In 1845, twenty-eight years old, an age by which the
liveliest have usually declined into some conformity with the
world, Thoreau, with a capital of something less than five
pounds and a borrowed axe, walked forth into the woods by
Walden Pond, and began his new experiment in life. He built
himself a dwelling, and returned the axe, he says with
characteristic and workman-like pride, sharper than when he
borrowed it; he reclaimed a patch, where he cultivated beans,
peas, potatoes, and sweet corn; he had his bread to bake, his
farm to dig, and for the matter of six weeks in the summer he
worked at surveying, carpentry, or some other of his numerous
dexterities, for hire.
For more than five years, this was all that he required to do
for his support, and he had the winter and most of the summer
at his entire disposal. For six weeks of occupation, a
little cooking and a little gentle hygienic gardening, the
man, you may say, had as good as stolen his livelihood. Or
we must rather allow that he had done far better; for the
thief himself is continually and busily occupied; and even
one born to inherit a million will have more calls upon his
time than Thoreau. Well might he say, "What old people tell
you you cannot do, you try and find you can." And how
surprising is his conclusion: "I am convinced that TO
MAINTAIN ONESELF ON THIS EARTH IS NOT A HARDSHIP, BUT A
PASTIME, if we will live simply and wisely; AS THE PURSUITS
OF SIMPLER NATIONS ARE STILL THE SPORTS OF THE MORE
ARTIFICIAL.
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