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！
access to a few books； rank next to necessaries； and can all be
obtained at a trifling cost。 Yet some； not wise； go to the other
side of the globe； to barbarous and unhealthy regions； and devote
themselves to trade for ten or twenty years； in order that they may
live that is； keep comfortably warm and die in New England at
last。 The luxuriously rich are not simply kept comfortably warm；
but unnaturally hot； as I implied before； they are cooked； of course
a la mode。
Most of the luxuries； and many of the so…called comforts of
life； are not only not indispensable； but positive hindrances to the
elevation of mankind。 With respect to luxuries and comforts； the
wisest have ever lived a more simple and meagre life than the poor。
The ancient philosophers； Chinese； Hindoo； Persian； and Greek； were
a class than which none has been poorer in outward riches； none so
rich in inward。 We know not much about them。 It is remarkable that
we know so much of them as we do。 The same is true of the more
modern reformers and benefactors of their race。 None can be an
impartial or wise observer of human life but from the vantage ground
of what we should call voluntary poverty。 Of a life of luxury the
fruit is luxury； whether in agriculture； or commerce； or literature；
or art。 There are nowadays professors of philosophy； but not
philosophers。 Yet it is admirable to profess because it was once
admirable to live。 To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle
thoughts； nor even to found a school； but so to love wisdom as to
live according to its dictates； a life of simplicity； independence；
magnanimity； and trust。 It is to solve some of the problems of
life； not only theoretically； but practically。 The success of great
scholars and thinkers is commonly a courtier…like success； not
kingly； not manly。 They make shift to live merely by conformity；
practically as their fathers did； and are in no sense the
progenitors of a noble race of men。 But why do men degenerate ever？
What makes families run out？ What is the nature of the luxury which
enervates and destroys nations？ Are we sure that there is none of
it in our own lives？ The philosopher is in advance of his age even
in the outward form of his life。 He is not fed； sheltered； clothed；
warmed； like his contemporaries。 How can a man be a philosopher and
not maintain his vital heat by better methods than other men？
When a man is warmed by the several modes which I have
described； what does he want next？ Surely not more warmth of the
same kind； as more and richer food； larger and more splendid houses；
finer and more abundant clothing； more numerous； incessant； and
hotter fires； and the like。 When he has obtained those things which
are necessary to life； there is another alternative than to obtain
the superfluities； and that is； to adventure on life now； his
vacation from humbler toil having commenced。 The soil； it appears；
is suited to the seed； for it has sent its radicle downward； and it
may now send its shoot upward also with confidence。 Why has man
rooted himself thus firmly in the earth； but that he may rise in the
same proportion into the heavens above？ for the nobler plants are
valued for the fruit they bear at last in the air and light； far
from the ground； and are not treated like the humbler esculents；
which； though they may be biennials； are cultivated only till they
have perfected their root； and often cut down at top for this
purpose； so that most would not know them in their flowering season。
I do not mean to prescribe rules to strong and valiant natures；
who will mind their own affairs whether in heaven or hell； and
perchance build more magnificently and spend more lavishly than the
richest； without ever impoverishing themselves； not knowing how they
live if； indeed； there are any such； as has been dreamed； nor to
those who find their encouragement and inspiration in precisely the
present condition of things； and cherish it with the fondness and
enthusiasm of lovers and； to some extent； I reckon myself in this
number； I do not speak to those who are well employed； in whatever
circumstances； and they know whether they are well employed or not；
but mainly to the mass of men who are discontented； and idly
complaining of the hardness of their lot or of the times； when they
might improve them。 There are some who complain most energetically
and inconsolably of any； because they are； as they say； doing their
duty。 I also have in my mind that seemingly wealthy； but most
terribly impoverished class of all； who have accumulated dross； but
know not how to use it； or get rid of it； and thus have forged their
own golden or silver fetters。
If I should attempt to tell how I have desired to spend my life
in years past； it would probably surprise those of my readers who
are somewhat acquainted with its actual history； it would certainly
astonish those who know nothing about it。 I will only hint at some
of the enterprises which I have cherished。
In any weather； at any hour of the day or night； I have been
anxious to improve the nick of time； and notch it on my stick too；
to stand on the meeting of two eternities； the past and future；
which is precisely the present moment； to toe that line。 You will
pardon some obscurities； for there are more secrets in my trade than
in most men's； and yet not voluntarily kept； but inseparable from
its very nature。 I would gladly tell all that I know about it； and
never paint 〃No Admittance〃 on my gate。
I long ago lost a hound； a bay horse； and a turtle dove； and am
still on their trail。 Many are the travellers I have spoken
concerning them； describing their tracks and what calls they
answered to。 I have met one or two who had heard the hound； and the
tramp of the horse； and even seen the dove disappear behind a cloud；
and they seemed as anxious to recover them as if they had lost them
themselves。
To anticipate； not the sunrise and the dawn merely； but； if
possible； Nature herself！ How many mornings； summer and winter；
before yet any neighbor was stirring about his business； have I been
about mine！ No doubt； many of my townsmen have met me returning
from this enterprise； farmers starting for Boston in the twilight；
or woodchoppers going to their work。 It is true； I never assisted
the sun materially in his rising； but； doubt not； it was of the last
importance only to be present at it。
So many autumn； ay； and winter days； spent outside the town；
trying to hear what was in the wind； to hear and carry it express！
I well…nigh sunk all my capital in it； and lost my own breath into
the bargain； running in the face of it。 If it had concerned either
of the political parties； depend upon it； it would have appeared in
the Gazette with the earliest intelligence。 At other times watching
from the observatory of some cliff or tree； to telegraph any new
arrival； or waiting at evening on the hill…tops for the