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。