^^Thereby generating this famous mini dialog:
Emerson visited Thoreau in jail and asked, “Henry, what are you doing in there?” Thoreau replied, “Waldo, the question is what are you doing out there?”
HIs jail stay (in a nice little building in Concord, MA. was hardly onerous.
“Thoreau declined to pay the tax and so, in July 1846, he was arrested and jailed. He was supposed to remain in jail until a fine was paid which he also declined to pay. Without his knowledge or consent, however, relatives settled the “debt” and a disgruntled Thoreau was released after only one night.” Source
This did trigger “Civil Disobedience,” however…one of the great essays based on a paltry experience.
I believe also that Thoreau was in the habit, while at Walden, of bringing his laundry home to his mother.