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！
no man's business； and the children go to school on the other track。
We live the steadier for it。 We are all educated thus to be sons of
Tell。 The air is full of invisible bolts。 Every path but your own
is the path of fate。 Keep on your own track； then。
What recommends commerce to me is its enterprise and bravery。
It does not clasp its hands and pray to Jupiter。 I see these men
every day go about their business with more or less courage and
content； doing more even than they suspect； and perchance better
employed than they could have consciously devised。 I am less
affected by their heroism who stood up for half an hour in the front
line at Buena Vista； than by the steady and cheerful valor of the
men who inhabit the snowplow for their winter quarters； who have not
merely the three…o'…clock…in…the…morning courage； which Bonaparte
thought was the rarest； but whose courage does not go to rest so
early； who go to sleep only when the storm sleeps or the sinews of
their iron steed are frozen。 On this morning of the Great Snow；
perchance； which is still raging and chilling men's blood； I bear
the muffled tone of their engine bell from out the fog bank of their
chilled breath； which announces that the cars are coming； without
long delay； notwithstanding the veto of a New England northeast
snow…storm； and I behold the plowmen covered with snow and rime；
their heads peering； above the mould…board which is turning down
other than daisies and the nests of field mice； like bowlders of the
Sierra Nevada； that occupy an outside place in the universe。
Commerce is unexpectedly confident and serene； alert；
adventurous； and unwearied。 It is very natural in its methods
withal； far more so than many fantastic enterprises and sentimental
experiments； and hence its singular success。 I am refreshed and
expanded when the freight train rattles past me； and I smell the
stores which go dispensing their odors all the way from Long Wharf
to Lake Champlain； reminding me of foreign parts； of coral reefs；
and Indian oceans； and tropical climes； and the extent of the globe。
I feel more like a citizen of the world at the sight of the
palm…leaf which will cover so many flaxen New England heads the next
summer； the Manilla hemp and cocoanut husks； the old junk； gunny
bags； scrap iron； and rusty nails。 This carload of torn sails is
more legible and interesting now than if they should be wrought into
paper and printed books。 Who can write so graphically the history
of the storms they have weathered as these rents have done？ They
are proof…sheets which need no correction。 Here goes lumber from
the Maine woods； which did not go out to sea in the last freshet；
risen four dollars on the thousand because of what did go out or was
split up； pine； spruce； cedar first； second； third； and fourth
qualities； so lately all of one quality； to wave over the bear； and
moose； and caribou。 Next rolls Thomaston lime； a prime lot； which
will get far among the hills before it gets slacked。 These rags in
bales； of all hues and qualities； the lowest condition to which
cotton and linen descend； the final result of dress of patterns
which are now no longer cried up； unless it be in Milwaukee； as
those splendid articles； English； French； or American prints；
ginghams； muslins； etc。； gathered from all quarters both of fashion
and poverty； going to become paper of one color or a few shades
only； on which； forsooth； will be written tales of real life； high
and low； and founded on fact！ This closed car smells of salt fish；
the strong New England and commercial scent； reminding me of the
Grand Banks and the fisheries。 Who has not seen a salt fish；
thoroughly cured for this world； so that nothing can spoil it； and
putting； the perseverance of the saints to the blush？ with which you
may sweep or pave the streets； and split your kindlings； and the
teamster shelter himself and his lading against sun； wind； and rain
behind it and the trader； as a Concord trader once did； hang it
up by his door for a sign when he commences business； until at last
his oldest customer cannot tell surely whether it be animal；
vegetable； or mineral； and yet it shall be as pure as a snowflake；
and if it be put into a pot and boiled； will come out an excellent
dun…fish for a Saturday's dinner。 Next Spanish hides； with the
tails still preserving their twist and the angle of elevation they
had when the oxen that wore them were careering over the pampas of
the Spanish Main a type of all obstinacy； and evincing how almost
hopeless and incurable are all constitutional vices。 I confess；
that practically speaking； when I have learned a man's real
disposition； I have no hopes of changing it for the better or worse
in this state of existence。 As the Orientals say； 〃A cur's tail may
be warmed； and pressed； and bound round with ligatures； and after a
twelve years' labor bestowed upon it； still it will retain its
natural form。〃 The only effectual cure for such inveteracies as
these tails exhibit is to make glue of them； which I believe is what
is usually done with them； and then they will stay put and stick。
Here is a hogshead of molasses or of brandy directed to John Smith；
Cuttingsville； Vermont； some trader among the Green Mountains； who
imports for the farmers near his clearing； and now perchance stands
over his bulkhead and thinks of the last arrivals on the coast； how
they may affect the price for him； telling his customers this
moment； as he has told them twenty times before this morning； that
he expects some by the next train of prime quality。 It is
advertised in the Cuttingsville Times。
While these things go up other things come down。 Warned by the
whizzing sound； I look up from my book and see some tall pine； hewn
on far northern hills； which has winged its way over the Green
Mountains and the Connecticut； shot like an arrow through the
township within ten minutes； and scarce another eye beholds it；
going
〃to be the mast
Of some great ammiral。〃
And hark！ here comes the cattle…train bearing the cattle of a
thousand hills； sheepcots； stables； and cow…yards in the air；
drovers with their sticks； and shepherd boys in the midst of their
flocks； all but the mountain pastures； whirled along like leaves
blown from the mountains by the September gales。 The air is filled
with the bleating of calves and sheep； and the hustling of oxen； as
if a pastoral valley were going by。 When the old bell…wether at the
head rattles his bell； the mountains do indeed skip like rams and
the little hills like lambs。 A carload of drovers； too； in the
midst； on a level with their droves now； their vocation gone； but
still clinging to their useless sticks as their badge of office。
But their dogs； where are they？ It is a stampede to them； they are
quite thrown out； they have lost the scent。 Methinks I hear them
barking behind the Peterboro' Hills； o