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arrival； or waiting at evening on the hill…tops for the sky to fall；
that I might catch something； though I never caught much； and that；
manna…wise； would dissolve again in the sun。
For a long time I was reporter to a journal； of no very wide
circulation； whose editor has never yet seen fit to print the bulk
of my contributions； and； as is too common with writers； I got only
my labor for my pains。 However； in this case my pains were their
own reward。
For many years I was self…appointed inspector of snow…storms and
rain…storms； and did my duty faithfully； surveyor； if not of
highways； then of forest paths and all across…lot routes； keeping
them open； and ravines bridged and passable at all seasons； where
the public heel had testified to their utility。
I have looked after the wild stock of the town； which give a
faithful herdsman a good deal of trouble by leaping fences； and I
have had an eye to the unfrequented nooks and corners of the farm；
though I did not always know whether Jonas or Solomon worked in a
particular field to…day； that was none of my business。 I have
watered the red huckleberry； the sand cherry and the nettle…tree；
the red pine and the black ash； the white grape and the yellow
violet； which might have withered else in dry seasons。
In short； I went on thus for a long time （I may say it without
boasting）； faithfully minding my business； till it became more and
more evident that my townsmen would not after all admit me into the
list of town officers； nor make my place a sinecure with a moderate
allowance。 My accounts； which I can swear to have kept faithfully；
I have； indeed； never got audited； still less accepted； still less
paid and settled。 However； I have not set my heart on that。
Not long since； a strolling Indian went to sell baskets at the
house of a well…known lawyer in my neighborhood。 〃Do you wish to
buy any baskets？〃 he asked。 〃No； we do not want any；〃 was the
reply。 〃What！〃 exclaimed the Indian as he went out the gate； 〃do
you mean to starve us？〃 Having seen his industrious white neighbors
so well off that the lawyer had only to weave arguments； and； by
some magic； wealth and standing followed he had said to himself：
I will go into business； I will weave baskets； it is a thing which I
can do。 Thinking that when he had made the baskets he would have
done his part； and then it would be the white man's to buy them。 He
had not discovered that it was necessary for him to make it worth
the other's while to buy them； or at least make him think that it
was so； or to make something else which it would be worth his while
to buy。 I too had woven a kind of basket of a delicate texture； but
I had not made it worth any one's while to buy them。 Yet not the
less； in my case； did I think it worth my while to weave them； and
instead of studying how to make it worth men's while to buy my
baskets； I studied rather how to avoid the necessity of selling
them。 The life which men praise and regard as successful is but one
kind。 Why should we exaggerate any one kind at the expense of the
others？
Finding that my fellow…citizens were not likely to offer me any
room in the court house； or any curacy or living anywhere else； but
I must shift for myself； I turned my face more exclusively than ever
to the woods； where I was better known。 I determined to go into
business at once； and not wait to acquire the usual capital； using
such slender means as I had already got。 My purpose in going to
Walden Pond was not to live cheaply nor to live dearly there； but to
transact some private business with the fewest obstacles； to be
hindered from accomplishing which for want of a little common sense；
a little enterprise and business talent； appeared not so sad as
foolish。
I have always endeavored to acquire strict business habits； they
are indispensable to every man。 If your trade is with the Celestial
Empire； then some small counting house on the coast； in some Salem
harbor； will be fixture enough。 You will export such articles as
the country affords； purely native products； much ice and pine
timber and a little granite； always in native bottoms。 These will
be good ventures。 To oversee all the details yourself in person； to
be at once pilot and captain； and owner and underwriter； to buy and
sell and keep the accounts； to read every letter received； and write
or read every letter sent； to superintend the discharge of imports
night and day； to be upon many parts of the coast almost at the same
time often the richest freight will be discharged upon a Jersey
shore； to be your own telegraph； unweariedly sweeping the
horizon； speaking all passing vessels bound coastwise； to keep up a
steady despatch of commodities； for the supply of such a distant and
exorbitant market； to keep yourself informed of the state of the
markets； prospects of war and peace everywhere； and anticipate the
tendencies of trade and civilization taking advantage of the
results of all exploring expeditions； using new passages and all
improvements in navigation； charts to be studied； the position of
reefs and new lights and buoys to be ascertained； and ever； and
ever； the logarithmic tables to be corrected； for by the error of
some calculator the vessel often splits upon a rock that should have
reached a friendly pier there is the untold fate of La Prouse；
universal science to be kept pace with； studying the lives of all
great discoverers and navigators； great adventurers and merchants；
from Hanno and the Phoenicians down to our day； in fine； account of
stock to be taken from time to time； to know how you stand。 It is a
labor to task the faculties of a man such problems of profit and
loss； of interest； of tare and tret； and gauging of all kinds in it；
as demand a universal knowledge。
I have thought that Walden Pond would be a good place for
business； not solely on account of the railroad and the ice trade；
it offers advantages which it may not be good policy to divulge； it
is a good port and a good foundation。 No Neva marshes to be filled；
though you must everywhere build on piles of your own driving。 It
is said that a flood…tide； with a westerly wind； and ice in the
Neva； would sweep St。 Petersburg from the face of the earth。
As this business was to be entered into without the usual
capital； it may not be easy to conjecture where those means； that
will still be indispensable to every such undertaking； were to be
obtained。 As for Clothing； to come at once to the practical part of
the question； perhaps we are led oftener by the love of novelty and
a regard for the opinions of men； in procuring it； than by a true
utility。 Let him who has work to do recollect that the object of
clothing is； first； to retain the vital heat； and secondly； in this
state of society； to cover nakedness； and he may judge how much of
any necessary or important work may be accomplished without adding
to his wardrobe。 Kings