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fuel。 This he assured me was the only encumbrance。 At six I passed
him and his family on the road。 One large bundle held their all
bed； coffee…mill； looking…glass； hens all but the cat； she took
to the woods and became a wild cat； and； as I learned afterward；
trod in a trap set for woodchucks； and so became a dead cat at last。
I took down this dwelling the same morning； drawing the nails；
and removed it to the pond…side by small cartloads； spreading the
boards on the grass there to bleach and warp back again in the sun。
One early thrush gave me a note or two as I drove along the woodland
path。 I was informed treacherously by a young Patrick that neighbor
Seeley； an Irishman； in the intervals of the carting； transferred
the still tolerable； straight； and drivable nails； staples； and
spikes to his pocket； and then stood when I came back to pass the
time of day； and look freshly up； unconcerned； with spring thoughts；
at the devastation； there being a dearth of work； as he said。 He
was there to represent spectatordom； and help make this seemingly
insignificant event one with the removal of the gods of Troy。
I dug my cellar in the side of a hill sloping to the south；
where a woodchuck had formerly dug his burrow； down through sumach
and blackberry roots； and the lowest stain of vegetation； six feet
square by seven deep； to a fine sand where potatoes would not freeze
in any winter。 The sides were left shelving； and not stoned； but
the sun having never shone on them； the sand still keeps its place。
It was but two hours' work。 I took particular pleasure in this
breaking of ground； for in almost all latitudes men dig into the
earth for an equable temperature。 Under the most splendid house in
the city is still to be found the cellar where they store their
roots as of old； and long after the superstructure has disappeared
posterity remark its dent in the earth。 The house is still but a
sort of porch at the entrance of a burrow。
At length； in the beginning of May； with the help of some of my
acquaintances； rather to improve so good an occasion for
neighborliness than from any necessity； I set up the frame of my
house。 No man was ever more honored in the character of his raisers
than I。 They are destined； I trust； to assist at the raising of
loftier structures one day。 I began to occupy my house on the 4th
of July； as soon as it was boarded and roofed； for the boards were
carefully feather…edged and lapped； so that it was perfectly
impervious to rain； but before boarding I laid the foundation of a
chimney at one end； bringing two cartloads of stones up the hill
from the pond in my arms。 I built the chimney after my hoeing in
the fall； before a fire became necessary for warmth； doing my
cooking in the meanwhile out of doors on the ground； early in the
morning： which mode I still think is in some respects more
convenient and agreeable than the usual one。 When it stormed before
my bread was baked； I fixed a few boards over the fire； and sat
under them to watch my loaf； and passed some pleasant hours in that
way。 In those days； when my hands were much employed； I read but
little； but the least scraps of paper which lay on the ground； my
holder； or tablecloth； afforded me as much entertainment； in fact
answered the same purpose as the Iliad。
It would be worth the while to build still more deliberately
than I did； considering； for instance； what foundation a door； a
window； a cellar； a garret； have in the nature of man； and perchance
never raising any superstructure until we found a better reason for
it than our temporal necessities even。 There is some of the same
fitness in a man's building his own house that there is in a bird's
building its own nest。 Who knows but if men constructed their
dwellings with their own hands； and provided food for themselves and
families simply and honestly enough； the poetic faculty would be
universally developed； as birds universally sing when they are so
engaged？ But alas！ we do like cowbirds and cuckoos； which lay their
eggs in nests which other birds have built； and cheer no traveller
with their chattering and unmusical notes。 Shall we forever resign
the pleasure of construction to the carpenter？ What does
architecture amount to in the experience of the mass of men？ I
never in all my walks came across a man engaged in so simple and
natural an occupation as building his house。 We belong to the
community。 It is not the tailor alone who is the ninth part of a
man； it is as much the preacher； and the merchant； and the farmer。
Where is this division of labor to end？ and what object does it
finally serve？ No doubt another may also think for me； but it is
not therefore desirable that he should do so to the exclusion of my
thinking for myself。
True； there are architects so called in this country； and I have
heard of one at least possessed with the idea of making
architectural ornaments have a core of truth； a necessity； and hence
a beauty； as if it were a revelation to him。 All very well perhaps
from his point of view； but only a little better than the common
dilettantism。 A sentimental reformer in architecture； he began at
the cornice； not at the foundation。 It was only how to put a core
of truth within the ornaments； that every sugarplum； in fact； might
have an almond or caraway seed in it though I hold that almonds
are most wholesome without the sugar and not how the inhabitant；
the indweller； might build truly within and without； and let the
ornaments take care of themselves。 What reasonable man ever
supposed that ornaments were something outward and in the skin
merely that the tortoise got his spotted shell； or the shell…fish
its mother…o'…pearl tints； by such a contract as the inhabitants of
Broadway their Trinity Church？ But a man has no more to do with the
style of architecture of his house than a tortoise with that of its
shell： nor need the soldier be so idle as to try to paint the
precise color of his virtue on his standard。 The enemy will find it
out。 He may turn pale when the trial comes。 This man seemed to me
to lean over the cornice； and timidly whisper his half truth to the
rude occupants who really knew it better than he。 What of
architectural beauty I now see； I know has gradually grown from
within outward； out of the necessities and character of the
indweller； who is the only builder out of some unconscious
truthfulness； and nobleness； without ever a thought for the
appearance and whatever additional beauty of this kind is destined
to be produced will be preceded by a like unconscious beauty of
life。 The most interesting dwellings in this country； as the
painter knows； are the most unpretending； humble log huts and
cottages of the poor commonly； it is the life of the inhabitants
whose shells they are； and not any peculiarity in their surfaces
merely； which makes them picturesque； and equally interesting will
be the citizen's su