OCTOBER 



23 



The wasps came by thousands to my lodge in 

 October, as to winter quarters, and settled on my 

 windows within and on the walls overhead, some- 

 times deterring visitors from entering. Each 

 morning, when they were numbed with cold, I 

 swept some of them out, but I did not trouble 

 myself much to get rid of them ; I even felt com- 

 plimented by their regarding my house as a desir- 

 able shelter. They never molested me seriously, 

 though they bedded with me ; and they gradually 

 disappeared, into what crevices I do not know, 

 avoiding winter and unspeakable cold. 



THOREAU: Walden. 



24 



With Blake up Assabet. Saw in the pool at the 

 Hemlocks what I at first thought was a brighter 

 leaf moved by the zephyr on the surface of the 

 smooth, dark water, but it was a splendid male 

 summer duck, which allowed us to approach within 

 seven or eight rods. It was sailing up close to 

 the shore, and then rose and flew up the curving 

 stream. It was a perfect floating gem, and Blake, 

 who had never seen the like, was greatly surprised, 

 not knowing that so splendid a bird was found in 



this part of the world. 



THOREAU: Autumn. 



