and
bony, with ragged ears and sharp nose, scant tail and slender paws. It looked as if
Nature no longer
contained the breed of nobler bloods,
but
the earth stood on its last legs
stood or her last legs
toes
stood on her last toes.
stood on her last toes.
stood on her last toes.
stood on her last toes.
stood on her last toes.
stood on her last toes.
stood on her last toes.
Its large eyes
looked
looked
looked
looked
looked
looked
appeared
appeared
appeared
young and unhealthy, almost dropsical. I took
two steps—and lo! he scud away it
scud
a step, and lo, away it scud
a step, and lo, away it scud
a step, and lo, away it scud
a step, and lo, away it scud
a step, and lo, away it scud
a step, and lo, away it scud
a step, and lo, away it scud
with an elastic spring over the snow crust, straightening its body and its limbs
into graceful
length, and soon put the forest between me and itself,— the wild free venison, asserting
its vigor and the
dignity
integrity
dignity
dignity
dignity
dignity
dignity
dignity
dignity
dignity
of Nature. Not without reason was its slenderness. Such then was its nature.
(Lepus, levipes, light-foot, some think.)
(Lepus, levipes, light-foot, some think.)
(Lepus, levipes, light-foot, some think.)
(Lepus, levipes, light-foot, some think.)
(Lepus, levipes, light-foot, some think.)
(Lepus, levipes, light-foot, some think.)
(Lepus, levipes, light-foot, some think.)
What is a country without rabbits and partridges? They are
among the most natural and simple of
among the most simple and indigenous
among the most simple and indigenous
among the most simple and indigenous
among the most simple and indigenous
among the most simple and indigenous
among the most simple and indigenous
among the most simple and indigenous
animal products; ancient and venerable families known to antiquity as to modern times;
of the very
hue and substance of Nature, nearest allied to leaves and to the ground,—
and especially
moreover
and
and
and
and
and
and
and
to one another; it is either winged or it is legged. It is hardly as if you had seen
a wild
creature when a rabbit or a partridge
burst away—but
bursts away,
bursts away,
bursts away,
bursts away,
bursts away,
bursts away,
bursts away,
only a natural one, as much to be expected as rustling leaves. The partridge and
the rabbit are
still sure to thrive, like true natives of the soil, whatever revolutions occur. If
the forest is cut
off, the sprouts and bushes which spring up afford them concealment, and they become
more numerous than
ever. That must be a poor country indeed that does not support a hare. Our woods teem
with them both, and
around every swamp may be seen the partridge or rabbit walk, beset with twiggy fences
with their horse-hair
and horse-hair
and horse-hair
and horse-hair
and horse-hair
and horse-hair
and horse-hair
and horse-hair
snares, which some cow-boy
tends.
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