Theshoreiscomposedofabeltofsmoothroundedwhitestoneslikepaving-stones，exceptingoneortwoshortsandbeaches，andissosteepthatinmanyplacesasingleleapwillcarryyouintowateroveryourhead；andwereitnotforitsremarkabletransparency，thatwouldbethelasttobeseenofitsbottomtillitroseontheoppositeside。Somethinkitisbottomless。Itisnowheremuddy，andacasualobserverwouldsaythattherewerenoweedsatallinit；andofnoticeableplants，exceptinthelittlemeadowsrecentlyoverflowed，whichdonotproperlybelongtoit，acloserscrutinydoesnotdetectaflagnorabulrush，norevenalily，yelloworwhite，butonlyafewsmallheart-leavesandpotamogetons，andperhapsawater-targetortwo；allwhichhoweverabathermightnotperceive；andtheseplantsarecleanandbrightliketheelementtheygrowin。Thestonesextendarodortwointothewater，andthenthebottomispuresand，exceptinthedeepestparts，wherethereisusuallyalittlesediment，probablyfromthedecayoftheleaveswhichhavebeenwaftedontoitsomanysuccessivefalls，andabrightgreenweedisbroughtuponanchorseveninmidwinter。
Wehaveoneotherpondjustlikethis，WhitePond，inNineAcreCorner，abouttwoandahalfmileswesterly；but，thoughIamacquaintedwithmostofthepondswithinadozenmilesofthiscentreIdonotknowathirdofthispureandwell-likecharacter。
Successivenationsperchancehavedrankat，admired，andfathomedit，andpassedaway，andstillitswaterisgreenandpellucidasever。Notanintermittingspring！PerhapsonthatspringmorningwhenAdamandEveweredrivenoutofEdenWaldenPondwasalreadyinexistence，andeventhenbreakingupinagentlespringrainaccompaniedwithmistandasoutherlywind，andcoveredwithmyriadsofducksandgeese，whichhadnotheardofthefall，whenstillsuchpurelakessufficedthem。Eventhenithadcommencedtoriseandfall，andhadclarifieditswatersandcoloredthemofthehuetheynowwear，andobtainedapatentofHeaventobetheonlyWaldenPondintheworldanddistillerofcelestialdews。Whoknowsinhowmanyunrememberednations’literaturesthishasbeentheCastalianFountain？orwhatnymphspresidedoveritintheGoldenAge？ItisagemofthefirstwaterwhichConcordwearsinhercoronet。
Yetperchancethefirstwhocametothiswellhaveleftsometraceoftheirfootsteps。Ihavebeensurprisedtodetectencirclingthepond，evenwhereathickwoodhasjustbeencutdownontheshore，anarrowshelf-likepathinthesteephillside，alternatelyrisingandfalling，approachingandrecedingfromthewater’sedge，asoldprobablyastheraceofmanhere，wornbythefeetofaboriginalhunters，andstillfromtimetotimeunwittinglytroddenbythepresentoccupantsoftheland。Thisisparticularlydistincttoonestandingonthemiddleofthepondinwinter，justafteralightsnowhasfallen，appearingasaclearundulatingwhiteline，unobscuredbyweedsandtwigs，andveryobviousaquarterofamileoffinmanyplaceswhereinsummeritishardlydistinguishablecloseathand。Thesnowreprintsit，asitwere，inclearwhitetypealto-relievo。Theornamentedgroundsofvillaswhichwillonedaybebuiltheremaystillpreservesometraceofthis。
Thepondrisesandfalls，butwhetherregularlyornot，andwithinwhatperiod，nobodyknows，though，asusual，manypretendtoknow。Itiscommonlyhigherinthewinterandlowerinthesummer，thoughnotcorrespondingtothegeneralwetanddryness。Icanrememberwhenitwasafootortwolower，andalsowhenitwasatleastfivefeethigher，thanwhenIlivedbyit。Thereisanarrowsand-barrunningintoit，withverydeepwaterononeside，onwhichIhelpedboilakettleofchowder，somesixrodsfromthemainshore，abouttheyear1824，whichithasnotbeenpossibletodofortwenty-fiveyears；and，ontheotherhand，myfriendsusedtolistenwithincredulitywhenItoldthem，thatafewyearslaterIwasaccustomedtofishfromaboatinasecludedcoveinthewoods，fifteenrodsfromtheonlyshoretheyknew，whichplacewaslongsinceconvertedintoameadow。Butthepondhasrisensteadilyfortwoyears，andnow，inthesummerof’52，isjustfivefeethigherthanwhenIlivedthere，orashighasitwasthirtyyearsago，andfishinggoesonagaininthemeadow。Thismakesadifferenceoflevel，attheoutside，ofsixorsevenfeet；andyetthewatershedbythesurroundinghillsisinsignificantinamount，andthisoverflowmustbereferredtocauseswhichaffectthedeepsprings。
Thissamesummerthepondhasbeguntofallagain。Itisremarkablethatthisfluctuation，whetherperiodicalornot，appearsthustorequiremanyyearsforitsaccomplishment。Ihaveobservedoneriseandapartoftwofalls，andIexpectthatadozenorfifteenyearshencethewaterwillagainbeaslowasIhaveeverknownit。
Flint’sPond，amileeastward，allowingforthedisturbanceoccasionedbyitsinletsandoutlets，andthesmallerintermediatepondsalso，sympathizewithWalden，andrecentlyattainedtheirgreatestheightatthesametimewiththelatter。Thesameistrue，asfarasmyobservationgoes，ofWhitePond。
ThisriseandfallofWaldenatlongintervalsservesthisuseatleast；thewaterstandingatthisgreatheightforayearormore，thoughitmakesitdifficulttowalkroundit，killstheshrubsandtreeswhichhavesprungupaboutitsedgesincethelastrise——pitchpines，birches，alders，aspens，andothers——and，fallingagain，leavesanunobstructedshore；for，unlikemanypondsandallwaterswhicharesubjecttoadailytide，itsshoreiscleanestwhenthewaterislowest。Onthesideofthepondnextmyhousearowofpitchpines，fifteenfeethigh，hasbeenkilledandtippedoverasifbyalever，andthusastopputtotheirencroachments；andtheirsizeindicateshowmanyyearshaveelapsedsincethelastrisetothisheight。Bythisfluctuationthepondassertsitstitletoashore，andthustheshoreisshorn，andthetreescannotholditbyrightofpossession。Thesearethelipsofthelake，onwhichnobeardgrows。Itlicksitschapsfromtimetotime。Whenthewaterisatitsheight，thealders，willows，andmaplessendforthamassoffibrousredrootsseveralfeetlongfromallsidesoftheirstemsinthewater，andtotheheightofthreeorfourfeetfromtheground，intheefforttomaintainthemselves；andIhaveknownthehighblueberrybushesabouttheshore，whichcommonlyproducenofruit，bearanabundantcropunderthesecircumstances。
Somehavebeenpuzzledtotellhowtheshorebecamesoregularlypaved。Mytownsmenhaveallheardthetradition——theoldestpeopletellmethattheyhearditintheiryouth——thatancientlytheIndianswereholdingapow-wowuponahillhere，whichroseashighintotheheavensasthepondnowsinksdeepintotheearth，andtheyusedmuchprofanity，asthestorygoes，thoughthisviceisoneofwhichtheIndianswereneverguilty，andwhiletheywerethusengagedthehillshookandsuddenlysank，andonlyoneoldsquaw，namedWalden，escaped，andfromherthepondwasnamed。Ithasbeenconjecturedthatwhenthehillshookthesestonesrolleddownitssideandbecamethepresentshore。Itisverycertain，atanyrate，thatoncetherewasnopondhere，andnowthereisone；andthisIndianfabledoesnotinanyrespectconflictwiththeaccountofthatancientsettlerwhomIhavementioned，whorememberssowellwhenhefirstcameherewithhisdivining-rod，sawathinvaporrisingfromthesward，andthehazelpointedsteadilydownward，andheconcludedtodigawellhere。Asforthestones，manystillthinkthattheyarehardlytobeaccountedforbytheactionofthewavesonthesehills；butIobservethatthesurroundinghillsareremarkablyfullofthesamekindofstones，sothattheyhavebeenobligedtopilethemupinwallsonbothsidesoftherailroadcutnearestthepond；and，moreover，therearemoststoneswheretheshoreismostabrupt；sothat，unfortunately，itisnolongeramysterytome。Idetectthepaver。IfthenamewasnotderivedfromthatofsomeEnglishlocality——SaffronWalden，forinstance——onemightsupposethatitwascalledoriginallyWalled-inPond。
Thepondwasmywellreadydug。Forfourmonthsintheyearitswaterisascoldasitispureatalltimes；andIthinkthatitisthenasgoodasany，ifnotthebest，inthetown。Inthewinter，allwaterwhichisexposedtotheairiscolderthanspringsandwellswhichareprotectedfromit。ThetemperatureofthepondwaterwhichhadstoodintheroomwhereIsatfromfiveo’clockintheafternoontillnoonthenextday，thesixthofMarch，1846，thethermometerhavingbeenupto65xor70xsomeofthetime，owingpartlytothesunontheroof，was42x，oronedegreecolderthanthewaterofoneofthecoldestwellsinthevillagejustdrawn。
ThetemperatureoftheBoilingSpringthesamedaywas45x，orthewarmestofanywatertried，thoughitisthecoldestthatIknowofinsummer，when，beside，shallowandstagnantsurfacewaterisnotmingledwithit。Moreover，insummer，Waldenneverbecomessowarmasmostwaterwhichisexposedtothesun，onaccountofitsdepth。
InthewarmestweatherIusuallyplacedapailfulinmycellar，whereitbecamecoolinthenight，andremainedsoduringtheday；
thoughIalsoresortedtoaspringintheneighborhood。Itwasasgoodwhenaweekoldasthedayitwasdipped，andhadnotasteofthepump。Whoevercampsforaweekinsummerbytheshoreofapond，needsonlyburyapailofwaterafewfeetdeepintheshadeofhiscamptobeindependentoftheluxuryofice。
TherehavebeencaughtinWaldenpickerel，oneweighingsevenpounds——tosaynothingofanotherwhichcarriedoffareelwithgreatvelocity，whichthefishermansafelysetdownateightpoundsbecausehedidnotseehim——perchandpouts，someofeachweighingovertwopounds，shiners，chivinsorroach(Leuciscuspulchellus)，averyfewbreams，andacoupleofeels，oneweighingfourpounds——I
amthusparticularbecausetheweightofafishiscommonlyitsonlytitletofame，andthesearetheonlyeelsIhaveheardofhere；——
also，Ihaveafaintrecollectionofalittlefishsomefiveincheslong，withsilverysidesandagreenishback，somewhatdace-likeinitscharacter，whichImentionherechieflytolinkmyfactstofable。Nevertheless，thispondisnotveryfertileinfish。Itspickerel，thoughnotabundant，areitschiefboast。Ihaveseenatonetimelyingontheicepickerelofatleastthreedifferentkinds:alongandshallowone，steel-colored，mostlikethosecaughtintheriver；abrightgoldenkind，withgreenishreflectionsandremarkablydeep，whichisthemostcommonhere；andanother，golden-colored，andshapedlikethelast，butpepperedonthesideswithsmalldarkbrownorblackspots，intermixedwithafewfaintblood-redones，verymuchlikeatrout。Thespecificnamereticulatuswouldnotapplytothis；itshouldbeguttatusrather。
Theseareallveryfirmfish，andweighmorethantheirsizepromises。Theshiners，pouts，andperchalso，andindeedallthefisheswhichinhabitthispond，aremuchcleaner，handsomer，andfirmer-fleshedthanthoseintheriverandmostotherponds，asthewaterispurer，andtheycaneasilybedistinguishedfromthem。
Probablymanyichthyologistswouldmakenewvarietiesofsomeofthem。Therearealsoacleanraceoffrogsandtortoises，andafewmusselsinit；muskratsandminksleavetheirtracesaboutit，andoccasionallyatravellingmud-turtlevisitsit。Sometimes，whenI
pushedoffmyboatinthemorning，Idisturbedagreatmud-turtlewhichhadsecretedhimselfundertheboatinthenight。Ducksandgeesefrequentitinthespringandfall，thewhite-belliedswallows(Hirundobicolor)skimoverit，andthepeetweets(Totanusmacularius)“teeter“alongitsstonyshoresallsummer。Ihavesometimesdisturbedafishhawksittingonawhitepineoverthewater；butIdoubtifitiseverprofanedbythewindofagull，likeFairHaven。Atmost，ittoleratesoneannualloon。Thesearealltheanimalsofconsequencewhichfrequentitnow。
Youmayseefromaboat，incalmweather，nearthesandyeasternshore，wherethewateriseightortenfeetdeep，andalsoinsomeotherpartsofthepond，somecircularheapshalfadozenfeetindiameterbyafootinheight，consistingofsmallstoneslessthanahen’segginsize，whereallaroundisbaresand。AtfirstyouwonderiftheIndianscouldhaveformedthemontheiceforanypurpose，andso，whentheicemelted，theysanktothebottom；buttheyaretooregularandsomeofthemplainlytoofreshforthat。Theyaresimilartothosefoundinrivers；butastherearenosuckersnorlampreyshere，Iknownotbywhatfishtheycouldbemade。Perhapstheyarethenestsofthechivin。Theselendapleasingmysterytothebottom。
Theshoreisirregularenoughnottobemonotonous。Ihaveinmymind’seyethewestern，indentedwithdeepbays，theboldernorthern，andthebeautifullyscallopedsouthernshore，wheresuccessivecapesoverlapeachotherandsuggestunexploredcovesbetween。Theforesthasneversogoodasetting，norissodistinctlybeautiful，aswhenseenfromthemiddleofasmalllakeamidhillswhichrisefromthewater’sedge；forthewaterinwhichitisreflectednotonlymakesthebestforegroundinsuchacase，but，withitswindingshore，themostnaturalandagreeableboundarytoit。Thereisnorawnessnorimperfectioninitsedgethere，aswheretheaxehasclearedapart，oracultivatedfieldabutsonit。
Thetreeshaveampleroomtoexpandonthewaterside，andeachsendsforthitsmostvigorousbranchinthatdirection。ThereNaturehaswovenanaturalselvage，andtheeyerisesbyjustgradationsfromthelowshrubsoftheshoretothehighesttrees。
Therearefewtracesofman’shandtobeseen。Thewaterlavestheshoreasitdidathousandyearsago。
