SotheMusefables。Buttherein，asIfound，dweltnowJohnField，anIrishman，andhiswife，andseveralchildren，fromthebroad-facedboywhoassistedhisfatherathiswork，andnowcamerunningbyhissidefromthebogtoescapetherain，tothewrinkled，sibyl-like，cone-headedinfantthatsatuponitsfather’skneeasinthepalacesofnobles，andlookedoutfromitshomeinthemidstofwetandhungerinquisitivelyuponthestranger，withtheprivilegeofinfancy，notknowingbutitwasthelastofanobleline，andthehopeandcynosureoftheworld，insteadofJohnField’spoorstarvelingbrat。Therewesattogetherunderthatpartoftheroofwhichleakedtheleast，whileitshoweredandthunderedwithout。IhadsattheremanytimesofoldbeforetheshipwasbuiltthatfloatedhisfamilytoAmerica。Anhonest，hard-working，butshiftlessmanplainlywasJohnField；andhiswife，shetoowasbravetocooksomanysuccessivedinnersintherecessesofthatloftystove；withroundgreasyfaceandbarebreast，stillthinkingtoimproveherconditiononeday；withtheneverabsentmopinonehand，andyetnoeffectsofitvisibleanywhere。Thechickens，whichhadalsotakenshelterherefromtherain，stalkedabouttheroomlikemembersofthefamily，toohumanized，methought，toroastwell。Theystoodandlookedinmyeyeorpeckedatmyshoesignificantly。Meanwhilemyhosttoldmehisstory，howhardheworked“bogging“foraneighboringfarmer，turningupameadowwithaspadeorboghoeattherateoftendollarsanacreandtheuseofthelandwithmanureforoneyear，andhislittlebroad-facedsonworkedcheerfullyathisfather’ssidethewhile，notknowinghowpoorabargainthelatterhadmade。Itriedtohelphimwithmyexperience，tellinghimthathewasoneofmynearestneighbors，andthatItoo，whocamea-fishinghere，andlookedlikealoafer，wasgettingmylivinglikehimself；thatIlivedinatight，light，andcleanhouse，whichhardlycostmorethantheannualrentofsucharuinashiscommonlyamountsto；andhow，ifhechose，hemightinamonthortwobuildhimselfapalaceofhisown；thatIdidnotusetea，norcoffee，norbutter，normilk，norfreshmeat，andsodidnothavetoworktogetthem；again，asIdidnotworkhard，Ididnothavetoeathard，anditcostmebutatrifleformyfood；butashebeganwithtea，andcoffee，andbutter，andmilk，andbeef，hehadtoworkhardtopayforthem，andwhenhehadworkedhardhehadtoeathardagaintorepairthewasteofhissystem——andsoitwasasbroadasitwaslong，indeeditwasbroaderthanitwaslong，forhewasdiscontentedandwastedhislifeintothebargain；andyethehadrateditasagainincomingtoAmerica，thathereyoucouldgettea，andcoffee，andmeateveryday。ButtheonlytrueAmericaisthatcountrywhereyouareatlibertytopursuesuchamodeoflifeasmayenableyoutodowithoutthese，andwherethestatedoesnotendeavortocompelyoutosustaintheslaveryandwarandothersuperfluousexpenseswhichdirectlyorindirectlyresultfromtheuseofsuchthings。ForIpurposelytalkedtohimasifhewereaphilosopher，ordesiredtobeone。Ishouldbegladifallthemeadowsontheearthwereleftinawildstate，ifthatweretheconsequenceofmen’sbeginningtoredeemthemselves。Amanwillnotneedtostudyhistorytofindoutwhatisbestforhisownculture。
Butalas！thecultureofanIrishmanisanenterprisetobeundertakenwithasortofmoralboghoe。Itoldhim，thatasheworkedsohardatbogging，herequiredthickbootsandstoutclothing，whichyetweresoonsoiledandwornout，butIworelightshoesandthinclothing，whichcostnothalfsomuch，thoughhemightthinkthatIwasdressedlikeagentlemanwhich，however，wasnotthecase，andinanhourortwo，withoutlabor，butasarecreation，Icould，ifIwished，catchasmanyfishasIshouldwantfortwodays，orearnenoughmoneytosupportmeaweek。Ifheandhisfamilywouldlivesimply，theymightallgoa-huckleberryinginthesummerfortheiramusement。Johnheavedasighatthis，andhiswifestaredwitharmsa-kimbo，andbothappearedtobewonderingiftheyhadcapitalenoughtobeginsuchacoursewith，orarithmeticenoughtocarryitthrough。Itwassailingbydeadreckoningtothem，andtheysawnotclearlyhowtomaketheirportso；thereforeIsupposetheystilltakelifebravely，aftertheirfashion，facetoface，givingittoothandnail，nothavingskilltosplititsmassivecolumnswithanyfineenteringwedge，androutitindetail；——thinkingtodealwithitroughly，asoneshouldhandleathistle。Buttheyfightatanoverwhelmingdisadvantage——
living，JohnField，alas！withoutarithmetic，andfailingso。
“Doyoueverfish？“Iasked。“Ohyes，IcatchamessnowandthenwhenIamlyingby；goodperchIcatch——“What’syourbait？“
“Icatchshinerswithfishworms，andbaittheperchwiththem。“