72 
WALDEN. 
to go from this world to another newly furnished, and 
leave this to be burned ? It is the same as if all these 
traps were buckled to a man’s belt, and he could not move 
over the rough country where our lines are cast without 
dragging them, — dragging his trap. He was a lucky 
fox that left his tail in the trap. The muskrat will 
gnaw his third leg off to be free. No wonder man 
has lost his elasticity. How often he is at a dead set! 
“ Sir, if I may be so bold, what do you mean by a 
dead set?” If you are a seer, whenever you meet 
a man you will see all that he owns, ay, and much 
that he pretends to disown, behind him, even to his 
kitchen furniture and all the trumpery which he saves 
and will not burn, and he will appear to be harnessed to 
it and making what headway he can. I think that the 
man is at a dead set who has got through a knot hole 
or gateway where his sledge load of furniture cannot 
follow him. I cannot but feel compassion when I hear 
some trig, compact-looking man, seemingly free, all girded 
and ready, speak of his “ furniture,” as whether it is in¬ 
sured or not. “ But what shall I do with my furniture ?” 
My gay butterfly is entangled in a spider’s web then. 
Even those who seem for a long while not to have any, 
if you inquire more narrowly you will find have some 
stored in somebody’s barn. I look upon England to¬ 
day as an old gentleman who 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 im- 
