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prisoners in their shirt…sleeves were enjoying a chat and the
evening air in the doorway； when I entered。 But the jailer said；
〃Come； boys； it is time to lock up〃； and so they dispersed； and I
heard the sound of their steps returning into the hollow apartments。
My room…mate was introduced to me by the jailer as 〃a first…rate
fellow and a clever man。〃 When the door was locked； he showed me
where to hang my hat； and how he managed matters there。 The rooms
were whitewashed once a month； and this one； at least； was the
whitest； most simply furnished； and probably the neatest apartment
in the town。 He naturally wanted to know where I came from； and
what brought me there； and； when I had told him； I asked him in my
turn how he came there； presuming him to be an honest man； of
course； and； as the world goes； I believe he was。 〃Why；〃 said he；
〃they accuse me of burning a barn； but I never did it。〃 As near as
I could discover； he had probably gone to bed in a barn when drunk；
and smoked his pipe there； and so a barn was burnt。 He had the
reputation of being a clever man； had been there some three months
waiting for his trial to come on； and would have to wait as much
longer； but he was quite domesticated and contented； since he got
his board for nothing； and thought that he was well treated。
He occupied one window； and I the other； and I saw that if one
stayed there long； his principal business would be to look out the
window。 I had soon read all the tracts that were left there； and
examined where former prisoners had broken out； and where a grate
had been sawed off； and heard the history of the various occupants
of that room； for I found that even here there was a history and a
gossip which never circulated beyond the walls of the jail。
Probably this is the only house in the town where verses are
composed； which are afterward printed in a circular form； but not
published。 I was shown quite a long list of verses which were
composed by some young men who had been detected in an attempt to
escape； who avenged themselves by singing them。
I pumped my fellow…prisoner as dry as I could； for fear I should
never see him again； but at length he showed me which was my bed；
and left me to blow out the lamp。
It was like travelling into a far country； such as I had never
expected to behold； to lie there for one night。 It seemed to me
that I never had heard the town…clock strike before； nor the evening
sounds of the village； for we slept with the windows open； which
were inside the grating。 It was to see my native village in the
light of the Middle Ages； and our Concord was turned into a Rhine
stream； and visions of knights and castles passed before me。 They
were the voices of old burghers that I heard in the streets。 I was
an involuntary spectator and auditor of whatever was done and said
in the kitchen of the adjacent village…inn a wholly new and rare
experience to me。 It was a closer view of my native town。 I was
fairly inside of it。 I never had seen its institutions before。
This is one of its peculiar institutions； for it is a shire town。 I
began to comprehend what its inhabitants were about。
In the morning； our breakfasts were put through the hole in the
door； in small oblong…square tin pans； made to fit； and holding a
pint of chocolate； with brown bread； and an iron spoon。 When they
called for the vessels again； I was green enough to return what
bread I had left； but my comrade seized it； and said that I should
lay that up for lunch or dinner。 Soon after he was let out to work
at haying in a neighboring field； whither he went every day； and
would not be back till noon； so he bade me good…day； saying that he
doubted if he should see me again。
When I came out of prison for some one interfered； and paid
that tax I did not perceive that great changes had taken place on
the common； such as he observed who went in a youth and emerged a
tottering and gray…headed man； and yet a change had to my eyes come
over the scene the town； and State； and country greater than
any that mere time could effect。 I saw yet more distinctly the
State in which I lived。 I saw to what extent the people among whom
I lived could be trusted as good neighbors and friends； that their
friendship was for summer weather only； that they did not greatly
propose to do right； that they were a distinct race from me by their
prejudices and superstitions； as the Chinamen and Malays are； that
in their sacrifices to humanity； they ran no risks； not even to
their property； that after all they were not so noble but they
treated the thief as he had treated them； and hoped； by a certain
outward observance and a few prayers； and by walking in a particular
straight though useless path from time to time； to save their souls。
This may be to judge my neighbors harshly； for I believe that many
of them are not aware that they have such an institution as the jail
in their village。
It was formerly the custom in our village； when a poor debtor
came out of jail； for his acquaintances to salute him； looking
through their fingers； which were crossed to represent the grating
of a jail window； 〃How do ye do？〃 My neighbors did not thus salute
me； but first looked at me； and then at one another； as if I had
returned from a long journey。 I was put into jail as I was going to
the shoemaker's to get a shoe which was mended。 When I was let out
the next morning； I proceeded to finish my errand； and； having put
on my mended shoe； joined a huckleberry party； who were impatient to
put themselves under my conduct； and in half an hour for the
horse was soon tackled was in the midst of a huckleberry field；
on one of our highest hills； two miles off； and then the State was
nowhere to be seen。
This is the whole history of 〃My Prisons。〃
I have never declined paying the highway tax； because I am as
desirous of being a good neighbor as I am of being a bad subject；
and as for supporting schools； I am doing my part to educate my
fellow…countrymen now。 It is for no particular item in the tax…bill
that I refuse to pay it。 I simply wish to refuse allegiance to the
State； to withdraw and stand aloof from it effectually。 I do not
care to trace the course of my dollar； if I could； till it buys a
man or a musket to shoot one with the dollar is innocent but I
am concerned to trace the effects of my allegiance。 In fact； I
quietly declare war with the State； after my fashion； though I will
still make what use and get what advantage of her I can； as is usual
in such cases。
If others pay the tax which is demanded of me； from a sympathy
with the State； they do but what they have already done in their own
case； or rather they abet injustice to a greater extent than the
State requires。 If they pay the tax from a mistaken interest in the
individual taxed； to save his property； or prevent his going to
jail； it is because they have not considered wisely how