wenta-chestnuttingthereinthefall，onwindydays，whenthenutsweredroppingintothewaterandwerewashedtomyfeet；andoneday，asIcreptalongitssedgyshore，thefreshsprayblowinginmyface，Icameuponthemoulderingwreckofaboat，thesidesgone，andhardlymorethantheimpressionofitsflatbottomleftamidtherushes；yetitsmodelwassharplydefined，asifitwerealargedecayedpad，withitsveins。Itwasasimpressiveawreckasonecouldimagineontheseashore，andhadasgoodamoral。Itisbythistimemerevegetablemouldandundistinguishablepondshore，throughwhichrushesandflagshavepushedup。Iusedtoadmiretheripplemarksonthesandybottom，atthenorthendofthispond，madefirmandhardtothefeetofthewaderbythepressureofthewater，andtherusheswhichgrewinIndianfile，inwavinglines，correspondingtothesemarks，rankbehindrank，asifthewaveshadplantedthem。TherealsoIhavefound，inconsiderablequantities，curiousballs，composedapparentlyoffinegrassorroots，ofpipewortperhaps，fromhalfaninchtofourinchesindiameter，andperfectlyspherical。Thesewashbackandforthinshallowwateronasandybottom，andaresometimescastontheshore。Theyareeithersolidgrass，orhavealittlesandinthemiddle。Atfirstyouwouldsaythattheywereformedbytheactionofthewaves，likeapebble；yetthesmallestaremadeofequallycoarsematerials，halfaninchlong，andtheyareproducedonlyatoneseasonoftheyear。Moreover，thewaves，Isuspect，donotsomuchconstructasweardownamaterialwhichhasalreadyacquiredconsistency。Theypreservetheirformwhendryforanindefiniteperiod。
Flint’sPond！Suchisthepovertyofournomenclature。Whatrighthadtheuncleanandstupidfarmer，whosefarmabuttedonthisskywater，whoseshoreshehasruthlesslylaidbare，togivehisnametoit？Someskin-flint，wholovedbetterthereflectingsurfaceofadollar，orabrightcent，inwhichhecouldseehisownbrazenface；whoregardedeventhewildduckswhichsettledinitastrespassers；hisfingersgrownintocrookedandbonytalonsfromthelonghabitofgraspingharpy-like；——soitisnotnamedforme。I
gonottheretoseehimnortohearofhim；whoneversawit，whoneverbathedinit，whoneverlovedit，whoneverprotectedit，whoneverspokeagoodwordforit，northankedGodthatHehadmadeit。
Ratherletitbenamedfromthefishesthatswiminit，thewildfowlorquadrupedswhichfrequentit，thewildflowerswhichgrowbyitsshores，orsomewildmanorchildthethreadofwhosehistoryisinterwovenwithitsown；notfromhimwhocouldshownotitletoitbutthedeedwhichalike-mindedneighbororlegislaturegavehim——
himwhothoughtonlyofitsmoneyvalue；whosepresenceperchancecursedalltheshores；whoexhaustedthelandaroundit，andwouldfainhaveexhaustedthewaterswithinit；whoregrettedonlythatitwasnotEnglishhayorcranberrymeadow——therewasnothingtoredeemit，forsooth，inhiseyes——andwouldhavedrainedandsolditforthemudatitsbottom。Itdidnotturnhismill，anditwasnoprivilegetohimtobeholdit。Irespectnothislabors，hisfarmwhereeverythinghasitsprice，whowouldcarrythelandscape，whowouldcarryhisGod，tomarket，ifhecouldgetanythingforhim；whogoestomarketforhisgodasitis；onwhosefarmnothinggrowsfree，whosefieldsbearnocrops，whosemeadowsnoflowers，whosetreesnofruits，butdollars；wholovesnotthebeautyofhisfruits，whosefruitsarenotripeforhimtilltheyareturnedtodollars。Givemethepovertythatenjoystruewealth。Farmersarerespectableandinterestingtomeinproportionastheyarepoor——
poorfarmers。Amodelfarm！wherethehousestandslikeafungusinamuckheap，chambersformenhorses，oxen，andswine，cleansedanduncleansed，allcontiguoustooneanother！Stockedwithmen！A
greatgrease-spot，redolentofmanuresandbuttermilk！Underahighstateofcultivation，beingmanuredwiththeheartsandbrainsofmen！Asifyouweretoraiseyourpotatoesinthechurchyard！Suchisamodelfarm。
No，no；ifthefairestfeaturesofthelandscapearetobenamedaftermen，letthembethenoblestandworthiestmenalone。LetourlakesreceiveastruenamesatleastastheIcarianSea，where“stilltheshore“a“braveattemptresounds。“
GoosePond，ofsmallextent，isonmywaytoFlint’s；FairHaven，anexpansionofConcordRiver，saidtocontainsomeseventyacres，isamilesouthwest；andWhitePond，ofaboutfortyacres，isamileandahalfbeyondFairHaven。Thisismylakecountry。
These，withConcordRiver，aremywaterprivileges；andnightandday，yearinyearout，theygrindsuchgristasIcarrytothem。
Sincethewood-cutters，andtherailroad，andImyselfhaveprofanedWalden，perhapsthemostattractive，ifnotthemostbeautiful，ofallourlakes，thegemofthewoods，isWhitePond；——
apoornamefromitscommonness，whetherderivedfromtheremarkablepurityofitswatersorthecolorofitssands。Intheseasinotherrespects，however，itisalessertwinofWalden。Theyaresomuchalikethatyouwouldsaytheymustbeconnectedunderground。
Ithasthesamestonyshore，anditswatersareofthesamehue。AsatWalden，insultrydog-dayweather，lookingdownthroughthewoodsonsomeofitsbayswhicharenotsodeepbutthatthereflectionfromthebottomtingesthem，itswatersareofamistybluish-greenorglaucouscolor。ManyyearssinceIusedtogotheretocollectthesandbycartloads，tomakesandpaperwith，andIhavecontinuedtovisititeversince。OnewhofrequentsitproposestocallitViridLake。PerhapsitmightbecalledYellowPineLake，fromthefollowingcircumstance。Aboutfifteenyearsagoyoucouldseethetopofapitchpine，ofthekindcalledyellowpinehereabouts，thoughitisnotadistinctspecies，projectingabovethesurfaceindeepwater，manyrodsfromtheshore。Itwasevensupposedbysomethatthepondhadsunk，andthiswasoneoftheprimitiveforestthatformerlystoodthere。Ifindthatevensolongagoas1792，ina“TopographicalDescriptionoftheTownofConcord，“byoneofitscitizens，intheCollectionsoftheMassachusettsHistoricalSociety，theauthor，afterspeakingofWaldenandWhitePonds，adds，“Inthemiddleofthelattermaybeseen，whenthewaterisverylow，atreewhichappearsasifitgrewintheplacewhereitnowstands，althoughtherootsarefiftyfeetbelowthesurfaceofthewater；thetopofthistreeisbrokenoff，andatthatplacemeasuresfourteeninchesindiameter。“Inthespringof’49I
talkedwiththemanwholivesnearestthepondinSudbury，whotoldmethatitwashewhogotoutthistreetenorfifteenyearsbefore。
Asnearashecouldremember，itstoodtwelveorfifteenrodsfromtheshore，wherethewaterwasthirtyorfortyfeetdeep。Itwasinthewinter，andhehadbeengettingouticeintheforenoon，andhadresolvedthatintheafternoon，withtheaidofhisneighbors，hewouldtakeouttheoldyellowpine。Hesawedachannelintheicetowardtheshore，andhauleditoverandalongandoutontotheicewithoxen；but，beforehehadgonefarinhiswork，hewassurprisedtofindthatitwaswrongendupward，withthestumpsofthebranchespointingdown，andthesmallendfirmlyfastenedinthesandybottom。Itwasaboutafootindiameteratthebigend，andhehadexpectedtogetagoodsaw-log，butitwassorottenastobefitonlyforfuel，ifforthat。Hehadsomeofitinhisshedthen。
Thereweremarksofanaxeandofwoodpeckersonthebutt。Hethoughtthatitmighthavebeenadeadtreeontheshore，butwasfinallyblownoverintothepond，andafterthetophadbecomewater-logged，whilethebutt-endwasstilldryandlight，haddriftedoutandsunkwrongendup。Hisfather，eightyyearsold，couldnotrememberwhenitwasnotthere。Severalprettylargelogsmaystillbeseenlyingonthebottom，where，owingtotheundulationofthesurface，theylooklikehugewatersnakesinmotion。
Thispondhasrarelybeenprofanedbyaboat，forthereislittleinittotemptafisherman。Insteadofthewhitelily，whichrequiresmud，orthecommonsweetflag，theblueflagIrisversicolorgrowsthinlyinthepurewater，risingfromthestonybottomallaroundtheshore，whereitisvisitedbyhummingbirdsinJune；andthecolorbothofitsbluishbladesanditsflowersandespeciallytheirreflections，isinsingularharmonywiththeglaucouswater。
WhitePondandWaldenaregreatcrystalsonthesurfaceoftheearth，LakesofLight。Iftheywerepermanentlycongealed，andsmallenoughtobeclutched，theywould，perchance，becarriedoffbyslaves，likepreciousstones，toadorntheheadsofemperors；butbeingliquid，andample，andsecuredtousandoursuccessorsforever，wedisregardthem，andrunafterthediamondofKohinoor。
Theyaretoopuretohaveamarketvalue；theycontainnomuck。Howmuchmorebeautifulthanourlives，howmuchmoretransparentthanourcharacters，arethey！Weneverlearnedmeannessofthem。Howmuchfairerthanthepoolbeforethefarmersdoor，inwhichhisducksswim！Hitherthecleanwildduckscome。Naturehasnohumaninhabitantwhoappreciatesher。Thebirdswiththeirplumageandtheirnotesareinharmonywiththeflowers，butwhatyouthormaidenconspireswiththewildluxuriantbeautyofNature？Sheflourishesmostalone，farfromthetownswheretheyreside。Talkofheaven！yedisgraceearth。
BakerFarmSometimesIrambledtopinegroves，standingliketemples，orlikefleetsatsea，full-rigged，withwavyboughs，andripplingwithlight，sosoftandgreenandshadythattheDruidswouldhaveforsakentheiroakstoworshipinthem；ortothecedarwoodbeyondFlint’sPond，wherethetrees，coveredwithhoaryblueberries，spiringhigherandhigher，arefittostandbeforeValhalla，andthecreepingjunipercoversthegroundwithwreathsfulloffruit；ortoswampswheretheusnealichenhangsinfestoonsfromthewhitesprucetrees，andtoadstools，roundtablesoftheswampgods，covertheground，andmorebeautifulfungiadornthestumps，likebutterfliesorshells，vegetablewinkles；wheretheswamp-pinkanddogwoodgrow，theredalderberryglowslikeeyesofimps，thewaxworkgroovesandcrushesthehardestwoodsinitsfolds，andthewildhollyberriesmakethebeholderforgethishomewiththeirbeauty，andheisdazzledandtemptedbynamelessotherwildforbiddenfruits，toofairformortaltaste。Insteadofcallingonsomescholar，Ipaidmanyavisittoparticulartrees，ofkindswhicharerareinthisneighborhood，standingfarawayinthemiddleofsomepasture，orinthedepthsofawoodorswamp，oronahilltop；suchastheblackbirch，ofwhichwehavesomehandsomespecimenstwofeetindiameter；itscousin，theyellowbirch，withitsloosegoldenvest，perfumedlikethefirst；thebeech，whichhassoneataboleandbeautifullylichen-painted，perfectinallitsdetails，ofwhich，exceptingscatteredspecimens，Iknowbutonesmallgroveofsizabletreesleftinthetownship，supposedbysometohavebeenplantedbythepigeonsthatwereoncebaitedwithbeechnutsnearby；itisworththewhiletoseethesilvergrainsparklewhenyousplitthiswood；thebass；thehornbeam；theCeltisoccidentalis，orfalseelm，ofwhichwehavebutonewell-grown；
sometallermastofapine，ashingletree，oramoreperfecthemlockthanusual，standinglikeapagodainthemidstofthewoods；andmanyothersIcouldmention。TheseweretheshrinesI
visitedbothsummerandwinter。
OnceitchancedthatIstoodintheveryabutmentofarainbow’sarch，whichfilledthelowerstratumoftheatmosphere，tingingthegrassandleavesaround，anddazzlingmeasifIlookedthroughcoloredcrystal。Itwasalakeofrainbowlight，inwhich，forashortwhile，Ilivedlikeadolphin。Ifithadlastedlongeritmighthavetingedmyemploymentsandlife。AsIwalkedontherailroadcauseway，Iusedtowonderatthehalooflightaroundmyshadow，andwouldfainfancymyselfoneoftheelect。OnewhovisitedmedeclaredthattheshadowsofsomeIrishmenbeforehimhadnohaloaboutthem，thatitwasonlynativesthatweresodistinguished。BenvenutoCellinitellsusinhismemoirs，that，afteracertainterribledreamorvisionwhichhehadduringhisconfinementinthecastleofSt。Angeloaresplendentlightappearedovertheshadowofhisheadatmorningandevening，whetherhewasinItalyorFrance，anditwasparticularlyconspicuouswhenthegrasswasmoistwithdew。ThiswasprobablythesamephenomenontowhichIhavereferred，whichisespeciallyobservedinthemorning，butalsoatothertimes，andevenbymoonlight。Thoughaconstantone，itisnotcommonlynoticed，and，inthecaseofanexcitableimaginationlikeCellini’s，itwouldbebasisenoughforsuperstition。Beside，hetellsusthatheshowedittoveryfew。
Butaretheynotindeeddistinguishedwhoareconsciousthattheyareregardedatall？
Isetoutoneafternoontogoa-fishingtoFairHaven，throughthewoods，toekeoutmyscantyfareofvegetables。MywayledthroughPleasantMeadow，anadjunctoftheBakerFarm，thatretreatofwhichapoethassincesung，beginning，——
“Thyentryisapleasantfield，WhichsomemossyfruittreesyieldPartlytoaruddybrook，Byglidingmusquashundertook，Andmercurialtrout，Dartingabout。“
IthoughtoflivingtherebeforeIwenttoWalden。I“hooked“theapples，leapedthebrook，andscaredthemusquashandthetrout。Itwasoneofthoseafternoonswhichseemindefinitelylongbeforeone，inwhichmanyeventsmayhappen，alargeportionofournaturallife，thoughitwasalreadyhalfspentwhenIstarted。Bythewaytherecameupashower，whichcompelledmetostandhalfanhourunderapine，pilingboughsovermyhead，andwearingmyhandkerchiefforashed；andwhenatlengthIhadmadeonecastoverthepickerelweed，standinguptomymiddleinwater，Ifoundmyselfsuddenlyintheshadowofacloud，andthethunderbegantorumblewithsuchemphasisthatIcoulddonomorethanlistentoit。Thegodsmustbeproud，thoughtI，withsuchforkedflashestoroutapoorunarmedfisherman。SoImadehasteforsheltertothenearesthut，whichstoodhalfamilefromanyroad，butsomuchthenearertothepond，andhadlongbeenuninhabited:——
“Andhereapoetbuilded，Inthecompletedyears，ForbeholdatrivialcabinThattodestructionsteers。“