Cutting down our woods. Paths diverge.

January 21. 

This winter they are cutting down our woods more  seriously than ever,--Fair Haven hill, Walden, Linnaea, Borealis Wood, etc., etc. Thank God, they cannot cut down the clouds!

History used to be the history of successive kings or their reigns, the Williams, Henrys, Johns, Richards, etc., etc., all of them great in somebody's estimation. But we have altered that considerably. Hereafter it is to be to a greater extent the history of peoples. 
. . .

I never realized so distinctly as this moment that I am peacefully parting company with the best friend I ever had, by each pursuing his proper path. I perceive that it is possible that we may have a better under standing now than when we were more at one.  Not expecting such essential agreement as before. Simply our paths diverge. 

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, January 21, 1852

This winter they are cutting down our woods more seriously than ever. See January 22, 1852 ("It concerns us all whether these proprietors choose to cut down all the woods this winter or not"); March 11, 1852 (The woods I walked in in my youth are cut off. Is it not time that I ceased to sing?").