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rudest periods； but let our houses first be lined with beauty； where
they come in contact with our lives； like the tenement of the
shellfish； and not overlaid with it。 But； alas！ I have been inside
one or two of them； and know what they are lined with。
Though we are not so degenerate but that we might possibly live
in a cave or a wigwam or wear skins today； it certainly is better to
accept the advantages； though so dearly bought； which the invention
and industry of mankind offer。 In such a neighborhood as this；
boards and shingles； lime and bricks； are cheaper and more easily
obtained than suitable caves； or whole logs； or bark in sufficient
quantities； or even well…tempered clay or flat stones。 I speak
understandingly on this subject； for I have made myself acquainted
with it both theoretically and practically。 With a little more wit
we might use these materials so as to become richer than the richest
now are； and make our civilization a blessing。 The civilized man is
a more experienced and wiser savage。 But to make haste to my own
experiment。
Near the end of March； 1845； I borrowed an axe and went down to
the woods by Walden Pond； nearest to where I intended to build my
house； and began to cut down some tall； arrowy white pines； still in
their youth； for timber。 It is difficult to begin without
borrowing； but perhaps it is the most generous course thus to permit
your fellow…men to have an interest in your enterprise。 The owner
of the axe； as he released his hold on it； said that it was the
apple of his eye； but I returned it sharper than I received it。 It
was a pleasant hillside where I worked； covered with pine woods；
through which I looked out on the pond； and a small open field in
the woods where pines and hickories were springing up。 The ice in
the pond was not yet dissolved； though there were some open spaces；
and it was all dark…colored and saturated with water。 There were
some slight flurries of snow during the days that I worked there；
but for the most part when I came out on to the railroad； on my way
home； its yellow sand heap stretched away gleaming in the hazy
atmosphere； and the rails shone in the spring sun； and I heard the
lark and pewee and other birds already come to commence another year
with us。 They were pleasant spring days； in which the winter of
man's discontent was thawing as well as the earth； and the life that
had lain torpid began to stretch itself。 One day； when my axe had
come off and I had cut a green hickory for a wedge； driving it with
a stone； and had placed the whole to soak in a pond…hole in order to
swell the wood； I saw a striped snake run into the water； and he lay
on the bottom； apparently without inconvenience； as long as I stayed
there； or more than a quarter of an hour； perhaps because he had not
yet fairly come out of the torpid state。 It appeared to me that for
a like reason men remain in their present low and primitive
condition； but if they should feel the influence of the spring of
springs arousing them； they would of necessity rise to a higher and
more ethereal life。 I had previously seen the snakes in frosty
mornings in my path with portions of their bodies still numb and
inflexible； waiting for the sun to thaw them。 On the 1st of April
it rained and melted the ice； and in the early part of the day；
which was very foggy； I heard a stray goose groping about over the
pond and cackling as if lost； or like the spirit of the fog。
So I went on for some days cutting and hewing timber； and also
studs and rafters； all with my narrow axe； not having many
communicable or scholar…like thoughts； singing to myself；
Men say they know many things；
But lo！ they have taken wings
The arts and sciences；
And a thousand appliances；
The wind that blows
Is all that any body knows。
I hewed the main timbers six inches square； most of the studs on
two sides only； and the rafters and floor timbers on one side；
leaving the rest of the bark on； so that they were just as straight
and much stronger than sawed ones。 Each stick was carefully
mortised or tenoned by its stump； for I had borrowed other tools by
this time。 My days in the woods were not very long ones； yet I
usually carried my dinner of bread and butter； and read the
newspaper in which it was wrapped； at noon； sitting amid the green
pine boughs which I had cut off； and to my bread was imparted some
of their fragrance； for my hands were covered with a thick coat of
pitch。 Before I had done I was more the friend than the foe of the
pine tree； though I had cut down some of them； having become better
acquainted with it。 Sometimes a rambler in the wood was attracted
by the sound of my axe； and we chatted pleasantly over the chips
which I had made。
By the middle of April； for I made no haste in my work； but
rather made the most of it； my house was framed and ready for the
raising。 I had already bought the shanty of James Collins； an
Irishman who worked on the Fitchburg Railroad； for boards。 James
Collins' shanty was considered an uncommonly fine one。 When I
called to see it he was not at home。 I walked about the outside； at
first unobserved from within； the window was so deep and high。 It
was of small dimensions； with a peaked cottage roof； and not much
else to be seen； the dirt being raised five feet all around as if it
were a compost heap。 The roof was the soundest part； though a good
deal warped and made brittle by the sun。 Doorsill there was none；
but a perennial passage for the hens under the door board。 Mrs。 C。
came to the door and asked me to view it from the inside。 The hens
were driven in by my approach。 It was dark； and had a dirt floor
for the most part； dank； clammy； and aguish； only here a board and
there a board which would not bear removal。 She lighted a lamp to
show me the inside of the roof and the walls； and also that the
board floor extended under the bed； warning me not to step into the
cellar； a sort of dust hole two feet deep。 In her own words； they
were 〃good boards overhead； good boards all around； and a good
window〃 of two whole squares originally； only the cat had passed
out that way lately。 There was a stove； a bed； and a place to sit；
an infant in the house where it was born； a silk parasol；
gilt…framed looking…glass； and a patent new coffee…mill nailed to an
oak sapling； all told。 The bargain was soon concluded； for James
had in the meanwhile returned。 I to pay four dollars and
twenty…five cents tonight； he to vacate at five tomorrow morning；
selling to nobody else meanwhile： I to take possession at six。 It
were well； he said； to be there early； and anticipate certain
indistinct but wholly unjust claims on the score of ground rent and
fuel。 This he assured me was the only encumbrance。 At six I passed
him and his family on the road。 One