walking-第7章

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crow　in　every　barnyard　within　our　horizon；　it　is　belated。　That

sound　commonly　reminds　us　that　we　are　growing　rusty　and　antique

in　our　employments　and　habits　of　thoughts。　His　philosophy　comes

down　to　a　more　recent　time　than　ours。　There　is　something

suggested　by　it　that　is　a　newer　testament；the　gospel　according

to　this　moment。　He　has　not　fallen　astern；　he　has　got　up　early　and

kept　up　early；　and　to　be　where　he　is　is　to　be　in　season；　in　the

foremost　rank　of　time。　It　is　an　expression　of　the　health　and

soundness　of　Nature；　a　brag　for　all　the　world；healthiness　as　of

a　spring　burst　forth；　a　new　fountain　of　the　Muses；　to　celebrate

this　last　instant　of　time。　Where　he　lives　no　fugitive　slave　laws

are　passed。　Who　has　not　betrayed　his　master　many　times　since　last

he　heard　that　note？



The　merit　of　this　bird's　strain　is　in　its　freedom　from　all

plaintiveness。　The　singer　can　easily　move　us　to　tears　or　to

laughter；　but　where　is　he　who　can　excite　in　us　a　pure　morning

joy？　When；　in　doleful　dumps；　breaking　the　awful　stillness　of　our

wooden　sidewalk　on　a　Sunday；　or；　perchance；　a　watcher　in　the

house　of　mourning；　I　hear　a　cockerel　crow　far　or　near；　I　think　to

myself；　〃There　is　one　of　us　well；　at　any　rate；〃and　with　a

sudden　gush　return　to　my　senses。







We　had　a　remarkable　sunset　one　day　last　November。　I　was　walking

in　a　meadow；　the　source　of　a　small　brook；　when　the　sun　at　last；

just　before　setting；　after　a　cold；　gray　day；　reached　a　clear

stratum　in　the　horizon；　and　the　softest；　brightest　morning

sunlight　fell　on　the　dry　grass　and　on　the　stems　of　the　trees　in

the　opposite　horizon　and　on　the　leaves　of　the　shrub　oaks　on　the

hillside；　while　our　shadows　stretched　long　over　the　meadow　east…

ward；　as　if　we　were　the　only　motes　in　its　beams。　It　was　such　a

light　as　we　could　not　have　imagined　a　moment　before；　and　the　air

also　was　so　warm　and　serene　that　nothing　was　wanting　to　make　a

paradise　of　that　meadow。　When　we　reflected　that　this　was　not　a

solitary　phenomenon；　never　to　happen　again；　but　that　it　would

happen　forever　and　ever；　an　infinite　number　of　evenings；　and

cheer　and　reassure　the　latest　child　that　walked　there；　it　was

more　glorious　still。



The　sun　sets　on　some　retired　meadow；　where　no　house　is　visible；

with　all　the　glory　and　splendor　that　it　lavishes　on　cities；　and

perchance　as　it　has　never　set　beforewhere　there　is　but　a

solitary　marsh　hawk　to　have　his　wings　gilded　by　it；　or　only　a

musquash　looks　out　from　his　cabin；　and　there　is　some　little

black…veined　brook　in　the　midst　of　the　marsh；　just　beginning　to

meander；　winding　slowly　round　a　decaying　stump。　We　walked　in　so

pure　and　bright　a　light；　gilding　the　withered　grass　and　leaves；

so　softly　and　serenely　bright；　I　thought　I　had　never　bathed　in

such　a　golden　flood；　without　a　ripple　or　a　murmur　to　it。　The　west

side　of　every　wood　and　rising　ground　gleamed　like　the　boundary　of

Elysium；　and　the　sun　on　our　backs　seemed　like　a　gentle　herdsman

driving　us　home　at　evening。



So　we　saunter　toward　the　Holy　Land；　till　one　day　the　sun　shall

shine　more　brightly　than　ever　he　has　done；　shall　perchance　shine

into　our　minds　and　hearts；　and　light　up　our　whole　lives　with　a

great　awakening　light；　as　warm　and　serene　and　golden　as　on　a

bankside　in　autumn。











End