BesidethisIgotararemessofgoldenandsilverandbrightcupreousfishes，whichlookedlikeastringofjewels。Ah！Ihavepenetratedtothosemeadowsonthemorningofmanyafirstspringday，jumpingfromhummocktohummock，fromwillowroottowillowroot，whenthewildrivervalleyandthewoodswerebathedinsopureandbrightalightaswouldhavewakedthedead，iftheyhadbeenslumberingintheirgraves，assomesuppose。Thereneedsnostrongerproofofimmortality。Allthingsmustliveinsuchalight。ODeath，wherewasthysting？OGrave，wherewasthyvictory，then？
Ourvillagelifewouldstagnateifitwerenotfortheunexploredforestsandmeadowswhichsurroundit。Weneedthetonicofwildness——towadesometimesinmarsheswherethebitternandthemeadow-henlurk，andheartheboomingofthesnipe；tosmellthewhisperingsedgewhereonlysomewilderandmoresolitaryfowlbuildshernest，andtheminkcrawlswithitsbellyclosetotheground。Atthesametimethatweareearnesttoexploreandlearnallthings，werequirethatallthingsbemysteriousandunexplorable，thatlandandseabeinfinitelywild，unsurveyedandunfathomedbyusbecauseunfathomable。Wecanneverhaveenoughofnature。Wemustberefreshedbythesightofinexhaustiblevigor，vastandtitanicfeatures，thesea-coastwithitswrecks，thewildernesswithitslivinganditsdecayingtrees，thethunder-cloud，andtherainwhichlaststhreeweeksandproducesfreshets。Weneedtowitnessourownlimitstransgressed，andsomelifepasturingfreelywhereweneverwander。Wearecheeredwhenweobservethevulturefeedingonthecarrionwhichdisgustsanddisheartensus，andderivinghealthandstrengthfromtherepast。
Therewasadeadhorseinthehollowbythepathtomyhouse，whichcompelledmesometimestogooutofmyway，especiallyinthenightwhentheairwasheavy，buttheassuranceitgavemeofthestrongappetiteandinviolablehealthofNaturewasmycompensationforthis。IlovetoseethatNatureissorifewithlifethatmyriadscanbeaffordedtobesacrificedandsufferedtopreyononeanother；thattenderorganizationscanbesoserenelysquashedoutofexistencelikepulp——tadpoleswhichheronsgobbleup，andtortoisesandtoadsrunoverintheroad；andthatsometimesithasrainedfleshandblood！Withtheliabilitytoaccident，wemustseehowlittleaccountistobemadeofit。Theimpressionmadeonawisemanisthatofuniversalinnocence。Poisonisnotpoisonousafterall，norareanywoundsfatal。Compassionisaveryuntenableground。Itmustbeexpeditious。Itspleadingswillnotbeartobestereotyped。
EarlyinMay，theoaks，hickories，maples，andothertrees，justputtingoutamidstthepinewoodsaroundthepond，impartedabrightnesslikesunshinetothelandscape，especiallyincloudydays，asifthesunwerebreakingthroughmistsandshiningfaintlyonthehillsideshereandthere。OnthethirdorfourthofMayI
sawalooninthepond，andduringthefirstweekofthemonthI