TherealattractionsoftheHollowellfarm，tome，were:itscompleteretirement，being，abouttwomilesfromthevillage，halfamilefromthenearestneighbor，andseparatedfromthehighwaybyabroadfield；itsboundingontheriver，whichtheownersaidprotecteditbyitsfogsfromfrostsinthespring，thoughthatwasnothingtome；thegraycolorandruinousstateofthehouseandbarn，andthedilapidatedfences，whichputsuchanintervalbetweenmeandthelastoccupant；thehollowandlichen-coveredappletrees，nawedbyrabbits，showingwhatkindofneighborsIshouldhave；butaboveall，therecollectionIhadofitfrommyearliestvoyagesuptheriver，whenthehousewasconcealedbehindadensegroveofredmaples，throughwhichIheardthehouse-dogbark。Iwasinhastetobuyit，beforetheproprietorfinishedgettingoutsomerocks，cuttingdownthehollowappletrees，andgrubbingupsomeyoungbircheswhichhadsprungupinthepasture，or，inshort，hadmadeanymoreofhisimprovements。ToenjoytheseadvantagesIwasreadytocarryiton；likeAtlas，totaketheworldonmyshoulders——I
neverheardwhatcompensationhereceivedforthat——anddoallthosethingswhichhadnoothermotiveorexcusebutthatImightpayforitandbeunmolestedinmypossessionofit；forIknewallthewhilethatitwouldyieldthemostabundantcropofthekindI
wanted，ifIcouldonlyaffordtoletitalone。ButitturnedoutasIhavesaid。
AllthatIcouldsay，then，withrespecttofarmingonalargescale——Ihavealwayscultivatedagarden——was，thatIhadhadmyseedsready。Manythinkthatseedsimprovewithage。Ihavenodoubtthattimediscriminatesbetweenthegoodandthebad；andwhenatlastIshallplant，Ishallbelesslikelytobedisappointed。
ButIwouldsaytomyfellows，onceforall，Aslongaspossiblelivefreeanduncommitted。Itmakesbutlittledifferencewhetheryouarecommittedtoafarmorthecountyjail。