ChapterI。
Iwasthesecondsonofafarmer，whoseplaceofresidencewasawesterndistrictofPennsylvania。Myeldestbrotherseemedfittedbynaturefortheemploymenttowhichhewasdestined。Hiswishesneverledhimastrayfromthehay-stackandthefurrow。Hisideasneverrangedbeyondthesphereofhisvision，orsuggestedthepossibilitythatto-morrowcoulddifferfromto-day。Hecouldreadandwrite，becausehehadnoalternativebetweenlearningthelessonprescribedtohim，andpunishment。Hewasdiligent，aslongasfearurgedhimforward，buthisexertionsceasedwiththecessationofthismotive。Thelimitsofhisacquirementsconsistedinsigninghisname，andspellingoutachapterinthebible。
Mycharacterwasthereverseofhis。Mythirstofknowledgewasaugmentedinproportionasitwassuppliedwithgratification。
ThemoreIheardorread，themorerestlessandunconquerablemycuriositybecame。Mysenseswereperpetuallyalivetonovelty，myfancyteemedwithvisionsofthefuture，andmyattentionfasteneduponeverythingmysteriousorunknown。
Myfatherintendedthatmyknowledgeshouldkeeppacewiththatofmybrother，butconceivedthatallbeyondthemerecapacitytowriteandreadwasuselessorpernicious。Hetookasmuchpainstokeepmewithintheselimits，astomaketheacquisitionsofmybrothercomeuptothem，buthiseffortswerenotequallysuccessfulinbothcases。Themostvigilantandjealousscrutinywasexertedinvain:Reproachesandblows，painfulprivationsandignominiouspenanceshadnopowertoslackenmyzealandabatemyperseverance。Hemightenjoinuponmethemostlaborioustasks，settheenvyofmybrothertowatchmeduringtheperformance，makethemostdiligentsearchaftermybooks，anddestroythemwithoutmercy，whentheywerefound；buthecouldnotoutrootmydarlingpropensity。Iexertedallmypowerstoeludehiswatchfulness。
Censuresandstripesweresufficientlyunpleasingtomakemestrivetoavoidthem。Toeffectthisdesirableend，Iwasincessantlyemployedintheinventionofstratagemsandtheexecutionofexpedients。
Mypassionwassurelynotdeservingofblame，andIhavefrequentlylamentedthehardshipstowhichitsubjectedme；yet，perhaps，theclaimswhichweremadeuponmyingenuityandfortitudewerenotwithoutbeneficialeffectsuponmycharacter。
Thiscontentionlastedfromthesixthtothefourteenthyearofmyage。Myfather\'soppositiontomyschemeswasincitedbyasincerethoughunenlighteneddesireformyhappiness。Thatallhiseffortsweresecretlyeludedorobstinatelyrepelled，wasasourceofthebitterestregret。Hehasoftenlamented，withtears，whathecalledmyincorrigibledepravity，andencouragedhimselftoperseverancebythenotionoftheruinthatwouldinevitablyovertakemeifIwereallowedtopersistinmypresentcareer。
Perhapsthesufferingswhicharosetohimfromthedisappointment，wereequaltothosewhichheinflictedonme。
Inmyfourteenthyear，eventshappenedwhichascertainedmyfuturedestiny。OneeveningIhadbeensenttobringcowsfromameadow，somemilesdistantfrommyfather\'smansion。Mytimewaslimited，andIwasmenacedwithseverechastisementif，accordingtomycustom，Ishouldstaybeyondtheperiodassigned。
Forsometimethesemenacesrunginmyears，andIwentonmywaywithspeed。Iarrivedatthemeadow，butthecattlehadbrokenthefenceandescaped。Itwasmydutytocarryhometheearliesttidingsofthisaccident，butthefirstsuggestionwastoexaminethecauseandmannerofthisescape。Thefieldwasboundedbycedarrailing。Fiveoftheserailswerelaidhorizontallyfromposttopost。Theupperonehadbeenbrokeninthemiddle，buttheresthadmerelybeendrawnoutoftheholesononeside，andrestedwiththeirendsontheground。Themeanswhichhadbeenusedforthisend，thereasonwhyoneonlywasbroken，andthatonetheuppermost，howapairofhornscouldbesomanagedastoeffectthatwhichthehandsofmanwouldhavefounddifficult，suppliedathemeofmeditation。
Someaccidentrecalledmefromthisreverie，andremindedmehowmuchtimehadthusbeenconsumed。Iwasterrifiedattheconsequencesofmydelay，andsoughtwitheagernesshowtheymightbeobviated。IaskedmyselfiftherewerenotawaybackshorterthanthatbywhichIhadcome。Thebeatenroadwasrenderedcircuitousbyaprecipicethatprojectedintoaneighbouringstream，andclosedupapassagebywhichthelengthofthewaywouldhavebeendiminishedonehalf:atthefootofthecliffthewaterwasofconsiderabledepth，andagitatedbyaneddy。IcouldnotestimatethedangerwhichIshouldincurbyplungingintoit，butIwasresolvedtomaketheattempt。Ihavereasontothink，thatthisexperiment，ifithadbeentried，wouldhaveprovedfatal，andmyfather，whilehelamentedmyuntimelyfate，wouldhavebeenwhollyunconsciousthathisownunreasonabledemandshadoccasionedit。
Iturnedmystepstowardsthespot。Toreachtheedgeofthestreamwasbynomeansaneasyundertaking，somanyabruptpointsandgloomyhollowswereinterposed。Ihadfrequentlyskirtedandpenetratedthistract，buthadneverbeensocompletelyentangledinthemazeasnow:henceIhadremainedunacquaintedwithanarrowpass，which，atthedistanceofanhundredyardsfromtheriver，wouldconductme，thoughnotwithoutdangerandtoil，totheoppositesideoftheridge。
Thisglenwasnowdiscovered，andthisdiscoveryinducedmetochangemyplan。Ifapassagecouldbehereeffected，itwouldbeshorterandsaferthanthatwhichledthroughthestream，anditspracticabilitywastobeknownonlybyexperiment。Thepathwasnarrow，steep，andovershadowedbyrocks。Thesunwasnearlyset，andtheshadowofthecliffabove，obscuredthepassagealmostasmuchasmidnightwouldhavedone:Iwasaccustomedtodespisedangerwhenitpresenteditselfinasensibleform，but，byadefectcommonineveryone\'seducation，goblinsandspectresweretometheobjectsofthemostviolentapprehensions。Thesewereunavoidablyconnectedwithsolitudeanddarkness，andwerepresenttomyfearswhenIenteredthisgloomyrecess。
Theseterrorsarealwayslessenedbycallingtheattentionawaytosomeindifferentobject。Inowmadeuseofthisexpedient，andbegantoamusemyselfbyhallowingasloudasorgansofunusualcompassandvigourwouldenableme。Iutterredthewordswhichchancedtooccurtome，andrepeatedintheshrilltonesofaMohocksavage……\"Cow！cow！comehome！home！\"……Thesenoteswereofcoursereverberatedfromtherockswhichoneithersidetoweredaloft，buttheechowasconfusedandindistinct。
Icontinued，forsometime，thustobeguiletheway，tillI
reachedaspacemorethancommonlyabrupt，andwhichrequiredallmyattention。MyrudedittywassuspendedtillIhadsurmountedthisimpediment。InafewminutesIwasatleisuretorenewit。
Afterfinishingthestrain，Ipaused。InafewsecondsavoiceasIthenimagined，utteredthesamecryfromthepointofarocksomehundredfeetbehindme；thesamewords，withequaldistinctnessanddeliberation，andinthesametone，appearedtobespoken。Iwasstartledbythisincident，andcastafearfulglancebehind，todiscoverbywhomitwasuttered。ThespotwhereIstoodwasburiedindusk，buttheeminenceswerestillinvestedwithaluminousandvividtwilight。Thespeaker，however，wasconcealedfrommyview。
Ihadscarcelybeguntowonderatthisoccurrence，whenanewoccasionforwonder，wasaffordedme。Afewseconds，inlikemanner，elapsed，whenmydittywasagainrehearsed，withanolessperfectimitation，inadifferentquarterTothisquarterIeagerlyturnedmyeyes，butnoonewasvisible……Thestation，indeed，whichthisnewspeakerseemedtooccupy，wasinaccessibletomanorbeast。
IfIweresurprizedatthissecondrepetitionofmywords，judgehowmuchmysurprisemusthavebeenaugmented，whenthesamecallswereathirdtimerepeated，andcomingstillinanewdirection。Fivetimeswasthisdittysuccessivelyresounded，atintervalsnearlyequal，alwaysfromanewquarter，andwithlittleabatementofitsoriginaldistinctnessandforce。
Alittlereflectionwassufficienttoshewthatthiswasnomorethananechoofanextraordinarykind。Myterrorswerequicklysupplantedbydelight。Themotivestodispatchwereforgotten，andIamusedmyselfforanhour，withtalkingtothesecliffs:Iplacedmyselfinnewpositions，andexhaustedmylungsandmyinventioninnewclamours。
ThepleasuresofthisnewdiscoverywereanamplecompensationfortheilltreatmentwhichIexpectedonmyreturn。BysomecapriceinmyfatherIescapedmerelywithafewreproaches。I
seizedthefirstopportunityofagainvisitingthisrecess，andrepeatingmyamusement；time，andincessantrepetition，couldscarcelylessenitscharmsorexhaustthevarietyproducedbynewtonesandnewpositions。
ThehoursinwhichIwasmostfreefrominterruptionandrestraintwerethoseofmoonlight。MybrotherandIoccupiedasmallroomabovethekitchen，disconnected，insomedegree，withtherestofthehouse。Itwastheruralcustomtoretireearlytobedandtoanticipatetherisingofthesun。Whenthemoonlightwasstrongenoughtopermitmetoread，itwasmycustomtoescapefrombed，andhiewithmybooktosomeneighbouringeminence，whereIwouldremainstretchedonthemossyrock，tillthesinkingorbecloudedmoon，forbademetocontinuemyemployment。Iwasindebtedforbookstoafriendlypersonintheneighbourhood，whosecompliancewithmysolicitationswaspromptedpartlybybenevolenceandpartlybyenmitytomyfather，whomhecouldnotmoreegregiouslyoffendthanbygratifyingmyperverseandperniciouscuriosity。
InleavingmychamberIwasobligedtousetheutmostcautiontoavoidrousingmybrother，whosetemperdisposedhimtothwartmeintheleastofmygratifications。Mypurposewassurelylaudable，andyetonleavingthehouseandreturningtoit，Iwasobligedtousethevigilanceandcircumspectionofathief。
OnenightIleftmybedwiththisview。Ipostedfirsttomyvocalglen，andthencescramblingupaneighbouringsteep，whichoverlookedawideextentofthisromanticcountry，gavemyselfuptocontemplation，andtheperusalofMilton\'sComus。
Myreflectionswerenaturallysuggestedbythesingularityofthisecho。Tohearmyownvoicespeakatadistancewouldhavebeenformerlyregardedasprodigious。Toheartoo，thatvoice，notutteredbyanother，bywhomitmighteasilybemimicked，butbymyself！Icannotnowrecollectthetransitionwhichledmetothenotionofsounds，similartothese，butproducedbyothermeansthanreverberation。CouldInotsodisposemyorgansastomakemyvoiceappearatadistance？
FromspeculationIproceededtoexperiment。Theideaofadistantvoice，likemyown，wasintimatelypresenttomyfancy。I
exertedmyselfwithamostardentdesire，andwithsomethinglikeapersuasionthatIshouldsucceed。Istartedwithsurprise，foritseemedasifsuccesshadcrownedmyattempts。Irepeatedtheeffort，butfailed。Acertainpositionoftheorganstookplaceonthefirstattempt，altogethernew，unexampledandasitwere，byaccident，forIcouldnotattainitonthesecondexperiment。
YouwillnotwonderthatIexertedmyselfwithindefatigablezealtoregainwhathadonce，thoughforsoshortaspace，beeninmypower。Yourownearshavewitnessedthesuccessoftheseefforts。ByperpetualexertionIgaineditasecondtime，andnowwasadiligentobserverofthecircumstancesattendingit。
GraduallyIsubjectedthesefinerandmoresubtlemotionstothecommandofmywill。Whatwasatfirstdifficult，byexerciseandhabit，wasrenderedeasy。Ilearnedtoaccommodatemyvoicetoallthevarietiesofdistanceanddirection。
Itcannotbedeniedthatthisfacultyiswonderfulandrare，butwhenweconsiderthepossiblemodificationsofmuscularmotion，howfewoftheseareusuallyexerted，howimperfectlytheyaresubjectedtothewill，andyetthatthewilliscapableofbeingrenderedunlimitedandabsolute，willnotourwondercease？
WehaveseenmenwhocouldhidetheirtonguessoperfectlythatevenanAnatomist，afterthemostaccurateinspectionthatalivingsubjectcouldadmit，hasaffirmedtheorgantobewanting，butthiswaseffectedbytheexertionofmusclesunknownandincredibletothegreaterpartofmankind。
Theconcurrenceofteeth，palateandtongue，intheformationofspeechshouldseemtobeindispensable，andyetmenhavespokendistinctlythoughwantingatongue，andtowhom，therefore，teethandpalateweresuperfluous。Thetribeofmotionsrequisitetothisend，arewhollylatentandunknown，tothosewhopossessthatorgan。
Imeannottobemoreexplicit。Ihavenoreasontosupposeapeculiarconformationoractivityinmyownorgans，orthatthepowerwhichIpossessmaynot，withsuitabledirectionsandbysteadyefforts，beobtainedbyothers，butIwilldonothingtofacilitatetheacquisition。Itisbyfar，tooliabletoperversionforagoodmantodesiretopossessit，ortoteachittoanother。
Thereremainedbutonethingtorenderthisinstrumentaspowerfulinmyhandsasitwascapableofbeing。Frommychildhood，Iwasremarkablyskilfulatimitation。TherewerefewvoiceswhetherofmenorbirdsorbeastswhichIcouldnotimitatewithsuccess。Toaddmyancient，tomynewlyacquiredskill，totalkfromadistance，andatthesametime，intheaccentsofanother，wastheobjectofmyendeavours，andthisobject，afteracertainnumberoftrials，Ifinallyobtained。
Inmypresentsituationeverythingthatdenotedintellectualexertionwasacrime，andexposedmetoinvectivesifnottostripes。Thiscircumstanceinducedmetobesilenttoallothers，onthesubjectofmydiscovery。But，addedtothis，wasaconfusedbelief，thatitmightbemade，insomewayinstrumentaltomyrelieffromthehardshipsandrestraintsofmypresentcondition。
ForsometimeIwasnotawareofthemodeinwhichitmightberenderedsubservienttothisend。
ChapterII。
Myfather\'ssisterwasanancientlady，residentinPhiladelphia，therelictofamerchant，whosedeceaselefthertheenjoymentofafrugalcompetence。Shewaswithoutchildren，andhadoftenexpressedherdesirethathernephewFrank，whomshealwaysconsideredasasprightlyandpromisinglad，shouldbeputunderhercare。Sheofferedtobeattheexpenseofmyeducation，andtobequeathtomeatherdeathherslenderpatrimony。
Thisarrangementwasobstinatelyrejectedbymyfather，becauseitwasmerelyfosteringandgivingscopetopropensities，whichheconsideredashurtful，andbecausehisavaricedesiredthatthisinheritanceshouldfalltonoonebuthimself。Tome，itwasaschemeofravishingfelicity，andtobedebarredfromitwasasourceofanguishknowntofew。Ihadtoomuchexperienceofmyfather\'spertinaciousnessevertohopeforachangeinhisviews；
yettheblissoflivingwithmyaunt，inanewandbusyscene，andintheunboundedindulgenceofmyliterarypassion，continuallyoccupiedmythoughts:foralongtimethesethoughtswereproductiveonlyofdespondencyandtears。
Timeonlyenchancedthedesirablenessofthisscheme；mynewfacultywouldnaturallyconnectitselfwiththesewishes，andthequestioncouldnotfailtooccurwhetheritmightnotaidmeintheexecutionofmyfavouriteplan。
Athousandsuperstitioustaleswerecurrentinthefamily。
Apparitionshadbeenseen，andvoiceshadbeenheardonamultitudeofoccasions。Myfatherwasaconfidentbelieverinsupernaturaltokens。Thevoiceofhiswife，whohadbeenmanyyearsdead，hadbeentwiceheardatmidnightwhisperingathispillow。I
frequentlyaskedmyselfwhetheraschemefavourabletomyviewsmightnotbebuiltuponthesefoundations。Suppose（thoughtI）mymothershouldbemadetoenjoinuponhimcompliancewithmywishes？
Thisideabredinmeatemporaryconsternation。Toimitatethevoiceofthedead，tocounterfeitacommissionfromheaven，boretheaspectofpresumptionandimpiety。Itseemedanoffencewhichcouldnotfailtodrawafteritthevengeanceofthedeity。
Mywishesforatimeyieldedtomyfears，butthisschemeinproportionasImeditatedonit，becamemoreplausible；nootheroccurredtomesoeasyandsoefficacious。Iendeavouredtopersuademyselfthattheendproposed，was，inthehighestdegreepraiseworthy，andthattheexcellenceofmypurposewouldjustifythemeansemployedtoattainit。
Myresolutionswere，foratime，attendedwithfluctuationsandmisgivings。Thesegraduallydisappeared，andmypurposebecamefirm；Iwasnexttodevisethemeansofeffectingmyviews，thisdidnotdemandanytediousdeliberation。Itwaseasytogainaccesstomyfather\'schamberwithoutnoticeordetection，cautiousfootstepsandthesuppressionofbreathwouldplaceme，unsuspectedandunthoughtof，byhisbedside。ThewordsIshoulduse，andthemodeofutterancewerenoteasilysettled，buthavingatlengthselectedthese，Imademyselfbymuchpreviousrepetition，perfectlyfamiliarwiththeuseofthem。
Iselectedablusteringandinclementnight，inwhichthedarknesswasaugmentedbyaveiloftheblackestclouds。Thebuildingweinhabitedwasslightinitsstructure，andfullofcrevicesthroughwhichthegalefoundeasyway，andwhistledinathousandcadences。Onthisnighttheelementalmusicwasremarkablysonorous，andwasminglednotunfrequentlywith~~thunderheardremote~~。
Icouldnotdivestmyselfofsecretdread。Myheartfaulteredwithaconsciousnessofwrong。Heavenseemedtobepresentandtodisapprovemywork；Ilistenedtothethunderandthewind，astothesternvoiceofthisdisapprobation。Bigdropsstoodonmyforehead，andmytremorsalmostincapacitatedmefromproceeding。
TheseimpedimentshoweverIsurmounted；Icreptupstairsatmidnight，andenteredmyfather\'schamber。ThedarknesswasintenseandIsoughtwithoutstretchedhandsforhisbed。Thedarkness，addedtothetrepidationofmythoughts，disabledmefrommakingarightestimateofdistances:Iwasconsciousofthis，andwhenIadvancedwithintheroom，paused。
IendeavouredtocomparetheprogressIhadmadewithmyknowledgeoftheroom，andgovernedbytheresultofthiscomparison，proceededcautiouslyandwithhandsstilloutstretchedinsearchofthefootofthebed。Atthismomentlightningflashedintotheroom:thebrightnessofthegleamwasdazzling，yetitaffordedmeanexactknowledgeofmysituation。Ihadmistakenmyway，anddiscoveredthatmykneesnearlytouchedthebedstead，andthatmyhandsatthenextstep，wouldhavetouchedmyfather\'scheek。Hisclosedeyesandeverylineinhiscountenance，werepainted，asitwere，foraninstantonmysight。
Theflashwasaccompaniedwithaburstofthunder，whosevehemencewasstunning。Ialwaysentertainedadreadofthunder，andnowrecoiled，overbornewithterror。NeverhadIwitnessedsoluminousagleamandsotremendousashock，yetmyfather\'sslumberappearednottobedisturbedbyit。
Istoodirresoluteandtrembling；toprosecutemypurposeinthisstateofmindwasimpossible。Iresolvedforthepresenttorelinquishit，andturnedwithaviewofexploringmywayoutofthechamber。Justthenalightseenthroughthewindow，caughtmyeye。Itwasatfirstweakbutspeedilyincreased；nosecondthoughtwasnecessarytoinformmethatthebarn，situatedatasmalldistancefromthehouse，andnewlystoredwithhay，wasinflames，inconsequenceofbeingstruckbythelightning。
Myterroratthisspectaclemademecarelessofallconsequencesrelativetomyself。Irushedtothebedandthrowingmyselfonmyfather，awakenedhimbyloudcries。Thefamilywerespeedilyroused，andwerecompelledtoremainimpotentspectatorsofthedevastation。Fortunatelythewindblewinacontrarydirection，sothatourhabitationwasnotinjured。