TheindescribableinnocenceandbeneficenceofNature——ofsunandwindandrain，ofsummerandwinter——suchhealth，suchcheer，theyaffordforever！andsuchsympathyhavetheyeverwithourrace，thatallNaturewouldbeaffected，andthesun’sbrightnessfade，andthewindswouldsighhumanely，andthecloudsraintears，andthewoodsshedtheirleavesandputonmourninginmidsummer，ifanymanshouldeverforajustcausegrieve。ShallInothaveintelligencewiththeearth？AmInotpartlyleavesandvegetablemouldmyself？
Whatisthepillwhichwillkeepuswell，serene，contented？
Notmyorthygreat-grandfather’s，butourgreat-grandmotherNature’suniversal，vegetable，botanicmedicines，bywhichshehaskeptherselfyoungalways，outlivedsomanyoldParrsinherday，andfedherhealthwiththeirdecayingfatness。Formypanacea，insteadofoneofthosequackvialsofamixturedippedfromAcheronandtheDeadSea，whichcomeoutofthoselongshallowblack-schoonerlookingwagonswhichwesometimesseemadetocarrybottles，letmehaveadraughtofundilutedmorningair。Morningair！Ifmenwillnotdrinkofthisatthefountainheadoftheday，why，then，wemustevenbottleupsomeandsellitintheshops，forthebenefitofthosewhohavelosttheirsubscriptiontickettomorningtimeinthisworld。Butremember，itwillnotkeepquitetillnoondayeveninthecoolestcellar，butdriveoutthestoppleslongerethatandfollowwestwardthestepsofAurora。IamnoworshipperofHygeia，whowasthedaughterofthatoldherb-doctorAEsculapius，andwhoisrepresentedonmonumentsholdingaserpentinonehand，andintheotheracupoutofwhichtheserpentsometimesdrinks；butratherofHebe，cup-bearertoJupiter，whowasthedaughterofJunoandwildlettuce，andwhohadthepowerofrestoringgodsandmentothevigorofyouth。Shewasprobablytheonlythoroughlysound-conditioned，healthy，androbustyoungladythateverwalkedtheglobe，andwherevershecameitwasspring。
VisitorsIthinkthatIlovesocietyasmuchasmost，andamreadyenoughtofastenmyselflikeabloodsuckerforthetimetoanyfull-bloodedmanthatcomesinmyway。Iamnaturallynohermit，butmightpossiblysitoutthesturdiestfrequenterofthebar-room，ifmybusinesscalledmethither。
Ihadthreechairsinmyhouse；oneforsolitude，twoforfriendship，threeforsociety。Whenvisitorscameinlargerandunexpectednumberstherewasbutthethirdchairforthemall，buttheygenerallyeconomizedtheroombystandingup。Itissurprisinghowmanygreatmenandwomenasmallhousewillcontain。Ihavehadtwenty-fiveorthirtysouls，withtheirbodies，atonceundermyroof，andyetweoftenpartedwithoutbeingawarethatwehadcomeveryneartooneanother。Manyofourhouses，bothpublicandprivate，withtheiralmostinnumerableapartments，theirhugehallsandtheircellarsforthestorageofwinesandothermunitionsofpeace，appeartobeextravagantlylargefortheirinhabitants。Theyaresovastandmagnificentthatthelatterseemtobeonlyverminwhichinfestthem。IamsurprisedwhentheheraldblowshissummonsbeforesomeTremontorAstororMiddlesexHouse，toseecomecreepingoutoverthepiazzaforallinhabitantsaridiculousmouse，whichsoonagainslinksintosomeholeinthepavement。