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of the preservation of the beauty of Walden is due to 

 the "Emerson children" (Dr. Edward Waldo Emer- 

 son and Mrs. Edith Emerson Forbes), who own a 

 great portion of the land bordering the pond and are 

 determined that no changes shall take place so long 

 as it is in their control. 



Close by the site of Thoreau's hut, at the head of 

 the "Deep Cove," there has been erected a huge 

 cairn of stones, each visitor to the spot contributing 

 a stone to the pile. This commemorative idea origi- 

 nated with Bronson Alcott, the Concord philosopher, 

 whose axe Thoreau borrowed when he began the 

 construction of his hut, and whom he afterwards 

 described as "the man of most faith of any alive." 

 Alcott's tribute to Thoreau has often been quoted : — 



" Much do they wrong our Henry wise and kind. 

 Morose who name thee, cynical to men. 

 Forsaking manners civil and refined 

 To build thyself in Walden woods a den, — 

 Then flout society, flatter the rude hind. 

 We better knew thee, loyal citizen! 

 Thou, friendship's all-adventuring pioneer, 

 Civility itself would civilize." 



There is an indescribable charm about the scenery 

 of New England which is most keenly felt by those 

 whose early life has been passed under its spell. It 

 was the lot of the writer to be exiled (speaking sub- 

 jectively) from New England for a period of some 

 sixteen years, this period being spent in the State of 

 Minnesota. There was much of interest found in 



