noon
And it was mine , truly and absolutely -- as much mine as any portion of earth 's surface could belong to any man -- mine with all its products : the precious woods and fruits and fragrant gums that would never be trafficked away ; its wild animals that man would never persecute ; nor would any jealous savage dispute my ownership or pretend that it was part of his hunting-ground . As I crossed the savannah I played with this fancy ; but when I reached the ridgy eminence , to look down once more on my new domain , the fancy changed to a feeling so keen that it pierced to my heart and was like pain in its intensity , causing tears to rush to my eyes . And caring not in that solitude to disguise my feelings from myself , and from the wide heaven that looked down and saw me -- for this is the sweetest thing that solitude has for us , that we are free in it , and no convention holds us -- I dropped on my knees and kissed the stony ground , then casting up my eyes , thanked the Author of my being for the gift of that wild forest , those green mansions where I had found so great a happiness ! Elated with this strain of feeling , I reached the wood not long after noon ; but no melodious voice gave me familiar and expected welcome ; nor did my invisible companion make itself heard at all on that day , or , at all events , not in its usual bird-like warbling language . But on this day I met with a curious little adventure and heard something very extraordinary , very mysterious , which I could not avoid connecting in my mind with the unseen warbler that so often followed me in my rambles . It was an exceedingly bright day , without cloud , but windy , and finding myself in a rather open part of the wood , near its border , where the breeze could be felt , I sat down to rest on the lower part of a large branch , which was half broken , but still remained attached to the trunk of the tree , while resting its terminal twigs on the ground . Just before me , where I sat , grew a low , wide-spreading plant , covered with broad , round , polished leaves ; and the roundness , stiffness , and perfectly horizontal position of the upper leaves made them look like a collection of small platforms or round table-tops placed nearly on a level .