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and there； and dropping down a mustard seed； would be thought a
penurious； narrow…minded husbandman。 The dandelions in the
river…meadows； and the forget…me…nots along the mountain roads；
you see at once they are put to no economy in space。 Some
seasons； too； our rye comes up here and there a spear； sole and
single like a church…spire。 It doesn't care to crowd itself where
it knows there is such a deal of room。 The world is wide； the
world is all before us； says the rye。 Weeds； too； it is amazing
how they spread。 No such thing as arresting themsome of our
pastures being a sort of Alsatia for the weeds。 As for the grass；
every spring it is like Kossuth's rising of what he calls the
peoples。 Mountains； too； a regular camp…meeting of them。 For the
same reason； the same all…sufficiency of room； our shadows march
and countermarch； going through their various drills and masterly
evolutions； like the old imperial guard on the Champs de Mars。
As for the hills； especially where the roads cross them the
supervisors of our various towns have given notice to all
concerned； that they can come and dig them down and cart them
off； and never a cent to pay； no more than for the privilege of
picking blackberries。 The stranger who is buried here； what
liberal…hearted landed proprietor among us grudges him six feet
of rocky pasture？
Nevertheless； cheap； after all； as our land is； and much as it is
trodden under foot； I； for one； am proud of it for what it bears；
and chiefly for its three great lionsthe Great Oak； Ogg
Mountain； and my chimney。
Most houses； here； are but one and a half stories high； few
exceed two。 That in which I and my chimney dwell； is in width
nearly twice its height； from sill to eaveswhich accounts for
the magnitude of its main contentbesides showing that in this
house； as in this country at large； there is abundance of space；
and to spare； for both of us。
The frame of the old house is of woodwhich but the more sets
forth the solidity of the chimney； which is of brick。 And as the
great wrought nails； binding the clapboards； are unknown in these
degenerate days； so are the huge bricks in the chimney walls。 The
architect of the chimney must have had the pyramid of Cheops
before him； for； after that famous structure； it seems modeled；
only its rate of decrease towards the summit is considerably
less； and it is truncated。 From the exact middle of the mansion
it soars from the cellar； right up through each successive floor；
till； four feet square； it breaks water from the ridge…pole of
the roof； like an anvil…headed whale； through the crest of a
billow。 Most people； though； liken it； in that part； to a razed
observatory； masoned up。
The reason for its peculiar appearance above the roof touches
upon rather delicate ground。 How shall I reveal that； forasmuch
as many years ago the original gable roof of the old house had
become very leaky； a temporary proprietor hired a band of
woodmen； with their huge； cross…cut saws； and went to sawing the
old gable roof clean off。 Off it went； with all its birds' nests；
and dormer windows。 It was replaced with a modern roof； more fit
for a railway wood…house than an old country gentleman's abode。
This operationrazeeing the structure some fifteen feetwas； in
effect upon the chimney； something like the falling of the great
spring tides。 It left uncommon low water all about the
chimneyto abate which appearance； the same person now proceeds
to slice fifteen feet off the chimney itself； actually beheading
my royal old chinmeya regicidal act； which； were it not for the
palliating fact that he was a poulterer by trade； and； therefore；
hardened to such neck…wringings； should send that former
proprietor down to posterity in the same cart with Cromwell。
Owing to its pyramidal shape； the reduction of the chimney
inordinately widened its razeed summit。 Inordinately； I say； but
only in the estimation of such as have no eye to the picturesque。
What care I； if； unaware that my chimney； as a free citizen of
this free land； stands upon an independent basis of its own；
people passing it； wonder how such a brick…kiln； as they call it；
is supported upon mere joists and rafters？ What care I？ I will
give a traveler a cup of switchel； if he want it； but am I bound
to supply him with a sweet taste？ Men of cultivated minds see； in
my old house and chimney； a goodly old elephant…and…castle。
All feeling hearts will sympathize with me in what I am now about
to add。 The surgical operation； above referred to； necessarily
brought into the open air a part of the chimney previously under
cover； and intended to remain so； and； therefore； not built of
what are called weather…bricks。 In consequence； the chimney；
though of a vigorous constitution； suffered not a little； from so
naked an exposure； and； unable to acclimate itself； ere long
began to failshowing blotchy symptoms akin to those in measles。
Whereupon travelers； passing my way； would wag their heads；
laughing； 〃See that wax nosehow it melts off！〃 But what cared
I？ The same travelers would travel across the sea to view
Kenilworth peeling away； and for a very good reason： that of all
artists of the picturesque； decay wears the palmI would say；
the ivy。 In fact； I've often thought that the proper place for my
old chimney is ivied old England。
In vain my wifewith what probable ulterior intent will； ere
long； appearsolemnly warned me； that unless something were
done； and speedily； we should be burnt to the ground； owing to
the holes crumbling through the aforesaid blotchy parts； where
the chimney joined the roof。 〃Wife；〃 said I； 〃far better that my
house should bum down； than that my chimney should be pulled
down； though but a few feet。 They call it a wax nose； very good；
not for me to tweak the nose of my superior。〃 But at last the man
who has a mortgage on the house dropped me a note； reminding me
that； if my chimney was allowed to stand in that invalid
condition； my policy of insurance would be void。 This was a sort
of hint not to be neglected。 All the world over； the picturesque
yields to the pocketesque。 The mortgagor cared not； but the
mortgagee did。
So another operation was performed。 The wax nose was taken off；
and a new one fitted on。 Unfortunately for the expressionbeing
put up by a squint…eyed mason； who； at the time； had a bad stitch
in the same sidethe new nose stands a little awry； in the same
direction。
Of one thing； however； I am proud。 The horizontal dimensions of
the new part are unreduced。
Large as the chimney appears upon the roof； that is nothing to
its spaciousness below。 At its base in the cellar； it is
precisely twelve feet square； and hence covers precisely one
hundred and forty…four superficial feet。 What an
appropriation of terra firma for a chimney； and what a huge load
for this earth！ In fact； it was only because I and my chimney
formed no part of his anci