下载辰思小说免费APP
Orelse，departingdream，andshadowyformOfmidnightvision，gatheringupthyskirts；
Bynightstar-veiling，andbydayDarkeningthelightandblottingoutthesun；
Gothoumyincenseupwardfromthishearth，Andaskthegodstopardonthisclearflame。
Hardgreenwoodjustcut，thoughIusedbutlittleofthat，answeredmypurposebetterthananyother。IsometimesleftagoodfirewhenIwenttotakeawalkinawinterafternoon；andwhenI
returned，threeorfourhoursafterward，itwouldbestillaliveandglowing。MyhousewasnotemptythoughIwasgone。ItwasasifI
hadleftacheerfulhousekeeperbehind。ItwasIandFirethatlivedthere；andcommonlymyhousekeeperprovedtrustworthy。Oneday，however，asIwassplittingwood，IthoughtthatIwouldjustlookinatthewindowandseeifthehousewasnotonfire；itwastheonlytimeIremembertohavebeenparticularlyanxiousonthisscore；soIlookedandsawthatasparkhadcaughtmybed，andI
wentinandextinguisheditwhenithadburnedaplaceasbigasmyhand。Butmyhouseoccupiedsosunnyandshelteredaposition，anditsroofwassolow，thatIcouldaffordtoletthefiregooutinthemiddleofalmostanywinterday。
Themolesnestedinmycellar，nibblingeverythirdpotato，andmakingasnugbedeventhereofsomehairleftafterplasteringandofbrownpaper；foreventhewildestanimalslovecomfortandwarmthaswellasman，andtheysurvivethewinteronlybecausetheyaresocarefultosecurethem。SomeofmyfriendsspokeasifIwascomingtothewoodsonpurposetofreezemyself。Theanimalmerelymakesabed，whichhewarmswithhisbody，inashelteredplace；butman，havingdiscoveredfire，boxesupsomeairinaspaciousapartment，andwarmsthat，insteadofrobbinghimself，makesthathisbed，inwhichhecanmoveaboutdivestedofmorecumbrousclothing，maintainakindofsummerinthemidstofwinter，andbymeansofwindowsevenadmitthelight，andwithalamplengthenouttheday。Thushegoesasteportwobeyondinstinct，andsavesalittletimeforthefinearts。Though，whenIhadbeenexposedtotherudestblastsalongtime，mywholebodybegantogrowtorpid，whenIreachedthegenialatmosphereofmyhouseIsoonrecoveredmyfacultiesandprolongedmylife。Butthemostluxuriouslyhousedhaslittletoboastofinthisrespect，norneedwetroubleourselvestospeculatehowthehumanracemaybeatlastdestroyed。Itwouldbeeasytocuttheirthreadsanytimewithalittlesharperblastfromthenorth。WegoondatingfromColdFridaysandGreatSnows；butalittlecolderFriday，orgreatersnowwouldputaperiodtoman’sexistenceontheglobe。
ThenextwinterIusedasmallcooking-stoveforeconomy，sinceIdidnotowntheforest；butitdidnotkeepfiresowellastheopenfireplace。Cookingwasthen，forthemostpart，nolongerapoetic，butmerelyachemicprocess。Itwillsoonbeforgotten，inthesedaysofstoves，thatweusedtoroastpotatoesintheashes，aftertheIndianfashion。Thestovenotonlytookuproomandscentedthehouse，butitconcealedthefire，andIfeltasifIhadlostacompanion。Youcanalwaysseeafaceinthefire。Thelaborer，lookingintoitatevening，purifieshisthoughtsofthedrossandearthinesswhichtheyhaveaccumulatedduringtheday。
ButIcouldnolongersitandlookintothefire，andthepertinentwordsofapoetrecurredtomewithnewforce——
“Never，brightflame，maybedeniedtomeThydear，lifeimaging，closesympathy。
Whatbutmyhopesshotupwarde’ersobright？
Whatbutmyfortunessunksolowinnight？
Whyartthoubanishedfromourhearthandhall，Thouwhoartwelcomedandbelovedbyall？
WasthyexistencethentoofancifulForourlife’scommonlight，whoaresodull？
DidthybrightgleammysteriousconverseholdWithourcongenialsouls？secretstoobold？
Well，wearesafeandstrong，fornowwesitBesideahearthwherenodimshadowsflit，Wherenothingcheersnorsaddens，butafireWarmsfeetandhands——nordoestomoreaspire；
BywhosecompactutilitarianheapThepresentmaysitdownandgotosleep，Norfeartheghostswhofromthedimpastwalked，Andwithusbytheunequallightoftheoldwoodfiretalked。“
FormerInhabitantsandWinterVisitorsIweatheredsomemerrysnow-storms，andspentsomecheerfulwintereveningsbymyfireside，whilethesnowwhirledwildlywithout，andeventhehootingoftheowlwashushed。FormanyweeksImetnooneinmywalksbutthosewhocameoccasionallytocutwoodandsledittothevillage。The
