Butperchanceitwouldbewisestnevertoputone’spawintoit。
Iwouldobserve，bytheway，thatitcostsmenothingforcurtains，forIhavenogazerstoshutoutbutthesunandmoon，andIamwillingthattheyshouldlookin。Themoonwillnotsourmilknortaintmeatofmine，norwillthesuninjuremyfurnitureorfademycarpet；andifheissometimestoowarmafriend，Ifinditstillbettereconomytoretreatbehindsomecurtainwhichnaturehasprovided，thantoaddasingleitemtothedetailsofhousekeeping。
Aladyonceofferedmeamat，butasIhadnoroomtosparewithinthehouse，nortimetosparewithinorwithouttoshakeit，I
declinedit，preferringtowipemyfeetonthesodbeforemydoor。
Itisbesttoavoidthebeginningsofevil。
NotlongsinceIwaspresentattheauctionofadeacon’seffects，forhislifehadnotbeenineffectual:——
“Theevilthatmendolivesafterthem。“
Asusual，agreatproportionwastrumperywhichhadbeguntoaccumulateinhisfather’sday。Amongtherestwasadriedtapeworm。Andnow，afterlyinghalfacenturyinhisgarretandotherdustholes，thesethingswerenotburned；insteadofabonfire，orpurifyingdestructionofthem，therewasanauction，orincreasingofthem。Theneighborseagerlycollectedtoviewthem，boughtthemall，andcarefullytransportedthemtotheirgarretsanddustholes，tolietheretilltheirestatesaresettled，whentheywillstartagain。Whenamandieshekicksthedust。
Thecustomsofsomesavagenationsmight，perchance，beprofitablyimitatedbyus，fortheyatleastgothroughthesemblanceofcastingtheirsloughannually；theyhavetheideaofthething，whethertheyhavetherealityornot。Woulditnotbewellifweweretocelebratesucha“busk，“or“feastoffirstfruits，“asBartramdescribestohavebeenthecustomoftheMucclasseIndians？“Whenatowncelebratesthebusk，“sayshe，“havingpreviouslyprovidedthemselveswithnewclothes，newpots，pans，andotherhouseholdutensilsandfurniture，theycollectalltheirwornoutclothesandotherdespicablethings，sweepandcleansetheirhouses，squares，andthewholetownoftheirfilth，whichwithalltheremaininggrainandotheroldprovisionstheycasttogetherintoonecommonheap，andconsumeitwithfire。Afterhavingtakenmedicine，andfastedforthreedays，allthefireinthetownisextinguished。Duringthisfasttheyabstainfromthegratificationofeveryappetiteandpassionwhatever。Ageneralamnestyisproclaimed；allmalefactorsmayreturntotheirtown。“
“Onthefourthmorning，thehighpriest，byrubbingdrywoodtogether，producesnewfireinthepublicsquare，fromwhenceeveryhabitationinthetownissuppliedwiththenewandpureflame。“
Theythenfeastonthenewcornandfruits，anddanceandsingforthreedays，“andthefourfollowingdaystheyreceivevisitsandrejoicewiththeirfriendsfromneighboringtownswhohaveinlikemannerpurifiedandpreparedthemselves。“
TheMexicansalsopractisedasimilarpurificationattheendofeveryfifty-twoyears，inthebeliefthatitwastimefortheworldtocometoanend。
Ihavescarcelyheardofatruersacrament，thatis，asthedictionarydefinesit，“outwardandvisiblesignofaninwardandspiritualgrace，“thanthis，andIhavenodoubtthattheywereoriginallyinspireddirectlyfromHeaventodothus，thoughtheyhavenoBiblicalrecordoftherevelation。
FormorethanfiveyearsImaintainedmyselfthussolelybythelaborofmyhands，andIfoundthat，byworkingaboutsixweeksinayear，Icouldmeetalltheexpensesofliving。Thewholeofmywinters，aswellasmostofmysummers，Ihadfreeandclearforstudy。Ihavethoroughlytriedschool-keeping，andfoundthatmyexpenseswereinproportion，orratheroutofproportion，tomyincome，forIwasobligedtodressandtrain，nottosaythinkandbelieve，accordingly，andIlostmytimeintothebargain。AsIdidnotteachforthegoodofmyfellow-men，butsimplyforalivelihood，thiswasafailure。IhavetriedtradebutIfoundthatitwouldtaketenyearstogetunderwayinthat，andthatthenI
shouldprobablybeonmywaytothedevil。IwasactuallyafraidthatImightbythattimebedoingwhatiscalledagoodbusiness。
WhenformerlyIwaslookingabouttoseewhatIcoulddoforaliving，somesadexperienceinconformingtothewishesoffriendsbeingfreshinmymindtotaxmyingenuity，Ithoughtoftenandseriouslyofpickinghuckleberries；thatsurelyIcoulddo，anditssmallprofitsmightsuffice——formygreatestskillhasbeentowantbutlittle——solittlecapitalitrequired，solittledistractionfrommywontedmoods，Ifoolishlythought。Whilemyacquaintanceswentunhesitatinglyintotradeortheprofessions，I
contemplatedthisoccupationasmostliketheirs；rangingthehillsallsummertopicktheberrieswhichcameinmyway，andthereaftercarelesslydisposeofthem；so，tokeeptheflocksofAdmetus。I
alsodreamedthatImightgatherthewildherbs，orcarryevergreenstosuchvillagersaslovedtoberemindedofthewoods，eventothecity，byhay-cartloads。ButIhavesincelearnedthattradecurseseverythingithandles；andthoughyoutradeinmessagesfromheaven，thewholecurseoftradeattachestothebusiness。
AsIpreferredsomethingstoothers，andespeciallyvaluedmyfreedom，asIcouldfarehardandyetsucceedwell，Ididnotwishtospendmytimeinearningrichcarpetsorotherfinefurniture，ordelicatecookery，orahouseintheGrecianortheGothicstylejustyet。Ifthereareanytowhomitisnointerruptiontoacquirethesethings，andwhoknowhowtousethemwhenacquired，I
relinquishtothemthepursuit。Someare“industrious，“andappeartolovelaborforitsownsake，orperhapsbecauseitkeepsthemoutofworsemischief；tosuchIhaveatpresentnothingtosay。Thosewhowouldnotknowwhattodowithmoreleisurethantheynowenjoy，Imightadvisetoworktwiceashardastheydo——worktilltheypayforthemselves，andgettheirfreepapers。FormyselfIfoundthattheoccupationofaday-laborerwasthemostindependentofany，especiallyasitrequiredonlythirtyorfortydaysinayeartosupportone。Thelaborer’sdayendswiththegoingdownofthesun，andheisthenfreetodevotehimselftohischosenpursuit，independentofhislabor；buthisemployer，whospeculatesfrommonthtomonth，hasnorespitefromoneendoftheyeartotheother。
Inshort，Iamconvinced，bothbyfaithandexperience，thattomaintainone’sselfonthisearthisnotahardshipbutapastime，ifwewilllivesimplyandwisely；asthepursuitsofthesimplernationsarestillthesportsofthemoreartificial。Itisnotnecessarythatamanshouldearnhislivingbythesweatofhisbrow，unlesshesweatseasierthanIdo。
Oneyoungmanofmyacquaintance，whohasinheritedsomeacres，toldmethathethoughtheshouldliveasIdid，ifhehadthemeans。Iwouldnothaveanyoneadoptmymodeoflivingonanyaccount；for，besidethatbeforehehasfairlylearneditImayhavefoundoutanotherformyself，Idesirethattheremaybeasmanydifferentpersonsintheworldaspossible；butIwouldhaveeachonebeverycarefultofindoutandpursuehisownway，andnothisfather’sorhismother’sorhisneighbor’sinstead。Theyouthmaybuildorplantorsail，onlylethimnotbehinderedfromdoingthatwhichhetellsmehewouldliketodo。Itisbyamathematicalpointonlythatwearewise，asthesailororthefugitiveslavekeepsthepolestarinhiseye；butthatissufficientguidanceforallourlife。Wemaynotarriveatourportwithinacalculableperiod，butwewouldpreservethetruecourse。
Undoubtedly，inthiscase，whatistrueforoneistruerstillforathousand，asalargehouseisnotproportionallymoreexpensivethanasmallone，sinceoneroofmaycover，onecellarunderlie，andonewallseparateseveralapartments。Butformypart，Ipreferredthesolitarydwelling。Moreover，itwillcommonlybecheapertobuildthewholeyourselfthantoconvinceanotheroftheadvantageofthecommonwall；andwhenyouhavedonethis，thecommonpartition，tobemuchcheaper，mustbeathinone，andthatothermayproveabadneighbor，andalsonotkeephissideinrepair。Theonlyco-operationwhichiscommonlypossibleisexceedinglypartialandsuperficial；andwhatlittletrueco-operationthereis，isasifitwerenot，beingaharmonyinaudibletomen。Ifamanhasfaith，hewillco-operatewithequalfaitheverywhere；ifhehasnotfaith，hewillcontinuetoliveliketherestoftheworld，whatevercompanyheisjoinedto。Toco-operateinthehighestaswellasthelowestsense，meanstogetourlivingtogether。Ihearditproposedlatelythattwoyoungmenshouldtraveltogetherovertheworld，theonewithoutmoney，earninghismeansashewent，beforethemastandbehindtheplow，theothercarryingabillofexchangeinhispocket。Itwaseasytoseethattheycouldnotlongbecompanionsorco-operate，sinceonewouldnotoperateatall。Theywouldpartatthefirstinterestingcrisisintheiradventures。Aboveall，asIhaveimplied，themanwhogoesalonecanstarttoday；buthewhotravelswithanothermustwaittillthatotherisready，anditmaybealongtimebeforetheygetoff。
Butallthisisveryselfish，Ihaveheardsomeofmytownsmensay。IconfessthatIhavehithertoindulgedverylittleinphilanthropicenterprises。Ihavemadesomesacrificestoasenseofduty，andamongothershavesacrificedthispleasurealso。Therearethosewhohaveusedalltheirartstopersuademetoundertakethesupportofsomepoorfamilyinthetown；andifIhadnothingtodo——forthedevilfindsemploymentfortheidle——Imighttrymyhandatsomesuchpastimeasthat。However，whenIhavethoughttoindulgemyselfinthisrespect，andlaytheirHeavenunderanobligationbymaintainingcertainpoorpersonsinallrespectsascomfortablyasImaintainmyself，andhaveevenventuredsofarastomakethemtheoffer，theyhaveoneandallunhesitatinglypreferredtoremainpoor。Whilemytownsmenandwomenaredevotedinsomanywaystothegoodoftheirfellows，Itrustthatoneatleastmaybesparedtootherandlesshumanepursuits。Youmusthaveageniusforcharityaswellasforanythingelse。AsforDoing-good，thatisoneoftheprofessionswhicharefull。
Moreover，Ihavetrieditfairly，and，strangeasitmayseem，amsatisfiedthatitdoesnotagreewithmyconstitution。ProbablyI
shouldnotconsciouslyanddeliberatelyforsakemyparticularcallingtodothegoodwhichsocietydemandsofme，tosavetheuniversefromannihilation；andIbelievethatalikebutinfinitelygreatersteadfastnesselsewhereisallthatnowpreservesit。ButI
wouldnotstandbetweenanymanandhisgenius；andtohimwhodoesthiswork，whichIdecline，withhiswholeheartandsoulandlife，Iwouldsay，Persevere，eveniftheworldcallitdoingevil，asitismostlikelytheywill。
Iamfarfromsupposingthatmycaseisapeculiarone；nodoubtmanyofmyreaderswouldmakeasimilardefence。Atdoingsomething——Iwillnotengagethatmyneighborsshallpronounceitgood——I
donothesitatetosaythatIshouldbeacapitalfellowtohire；
butwhatthatis，itisformyemployertofindout。WhatgoodI
do，inthecommonsenseofthatword，mustbeasidefrommymainpath，andforthemostpartwhollyunintended。Mensay，practically，Beginwhereyouareandsuchasyouare，withoutaimingmainlytobecomeofmoreworth，andwithkindnessaforethoughtgoaboutdoinggood。IfIweretopreachatallinthisstrain，I
shouldsayrather，Setaboutbeinggood。Asifthesunshouldstopwhenhehadkindledhisfiresuptothesplendorofamoonorastarofthesixthmagnitude，andgoaboutlikeaRobinGoodfellow，peepinginateverycottagewindow，inspiringlunatics，andtaintingmeats，andmakingdarknessvisible，insteadofsteadilyincreasinghisgenialheatandbeneficencetillheisofsuchbrightnessthatnomortalcanlookhimintheface，andthen，andinthemeanwhiletoo，goingabouttheworldinhisownorbit，doingitgood，orrather，asatruerphilosophyhasdiscovered，theworldgoingabouthimgettinggood。WhenPhaeton，wishingtoprovehisheavenlybirthbyhisbeneficence，hadthesun’schariotbutoneday，anddroveoutofthebeatentrack，heburnedseveralblocksofhousesinthelowerstreetsofheaven，andscorchedthesurfaceoftheearth，anddriedupeveryspring，andmadethegreatdesertofSahara，tillatlengthJupiterhurledhimheadlongtotheearthwithathunderbolt，andthesun，throughgriefathisdeath，didnotshineforayear。
Thereisnoodorsobadasthatwhicharisesfromgoodnesstainted。Itishuman，itisdivine，carrion。IfIknewforacertaintythatamanwascomingtomyhousewiththeconsciousdesignofdoingmegood，Ishouldrunformylife，asfromthatdryandparchingwindoftheAfricandesertscalledthesimoom，whichfillsthemouthandnoseandearsandeyeswithdusttillyouaresuffocated，forfearthatIshouldgetsomeofhisgooddonetome——someofitsvirusmingledwithmyblood。No——inthiscaseI
wouldrathersufferevilthenaturalway。AmanisnotagoodmantomebecausehewillfeedmeifIshouldbestarving，orwarmmeifIshouldbefreezing，orpullmeoutofaditchifIshouldeverfallintoone。IcanfindyouaNewfoundlanddogthatwilldoasmuch。Philanthropyisnotloveforone’sfellow-maninthebroadestsense。Howardwasnodoubtanexceedinglykindandworthymaninhisway，andhashisreward；but，comparativelyspeaking，whatareahundredHowardstous，iftheirphilanthropydonothelpusinourbestestate，whenwearemostworthytobehelped？Ineverheardofaphilanthropicmeetinginwhichitwassincerelyproposedtodoanygoodtome，orthelikeofme。