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Oh； they would not let me go！ How they all followed clamoring after
me。 My thoughts coursed backward faster than ever I could run away。 If
you could have heard that motley crew of the barnyard as I did the hens
all cackling； the ducks quacking； the pigs grunting； and the old mare
neighing and stamping； you would have thought it a miracle that I escaped
at all。
So often we think in a superior and lordly manner of our possessions；
when； as a matter of fact； we do not really possess them； they possess us。
For ten years I have been the humble servant； attending upon the
commonest daily needs of sundry hens； ducks； geese； pigs； bees； and of a
fussy and exacting old gray mare。 And the habit of servitude； I find； has
worn deep scars upon me。 I am almost like the life prisoner who finds the
door of his cell suddenly open； and fears to escape。 Why； I had almost
become ALL farmer。
On the first morning after I left home I awoke as usual about five
o'clock with the irresistible feeling that I must do the milking。 So well
disciplined had I become in my servitude that I instinctively thrust my leg
out of bedbut pulled it quickly back in again； turned over； drew a long；
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luxurious breath； and said to myself：
〃Avaunt cows！ Get thee behind me； swine！ Shoo； hens！〃
Instantly the clatter of mastery to which I had responded so quickly for
so many years grew perceptibly fainter； the hens cackled less
domineeringly； the pigs squealed less insistently； and as for the strutting
cockerel； that lordly and despotic bird stopped fairly in the middle of a
crow； and his voice gurgled away in a spasm of astonishment。 As for the
old farmhouse； it grew so dim I could scarcely see it at all！ Having thus
published abroad my Declaration of Independence； nailed my defiance to
the door； and otherwise established myself as a free person； I turned over
in my bed and took another delicious nap。
Do you know； friend； we can be free of many things that dominate our
lives by merely crying out a rebellious 〃Avaunt！〃
But in spite of this bold beginning； I assure you it required several
days to break the habit of cows and hens。 The second morning I awakened
again at five o'clock； but my leg did not make for the side of the bed； the
third morning I was only partially awakened； and on the fourth morning I
slept like a millionaire （or at least I slept as a millionaire is supposed to
sleep！） until the clock struck seven。
For some days after I left homeand I walked out as casually that
morning as though I were going to the barnI scarcely thought or tried to
think of anything but the Road。 Such an unrestrained sense of liberty； such
an exaltation of freedom； I have not known since I was a lad。 When I came
to my farm from the city many years ago it was as one bound； as one who
had lost out in the World's battle and was seeking to get hold again
somewhere upon the realities of life。 I have related elsewhere how I thus
came creeping like one sore wounded from the field of battle； and how；
among our hills； in the hard； steady labour in the soil of the fields； with
new and simple friends around me； I found a sort of rebirth or resurrection。
I that was worn out； bankrupt both physically and morally； learned to live
again。 I have achieved something of high happiness in these years；
something I know of pure contentment； and I have learned two or three
deep and simple things about life： I have learned that happiness is not to
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be had for the seeking； but comes quietly to him who pauses at his
difficult task and looks upward。 I have learned that friendship is very
simple； and； more than all else； I have learned the lesson of being quiet； of
looking out across the meadows and hills； and of trusting a little in God。
And now； for the moment； I am regaining another of the joys of youth…
…that of the sense of perfect freedom。 I made no plans when I left home； I
scarcely chose the direction in which I was to travel； but drifted out； as a
boy might； into the great busy world。 Oh； I have dreamed of that！ It seems
almost as though； after ten years； I might again really touch the highest
joys of adventure！
So I took the Road as it came； as a man takes a woman； for better or
worseI took the Road； and the farms along it； and the sleepy little
villages； and the streams from the hillsidesall with high enjoyment。 They
were good coin in my purse！ And when I had passed the narrow horizon of
my acquaintanceship； and reached country new to me； it seemed as though
every sense I had began to awaken。 I must have grown dull； unconsciously；
in the last years there on my farm。 I cannot describe the eagerness of
discovery I felt at climbing each new hill； nor the long breath I took at the
top of it as I surveyed new stretches of pleasant countryside。
Assuredly this is one of the royal moments of all the yearfine； cool；
sparkling spring weather。 I think I never saw the meadows richer and
greenerand the lilacs are still blooming； and the catbirds and orioles are
here。 The oaks are not yet in full leaf； but the maples have nearly reached
their full mantle of verdurethey are very beautiful and charming to see。
It is curious how at this moment of the year all the world seems astir。 I
suppose there is no moment in any of the seasons when the whole army of
agriculture； regulars and reserves； is so fully drafted for service in the
fields。 And all the doors and windows； both in the little villages and on the
farms； stand wide open to the sunshine； and all the women and girls are
busy in the yards and gardens。 Such a fine； active； gossipy； adventurous
world as it is at this moment of the year！
It is the time； too； when all sorts of travelling people are afoot。 People
who have been mewed up in the cities for the winter now take to the open
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roadall the peddlers and agents and umbrella…menders； all the nursery
salesmen and fertilizer agents； all the tramps and scientists and poetsall
abroad in the wide sunny roads。