Page:Thoreau - His Home, Friends and Books (1902).djvu/227

Rh Mr. Tolman, the custodian of the treasure-house, who was once resident in the Thoreau house, relates that this memento was bought for Thoreau by this slave whom he had so lovingly tended. Returning from Canada to Boston, the negro spent his last penny for the gift, and walked from Boston to Concord to give it to his friend. Thoreau was deeply appreciative of the gratitude and always treasured the gift and its association.

Another anecdote recently told in print indicated his readiness to aid any person in real need. Walking with a friend in a street near the station, he saw a poor woman with a heavy child in her arms, hurrying to reach the train that was about to depart. Without a moment's hesitation, Thoreau jumped the intervening fence, took the child from the tired mother, and striding forward, persuaded,—or compelled,—the engineer to wait until the woman could arrive. All the strenuous words and acts of his later years in behalf of John Brown and freedom, testify to his zeal in service for a large cause.

In Thoreau's philosophy of self-development as preparatory for service, certain basal tenets are involved. Preeminent are the coeval necessities of industry and leisure. Emerson said of him,—"A very industrious man, and setting, like all