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-nut(Apiostuberosa)onitsstring，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，themasterofafamily(patremfamilias)musthaveinhisrusticvilla“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。
