232 EARLY SPRING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
mean without a reason, and yet my loitering is 
not without a defense. I would fain communi¬ 
cate the wealth of my life to men, would really 
give them what is most precious in my gift. I 
would secrete pearls with the shellfish and lay 
up honey with the bees for them. I will sift 
the sunbeams for the public good. I know no 
riches I would keep back. I have no private 
good unless it be my peculiar ability to serve 
the public. This is the only individual prop¬ 
erty. Each one may thus be innocently rich. 
I enclose and foster the pearl till it is grown. 
I wish to communicate those parts of my life 
which I would gladly live again. 
It is hard to be a good citizen of the world in 
any great sense, but if we do render no interest 
or increase to mankind out of that talent God 
gave us, we can at least preserve the principal 
unimpaired. 
In such a letter as I like there will be the 
most naked and direct speech, the least circum¬ 
locution. 
March 26, 1853. Up the Assabet, scared 
from his perch a stout hawk, the red-tailed, un¬ 
doubtedly, for I saw very plainly the cow-red 
when he spread his wings from off his tail (and 
rump?) I rowed the boat three times within 
gunshot before he flew, twice wflthin four rods, 
while he sat on an oak over the water; I think 
