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atmosphere of the scenes which he describes, than 

 the conviction that Thoreau possessed a profoundly 

 religious nature. He would not have chosen the 

 adjective, but it is abundantly evident that his walks 

 afield were to him religious excursions, — seasons of 

 communion with the Unseen. To quote a modern 

 phrase, he was ever seeking to be "in tune with the 

 Infinite." That was a significant remark which he 

 made upon his dying bed to his aunt, who, with 

 kindly intent, urged him to "make his peace with 

 God." He simply said, "I have never quarreled with 

 Him." Notwithstanding his misjudged criticism of the 

 churches and his intolerance of creeds, he possessed 

 a creed of his own, and it is well worth quoting : — 



"I know that I am. I know that Another is who 

 knows more than I, who takes interest in me, whose 

 creature, and yet whose kindred, in one sense, am I. 

 I know that the enterprise is worthy. I know that 

 things work well. I have heard no bad news." 



If we were to search for the crowning moral of 

 Thoreau's life and writings, perhaps we could find it 

 nowhere more truly or more beautifully expressed 

 than in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, his 

 neighbor and friend : — 



"The rounded world is fair to see. 

 Nine times folded in_mystery: 

 Though baffled seers cannot impart 

 The secret of its laboring heart. 

 Throb thine with Nature's throbbing breast. 

 And all is clear from east to west." 



