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for one another。 Certainly less frequency would suffice for all
important and hearty communications。 Consider the girls in a
factory never alone； hardly in their dreams。 It would be better
if there were but one inhabitant to a square mile； as where I live。
The value of a man is not in his skin； that we should touch him。
I have heard of a man lost in the woods and dying of famine and
exhaustion at the foot of a tree； whose loneliness was relieved by
the grotesque visions with which； owing to bodily weakness； his
diseased imagination surrounded him； and which he believed to be
real。 So also； owing to bodily and mental health and strength； we
may be continually cheered by a like but more normal and natural
society； and come to know that we are never alone。
I have a great deal of company in my house； especially in the
morning； when nobody calls。 Let me suggest a few comparisons； that
some one may convey an idea of my situation。 I am no more lonely
than the loon in the pond that laughs so loud； or than Walden Pond
itself。 What company has that lonely lake； I pray？ And yet it has
not the blue devils； but the blue angels in it； in the azure tint of
its waters。 The sun is alone； except in thick weather； when there
sometimes appear to be two； but one is a mock sun。 God is alone
but the devil； he is far from being alone； he sees a great deal of
company； he is legion。 I am no more lonely than a single mullein or
dandelion in a pasture； or a bean leaf； or sorrel； or a horse…fly；
or a bumblebee。 I am no more lonely than the Mill Brook； or a
weathercock； or the north star； or the south wind； or an April
shower； or a January thaw； or the first spider in a new house。
I have occasional visits in the long winter evenings； when the
snow falls fast and the wind howls in the wood； from an old settler
and original proprietor； who is reported to have dug Walden Pond；
and stoned it； and fringed it with pine woods； who tells me stories
of old time and of new eternity； and between us we manage to pass a
cheerful evening with social mirth and pleasant views of things；
even without apples or cider a most wise and humorous friend；
whom I love much； who keeps himself more secret than ever did Goffe
or Whalley； and though he is thought to be dead； none can show where
he is buried。 An elderly dame； too； dwells in my neighborhood；
invisible to most persons； in whose odorous herb garden I love to
stroll sometimes； gathering simples and listening to her fables； for
she has a genius of unequalled fertility； and her memory runs back
farther than mythology； and she can tell me the original of every
fable； and on what fact every one is founded； for the incidents
occurred when she was young。 A ruddy and lusty old dame； who
delights in all weathers and seasons； and is likely to outlive all
her children yet。
The indescribable innocence and beneficence of Nature of sun
and wind and rain； of summer and winter such health； such cheer；
they afford forever！ and such sympathy have they ever with our race；
that all Nature would be affected； and the sun's brightness fade；
and the winds would sigh humanely； and the clouds rain tears； and
the woods shed their leaves and put on mourning in midsummer； if any
man should ever for a just cause grieve。 Shall I not have
intelligence with the earth？ Am I not partly leaves and vegetable
mould myself？
What is the pill which will keep us well； serene； contented？
Not my or thy great…grandfather's； but our great…grandmother
Nature's universal； vegetable； botanic medicines； by which she has
kept herself young always； outlived so many old Parrs in her day；
and fed her health with their decaying fatness。 For my panacea；
instead of one of those quack vials of a mixture dipped from Acheron
and the Dead Sea； which come out of those long shallow
black…schooner looking wagons which we sometimes see made to carry
bottles； let me have a draught of undiluted morning air。 Morning
air！ If men will not drink of this at the fountainhead of the day；
why； then； we must even bottle up some and sell it in the shops； for
the benefit of those who have lost their subscription ticket to
morning time in this world。 But remember； it will not keep quite
till noonday even in the coolest cellar； but drive out the stopples
long ere that and follow westward the steps of Aurora。 I am no
worshipper of Hygeia； who was the daughter of that old herb…doctor
AEsculapius； and who is represented on monuments holding a serpent
in one hand； and in the other a cup out of which the serpent
sometimes drinks； but rather of Hebe； cup…bearer to Jupiter； who was
the daughter of Juno and wild lettuce； and who had the power of
restoring gods and men to the vigor of youth。 She was probably the
only thoroughly sound…conditioned； healthy； and robust young lady
that ever walked the globe； and wherever she came it was spring。
…