![VI
FATHER HECKER’S DESCRIPTION OF
FRUITLANDS
[Isaac Thomas Hecker was born in New York in 1819. Two years
after his experience at Brook Farm and Fruitlands he entered the
Roman Catholic church, and in 1849 he was ordained a priest. Later
he founded the Paulist Fathers. He died in 1888. The following
extracts are taken from a contemporary record of his impressions
while in the socialistic community.]
“Fruitlands,” so called because fruit was to be the principal staple of
daily food, and to be cultivated on the farm, was a spot well chosen;
it was retired, breathing quiet and tranquillity. No neighboring
dwelling obstructed the view of Nature, and it lay some distance
even from a bypath road, in a delightful solitude. The house,
somewhat dilapidated, was on the slope of a slowly ascending hill;
stretched before it was a small valley under cultivation, with fields of
corn, potatoes, and meadow. In the distance loomed up on high
“Cheshire’s haughty hill,” Monadnoc. Such was the spot chosen by
men inspired to live a holier life, to bring Eden once more upon
earth. These men were impressed with the religiousness of their
enterprise. When the first load of hay was driven into the barn and
the first fork was about to be plunged into it, one of the family took
off his hat and said, “I take off my hat, not that I reverence the barn
more than other places, but because this is the first fruit of our
labor.” Then a few moments were given to silence, that holy thought
might be awakened.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/76606-250316053034-c07eebb4/85/PostgreSQL-Server-Programming-2nd-Edition-Usama-Dar-31-320.jpg)
![“[In this final sentence, as it now stands in the diary and as we have
transcribed it, occurs one of those efforts of which we have spoken
to obliterate the traces of this early attachment. ‘Him’ was originally
written ‘her,’ but the r has been lengthened to an m, and the e
dotted, both with care which overshot their mark, by an almost
imperceptible hair’s breadth. If the nature of this attachment were
not so evident from other sources, we should have left such
passages unquoted; fearing lest they might be misunderstood. As it
is, the light they cast seems to us to throw up into fuller proportions
the kind and extent of the renunciations to which Isaac Hecker was
called before he had arrived at any clear view of the end to which
they tended.]”[9]
9. Walter Elliott’s Life of Father Hecker.
Fruitlands, July 12.
Last evening I arrived here. After tea I went out in the fields and
raked hay for an hour in company with the persons here. We
returned and had a conversation on clothing. Some very fine things
were said by Mr. Alcott and Mr. Lane. In most of their thoughts I
coincide; they are the same which of late have much occupied my
mind. Alcott said that “to Emerson the world was a lecture room, to
Brownson a rostrum.”
This morning after breakfast a conversation was held on Friendship
and its laws and conditions. Mr. Alcott places Innocence first;
Larned, Thoughtfulness; I, Seriousness; Lane, Fidelity.
July 13.
This morning after breakfast there was held a conversation on the
Highest Aim. Mr. Alcott said it was Integrity; I, Harmonic being;
Lane, Progressive being; Larned, Annihilation of self; Bower,](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/76606-250316053034-c07eebb4/85/PostgreSQL-Server-Programming-2nd-Edition-Usama-Dar-33-320.jpg)
![family who prevent his immediate plans of reformation; 4th, the fact
that his place has very little fruit on it, when it was and is their
desire that fruit should be the principal part of their diet; 5th, my
fear that they have too decided tendency toward literature and
writing for the prosperity and success of their enterprise.
[From this on, the diary is full of questionings and unrest. Should he
return to his family and live as an ordinary man, or should he listen
to the urge of the spirit within and seek further for the light? These
and other questions pursued him night and day. Finally he came to a
conclusion.]
July 23.
I will go home, be true to the spirit with the help of God, and wait
for further light and strength.... I feel that I cannot live at this place
as I would. This is not the place for my soul.... My life is not theirs.
They have been the means of giving me much light on myself, but I
feel I would live and progress more in a different atmosphere.
[It is interesting to note that after his return home he continued the
diet which was used at Fruitlands. The account of his life states:
“One of the first noteworthy things revealed by the diary, which from
this time on was kept with less regularity than before,—is that Isaac
not only maintained his abstemious habits after his return, but
increased their vigor.”]
August 30.
If the past nine months or more are any evidence, I find that I can
live on very simple diet—grains, fruit, and nuts. I have just
commenced to eat the latter; I drink pure water. So far I have had](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/76606-250316053034-c07eebb4/85/PostgreSQL-Server-Programming-2nd-Edition-Usama-Dar-36-320.jpg)
![Monday, 12.
This morning mother baked. I read. Mrs. Lovejoy and Mrs. Willard
came here to see mother. In the afternoon I read and wrote, and
took a walk with the girls into the woods. In the evening I played
and had a shower bath, and then went to bed.
Tuesday, 13.
Mrs. Willard came here and helped mother wash to-day. I helped her
some. In the morning I took care of Abba and wrote some. In the
afternoon I played, studied, and worked. When Mrs. Willard went
home Louisa and I walked with her to learn the way to the house
where she lives, for as she took some sewing to do for mother, we
wanted to know the way there. We saw some young women
braiding straw hats. One of them did it very fast indeed. I think I
should like to know how to make hats. Their mother asked us to
come and see them (her name is Willard) and mother said we might
go. We rode home with Mr. Wyman. When we got here we found
two young ladies and a girl who came to see us. They soon went
home. I ate my supper and soon after it went to my bed.
Wednesday, 14.
I ironed to-day with mother, and read some. I have not very much to
say and so I will write a French fable. [Here a fable is written out in
very good French.]
Thursday, 15.
This morning I felt quite unwell, so I laid down and saw Louisa keep
school for Lizzie and Abba. I read in “Tales of a Traveller” most all
the morning. In the afternoon I had a composition lesson, and then](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/76606-250316053034-c07eebb4/85/PostgreSQL-Server-Programming-2nd-Edition-Usama-Dar-46-320.jpg)
PostgreSQL Server Programming 2nd Edition Usama Dar
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- 5. PostgreSQL Server Programming 2nd Edition Usama Dar Digital Instant Download Author(s): Usama Dar, Hannu Krosing, JimMlodgenski, Kirk Roybal ISBN(s): 9781783980581, 1783980583 Edition: 2 File Details: PDF, 2.28 MB Year: 2015 Language: english
- 8. PostgreSQL Server Programming Second Edition
- 9. Table of Contents PostgreSQL Server Programming Second Edition Credits About the Authors About the Reviewers www.PacktPub.com Support files, eBooks, discount offers, and more Why subscribe? Free access for Packt account holders Preface What this book covers What you need for this book Who this book is for Conventions Reader feedback Customer support Downloading the example code Errata Piracy Questions 1. What Is a PostgreSQL Server? Why program in the server? Using PL/pgSQL for integrity checks About this book’s code examples Switching to the expanded display Moving beyond simple functions Data comparisons using operators Managing related data with triggers Auditing changes Data cleaning
- 10. Custom sort orders Programming best practices KISS – keep it simple stupid DRY – don’t repeat yourself YAGNI – you ain’t gonna need it SOA – service-oriented architecture Type extensibility Caching Wrapping up – why program in the server? Performance Ease of maintenance Improved productivity Simple ways to tighten security Summary 2. Server Programming Environments Cost of acquisition Availability of developers Licensing Predictability Community Procedural languages Third-party tools Platform compatibility Application design Databases are considered harmful Encapsulation What does PostgreSQL offer? Data locality More basics Transactions General error reporting and error handling
- 11. User-defined functions Other parameters More control Summary 3. Your First PL/pgSQL Function Why PL/pgSQL? The structure of a PL/pgSQL function Accessing function arguments Conditional expressions Loops with counters Statement termination Looping through query results PERFORM versus SELECT Looping Through Arrays Returning a record Acting on the function’s results Summary 4. Returning Structured Data Sets and arrays Returning sets Returning a set of integers Using a set returning function Functions based on views OUT parameters and records OUT parameters Returning records Using RETURNS TABLE Returning with no predefined structure Returning SETOF ANY Variadic argument lists A summary of the RETURN SETOF variants
- 12. Returning cursors Iterating over cursors returned from another function Wrapping up of functions returning cursors Other ways to work with structured data Complex data types for the modern world – XML and JSON XML data type and returning data as XML from functions Returning data in the JSON format Summary 5. PL/pgSQL Trigger Functions Creating the trigger function Creating the trigger Working on a simple “Hey, I’m called” trigger The audit trigger Disallowing DELETE Disallowing TRUNCATE Modifying the NEW record The timestamping trigger The immutable fields trigger Controlling when a trigger is called Conditional triggers Triggers on specific field changes Visibility Most importantly – use triggers cautiously! Variables passed to the PL/pgSQL TRIGGER function Summary 6. PostgreSQL Event Triggers Use cases for creating event triggers Creating event triggers Creating an audit trail Preventing schema changes A roadmap of event triggers
- 13. Summary 7. Debugging PL/pgSQL Manual debugging with RAISE NOTICE Throwing exceptions Logging to a file The advantages of RAISE NOTICE The disadvantages of RAISE NOTICE Visual debugging Installing the debugger Installing the debugger from the source Installing pgAdmin3 Using the debugger The advantages of the debugger The disadvantages of the debugger Summary 8. Using Unrestricted Languages Are untrusted languages inferior to trusted ones? Can you use untrusted languages for important functions? Will untrusted languages corrupt the database? Why untrusted? Why PL/Python? Quick introduction to PL/Python A minimal PL/Python function Data type conversions Writing simple functions in PL/Python A simple function Functions returning a record Table functions Running queries in the database Running simple queries Using prepared queries
- 14. Caching prepared queries Writing trigger functions in PL/Python Exploring the inputs of a trigger A log trigger Constructing queries Handling exceptions Atomicity in Python Debugging PL/Python Using plpy.notice() to track the function’s progress Using assert Redirecting sys.stdout and sys.stderr Thinking out of the “SQL database server” box Generating thumbnails when saving images Sending an e-mail Listing directory contents Summary 9. Writing Advanced Functions in C The simplest C function – return (a + b) add_func.c Version 0 call conventions Makefile CREATE FUNCTION add(int, int) add_func.sql.in Summary for writing a C function Adding functionality to add(int, int) Smart handling of NULL arguments Working with any number of arguments Basic guidelines for writing C code Memory allocation Use palloc() and pfree() Zero-fill the structures
- 15. Include files Public symbol names Error reporting from C functions “Error” states that are not errors When are messages sent to the client? Running queries and calling PostgreSQL functions A sample C function using SPI Visibility of data changes More info on SPI_* functions Handling records as arguments or returned values Returning a single tuple of a complex type Extracting fields from an argument tuple Constructing a return tuple Interlude – what is Datum? Returning a set of records Fast capturing of database changes Doing something at commit/rollback Synchronizing between backends Writing functions in C++ Additional resources for C Summary 10. Scaling Your Database with PL/Proxy Creating a simple single-server chat Dealing with success – splitting tables over multiple databases What expansion plans work and when? Moving to a bigger server Master-slave replication – moving reads to slave Multimaster replication Data partitioning across multiple servers Splitting the data PL/Proxy – the partitioning language
- 16. Installing PL/Proxy The PL/Proxy language syntax CONNECT, CLUSTER, and RUN ON SELECT and TARGET SPLIT – distributing array elements over several partitions The distribution of data Configuring the PL/Proxy cluster using functions Configuring the PL/Proxy cluster using SQL/MED Moving data from the single to the partitioned database Connection Pooling Summary 11. PL/Perl – Perl Procedural Language When to use PL/Perl Installing PL/Perl A simple PL/Perl function Passing and returning non-scalar types Writing PL/Perl triggers Untrusted Perl Summary 12. PL/Tcl – Tcl Procedural Language Installing PL/Tcl A simple PL/Tcl function Null checking with Strict functions The parameter format Passing and returning arrays Passing composite-type arguments Accessing databases Writing PL/Tcl triggers Untrusted Tcl Summary 13. Publishing Your Code as PostgreSQL Extensions
- 17. When to create an extension Unpackaged extensions Extension versions The .control file Building an extension Installing an extension Viewing extensions Publishing your extension Introduction to PostgreSQL Extension Network Signing up to publish your extension Creating an extension project the easy way Providing the metadata about the extension Writing your extension code Creating the package Submitting the package to PGXN Installing an extension from PGXN Summary 14. PostgreSQL as an Extensible RDBMS What can’t be extended? Creating a new operator Overloading an operator Optimizing operators COMMUTATOR NEGATOR Creating index access methods Creating user-defined aggregates Using foreign data wrappers Summary Index
- 19. PostgreSQL Server Programming Second Edition
- 21. PostgreSQL Server Programming Second Edition Copyright © 2015 Packt Publishing All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews. Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the authors, nor Packt Publishing, and its dealers and distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book. Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information. First published: June 2013 Second edition: February 2015 Production reference: 1210215 Published by Packt Publishing Ltd. Livery Place 35 Livery Street Birmingham B3 2PB, UK. ISBN 978-1-78398-058-1 www.packtpub.com
- 23. Credits Authors Usama Dar Hannu Krosing Jim Mlodgenski Kirk Roybal Reviewers Stephen Frost Rick van Hattem Vibhor Kumar Jeff Lawson Mariano Reingart Julien Tachoires Commissioning Editor Usha Iyer Acquisition Editors Antony Lowe Meeta Rajani Sam Wood Content Development Editor Adrian Raposo Technical Editors Mrunmayee Patil Chinmay Puranik Copy Editors Dipti Kapadia Aarti Saldanha Project Coordinator Kinjal Bari Proofreaders Maria Gould
- 24. Linda Morris Indexer Monica Ajmera Mehta Production Coordinator Nitesh Thakur Cover Work Nitesh Thakur
- 26. Other documents randomly have different content
- 27. “Young men and young maidens, old men and women, should visit them and be inspired. I think there is as much merit in beautiful manners as in hard work. I will not prejudge them successful. They look well in July; we will see them in December. I know they are better for themselves than as partners. One can easily see that they have yet to settle several things. Their saying that things are clear, and they sane, does not make them so. If they will in very deed be lovers, and not selfish; if they will serve the town of Harvard, and make their neighbors feel them as benefactors wherever they touch them,—they are as safe as the sun.” Mr. Sanborn, referring to the remark, “We will see them in December,” says: “This passage indicates that Emerson with his fatal gift of perception had long since seen the incongruity between Alcott and Lane. At this time all was still fair weather at the Fruitlands Eden, although the burden of too much labor, of which Lane had written to Thoreau in June, had been falling more and more heavily on Mrs. Alcott and her daughters, Anna, then twelve, and Louisa, not quite eleven. As they did so much of the domestic drudgery, Mrs. Alcott doubtless thought it no more than right that her English guests, both there and at Concord, during the seven months that Lane and his son were in their household, should pay their share of the family expenses.” The house at times was very overcrowded and the children had their beds up in the garret. But Anna begged hard for a tiny room adjoining Mrs. Alcott’s, and great was the joy she took in it. Of course it all was very primitive. The men bathed in the brook in the early morning and the shower-baths that Anna speaks of in her diary were accomplished thus:—rough clothes-horses covered with sheets were put in a circle and the bathers stood hidden within, while Mr. Alcott, mounted on some wooden steps, poured water from a pitcher through a sieve on their head. (This was told the author by an old lady who when very young went to visit the children.)
- 28. Hired laborers and beasts of burden were against the principles of the Community, but in order to make headway against the advancing season they seemed to be a necessity. This concession, however, troubled the philosophers, and it was decided to carry out the original plan and rely wholly on the spade instead of the plough, even at a cost of valuable time. The results were rather disastrous: Charles Lane’s hands became sore and painful, and lame backs seriously interfered with progress. Sobered by this new experience, the philosophers met in conclave, and as a result Joseph Palmer, who always came to the rescue in trying situations, went to No Town and brought back his plough and yoke of oxen, as he called it—it really was an ox and a cow which he had trained to work together. Besides the outdoor work much writing was done indoors. Charles Lane and Bower wrote prolifically to different papers. The Herald of Freedom, the Vermont Telegraph and the New York Tribune of that summer are full of their writings. Mr. Alcott’s Diary furnishes clear evidence of his purposes and hopes: — “I would abstain from the fruits of oppression and blood, and am seeking means of entire independence. This, were I not holden by penury unjustly, would be possible. One miracle we have wrought nevertheless, and shall soon work all of them: Our wine is water, flesh, bread—drugs, fruits; and we defy meekly the satyrs all, and Æsculapians. The Soul’s banquet is an art divine.... This Beast named Man has yet most costly tastes, and must first be transformed into a very Man, regenerate in appetite and desire, before the earth shall be restored to fruitfulness, and redeemed from the curse of his cupidity. Then shall the toils of the farm become eloquent and invigorating leisures; Man shall grow his orchards and plant his gardens—an husbandman truly, sowing and reaping in hope, and a partaker in his hope. Labor will be attractive; life will not be worn in anxious and indurating toils; it will be a scene of mixed leisure, recreation, labor, culture. The soil, grateful then for man’s generous usage, debauched no more by foul ordures, nor worn by
- 29. cupidities, shall recover its primeval virginity, bearing on its bosom the standing bounties which a sober and liberal Providence ministers to his heed—sweet and invigorating growths, for the health and comfort of the grower.” Mr. Sanborn, commenting on this, remarks:— “It was in the spirit of the passages just quoted from Alcott’s diary ... and not from the ordinary Fourieristic notions about attractions and destinies and coöperative housekeeping that Alcott undertook his experiment at ‘Fruitlands.’” Alcott’s theory of human life was thus set down in his Diary:— “I have been (as is ever the habit of my mind) striving to apprehend the real in the seeming, to strip ideas of their adventitious phrases, and behold them in their order and powers. I have sought to penetrate the showy terrestrial to find the heavenly things; I have tried to translate into ideas the language and images of spirit, and thus to read God in his works. The outward I have seen as the visible type of the inward. Ever doth this same nature double its divine form, and stand forth—now before the inner, now before the outer sense of man—at once substance and form, image and idea, so that God shall never slip wholly from consciousness of the Soul. Faith apprehends his agency, even in the meanest and most seemingly trivial act, whenever organ or matter undergo change of function or mode of form,—Spirit being all in all. Amidst all tumults and discomfitures, all errors and evils, Faith discerns the subtle bond that marries opposite natures, clinging to that which holds all in harmonious union. It unites opposites; it demolishes opposing forces. It melts all solid and obstinate matters. It makes fluid the material universe. It hopes even in despair, believes in the midst of doubts, apprehends stability and order even in confusion and anarchy, and, while all without is perturbed and wasting, it possesses itself in quietude and repose within. It abides in the unswerving, is mighty in the omnipotent, and enduring in the
- 30. eternal. The soul quickened by its agency, though borne on the waves of the mutable and beset by the winds of error and the storms of evil, shall ride securely under this directing hand to the real and the true. In the midst of change, it shall remain unchanged. For to such a faith is the divine order of God made known. All visible things are but manifestations of this order. Nature, with all its change, is but the activity of this power. It flows around and obeys the invisible self-anchored spirit. Mutability to such a vision, is as the eddy that spirit maketh around its own self-circling agency, revealing alike in the smallest ripple and the mightiest surges the power that stirreth at the centre.”
- 31. VI FATHER HECKER’S DESCRIPTION OF FRUITLANDS [Isaac Thomas Hecker was born in New York in 1819. Two years after his experience at Brook Farm and Fruitlands he entered the Roman Catholic church, and in 1849 he was ordained a priest. Later he founded the Paulist Fathers. He died in 1888. The following extracts are taken from a contemporary record of his impressions while in the socialistic community.] “Fruitlands,” so called because fruit was to be the principal staple of daily food, and to be cultivated on the farm, was a spot well chosen; it was retired, breathing quiet and tranquillity. No neighboring dwelling obstructed the view of Nature, and it lay some distance even from a bypath road, in a delightful solitude. The house, somewhat dilapidated, was on the slope of a slowly ascending hill; stretched before it was a small valley under cultivation, with fields of corn, potatoes, and meadow. In the distance loomed up on high “Cheshire’s haughty hill,” Monadnoc. Such was the spot chosen by men inspired to live a holier life, to bring Eden once more upon earth. These men were impressed with the religiousness of their enterprise. When the first load of hay was driven into the barn and the first fork was about to be plunged into it, one of the family took off his hat and said, “I take off my hat, not that I reverence the barn more than other places, but because this is the first fruit of our labor.” Then a few moments were given to silence, that holy thought might be awakened.
- 32. July 7, 1843. Brook Farm. I go to Mr. Alcott’s next Tuesday, if nothing happens. I have had three pairs of coarse pants and a coat made for me. It is my intention to commence work as soon as I get there. I will gradually simplify my dress without making any sudden difference, although it would be easier to make a radical and thorough change at once than piece by piece. But this will be a lesson in patient perseverance to me. All our difficulties should be looked at in such a light as to improve and elevate our minds. I can hardly prevent myself from saying how much I shall miss the company of those I love and associate with here. But I must go. I am called with a stronger voice. This is a different trial from any I have ever had. I have never had that of leaving kindred, but now I have that of leaving those whom I love from affinity. If I wished to live a life the most gratifying to me, and in agreeable company, I certainly would remain here. Here are refining amusements, cultivated persons—and one whom I have not spoken of, one who is too much to me to speak of, one who would leave all for me. Alas! him I must leave to go. ISAAC T. HECKER
- 33. “[In this final sentence, as it now stands in the diary and as we have transcribed it, occurs one of those efforts of which we have spoken to obliterate the traces of this early attachment. ‘Him’ was originally written ‘her,’ but the r has been lengthened to an m, and the e dotted, both with care which overshot their mark, by an almost imperceptible hair’s breadth. If the nature of this attachment were not so evident from other sources, we should have left such passages unquoted; fearing lest they might be misunderstood. As it is, the light they cast seems to us to throw up into fuller proportions the kind and extent of the renunciations to which Isaac Hecker was called before he had arrived at any clear view of the end to which they tended.]”[9] 9. Walter Elliott’s Life of Father Hecker. Fruitlands, July 12. Last evening I arrived here. After tea I went out in the fields and raked hay for an hour in company with the persons here. We returned and had a conversation on clothing. Some very fine things were said by Mr. Alcott and Mr. Lane. In most of their thoughts I coincide; they are the same which of late have much occupied my mind. Alcott said that “to Emerson the world was a lecture room, to Brownson a rostrum.” This morning after breakfast a conversation was held on Friendship and its laws and conditions. Mr. Alcott places Innocence first; Larned, Thoughtfulness; I, Seriousness; Lane, Fidelity. July 13. This morning after breakfast there was held a conversation on the Highest Aim. Mr. Alcott said it was Integrity; I, Harmonic being; Lane, Progressive being; Larned, Annihilation of self; Bower,
- 34. Repulsion of the evil in us. Then there was a confession of the obstacles which prevent us from attaining the highest aim. Mine was the doubt whether the light is light; not want of will to follow, or light to see. July 17. I cannot understand what it is that leads me, or what I am after. Being is incomprehensible. What shall I be led to? Is there a being whom I may marry and who would be the means of opening my eyes? Sometimes I think so, but it appears impossible. Why should others tell me that it is so, and will be so, in an unconscious way, as Larned did on Sunday last, and as others have done before him? Will I be led home? It strikes me these people here, Alcott and Lane, will be a great deal to me. I do not know but they may be what I am looking for, or the answer to that in me which is asking. Can I say it? I believe it should be said. Here I cannot end. They are too near me; they do not awaken in me that sense of their high superiority which would keep me here to be bettered, to be elevated. They have much, very much. I desire Mr. Alcott’s strength of self-denial, and the unselfishness of Mr. Lane in money matters. In both these they are far my superior. I would be meek, humble, and sit at their feet that I might be as they are. They do not understand me, but if I am what my consciousness, my heart, lead me to feel,—if I am not deceived,—why, then I can wait. Yes, patiently wait. Is not this the first time since I have been here that I have recovered myself? Do I not feel that I have something to receive here, to add to, to increase my highest life, which I have never felt anywhere else? Is this sufficient to keep me here? If I can prophesy, I must say no. I feel that it will not fill my capacity. Oh God! strengthen my resolution. Let me not waver, and continue my life. But I am sinful. Oh forgive my sins! what shall I do, O Lord! that they may be
- 35. blotted out? Lord could I only blot them out from my memory, nothing would be too great or too much. July 18. I have thought of my family this afternoon, and the happiness and love with which I might return to them. To leave them, to give up the idea of living with them again.—Can I entertain that idea? Still, I cannot conceive how I can engage in business, share the practices, and indulge myself with the food and garmenture of our home and city. To return home, were it possible for me, would most probably not only stop my progress, but put me back. It is useless for me to speculate upon my future. Put dependence on the spirit which leads me, be faithful to it, work and leave results to God. If the question should be asked me, whether I would give up my kindred and business and follow out this spirit life, or return and enjoy them both, I could not hesitate a moment, for they would not compare— there would be no room for choice. What I do I must do, for it is not I that do it; it is the spirit. What that spirit may be is a question I cannot answer. What it leads me to do will be the only evidence of its character. I feel as impersonal as a stranger to it. I ask who are you? Where are you going to take me? Why me? Why not some one else? Alas! I cry, who am I and what does this mean? And I am lost in wonder. Saturday, July 21. Yesterday, after supper, a conversation took place between Mr. Alcott, Mr. Lane, and myself; the subject was my position with regard to my family, my duty, and my position here. Mr. Alcott asked for my first impressions as regards the hinderances that I have noted since coming here. I told him candidly they were: First, his want of frankness; 2d, his disposition to separateness rather than win co-operation with the aims in his own mind; 3d, his
- 36. family who prevent his immediate plans of reformation; 4th, the fact that his place has very little fruit on it, when it was and is their desire that fruit should be the principal part of their diet; 5th, my fear that they have too decided tendency toward literature and writing for the prosperity and success of their enterprise. [From this on, the diary is full of questionings and unrest. Should he return to his family and live as an ordinary man, or should he listen to the urge of the spirit within and seek further for the light? These and other questions pursued him night and day. Finally he came to a conclusion.] July 23. I will go home, be true to the spirit with the help of God, and wait for further light and strength.... I feel that I cannot live at this place as I would. This is not the place for my soul.... My life is not theirs. They have been the means of giving me much light on myself, but I feel I would live and progress more in a different atmosphere. [It is interesting to note that after his return home he continued the diet which was used at Fruitlands. The account of his life states: “One of the first noteworthy things revealed by the diary, which from this time on was kept with less regularity than before,—is that Isaac not only maintained his abstemious habits after his return, but increased their vigor.”] August 30. If the past nine months or more are any evidence, I find that I can live on very simple diet—grains, fruit, and nuts. I have just commenced to eat the latter; I drink pure water. So far I have had
- 37. wheat ground and made into unleavened bread, but as soon as we get in a new lot, I shall try it in the grain. Hecker had evidently at this time a practical conviction of the truth of a principle which, in after years, he repeated in the form of a maxim of the Transcendentalists: “A gross feeder will never be a central thinker.” It is a truth of the spiritual no less than of the intellectual order. A little later we come upon the following profession of a vegetarian faith:— “Reasons for not eating animal food. “It does not feed the spirit. “It stimulates the propensities. “It is taking animal life when the other kingdoms offer sufficient and better increment. Slaughter strengthens the lower instincts. It is the chief cause of the slavery of the kitchen. “It generates in the body the diseases animals are subject to, and encourages in man their bestiality. “Its odor is offensive and its appearance unæsthetic.” Mr. Alcott’s death in 1888 was the occasion of reminiscences from Father Hecker, from which a few extracts are taken:— “When did I first know him? Hard to remember. He was the head of Fruitlands, as Ripley was of Brook Farm. They were entirely different men. Diogenes and his tub would have been Alcott’s ideal if he had carried it out. Ripley’s ideal would have been Epictetus. Ripley would have taken with him the good things of this life. Alcott would have rejected them all.” “How did he receive you at Fruitlands?” “Very kindly, but from mixed and selfish motives. I suspect he wanted me because he thought I would bring money to the Community. Lane was entirely unselfish.”
- 38. “Alcott was a man of great intellectual gifts or acquirements. His knowledge came chiefly from experience and instinct. He had an insinuating and persuasive way with him.” “What if he had been a Catholic, and thoroughly sanctified?” “He could have been nothing but a hermit like those of the fourth century—he was naturally and constitutionally so odd. Emerson, Alcott, and Thoreau were three consecrated cranks.” Here also are two interesting passages from the “Life of Father Hecker,” and a few memoranda of private conversations:— “Somebody once described ‘Fruitlands’ as a place where Mr. Alcott looked benign and talked philosophy, while Mrs. Alcott and the children did the work. Still to look benign is a good deal for a man to do persistently in an adverse world, indifferent for the most part to the charms of ‘divine philosophy,’ and Mr. Alcott persevered in that exercise until his latest day.” “He was unquestionably one of those who like to sit upon a platform,” wrote at the time of his death, one who knew Alcott well, “and he may have liked to feel that his venerable aspect had the effect of a benediction.” “But with this mild criticism, censure of him is well-nigh exhausted.” “Fruitlands was very different from Brook Farm—far more ascetic.” “You didn’t like it?” “Yes; but they did not begin to satisfy me. I said to them: If you had the Eternal here, all right, I would be with you.” “Had they no notion of hereafter?” “No, nothing definite. Their idea was human perfection. They set out to demonstrate what man can do in the way of the supremacy of the spiritual over the animal; All right, I said, I agree with you fully. I admire your asceticism; it is nothing new to me; I have practiced it a
- 39. long time myself. If you can get the Everlasting out of my mind, I’m yours. But I know that I am going to live forever.” “What did Mr. Alcott say when you left?” “He went to Lane and said, ‘Well, Hecker has flunked out. He hadn’t the courage to persevere. He’s a coward.’ But Lane said, ‘No; you’re mistaken. Hecker is right. He wanted more than we had to give him.’”
- 40. VII ANNA ALCOTT’S DIARY AT FRUITLANDS 1843. This morning I rose pretty early. After breakfast I read and wrote stories. In the afternoon I wrote some letters, And the following ode to Louisa:— Louisa dear With love sincere Accept this little gift from me. It is with pleasure I send this treasure And with it send much love to thee. Sister dear Never fear. God will help you if you try. Do not despair, But always care To be good and love to try. June 6, 1843. Having been busy helping arrange things for moving last Thursday, we left Concordia later for Harvard. I walked part of the way, the distance being 14 miles from Concord to Harvard. I felt sad at the thought of leaving Concord and all my little friends, the birth-place
- 41. of Abba where I had spent many happy hours; but Father and Mother and my dear sisters were going with me, and that would make me happy anywhere, I think. We arrived at our new home late in the afternoon. Our first load of furniture had come before us. We found Christy, Wood Abraham, and William all here. Mother was well pleased with the house. There is no beauty in the house itself, but to look out on three sides, you can see mountains, hills, woods, and in some places the Still River may be seen through the trees. At some distance are the Shaker Villages. On the whole, I like the house very well. After eating our supper we fixed our beds and went early to bed. Having no time to put up the bedsteads, we slept on the floor which made my back lame. Friday and Saturday in working and arranging the house in order. To-day in the morning I cleared the table and washed the dishes, being washing day. I washed with Mother and got dinner. In the afternoon I sewed and read. I did not do much this evening, for I went to bed when I had finished the dishes. The men have been planting to-day corn, and cutting wood and fixing round about the house out of doors. Wednesday, 11. I began my school to-day. We commenced by singing, “When the day with rosy light.” It seemed so pleasant to sing with my sisters. After singing I wrote my journal and the girls wrote in their books. They then studied arithmetic lesson. I then gave them a recess, after which they spelt, read and Louisa recited geography. At eleven the school was dismissed. In the afternoon I sewed for my dolly and took care of Abba, then all went to walk in the woods. It was quiet and beautiful there and I felt a calmness in myself. The sun was shining and the birds were singing in the branches of the high trees. It was so beautiful it seemed as if God was near me. I made some oak leaf wreaths, one for father and one for mother, and stuck flowers in them. They looked very pretty indeed. Then we returned from our walk and prepared for supper. In the evening I sang with Christy, William, mother, and sisters.
- 42. Thursday, 8. To-day I gave the children lessons this morning. In the afternoon I wrote. Christy is going to teach me arithmetic and composition, and the subject upon which I am to write is our plan of life. The part I wrote on to-day was flesh-eating. I will write it in here. ABBA MAY ALCOTT
- 43. LOUISA MAY ALCOTT ANNA BRONSON ALCOTT COMPOSITION Life was given to the animals not to be destroyed by men, but to make them happy, and that they might enjoy life. But men are not satisfied with slaying the innocent creatures, but they eat them and so make their bodies of flesh meat. O how many happy lives have been destroyed and how many loving families have been separated to please an unclean appetite of men! Why were the fruits, berries and vegetables given us if it was intended that we should eat flesh? I am sure it was not. We enjoy the beautiful sights and thoughts God has given us in peace. Why not let them do the same? We have souls to feel and think with, and as they have not the same power of thinking, they should be allowed to live in peace and not made to labour so hard and be beaten so much. Then to eat them! eat what has had life and feeling to make the body of the innocent animals! If treated kindly, they would be kind and tame and love men, but as they now are abused and
- 44. cruelly treated they do not feel the feeling of “love” towards men. Besides flesh is not clean food, and when there is beautiful juicy fruits who can be a flesh-eater? In the evening I sang again as I did last night. Friday, 9. After breakfast, it being my day for dishes, I cleared up the table. At eleven I had my composition lesson. In the afternoon I sewed, read and played. I sewed in the evening and went to bed early. Saturday, 10. This morning father and Mr. Lane went to visit the Shakers in Harvard town. I did the chamber work and then worked and made some bread for dinner, and prepared things ready for it. In the afternoon I laid down, it being very warm out, and read in “Devereux” which pleased me very well. It rained hard and steadily for some time. Father and Mr. Lane returned late in the afternoon. They brought home sweet things they had purchased of the Shakers. We played out on the grounds a little while and then I read and went to bed early. Sunday, 11. I read until 10 o’clock when we had reading. In the afternoon I read, wrote and had my lessons with Christy. In the evening I received a note from mother accompanied by a roll containing some wafers and some note paper. It was as follows:— Dear Anna:
- 45. I send you a little note paper and a few wafers. You have so much to do lately that I cannot expect you to write often to me, but you must not forget that this is a little duty of yours that gives me a great deal of happiness. This last word reminds me of one of father’s beautiful selections to-day. “Happiness is like the bird That broods above its nest And feels beneath its folded wings Life’s dearest and its best.” I am sure I feel as if I could fold my arms around you all, and say from my heart, “Here is my world within my embrace.” Let us try, dear Anna, to make it a good and beautiful world,—that when we are called to leave it we may be fit to join the good and beautiful of another sphere. All things proclaim In the valley and plain That God is near. Hills, vales and brooks, Sweet words and looks, Cast out all fear. Be the dove of our ark, Dear Anna remark You’re my eldest and best, Now you know all the rest, So farewell dear, God is near, No evil fear, Be happy here. Mother. I love to receive letters from mother. She always writes me such dear kind notes.
- 46. Monday, 12. This morning mother baked. I read. Mrs. Lovejoy and Mrs. Willard came here to see mother. In the afternoon I read and wrote, and took a walk with the girls into the woods. In the evening I played and had a shower bath, and then went to bed. Tuesday, 13. Mrs. Willard came here and helped mother wash to-day. I helped her some. In the morning I took care of Abba and wrote some. In the afternoon I played, studied, and worked. When Mrs. Willard went home Louisa and I walked with her to learn the way to the house where she lives, for as she took some sewing to do for mother, we wanted to know the way there. We saw some young women braiding straw hats. One of them did it very fast indeed. I think I should like to know how to make hats. Their mother asked us to come and see them (her name is Willard) and mother said we might go. We rode home with Mr. Wyman. When we got here we found two young ladies and a girl who came to see us. They soon went home. I ate my supper and soon after it went to my bed. Wednesday, 14. I ironed to-day with mother, and read some. I have not very much to say and so I will write a French fable. [Here a fable is written out in very good French.] Thursday, 15. This morning I felt quite unwell, so I laid down and saw Louisa keep school for Lizzie and Abba. I read in “Tales of a Traveller” most all the morning. In the afternoon I had a composition lesson, and then
- 47. saw father and Abraham winnow some corn and some barley. I then rode to the mill with him and took Abba with us. I never saw a mill working before that I recollect. I sewed when I came home and in the evening talked. Friday, 16. Uncle Christy went to Boston this morning. As I was running to bid him good-bye my foot slipped and I fell down on my back. It hurt me a good deal and I had a pain in my side. In the afternoon I went to bed and read. When I got up I fainted. I went to my bed early. Saturday, 24. This was Lizzie’s birthday. I arose before five o’clock and went with mother, William, and Louisa to the woods where we fixed a little pine tree in the ground and hung up all the presents on it. I then made a wreath for all of us of oak leaves. After breakfast we all, except Abraham, marched to the wood. Mr. Lane took his fiddle with him and we sang first. Then father read a parable, and then this ode which he wrote himself. I will write it on the next page. Father then asked me what flower I should give Lizzie on her birthday. I said a rose, the emblem of Love and Purity. Father also chose a rose. Louisa said a Lily-of-the-Valley, or innocence,—Mother said she should give her a Forget-me-not, or remembrance. Christy said the trailing Arbutus, the emblem of perseverance. Mr. Lane gave her a piece of moss, or humility. Abba gave her a Wakerobin. I do not know what that means. We then sang. Lizzie looked at her presents and seemed much pleased. Mother gave her a silk thread balloon, I a fan, Louisa a pin-cushion, William a book, Abba a little pitcher. Mr. Lane wrote some lines of poetry which I will write in here:— TO ELIZABETH
- 48. Of all the year the sunniest day Appointed for thy birth Is emblem of the longest stay With us upon the earth. Now dressed in flowers The merry hours Fill up the day and night. May your whole life Exempt from strife Shine forth as calm and bright. Fruitlands. Here is father’s:— BIRTHDAY ODE I
- 49. Here in the grove With those we love, In the cool shade Near mede and glade With clover tints ore’laid— A haunt which God ourselves have made— The trees among With leaves are hung. On sylvan plat, On forest mat, Near meadow sweet We take our seat, While all around Swells forth the sound Our happy hearts repeat. The wood and dell Our joy to tell The morning, and Our peace to share, Flows by his cool A balmy school, The Sun his fires His kindled iris Not yet inspires In mid-noon blaze His scorching rays, But all is calm and fresh and clear And all breathes peace around us here. II
- 50. Wake, wake harmonious swell Along this deep sequestered dell, Along the grass and brake, And where the cattle slake Their thirst, when glides Adown the sloping sides In ceaseless frit The wizard rivulet, And let the spring maze Join with violin note In hymning forth our praise From forth melodious throat Our holy joy to tell. III Father’s here And Mother dear And sisters all, The short and tall, And Father’s friends Whom Briton lends To noblest human ends, With younger arm From Brooklet farm, But absent now At yonder plough With shining, cleaving share Upturning to the upper air The obstinate soil, The sober son of hardy toil. IV
- 51. Here, here we all repair Our hope and love to share, To celebrate In rustic state Midst this refulgent whole The joyful advent of an angel soul That twice four years ago Our mundane world to know Descended from the upper skies A presence to our veriest eyes And now before us stands And asketh at our bounteous hands Some token of our zeal, In her most holy weal Before us stands arrayed In garments of a maid. Untainted and pure her soul As when she left the whole That doeth this marvelling scene And day by day doth preach The gospel meant for each That on this solid sphere For mortal’s ear. V
- 52. Then take our tokens all From great and small And close that noblest treasure beat That in your heart doth sleep. Mind what the spirit saith And plight therein thy faith, My very dear Elizabeth, Nor let the enemy wrest The heavenly harvest from that field, Nor tares permit to sow, Nor hate, nor woe In the pure soil God’s grace itself would sow;— But bloom and open all the day And be a flower that none shall pluck away, A rose of Fruitland’s quiet dell, A child intent on doing well Devout secluded from all sin Fragrance without and fair within A plant matured in God’s device An Amaranth in Paradise. Monday, 17 July, 1843. This morning, not feeling well, I did not join the singing class, but kept my bed till after breakfast. We had no lessons to-day and I sewed. I believe I will write a story called The May Morning.
- 53. A FABLE The May Morning Early one morning in May a father conducted his son Theodore into the garden of a rich man which the boy had never yet seen. The garden was situated at a distance from the city, and it was adorned with all sorts of shrubs and plants, beds of flowers and fruit trees, shady alleys and pleasant groves. Through the middle of the garden wandered a pellucid stream which fell from a rock and formed a large pool at its foot. In the cool dell the water turned a mill. In the most beautiful spot in the garden were seats entwined with roses and verdant bowers. Theodore could not satiate his eyes with the charms of the place. He walked beside his father mostly in silent amaze, but sometimes he would exclaim: “O Father, how lovely and beautiful is this garden!” When they had seen many things and were weary with their walk the father conducted the boy through the plantations to the fall of a stream and they sat down on the brow of a hill. Here they listened to the roaring of the water which tumbled foaming from the ledge of the rocks, and in the surrounding thickets were perched nightingales which mingled their strains with the hoarse murmur of the fall. And Theodore thought he never yet had heard nightingales sing so delightfully. While they thus sat and listened they heard the voice of a man and the voices of children. They were the children of the miller, a boy and a girl, and they were leading their old blind grandfather between them, and telling him about the beautiful shrubs and flowers by the wayside, and amusing the old man by their lively and simple prattle. They conducted him to a seat in an arbor and kissed him, and ran about the garden to gather flowers and fruit for him. But the old man smiled, and when he was alone he uncovered his head and
- 54. prayed with a cheerful countenance. Then the hearts of Theodore and his father overflowed, and they offered up prayer and praise with the old man, and Theodore was overcome by his feelings so that he could not repress his tears. The children soon afterwards appeared, and they shouted from afar, and they brought sweet-smelling flowers and ripe fruit to their blind grandfather. But Theodore said to his father as they were returning home, “O what a delightful, what a happy morning!” THE FOUNTAIN “The little fountain flows So noiseless through the wood The wanderer tastes repose And from its silent flood Learns meekly to do good.” It’s short, but I thought it was very pretty. Tuesday, 18. This morning after doing my work I had lessons. I wrote some in my journal and did some sums. In the afternoon I went blue-berrying with Lizzie and picked nearly, if not quite, a quart. I read in the evening. Wednesday, 19. We had a descriptive lesson this morning and each of us wrote a description of Fruitlands. I wrote the following one:—
- 55. “FRUITLANDS” It is a beautiful place surrounded by hills, green fields and woods, and Still River is at some distance flowing quietly along. Wachusett and Monadoc Mountains are in sight, and also some houses and fields of grain. The house itself is now very pleasantly situated. It has a vegetable garden behind it and some fruit trees. On the left a hill on the top of which are pastures and a road. In front is a small garden, and fields and a house at some distance. On the right is a large barn, grain and potato field, woods and mountains. There are many pleasant walks about Fruitlands, and berry fields, though the berries are not yet quite ripe. It is a pleasant place to live in, I think. THE COMMUNITY SETTLE Thursday, 20.
- 56. I had my lesson this morning with Mr. Lane and I did some sums with fractions. I never did any till Mr. Lane began to teach me, and I think I have learned more lately than I ever did before. I think I understand what I learn too. In the afternoon I had my shower bath and sewed. Mrs. Lovejoy came here to see Mother and brought her little baby with her. I took care of it a good deal. Charlotte and Ellen Dudley came to see me and went to Mrs. Barnard’s of an errand with me. I there became acquainted with Adelaide Barnard. We all went into the schoolhouse and played together. In the evening I sewed a little bit and then went to bed. Sunday, 23. I did not feel well this morning, so I did not attend the readings, but read in Miss Edgeworth’s “Belinda.” In the afternoon I sewed some and mother finished “Sowing and Reaping” aloud. I then went to look for blueberries, but did not find but a very few. When I returned I had supper and after that I read. Monday, 24. I had no lessons to-day, Mr. Lane being unwell and father busy. Mother washed and Louisa and I helped her. I then shelled some peas for dinner. Yesterday Christy went away. He will return sometime I guess. In the afternoon I read part of “Mademoiselle Panache.” I then wrote my journal and took care of Abba. William and I then ironed till we went to supper. In the evening I looked for berries and went pretty early to bed. Tuesday, 25. This morning I had lessons by myself. I did a French lesson and wrote in my journal. I then sewed some. In the afternoon I made
- 57. some little presents to give Abba as to-morrow is her birthday. I then raked hay. In the evening I read in “Motherless Ellen.” Wednesday, 26. Abba’s birthday. We did not do anything to celebrate except that I put some presents into her stocking last night and she found them there this morning. After breakfast father and Mr. Lane started for Boston with Mr. Hecker. We had no lessons. I washed, and the three other children went to a mill for a walk. I arranged a room for myself. It is to be my room and I to stay by myself in it. I then set the dinner table. The children did not return till after dinner. I had a bath and then arranged some pictures for my scrap-book. As Mother was going into the fields to help with the hay, I joined her, and after working there some time went with Louisa to look for berries. We found about a pint. In the evening I read in “Motherless Ellen” some more. I rose pretty early this morning and having bathed and dressed sat down to write my journal. Having done so I went downstairs and eat breakfast. After I had done I went with Louisa and William to pick blackberries. We got about two quarts. When we returned I read and then worked with William. In the afternoon I wrote and went to Mrs. Lovejoy’s. I then had a bath and wrote, after which I read in the newspapers. In the evening I played. POETRY
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