222 ’ EARLY SPRING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
as to wake nature up at exactly this date, Up 
up up up up up up up up ! What a rustling 
it seems to make among the dry leaves. 
Then I see come slowly flying from the south¬ 
west a great gull, of voracious form, which at 
length, by*a sudden and steep descent, alights 
in Fair Haven Pond, scaring up a crow which 
was seeking its food on the edge of the ice. 
March 24, 1842. Those authors are success¬ 
ful who do not write down to others, but make 
their own taste and judgment their audience. 
By some strange infatuation*we forget that we 
do not approve what yet we recommend to 
others. It is enough if I please myself with 
writing, I am there sure of all audience. 
It is always singular to meet common sense 
in the very old books, as in the “ Veeshnoo 
Sarma,” as if they could have dispensed with 
the experience of later times. We had not 
given space enough to their antiquity for the 
accumulation of wisdom. We meet even a triv¬ 
ial wisdom in them as if truth were already 
hacknied. The present is always younger than 
antiquity. A playful wisdom, which has eyes 
behind as well as before, and oversees itself. 
The wise can afford to doubt in his wisest 
moment. The easiness of doubt is the ground 
of Tiis assurance. Faith keeps many doubts in 
her pay. If I could not doubt I should not 
believe. 
