SotheMusefables。Buttherein，asIfound，dweltnowJohnField，anIrishman，andhiswife，andseveralchildren，fromthebroad-facedboywhoassistedhisfatherathiswork，andnowcamerunningbyhissidefromthebogtoescapetherain，tothewrinkled，sibyl-like，cone-headedinfantthatsatuponitsfather’skneeasinthepalacesofnobles，andlookedoutfromitshomeinthemidstofwetandhungerinquisitivelyuponthestranger，withtheprivilegeofinfancy，notknowingbutitwasthelastofanobleline，andthehopeandcynosureoftheworld，insteadofJohnField’spoorstarvelingbrat。Therewesattogetherunderthatpartoftheroofwhichleakedtheleast，whileitshoweredandthunderedwithout。IhadsattheremanytimesofoldbeforetheshipwasbuiltthatfloatedhisfamilytoAmerica。Anhonest，hard-working，butshiftlessmanplainlywasJohnField；andhiswife，shetoowasbravetocooksomanysuccessivedinnersintherecessesofthatloftystove；withroundgreasyfaceandbarebreast，stillthinkingtoimproveherconditiononeday；withtheneverabsentmopinonehand，andyetnoeffectsofitvisibleanywhere。Thechickens，whichhadalsotakenshelterherefromtherain，stalkedabouttheroomlikemembersofthefamily，toohumanized，methought，toroastwell。Theystoodandlookedinmyeyeorpeckedatmyshoesignificantly。Meanwhilemyhosttoldmehisstory，howhardheworked“bogging“foraneighboringfarmer，turningupameadowwithaspadeorboghoeattherateoftendollarsanacreandtheuseofthelandwithmanureforoneyear，andhislittlebroad-facedsonworkedcheerfullyathisfather’ssidethewhile，notknowinghowpoorabargainthelatterhadmade。Itriedtohelphimwithmyexperience，tellinghimthathewasoneofmynearestneighbors，andthatItoo，whocamea-fishinghere，andlookedlikealoafer，wasgettingmylivinglikehimself；thatIlivedinatight，light，andcleanhouse，whichhardlycostmorethantheannualrentofsucharuinashiscommonlyamountsto；andhow，ifhechose，hemightinamonthortwobuildhimselfapalaceofhisown；thatIdidnotusetea，norcoffee，norbutter，normilk，norfreshmeat，andsodidnothavetoworktogetthem；again，asIdidnotworkhard，Ididnothavetoeathard，anditcostmebutatrifleformyfood；butashebeganwithtea，andcoffee，andbutter，andmilk，andbeef，hehadtoworkhardtopayforthem，andwhenhehadworkedhardhehadtoeathardagaintorepairthewasteofhissystem——andsoitwasasbroadasitwaslong，indeeditwasbroaderthanitwaslong，forhewasdiscontentedandwastedhislifeintothebargain；andyethehadrateditasagainincomingtoAmerica，thathereyoucouldgettea，andcoffee，andmeateveryday。ButtheonlytrueAmericaisthatcountrywhereyouareatlibertytopursuesuchamodeoflifeasmayenableyoutodowithoutthese，andwherethestatedoesnotendeavortocompelyoutosustaintheslaveryandwarandothersuperfluousexpenseswhichdirectlyorindirectlyresultfromtheuseofsuchthings。ForIpurposelytalkedtohimasifhewereaphilosopher，ordesiredtobeone。Ishouldbegladifallthemeadowsontheearthwereleftinawildstate，ifthatweretheconsequenceofmen’sbeginningtoredeemthemselves。Amanwillnotneedtostudyhistorytofindoutwhatisbestforhisownculture。
　　Butalas！thecultureofanIrishmanisanenterprisetobeundertakenwithasortofmoralboghoe。Itoldhim，thatasheworkedsohardatbogging，herequiredthickbootsandstoutclothing，whichyetweresoonsoiledandwornout，butIworelightshoesandthinclothing，whichcostnothalfsomuch，thoughhemightthinkthatIwasdressedlikeagentlemanwhich，however，wasnotthecase，andinanhourortwo，withoutlabor，butasarecreation，Icould，ifIwished，catchasmanyfishasIshouldwantfortwodays，orearnenoughmoneytosupportmeaweek。Ifheandhisfamilywouldlivesimply，theymightallgoa-huckleberryinginthesummerfortheiramusement。Johnheavedasighatthis，andhiswifestaredwitharmsa-kimbo，andbothappearedtobewonderingiftheyhadcapitalenoughtobeginsuchacoursewith，orarithmeticenoughtocarryitthrough。Itwassailingbydeadreckoningtothem，andtheysawnotclearlyhowtomaketheirportso；thereforeIsupposetheystilltakelifebravely，aftertheirfashion，facetoface，givingittoothandnail，nothavingskilltosplititsmassivecolumnswithanyfineenteringwedge，androutitindetail；——thinkingtodealwithitroughly，asoneshouldhandleathistle。Buttheyfightatanoverwhelmingdisadvantage——
　　living，JohnField，alas！withoutarithmetic，andfailingso。
　　“Doyoueverfish？“Iasked。“Ohyes，IcatchamessnowandthenwhenIamlyingby；goodperchIcatch——“What’syourbait？“
　　“Icatchshinerswithfishworms，andbaittheperchwiththem。“
　　“You’dbettergonow，John，“saidhiswife，withglisteningandhopefulface；butJohndemurred。
　　Theshowerwasnowover，andarainbowabovetheeasternwoodspromisedafairevening；soItookmydeparture。WhenIhadgotwithoutIaskedforadrink，hopingtogetasightofthewellbottom，tocompletemysurveyofthepremises；butthere，alas！areshallowsandquicksands，andropebrokenwithal，andbucketirrecoverable。Meanwhiletherightculinaryvesselwasselected，waterwasseeminglydistilled，andafterconsultationandlongdelaypassedouttothethirstyone——notyetsufferedtocool，notyettosettle。Suchgruelsustainslifehere，Ithought；so，shuttingmyeyes，andexcludingthemotesbyaskilfullydirectedundercurrent，IdranktogenuinehospitalitytheheartiestdraughtI
　　could。Iamnotsqueamishinsuchcaseswhenmannersareconcerned。
　　AsIwasleavingtheIrishman’sroofaftertherain，bendingmystepsagaintothepond，myhastetocatchpickerel，wadinginretiredmeadows，insloughsandbog-holes，inforlornandsavageplaces，appearedforaninstanttrivialtomewhohadbeensenttoschoolandcollege；butasIrandownthehilltowardthereddeningwest，withtherainbowovermyshoulder，andsomefainttinklingsoundsbornetomyearthroughthecleansedair，fromIknownotwhatquarter，myGoodGeniusseemedtosay——Gofishandhuntfarandwidedaybyday——fartherandwider——andresttheebymanybrooksandhearth-sideswithoutmisgiving。RememberthyCreatorinthedaysofthyyouth。Risefreefromcarebeforethedawn，andseekadventures。Letthenoonfindtheebyotherlakes，andthenightovertaketheeeverywhereathome。Therearenolargerfieldsthanthese，noworthiergamesthanmayherebeplayed。Growwildaccordingtothynature，likethesesedgesandbrakes，whichwillneverbecomeEnglishbay。Letthethunderrumble；whatifitthreatenruintofarmers’crops？Thatisnotitserrandtothee。
　　Takeshelterunderthecloud，whiletheyfleetocartsandsheds。
　　Letnottogetalivingbethytrade，butthysport。Enjoytheland，butownitnot。Throughwantofenterpriseandfaithmenarewheretheyare，buyingandselling，andspendingtheirliveslikeserfs。
　　OBakerFarm！
　　“LandscapewheretherichestelementIsalittlesunshineinnocent。“……
　　“NoonerunstorevelOnthyrail-fencedlea。“……
　　“Debatewithnomanhastthou，Withquestionsartneverperplexed，Astameatthefirstsightasnow，Inthyplainrussetgabardinedressed。“……
　　“Comeyewholove，Andyewhohate，ChildrenoftheHolyDove，AndGuyFauxofthestate，AndhangconspiraciesFromthetoughraftersofthetrees！“
　　Mencometamelyhomeatnightonlyfromthenextfieldorstreet，wheretheirhouseholdechoeshaunt，andtheirlifepinesbecauseitbreathesitsownbreathoveragain；theirshadows，morningandevening，reachfartherthantheirdailysteps。Weshouldcomehomefromfar，fromadventures，andperils，anddiscoverieseveryday，withnewexperienceandcharacter。
　　BeforeIhadreachedthepondsomefreshimpulsehadbroughtoutJohnField，withalteredmind，lettinggo“bogging“erethissunset。
　　Buthe，poorman，disturbedonlyacoupleoffinswhileIwascatchingafairstring，andhesaiditwashisluck；butwhenwechangedseatsintheboatluckchangedseatstoo。PoorJohnField！——
　　Itrusthedoesnotreadthis，unlesshewillimprovebyit——
　　thinkingtolivebysomederivativeold-countrymodeinthisprimitivenewcountry——tocatchperchwithshiners。Itisgoodbaitsometimes，Iallow。Withhishorizonallhisown，yetheapoorman，borntobepoor，withhisinheritedIrishpovertyorpoorlife，hisAdam’sgrandmotherandboggyways，nottoriseinthisworld，henorhisposterity，tilltheirwadingwebbedbog-trottingfeetgettalariatotheirheels。
　　HigherLawsAsIcamehomethroughthewoodswithmystringoffish，trailingmypole，itbeingnowquitedark，Icaughtaglimpseofawoodchuckstealingacrossmypath，andfeltastrangethrillofsavagedelight，andwasstronglytemptedtoseizeanddevourhimraw；notthatIwashungrythen，exceptforthatwildnesswhichherepresented。Onceortwice，however，whileIlivedatthepond，I
　　foundmyselfrangingthewoods，likeahalf-starvedhound，withastrangeabandonment，seekingsomekindofvenisonwhichImightdevour，andnomorselcouldhavebeentoosavageforme。Thewildestsceneshadbecomeunaccountablyfamiliar。Ifoundinmyself，andstillfind，aninstincttowardahigher，or，asitisnamed，spirituallife，asdomostmen，andanothertowardaprimitiverankandsavageone，andIreverencethemboth。Ilovethewildnotlessthanthegood。Thewildnessandadventurethatareinfishingstillrecommendedittome。Ilikesometimestotakerankholdonlifeandspendmydaymoreastheanimalsdo。PerhapsIhaveowedtothisemploymentandtohunting，whenquiteyoung，myclosestacquaintancewithNature。Theyearlyintroduceustoanddetainusinscenerywithwhichotherwise，atthatage，weshouldhavelittleacquaintance。Fishermen，hunters，woodchoppers，andothers，spendingtheirlivesinthefieldsandwoods，inapeculiarsenseapartofNaturethemselves，areofteninamorefavorablemoodforobservingher，intheintervalsoftheirpursuits，thanphilosophersorpoetseven，whoapproachherwithexpectation。Sheisnotafraidtoexhibitherselftothem。Thetravellerontheprairieisnaturallyahunter，ontheheadwatersoftheMissouriandColumbiaatrapper，andattheFallsofSt。Maryafisherman。
　　Hewhoisonlyatravellerlearnsthingsatsecond-handandbythehalves，andispoorauthority。Wearemostinterestedwhensciencereportswhatthosemenalreadyknowpracticallyorinstinctively，forthataloneisatruehumanity，oraccountofhumanexperience。
　　TheymistakewhoassertthattheYankeehasfewamusements，becausehehasnotsomanypublicholidays，andmenandboysdonotplaysomanygamesastheydoinEngland，forherethemoreprimitivebutsolitaryamusementsofhunting，fishing，andthelikehavenotyetgivenplacetotheformer。AlmosteveryNewEnglandboyamongmycontemporariesshoulderedafowling-piecebetweentheagesoftenandfourteen；andhishuntingandfishinggroundswerenotlimited，likethepreservesofanEnglishnobleman，butweremoreboundlesseventhanthoseofasavage。Nowonder，then，thathedidnotoftenerstaytoplayonthecommon。Butalreadyachangeistakingplace，owing，nottoanincreasedhumanity，buttoanincreasedscarcityofgame，forperhapsthehunteristhegreatestfriendoftheanimalshunted，notexceptingtheHumaneSociety。
　　Moreover，whenatthepond，Iwishedsometimestoaddfishtomyfareforvariety。Ihaveactuallyfishedfromthesamekindofnecessitythatthefirstfishersdid。WhateverhumanityImightconjureupagainstitwasallfactitious，andconcernedmyphilosophymorethanmyfeelings。Ispeakoffishingonlynow，forIhadlongfeltdifferentlyaboutfowling，andsoldmygunbeforeI
　　wenttothewoods。NotthatIamlesshumanethanothers，butIdidnotperceivethatmyfeelingsweremuchaffected。Ididnotpitythefishesnortheworms。Thiswashabit。Asforfowling，duringthelastyearsthatIcarriedagunmyexcusewasthatIwasstudyingornithology，andsoughtonlyneworrarebirds。ButI
　　confessthatIamnowinclinedtothinkthatthereisafinerwayofstudyingornithologythanthis。Itrequiressomuchcloserattentiontothehabitsofthebirds，that，ifforthatreasononly，Ihavebeenwillingtoomitthegun。Yetnotwithstandingtheobjectiononthescoreofhumanity，Iamcompelledtodoubtifequallyvaluablesportsareeversubstitutedforthese；andwhensomeofmyfriendshaveaskedmeanxiouslyabouttheirboys，whethertheyshouldletthemhunt，Ihaveanswered，yes——rememberingthatitwasoneofthebestpartsofmyeducation——makethemhunters，thoughsportsmenonlyatfirst，ifpossible，mightyhuntersatlast，sothattheyshallnotfindgamelargeenoughfortheminthisoranyvegetablewilderness——huntersaswellasfishersofmen。ThusfarIamoftheopinionofChaucer’snun，who“yavenotofthetextapulledhenThatsaiththathuntersbennotholymen。“
　　Thereisaperiodinthehistoryoftheindividual，asoftherace，whenthehuntersarethe“bestmen，“astheAlgonquinscalledthem。
　　Wecannotbutpitytheboywhohasneverfiredagun；heisnomorehumane，whilehiseducationhasbeensadlyneglected。Thiswasmyanswerwithrespecttothoseyouthswhowerebentonthispursuit，trustingthattheywouldsoonoutgrowit。Nohumanebeing，pastthethoughtlessageofboyhood，willwantonlymurderanycreaturewhichholdsitslifebythesametenurethathedoes。Thehareinitsextremitycrieslikeachild。Iwarnyou，mothers，thatmysympathiesdonotalwaysmaketheusualphilanthropicdistinctions。
　　Suchisoftenesttheyoungman’sintroductiontotheforest，andthemostoriginalpartofhimself。Hegoesthitheratfirstasahunterandfisher，untilatlast，ifhehastheseedsofabetterlifeinhim，hedistinguisheshisproperobjects，asapoetornaturalistitmaybe，andleavesthegunandfish-polebehind。Themassofmenarestillandalwaysyounginthisrespect。Insomecountriesahuntingparsonisnouncommonsight。Suchaonemightmakeagoodshepherd’sdog，butisfarfrombeingtheGoodShepherd。
　　Ihavebeensurprisedtoconsiderthattheonlyobviousemployment，exceptwood-chopping，ice-cutting，orthelikebusiness，whichevertomyknowledgedetainedatWaldenPondforawholehalf-dayanyofmyfellow-citizens，whetherfathersorchildrenofthetown，withjustoneexception，wasfishing。Commonlytheydidnotthinkthattheywerelucky，orwellpaidfortheirtime，unlesstheygotalongstringoffish，thoughtheyhadtheopportunityofseeingthepondallthewhile。Theymightgothereathousandtimesbeforethesedimentoffishingwouldsinktothebottomandleavetheirpurposepure；butnodoubtsuchaclarifyingprocesswouldbegoingonallthewhile。TheGovernorandhisCouncilfaintlyrememberthepond，fortheywenta-fishingtherewhentheywereboys；butnowtheyaretoooldanddignifiedtogoa-fishing，andsotheyknowitnomoreforever。Yeteventheyexpecttogotoheavenatlast。Ifthelegislatureregardsit，itischieflytoregulatethenumberofhookstobeusedthere；buttheyknownothingaboutthehookofhookswithwhichtoanglefortheponditself，impalingthelegislatureforabait。Thus，evenincivilizedcommunities，theembryomanpassesthroughthehunterstageofdevelopment。