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第16章

01-economy-第16章

小说: 01-economy 字数: 每页4000字

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is travelling with a great deal of baggage; trumpery which has

accumulated from long housekeeping; which he has not the courage to

burn; great trunk; little trunk; bandbox; and bundle。  Throw away

the first three at least。  It would surpass the powers of a well man

nowadays to take up his bed and walk; and I should certainly advise

a sick one to lay down his bed and run。  When I have met an

immigrant tottering under a bundle which contained his all 

looking like an enormous wen which had grown out of the nape of his

neck  I have pitied him; not because that was his all; but because

he had all that to carry。  If I have got to drag my trap; I will

take care that it be a light one and do not nip me in a vital part。

But perchance it would be wisest never to put one's paw into it。

    I would observe; by the way; that it costs me nothing for

curtains; for I have no gazers to shut out but the sun and moon; and

I am willing that they should look in。  The moon will not sour milk

nor taint meat of mine; nor will the sun injure my furniture or fade

my carpet; and if he is sometimes too warm a friend; I find it still

better economy to retreat behind some curtain which nature has

provided; than to add a single item to the details of housekeeping。

A lady once offered me a mat; but as I had no room to spare within

the house; nor time to spare within or without to shake it; I

declined it; preferring to wipe my feet on the sod before my door。

It is best to avoid the beginnings of evil。

    Not long since I was present at the auction of a deacon's

effects; for his life had not been ineffectual:



  〃The evil that men do lives after them。〃



As usual; a great proportion was trumpery which had begun to

accumulate in his father's day。  Among the rest was a dried

tapeworm。  And now; after lying half a century in his garret and

other dust holes; these things were not burned; instead of a

bonfire; or purifying destruction of them; there was an auction; or

increasing of them。  The neighbors eagerly collected to view them;

bought them all; and carefully transported them to their garrets and

dust holes; to lie there till their estates are settled; when they

will start again。  When a man dies he kicks the dust。

    The customs of some savage nations might; perchance; be

profitably imitated by us; for they at least go through the

semblance of casting their slough annually; they have the idea of

the thing; whether they have the reality or not。  Would it not be

well if we were to celebrate such a 〃busk;〃 or 〃feast of first

fruits;〃 as Bartram describes to have been the custom of the

Mucclasse Indians?  〃When a town celebrates the busk;〃 says he;

〃having previously provided themselves with new clothes; new pots;

pans; and other household utensils and furniture; they collect all

their worn out clothes and other despicable things; sweep and

cleanse their houses; squares; and the whole town of their filth;

which with all the remaining grain and other old provisions they

cast together into one common heap; and consume it with fire。  After

having taken medicine; and fasted for three days; all the fire in

the town is extinguished。  During this fast they abstain from the

gratification of every appetite and passion whatever。  A general

amnesty is proclaimed; all malefactors may return to their town。〃

    〃On the fourth morning; the high priest; by rubbing dry wood

together; produces new fire in the public square; from whence every

habitation in the town is supplied with the new and pure flame。〃

    They then feast on the new corn and fruits; and dance and sing

for three days; 〃and the four following days they receive visits and

rejoice with their friends from neighboring towns who have in like

manner purified and prepared themselves。〃

    The Mexicans also practised a similar purification at the end of

every fifty…two years; in the belief that it was time for the world

to come to an end。

    I have scarcely heard of a truer sacrament; that is; as the

dictionary defines it; 〃outward and visible sign of an inward and

spiritual grace;〃 than this; and I have no doubt that they were

originally inspired directly from Heaven to do thus; though they

have no Biblical record of the revelation。

    For more than five years I maintained myself thus solely by the

labor of my hands; and I found that; by working about six weeks in a

year; I could meet all the expenses of living。  The whole of my

winters; as well as most of my summers; I had free and clear for

study。  I have thoroughly tried school…keeping; and found that my

expenses were in proportion; or rather out of proportion; to my

income; for I was obliged to dress and train; not to say think and

believe; accordingly; and I lost my time into the bargain。  As I did

not teach for the good of my fellow…men; but simply for a

livelihood; this was a failure。  I have tried trade but I found that

it would take ten years to get under way in that; and that then I

should probably be on my way to the devil。  I was actually afraid

that I might by that time be doing what is called a good business。

When formerly I was looking about to see what I could do for a

living; some sad experience in conforming to the wishes of friends

being fresh in my mind to tax my ingenuity; I thought often and

seriously of picking huckleberries; that surely I could do; and its

small profits might suffice  for my greatest skill has been to

want but little  so little capital it required; so little

distraction from my wonted moods; I foolishly thought。  While my

acquaintances went unhesitatingly into trade or the professions; I

contemplated this occupation as most like theirs; ranging the hills

all summer to pick the berries which came in my way; and thereafter

carelessly dispose of them; so; to keep the flocks of Admetus。  I

also dreamed that I might gather the wild herbs; or carry evergreens

to such villagers as loved to be reminded of the woods; even to the

city; by hay…cart loads。  But I have since learned that trade curses

everything it handles; and though you trade in messages from heaven;

the whole curse of trade attaches to the business。

    As I preferred some things to others; and especially valued my

freedom; as I could fare hard and yet succeed well; I did not wish

to spend my time in earning rich carpets or other fine furniture; or

delicate cookery; or a house in the Grecian or the Gothic style just

yet。  If there are any to whom it is no interruption to acquire

these things; and who know how to use them when acquired; I

relinquish to them the pursuit。  Some are 〃industrious;〃 and appear

to love labor for its own sake; or perhaps because it keeps them out

of worse mischief; to such I have at present nothing to say。  Those

who would not know what to do with more leisure than they now enjoy;

I might advise to work twice as hard as they do  work till they

pay for themselves; and get their free papers。  For myself I found

that the occupation of a day…laborer was the most independent of

any; especially as it required only thirty or forty days in a year

to support one。  The laborer's day ends with the going down of the

sun; and he is then free to devote himself to his chosen pursuit;

independent of his labor; but his employer; who speculates from

month to month; has no respite from one end of the year to the

other。

    In short; I am convinced; both by faith and experience; that to

maintain one's self on this earth is not a hardship but a pastime;

if we will live simply and wisely; as the pursuits of the simpler

nations are still the sports of the more artificial。  It is not

necessary that a man should earn his living by the sweat of his

brow; unless he sweats easier than I do。

    One young man of my acquaintance; who has inherited some acres;

told me that he thought he should live as I did; if he had the

means。  I would not have any one adopt my mode of living on any

account; for; beside that 

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