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their guests； so they drew their belts tighter and said nothing
about it。 Another time when Winslow visited them； it being a season
of plenty with them； there was no deficiency in this respect。
As for men； they will hardly fail one anywhere。 I had more
visitors while I lived in the woods than at any other period in my
life； I mean that I had some。 I met several there under more
favorable circumstances than I could anywhere else。 But fewer came
to see me on trivial business。 In this respect； my company was
winnowed by my mere distance from town。 I had withdrawn so far
within the great ocean of solitude； into which the rivers of society
empty； that for the most part； so far as my needs were concerned；
only the finest sediment was deposited around me。 Beside； there
were wafted to me evidences of unexplored and uncultivated
continents on the other side。
Who should come to my lodge this morning but a true Homeric or
Paphlagonian man he had so suitable and poetic a name that I am
sorry I cannot print it here a Canadian； a woodchopper and
post…maker； who can hole fifty posts in a day； who made his last
supper on a woodchuck which his dog caught。 He； too； has heard of
Homer； and； 〃if it were not for books；〃 would 〃not know what to do
rainy days；〃 though perhaps he has not read one wholly through for
many rainy seasons。 Some priest who could pronounce the Greek
itself taught him to read his verse in the Testament in his native
parish far away； and now I must translate to him； while he holds the
book； Achilles' reproof to Patroclus for his sad countenance。
〃Why are you in tears； Patroclus； like a young girl？〃
〃Or have you alone heard some news from Phthia？
They say that Menoetius lives yet； son of Actor；
And Peleus lives； son of AEacus； among the Myrmidons；
Either of whom having died； we should greatly grieve。〃
He says； 〃That's good。〃 He has a great bundle of white oak bark
under his arm for a sick man； gathered this Sunday morning。 〃I
suppose there's no harm in going after such a thing to…day；〃 says
he。 To him Homer was a great writer； though what his writing was
about he did not know。 A more simple and natural man it would be
hard to find。 Vice and disease； which cast such a sombre moral hue
over the world； seemed to have hardly any existance for him。 He was
about twenty…eight years old； and had left Canada and his father's
house a dozen years before to work in the States； and earn money to
buy a farm with at last； perhaps in his native country。 He was cast
in the coarsest mould； a stout but sluggish body； yet gracefully
carried； with a thick sunburnt neck； dark bushy hair； and dull
sleepy blue eyes； which were occasionally lit up with expression。
He wore a flat gray cloth cap； a dingy wool…colored greatcoat； and
cowhide boots。 He was a great consumer of meat； usually carrying
his dinner to his work a couple of miles past my house for he
chopped all summer in a tin pail； cold meats； often cold
woodchucks； and coffee in a stone bottle which dangled by a string
from his belt； and sometimes he offered me a drink。 He came along
early； crossing my bean…field； though without anxiety or haste to
get to his work； such as Yankees exhibit。 He wasn't a…going to hurt
himself。 He didn't care if he only earned his board。 Frequently he
would leave his dinner in the bushes； when his dog had caught a
woodchuck by the way； and go back a mile and a half to dress it and
leave it in the cellar of the house where he boarded； after
deliberating first for half an hour whether he could not sink it in
the pond safely till nightfall loving to dwell long upon these
themes。 He would say； as he went by in the morning； 〃How thick the
pigeons are！ If working every day were not my trade； I could get
all the meat I should want by hunting…pigeons； woodchucks； rabbits；
partridges by gosh！ I could get all I should want for a week in
one day。〃
He was a skilful chopper； and indulged in some flourishes and
ornaments in his art。 He cut his trees level and close to the
ground； that the sprouts which came up afterward might be more
vigorous and a sled might slide over the stumps； and instead of
leaving a whole tree to support his corded wood； he would pare it
away to a slender stake or splinter which you could break off with
your hand at last。
He interested me because he was so quiet and solitary and so
happy withal； a well of good humor and contentment which overflowed
at his eyes。 His mirth was without alloy。 Sometimes I saw him at
his work in the woods； felling trees； and he would greet me with a
laugh of inexpressible satisfaction； and a salutation in Canadian
French； though he spoke English as well。 When I approached him he
would suspend his work； and with half…suppressed mirth lie along the
trunk of a pine which he had felled； and； peeling off the inner
bark； roll it up into a ball and chew it while he laughed and
talked。 Such an exuberance of animal spirits had he that he
sometimes tumbled down and rolled on the ground with laughter at
anything which made him think and tickled him。 Looking round upon
the trees he would exclaim 〃By George！ I can enjoy myself well
enough here chopping； I want no better sport。〃 Sometimes； when at
leisure； he amused himself all day in the woods with a pocket
pistol； firing salutes to himself at regular intervals as he walked。
In the winter he had a fire by which at noon he warmed his coffee in
a kettle； and as he sat on a log to eat his dinner the chickadees
would sometimes come round and alight on his arm and peck at the
potato in his fingers； and he said that he 〃liked to have the little
fellers about him。〃
In him the animal man chiefly was developed。 In physical
endurance and contentment he was cousin to the pine and the rock。 I
asked him once if he was not sometimes tired at night； after working
all day； and he answered； with a sincere and serious look；
〃Gorrappit； I never was tired in my life。〃 But the intellectual and
what is called spiritual man in him were slumbering as in an infant。
He had been instructed only in that innocent and ineffectual way in
which the Catholic priests teach the aborigines； by which the pupil
is never educated to the degree of consciousness； but only to the
degree of trust and reverence； and a child is not made a man； but
kept a child。 When Nature made him； she gave him a strong body and
contentment for his portion； and propped him on every side with
reverence and reliance； that he might live out his threescore years
and ten a child。 He was so genuine and unsophisticated that no
introduction would serve to introduce him； more than if you
introduced a woodchuck to your neighbor。 He had got to find him out
as you did。 He would not play any part。 Men paid him wages for
work； and so helped to feed and clothe him； but he never exchanged
opinions with them。 He was so simply and naturally humble