按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
be so bold； what do you mean by a dead set？〃 If you are a seer；
whenever you meet a man you will see all that he owns； ay； and much
that he pretends to disown； behind him； even to his kitchen
furniture and all the trumpery which he saves and will not burn； and
he will appear to be harnessed to it and making what headway he can。
I think that the man is at a dead set who has got through a
knot…hole or gateway where his sledge load of furniture cannot
follow him。 I cannot but feel compassion when I hear some trig；
compact…looking man； seemingly free； all girded and ready； speak of
his 〃furniture；〃 as whether it is insured or not。 〃But what shall I
do with my furniture？〃 My gay butterfly is entangled in a
spider's web then。 Even those who seem for a long while not to have
any； if you inquire more narrowly you will find have some stored in
somebody's barn。 I look upon England today as an old gentleman who
is travelling with a great deal of baggage； trumpery which has
accumulated from long housekeeping； which he has not the courage to
burn； great trunk； little trunk； bandbox； and bundle。 Throw away
the first three at least。 It would surpass the powers of a well man
nowadays to take up his bed and walk； and I should certainly advise
a sick one to lay down his bed and run。 When I have met an
immigrant tottering under a bundle which contained his all
looking like an enormous wen which had grown out of the nape of his
neck I have pitied him； not because that was his all； but because
he had all that to carry。 If I have got to drag my trap； I will
take care that it be a light one and do not nip me in a vital part。
But perchance it would be wisest never to put one's paw into it。
I would observe； by the way； that it costs me nothing for
curtains； for I have no gazers to shut out but the sun and moon； and
I am willing that they should look in。 The moon will not sour milk
nor taint meat of mine； nor will the sun injure my furniture or fade
my carpet； and if he is sometimes too warm a friend； I find it still
better economy to retreat behind some curtain which nature has
provided； than to add a single item to the details of housekeeping。
A lady once offered me a mat； but as I had no room to spare within
the house； nor time to spare within or without to shake it； I
declined it； preferring to wipe my feet on the sod before my door。
It is best to avoid the beginnings of evil。
Not long since I was present at the auction of a deacon's
effects； for his life had not been ineffectual：
〃The evil that men do lives after them。〃
As usual； a great proportion was trumpery which had begun to
accumulate in his father's day。 Among the rest was a dried
tapeworm。 And now； after lying half a century in his garret and
other dust holes； these things were not burned； instead of a
bonfire； or purifying destruction of them； there was an auction； or
increasing of them。 The neighbors eagerly collected to view them；
bought them all； and carefully transported them to their garrets and
dust holes； to lie there till their estates are settled； when they
will start again。 When a man dies he kicks the dust。
The customs of some savage nations might； perchance； be
profitably imitated by us； for they at least go through the
semblance of casting their slough annually； they have the idea of
the thing； whether they have the reality or not。 Would it not be
well if we were to celebrate such a 〃busk；〃 or 〃feast of first
fruits；〃 as Bartram describes to have been the custom of the
Mucclasse Indians？ 〃When a town celebrates the busk；〃 says he；
〃having previously provided themselves with new clothes； new pots；
pans； and other household utensils and furniture； they collect all
their worn out clothes and other despicable things； sweep and
cleanse their houses； squares； and the whole town of their filth；
which with all the remaining grain and other old provisions they
cast together into one common heap； and consume it with fire。 After
having taken medicine； and fasted for three days； all the fire in
the town is extinguished。 During this fast they abstain from the
gratification of every appetite and passion whatever。 A general
amnesty is proclaimed； all malefactors may return to their town。〃
〃On the fourth morning； the high priest； by rubbing dry wood
together； produces new fire in the public square； from whence every
habitation in the town is supplied with the new and pure flame。〃
They then feast on the new corn and fruits； and dance and sing
for three days； 〃and the four following days they receive visits and
rejoice with their friends from neighboring towns who have in like
manner purified and prepared themselves。〃
The Mexicans also practised a similar purification at the end of
every fifty…two years； in the belief that it was time for the world
to come to an end。
I have scarcely heard of a truer sacrament； that is； as the
dictionary defines it； 〃outward and visible sign of an inward and
spiritual grace；〃 than this； and I have no doubt that they were
originally inspired directly from Heaven to do thus； though they
have no Biblical record of the revelation。
For more than five years I maintained myself thus solely by the
labor of my hands； and I found that； by working about six weeks in a
year； I could meet all the expenses of living。 The whole of my
winters； as well as most of my summers； I had free and clear for
study。 I have thoroughly tried school…keeping； and found that my
expenses were in proportion； or rather out of proportion； to my
income； for I was obliged to dress and train； not to say think and
believe； accordingly； and I lost my time into the bargain。 As I did
not teach for the good of my fellow…men； but simply for a
livelihood； this was a failure。 I have tried trade but I found that
it would take ten years to get under way in that； and that then I
should probably be on my way to the devil。 I was actually afraid
that I might by that time be doing what is called a good business。
When formerly I was looking about to see what I could do for a
living； some sad experience in conforming to the wishes of friends
being fresh in my mind to tax my ingenuity； I thought often and
seriously of picking huckleberries； that surely I could do； and its
small profits might suffice for my greatest skill has been to
want but little so little capital it required； so little
distraction from my wonted moods； I foolishly thought。 While my
acquaintances went unhesitatingly into trade or the professions； I
contemplated this occupation as most like theirs； ranging the hills
all summer to pick the berries which came in my way； and thereafter
carelessly dispose of them； so； to keep the flocks of Admetus。 I
also dreamed that I might gather the wild herbs； or carry evergreens
to such villagers as loved to be reminded of the woods； even to the
city； by hay…cart loads。 But I have since learned that trade curses
everything it