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nothing with me。 I called on the king； but he made me wait in his
hall； and conducted like a man incapacitated for hospitality。 There
was a man in my neighborhood who lived in a hollow tree。 His
manners were truly regal。 I should have done better had I called on
him。
How long shall we sit in our porticoes practising idle and musty
virtues； which any work would make impertinent？ As if one were to
begin the day with long…suffering； and hire a man to hoe his
potatoes； and in the afternoon go forth to practise Christian
meekness and charity with goodness aforethought！ Consider the China
pride and stagnant self…complacency of mankind。 This generation
inclines a little to congratulate itself on being the last of an
illustrious line； and in Boston and London and Paris and Rome；
thinking of its long descent； it speaks of its progress in art and
science and literature with satisfaction。 There are the Records of
the Philosophical Societies； and the public Eulogies of Great Men！
It is the good Adam contemplating his own virtue。 〃Yes； we have
done great deeds； and sung divine songs； which shall never die〃
that is； as long as we can remember them。 The learned societies and
great men of Assyria where are they？ What youthful philosophers
and experimentalists we are！ There is not one of my readers who has
yet lived a whole human life。 These may be but the spring months in
the life of the race。 If we have had the seven…years' itch； we have
not seen the seventeen…year locust yet in Concord。 We are
acquainted with a mere pellicle of the globe on which we live。 Most
have not delved six feet beneath the surface； nor leaped as many
above it。 We know not where we are。 Beside； we are sound asleep
nearly half our time。 Yet we esteem ourselves wise； and have an
established order on the surface。 Truly； we are deep thinkers； we
are ambitious spirits！ As I stand over the insect crawling amid the
pine needles on the forest floor； and endeavoring to conceal itself
from my sight； and ask myself why it will cherish those humble
thoughts； and bide its head from me who might； perhaps； be its
benefactor； and impart to its race some cheering information； I am
reminded of the greater Benefactor and Intelligence that stands over
me the human insect。
There is an incessant influx of novelty into the world； and yet
we tolerate incredible dulness。 I need only suggest what kind of
sermons are still listened to in the most enlightened countries。
There are such words as joy and sorrow； but they are only the burden
of a psalm； sung with a nasal twang； while we believe in the
ordinary and mean。 We think that we can change our clothes only。
It is said that the British Empire is very large and respectable；
and that the United States are a first…rate power。 We do not
believe that a tide rises and falls behind every man which can float
the British Empire like a chip； if he should ever harbor it in his
mind。 Who knows what sort of seventeen…year locust will next come
out of the ground？ The government of the world I live in was not
framed； like that of Britain； in after…dinner conversations over the
wine。
The life in us is like the water in the river。 It may rise this
year higher than man has ever known it； and flood the parched
uplands； even this may be the eventful year； which will drown out
all our muskrats。 It was not always dry land where we dwell。 I see
far inland the banks which the stream anciently washed； before
science began to record its freshets。 Every one has heard the story
which has gone the rounds of New England； of a strong and beautiful
bug which came out of the dry leaf of an old table of apple…tree
wood； which had stood in a farmer's kitchen for sixty years； first
in Connecticut； and afterward in Massachusetts from an egg
deposited in the living tree many years earlier still； as appeared
by counting the annual layers beyond it； which was heard gnawing out
for several weeks； hatched perchance by the heat of an urn。 Who
does not feel his faith in a resurrection and immortality
strengthened by hearing of this？ Who knows what beautiful and
winged life； whose egg has been buried for ages under many
concentric layers of woodenness in the dead dry life of society；
deposited at first in the alburnum of the green and living tree；
which has been gradually converted into the semblance of its
well…seasoned tomb heard perchance gnawing out now for years by
the astonished family of man； as they sat round the festive board
may unexpectedly come forth from amidst society's most trivial and
handselled furniture； to enjoy its perfect summer life at last！
I do not say that John or Jonathan will realize all this； but
such is the character of that morrow which mere lapse of time can
never make to dawn。 The light which puts out our eyes is darkness
to us。 Only that day dawns to which we are awake。 There is more
day to dawn。 The sun is but a morning star。