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this to the reflection of the verdure； but it is equally green there
against the railroad sandbank； and in the spring； before the leaves
are expanded； and it may be simply the result of the prevailing blue
mixed with the yellow of the sand。 Such is the color of its iris。
This is that portion； also； where in the spring； the ice being
warmed by the heat of the sun reflected from the bottom； and also
transmitted through the earth； melts first and forms a narrow canal
about the still frozen middle。 Like the rest of our waters； when
much agitated； in clear weather； so that the surface of the waves
may reflect the sky at the right angle； or because there is more
light mixed with it； it appears at a little distance of a darker
blue than the sky itself； and at such a time； being on its surface；
and looking with divided vision； so as to see the reflection； I have
discerned a matchless and indescribable light blue； such as watered
or changeable silks and sword blades suggest； more cerulean than the
sky itself； alternating with the original dark green on the opposite
sides of the waves； which last appeared but muddy in comparison。 It
is a vitreous greenish blue； as I remember it； like those patches of
the winter sky seen through cloud vistas in the west before sundown。
Yet a single glass of its water held up to the light is as colorless
as an equal quantity of air。 It is well known that a large plate of
glass will have a green tint； owing； as the makers say； to its
〃body；〃 but a small piece of the same will be colorless。 How large
a body of Walden water would be required to reflect a green tint I
have never proved。 The water of our river is black or a very dark
brown to one looking directly down on it； and； like that of most
ponds； imparts to the body of one bathing in it a yellowish tinge；
but this water is of such crystalline purity that the body of the
bather appears of an alabaster whiteness； still more unnatural；
which； as the limbs are magnified and distorted withal； produces a
monstrous effect； making fit studies for a Michael Angelo。
The water is so transparent that the bottom can easily be
discerned at the depth of twenty…five or thirty feet。 Paddling over
it； you may see； many feet beneath the surface； the schools of perch
and shiners； perhaps only an inch long； yet the former easily
distinguished by their transverse bars； and you think that they must
be ascetic fish that find a subsistence there。 Once； in the winter；
many years ago； when I had been cutting holes through the ice in
order to catch pickerel； as I stepped ashore I tossed my axe back on
to the ice； but； as if some evil genius had directed it； it slid
four or five rods directly into one of the holes； where the water
was twenty…five feet deep。 Out of curiosity； I lay down on the ice
and looked through the hole； until I saw the axe a little on one
side； standing on its head； with its helve erect and gently swaying
to and fro with the pulse of the pond； and there it might have stood
erect and swaying till in the course of time the handle rotted off；
if I had not disturbed it。 Making another hole directly over it
with an ice chisel which I had； and cutting down the longest birch
which I could find in the neighborhood with my knife； I made a
slip…noose； which I attached to its end； and； letting it down
carefully； passed it over the knob of the handle； and drew it by a
line along the birch； and so pulled the axe out again。
The shore is composed of a belt of smooth rounded white stones
like paving…stones； excepting one or two short sand beaches； and is
so steep that in many places a single leap will carry you into water
over your head； and were it not for its remarkable transparency；
that would be the last to be seen of its bottom till it rose on the
opposite side。 Some think it is bottomless。 It is nowhere muddy；
and a casual observer would say that there were no weeds at all in
it； and of noticeable plants； except in the little meadows recently
overflowed； which do not properly belong to it； a closer scrutiny
does not detect a flag nor a bulrush； nor even a lily； yellow or
white； but only a few small heart…leaves and potamogetons； and
perhaps a water…target or two； all which however a bather might not
perceive； and these plants are clean and bright like the element
they grow in。 The stones extend a rod or two into the water； and
then the bottom is pure sand； except in the deepest parts； where
there is usually a little sediment； probably from the decay of the
leaves which have been wafted on to it so many successive falls； and
a bright green weed is brought up on anchors even in midwinter。
We have one other pond just like this； White Pond； in Nine Acre
Corner； about two and a half miles westerly； but； though I am
acquainted with most of the ponds within a dozen miles of this
centre I do not know a third of this pure and well…like character。
Successive nations perchance have drank at； admired； and fathomed
it； and passed away； and still its water is green and pellucid as
ever。 Not an intermitting spring！ Perhaps on that spring morning
when Adam and Eve were driven out of Eden Walden Pond was already in
existence； and even then breaking up in a gentle spring rain
accompanied with mist and a southerly wind； and covered with myriads
of ducks and geese； which had not heard of the fall； when still such
pure lakes sufficed them。 Even then it had commenced to rise and
fall； and had clarified its waters and colored them of the hue they
now wear； and obtained a patent of Heaven to be the only Walden Pond
in the world and distiller of celestial dews。 Who knows in how many
unremembered nations' literatures this has been the Castalian
Fountain？ or what nymphs presided over it in the Golden Age？ It is
a gem of the first water which Concord wears in her coronet。
Yet perchance the first who came to this well have left some
trace of their footsteps。 I have been surprised to detect
encircling the pond； even where a thick wood has just been cut down
on the shore； a narrow shelf…like path in the steep hillside；
alternately rising and falling； approaching and receding from the
water's edge； as old probably as the race of man here； worn by the
feet of aboriginal hunters； and still from time to time unwittingly
trodden by the present occupants of the land。 This is particularly
distinct to one standing on the middle of the pond in winter； just
after a light snow has fallen； appearing as a clear undulating white
line； unobscured by weeds and twigs； and very obvious a quarter of a
mile off in many places where in summer it is hardly distinguishable
close at hand。 The snow reprints it； as it were； in clear white
type alto…relievo。 The ornamented grounds of villas which will one
day be built here may still preserve some trace of this。
The pond rises and falls； but whether regularly or not； and
within what period； nobody knows； though； as usual； many pret