Hiswhitebreast，thestillnessoftheair，andthesmoothnessofthewaterwereallagainsthim。Atlengthhavingcomeupfiftyrodsoff，heutteredoneofthoseprolongedhowls，asifcallingonthegodofloonstoaidhim，andimmediatelytherecameawindfromtheeastandrippledthesurface，andfilledthewholeairwithmistyrain，andIwasimpressedasifitweretheprayeroftheloonanswered，andhisgodwasangrywithme；andsoIlefthimdisappearingfarawayonthetumultuoussurface。
　　Forhours，infalldays，Iwatchedtheduckscunninglytackandveerandholdthemiddleofthepond，farfromthesportsman；trickswhichtheywillhavelessneedtopractiseinLouisianabayous。
　　Whencompelledtorisetheywouldsometimescircleroundandroundandoverthepondataconsiderableheight，fromwhichtheycouldeasilyseetootherpondsandtheriver，likeblackmotesinthesky；and，whenIthoughttheyhadgoneoffthitherlongsince，theywouldsettledownbyaslantingflightofaquarterofamileontoadistantpartwhichwasleftfree；butwhatbesidesafetytheygotbysailinginthemiddleofWaldenIdonotknow，unlesstheyloveitswaterforthesamereasonthatIdo。
　　House-WarmingInOctoberIwenta-grapingtotherivermeadows，andloadedmyselfwithclustersmorepreciousfortheirbeautyandfragrancethanforfood。There，too，Iadmired，thoughIdidnotgather，thecranberries，smallwaxengems，pendantsofthemeadowgrass，pearlyandred，whichthefarmerpluckswithanuglyrake，leavingthesmoothmeadowinasnarl，heedlesslymeasuringthembythebushelandthedollaronly，andsellsthespoilsofthemeadstoBostonandNewYork；destinedtobejammed，tosatisfythetastesofloversofNaturethere。Sobutchersrakethetonguesofbisonoutoftheprairiegrass，regardlessofthetornanddroopingplant。Thebarberry’sbrilliantfruitwaslikewisefoodformyeyesmerely；butIcollectedasmallstoreofwildapplesforcoddling，whichtheproprietorandtravellershadoverlooked。WhenchestnutswereripeIlaiduphalfabushelforwinter。ItwasveryexcitingatthatseasontoroamthethenboundlesschestnutwoodsofLincoln——theynowsleeptheirlongsleepundertherailroad——withabagonmyshoulder，andasticktoopenburswithinmyhand，forIdidnotalwayswaitforthefrost，amidtherustlingofleavesandtheloudreproofsoftheredsquirrelsandthejays，whosehalf-consumednutsIsometimesstole，fortheburswhichtheyhadselectedweresuretocontainsoundones。OccasionallyIclimbedandshookthetrees。
　　Theygrewalsobehindmyhouse，andonelargetree，whichalmostovershadowedit，was，wheninflower，abouquetwhichscentedthewholeneighborhood，butthesquirrelsandthejaysgotmostofitsfruit；thelastcominginflocksearlyinthemorningandpickingthenutsoutofthebursbeforetheyfell，Irelinquishedthesetreestothemandvisitedthemoredistantwoodscomposedwhollyofchestnut。Thesenuts，asfarastheywent，wereagoodsubstituteforbread。Manyothersubstitutesmight，perhaps，befound。
　　Diggingonedayforfishworms，Idiscoveredtheground-nutApiostuberosaonitsstring，thepotatooftheaborigines，asortoffabulousfruit，whichIhadbeguntodoubtifIhadeverdugandeateninchildhood，asIhadtold，andhadnotdreamedit。Ihadoftensinceseenitscrumpledredvelvetyblossomsupportedbythestemsofotherplantswithoutknowingittobethesame。
　　Cultivationhaswell-nighexterminatedit。Ithasasweetishtaste，muchlikethatofafrost-bittenpotato，andIfounditbetterboiledthanroasted。ThistuberseemedlikeafaintpromiseofNaturetorearherownchildrenandfeedthemsimplyhereatsomefutureperiod。Inthesedaysoffattedcattleandwavinggrain-fieldsthishumbleroot，whichwasoncethetotemofanIndiantribe，isquiteforgotten，orknownonlybyitsfloweringvine；butletwildNaturereignhereoncemore，andthetenderandluxuriousEnglishgrainswillprobablydisappearbeforeamyriadoffoes，andwithoutthecareofmanthecrowmaycarrybackeventhelastseedofcorntothegreatcornfieldoftheIndian’sGodinthesouthwest，whenceheissaidtohavebroughtit；butthenowalmostexterminatedground-nutwillperhapsreviveandflourishinspiteoffrostsandwildness，proveitselfindigenous，andresumeitsancientimportanceanddignityasthedietofthehuntertribe。SomeIndianCeresorMinervamusthavebeentheinventorandbestowerofit；andwhenthereignofpoetrycommenceshere，itsleavesandstringofnutsmayberepresentedonourworksofart。
　　Already，bythefirstofSeptember，Ihadseentwoorthreesmallmaplesturnedscarletacrossthepond，beneathwherethewhitestemsofthreeaspensdiverged，atthepointofapromontory，nextthewater。Ah，manyataletheircolortold！Andgraduallyfromweektoweekthecharacterofeachtreecameout，anditadmireditselfreflectedinthesmoothmirrorofthelake。Eachmorningthemanagerofthisgallerysubstitutedsomenewpicture，distinguishedbymorebrilliantorharmoniouscoloring，fortheolduponthewalls。
　　ThewaspscamebythousandstomylodgeinOctober，astowinterquarters，andsettledonmywindowswithinandonthewallsoverhead，sometimesdeterringvisitorsfromentering。Eachmorning，whentheywerenumbedwithcold，Isweptsomeofthemout，butIdidnottroublemyselfmuchtogetridofthem；Ievenfeltcomplimentedbytheirregardingmyhouseasadesirableshelter。Theynevermolestedmeseriously，thoughtheybeddedwithme；andtheygraduallydisappeared，intowhatcrevicesIdonotknow，avoidingwinterandunspeakablecold。
　　Likethewasps，beforeIfinallywentintowinterquartersinNovember，IusedtoresorttothenortheastsideofWalden，whichthesun，reflectedfromthepitchpinewoodsandthestonyshore，madethefiresideofthepond；itissomuchpleasanterandwholesomertobewarmedbythesunwhileyoucanbe，thanbyanartificialfire。Ithuswarmedmyselfbythestillglowingemberswhichthesummer，likeadepartedhunter，hadleft。
　　WhenIcametobuildmychimneyIstudiedmasonry。Mybricks，beingsecond-handones，requiredtobecleanedwithatrowel，sothatIlearnedmorethanusualofthequalitiesofbricksandtrowels。Themortaronthemwasfiftyyearsold，andwassaidtobestillgrowingharder；butthisisoneofthosesayingswhichmenlovetorepeatwhethertheyaretrueornot。Suchsayingsthemselvesgrowharderandadheremorefirmlywithage，anditwouldtakemanyblowswithatroweltocleananoldwiseacreofthem。
　　ManyofthevillagesofMesopotamiaarebuiltofsecond-handbricksofaverygoodquality，obtainedfromtheruinsofBabylon，andthecementonthemisolderandprobablyharderstill。Howeverthatmaybe，Iwasstruckbythepeculiartoughnessofthesteelwhichboresomanyviolentblowswithoutbeingwornout。Asmybrickshadbeeninachimneybefore，thoughIdidnotreadthenameofNebuchadnezzaronthem，IpickedoutitsmanyfireplacebricksasI
　　couldfind，tosaveworkandwaste，andIfilledthespacesbetweenthebricksaboutthefireplacewithstonesfromthepondshore，andalsomademymortarwiththewhitesandfromthesameplace。I
　　lingeredmostaboutthefireplace，asthemostvitalpartofthehouse。Indeed，Iworkedsodeliberately，thatthoughIcommencedatthegroundinthemorning，acourseofbricksraisedafewinchesabovethefloorservedformypillowatnight；yetIdidnotgetastiffneckforitthatIremember；mystiffneckisofolderdate。
　　Itookapoettoboardforafortnightaboutthosetimes，whichcausedmetobeputtoitforroom。Hebroughthisownknife，thoughIhadtwo，andweusedtoscourthembythrustingthemintotheearth。Hesharedwithmethelaborsofcooking。Iwaspleasedtoseemyworkrisingsosquareandsolidbydegrees，andreflected，that，ifitproceededslowly，itwascalculatedtoendurealongtime。Thechimneyistosomeextentanindependentstructure，standingontheground，andrisingthroughthehousetotheheavens；
　　evenafterthehouseisburneditstillstandssometimes，anditsimportanceandindependenceareapparent。Thiswastowardtheendofsummer。ItwasnowNovember。
　　Thenorthwindhadalreadybeguntocoolthepond，thoughittookmanyweeksofsteadyblowingtoaccomplishit，itissodeep。
　　WhenIbegantohaveafireatevening，beforeIplasteredmyhouse，thechimneycarriedsmokeparticularlywell，becauseofthenumerouschinksbetweentheboards。YetIpassedsomecheerfuleveningsinthatcoolandairyapartment，surroundedbytheroughbrownboardsfullofknots，andrafterswiththebarkonhighoverhead。Myhouseneverpleasedmyeyesomuchafteritwasplastered，thoughIwasobligedtoconfessthatitwasmorecomfortable。Shouldnoteveryapartmentinwhichmandwellsbeloftyenoughtocreatesomeobscurityoverhead，whereflickeringshadowsmayplayateveningabouttherafters？Theseformsaremoreagreeabletothefancyandimaginationthanfrescopaintingsorotherthemostexpensivefurniture。Inowfirstbegantoinhabitmyhouse，Imaysay，whenI
　　begantouseitforwarmthaswellasshelter。Ihadgotacoupleofoldfire-dogstokeepthewoodfromthehearth，anditdidmegoodtoseethesootformonthebackofthechimneywhichIhadbuilt，andIpokedthefirewithmorerightandmoresatisfactionthanusual。Mydwellingwassmall，andIcouldhardlyentertainanechoinit；butitseemedlargerforbeingasingleapartmentandremotefromneighbors。Alltheattractionsofahousewereconcentratedinoneroom；itwaskitchen，chamber，parlor，andkeeping-room；andwhateversatisfactionparentorchild，masterorservant，derivefromlivinginahouse，Ienjoyeditall。Catosays，themasterofafamilypatremfamiliasmusthaveinhisrusticvilla“cellamoleariam，vinariam，doliamulta，utilubeatcaritatemexpectare，etrei，etvirtuti，etgloriaeerit，“thatis，“anoilandwinecellar，manycasks，sothatitmaybepleasanttoexpecthardtimes；itwillbeforhisadvantage，andvirtue，andglory。“Ihadinmycellarafirkinofpotatoes，abouttwoquartsofpeaswiththeweevilinthem，andonmyshelfalittlerice，ajugofmolasses，andofryeandIndianmealapeckeach。
　　Isometimesdreamofalargerandmorepopuloushouse，standinginagoldenage，ofenduringmaterials，andwithoutgingerbreadwork，whichshallstillconsistofonlyoneroom，avast，rude，substantial，primitivehall，withoutceilingorplastering，withbareraftersandpurlinssupportingasortoflowerheavenoverone’shead——usefultokeepoffrainandsnow，wherethekingandqueenpostsstandouttoreceiveyourhomage，whenyouhavedonereverencetotheprostrateSaturnofanolderdynastyonsteppingoverthesill；acavernoushouse，whereinyoumustreachupatorchuponapoletoseetheroof；wheresomemayliveinthefireplace，someintherecessofawindow，andsomeonsettles，someatoneendofthehall，someatanother，andsomealoftonrafterswiththespiders，iftheychoose；ahousewhichyouhavegotintowhenyouhaveopenedtheoutsidedoor，andtheceremonyisover；wherethewearytravellermaywash，andeat，andconverse，andsleep，withoutfurtherjourney；suchashelterasyouwouldbegladtoreachinatempestuousnight，containingalltheessentialsofahouse，andnothingforhouse-keeping；whereyoucanseeallthetreasuresofthehouseatoneview，andeverythinghangsuponitspeg，thatamanshoulduse；atoncekitchen，pantry，parlor，chamber，storehouse，andgarret；whereyoucanseesonecessaryathing，asabarreloraladder，soconvenientathingasacupboard，andhearthepotboil，andpayyourrespectstothefirethatcooksyourdinner，andtheoventhatbakesyourbread，andthenecessaryfurnitureandutensilsarethechiefornaments；wherethewashingisnotputout，northefire，northemistress，andperhapsyouaresometimesrequestedtomovefromoffthetrap-door，whenthecookwoulddescendintothecellar，andsolearnwhetherthegroundissolidorhollowbeneathyouwithoutstamping。Ahousewhoseinsideisasopenandmanifestasabird’snest，andyoucannotgoinatthefrontdoorandoutatthebackwithoutseeingsomeofitsinhabitants；wheretobeaguestistobepresentedwiththefreedomofthehouse，andnottobecarefullyexcludedfromseveneighthsofit，shutupinaparticularcell，andtoldtomakeyourselfathomethere——insolitaryconfinement。Nowadaysthehostdoesnotadmityoutohishearth，buthasgotthemasontobuildoneforyourselfsomewhereinhisalley，andhospitalityistheartofkeepingyouatthegreatestdistance。Thereisasmuchsecrecyaboutthecookingasifhehadadesigntopoisonyou。IamawarethatIhavebeenonmanyaman’spremises，andmighthavebeenlegallyorderedoff，butIamnotawarethatIhavebeeninmanymen’shouses。ImightvisitinmyoldclothesakingandqueenwholivedsimplyinsuchahouseasI
　　havedescribed，ifIweregoingtheirway；butbackingoutofamodernpalacewillbeallthatIshalldesiretolearn，ifeverIamcaughtinone。
　　Itwouldseemasiftheverylanguageofourparlorswouldloseallitsnerveanddegenerateintopalaverwholly，ourlivespassatsuchremotenessfromitssymbols，anditsmetaphorsandtropesarenecessarilysofarfetched，throughslidesanddumb-waiters，asitwere；inotherwords，theparlorissofarfromthekitchenandworkshop。Thedinnerevenisonlytheparableofadinner，commonly。AsifonlythesavagedweltnearenoughtoNatureandTruthtoborrowatropefromthem。Howcanthescholar，whodwellsawayintheNorthWestTerritoryortheIsleofMan，tellwhatisparliamentaryinthekitchen？
　　However，onlyoneortwoofmyguestswereeverboldenoughtostayandeatahasty-puddingwithme；butwhentheysawthatcrisisapproachingtheybeatahastyretreatrather，asifitwouldshakethehousetoitsfoundations。Nevertheless，itstoodthroughagreatmanyhasty-puddings。