THE EXHILARATIONS OF THE ROAD. 41 



be tempted to go to church myself if I saw all my 

 neighbors starting off across the fields or along paths 

 that led to such charmed spots, and was sure I would 

 not be jostled or run over by the rival chariots of the 

 worshipers at the temple doors. I think this is what 

 ails our religion ; humility and devoutness of heart 

 leave one when he lays by his walking shoes and 

 walking clothes, and sets out for church drawn by 

 something. 



Indeed, I think it would be tantamount to an as- 

 tonishing revival of religion if the people would all 

 walk to church on Sunday and walk home again. 

 Think how the stones would preach to them by the 

 wayside; how their benumbed minds would warm up 

 beneath the friction of the gravel ; how their vain 

 and foolish thoughts, their desponding thoughts, their 

 besetting demons of one kind and another, would drop 

 behind them, unable to keep up or to endure the fresh 

 air. They would walk away from their ennui, their 

 worldly cares, their uncharitableness, their pride of 

 dress : for these devils always want to ride, while the 

 simple virtues are never so happy as when on foot 

 Let us walk by all means ; but if we will ride, get an 

 ass. 



Then the English claim that they are a more hearty 

 and robust people than we are. It is certain they 

 are a plainer people, have plainer tastes, dress plainer, 

 build plainer, speak plainer, keep closer to facts, wear 

 > reader shoes and coarser clothes, place a lower esti- 

 mate on themselves, etc. all of which traits favor 



