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The pond rises and falls； but whether regularly or not； and
within what period； nobody knows； though； as usual； many pretend to
know。 It is commonly higher in the winter and lower in the summer；
though not corresponding to the general wet and dryness。 I can
remember when it was a foot or two lower； and also when it was at
least five feet higher； than when I lived by it。 There is a narrow
sand…bar running into it； with very deep water on one side； on which
I helped boil a kettle of chowder； some six rods from the main
shore； about the year 1824； which it has not been possible to do for
twenty…five years； and； on the other hand； my friends used to listen
with incredulity when I told them； that a few years later I was
accustomed to fish from a boat in a secluded cove in the woods；
fifteen rods from the only shore they knew； which place was long
since converted into a meadow。 But the pond has risen steadily for
two years； and now； in the summer of '52； is just five feet higher
than when I lived there； or as high as it was thirty years ago； and
fishing goes on again in the meadow。 This makes a difference of
level； at the outside； of six or seven feet； and yet the water shed
by the surrounding hills is insignificant in amount； and this
overflow must be referred to causes which affect the deep springs。
This same summer the pond has begun to fall again。 It is remarkable
that this fluctuation； whether periodical or not； appears thus to
require many years for its accomplishment。 I have observed one rise
and a part of two falls； and I expect that a dozen or fifteen years
hence the water will again be as low as I have ever known it。
Flint's Pond； a mile eastward； allowing for the disturbance
occasioned by its inlets and outlets； and the smaller intermediate
ponds also； sympathize with Walden； and recently attained their
greatest height at the same time with the latter。 The same is true；
as far as my observation goes； of White Pond。
This rise and fall of Walden at long intervals serves this use
at least； the water standing at this great height for a year or
more； though it makes it difficult to walk round it； kills the
shrubs and trees which have sprung up about its edge since the last
rise pitch pines； birches； alders； aspens； and others and；
falling again； leaves an unobstructed shore； for； unlike many ponds
and all waters which are subject to a daily tide； its shore is
cleanest when the water is lowest。 On the side of the pond next my
house a row of pitch pines； fifteen feet high； has been killed and
tipped over as if by a lever； and thus a stop put to their
encroachments； and their size indicates how many years have elapsed
since the last rise to this height。 By this fluctuation the pond
asserts its title to a shore； and thus the shore is shorn； and the
trees cannot hold it by right of possession。 These are the lips of
the lake； on which no beard grows。 It licks its chaps from time to
time。 When the water is at its height； the alders； willows； and
maples send forth a mass of fibrous red roots several feet long from
all sides of their stems in the water； and to the height of three or
four feet from the ground； in the effort to maintain themselves； and
I have known the high blueberry bushes about the shore； which
commonly produce no fruit； bear an abundant crop under these
circumstances。
Some have been puzzled to tell how the shore became so regularly
paved。 My townsmen have all heard the tradition the oldest
people tell me that they heard it in their youth that anciently
the Indians were holding a pow…wow upon a hill here； which rose as
high into the heavens as the pond now sinks deep into the earth； and
they used much profanity； as the story goes； though this vice is one
of which the Indians were never guilty； and while they were thus
engaged the hill shook and suddenly sank； and only one old squaw；
named Walden； escaped； and from her the pond was named。 It has been
conjectured that when the hill shook these stones rolled down its
side and became the present shore。 It is very certain； at any rate；
that once there was no pond here； and now there is one； and this
Indian fable does not in any respect conflict with the account of
that ancient settler whom I have mentioned； who remembers so well
when he first came here with his divining…rod； saw a thin vapor
rising from the sward； and the hazel pointed steadily downward； and
he concluded to dig a well here。 As for the stones； many still
think that they are hardly to be accounted for by the action of the
waves on these hills； but I observe that the surrounding hills are
remarkably full of the same kind of stones； so that they have been
obliged to pile them up in walls on both sides of the railroad cut
nearest the pond； and； moreover； there are most stones where the
shore is most abrupt； so that； unfortunately； it is no longer a
mystery to me。 I detect the paver。 If the name was not derived
from that of some English locality Saffron Walden； for instance
one might suppose that it was called originally Walled…in Pond。
The pond was my well ready dug。 For four months in the year its
water is as cold as it is pure at all times； and I think that it is
then as good as any； if not the best； in the town。 In the winter；
all water which is exposed to the air is colder than springs and
wells which are protected from it。 The temperature of the pond
water which had stood in the room where I sat from five o'clock in
the afternoon till noon the next day； the sixth of March； 1846； the
thermometer having been up to 65x or 70x some of the time； owing
partly to the sun on the roof； was 42x； or one degree colder than
the water of one of the coldest wells in the village just drawn。
The temperature of the Boiling Spring the same day was 45x； or the
warmest of any water tried； though it is the coldest that I know of
in summer； when； beside； shallow and stagnant surface water is not
mingled with it。 Moreover； in summer； Walden never becomes so warm
as most water which is exposed to the sun； on account of its depth。
In the warmest weather I usually placed a pailful in my cellar；
where it became cool in the night； and remained so during the day；
though I also resorted to a spring in the neighborhood。 It was as
good when a week old as the day it was dipped； and had no taste of
the pump。 Whoever camps for a week in summer by the shore of a
pond； needs only bury a pail of water a few feet deep in the shade
of his camp to be independent of the luxury of ice。
There have been caught in Walden pickerel； one weighing seven
pounds to say nothing of another which carried off a reel with
great velocity； which the fisherman safely set down at eight pounds
because he did not see him perch and pouts； some of each weighing
over two pounds； shiners； chivins or roach （Leuciscus pulchellus）； a
very few breams； and a couple of eels； one weighing four pounds I
am thus particu