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work； and so helped to feed and clothe him； but he never exchanged
opinions with them。 He was so simply and naturally humble if he
can be called humble who never aspires that humility was no
distinct quality in him； nor could he conceive of it。 Wiser men
were demigods to him。 If you told him that such a one was coming；
he did as if he thought that anything so grand would expect nothing
of himself； but take all the responsibility on itself； and let him
be forgotten still。 He never heard the sound of praise。 He
particularly reverenced the writer and the preacher。 Their
performances were miracles。 When I told him that I wrote
considerably； he thought for a long time that it was merely the
handwriting which I meant； for he could write a remarkably good hand
himself。 I sometimes found the name of his native parish handsomely
written in the snow by the highway； with the proper French accent；
and knew that he had passed。 I asked him if he ever wished to write
his thoughts。 He said that he had read and written letters for
those who could not； but he never tried to write thoughts no； he
could not； he could not tell what to put first； it would kill him；
and then there was spelling to be attended to at the same time！
I heard that a distinguished wise man and reformer asked him if
he did not want the world to be changed； but he answered with a
chuckle of surprise in his Canadian accent； not knowing that the
question had ever been entertained before； 〃No； I like it well
enough。〃 It would have suggested many things to a philosopher to
have dealings with him。 To a stranger he appeared to know nothing
of things in general； yet I sometimes saw in him a man whom I had
not seen before； and I did not know whether he was as wise as
Shakespeare or as simply ignorant as a child； whether to suspect him
of a fine poetic consciousness or of stupidity。 A townsman told me
that when he met him sauntering through the village in his small
close…fitting cap； and whistling to himself； he reminded him of a
prince in disguise。
His only books were an almanac and an arithmetic； in which last
he was considerably expert。 The former was a sort of cyclopaedia to
him； which he supposed to contain an abstract of human knowledge； as
indeed it does to a considerable extent。 I loved to sound him on
the various reforms of the day； and he never failed to look at them
in the most simple and practical light。 He had never heard of such
things before。 Could he do without factories？ I asked。 He had
worn the home…made Vermont gray； he said； and that was good。 Could
he dispense with tea and coffee？ Did this country afford any
beverage beside water？ He had soaked hemlock leaves in water and
drank it； and thought that was better than water in warm weather。
When I asked him if he could do without money； he showed the
convenience of money in such a way as to suggest and coincide with
the most philosophical accounts of the origin of this institution；
and the very derivation of the word pecunia。 If an ox were his
property； and he wished to get needles and thread at the store； he
thought it would be inconvenient and impossible soon to go on
mortgaging some portion of the creature each time to that amount。
He could defend many institutions better than any philosopher；
because； in describing them as they concerned him； he gave the true
reason for their prevalence； and speculation had not suggested to
him any other。 At another time； hearing Plato's definition of a man
a biped without feathers and that one exhibited a cock plucked
and called it Plato's man； he thought it an important difference
that the knees bent the wrong way。 He would sometimes exclaim； 〃How
I love to talk！ By George； I could talk all day！〃 I asked him
once； when I had not seen him for many months； if he had got a new
idea this summer。 〃Good Lord〃 said he； 〃a man that has to work
as I do； if he does not forget the ideas he has had； he will do
well。 May be the man you hoe with is inclined to race； then； by
gorry； your mind must be there； you think of weeds。〃 He would
sometimes ask me first on such occasions； if I had made any
improvement。 One winter day I asked him if he was always satisfied
with himself； wishing to suggest a substitute within him for the
priest without； and some higher motive for living。 〃Satisfied！〃
said he； 〃some men are satisfied with one thing； and some with
another。 One man； perhaps； if he has got enough； will be satisfied
to sit all day with his back to the fire and his belly to the table；
by George！〃 Yet I never； by any manoeuvring； could get him to take
the spiritual view of things； the highest that he appeared to
conceive of was a simple expediency； such as you might expect an
animal to appreciate； and this； practically； is true of most men。
If I suggested any improvement in his mode of life； he merely
answered； without expressing any regret； that it was too late。 Yet
he thoroughly believed in honesty and the like virtues。
There was a certain positive originality； however slight； to be
detected in him； and I occasionally observed that he was thinking
for himself and expressing his own opinion； a phenomenon so rare
that I would any day walk ten miles to observe it； and it amounted
to the re…origination of many of the institutions of society。
Though he hesitated； and perhaps failed to express himself
distinctly； he always had a presentable thought behind。 Yet his
thinking was so primitive and immersed in his animal life； that；
though more promising than a merely learned man's； it rarely ripened
to anything which can be reported。 He suggested that there might be
men of genius in the lowest grades of life； however permanently
humble and illiterate； who take their own view always； or do not
pretend to see at all； who are as bottomless even as Walden Pond was
thought to be； though they may be dark and muddy。
Many a traveller came out of his way to see me and the inside of
my house； and； as an excuse for calling； asked for a glass of water。
I told them that I drank at the pond； and pointed thither； offering
to lend them a dipper。 Far off as I lived； I was not exempted from
the annual visitation which occurs； methinks； about the first of
April； when everybody is on the move； and I had my share of good
luck； though there were some curious specimens among my visitors。
Half…witted men from the almshouse and elsewhere came to see me； but
I endeavored to make them exercise all the wit they had； and make
their confessions to me； in such cases making wit the theme of our
conversation； and so was compensated。 Indeed； I found some of them
to be wiser than the so…called overseers of the poor and selectmen
of the town； and thought it was time that the tables were turned。
With respect to wit； I learned that there was not much difference
between the half and the whole。 One day； in particular； an
inoffensive； simple…minded pauper； whom with others