290 
WALDEN. 
pounds’ weight there was above the atmospheric press¬ 
ure on every circular inch; it opened its seams so that 
they had to be calked with much dulness thereafter to 
stop the consequent leak; — but I had enough of that 
kind of oakum already picked. 
There was one other with whom I had “ solid sea¬ 
sons/’ long to be remembered, at his house in the vil¬ 
lage, and who looked in upon me from time to time; but 
I had no more for society there. 
There too, as every where, I sometimes expected the 
Visitor who never comes. The Vishnu Purana says, 
“ The house-holder is to remain at eventide in his court¬ 
yard as long as it takes to milk a cow, or longer if he 
pleases, to await the arrival of a guest.” I often per¬ 
formed this duty of hospitality, waited long enough to 
milk a whole herd of cows, but did not see the man 
approaching from the town. 
