Page:The first and last journeys of Thoreau - lately discovered among his unpublished journals and manuscripts.djvu/128

 some heinous sin and repented; that is, having done it, is now calling to mind that he has done it,—what does he do? Why, he sets about reforming the world. Do you hear? The world is going to be reformed,—formed again, made over,—formed rather, made for once.—Well, well, think away, old boy.—But wait till I've explained it.—So long gone unformed, or rather uninformed! Do you hear it, ye Patagonians, ye Tartars, ye Néz Percés? The world is going to be reformed or rather formed once for all,—presto! change! Methinks I hear the glad tidings already.

Publish it over the green prairies of the West, over the silent pampas of the South American continent, and the parched African deserts, and the wide-stretching Siberian versts; through the populous Indian and Chinese villages,—along the Indus, Ganges, and Hydaspes! Saturday, October 21.

I have seen such a hollow, glazed life as on a painted floor,—which some couples lead; with their basement, parlor with [80]