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lintel and the sill are gone； unfolding its sweet…scented flowers
each spring； to be plucked by the musing traveller； planted and
tended once by children's hands； in front…yard plots now standing
by wallsides in retired pastures； and giving place to new…rising
forests； the last of that stirp； sole survivor of that family。
Little did the dusky children think that the puny slip with its two
eyes only； which they stuck in the ground in the shadow of the house
and daily watered； would root itself so； and outlive them； and house
itself in the rear that shaded it； and grown man's garden and
orchard； and tell their story faintly to the lone wanderer a
half…century after they had grown up and died blossoming as fair；
and smelling as sweet； as in that first spring。 I mark its still
tender； civil； cheerful lilac colors。
But this small village； germ of something more； why did it fail
while Concord keeps its ground？ Were there no natural advantages
no water privileges； forsooth？ Ay； the deep Walden Pond and cool
Brister's Spring privilege to drink long and healthy draughts at
these； all unimproved by these men but to dilute their glass。 They
were universally a thirsty race。 Might not the basket；
stable…broom； mat…making； corn…parching； linen…spinning； and pottery
business have thrived here； making the wilderness to blossom like
the rose； and a numerous posterity have inherited the land of their
fathers？ The sterile soil would at least have been proof against a
low…land degeneracy。 Alas！ how little does the memory of these
human inhabitants enhance the beauty of the landscape！ Again；
perhaps； Nature will try； with me for a first settler； and my house
raised last spring to be the oldest in the hamlet。
I am not aware that any man has ever built on the spot which I
occupy。 Deliver me from a city built on the site of a more ancient
city； whose materials are ruins； whose gardens cemeteries。 The soil
is blanched and accursed there； and before that becomes necessary
the earth itself will be destroyed。 With such reminiscences I
repeopled the woods and lulled myself asleep。
At this season I seldom had a visitor。 When the snow lay
deepest no wanderer ventured near my house for a week or fortnight
at a time； but there I lived as snug as a meadow mouse； or as cattle
and poultry which are said to have survived for a long time buried
in drifts； even without food； or like that early settler's family in
the town of Sutton； in this State； whose cottage was completely
covered by the great snow of 1717 when he was absent； and an Indian
found it only by the hole which the chimney's breath made in the
drift； and so relieved the family。 But no friendly Indian concerned
himself about me； nor needed he； for the master of the house was at
home。 The Great Snow！ How cheerful it is to hear of！ When the
farmers could not get to the woods and swamps with their teams； and
were obliged to cut down the shade trees before their houses； and；
when the crust was harder； cut off the trees in the swamps； ten feet
from the ground； as it appeared the next spring。
In the deepest snows； the path which I used from the highway to
my house； about half a mile long； might have been represented by a
meandering dotted line； with wide intervals between the dots。 For a
week of even weather I took exactly the same number of steps； and of
the same length； coming and going； stepping deliberately and with
the precision of a pair of dividers in my own deep tracks to such
routine the winter reduces us yet often they were filled with
heaven's own blue。 But no weather interfered fatally with my walks；
or rather my going abroad； for I frequently tramped eight or ten
miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beech
tree； or a yellow birch； or an old acquaintance among the pines；
when the ice and snow causing their limbs to droop； and so
sharpening their tops； had changed the pines into fir trees； wading
to the tops of the highest hills when the show was nearly two feet
deep on a level； and shaking down another snow…storm on my head at
every step； or sometimes creeping and floundering thither on my
hands and knees； when the hunters had gone into winter quarters。
One afternoon I amused myself by watching a barred owl （Strix
nebulosa） sitting on one of the lower dead limbs of a white pine；
close to the trunk； in broad daylight； I standing within a rod of
him。 He could hear me when I moved and cronched the snow with my
feet； but could not plainly see me。 When I made most noise he would
stretch out his neck； and erect his neck feathers； and open his eyes
wide； but their lids soon fell again； and he began to nod。 I too
felt a slumberous influence after watching him half an hour； as he
sat thus with his eyes half open； like a cat； winged brother of the
cat。 There was only a narrow slit left between their lids； by which
be preserved a pennisular relation to me； thus； with half…shut eyes；
looking out from the land of dreams； and endeavoring to realize me；
vague object or mote that interrupted his visions。 At length； on
some louder noise or my nearer approach； he would grow uneasy and
sluggishly turn about on his perch； as if impatient at having his
dreams disturbed； and when he launched himself off and flapped
through the pines； spreading his wings to unexpected breadth； I
could not hear the slightest sound from them。 Thus； guided amid the
pine boughs rather by a delicate sense of their neighborhood than by
sight； feeling his twilight way； as it were； with his sensitive
pinions； he found a new perch； where he might in peace await the
dawning of his day。
As I walked over the long causeway made for the railroad through
the meadows； I encountered many a blustering and nipping wind； for
nowhere has it freer play； and when the frost had smitten me on one
cheek； heathen as I was； I turned to it the other also。 Nor was it
much better by the carriage road from Brister's Hill。 For I came to
town still； like a friendly Indian； when the contents of the broad
open fields were all piled up between the walls of the Walden road；
and half an hour sufficed to obliterate the tracks of the last
traveller。 And when I returned new drifts would have formed；
through which I floundered； where the busy northwest wind had been
depositing the powdery snow round a sharp angle in the road； and not
a rabbit's track； nor even the fine print； the small type； of a
meadow mouse was to be seen。 Yet I rarely failed to find； even in
midwinter； some warm and springly swamp where the grass and the
skunk…cabbage still put forth with perennial verdure； and some
hardier bird occasionally awaited the return of spring。
Sometimes； notwithstanding the snow； when I returned from my
walk at evening I crossed the deep tracks of a woodchopper leading
from my door； and found his pile of whittlings on the hearth； and my
house filled with the odor of his pipe。 Or on a Sunday