222 
WALDEN. 
it was broader than it was long, for he was discontented 
and wasted his life into the bargain; and yet he had 
rated it as a gain in coming to America, that here you 
could get tea, and coffee, and meat every day. But the 
only true America is that country where you are at lib¬ 
erty to pursue such a mode of life as may enable you to 
do without these, and where the state does not endeavor 
to compel you to sustain the slavery and war and other 
superfluous expenses which directly or indirectly result 
from the use of such things. For I purposely talked to 
him as if he were a philosopher, or desired to be one. 
I should be glad if all the meadows on the earth were 
left in a wild state, if that were the consequence of men’s 
beginning to redeem themselves. A man will not need 
to study history to find out what is best for his own cul¬ 
ture. But alas! the culture of an Irishman is an enter¬ 
prise to be undertaken with a sort of moral bog hoe. I 
told him, that as he worked so hard at bogging, he re¬ 
quired thick boots and stout clothing, which yet were 
soon soiled and worn out, but I wore light shoes and 
thin clothing, which cost not half so much, though he 
might think that I was dressed like a gentleman, (which, 
however, was not the case,) and in an hour or two, with¬ 
out labor, but as a recreation, I could, if I wished, catch 
as many fish as I should want for two days, or earn 
enough money to support me a week. If he and his 
family would live simply, they might all go a-huckle- 
berrying in the summer for their amusement. John 
heaved a sigh at this, and his wife stared with arm3 
a-kimbo, and both appeared to be wondering if they had 
capital enough to begin such a course with, or arithme¬ 
tic enough to carry it through. It was sailing by dead 
reckoning to them, and they saw not clearly how to 
