Theylooksodullanddowdyinthespringweather，whenthesnowdropsandthecrocusesareputtingontheirdaintyfrocksofwhiteandmauveandyellow，andthebaby—budsfromeverybrancharepeepingwithbrighteyesoutontheworld，andstretchingforthsoftlittleleavestowardthecominggladnessoftheirlives。Theystandapart，socoldandhardamidthestirringhopeandjoythatarethrobbingallaroundthem。
　　Andinthedeepfullsummer—time，whenalltherestofnaturedonsitsrichestgarbofgreen，andtherosesclamberroundtheporch，andthegrasswaveswaist—highinthemeadow，andthefieldsaregaywithflowers——theyseemdulleranddowdierthaneverthen，wearingtheirfadedwinter’sdress，lookingsodingyandoldandworn。
　　Inthemellowdaysofautumn，whenthetrees，likedamesnolongeryoung，seektoforgettheiragedlooksundergorgeousbright—tonedrobesofgoldandbrownandpurple，andthegrainisyellowinthefields，andtheruddyfruithangsclusteringfromthedroopingboughs，andthewoodedhillsintheirthousandhuesstretchedlikeleafyrainbowsabovethevale——ah！surelytheylooktheirdullestanddowdiestthen。Thegatheredgloryofthedyingyearisallaroundthem。Theyseemsooutofplaceamongit，intheirsomber，everlastinggreen，likepoorrelationsatarichman’sfeast。Itissuchaweather—beatenoldgreendress。Somanysummers’sunshaveblisteredit，somanywinters’rainshavebeatuponit——suchashabby，mean，olddress;itistheonlyonetheyhave！
　　Theydonotlookquitesobadwhenthewearywinterweatheriscome，whentheflowersaredead，andthehedgerowsarebare，andthetreesstandoutleaflessagainstthegraysky，andthebirdsareallsilent，andthefieldsarebrown，andthevineclingsroundthecottageswithskinny，fleshlessarms，andtheyaloneofallthingsareunchanged，theyaloneofalltheforestaregreen，theyaloneofalltheverdanthoststandfirmtofrontthecruelwinter。
　　Theyarenotverybeautiful，onlystrongandstanchandsteadfast——thesameinalltimes，throughallseasons——everthesame，evergreen。
　　Thespringcannotbrightenthem，thesummercannotscorchthem，theautumncannotwitherthem，thewintercannotkillthem。
　　Thereareevergreenmenandwomenintheworld，praisebetoGod！Notmanyofthem，butafew。Theyarenottheshowyfolk;theyarenottheclever，attractivefolk。（Natureisanold—fashionedshopkeeper;
　　sheneverputsherbestgoodsinthewindow。）Theyareonlythequiet，strongfolk;theyarestrongerthantheworld，strongerthanlifeordeath，strongerthanFate。Thestormsoflifesweepoverthem，andtherainsbeatdownuponthem，andthebitingfrostscreeproundthem;butthewindsandtherainsandthefrostspassaway，andtheyarestillstanding，greenandstraight。Theylovethesunshineoflifeintheirundemonstrativeway——itspleasures，itsjoys。Butcalamitycannotbowthem，sorrowandafflictionbringnotdespairtotheirserenefaces，onlyalittletighteningofthelips;thesunofourprosperitymakesthegreenoftheirfriendshipnobrighter，thefrostofouradversitykillsnottheleavesoftheiraffection。
　　Letuslayholdofsuchmenandwomen;letusgrapplethemtouswithhooksofsteel;letusclingtothemaswewouldtorocksinatossingsea。Wedonotthinkverymuchoftheminthesummertimeoflife。
　　Theydonotflatterusorgushoverus。Theydonotalwaysagreewithus。Theyarenotalwaysthemostdelightfulsociety，byanymeans。
　　Theyarenotgoodtalkers，nor——whichwoulddojustaswell，perhapsbetter——dotheymakeenrapturedlisteners。Theyhaveawkwardmanners，andverylittletact。Theydonotshinetoadvantagebesideoursocietyfriends。Theydonotdresswell;theylookaltogethersomewhatdowdyandcommonplace。Wealmosthopetheywillnotseeuswhenwemeetthemjustoutsidetheclub。Theyarenotthesortofpeoplewewanttoostentatiouslygreetincrowdedplaces。Itisnottillthedaysofourneedthatwelearntoloveandknowthem。Itisnottillthewinterthatthebirdsseethewisdomofbuildingtheirnestsintheevergreentrees。
　　Andwe，inourspring—timefollyofyouth，passthembywithasneer，theuninteresting，colorlessevergreens，and，likesillychildrenwithnothingbuteyesintheirheads，stretchoutourhandsandcryfortheprettyflowers。Wewillmakeourlittlegardenoflifesuchacharming，fairy—likespot，theenvyofeverypasser—by！Thereshallnothinggrowinitbutliliesandroses，andthecottagewewillcoveralloverwithVirginia—creeper。And，oh，howsweetitwilllook，underthedancingsummersun—light，whenthesoftwestbreezeisblowing！
　　And，oh，howweshallstandandshivertherewhentherainandtheeastwindcome！
　　Oh，youfoolish，foolishlittlemaidens，withyourdaintyheadssofullofunwisdom！howoften——oh！howoften，areyoutobewarnedthatitisnotalwaysthesweetestthinginloversthatisthebestmaterialtomakeagood—wearinghusbandoutof？"Theloversighinglikeafurnace"willnotgoonsighinglikeafurnaceforever。Thatfurnacewillgoout。Hewillbecomethehusband，"fullofstrangeoaths——jealousinhonor，suddenandquickinquarrel，"andgrow"intotheleanandslipper’dpantaloon。"Howwillhewear？Therewillbenochanginghimifhedoesnotsuit，nosendinghimbacktobealtered，nohavinghimletoutabitwhereheistootightandhurtsyou，nohavinghimtakeninwhereheistooloose，nolayinghimbywhenthecoldcomes，towrapyourselfupinsomethingwarmer。Asheiswhenyouselecthim，sohewillhavetolastyouallyourlife——throughallchanges，throughallseasons。
　　Yes，helooksveryprettynow——handsomepattern，ifthecolorsarefastanditdoesnotfade——feelssoftandwarmtothetouch。Howwillhestandtheworld’sroughweather？Howwillhestandlife’swearandtear？
　　Helookssomanlyandbrave。Hishaircurlssodivinely。Hedressessowell（Iwonderifthetailor’sbillispaid？）Hekissesyourhandsogracefully。Hecallsyousuchprettynames。Hisarmfeelssostrongaroundyou。Hisfineeyesaresofulloftendernessastheygazedownintoyours。
　　Willhekissyourhandwhenitiswrinkledandold？Willhecallyouprettynameswhenthebabyiscryinginthenight，andyoucannotkeepitquiet——or，betterstill，willhesitupandtakeaturnwithit？
　　Willhisarmbestrongaroundyouinthedaysoftrouble？Willhiseyesshineaboveyoufulloftendernesswhenyoursaregrowingdim？
　　Andyouboys，yousillyboys！whatmaterialsforawifedoyouthinkyouwillgetoutoftheempty—headedcoquettesyouareravingandtearingyourhairabout。Oh！yes，sheisveryhandsome，andshedresseswithexquisitetaste（theresultofdevotingthewholeofherheart，mindandsoultothesubject，andneverallowingherthoughtstobedistractedfromitbyanyothermundaneorcelestialobjectwhatsoever）;andsheisveryagreeableandentertainingandfascinating;andshewillgoonlookinghandsome，anddressingexquisitely，andbeingagreeableandentertainingandfascinatingjustasmuchafteryouhavemarriedherasbefore——moreso，ifanything。
　　But_you_willnotgetthebenefitofit。Husbandswillbecharmedandfascinatedbyherinplenty，but_you_willnotbeamongthem。
　　Youwillruntheshow，youwillpayalltheexpenses，doallthework。
　　Yourperformingladywillbemostaffableandenchantingtothecrowd。
　　Theywillstareather，andadmireher，andtalktoher，andflirtwithher。Andyouwillbeabletofeelthatyouarequiteabenefactortoyourfellow—menandwomen——toyourfellow—menespecially——inprovidingsuchdelightfulamusementforthem，free。
　　But_you_willnotgetanyofthefunyourself。
　　Youwillnotgetthehandsomelooks。_You_willgetthejadedface，andthedull，lusterlesseyes，andtheuntidyhairwiththedyeshowingonit。Youwillnotgettheexquisitedresses。_You_willgetdirty，shabbyfrocksandslommickingdressing—gowns，suchasyourcookwouldbeashamedtowear。_You_willnotgetthecharmandfascination。_You_willgettheafter—headaches，thecomplainingsandgrumblings，thesilenceandsulkiness，thewearinessandlassitudeandill—temperthatcomesassuchareliefafterworkinghardalldayatbeingpleasant！
　　Itisnotthepeoplewhoshineinsociety，butthepeoplewhobrightenupthebackparlor;notthepeoplewhoarecharmingwhentheyareout，butthepeoplewhoarecharmingwhentheyarein，thataregoodto_live_with。Itisnotthebrilliantmenandwomen，butthesimple，strong，restfulmenandwomen，thatmakethebesttravelingcompanionsfortheroadoflife。Themenandwomenwhowillonlylaughastheyputuptheumbrellawhentherainbeginstofall，whowilltrudgealongcheerfullythroughthemudandoverthestonyplaces——thecomradeswhowilllaytheirfirmhandonoursandstrengthenuswhenthewayisdarkandwearegrowingweak——theevergreenmenandwomen，who，liketheholly，areattheirbrightestandbestwhentheblastblowschilliest——thestanchmenandwomen！
　　Itisagrandthingthisstanchness。Itisthedifferencebetweenadogandasheep——betweenamanandanoyster。
　　Women，asarule，arestancherthanmen。Therearewomenthatyoufeelyoucouldrelyupontothedeath。Butveryfewmenindeedhavethisdog—likevirtue。Men，takingthemgenerally，aremorelikecats。
　　Youmaylivewiththemandcallthemyoursfortwentyyears，butyoucanneverfeel_quite_sureofthem。Youneverknowexactlywhattheyarethinkingof。Youneverfeeleasyinyourmindastotheresultofthenext—doorneighbor’slayingdownaBrusselscarpetinhiskitchen。
　　Wehavenoschoolfortheturning—outofstanchmeninthisnineteenthcentury。Intheold，earnesttimes，warmademenstanchandtruetoeachother。Wehavelearnedupagoodmanyglibphrasesaboutthewickednessofwar，andwethankGodthatweliveinthesepeaceful，tradingtimes，whereinwecan——anddo——devotethewholeofourthoughtsandenergiestorobbingandcheatingandswindlingoneanother——to"doing"ourfriends，andovercomingourenemiesbytrickeryandlies——wherein，undisturbedbythewickedwaysoffighting—men，wecancultivatetobetterperfectionthe"smartness，"
　　thecraft，andthecunning，andalltheother"business—like"virtuesonwhichwesoprideourselves，andwhichweresoneglectedandtreatedwithsolittlerespectinthebadoldageofviolence，whenmenchoselionsandeaglesfortheirsymbolsratherthanfoxes。
　　Thereisagooddealtobesaidagainstwar。Iamnotpreparedtomaintainthatwardidnotbringwithitdisadvantages，buttherecanbenodoubtthat，forthenoblestworkofNature——themakingofmen——itwasasplendidmanufactory。Ittaughtmencourage。Ittrainedtheminpromptnessanddetermination，instrengthofbrainandstrengthofhand。Fromitssternlessonstheylearnedfortitudeinsuffering，coolnessindanger，cheerfulnessunderreverses。Chivalry，Reverence，andLoyaltyarethebeautifulchildrenofuglyWar。But，aboveallgifts，thegreatestgiftitgavetomenwasstanchness。
　　Itfirsttaughtmentobetruetooneanother;tobetruetotheirduty，truetotheirpost;tobeinallthingsfaithful，evenuntodeath。
　　Themartyrsthatdiedatthestake;theexplorersthatfoughtwithNatureandopeneduptheworldforus;thereformers（theyhadtodosomethingmorethantalkinthosedays）whowonforusourliberties;
　　themenwhogavetheirlivestoscienceandart，whenscienceandartbrought，notasnow，fameandfortune，butshameandpenury——theysprangfromtheloinsoftheruggedmenwhohadlearned，onmanyagrimbattlefield，tolaughatpainanddeath，whohadhadithammeredintothem，withmanyahardblow，thatthewholedutyofamaninthisworldistobetruetohistrust，andfearnot。
　　DoyourememberthestoryoftheoldVikingwhohadbeenconvertedtoChristianity，andwho，justastheywereabout，withmuchjoy，tobaptizehim，pausedandasked:"Butwhat——ifthis，asyoutellme，istheonlywaytothetrueValhalla——whathasbecomeofmycomrades，myfriendswhoaredead，whodiedintheoldfaith——wherearethey？"
　　Thepriests，confused，repliedtherecouldbenodoubtthoseunfortunatefolkhadgonetoaplacetheywouldrathernotmention。
　　"Then，"saidtheoldwarrior，steppingback，"Iwillnotbebaptized。
　　Iwillgoalongwithmyownpeople。"
　　Hehadlivedwiththem，foughtbesidethem;theywerehispeople。Hewouldstandbythemtotheend——ofeternity。Mostassuredly，averyshockingoldViking！ButIthinkitmightbeworthwhilegivingupourcivilizationandourculturetogetbacktothedayswhentheymademenlikethat。
　　Theonlyreminderofsuchtimesthatwehaveleftusnow，isthebull—dog;andheisfastdyingout——thepityofit！Whatasplendidolddogheis！sogrim，sosilent，sostanch;soterrible，whenhehasgothisidea，ofhisdutyclearbeforehim;soabsurdlymeek，whenitisonlyhimselfthatisconcerned。
　　Heisthegentlest，too，andthemostlovableofalldogs。Hedoesnotlookit。Thesweetnessofhisdispositionwouldnotstrikethecasualobserveratfirstglance。Heresemblesthegentlemanspokenofintheoft—quotedstanza:
　　’E’sallrightwhenyerknows’im。
　　Butyer’vegottoknow’imfust。
　　ThefirsttimeIevermetabull—dog——tospeakto，thatis——wasmanyyearsago。Wewerelodgingdowninthecountry，anorphanfriendofminenamedGeorge，andmyself，andonenight，cominghomelatefromsomedissolvingviewswefoundthefamilyhadgonetobed。Theyhadleftalightinourroom，however，andwewentinandsatdown，andbegantotakeoffourboots。
　　Andthen，forthefirsttime，wenoticedonthehearthrugabull—dog。
　　Adogwithamorethoughtfullyferociousexpression——adogwith，apparently，aheartmoredeadtoallennoblingandcivilizingsentiments——Ihaveneverseen。AsGeorgesaid，helookedmorelikesomeheathenidolthanahappyEnglishdog。
　　Heappearedtohavebeenwaitingforus;andheroseupandgreeteduswithaghastlygrin，andgotbetweenusandthedoor。
　　Wesmiledathim——asickly，propitiatorysmile。Wesaid，"Gooddog——poorfellow！"andweaskedhim，intonesimplyingthatthequestioncouldadmitofnonegative，ifhewasnota"niceoldchap。"
　　Wedidnotreallythinkso。Wehadourownprivateopinionconcerninghim，anditwasunfavorable。Butwedidnotexpressit。Wewouldnothavehurthisfeelingsfortheworld。Hewasavisitor，ourguest，sotospeak——and，aswell—brought—upyoungmen，wefeltthattherightthingtodowasforustopreventhisgaininganyhintthatwewerenotgladtoseehim，andtomakehimfeelaslittleaspossibletheawkwardnessofhisposition。
　　Ithinkwesucceeded。Hewassingularlyunembarrassed，andfarmoreathiseasethanevenwewere。Hetookbutlittlenoticeofourflatteringremarks，butwasmuchdrawntowardGeorge’slegs。Georgeusedtobe，Iremember，ratherproudofhislegs。IcouldneverseeenoughinthemmyselftoexcuseGeorge’svanity;indeed，theyalwaysstruckmeaslumpy。Itisonlyfairtoacknowledge，however，thattheyquitefascinatedthatbull—dog。Hewalkedoverandcriticizedthemwiththeairofalong—baffledconnoisseurwhohadatlastfoundhisideal。Attheterminationofhisinspectionhedistinctlysmiled。
　　George，whoatthattimewasmodestandbashful，blushedanddrewthemupontothechair。Onthedog’sdisplayingadesiretofollowthem，Georgemovedupontothetable，andsquattedthereinthemiddle，nursinghisknees。George’slegsbeinglosttohim，thedogappearedinclinedtoconsolehimselfwithmine。IwentandsatbesideGeorgeonthetable。
　　Sittingwithyourfeetdrawnupinfrontofyou，onasmallandricketyone—leggedtable，isamosttryingexercise，especiallyifyouarenotusedtoit。GeorgeandIbothfeltourpositionkeenly。Wedidnotliketocalloutforhelp，andbringthefamilydown。Wewereproudyoungmen，andwefearedlest，totheunsympatheticeyeofthecomparativestranger，thespectacleweshouldpresentmightnotproveimposing。
　　Wesatoninsilenceforabouthalfanhour，thedogkeepingareproachfuleyeuponusfromthenearestchair，anddisplayingelephantinedelightwheneverwemadeanymovementsuggestiveofclimbingdown。