Shall I tell you, reader, to what I attribute my already much-restored
health? That I have been almost two years, off and on, without drugs
and medicines, and daily in the open air. Last summer I found a
particularly secluded little dell off one side by my creek, originally
a large dug-out marl-pit, now abandon'd, fill'd, with bushes, trees,
grass, a group of willows, a straggling bank, and a spring of
delicious water running right through the middle of it, with two or
three little cascades. Here I retreated every hot day, and follow it
up this summer. Here I realize the meaning of that old fellow who said
he was seldom less alone than when alone. Never before did I get so
close to Nature; never before did she come so close to me. By old
habit, I pencill'd down from time to time, almost automatically,
moods, sights, hours, tints and outlines, on the spot. Let me
specially record the satisfaction of this current forenoon, so serene
and primitive, so conventionally exceptional, natural.
An hour or so after breakfast I wended my way down to the recesses of
the aforesaid dell, which I and certain thrushes, cat-birds, &c., had
all to ourselves. A light south-west wind was blowing through the
tree-tops. It was just the place and time for my Adamic air-bath and
flesh-brushing from head to foot. So hanging clothes on a rail near
by, keeping old broadbrim straw on head and easy shoes on feet, havn't
I had a good time the last two hours! First with the stiff-elastic
bristles rasping arms, breast, sides, till they turn'd scarlet--then
partially bathing in the clear waters of the running brook--taking
everything very leisurely, with many rests and pauses--stepping about
barefooted every few minutes now and then in some neighboring black
ooze, for unctuous mud-bath to my feet--a brief second and third
rinsing in the crystal running waters--rubbing with the fragrant
towel--slow negligent promenades on the turf up and down in the
sun, varied with occasional rests, and further frictions of the
bristle-brush--sometimes carrying my portable chair with me from
place to place, as my range is quite extensive here, nearly a hundred
rods, feeling quite secure from intrusion, (and that indeed I am not
at all nervous about, if it accidentally happens.
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