went，andwaspaidforitintheend，“therebeingintruth，“asEvelynsays，“nocompostorlaetationwhatsoevercomparabletothiscontinualmotion，repastination，andturningofthemouldwiththespade。““Theearth，“headdselsewhere，“especiallyiffresh，hasacertainmagnetisminit，bywhichitattractsthesalt，power，orvirtue(calliteither)whichgivesitlife，andisthelogicofallthelaborandstirwekeepaboutit，tosustainus；alldungingsandothersordidtemperingsbeingbutthevicarssuccedaneoustothisimprovement。“Moreover，thisbeingoneofthose“worn-outandexhaustedlayfieldswhichenjoytheirsabbath，“hadperchance，asSirKenelmDigbythinkslikely，attracted“vitalspirits“fromtheair。Iharvestedtwelvebushelsofbeans。
Buttobemoreparticular，foritiscomplainedthatMr。Colemanhasreportedchieflytheexpensiveexperimentsofgentlemenfarmers，myoutgoeswere，——
Forahoe
Plowing，harrowing，andfurrowingToomuch。
Beansforseed
Potatoesforseed
Peasforseed
Turnipseed
Whitelineforcrowfence
Horsecultivatorandboythreehours
Horseandcarttogetcrop
Myincomewas(patremfamiliasvendacem，nonemacemesseoportet)，fromNinebushelsandtwelvequartsofbeanssold……$16。94
Five“largepotatoes
Leavingapecuniaryprofit，asIhaveelsewheresaid，of
Thisistheresultofmyexperienceinraisingbeans:PlantthecommonsmallwhitebushbeanaboutthefirstofJune，inrowsthreefeetbyeighteeninchesapart，beingcarefultoselectfreshroundandunmixedseed。Firstlookoutforworms，andsupplyvacanciesbyplantinganew。Thenlookoutforwoodchucks，ifitisanexposedplace，fortheywillnibbleofftheearliesttenderleavesalmostcleanastheygo；andagain，whentheyoungtendrilsmaketheirappearance，theyhavenoticeofit，andwillshearthemoffwithbothbudsandyoungpods，sittingerectlikeasquirrel。Butaboveallharvestasearlyaspossible，ifyouwouldescapefrostsandhaveafairandsalablecrop；youmaysavemuchlossbythismeans。
ThisfurtherexperiencealsoIgained:Isaidtomyself，Iwillnotplantbeansandcornwithsomuchindustryanothersummer，butsuchseeds，iftheseedisnotlost，assincerity，truth，simplicity，faith，innocence，andthelike，andseeiftheywillnotgrowinthissoil，evenwithlesstoilandmanurance，andsustainme，forsurelyithasnotbeenexhaustedforthesecrops。Alas！I
saidthistomyself；butnowanothersummerisgone，andanother，andanother，andIamobligedtosaytoyou，Reader，thattheseedswhichIplanted，ifindeedtheyweretheseedsofthosevirtues，werewormeatenorhadlosttheirvitality，andsodidnotcomeup。
Commonlymenwillonlybebraveastheirfatherswerebrave，ortimid。ThisgenerationisverysuretoplantcornandbeanseachnewyearpreciselyastheIndiansdidcenturiesagoandtaughtthefirstsettlerstodo，asiftherewereafateinit。Isawanoldmantheotherday，tomyastonishment，makingtheholeswithahoefortheseventiethtimeatleast，andnotforhimselftoliedownin！ButwhyshouldnottheNewEnglandertrynewadventures，andnotlaysomuchstressonhisgrain，hispotatoandgrasscrop，andhisorchards——raiseothercropsthanthese？Whyconcernourselvessomuchaboutourbeansforseed，andnotbeconcernedatallaboutanewgenerationofmen？WeshouldreallybefedandcheeredifwhenwemetamanweweresuretoseethatsomeofthequalitieswhichIhavenamed，whichweallprizemorethanthoseotherproductions，butwhichareforthemostpartbroadcastandfloatingintheair，hadtakenrootandgrowninhim。Herecomessuchasubtileandineffablequality，forinstance，astruthorjustice，thoughtheslightestamountornewvarietyofit，alongtheroad。
Ourambassadorsshouldbeinstructedtosendhomesuchseedsasthese，andCongresshelptodistributethemoveralltheland。Weshouldneverstanduponceremonywithsincerity。Weshouldnevercheatandinsultandbanishoneanotherbyourmeanness，iftherewerepresentthekernelofworthandfriendliness。Weshouldnotmeetthusinhaste。MostmenIdonotmeetatall，fortheyseemnottohavetime；theyarebusyabouttheirbeans。Wewouldnotdealwithamanthusploddingever，leaningonahoeoraspadeasastaffbetweenhiswork，notasamushroom，butpartiallyrisenoutoftheearth，somethingmorethanerect，likeswallowsalightedandwalkingontheground:——
“Andashespake，hiswingswouldnowandthenSpread，ashemeanttofly，thencloseagain——“
sothatweshouldsuspectthatwemightbeconversingwithanangel。
Breadmaynotalwaysnourishus；butitalwaysdoesusgood，iteventakesstiffnessoutofourjoints，andmakesussuppleandbuoyant，whenweknewnotwhatailedus，torecognizeanygenerosityinmanorNature，toshareanyunmixedandheroicjoy。
Ancientpoetryandmythologysuggest，atleast，thathusbandrywasonceasacredart；butitispursuedwithirreverenthasteandheedlessnessbyus，ourobjectbeingtohavelargefarmsandlargecropsmerely。Wehavenofestival，norprocession，norceremony，notexceptingourcattle-showsandso-calledThanksgivings，bywhichthefarmerexpressesasenseofthesacrednessofhiscalling，orisremindedofitssacredorigin。Itisthepremiumandthefeastwhichtempthim。HesacrificesnottoCeresandtheTerrestrialJove，buttotheinfernalPlutusrather。Byavariceandselfishness，andagrovellinghabit，fromwhichnoneofusisfree，ofregardingthesoilasproperty，orthemeansofacquiringpropertychiefly，thelandscapeisdeformed，husbandryisdegradedwithus，andthefarmerleadsthemeanestoflives。HeknowsNaturebutasarobber。Catosaysthattheprofitsofagricultureareparticularlypiousorjust(maximequepiusquaestus)，andaccordingtoVarrotheoldRomans“calledthesameearthMotherandCeres，andthoughtthattheywhocultivateditledapiousandusefullife，andthattheyalonewereleftoftheraceofKingSaturn。“
Wearewonttoforgetthatthesunlooksonourcultivatedfieldsandontheprairiesandforestswithoutdistinction。Theyallreflectandabsorbhisraysalike，andtheformermakebutasmallpartofthegloriouspicturewhichhebeholdsinhisdailycourse。Inhisviewtheearthisallequallycultivatedlikeagarden。Thereforeweshouldreceivethebenefitofhislightandheatwithacorrespondingtrustandmagnanimity。WhatthoughI
valuetheseedofthesebeans，andharvestthatinthefalloftheyear？ThisbroadfieldwhichIhavelookedatsolonglooksnottomeastheprincipalcultivator，butawayfrommetoinfluencesmoregenialtoit，whichwaterandmakeitgreen。Thesebeanshaveresultswhicharenotharvestedbyme。Dotheynotgrowforwoodchuckspartly？Theearofwheat(inLatinspica，obsoletelyspeca，fromspe，hope)shouldnotbetheonlyhopeofthehusbandman；itskernelorgrain(granumfromgerendo，bearing)isnotallthatitbears。How，then，canourharvestfail？ShallI
notrejoicealsoattheabundanceoftheweedswhoseseedsarethegranaryofthebirds？Itmatterslittlecomparativelywhetherthefieldsfillthefarmer’sbarns。Thetruehusbandmanwillceasefromanxiety，asthesquirrelsmanifestnoconcernwhetherthewoodswillbearchestnutsthisyearornot，andfinishhislaborwitheveryday，relinquishingallclaimtotheproduceofhisfields，andsacrificinginhismindnotonlyhisfirstbuthislastfruitsalso——
TheVillageAfterhoeing，orperhapsreadingandwriting，intheforenoon，I
usuallybathedagaininthepond，swimmingacrossoneofitscovesforastint，andwashedthedustoflaborfrommyperson，orsmoothedoutthelastwrinklewhichstudyhadmade，andfortheafternoonwasabsolutelyfree。EverydayortwoIstrolledtothevillagetohearsomeofthegossipwhichisincessantlygoingonthere，circulatingeitherfrommouthtomouth，orfromnewspapertonewspaper，andwhich，takeninhomoeopathicdoses，wasreallyasrefreshinginitswayastherustleofleavesandthepeepingoffrogs。AsIwalkedinthewoodstoseethebirdsandsquirrels，soIwalkedinthevillagetoseethemenandboys；insteadofthewindamongthepinesIheardthecartsrattle。Inonedirectionfrommyhousetherewasacolonyofmuskratsintherivermeadows；underthegroveofelmsandbuttonwoodsintheotherhorizonwasavillageofbusymen，ascurioustomeasiftheyhadbeenprairie-dogs，eachsittingatthemouthofitsburrow，orrunningovertoaneighbor’stogossip。Iwenttherefrequentlytoobservetheirhabits。Thevillageappearedtomeagreatnewsroom；andononeside，tosupportit，asonceatRedding&Company’sonStateStreet，theykeptnutsandraisins，orsaltandmealandothergroceries。Somehavesuchavastappetitefortheformercommodity，thatis，thenews，andsuchsounddigestiveorgans，thattheycansitforeverinpublicavenueswithoutstirring，andletitsimmerandwhisperthroughthemliketheEtesianwinds，orasifinhalingether，itonlyproducingnumbnessandinsensibilitytopain——otherwiseitwouldoftenbepainfultobear——withoutaffectingtheconsciousness。Ihardlyeverfailed，whenIrambledthroughthevillage，toseearowofsuchworthies，eithersittingonaladdersunningthemselves，withtheirbodiesinclinedforwardandtheireyesglancingalongthelinethiswayandthat，fromtimetotime，withavoluptuousexpression，orelseleaningagainstabarnwiththeirhandsintheirpockets，likecaryatides，asiftopropitup。
They，beingcommonlyoutofdoors，heardwhateverwasinthewind。
Thesearethecoarsestmills，inwhichallgossipisfirstrudelydigestedorcrackedupbeforeitisemptiedintofinerandmoredelicatehopperswithindoors。Iobservedthatthevitalsofthevillagewerethegrocery，thebar-room，thepost-office，andthebank；and，asanecessarypartofthemachinery，theykeptabell，abiggun，andafire-engine，atconvenientplaces；andthehousesweresoarrangedastomakethemostofmankind，inlanesandfrontingoneanother，sothateverytravellerhadtorunthegauntlet，andeveryman，woman，andchildmightgetalickathim。
Ofcourse，thosewhowerestationednearesttotheheadoftheline，wheretheycouldmostseeandbeseen，andhavethefirstblowathim，paidthehighestpricesfortheirplaces；andthefewstragglinginhabitantsintheoutskirts，wherelonggapsinthelinebegantooccur，andthetravellercouldgetoverwallsorturnasideintocow-paths，andsoescape，paidaveryslightgroundorwindowtax。Signswerehungoutonallsidestoallurehim；sometocatchhimbytheappetite，asthetavernandvictuallingcellar；somebythefancy，asthedrygoodsstoreandthejeweller’s；andothersbythehairorthefeetortheskirts，asthebarber，theshoemaker，orthetailor。Besides，therewasastillmoreterriblestandinginvitationtocallateveryoneofthesehouses，andcompanyexpectedaboutthesetimes。ForthemostpartIescapedwonderfullyfromthesedangers，eitherbyproceedingatonceboldlyandwithoutdeliberationtothegoal，asisrecommendedtothosewhorunthegauntlet，orbykeepingmythoughtsonhighthings，likeOrpheus，who，“loudlysingingthepraisesofthegodstohislyre，drownedthevoicesoftheSirens，andkeptoutofdanger。“SometimesI
boltedsuddenly，andnobodycouldtellmywhereabouts，forIdidnotstandmuchaboutgracefulness，andneverhesitatedatagapinafence。Iwasevenaccustomedtomakeanirruptionintosomehouses，whereIwaswellentertained，andafterlearningthekernelsandverylastsievefulofnews——whathadsubsided，theprospectsofwarandpeace，andwhethertheworldwaslikelytoholdtogethermuchlonger——Iwasletoutthroughtherearavenues，andsoescapedtothewoodsagain。
Itwasverypleasant，whenIstayedlateintown，tolaunchmyselfintothenight，especiallyifitwasdarkandtempestuous，andsetsailfromsomebrightvillageparlororlectureroom，withabagofryeorIndianmealuponmyshoulder，formysnugharborinthewoods，havingmadealltightwithoutandwithdrawnunderhatcheswithamerrycrewofthoughts，leavingonlymyoutermanatthehelm，oreventyingupthehelmwhenitwasplainsailing。Ihadmanyagenialthoughtbythecabinfire“asIsailed。“Iwasnevercastawaynordistressedinanyweather，thoughIencounteredsomeseverestorms。Itisdarkerinthewoods，evenincommonnights，thanmostsuppose。Ifrequentlyhadtolookupattheopeningbetweenthetreesabovethepathinordertolearnmyroute，and，wheretherewasnocart-path，tofeelwithmyfeetthefainttrackwhichIhadworn，orsteerbytheknownrelationofparticulartreeswhichIfeltwithmyhands，passingbetweentwopinesforinstance，notmorethaneighteeninchesapart，inthemidstofthewoods，invariably，inthedarkestnight。Sometimes，aftercominghomethuslateinadarkandmuggynight，whenmyfeetfeltthepathwhichmyeyescouldnotsee，dreamingandabsent-mindedalltheway，untilI
wasarousedbyhavingtoraisemyhandtoliftthelatch，Ihavenotbeenabletorecallasinglestepofmywalk，andIhavethoughtthatperhapsmybodywouldfinditswayhomeifitsmastershouldforsakeit，asthehandfindsitswaytothemouthwithoutassistance。Severaltimes，whenavisitorchancedtostayintoevening，anditprovedadarknight，Iwasobligedtoconducthimtothecart-pathintherearofthehouse，andthenpointouttohimthedirectionhewastopursue，andinkeepingwhichhewastobeguidedratherbyhisfeetthanhiseyes。OneverydarknightI
directedthusontheirwaytwoyoungmenwhohadbeenfishinginthepond。Theylivedaboutamileoffthroughthewoods，andwerequiteusedtotheroute。Adayortwoafteroneofthemtoldmethattheywanderedaboutthegreaterpartofthenight，closebytheirownpremises，anddidnotgethometilltowardmorning，bywhichtime，astherehadbeenseveralheavyshowersinthemeanwhile，andtheleaveswereverywet，theyweredrenchedtotheirskins。Ihaveheardofmanygoingastrayeveninthevillagestreets，whenthedarknesswassothickthatyoucouldcutitwithaknife，asthesayingis。Somewholiveintheoutskirts，havingcometotowna-shoppingintheirwagons，havebeenobligedtoputupforthenight；andgentlemenandladiesmakingacallhavegonehalfamileoutoftheirway，feelingthesidewalkonlywiththeirfeet，andnotknowingwhentheyturned。Itisasurprisingandmemorable，aswellasvaluableexperience，tobelostinthewoodsanytime。Ofteninasnow-storm，evenbyday，onewillcomeoutuponawell-knownroadandyetfinditimpossibletotellwhichwayleadstothevillage。
