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The Village
After hoeing； or perhaps reading and writing； in the forenoon； I
usually bathed again in the pond； swimming across one of its coves
for a stint； and washed the dust of labor from my person； or
smoothed out the last wrinkle which study had made； and for the
afternoon was absolutely free。 Every day or two I strolled to the
village to hear some of the gossip which is incessantly going on
there； circulating either from mouth to mouth； or from newspaper to
newspaper； and which； taken in homoeopathic doses； was really as
refreshing in its way as the rustle of leaves and the peeping of
frogs。 As I walked in the woods to see the birds and squirrels； so
I walked in the village to see the men and boys； instead of the wind
among the pines I heard the carts rattle。 In one direction from my
house there was a colony of muskrats in the river meadows； under the
grove of elms and buttonwoods in the other horizon was a village of
busy men； as curious to me as if they had been prairie…dogs； each
sitting at the mouth of its burrow； or running over to a neighbor's
to gossip。 I went there frequently to observe their habits。 The
village appeared to me a great news room； and on one side； to
support it； as once at Redding & Company's on State Street； they
kept nuts and raisins； or salt and meal and other groceries。 Some
have such a vast appetite for the former commodity； that is； the
news； and such sound digestive organs； that they can sit forever in
public avenues without stirring； and let it simmer and whisper
through them like the Etesian winds； or as if inhaling ether； it
only producing numbness and insensibility to pain otherwise it
would often be painful to bear without affecting the
consciousness。 I hardly ever failed； when I rambled through the
village； to see a row of such worthies； either sitting on a ladder
sunning themselves； with their bodies inclined forward and their
eyes glancing along the line this way and that； from time to time；
with a voluptuous expression； or else leaning against a barn with
their hands in their pockets； like caryatides； as if to prop it up。
They； being commonly out of doors； heard whatever was in the wind。
These are the coarsest mills； in which all gossip is first rudely
digested or cracked up before it is emptied into finer and more
delicate hoppers within doors。 I observed that the vitals of the
village were the grocery； the bar…room； the post…office； and the
bank； and； as a necessary part of the machinery； they kept a bell； a
big gun； and a fire…engine； at convenient places； and the houses
were so arranged as to make the most of mankind； in lanes and
fronting one another； so that every traveller had to run the
gauntlet； and every man； woman； and child might get a lick at him。
Of course； those who were stationed nearest to the head of the line；
where they could most see and be seen； and have the first blow at
him； paid the highest prices for their places； and the few
straggling inhabitants in the outskirts； where long gaps in the line
began to occur； and the traveller could get over walls or turn aside
into cow…paths； and so escape； paid a very slight ground or window
tax。 Signs were hung out on all sides to allure him； some to catch
him by the appetite； as the tavern and victualling cellar； some by
the fancy； as the dry goods store and the jeweller's； and others by
the hair or the feet or the skirts； as the barber； the shoemaker；
or the tailor。 Besides； there was a still more terrible standing
invitation to call at every one of these houses； and company
expected about these times。 For the most part I escaped wonderfully
from these dangers； either by proceeding at once boldly and without
deliberation to the goal； as is recommended to those who run the
gauntlet； or by keeping my thoughts on high things； like Orpheus；
who； 〃loudly singing the praises of the gods to his lyre； drowned
the voices of the Sirens； and kept out of danger。〃 Sometimes I
bolted suddenly； and nobody could tell my whereabouts； for I did not
stand much about gracefulness； and never hesitated at a gap in a
fence。 I was even accustomed to make an irruption into some houses；
where I was well entertained； and after learning the kernels and
very last sieveful of news what had subsided； the prospects of
war and peace； and whether the world was likely to hold together
much longer I was let out through the rear avenues； and so
escaped to the woods again。
It was very pleasant； when I stayed late in town； to launch
myself into the night； especially if it was dark and tempestuous；
and set sail from some bright village parlor or lecture room； with a
bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulder； for my snug harbor in
the woods； having made all tight without and withdrawn under hatches
with a merry crew of thoughts； leaving only my outer man at the
helm； or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing。 I had
many a genial thought by the cabin fire 〃as I sailed。〃 I was never
cast away nor distressed in any weather； though I encountered some
severe storms。 It is darker in the woods； even in common nights；
than most suppose。 I frequently had to look up at the opening
between the trees above the path in order to learn my route； and；
where there was no cart…path； to feel with my feet the faint track
which I had worn； or steer by the known relation of particular trees
which I felt with my hands； passing between two pines for instance；
not more than eighteen inches apart； in the midst of the woods；
invariably； in the darkest night。 Sometimes； after coming home thus
late in a dark and muggy night； when my feet felt the path which my
eyes could not see； dreaming and absent…minded all the way； until I
was aroused by having to raise my hand to lift the latch； I have not
been able to recall a single step of my walk； and I have thought
that perhaps my body would find its way home if its master should
forsake it； as the hand finds its way to the mouth without
assistance。 Several times； when a visitor chanced to stay into
evening； and it proved a dark night； I was obliged to conduct him to
the cart…path in the rear of the house； and then point out to him
the direction he was to pursue； and in keeping which he was to be
guided rather by his feet than his eyes。 One very dark night I
directed thus on their way two young men who had been fishing in the
pond。 They lived about a mile off through the woods； and were quite
used to the route。 A day or two after one of them told me that they
wandered about the greater part of the night； close by their own
premises； and did not get home till toward morning； by which time；
as there had been several heavy showers in the meanwhile； and the
leaves were very wet； they were drenched to their skins。 I have
heard of many going astray even in the village streets； when the
darkness was so thick that you could cut it with a knife； as the
saying is。 Some who live in the outskirts； having come to town
a…shopping in their wagons； have been obliged to put up for the
night； and gentlemen and ladies making a call have gone half a mile
out of their way； feeling the sidewalk only with their feet； and not
knowing when they turned。 It is a surprising and memorable； as well
as valuable experience； to be lost in the woods any time。 Often in
a snow…storm； even by day； one will come out upon a well…known road
and yet find it impossible to tell which way leads to the village。
Though he knows that he has travelled it a thousand times； he cannot
recognize a feature in it； but it is as strange to him as if it were
a road in Siberia。 By night； of course； the perplexity is
infinitely greater。 In our most trivial walks； we are constantly；
though unconsciously； steering like pilots by certain well…known
beacons and headlands； and if we go beyond our usual course we still
carry in our minds the bearing of some neighboring cape； and not
till we are completely lost； or turned round for a man needs only
to be turned round once with his eyes shut in this world to be lost
do we appreciate the vastness and strangeness of nature。 Every
man has to learn the points of compass again as often as be awakes；
whether from sleep or any abstraction。 Not till we are lost； in
other words not till we have lost the world； do we begin to find
ourselves； and realize where we are and the infinite extent of our
relations。
One afternoon； near the end of the first summer； when I went to
the village to get a shoe from the cobbler's； I was seized and put
into jail； because； as I have elsewhere related； I did not pay a tax
to； or recognize the authority of； the State which buys and sells
men； women； and children； like cattle； at the door of its
senate…house。 I had gone down to the woods for other purposes。
But； wherever a man goes； men will pursue and paw him with their
dirty institutions； and； if they c