[XLIV] Diary from Mch 25, 1912 to Nov 9, 1913 Mr. Frissell - 5th Av Bk. Ethel Doolittle - 415 - W. 118th St. Rowlands - 130 W. 57 Ethel Chase - 11 Bdy Way, Tide Water Oil Co. Dr. Fisher A. M. N - [Home at 20 W 10th St Off 5th Ave] Herbet S. Ardill - N.Y. Times Dr. Crump - Madison Ave. Mr. Evans - 411 W. 114th St. Mr. Seaman - 34th St. Miss Bellard - 450 Clinton Ave Brooklyn 1912 Mch 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. In Washington amid the old scenes. Weather fair but chilly. Dine with the Saxtons, the Johns, the Bakes, the Van Benschotens. Go to the woods with high school teachers on the 29th find arbutus, blood root, claytonia and saxifraga in bloom, an enjoyable week. 
30.
 Cold, clear. Leave W. at 9. Reach Pelham at 3 1/2. C.B. glad to see us. 

31.
 At C.B's, walk in woods. April 1st. At C.B's, all goes well. 2d. At C.B's, all goes well. 3d. My 75th birthday. C.B. asks some people to come in p.m, Muir comes with 


Johnson of Century, an enjoyable time, 4 or 5 newspaper reporters. 
4. Most of N.Y. papers have some account of my birth day, all very flattering 5, 6 and 7th. Still at Pelham. Keeps null, have gained 6 lbs since Jany. 
8.
 Mrs B off for P. today. I go to Brooklyn to Werner's Club. Quite a blow out, stay with Mr. Pratt at night 

9.
 Back to Pelham today to answer letters. 

10.
 To a.m. of natural History, another big birthday blow out, meet many interesting people. Mary Autin and Randolph 


S. Bourne - the handicapped. Rather enjoy it all. 
11.
 To Horace Masson School a fourth birthday blow out, very pretty and moving. The first time children ever danced before me with roses that they laid at my feet; enough to move the heart of a stone, are the work of Mrs. Franklin. Her poem of 4 lives in Atlantic a gain. 

12.
 Meet more people at C.B.'s. 

13.
 To Century Club with Dellenbaugh to lunch and then to P. in p.m. 

14.
 In P. raining and chilly. 

15.
 Warmer with more rain. To W.P. at 10. Julian and his family well. Grass green, glad to be back again. 

16.
 Warm, thunder shower last night.

 News of the terrible disaster at sea. Titanic goes down. Probably 1400 lives lost. Her first voyage, the largest ship afloat. Horrible to think of. To S.S. in p.m. very warm. 

17.
 Cooler, rain. 

18.
 Rained all night hard. Elms and soft maples in bloom. Blood root and hepatica also. Mrs. B. comes back today, mist and rain all day. 

19.
 Still mist and rain and murk. Clearing in p.m. 

20.
 Cool, near a frost. J. and I write in study. Go to P. in p.m. 

21.
 Oh, what a lovely morning with bird voices in the air, and I am haunted by the vision of that great ship with her 1600 bodies too much miles deep in the sea! A hundred or more purple finches in song for 2 days in the trees about us and Mr. Allens, sort of a low half suppress refusal of their songs. Never heard them do anything just like it before. Like the Gold finches spring jubilees and match making picnics.

 Ed. reports Curtis near his end. 

22.
 Cloud and light rain, warmer, write in study. 

23.
 Clearing, windy, colder. The purple finches still having their quiet musical jubilee in the trees above the house. This 


the 4th day. 
25.
 Light rains. 

26.
 Warm, shall tree in bloom. 

27.
 Fine day. 

28.
 Sunday, Vassar teachers at S.S, clear and cool, no arbutus this year to speak of. 

29.
 Cold rain from N. all day. 

30.
 Rain in morning, clearing in p.m. Go to Poughkeepsie. Curtis very low; must go there this week. C.B. seems to have had a presentiment about me that disturbs her, fears some accident I think. May 1st. Clear and lovely, getting warmer. Currents in bloom and plum trees a mist of yellow green in some sugar maples.


 Still writing on Life, but cant organize what I have written into a whole. 2d. Lovely warm day, but darkened to me by news from my dear friend C.B. - at the hospital for an operation on her left breast for removal of small cancerous or tumorous growth. I can only hope for the best.
 The maple tassels or fringe fully out, with marked perfume. The trees are a midst of yellow bloom, except the one in front. of study - buds not yet opened, a laggard in the race. Curtis keeps his bed most of the time but it is his time to die. 
3.
 Clear and fine, start for Roxbury at 6.20. John meets me at train in R. Eden there also; looks and seems unusually well. We reach home at 11, a cool drive, no sign of foliage in the woods yet. Find Curtis in bed and much changed since last fall; thin and haggard; his hands feel cold and his voice is feeble and broken. In the p.m. I walk over to W.C.L. and hang around 2 or 3 hours. 

4.
 Cool cloudless day, spend it at W.C.L. John plows my garden. Chant comes in p.m. Curtis as sad ruin of his former self, very painful to be with him and see him suffer so. Sit up in his chair part of the time, but not dressed. I forgot to say that yesterday p.m. Eden went back home, I walked with him out through the woods and stood and saw him walking vigorously for him down into the next woods, never expected to see him so well. 

5.
 Cloudy, spend part of the day at W.C.L. Good news from C.B; she is doing finely. Plant peas and onions. 

6.
 Rain and warm. Walk to the Hemlocks in p.m; few birds and few flowers, but a harvest of memories. 

7.
 Out to see Jane; find her sitting up in her chair but ill from some sort of neuralgia or neuritis in her side and back; has been ailing all the spring. Clearing in p.m. 

8.
 A great wall is taken from my mind by the good news from my dear friend C.B. Her doctor thinks the growth in her breast will never return. A slow rain all day and night. Spend the day at W.C.L writing and reading. 

9.
 Rain at night, clearing this morning. Start for home on 9.27 train. Curtis seems better than when I came. Will I ever see him again? Yesterday p.m. I read to him from his beloved "Signs of the Times" Poor feeble stuff to me - a kind of echo of what the "Signs" used to be 40 years ago under Elder Beebe - but a comfort to him. Reach home at 12 1/2, apple trees beginning to bloom. Leaves on the maples a third grown, showers in p.m. light but long continued, a very wet spring. 

10.
 Clearing, cooler a lovely day, a deep mist of yellow green over the woods, very dense in places. 

11.
 Fine day, about 50 Vassar girls at S.S. Foliage about half out. 


19. Rain (Slight) warm. Walk a little in p.m. Wrote on Muirs Yosemite in morning. 
13. Mist and light rain this morning, my cold began with soar throat on the 3rd, soon settled in my head and have been blowing my nose ever since, only a little coughing in the morning, no sneezing, much headache last night. Pulls me down some. 
15.
 To N.Y. to Pelham at 11, find C.B. looking better than I expected; good color but a tired look on her eyes. The operation upon her breast a great success, says her doctor -healed by "first intention", much grieved over the mutilation of her body. In p.m. go to Englewood with Chapman, see many of his neighbors at night. 

16.
 Rained hard all night from N.E. Rained nearly all day, leave E at 9. Go to Woodly again, spend day and night with 


C.B. Long talks seated on her upper balcony. 
17.
 Fog in morning, clearing before noon. Leave at 12 1/2. C.B. walks with me to station, reach home at 7. 

18.
 Fine day. Walk to S.S. in p.m. school girls there. 

19.
 Fine warm day. Walk to woods in p.m. Showy orchis in bloom and pink lady, slipper; also fringed polygala. 

20.
 Cloudy in morning, clearing at noon. Fine afternoon. Work on garden at S.S. The shovel and wheelbarrow dispel my blues. In morning work on my geological papers for new book. 

21.
 Fine morning, Grape shoot 8 or 9 inches long, May full clothed at last. 22d. Fine weather, at work at S.S, making garden. 


23.
 Fine day and warm. Work at S.S. Bad news from sister Jane. 

24.
 Hot day, at S.S, a short severe thunder shower at 4 1/2. Miss B. and Miss Knapp come at night. 

25.
 Cooler, fine day at S.S, poor sleep. 

26.
 Lovely day, ideal - calm, warm clear, at S.S. Some Vassar girls come.

 Come home at 4 and find telegram from Hattie that Jane died yesterday morning, the last of my sisters, a tender affectionate and hard working woman; not much intelect, but good sense and good wholesome instincts. She piloted me to school in our childhood. How the shadows around me deepen. I go out there in the morning. 

27.
 To Roxbury today. Warm and fine. Curtis very feeble, has failed much since three weeks ago. Spend the p.m. at W.L making garden e.t.c. How fresh and beautiful the country is. 

28.
 Out to So. Gilbon on morning train. Chester meets us. Jane's children all there - tearful and forlorn. The old old story 


-
the children in the house of the dead parent, Eden there looking well, Jane looked very natural, Oh, the calm of that eternal sleep of death! she had died in peace; she knew the end had come and gave directions for her funeral, she dropped away suddenly. She would have been 77 on the 10th of June, poor child, she had a pretty hard life - a hard man to live with and hard work and self denial all her life. How little she knew of what the world holds, or of what man have thought and done! always had very sore eyes - so that she read little, never read a page of one of my books I fancy. But oh, the old days when we were children together! She was a tender hearted and devoted sister and mother. "Green be the turf above thin. Friend of my better days." Return to 

R.
 in p.m. 


29.
 A fine rain nearly all day. I stay at W.L. sad but at peace. 

30.
 Cloud and mist, colder. 

31.
 Cloud and mist, colder. Work a little in garden and write on my early life, sitting by the window at W.L. Go over daily to see poor Curtis. June 1st. Cold night, but clear and warmer this morning. Go over the John's for breakfast. Curtis tells me he is almost gone. Yet he eats a little breakfast. Leave on morning train for home. Very warm in p.m, nearly 80. 


2.
 Clear, calm and hot, go in some places. 

3.
 A little cooler; fine day go to S.S for the week. 

4.
 Fine day, but hot. 

5.
 Fine warm day. 

6.
 Rain from S.W, C.B. and Miss Clark come in p.m. 


C.B. suffering from felon on fore finger, but looks pretty well. 
7.
 Clearing today. Cool all day at S.S, very pleasant. 

8.
 Very cool - frost in some places. C.B. and her patient leave at 12.24. Mr. and Mrs. Bush of Chicago come in p.m. 

9.
 Cool bright windy day. Work on proof of "Time and Change," Sleep poor these days, lost 4 lbs since March. 

10.
 To West Point today. A cool clear day. Stay with Denton's . 

11.
 At W.P. walk in woods; hear a belated 17 year locust. Home at night. 

12.
 Fine day. Go to P. 

13.
 To Saugerties this p.m, cool. 

14.
 Go on to Gloversville to Talbots, a reception at night. 

15.
 Clouds up, start for the lakes in Hamilton Co. with the T's in auto. Cool, a good run of 50 miles to Speculator on Pleasant Lake, meet uncle David Sting is an old trapper and guide and now hotel keeper, 80 years old, very shy and gentle and sweet - a real product of the Back Woods, knows much about wild life, experienced religion last year and joined Methodist church, like him much. 

16.
 Cloudy, foggy with some rain, cool. We all sit before the open fire and hear much talk, one has to be very artful to draw "uncle David" out, one must approach him in a round about way - stalk him in fact. He interrupts his recital of his wood experiences with frequent laughter or half suppressed laughter more to himself than to his listeners. Tells no big yarns, understates rather than overstates - never heard a panther in the Adirondack but once caught one in a trap baited for marten - thinks there have not been any in these mountains for many years. Ravens used to be plenty, rarely see or hear one now "Why?" Because the wolves and the panthers are gone. The ravens fed on the leavings of the kill of these animals, now they can get little to eat in the woods." a good reason. Uncle David used to have a line of traps 40 inches long in winter and used to go the rounds once a week, one week he made 100 dollars, mink marten fisher were his principal fur animals. We went out on the lake trolling for lake trout in the fog, soon lost sight of land and then uncle Dave lost his reckoning 

and rowed around and around in a circle; his right arm got the better of his left; he thought the wind was shifting every 5 minutes, when he was constantly changing his direction. Finally, when I saw the situation I told him what wrong. "Go straight with the wind" I said "and we will soon see shore" which we did. My friend Talbot who was in the boat said "uncle Dave" was showing his his age. We got no trout, but we enjoyed the hour on the beautiful lake, even in the fog. We start back home at 2, reach Gloversville before six. Fine roads most of the way. Poor farms - sandy barren soil .disintegrated granite and only the sand left; clay mostly gone over stream. Gray drift boulders everywhere over the the fields. 

17.
 Cold, but clearing. Go to mountain lake in p.m. with Mr. and Mrs. Talbot,and teo ladies from the hospital, and walk around the lake and through the woods - about 4 miles. A pleasant time; heard the hermit and the whitethroat. Some people come in in the evening. The Episcopal minister champions Roosevelt - the judges and lawyers against him. The legal and judicial mind usually travels in a deep rest, no crusaders or reformers or smashers of idols for them, but the theological mind is capable of religious enthusiasm and of new ideals. 

18.
 Off for home at 6; reach home at 12 1/2 warm, dry. 

19.
 All day parking up and planting in garden, warm. 

20.
 To Roxbury on early train. John meets me. Country dry and cool, but still green. Find Curtis a mere skeleton. Talks a little, know me. oh, what pain to see him in this condition. 

21.
 Cool and dry. I go over daily to see Curtis, but the sight of him depresses me greatly. Cloudy and a dry weather, shower in p.m. 

22.
 Clear, warmer. go to the village. The meadows and roadsides painted with the orange and yellow and white of hawkweak butter cups and dairies - a wonderful richness of color everywhere. I stay at W.L and am fairly contented. 

23.
 Clear, dry, trying to return my writing. Sunday. 

24.
 Jusr at dawn this morning as I lay in my lot on the porch, Frank Caswell came along and seeing me she spoke to me "Are you awake?" "Yes" "Well Curtis passed away last night at 10.45." I was prepared for it but I could not parry the blow. I shall never forget the effect the man had on me there in the gray June morning.

 I had been over to see Curtis yesterday p.m. He was sitting up in bed as usual with his head resting on this bosom apparently sleeping and moaning from time to time. I did not speak to him and soon came away, at 8 1/2 Dessie said he asked the time. He soon grew very weak, breathed intermittently and at 10.45 shrugged his shoulders a few times and ceased breathing. Miss Burham and Mrs. Shepard came on evening train, cool and dry. 

25.
 Cool and dry. Curtis will be buried tomorrow. 

26.
 Warmer, I go over to the house at 10, Ed. is there and some of Jane's children. Elden Clark preaches an old school Baptist sermon - a sermon of words and scripture phrases, but not of ideas. Curtis looks fearfully emaciated. We drive down to the Presbyterian cemetery in the dust and are back at 2. I ride with Frank Caswell. 

27.
 Warm and dry, I write a little each day, we pick a feed S. berries. 

28.
 Sleep precocious, warm. 

29.
 Hot dry. 

30.
 A change to cold came with a big blow out of the east about 2 a.m. Blow the [mourns] off the porch. So cold this morning I build a fire in the Franklin. July 1st. Cold, clear a frost in the fields here this morning. 


2.
 Clear, dry, a little warmer. I go S. berrying and get nearly 2qts of dead ripe berries. 

3.
 Getting warmer, Mrs. Shepard leaves today. Turned the water on the garden some days ago. 50 years ago I was here helping Curtis in haying. 

4.
 Clear, hot, work but little. Light shower in p.m.


 -Put a bird or an insect in a new and strange position and what as on the inside of a closed window a mere machine for a time at least it becomes; It is a victim of Sulio tropism. It react constantly to the light and keeps up its efforts to get out till exhausted or dead, a butterfly - one of the fritillaries - is now fluttering against the window, window in front of my desk. It is for the time a machine kept going by the attraction of the light, but a big "blow fly" on the window that I try to catch, is wiser and when pressed darts away from the window and eludes me in the free space of the room. When he takes to the window again and I make a dive for him, his wets again save him. This usually happens with big flies, are they wiser than birds and butterflies? They seem to be under such conditions. Its hard to corner one on a window. 
5.
 Warm light shower in p.m. My company leaves today. 

6.
 Hot, Rowland comes in p.m. Laura and Miss B. come to their camp. 

7.
 Hot, hot, work a little, second miss of peas from garden. 

8.
 Hotter, dry, work a little. 3rd miss of peas. 

9.
 Hot, a veil of clouds, still a blow fly makes a big noise in the room. John began haying on the 2d in the old meadow below the barn where we always began, Chant has come to help him. 

10.
 Very warm, light shower in p.m. Write a little but no good sleep. Rowland paints. 

11.
 Hot, light shower with fierce explosions of thunder in p.m. 

12.
 Better sleep last night. Cooler, I write more on rocks. In p.m. R. and I go to the Old Clump, air very clear. We shake a porcupine out of a tree and have quite a circus with him, but do not hurt him. I make the trip as easily as ever but legs are very tired when I get back. 

13.
 Cool, clear, very dry. Slept well last night. 

14.
 A light rain last night. Cloudy and warm today. Poor sleep. Work a little, R. paints. 

15.
 Clear warm. R. leaves this morning. The meadows are full of grass ripe for the hay makers, a big crop for all the dry weather. C.B. comes in p.m. 

16.
 Warm, Laura and Miss B. comes. 

17.
 Hot, a clam restful day, dry. 

18.
 A little rain, Mrs. B. come in p.m. 

19.
 Cooler, dry, dry. 

20.
 Very cool, near a frost. 

21.
 A slow rain in a.m. We have fire in Franklin. Randolf S. Bourn came Saturday. Glad to have him here, a fine mind, a poor body. Has a future I think, already written several essays for Atlantic 

22.
 Clearing and cool. Mr. B. leaves this morning. Sent last of copy of "Time and Change" on Saturday. 

23.
 Very cool, dry, dry. Julian comes in morning train. Write a little each day, sleep precarious 

24.
 Cool, almost a frost. Very glad to have Julian here. 


C.B. gaining and working each day on her MS. 
25.
 A little warmer, no signs of rain. 

26.
 Cool, fine day, walk over home. C.B. and I gather ferns and look for bill berries. Write some, dry, dry, C.B. Julian and I sleep on porch every night. 

27.
 Cool night, three blankets, an Italian sculptor began to make clay bust of me on Monday, doing well. 

28.
 Fine day, people from the village. Talbot and wife from Gloversville glad to see them pose for the sculptor. 

29.
 A little rain last night. Walk to Charles ledges in p.m. Julian, Laura, C.B. and I very enjoyable. 

30.
 Cool fair day. We go to the Hack's flats in p.m. C.B. does not quite reach the top, my first trip to that mountain. Ride back from the village - pretty leg weary. 

31.
 Light rain, Julian leaves this p.m. I go with him down to the lake. Very sorry to see him go, clearing in p.m. Aug 1st. The last 2 weeks of July like late Sept, on the verge of a frost nearly every night, as cold as Southern Cala. in winter and less sunshine. I wear my sweater under my coat and sleep in it at night under 3 blankets. Remarkable only spots of rain. 


2.
 Cold and windy. I write in the barn with a blanket on my lap and over my shoulders and a hot brick by my feet. Took 1 1/4 gr of Calomel last night and feel much better. 

3.
 Cold, windy, squally like Oct, fear a frost tonight. Write in barn wrapped up as usual with hot brick in my lap. 

4.
 Clearing but still chilly and suggestive of fall. Mrs. Johnson came last night. 


25. No important events since my last entry here at W.L all the time; weather unseasonally cold, have slept under 2 blankets and often with hot water bottle at my feet. Write each day in my stable study on Life and biology on Science and literature e.t.c. Health good but sleep uncertain. Rains began 2 weeks ago; at least 3 inches to date; effects the springs very little. Mrs. J stayed 2 weeks, Mrs. B. came in 18 July and left 9th of Aug, all right. Miss Lucy Stanton of Athens Ga - came on the 9th and stayed till 24th a charming young woman. C.B. still here, gaining all the time. 
-A great help to me, [much] Mr. Shea of Kansas, a Harvard Student came 17th. We all fall in love with him, a fine fellow. Hope Kansas is full of such men, a year at H, 
taking a post graduate course in Philosophy. Country green again after the rains. Much warmer today, a short brisk thunder shower in p.m. 
26.
 Much warmer, a warm night, Feels like July, wrote in forenoon in barn on Bergson, Science e.t.c. also some natural history reflection, poor sleep last night. 

27.
 Change to cooler, with violent wind in the night, took refuge inside. 

28.
 Cloudy; cold - near a frost last night; Write in morning a walk in "Scotland" in p.m. - huge luscious blackberries .nuthatches, warbler etc. a memorable walk. 

29.
 Warmer, light rain in night. C.B. leaves in a hurry this morning, called back by telegram, her patient ill, I went over to pick some peas, at returning I found her packing and John Aug 29, 1912 waiting for her, shall miss her company and her help greatly. She has gained wonderfully here in the 6 weeks of her stay, a rare woman. Clearing this morning, but cool. 

30.
 Clear, cold, just [eloped] a frost last night. Mr. and Mrs. Beck from Brooklyn came this a.m. he to paint my portrait. Also young Mr. Pulling from Wappingerse, a college student and his girl from P. a nice couple. He a farm boy and with fine qualities of mind and character and will be heard from I think. I pose for Mr. B. on rock up in the orchard. 

31.
 A little frost last night, by hurt nothing. I pose in morning and p.m. for Mr. B. Eden come in the morning, walked up swinging his cane; looks well and is cherry. He returns in p.m, a little warmer in p.m. Sept 1st. Cloudy and dark a thunder shower sets in at 10 a.m. not very heavy. The coldest August I ever knew, abnormally hot in S. and S. and S.W. abnormally cold in Northern states. 


2.
 Rainy, misty cold. 

3.
 Warmer, rain last night but light. De Loach comes in p.m. a good day, work, dark cloudy, all day, still. 

4.
 Clearing, sun over more and much warmer, may be we will get some warm weather at last. 

5.
 Warm and humid, some sunshine. 

6.
 Pretty heavy shower last night 1/2 inch, warm, De Loach leaves this morning. Write in the barn. 

7.
 Bright, warm, the Becks leave this morning. Miss Robert comes - stay over night. 

8.
 Clear warm lovely day, Write in stable. Dive at the Camp. Health good, 9th Ideal day, warm, write in a.m. 


10.
 Fine warm day. Two young women callers, from N.Y. church workers. Walk down to the lake with them. Write in forenoon, people from Yonkers in auto call. 

11.
 Write in morning, cloudy in p.m. and cooler with light showers. Mr. Olcott from H.M. Co. to take photographs, keep him to lunch. Go over home at 6 Chaney Kelly there uncle Johns oldest son, a great talker fine face and head, but not intellectual. Looks like our family. 

12.
 Fine day, warm work in barn. Fine shower in the night. Miss Roberts and her sister take me to Prattsville and to the falls in p.m. in auto, lovely day and ride. 

13.
 Sleep better these nights from malted milk taken in hot water at bed time. Still writing. 

14.
 Fine day and warm. 

15.
 Rain in the night and at day, light this morning 1/2 inch a gray squirrel on the porch wakes me at dawn Warm day and cloudy from S.W. Chant and Emma came last night. Miss Roberts and her sister come in p.m. 

16.
 Rain last night warm, cooler this morning and clearing from N. no frost yet. Birds scarce this Aug. and Sept. People write to me about it. Probably from death of insects owing to abnormally, cool weather. Fewer house flies than I ever remember. Some crows - those in authority - say haw-ah, haw, haw ah, I hear them in early morning, in p.m. I hear haw-ah, haw-ah and haw haw. 

17.
 Cold last night, near a frost hear. Bright and lovely today at work in front room writing on mechanistic view of the origin of life. These peaceful broad open valleys and the long mountain walls seem greatly to enhance the splendor of such a day. In a country of lower horizons the day would be less striking. These valleys hold it and set it off. I think of Emerson's hill 


Tenderly the haughty day feels his bled urn with fire. These valleys are vast blue urns and they hold such generous portion of the sun light. In p.m. I walk to Scotland over our old trail and get a few blackberries. Find a morn's nest in a niche under an overhanging ledge, where one looks for a Phoebes nest - thought it was one at first - covered with moss just like a phoebes. The body of the nest was thistle down, thick and compact with a small hole to a cavity in the Centre, a prettier nest I never saw; three feet from the ground and no means of access I could see except by leaping. The nest was new but not occupied. The moss was from rocks where water trickles in wet seasons .long, yellowish green. The bottom of the nest was covered with moss also so it could hardly have been for protection a 
unique find.
 While John was hunting gray squirrels above the sap bush he saw one come out of the woods and go out into the field and bury something, on examining the spot he found acorn carefully burried in the soil, point upward, no double at all that squirrels are also great tree planters. Saw are red squirrels yesterday carry a butternut up in an apple tree and place it carefully in the in the fork of a limb. He pressed it down and made motions of covering it with his paws. Sept 17, 1912 The craws have several kinds of caws, one is haw-ah, haw, haw-ah or cow-ah caw-caw-ah then simply caw-ah, then caw a hah, then hah-h-h-h lusty abd masculine. 
18.
 Warn with light showers. 

19.
 Go to Edens in p.m. Find him and Mag, fairly well; both with colds, mild and warm and showery. 

20.
 Clearing a little cooler. Return to R. this morning. Some sunflowers at Hobert arrested my attention - such an almost human attitude of depiction. Their broad leaves pressed down wrapped them in a kind of cloak drawn close about them, their heads were bowed till they wholly faced the ground. I could but pause and look at them, why are you so bowed and weighed down - you lovers of the sun - shutting all the world from your page but the little circle of ground at your feet? Your attitude oppresses me. There is the sun and sky over head - do look up and at the wind mield your cloak." If the sun flower could have answered what would have it have said? Probably this; I have had my day I have followed the sun in his corner across Sept 20, 1912 the sky all summer, I have had my fill of him, now my seeds are ripened and they are my only care. I must turn them down away from the rains and the bowls of the air, the back of my head makes a good roof over them. I have done my work. I have had my day, and here I wait for the knife of the harvester. 

21.
 Mild fine day. Return to W.P. after all absence of 3 months. Reach home at noon all well, looks good. 

22.
 Fine day. Go over to S.S, sleep well these night. 

23.
 Cloudy, rains a little, chilly. Go to P. in p.m. 

24.
 Cloudy, a little rain. Write on a.m. 

25.
 Rain in morning, clearing in p.m. Go to Vassar meet Clara Reed and others, lovely afternoon. 

26.
 Clear and lovely. Start for Pelham at night. Go to Hudson at noon. 

27.
 In Pelham with Mr. Browne, chilly weather. 

28.
 In P. write a little. C.B. looks much better. 29, 30. In P. Mr. Browne leaves for Wyoming this morning. In p.m. I go to N.Y. Sept 30, 1912 and meet Emily and the children, clear fine day. Oct 1. Warm and fine, write in a.m. In p.m. C.B. and I take a walk along country roads. 


2.
 Lovely day. 

3.
 Lovely day. Go to White Plains in p.m. with C.B. 

4.
 Leave for East Hampton in morning, fine day and warm. 

5.
 In E.H. lovely warm day, very glad to be with Julian and the children by the sea. Work in a.m. 

6.
 Lovely warm day. 

7.
 Lovely warm day. In p.m. Julian and I go to Fort Pond and occupy a little cabin of Mr. Fylers in a remote secluded place on the pond. Julian fishes and tramps about only the moor like treeless, highly colored landscape - looks like Oregon or Washington. 

8.
 Clear, cooler, windy, poor sleep, from the wind blowing all night from the N. Oct 8, 1912 Back to E.H. in p.m. 

9.
 Back to Pelham in morning train. In p.m. C.B. and I go to Mt. Vernon. Write or dictate letters at night - 11 of them. 

10.
 Off for Wyoming N.Y. on the Empire State Express, a swift smooth journey to Rochester through highly colored landscape. Reach W. at 5, Mr. Browne meets me at station. Mrs. Ward's house large and homelike, a beautiful spot great farm e.t.c. 

11.
 Rained in night, Clearing and mild this morning. 

12.
 Fine day, motor to LeRoy and Genesee with Mr. Browne and Mr. Brooks a fine day. 

13.
 Warmer, walk and dawdle around, see an orchard of 18 acres with 3000 bbls of apple. 

14.
 Fine warm day, motor to Portage Falls, a striking and beautiful spectacle. Return home by Silver Lake at 5 p.m. 

15.
 Cold, windy. 

16.
 Leave for N.Y. at 10.50. Motor 

Oct 16, 1912 to Batavia to see Mrs. Fish, with whom and her husband we kept house in Newark in '59 and 60, young and rosy then, now a typical old woman sitting in the chimney corner, blind, with a cane in her hand - 81 years old. Reach Pelham at 8.48. 

17.
 In P. working on MS, fine warm day. 

18.
 In P. at work. Send off 2 papers to N.A.R. and Atlantic. 

19.
 Fine day. Return home at 2 p.m. C.B. much improved in look and in spirits. 

20.
 At home, all well, warm. 

21.
 Warm, leaves nearly all off. 

22.
 Cloudy, warm at work again. 

23.
 Rain from S, warm. Katy-dids last night. All day rain 2 or 3 inches but not enough. 

24.
 Cloudy, light rains. 

25.
 Cloudy, light rains.. 

26.
 Clearing, mild. 

27.
 Fine day, warm, write in a.m. 

Oct 27, 1912. In p.m. we all cruise for an hour on river in Wawee. 

28.
 Fine day, mild calm. 

29.
 Fine day, mild, calm. Work on "a Barn Door Outlook." 

30.
 Lovely day, Dr. Charly Gill calls, grown gray since I last saw him. 

31.
 A little cooler, feel well, weigh 140. Walked over to S.S. yesterday p.m. Leaves about all off the trees, Lima beans still green. Nov 1. Warm, rain half the day, much needed. 


2.
 Cooler, clear, fine. Writing in my study on autobiography for Julian. 

3.
 Froze last night; writing the Limas and other green things. Down to 28. 

4.
 Hard freeze again last night. Made the leaves on apple trees look sick, clear and calm. New book came this morning "Time and Change" I see another volume ahead. What will be its title? Nov 5, 1912 

5.
 Election day, fine day, walk up vote and back, signs of my old trouble in p.m. Take 1/2gr of calomel, signs of a cold also. 

6.
 Election goes for the Democrats, might have been worse and might have gone Republican, I wanted to vote for Wilson but voted for T.R. on the scare of friendship - a thing he would not have done - a thing no man should do. Take a sweat in p.m. 

7.
 Cloudy and rain in p.m. Hoarse with cold in my throat, go to N.Y. and to Pelham. 

8.
 Some fever, a memorable night. 

9.
 Fine day, not yet free from fever. Hoarseness better. 

10.
 Mr. Shea and Mr. Davis at P. Fine day. 

11.
 In P. Fever gone. 

12.
 Fine day, but chilly. 

13.
 Fine day, but chilly. 

14.
 To Hartford to the Shipmans. 

15.
 Go with Neder to his woods. 

16.
 To Springfield in p.m. and then Nov 1912 to Hockmann to Johnsons. 

17.
 Cloudy, chilly, go to church at Hadley with J. Drive to mountain in p.m. 

18.
 Cloudy, cold, leave for Boston at 12.40. Reach B. at 3.30. To Yeomans at Belmont. 

19.
 At B. with Olive Gilbert, walk to Kennedys and Mrs. MacKays. To H.M. Co. in p.m. see Mr. M, Garrison, 

Sedgewick, Allen, Greenslet e.t.c. 

20.
 To Harvard in a.m. Start for N.Y. at 12.40, a pleasant day dry and sharp. 

21.
 At P. pleasant day. 

22.
 At P. pleasant day. 

23.
 Fine day, go to New Haven to Yale - Harvard football game with Mr. Shea, a great day. 

24.
 Return to P. Rain with thunder. 

25.
 At P. 

26.
 Fine day, go home in 11.50 train. 

27.
 At home, start for Hobart. Nov 27, 1912. in p.m. Find Mag and Eden well, 5 or 6 inches of snow on the ground and cold. 

28.
 At Edens, a mid winter landscape, a thanksgiving dinner, Olly and Ort, John and Dessy, Willie and Jenny, a fine dinner and a pleasant sad day. 

29.
 Down to 13 this morning. Cloudy, go over to Roxbury and spend day and night at Woodchuck Lodge. 

30.
 Sun and cloud and wind. Return home at noon. Clear and mild here. Dec 1st. Clear and sharp in morning down to 25, no snow here yet. 2d. Warmer, rain from S. 


3.
 Clear and cooler - fine October weather an ideal day. 

4.
 Mild, fair, still writing in my study on "Salt the sheep" 

5.
 Cloudy, rain coming, mild still. Mrs. B. closes house today and goes to P. Dec 6, 1912 

6.
 Home to W.P 

7.
 Fine day, go to P. 

8.
 Fine day Write in study. 

9.
 Colder, down to 18. 

10.
 Fine day and warmer. Go to P. in p.m. 

11.
 Overcast, mild, start for N.Y. today for a weeks absence. 

12.
 At Pelham, C.B. well. 

13.
 Go to Academy meeting s and to dinner at Century Club at night. 

14.
 At P. 

15.
 At P. 

16.
 At P. 

17.
 To Mrs. Sanity to dinner, meet Binder then to the Lumalan dinner at Hotel Endicott, stay to Mrs. S's all night, weather fine and cool all these days. 

18.
 To Mr. Childs at F.P. Rain. 

19.
 To Rowlands for the night. 

20.
 To Pelham. Cold, clear. 

21.
 At Pelham cold clear. 

22.
 Clear, cold return to Poughkeepsie, Mrs. B. well. 

23.
 To Wet Park, cold, clear. 

24.
 Our first snow storm from the N.E. Dec 24, 1912 


-These quarty pebbles are evidently passed down from one geological age to another. They seem the most enduring of all rock substance. 
-The sweep of the pendulum of variation in the race of man is enormous, the doctrine of Eugenics will not apply to mankind with the same force that it applies to the lower orders. Go back a long our line of decend - till you come to the low browed long jawed hairy man like ape or ape like man - what has Eugenics got to say to him? Only this, "you must not breed, you are a low down fellow, and the world is better off without you." 
25.
 Xmas, a still brilliant day after the storm of yesterday, about 4 inches of snow fell here. Ten or eleven inches in N.Y. Some still ice and frozen snow in the river. Down to 18 this morning. Feel well today. Dinner with Julian. 

26.
 Rain sucking in snow. In study at W.P. 1912 

27.
 Mild. 

28.
 Go to P. with Mrs. B. on Canon St. 

29.
 Warmer, thawing, write some. 

30.
 Warmer, rain nearly all day. To W.P. in p.m. Julian on the river, worry about him when 8 p.m. comes and no Julian. Go down and spend an hour on the dock, then back to study and go to bed, no sleep, wider and wider awake as imagination plays tricks with me; got up at 10, dress go over to the house and find J, there eating his supper! How many such foolish scare he has given me. 

31.
 Clear, mild, like April, wind S.W. 1913 Jany 1. Mild, fair, work in study in a.m. Walk to S.S. in p.m. Sit on the porch in the sun a "wider" aster in the bushes, insects in the air, no snow or ice. 


2.
 Go to P. and stay at 51 Cannon with Mrs. B. Colder. 

3.
 The Ford auto comes with Mr. Buck a fine appropriate gift. Drive up to W.P. in p.m. cold. Mr. Buck Jan 3, 1913 [Mr. Buck] an interesting and engaging man; like him and her much. Hope to see them again. 

4.
 In P. since last entry - writing each morning on autobiography and other matters. Keep well - gained 4 lbs since I came. Is it the warm feet on the light dinner at 6 p.m? Am unexpectedly contented here, Julian comes down about three times a week for a ride in the auto, much rain, no snow. Every cold wave ends in a warm wave and rain. Very cold in California river Orange Crop. On the 11th we went to Rhinecliff and I saw my old pupil of 57 years ago. Rosewell Buch, on his death bed, a sad experience; had not seen him in all these years. Today clear, sharp, hazy. We take a run up beyond Statsburg, Ursa with us, silent as a sphynx. 


15.
 Clear, warmer, run down to Fishkell. Farmers at work in the fields, handling stone, women digging drains e.t.c. 

16.
 Warm, rain again. My dear friend Ludella Peck of Smith College died last Friday. 


-A remarkable writer. 
17.
 To N.Y. and to P. mild. 

18.
 Warm, fine. To Rowlands in p.m. rain in p.m. 

19.
 Clear, mild to Rowlands again in p.m. meet many people. 

20.
 Still mild, C.B. better. Home in p.m. 

21.
 Clear, colder. To Newburgh in p.m. in our Ford Car, a fine ride. 

22.
 Fine day, up to W.P. in p.m. Blue birds. 

23.
 Rain, sign 45o letters to M.C's. 

24.
 Warm, cloudy. 

25.
 Like Oct or April, Julian comes down. Drive out to Pleasant Valley. 

26.
 Still mild, a little frost at night. Rain coming. Well winch 145. 

27.
 Warm, rain. Jan 1913. modern surgery does indeed show man to be a kind of machine. It mends him and tinkers him up putting in new parts splicing his nerves, patching his skin, plumming his arteries, fixing his bones etc, etc, very much as a watch tinker repairs a watch or a gun smith a gun - all mechanical procedures but all seconded and approved by something super mechanical. The body being a physical object must be subject to physical laws, it is a machine plus something else. 

28.
 A little colder, go up to W.P. Julian working on his wash house, like April. 

29.
 A light flurry of snow and several degrees colder, not an inch of snow. 

30.
 Warmer, cloudy, thawing. 

31.
 Go up to W.P. warm, muddy. Feb 1. Mild to N.Y. and Pelham in p.m. find C.B. looking much better. Feb 


2.
 Clear colder, Mr. Buck comes to take me to Washington. 

3.
 Wake up in W. this morning raining and sleeting. Rains all day. Dismal and chilly. Go to Capital Underwood who says he will support our (McLane) bird bill, see Frank Baker and wife in p.m. 

4.
 Clear, cold, leave W. on 9 a.m. train, a skin of snow on the ground. Reach N.Y. at 2. Go to Bergson lecture at Columbia at 4, not one word of his French can I understand but done. But I do not tire of looking at him. Small thin man of the Emersonian type and idealist, "a prophet of the soul," superb head. The rather austere Emersonian smile manner animated, heavy 1 eye brows, small a deep set but expressive eyes; thin hands look cold, strong chin and nose, - a 

wonderful mind. Feb 

5.
 Cold, clear at P, sit all day. 

6.
 Cold, clear. Go to N.Y. to lunch with Mr. Prate. 

7.
 Clear, cold. Go to N.Y. with C.B. to see the Raney African moving pictures, am a little disappointed. 

8.
 Clear, cold at P. till in p.m, a little fever. 

9.
 Clear and colder, leave for P. on 9 a.m. train. 

10.
 Colder, zero, go to W.P. all well. 

11.
 Cloudy, milder, snowing, 4 or 5 inches. 

12.
 Colder, not very well, bowels loose. 

13.
 Cold, near zero; feel better. 

14.
 Cold, mind very active; drive car out beyond Pleasant Valley alone. Get stuck, think car broken in turning round, send for help, car all right. 

15.
 Poor sleep last night, milder today. Take care to West Park. 

16.
 Feel fine, mind very active. Warm, thawing, mercury near 50. Rain coming. Feb 

17.
 Colder, clear off for N.Y. this p.m. 

18.
 Clear cold day. To hear Bergon again, in French. Back to P. 

19.
 In P. clear cold. To Columbia at the tea given in his honors, meet Bergson face to face. He knows about me, I take home my great pleasure in meeting him, that Emerson was the inspiration of my youth and be the inspiration of my old age. With a depracating gesture he seemed to disclaim such doubtful honors and then began to talk of the unexpected idealism he found here in Emerson, James and others - then he was whirled away to face some other admirers. One of the most symmetrical and beautiful heads I ever saw, a small man, not an imposing figure, not an aggressive and dominating personality, but a wonderful mind and a gentle heart. Met Eucken also, a white bushy top like myself - not a striking head or figure. He too Feb knows my work and is very cordial in his German-English. His work has not yet made an impression upon me. 

20.
 To hear Bergson in English. 

21.
 To hear Bergson in English metaphorical and hard to follow him an hour and a half. Fine and suggestive. He reads fro MS, speaks English almost like a native getting spring like. 22d. Warm, go home to P. in p.m. 


23.
 Fine day, writing again on Bergson. 

24.
 Cold, go up to W.P. all well there. Bring back bag of old letters for C.B. 

25.
 Cold, clear, writing on B. 

26.
 Cold, clouding up, writing on B. 

27.
 Snow last night 2 inches. Rain today. Writing on B. 

28.
 Warm like April, snow all gone. Go up to W.P. and over to S.S. Saw a dog do a trick on Main St. the other morning that I mere saw a dog do before - he got himself up over a garbage pail and dropped his excrement into it. It was a defficult feat but he did it all right - a white bull dog, I wonder if had been trained to do it? Mch 1st. mild, cloudy - storm coming. 


2.
 No storm yet, partly clear this morning and colder - only about freezing this morning. To N.Y. in p.m. 

3.
 Mild, at Pelham, C.B. well. Go to N.Y. to Pritchards pictures. 

4.
 Mild, go to MacDowell Club at night with C.B. to reception to Alfred Noyes, large, strong, healthy young Brelisher, looks like a university man - not like a poet. He lectures on the future of poetry, but does not convince us that poetry has any future, then recites some of his own poems, does it well. But he is not a great poet - nothing in his poems that goes to the heart or to the soul - one page of wordsworth or Arnold is worth it all. 

5.
 Mild, all day at P. 

6.
 Raining, start for home at 8.06. Snow at P. - 2 or 3 inches up to W.P in p.m. Cold and windy at night. 

7.
 Cold - down to 10. 

8.
 Cold down to 10. Go to P. in p.m. 

9.
 Warm, fine sap day. Go to Milton in our car. Many blue birds and 2 robins. Buckets full of sap at night. Wife ill in P. 

10.
 Mild, a little frost, promises a good sap day. 


-To P in p.m, greatly alarmed over the condition or Ursula. 
-Double pneumonia; Fear the worst - just begin to realize all she has been to me and all she has done for me. 
11.
 Raining - chilly, rained all night. But better sleep last night. Julian goes down this morning. 

12.
 Lovely day, perfect overhead but horrible under foot, sap runs rapidly. Blue birds with the old impatient ameron warbling's and wing gestures. Wakes and partches of ice on the river calmly floating like clouds in the sky. Go to P. in 


p.m. Mrs. B. better, no fever, but labored breathing; had a very bad night, from difficulty of breathing. Only one lung, the left involved, her doctor says. 
13.
 Hope Mrs. B. had a better night last night, cloudy this morning, rain coming a little frost, still at work on the Bergson essay. 

14.
 Warm, rained all night. Mrs. B. gaining. 


-We seem to think of truth as something outside ourselves, or as if it were a stream flowing by into which we dip our buckets or cups or spoons as the case may be and get what we want for our own use. We do not see that truth is our own creation - that it is one expression of life March there is no truth outside the mind of man, any more than there is any light outside the eye, or sound outside the ear. We experience these things and we experience truth - with us agreement or harmony between things and things or thoughts and thoughts. 
15.
 Warm, warm and fog and murk. Mrs. B. doing well yesterday. Cold wave coming. 

16.
 Clearing, write in study on B. 

17.
 Clear cold down to 20. 

18.
 Clear, lovely day, Mrs. B. doing well, C.B. come at 10 1/2; stay s till 4. 

19.
 Lovely morning, many bird voices in the air; only a little frost last night, a typical March morning. "Do you hear the nuthatch calling in the old sugar bush?" 


P.m. warm, near 60 my first butterfly. 
20. Rain this morning and fog phoebe bird here in the maple in frost March Peepers in full chorus on the 19th. 
20.
 Warm foggy; more rain coming, a robing in song all the morning on the near study.

 How soon the birds fly out of the nest, and soon go East and soon go West. How soon they build themselves a nest and fellow out the old cohort. As warm as mid May - muggy, near 70 with spots of rain from S.W. 

21.
 Clear, much cooler, a big flock of crow black birds this morning, birds in the elm trees wild as big brown bear. Mrs. B. was much improved yesterday. The song of the toad began on the 19th down by the ice house. 

22.
 Clear, colder, froze last night. 

23.
 Milder, So. wind, Easter Sunday, a little below par the past 2 days. 

24.
 Rain last night, So. wind today. No work in me, send Bergson essay to Atlantic. 

25.
 Warm, 75, little rain, thunder shower at night. Go to Vassar to Wake Robin tea - a good time. Too warm for winter clothes. 

26.
 Colder, fog and light rain. Terrible floods and tornados in the west attended with great lose of life. Ohio flood swept. Elm trees just beginning to bloom. I feel better, Sal H. did it. 

27.
 A hell of rain - heavy yesterday - all night and at it furiously this morning. Warmer, we will suffer for want of it probably all summer. This overdraft must be made good. 

28.
 Cool, clear, John Shea and I go to S.S. 

29.
 Cool, clear, at S.S. with Shea. 

30.
 Fine day at S.S. Shea and I. 

31.
 Mild, leave S.S. go to P. Mrs. B. improving. April 1. Fine warm day. Stay at S.S. last night, soft maples and elms in bloom. Go to P. in p.m. and then to N.Y. at 4. Stop at Pelham. Mr. Shea [there] C.B. looks tired. 2d. With C.B. fine warm day. Look over Mr. MS on JB. 


3.
 Sun and cloud, clearly Keeler and Mr. Seaman in p.m. my 76th birthday. Feel as well as ever I did on a birth day. Weigh 146 - more than last year, and 4 lbs more than 2 years ago. Enjoy life as much as ever. The spring tokens move me as of old. 

4.
 A little rain in night. Leave P. at 8. Reach Poughkeepsie at 11. Mrs. B. still gaining. Warm and fine, come up to W.P. 

at 2, then to S.S. 

5.
 Rain nearly all night, clearing and cooler this morning. 

6.
 Cool, windy some squalls all day in the Catskills. We go up to Port Ewen in motor car. 

7.
 Like yesterday snow in the air. Go to P. to see Mrs. B. 

8.
 Cold last night like Nov. Froze quite hard. At S.S. writing. 


8.
 Still fair and cold; freezes every night; At S.S. writing on vitalism. Ran the car yesterday p.m. to Port Ewen and then came home and ran it into the locust tree just inside our gates, never look back while driving your car; I looked back as I came through the gate to see if I was going to hit and the little beast sprang for that tree like a squirrel. Broke or bent her forward spring so we cant crank her. 

9.
 Cold, frosty. Leave S.S. Go to P. in p.m. Mrs. B. mending. 

10.
 Still cold, car gone to P. to be mended. 

11.
 Rain and milder, not very well my old [many] biliousness. Stay in house in p.m. and clean myself out, write to C.B. A 24 hours rain. 

12.
 Rain all forenoon. Go to P. in p.m. Mrs. B. comes home in our car, stands the journey well, warm cloudy. 

13.
 Cloudy, a little rain. Took 1 1/2 gram of calomel last night, not much change except better sleep. 

14.
 Still dark and cloudy and mild, Mrs. B. doing well, a little better myself. Coverts folks moved in on Saturday. 

15.
 Not well yet dry and cool. 

16.
 Not well yet, dry and cool. 

17.
 A little better. Go to Pelham in p.m. Dr. and the children out Addie there. Feel much better. 

18.
 At P. no fever, sleep well and appetite returning. C.B. not well. 

19.
 Cool, go to Mt. Vernon with C.B. Mr. Pratt comes in p.m.. 

20.
 Cold, froze last night, Mrs. Harris comes in p.m. C.B. better and begins copying for me. 

21.
 Milder, I am well and hungry. C.B. and I go to new Rochelle in p.m. a quiet hour by the sound, still and lovely. 

22.
 Mild and dry. Start for home at 11 a.m. C.B. walks to station with me. Reach home at 2 p.m. Mrs. B. slowly gaining. 

23.
 Still warm, dry days. 

24.
 April at her best. In the morning the river like a great opening or window, down through the earth into the sky below. Cherry trees a mess of white bloom. Pear trees just opening, peach trees, masses of pink maple trees with a thin cloud of pale yellow bloom. High holes calling, fisherman drifting on the still shining river, Hud plowing vineyard. Getting dry. Drove car to Highland yesterday, Julian in N.Y. currants blooming. 

25.
 Still lucid warm, dry. The normal Indian summer. Ruby Crown piping in the evergreens. Purple finches and gold finches holding their musical festivals in the trees. Joy and song all day long.

 On such ideal April days as this how visions of the old farm and my youth there float before me; the greening meadows and fields basking in the warm sunshine, the brown leafless mountains with an inner lining of snow fairly showing through the trees the nearby woods taking on warmer lusts, the plow turning its first farrows, or the teams hauling out the accumulation of winter manure, - ice and snow still mixed with the stable droppings, the high holes calling loud and long from the meadow or pasture, the stir of life all about and the faint odors of soil and springing grass, yes and father and mother and brothers and sisters all well and busy in doors and out - myself perhaps spreading manure, or knocking the fall droppings of the cores in the meadows or gathering the things in the sugar bush - the first swallows the first dandelions - my heart swells when I think of it all and that it can never be mine again. 

26.
 Still clear and lovely, but a little cooler. Pear trees in bloom. Queen bumble bees and queen hermits out house hunting. Big "blow flees" inviade the house. Whippoorwill last night. The river rumpled a little this morning from the S.W. A big lot of Vassar girls - 26 and 16 High school girls - a pleasant day. 

27.
 Fine warm day, partly cloudy. Miss Owney from P. at S.S. 

28.
 Heavy rain all night, signs of clearing this morning. The different kinds of trees all outlined on the background of the woods.


 Apple bloom just here, one blossom the central one, in the berg of 5 full open. Wife better. 
30. Fair, windy, cold, near a frost last night still still writing on life. May 1st. No more perfect May day ever came down out of heaven. Warm, still clear, orchards piled with apple bloom. The wood thrush this morning. 
A thin veil of foliage over the trees. Drive wife in the car to Clintondale, a beautiful drive. 
2. Another perfect May day, The cool leisurly, liquid notes of the wood thrush come up from the edge of Gordons field 
through the apple bloom and melt into the soft white vapor of the early morning.
 The gold finches musical festival in the tree tops, still continues, - a sweet happy sibilant chorus of a multitude of little voices, the singers, the while, feeding on something around the green immature elm seeds and leaves. 
3. Another wonderful May day, hot probably 80, looks dry, no warblers yet, where are they? Have just taken a run of a few miles in the car, the fluid desperate thing still scares me, how ready it is to take the ditch or a tree or the fence! I fear I have not the mechanical type of mind, to ever feel at my ease with it or to feel perfect master of it. P.m. a run to H. in the car through the fresh fragrant May air in a mid summer heat. 
-A golden border of dandelions to the road sides, the apple orchards, masses of pink and white bloom, the fragrance of lilacs streaking the air, the grass lush in the meadows, a thick mist of foliage in the woods and way side trees, the delicate maple fringe hanging beneath its canopy of leaves, plowing and hoeing going on in the vineyards, swallows. dating in and out of the reply barns of the entrancing beauty and suggestiveness of May over all - the calm waiting unfolding May. 
4. Above 80 yesterday, still warm and calm and nearly clear this morning. Promises a hot day, I hear the "high hole" calling down towards the river - hear it with the ears of youth - it is calling down in the pasture on the home farm 65 or 70 years ago. 
-Some people have force of intellect but not force of character and vice versa. I have more force of intellect than of character. My wife has force of character but vey little intellect. It looks as if President Wilson had both in large measure. Roosevelt has both, but his intellect is of a lower order than that of Wilson. 
5.
 Lovely days continue, very warm. 

6.
 Very warm. Go to S.S. in p.m. school meeting at night. Leaves nearly all out, not writing the past few days, need a long play spell. Dry thunder. Showers in p.m. only a sprinkle of rain. 

7.
 Cooler, lovely dry day. Go to S.S. again.

 Tent caterpillars very numerous. Gold finches, during their spring Saugus fast, feed on the unripe seeds of the elms. The ground beneath the trees is strewn with the round keys with the centre ripped open - a tiny morsel, but food for seed eating birds is very scarce is April and May. 

8.
 Clear, much cooler. Feel much better. 

9.
 Cloudy, we drive in the car to Napanoch to Mr. Seaman a pleasant cool drive 

10.
 At Yanie - no [wehi]. Cool, windy. 

11.
 A cold wave last night 2 or 3 degrees of frost. Killed all Mr. Seaman's grape vines, killed Azalia and other shrubs in the woods, made ice; hurt S. berriy, a bright sharp day. 

12.
 Frost again last night in many places. Scorched in the ferns at W.P. Go home today. 

13.
 Warmer - threatens rain by tonight start for Mt. Holyoke College today. Feel pretty well but grieved over the death of Mr. Browne which occurred on Sunday at Santa Barbara - one of my best friends, I have many tender memories of him, I think he killed himself with coffee. Dear friend! your name will always be associated with some of my happiest days. 14, 15, 16, 17. At Mt. Holyoke College. Walk and talk with the girls one girl who attended all my talks said she heard me talk 9 hours - a hit and miss harum scarum talk about everything, under the sun. Cool and rain on day. A pageant on the 17th, Holyoke [a] the most beautiful and home like of the women colleges, that I have seen. In p.m. of Saturday the 17 go to Littleton to see the Sanderson girls, a pleasant restful time. Heard the bittern in the marsh near the house; began at 3 1/2 in the morning, the most watery sound I ever heard from any animal - as if his crop and neck were full of water up through while he forces great bubble of air. You see his breast begin to swell and heave, then up comes this curious liquid sound, as if he vomited it up. Heard him in p.m. a wood duck had her nest in a hole in an elm tree ten feet from the house and 50 ft from R.R. Her young came out the day before my arrival - 12 of them. They all tumbled into the are of the collar window and then climbed out. The old duck finally led them off to the swamp. The barber across the way said he saw two of them tumble out the tree. 


20. Off to Boston this morning, clear and fine, meet C. at hotel. Go to her college in morning. 21, 22, 23. See B. see Trowbridge. On 22d looks well and hearty. Go down to Hingham with Sharp and spend a couple of hours. 
23. Start for N.Y. at 8 and reach home at 6 a/2 p.m. Four very happy days. 24, 25 and 26. At home, Mrs. B. slowly gaining. 
27. Off for De Bruce, a cloudy day, join C. at Cornwall 
28, 29, 30. At De Bruce, cold, poor fishing, water too high, C, looks well and is happy. So am I, spend the 30th with the Goring's at their camp, an ideal day. 
31. The Bennett's take in their motor car to Mr. Seaman's a tiresome drive, leave C. there and they bring me to my gate at 5 p.m. an ideal day. June 1st. Warm, clear, drive car to Port Ewen and back. Gained 2 lbs at De Bruce. Weigh 145 now. A cold May and wet. 
2. Clear, warm. 
Orlando McLane died this morning. I shall miss him more than I should any other man in town, an ideal mechanic .large, powerful, silent and true as steel - a superior man, every way. He helped build my house, saw him about a week ago, on his way to work, near my age I think I felt a kin to him. He will be greatly missed. He was old reliable - an American mechanic of the highest type. No other laboring man his equal in this town, or probably in this country. Some growth in his chest obstructed his breathing. He was a Whitmanesque man, as big as Whitman and with many of his qualities. Peace to his soul. 3d. Lovely June day, clear, breezy, warm clover blooming, locust bloom dropping, young robins and phoebes and sparrow out of the nest. Off for Detroit this p.m. feel well 
4. Reach Detroit at 8 a.m. The Bucks meet me. 5, 6, 7, 8 In D. with Mr. Ford and Mr. Bucke. Clear and cold for June. Have a fine time. Mr. Ford pleased with me and I with him. His interest in birds is keen and his knowledge considerable. a lovable man. So is Glen Buck. Mr. Fords plant a wilderness of men and machinery covering over 40 acres. The ford cars grow before your eyes and every day 1000 of them is seen from the rear. 
9. To Toronto today; reach there at 8 p.m. McDonald and Mr. Warburton meet me, I stay at W's. 10, 11, 12. At T. having a fine time. On the 11th we motor to Mr. Firstbrooks, trout ponds at Acton, pass night there in big tent; take plenty trout on fly. Hear the northern water thrush there. 
12.
 Off for home at 5 p.m. 

13.
 Home this morning at 6.20, warm. Weigh 148. 

14.
 Hot day, go to P. for car. John Shea and his girl and her mother come at 2 p.m. 

15.
 Bright, clear, warm. 


18.
 Fine day, C.B. comes at 2 p.m. 

19.
 Cloudy, wedding at S.S. at 5. John Shea and Adella Pepper both of K's, a fine young couple. June 

20.
 Rain all a.m. 

21.
 Clearing. C.B. returns to Pelham I go with her. 22d. At P. fine day. 


23.
 Off for Phila! Reach Chestnut Hill at 5, Mrs. Woodworth meet me at the door; not much changed in the 12 years since we met, a beautiful suburb of Phila. The quiet and repose of the Quaker is over all Phila nature here seems of the quaker persuasion. 

24.
 At Chestnut Hill, walk and motor about. Warm, walk in woods along the Wissebecker. The Kentucky warbler - an old friend of my Washington days. Return to N.Y. in p.m. and to Pelham. 

25.
 Return to West Park in p.m. 26, 27. Picking cherries. Warm, dry. 


28.
 Julian and I start for Roxbury in car. Reach Roxmore at 11.20. Reach Roxbury at 4 1/2. W.L. at 5. Fine warm day, my native hills look good. Ruth Drake and Mary - come at 6. 

29.
 Sunday. Warm fine. In p.m. drive Julian and the girls down to station. J. leaves for home Return in good shape with the girls, but in driving the car in the old barn get rattled and let it run wild. It bursts through the side of the barn like an explosion; there is a great splintering and rattling of boards and timbres and the car stops with its forward axel hanging out over a drop of 15 feet, as the wheels went out the car dropped on its fly wheel and that saved me, the wheel caught on less than a foot from the edge; had it not it would have landed at the foot of the steep hill and I should have landed on the other side of Jordan, a lucky escape. The top of the radiator is badly crumpled, otherwise the car is unhurt. I am terribly humiliated and later geared at my narrow escape. The thing I had feared for weeks happened. Thus does fear deliver us into the hands of the thing we fear. 

30.
 Fine day, Frank Caswell comes up and with John and Chant we get the car back in the barn. Mr. Geron from the village runs it down and sends for a new radiator. 


John Shea and wife come at 6 p.m. July 1, 2, 3, 4. Hot dry days, 92 at times. Car comes back on Thursday. Emily and the children comes on 3d very glad to see them. Hot. 
5.
 Drive over to Eden's today. Mr. Felton drives us, Eden and Mag well as usual. Very hot. Return at 4 p.m. 

6.
 Cooler, showers go south of us. 

7.
 Very cool and windy. Write in the old barn with Jap, stove in my hand. 

8.
 Warm, brisk showers at 12. Water runs in road. Write in a.m. John began hazing Monday. 


10.
 Cool day, Emily and the children leave me for home. How I shall miss them. 

11.
 Cool, fair. 

12.
 Showers at 6, rains 1/2 hour. C.B. comes at 7. We are there with the car. 

13.
 Fine day but fearfully windy, a gale from W. nearly all day. Go to Prattsville and Devolego falls in p.m. a light shower at 4. 

14.
 Still windy and very cool. Write in barn. 

15.
 Cool and windy, with flying clouds. Work in barn. 

16.
 Clear and warmer. 

17.
 Cool, mock showers, rain much needed. Writing in barn each day. 18,19. Cool, mere mock showers. 


20.
 Walk to the phoebes, met with C.B. Warm. 

21.
 Mock showers, working each day in barn, send off copy of new vol. 

22.
 Clear, dry, cool, lovely day. Walk to Scotland alone; get pint of rasp berries, a weasel, a queen bumble bee at barn today, a hawk, a brood of grouse, a side blue bird and two empty phoebes nests in Scotland. 

23.
 Warmer, some indications of rain. 

24.
 Dry showers, warm. 

25.
 Walk to "Scotland" in p.m. with C.B. 

26.
 Warm dry. Mrs. B. comes at 5.30. 

27.
 Warm, dry. Drive to Lexington in p.m. used to go there as a boy. 

28.
 Warm, light showers nearly 1/2 inch come topping out. (Once) July 

29.
 Warm, foggy in the morning. Brain not active sine I finished "The Summit of the years" C.B. looking much better. Water getting very low. 

30.
 Warm, drive to Conesville to see Ursula Brownell, Jane's girl, a pleasant time. 

31.
 Warm day. Aug 1st. Warm, light rain. 2d. Warm, build bush camp. Mrs. Pratt comes at night. 


3.
 Fine day, air hazy, go up to old clump in p.m. 5 of us; have our supper there. Warm at night. 

4.
 Showers in the night; nearly 1/2 inch. Helps a little, cool and clear in p.m. Find Gold finches nest in Orchard. 


7. Drive to Trempers, a warm dusty drive. Olly and Ort well, a pleasant visit, coming home a brisk shower strikes us near Jacob C. Keaton's old place. A fine rain 1 1/2 hours at W.L raised the spring a little and relieved the drought. 8 and 9. Fine days, Addie J. comes on the 9th. 
10.
 A light shower, a camp fire last night at Bush Camp Mr. Kohn here. Aug 1913 

11.
 Cool fine day, write in camp. 

12.
 Lovely day, write in camp. 

13.
 Warm, threatens showers, but they do not come. 

14.
 Drive to John McGregors a lovely day, stop at Edens. He and Mag well as usual, a pleasant day at McGregors. Eva gets us up a fine dinner - an old hen dinner but a good one, cloudy part of the days. 

15.
 Cloudy and vapory, but too soft for rain. 

16.
 Warm, write each morning. 

17.
 Hot, in the 90s I think never saw it hotter here. 

18.
 Clear, fearful heat, Write in the barn. Go blackberrying in p.m. Health good, sleep well, very dry. 

19.
 A little cooler, no rain. Go out to S. Gowda to Hatties - go by train. Then to the cemetery at S. to Jane's and Homer's graves, my first visit there. How their forms rose before me Aug 1913 

A dry, hard bright August day, 

20.
 Warmer, dry. 

21.
 Mrs. B. returns home today. I drive down to train with her, a bright warm day. At Bush Camp in p.m. 

22.
 Cloudy, windy from S.W. Cool, May rain. 


27.
 Cloudy, The Fords and Bucks come today, very glad to seem them. 

28.
 Fine day at W.L motor car humming. 

29.
 Rain last night, thunder start at 11 for Boston, reach Catskill at 2 1/2. Leave at 4 1/2 reach Pittsfield at 6 1/2, a fine drive. Stay at P. 

30.
 Start at 9. Drive by way of Northampton, pass the burning ruins of a house and barn, struck by lightening in the night, an old man and his wife set in chairs under a tree near by, looking very forlorn, Mr. Ford hears their story and hands them a $100 bill. They are much moved, when he hears the story of their grand.(Aug 1913) daughter who was to enter the high school Monday morning and that her clothes were all burned, he hand them another hundred and their tears flow and they choke up in trying to thank him "A good investment" I tell him "Pays the right kind of interest" We stop at Clifton Johnson, a little while, a bright warm day. Reach Worcester at 7. 

31.
 Off for Concord this morning, a fine drive. Spend the day at C. call on Sauborn, a stream of motor cars all day to the historic places about C. very warm, stop at Colonial Hotel. Drive on to Boston at night, stop at the Toraine. Sept 1st. Hot, drive out to Concord at 11, pick up Sauborn and we lunch at hotel, S. of the Emersonian type, tall gaunt, deliberate sharp featured, stooping with Emerson's manners and ways, a rather dry, lean nature but an interesting man. Hates Roosevelt. We drive about town to Walden Pond, to the Emerson house etc. spend some time in E's house, - just as he left it very impressive to me. His dining room, his study and library, his bedroom etc all look like Emerson - the home of a scholar and thinker, spend an hour in sleepy Hollow cemetery. 


-the most beautiful cemetery I ever saw, - a fit place for the last resting place of Emerson, Howthorn Woodan Alcott. 
2.
 In Boston today, In p.m. to country club to lunch, then to Arlington to see Trowbridge and Nixon Waterman - two charming lovable men. Trowbridge well and rudly and spry. Waterman very humorous and bright. Warm. To theatre at night to see May Irvine. - Laugh a good deal a good actress. 

3.
 Meet the Edisons today. Then at 2 take train for Albany, Mr. Ford and I stay in Albany. Hot. Get up and take train at 


4.25 for W.P. all well at home. Find Julian in the woods by stone crusher, so glad to see him cooler, stay home till Friday p.m. [Sept] 
4.
 At home today, all well, grapes 2/3dr off. 

5.
 Start for R. in p.m. 

6.
 At W.L again, all is well Mr. Hoot from Rochester comes. 

7.
 Fine day, Mr. H off in p.m. and John and Della go to Poughkeepsie. 8 Lovely day, a day in Bush Camp. 


-Have lunch there, roast corn e.t.c. 
-An ideal time. 
9.
 The Sheas home in p.m. 

10.
 Cold, a frost in the valleys. 

11.
 Cold, a joy ride to Margarettsville. Cloudy. 

12.
 A quiet day. 51 years ago today was very hot. I worked in oats here on this famr and wrote a little to Myra Benton. Very dry, spring here failed while I was in Boston. Reed CK $150 from Good Housekeeping. 

13.
 Cool, clear, dry day. 


15. Rain last night, nearly 2 inch. Does not affect the spring. 
27. Eden and Mag today. The first time they were visited me. Both well. Sept 27. Julian and his family come in the car in p.m. Delighted to have them, a cool brilliant day. Glen Buck also comes in his car and stays till the 30th. Since the 15th my life here has gone on as usual - writing, driving, walking, friends and admirers calling. Fine weather, some frost but many warm days. No rain to speak of. 
30. Buck and John Shea leave for N.Y. in Buck's car, Julian and his family returned 28th. The woods and trees all gold and bronze now. Oct 1. Rained a little last night. Threatens more this morning. Cool. 
2.
 Slow rain all night and all day. Cool. Write indoors. Send off "under the apple trees" to Harper. 

3.
 Cool, cloudy. Water began running a small stream this morning - dry 4 weeks. [1913] Oct 4. Caufields came last night. Glad to see them. 


6. Kicked by Caswell horse in the field, not serious. 
12. Fine warm days, some rain but spring still dry. On the 8th I heard the strange cry near midnight. Homaday says it was a puma. On the 9th the Sheas heard the same cry. In Bush Camp with the Chipmunk. 
15. Leave for W.P. today C.B. goes to Kingston. 
18. Home these days and enjoying the change. Julian and his family in their new quarters at Col. Paynes, mild weather. 
20. A fine rain all night and part of the day. 
-It is just as impossible to prove or disprove the freedom of the will, as to lift yourself over the fence by your boot straps. If I feel or think my will is free that is enough for all purposes of my life. If I do not feel or see the necessity that rules me. It is as if it did not exist. [Oct 1913] 
22. Leave for N.Y. to join the Fords. Find them at Hotel Belmont. 
24.
 Stay three days with the Fords, in and about N.Y. Back to W.P. today. 

25.
 Back to Roxbury today. Rain, Mr. P. drives me up, stay at W.L. and work and play the rest of the month. 


31. Ground white with snow this morning, cold. Nov 1. Cold, much cloud. C.B. and the children here since my return. 
3.
 The Sheas leave today. 

4.
 Draw writings with John and receive the dead that makes the old place mine, thanks to the generosity of Mr. Ford.