01-economy-第16章
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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