V
THOREAU'S WALDEN
A Survey of the Pond and its Surroundings
He who would know Thoreau's Walden will do
well to bathe in it. His first plunge may well be
in Thoreau's story of the pond and his life on its
bank, and when he comes dripping from this and
puts on the garments of everyday life he still must
feel a little of the glow of the fire with which this
alchemist of the woods transmuted all things,
showing us how rough granite, hard iron and base
lead are gold. Thoreau lived on the borders of
the little clear pond but two years. He knew it
in the flesh for just his short life. But his spirit
had birth in something akin to its pure, profound
waters and dwells above them now for all
centuries.
The next plunge should be in the waters themselves, and only thus shall you learn to the full what a miracle the pond is. Here is a crater of
