ItastedthemoutofcomplimenttoNature，thoughtheywerescarcelypalatable。ThesumachRhusglabragrewluxuriantlyaboutthehouse，pushingupthroughtheembankmentwhichIhadmade，andgrowingfiveorsixfeetthefirstseason。Itsbroadpinnatetropicalleafwaspleasantthoughstrangetolookon。Thelargebuds，suddenlypushingoutlateinthespringfromdrystickswhichhadseemedtobedead，developedthemselvesasbymagicintogracefulgreenandtenderboughs，aninchindiameter；andsometimes，asIsatatmywindow，soheedlesslydidtheygrowandtaxtheirweakjoints，Iheardafreshandtenderboughsuddenlyfalllikeafantotheground，whentherewasnotabreathofairstirring，brokenoffbyitsownweight。InAugust，thelargemassesofberries，which，wheninflower，hadattractedmanywildbees，graduallyassumedtheirbrightvelvetycrimsonhue，andbytheirweightagainbentdownandbrokethetenderlimbs。
AsIsitatmywindowthissummerafternoon，hawksarecirclingaboutmyclearing；thetantivyofwildpigeons，flyingbytwoandthreesathwartmyview，orperchingrestlessonthewhitepineboughsbehindmyhouse，givesavoicetotheair；afishhawkdimplestheglassysurfaceofthepondandbringsupafish；aminkstealsoutofthemarshbeforemydoorandseizesafrogbytheshore；thesedgeisbendingundertheweightofthereed-birdsflittinghitherandthither；andforthelasthalf-hourIhaveheardtherattleofrailroadcars，nowdyingawayandthenrevivinglikethebeatofapartridge，conveyingtravellersfromBostontothecountry。ForIdidnotlivesooutoftheworldasthatboywho，asIhear，wasputouttoafarmerintheeastpartofthetown，buterelongranawayandcamehomeagain，quitedownattheheelandhomesick。Hehadneverseensuchadullandout-of-the-wayplace；
thefolkswereallgoneoff；why，youcouldn’tevenhearthewhistle！IdoubtifthereissuchaplaceinMassachusettsnow:——
“Intruth，ourvillagehasbecomeabuttForoneofthosefleetrailroadshafts，ando’erOurpeacefulplainitssoothingsoundis——Concord。“
TheFitchburgRailroadtouchesthepondaboutahundredrodssouthofwhereIdwell。Iusuallygotothevillagealongitscauseway，andam，asitwere，relatedtosocietybythislink。Themenonthefreighttrains，whogooverthewholelengthoftheroad，bowtomeastoanoldacquaintance，theypassmesooften，andapparentlytheytakemeforanemployee；andsoIam。Itoowouldfainbeatrack-repairersomewhereintheorbitoftheearth。