Ihewedthemaintimberssixinchessquare，mostofthestudsontwosidesonly，andtheraftersandfloortimbersononeside，leavingtherestofthebarkon，sothattheywerejustasstraightandmuchstrongerthansawedones。Eachstickwascarefullymortisedortenonedbyitsstump，forIhadborrowedothertoolsbythistime。Mydaysinthewoodswerenotverylongones；yetI
　　usuallycarriedmydinnerofbreadandbutter，andreadthenewspaperinwhichitwaswrapped，atnoon，sittingamidthegreenpineboughswhichIhadcutoff，andtomybreadwasimpartedsomeoftheirfragrance，formyhandswerecoveredwithathickcoatofpitch。BeforeIhaddoneIwasmorethefriendthanthefoeofthepinetree，thoughIhadcutdownsomeofthem，havingbecomebetteracquaintedwithit。Sometimesaramblerinthewoodwasattractedbythesoundofmyaxe，andwechattedpleasantlyoverthechipswhichIhadmade。
　　BythemiddleofApril，forImadenohasteinmywork，butrathermadethemostofit，myhousewasframedandreadyfortheraising。IhadalreadyboughttheshantyofJamesCollins，anIrishmanwhoworkedontheFitchburgRailroad，forboards。JamesCollins’shantywasconsideredanuncommonlyfineone。WhenI
　　calledtoseeithewasnotathome。Iwalkedabouttheoutside，atfirstunobservedfromwithin，thewindowwassodeepandhigh。Itwasofsmalldimensions，withapeakedcottageroof，andnotmuchelsetobeseen，thedirtbeingraisedfivefeetallaroundasifitwereacompostheap。Theroofwasthesoundestpart，thoughagooddealwarpedandmadebrittlebythesun。Doorsilltherewasnone，butaperennialpassageforthehensunderthedoorboard。Mrs。C。
　　cametothedoorandaskedmetoviewitfromtheinside。Thehensweredriveninbymyapproach。Itwasdark，andhadadirtfloorforthemostpart，dank，clammy，andaguish，onlyhereaboardandthereaboardwhichwouldnotbearremoval。Shelightedalamptoshowmetheinsideoftheroofandthewalls，andalsothattheboardfloorextendedunderthebed，warningmenottostepintothecellar，asortofdustholetwofeetdeep。Inherownwords，theywere“goodboardsoverhead，goodboardsallaround，andagoodwindow“——oftwowholesquaresoriginally，onlythecathadpassedoutthatwaylately。Therewasastove，abed，andaplacetosit，aninfantinthehousewhereitwasborn，asilkparasol，gilt-framedlooking-glass，andapatentnewcoffee-millnailedtoanoaksapling，alltold。Thebargainwassoonconcluded，forJameshadinthemeanwhilereturned。Itopayfourdollarsandtwenty-fivecentstonight，hetovacateatfivetomorrowmorning，sellingtonobodyelsemeanwhile:Itotakepossessionatsix。Itwerewell，hesaid，tobethereearly，andanticipatecertainindistinctbutwhollyunjustclaimsonthescoreofgroundrentandfuel。Thisheassuredmewastheonlyencumbrance。AtsixIpassedhimandhisfamilyontheroad。Onelargebundleheldtheirall——
　　bed，coffee-mill，looking-glass，hens——allbutthecat；shetooktothewoodsandbecameawildcat，and，asIlearnedafterward，trodinatrapsetforwoodchucks，andsobecameadeadcatatlast。
　　Itookdownthisdwellingthesamemorning，drawingthenails，andremovedittothepond-sidebysmallcartloads，spreadingtheboardsonthegrasstheretobleachandwarpbackagaininthesun。
　　OneearlythrushgavemeanoteortwoasIdrovealongthewoodlandpath。IwasinformedtreacherouslybyayoungPatrickthatneighborSeeley，anIrishman，intheintervalsofthecarting，transferredthestilltolerable，straight，anddrivablenails，staples，andspikestohispocket，andthenstoodwhenIcamebacktopassthetimeofday，andlookfreshlyup，unconcerned，withspringthoughts，atthedevastation；therebeingadearthofwork，ashesaid。Hewastheretorepresentspectatordom，andhelpmakethisseeminglyinsignificanteventonewiththeremovalofthegodsofTroy。
　　Idugmycellarinthesideofahillslopingtothesouth，whereawoodchuckhadformerlydughisburrow，downthroughsumachandblackberryroots，andtheloweststainofvegetation，sixfeetsquarebysevendeep，toafinesandwherepotatoeswouldnotfreezeinanywinter。Thesideswereleftshelving，andnotstoned；butthesunhavingnevershoneonthem，thesandstillkeepsitsplace。
　　Itwasbuttwohours’work。Itookparticularpleasureinthisbreakingofground，forinalmostalllatitudesmendigintotheearthforanequabletemperature。Underthemostsplendidhouseinthecityisstilltobefoundthecellarwheretheystoretheirrootsasofold，andlongafterthesuperstructurehasdisappearedposterityremarkitsdentintheearth。Thehouseisstillbutasortofporchattheentranceofaburrow。
　　Atlength，inthebeginningofMay，withthehelpofsomeofmyacquaintances，rathertoimprovesogoodanoccasionforneighborlinessthanfromanynecessity，Isetuptheframeofmyhouse。NomanwasevermorehonoredinthecharacterofhisraisersthanI。Theyaredestined，Itrust，toassistattheraisingofloftierstructuresoneday。Ibegantooccupymyhouseonthe4thofJuly，assoonasitwasboardedandroofed，fortheboardswerecarefullyfeather-edgedandlapped，sothatitwasperfectlyimpervioustorain，butbeforeboardingIlaidthefoundationofachimneyatoneend，bringingtwocartloadsofstonesupthehillfromthepondinmyarms。Ibuiltthechimneyaftermyhoeinginthefall，beforeafirebecamenecessaryforwarmth，doingmycookinginthemeanwhileoutofdoorsontheground，earlyinthemorning:whichmodeIstillthinkisinsomerespectsmoreconvenientandagreeablethantheusualone。Whenitstormedbeforemybreadwasbaked，Ifixedafewboardsoverthefire，andsatunderthemtowatchmyloaf，andpassedsomepleasanthoursinthatway。Inthosedays，whenmyhandsweremuchemployed，Ireadbutlittle，buttheleastscrapsofpaperwhichlayontheground，myholder，ortablecloth，affordedmeasmuchentertainment，infactansweredthesamepurposeastheIliad。
　　ItwouldbeworththewhiletobuildstillmoredeliberatelythanIdid，considering，forinstance，whatfoundationadoor，awindow，acellar，agarret，haveinthenatureofman，andperchanceneverraisinganysuperstructureuntilwefoundabetterreasonforitthanourtemporalnecessitieseven。Thereissomeofthesamefitnessinaman’sbuildinghisownhousethatthereisinabird’sbuildingitsownnest。Whoknowsbutifmenconstructedtheirdwellingswiththeirownhands，andprovidedfoodforthemselvesandfamiliessimplyandhonestlyenough，thepoeticfacultywouldbeuniversallydeveloped，asbirdsuniversallysingwhentheyaresoengaged？Butalas！wedolikecowbirdsandcuckoos，whichlaytheireggsinnestswhichotherbirdshavebuilt，andcheernotravellerwiththeirchatteringandunmusicalnotes。Shallweforeverresignthepleasureofconstructiontothecarpenter？Whatdoesarchitectureamounttointheexperienceofthemassofmen？I
　　neverinallmywalkscameacrossamanengagedinsosimpleandnaturalanoccupationasbuildinghishouse。Webelongtothecommunity。Itisnotthetailoralonewhoistheninthpartofaman；itisasmuchthepreacher，andthemerchant，andthefarmer。
　　Whereisthisdivisionoflabortoend？andwhatobjectdoesitfinallyserve？Nodoubtanothermayalsothinkforme；butitisnotthereforedesirablethatheshoulddosototheexclusionofmythinkingformyself。
　　True，therearearchitectssocalledinthiscountry，andIhaveheardofoneatleastpossessedwiththeideaofmakingarchitecturalornamentshaveacoreoftruth，anecessity，andhenceabeauty，asifitwerearevelationtohim。Allverywellperhapsfromhispointofview，butonlyalittlebetterthanthecommondilettantism。Asentimentalreformerinarchitecture，hebeganatthecornice，notatthefoundation。Itwasonlyhowtoputacoreoftruthwithintheornaments，thateverysugarplum，infact，mighthaveanalmondorcarawayseedinit——thoughIholdthatalmondsaremostwholesomewithoutthesugar——andnothowtheinhabitant，theindweller，mightbuildtrulywithinandwithout，andlettheornamentstakecareofthemselves。Whatreasonablemaneversupposedthatornamentsweresomethingoutwardandintheskinmerely——thatthetortoisegothisspottedshell，ortheshell-fishitsmother-o’-pearltints，bysuchacontractastheinhabitantsofBroadwaytheirTrinityChurch？Butamanhasnomoretodowiththestyleofarchitectureofhishousethanatortoisewiththatofitsshell:norneedthesoldierbesoidleastotrytopainttheprecisecolorofhisvirtueonhisstandard。Theenemywillfinditout。Hemayturnpalewhenthetrialcomes。Thismanseemedtometoleanoverthecornice，andtimidlywhisperhishalftruthtotherudeoccupantswhoreallyknewitbetterthanhe。WhatofarchitecturalbeautyInowsee，Iknowhasgraduallygrownfromwithinoutward，outofthenecessitiesandcharacteroftheindweller，whoistheonlybuilder——outofsomeunconscioustruthfulness，andnobleness，withouteverathoughtfortheappearanceandwhateveradditionalbeautyofthiskindisdestinedtobeproducedwillbeprecededbyalikeunconsciousbeautyoflife。Themostinterestingdwellingsinthiscountry，asthepainterknows，arethemostunpretending，humbleloghutsandcottagesofthepoorcommonly；itisthelifeoftheinhabitantswhoseshellstheyare，andnotanypeculiarityintheirsurfacesmerely，whichmakesthempicturesque；andequallyinterestingwillbethecitizen’ssuburbanbox，whenhislifeshallbeassimpleandasagreeabletotheimagination，andthereisaslittlestrainingaftereffectinthestyleofhisdwelling。Agreatproportionofarchitecturalornamentsareliterallyhollow，andaSeptembergalewouldstripthemoff，likeborrowedplumes，withoutinjurytothesubstantials。Theycandowithoutarchitecturewhohavenoolivesnorwinesinthecellar。Whatifanequaladoweremadeabouttheornamentsofstyleinliterature，andthearchitectsofourbiblesspentasmuchtimeabouttheircornicesasthearchitectsofourchurchesdo？Soaremadethebelles-lettresandthebeaux-artsandtheirprofessors。Muchitconcernsaman，forsooth，howafewsticksareslantedoverhimorunderhim，andwhatcolorsaredaubeduponhisbox。Itwouldsignifysomewhat，if，inanyearnestsense，heslantedthemanddaubedit；butthespirithavingdepartedoutofthetenant，itisofapiecewithconstructinghisowncoffin——thearchitectureofthegrave——and“carpenter“isbutanothernamefor“coffin-maker。“Onemansays，inhisdespairorindifferencetolife，takeupahandfuloftheearthatyourfeet，andpaintyourhousethatcolor。Ishethinkingofhislastandnarrowhouse？
　　Tossupacopperforitaswell。Whatanabundanceofleisurebemusthave！Whydoyoutakeupahandfulofdirt？Betterpaintyourhouseyourowncomplexion；letitturnpaleorblushforyou。Anenterprisetoimprovethestyleofcottagearchitecture！Whenyouhavegotmyornamentsready，Iwillwearthem。
　　BeforewinterIbuiltachimney，andshingledthesidesofmyhouse，whichwerealreadyimpervioustorain，withimperfectandsappyshinglesmadeofthefirstsliceofthelog，whoseedgesIwasobligedtostraightenwithaplane。
　　Ihavethusatightshingledandplasteredhouse，tenfeetwidebyfifteenlong，andeight-feetposts，withagarretandacloset，alargewindowoneachside，twotrapdoors，onedoorattheend，andabrickfireplaceopposite。Theexactcostofmyhouse，payingtheusualpriceforsuchmaterialsasIused，butnotcountingthework，allofwhichwasdonebymyself，wasasfollows；andIgivethedetailsbecauseveryfewareabletotellexactlywhattheirhousescost，andfewerstill，ifany，theseparatecostofthevariousmaterialswhichcomposethem:——
　　Boardsmostlyshantyboards。
　　Refuseshinglesforroofsides
　　Laths1。25
　　Twosecond-handwindowswithglass
　　Onethousandoldbrick
　　TwocasksoflimeThatwashigh。
　　HairMorethanIneeded。
　　Mantle-treeiron
　　Hingesandscrews
　　TransportationIcarriedagoodpartmonmyback。
　　Theseareallthematerials，exceptingthetimber，stones，andsand，whichIclaimedbysquatter’sright。Ihavealsoasmallwoodshedadjoining，madechieflyofthestuffwhichwasleftafterbuildingthehouse。
　　IintendtobuildmeahousewhichwillsurpassanyonthemainstreetinConcordingrandeurandluxury，assoonasitpleasesmeasmuchandwillcostmenomorethanmypresentone。
　　Ithusfoundthatthestudentwhowishesforasheltercanobtainoneforalifetimeatanexpensenotgreaterthantherentwhichhenowpaysannually。IfIseemtoboastmorethanisbecoming，myexcuseisthatIbragforhumanityratherthanformyself；andmyshortcomingsandinconsistenciesdonotaffectthetruthofmystatement。Notwithstandingmuchcantandhypocrisy——
　　chaffwhichIfinditdifficulttoseparatefrommywheat，butforwhichIamassorryasanyman——Iwillbreathefreelyandstretchmyselfinthisrespect，itissucharelieftoboththemoralandphysicalsystem；andIamresolvedthatIwillnotthroughhumilitybecomethedevil’sattorney。Iwillendeavortospeakagoodwordforthetruth。AtCambridgeCollegethemererentofastudent’sroom，whichisonlyalittlelargerthanmyown，isthirtydollarseachyear，thoughthecorporationhadtheadvantageofbuildingthirty-twosidebysideandunderoneroof，andtheoccupantsufferstheinconvenienceofmanyandnoisyneighbors，andperhapsaresidenceinthefourthstory。Icannotbutthinkthatifwehadmoretruewisdomintheserespects，notonlylesseducationwouldbeneeded，because，forsooth，morewouldalreadyhavebeenacquired，butthepecuniaryexpenseofgettinganeducationwouldinagreatmeasurevanish。ThoseconvenienceswhichthestudentrequiresatCambridgeorelsewherecosthimorsomebodyelsetentimesasgreatasacrificeoflifeastheywouldwithpropermanagementonbothsides。Thosethingsforwhichthemostmoneyisdemandedareneverthethingswhichthestudentmostwants。