Sometimes，also，whentheicewascoveredwithshallowpuddles，I
　　sawadoubleshadowofmyself，onestandingontheheadoftheother，oneontheice，theotheronthetreesorhillside。
　　WhileyetitiscoldJanuary，andsnowandicearethickandsolid，theprudentlandlordcomesfromthevillagetogeticetocoolhissummerdrink；impressively，evenpathetically，wise，toforeseetheheatandthirstofJulynowinJanuary——wearingathickcoatandmittens！whensomanythingsarenotprovidedfor。
　　Itmaybethathelaysupnotreasuresinthisworldwhichwillcoolhissummerdrinkinthenext。Hecutsandsawsthesolidpond，unroofsthehouseoffishes，andcartsofftheirveryelementandair，heldfastbychainsandstakeslikecordedwood，throughthefavoringwinterair，towintrycellars，tounderliethesummerthere。Itlookslikesolidifiedazure，as，faroff，itisdrawnthroughthestreets。Theseice-cuttersareamerryrace，fullofjestandsport，andwhenIwentamongthemtheywerewonttoinvitemetosawpit-fashionwiththem，Istandingunderneath。
　　Inthewinterof’46-7therecameahundredmenofHyperboreanextractionswoopdownontoourpondonemorning，withmanycarloadsofungainly-lookingfarmingtools——sleds，plows，drill-barrows，turf-knives，spades，saws，rakes，andeachmanwasarmedwithadouble-pointedpike-staff，suchasisnotdescribedintheNew-EnglandFarmerortheCultivator。Ididnotknowwhethertheyhadcometosowacropofwinterrye，orsomeotherkindofgrainrecentlyintroducedfromIceland。AsIsawnomanure，Ijudgedthattheymeanttoskimtheland，asIhaddone，thinkingthesoilwasdeepandhadlainfallowlongenough。Theysaidthatagentlemanfarmer，whowasbehindthescenes，wantedtodoublehismoney，which，asIunderstood，amountedtohalfamillionalready；butinordertocovereachoneofhisdollarswithanother，hetookofftheonlycoat，ay，theskinitself，ofWaldenPondinthemidstofahardwinter。Theywenttoworkatonce，plowing，barrowing，rolling，furrowing，inadmirableorder，asiftheywerebentonmakingthisamodelfarm；butwhenIwaslookingsharptoseewhatkindofseedtheydroppedintothefurrow，agangoffellowsbymysidesuddenlybegantohookupthevirginmoulditself，withapeculiarjerk，cleandowntothesand，orratherthewater——foritwasaveryspringysoil——indeedalltheterrafirmatherewas——
　　andhaulitawayonsleds，andthenIguessedthattheymustbecuttingpeatinabog。Sotheycameandwenteveryday，withapeculiarshriekfromthelocomotive，fromandtosomepointofthepolarregions，asitseemedtome，likeaflockofarcticsnow-birds。ButsometimesSquawWaldenhadherrevenge，andahiredman，walkingbehindhisteam，slippedthroughacrackinthegrounddowntowardTartarus，andhewhowassobravebeforesuddenlybecamebuttheninthpartofaman，almostgaveuphisanimalheat，andwasgladtotakerefugeinmyhouse，andacknowledgedthattherewassomevirtueinastove；orsometimesthefrozensoiltookapieceofsteeloutofaplowshare，oraplowgotsetinthefurrowandhadtobecutout。
　　Tospeakliterally，ahundredIrishmen，withYankeeoverseers，camefromCambridgeeverydaytogetouttheice。Theydivideditintocakesbymethodstoowellknowntorequiredescription，andthese，beingsleddedtotheshore，wererapidlyhauledoffontoaniceplatform，andraisedbygrapplingironsandblockandtackle，workedbyhorses，ontoastack，assurelyassomanybarrelsofflour，andthereplacedevenlysidebyside，androwuponrow，asiftheyformedthesolidbaseofanobeliskdesignedtopiercetheclouds。Theytoldmethatinagooddaytheycouldgetoutathousandtons，whichwastheyieldofaboutoneacre。Deeprutsand“cradle-holes“werewornintheice，asonterrafirma，bythepassageofthesledsoverthesametrack，andthehorsesinvariablyatetheiroatsoutofcakesoficehollowedoutlikebuckets。Theystackedupthecakesthusintheopenairinapilethirty-fivefeethighononesideandsixorsevenrodssquare，puttinghaybetweentheoutsidelayerstoexcludetheair；forwhenthewind，thoughneversocold，findsapassagethrough，itwillwearlargecavities，leavingslightsupportsorstudsonlyhereandthere，andfinallytoppleitdown。AtfirstitlookedlikeavastbluefortorValhalla；butwhentheybegantotuckthecoarsemeadowhayintothecrevices，andthisbecamecoveredwithrimeandicicles，itlookedlikeavenerablemoss-grownandhoaryruin，builtofazure-tintedmarble，theabodeofWinter，thatoldmanweseeinthealmanac——
　　hisshanty，asifhehadadesigntoestivatewithus。Theycalculatedthatnottwenty-fivepercentofthiswouldreachitsdestination，andthattwoorthreepercentwouldbewastedinthecars。However，astillgreaterpartofthisheaphadadifferentdestinyfromwhatwasintended；for，eitherbecausetheicewasfoundnottokeepsowellaswasexpected，containingmoreairthanusual，orforsomeotherreason，itnevergottomarket。Thisheap，madeinthewinterof’46-7andestimatedtocontaintenthousandtons，wasfinallycoveredwithhayandboards；andthoughitwasunroofedthefollowingJuly，andapartofitcarriedoff，therestremainingexposedtothesun，itstoodoverthatsummerandthenextwinter，andwasnotquitemeltedtillSeptember，1848。Thusthepondrecoveredthegreaterpart。
　　Likethewater，theWaldenice，seennearathand，hasagreentint，butatadistanceisbeautifullyblue，andyoucaneasilytellitfromthewhiteiceoftheriver，orthemerelygreenishiceofsomeponds，aquarterofamileoff。Sometimesoneofthosegreatcakesslipsfromtheice-man’ssledintothevillagestreet，andliesthereforaweeklikeagreatemerald，anobjectofinteresttoallpassers。IhavenoticedthataportionofWaldenwhichinthestateofwaterwasgreenwilloften，whenfrozen，appearfromthesamepointofviewblue。Sothehollowsaboutthispondwill，sometimes，inthewinter，befilledwithagreenishwatersomewhatlikeitsown，butthenextdaywillhavefrozenblue。Perhapsthebluecolorofwaterandiceisduetothelightandairtheycontain，andthemosttransparentisthebluest。Iceisaninterestingsubjectforcontemplation。Theytoldmethattheyhadsomeintheice-housesatFreshPondfiveyearsoldwhichwasasgoodasever。Whyisitthatabucketofwatersoonbecomesputrid，butfrozenremainssweetforever？Itiscommonlysaidthatthisisthedifferencebetweentheaffectionsandtheintellect。
　　ThusforsixteendaysIsawfrommywindowahundredmenatworklikebusyhusbandmen，withteamsandhorsesandapparentlyalltheimplementsoffarming，suchapictureasweseeonthefirstpageofthealmanac；andasoftenasIlookedoutIwasremindedofthefableofthelarkandthereapers，ortheparableofthesower，andthelike；andnowtheyareallgone，andinthirtydaysmore，probably，Ishalllookfromthesamewindowonthepuresea-greenWaldenwaterthere，reflectingthecloudsandthetrees，andsendingupitsevaporationsinsolitude，andnotraceswillappearthatamanhaseverstoodthere。PerhapsIshallhearasolitaryloonlaughashedivesandplumeshimself，orshallseealonelyfisherinhisboat，likeafloatingleaf，beholdinghisformreflectedinthewaves，wherelatelyahundredmensecurelylabored。
　　ThusitappearsthattheswelteringinhabitantsofCharlestonandNewOrleans，ofMadrasandBombayandCalcutta，drinkatmywell。InthemorningIbathemyintellectinthestupendousandcosmogonalphilosophyoftheBhagvat-Geeta，sincewhosecompositionyearsofthegodshaveelapsed，andincomparisonwithwhichourmodernworldanditsliteratureseempunyandtrivial；andIdoubtifthatphilosophyisnottobereferredtoapreviousstateofexistence，soremoteisitssublimityfromourconceptions。Ilaydownthebookandgotomywellforwater，andlo！thereImeettheservantoftheBramin，priestofBrahmaandVishnuandIndra，whostillsitsinhistempleontheGangesreadingtheVedas，ordwellsattherootofatreewithhiscrustandwaterjug。Imeethisservantcometodrawwaterforhismaster，andourbucketsasitweregratetogetherinthesamewell。ThepureWaldenwaterismingledwiththesacredwateroftheGanges。WithfavoringwindsitiswaftedpastthesiteofthefabulousislandsofAtlantisandtheHesperides，makestheperiplusofHanno，and，floatingbyTernateandTidoreandthemouthofthePersianGulf，meltsinthetropicgalesoftheIndianseas，andislandedinportsofwhichAlexanderonlyheardthenames。
　　SpringTheopeningoflargetractsbytheice-cutterscommonlycausesapondtobreakupearlier；forthewater，agitatedbythewind，evenincoldweather，wearsawaythesurroundingice。ButsuchwasnottheeffectonWaldenthatyear，forshehadsoongotathicknewgarmenttotaketheplaceoftheold。Thispondneverbreaksupsosoonastheothersinthisneighborhood，onaccountbothofitsgreaterdepthanditshavingnostreampassingthroughittomeltorwearawaytheice。Ineverknewittoopeninthecourseofawinter，notexceptingthatof’52-3，whichgavethepondssosevereatrial。ItcommonlyopensaboutthefirstofApril，aweekortendayslaterthanFlint’sPondandFairHaven，beginningtomeltonthenorthsideandintheshallowerpartswhereitbegantofreeze。
　　Itindicatesbetterthananywaterhereaboutstheabsoluteprogressoftheseason，beingleastaffectedbytransientchangesoftemperature。AseverecoldofafewdaysdurationinMarchmayverymuchretardtheopeningoftheformerponds，whilethetemperatureofWaldenincreasesalmostuninterruptedly。AthermometerthrustintothemiddleofWaldenonthe6thofMarch，1847，stoodat32x，orfreezingpoint；neartheshoreat33x；inthemiddleofFlint’sPond，thesameday，at32x；atadozenrodsfromtheshore，inshallowwater，undericeafootthick，at36x。Thisdifferenceofthreeandahalfdegreesbetweenthetemperatureofthedeepwaterandtheshallowinthelatterpond，andthefactthatagreatproportionofitiscomparativelyshallow，showwhyitshouldbreakupsomuchsoonerthanWalden。Theiceintheshallowestpartwasatthistimeseveralinchesthinnerthaninthemiddle。Inmidwinterthemiddlehadbeenthewarmestandtheicethinnestthere。So，also，everyonewhohaswadedabouttheshoresofthepondinsummermusthaveperceivedhowmuchwarmerthewaterisclosetotheshore，whereonlythreeorfourinchesdeep，thanalittledistanceout，andonthesurfacewhereitisdeep，thannearthebottom。Inspringthesunnotonlyexertsaninfluencethroughtheincreasedtemperatureoftheairandearth，butitsheatpassesthroughiceafootormorethick，andisreflectedfromthebottominshallowwater，andsoalsowarmsthewaterandmeltstheundersideoftheice，atthesametimethatitismeltingitmoredirectlyabove，makingituneven，andcausingtheairbubbleswhichitcontainstoextendthemselvesupwardanddownwarduntilitiscompletelyhoneycombed，andatlastdisappearssuddenlyinasinglespringrain。Icehasitsgrainaswellaswood，andwhenacakebeginstorotor“comb，“thatis，assumetheappearanceofhoneycomb，whatevermaybeitsposition，theaircellsareatrightangleswithwhatwasthewatersurface。Wherethereisarockoralogrisingneartothesurfacetheiceoveritismuchthinner，andisfrequentlyquitedissolvedbythisreflectedheat；andIhavebeentoldthatintheexperimentatCambridgetofreezewaterinashallowwoodenpond，thoughthecoldaircirculatedunderneath，andsohadaccesstobothsides，thereflectionofthesunfromthebottommorethancounterbalancedthisadvantage。Whenawarmraininthemiddleofthewintermeltsoffthesnow-icefromWalden，andleavesaharddarkortransparenticeonthemiddle，therewillbeastripofrottenthoughthickerwhiteice，arodormorewide，abouttheshores，createdbythisreflectedheat。Also，asIhavesaid，thebubblesthemselveswithintheiceoperateasburning-glassestomelttheicebeneath。
　　Thephenomenaoftheyeartakeplaceeverydayinapondonasmallscale。Everymorning，generallyspeaking，theshallowwaterisbeingwarmedmorerapidlythanthedeep，thoughitmaynotbemadesowarmafterall，andeveryeveningitisbeingcooledmorerapidlyuntilthemorning。Thedayisanepitomeoftheyear。Thenightisthewinter，themorningandeveningarethespringandfall，andthenoonisthesummer。Thecrackingandboomingoftheiceindicateachangeoftemperature。Onepleasantmorningafteracoldnight，February24th，1850，havinggonetoFlint’sPondtospendtheday，Inoticedwithsurprise，thatwhenIstrucktheicewiththeheadofmyaxe，itresoundedlikeagongformanyrodsaround，orasifIhadstruckonatightdrum-head。Thepondbegantoboomaboutanhouraftersunrise，whenitfelttheinfluenceofthesun’sraysslanteduponitfromoverthehills；itstretcheditselfandyawnedlikeawakingmanwithagraduallyincreasingtumult，whichwaskeptupthreeorfourhours。Ittookashortsiestaatnoon，andboomedoncemoretowardnight，asthesunwaswithdrawinghisinfluence。Intherightstageoftheweatherapondfiresitseveninggunwithgreatregularity。Butinthemiddleoftheday，beingfullofcracks，andtheairalsobeinglesselastic，ithadcompletelylostitsresonance，andprobablyfishesandmuskratscouldnotthenhavebeenstunnedbyablowonit。Thefishermensaythatthe“thunderingofthepond“scaresthefishesandpreventstheirbiting。Theponddoesnotthundereveryevening，andIcannottellsurelywhentoexpectitsthundering；butthoughI