From May 9th, 1905 to Sept 15, 1906
1905 May 9. Light thunder shower last night, one drop of rain when we needed the thousand. Clearing, cool and bright this morning. A day of sunshine and apple bloom at the foot of storm king; fragrance color, warmth and a vast river prospect; mossy boulders, a dripping ledge; the milk of the black birch. the fragrance of the early meadow we pressed by girlish hands, the spicy ginger root with its "dusky floral bell", trilliums and "thrilliums" and many other sweet wild things; few birds and no quadrupeds save two vagabond dogs - a May day not to be forgotten.
10.
Cool this morning and still dry. Work on the new vol.

11.
Clear and warmer, no signs of rain, apple bloom falling. Last night Julian found a song sparrow near his house so ill that he picked it up, though,

It could fly, he brought it to me, the bird was panting dreadfully, it sat in my open hand with eyes partly closed apparently suffering dreadfully. We placed it under the blue bush where at 7 o'clock, it still sat panting, but I thought less rapidly as if the end were near. This morning it near dead, in the nights beneath the lilacs the little thing had died, I dissected it and found some disease of the lungs or growth on the lungs. Was it pneumonia? The lungs themselves seemed fairly normal but upon each was a thick whitish skin or heavy membrane, no doubt the poor little sparrow had a high fever and suffered greatly. It was a female, the eggs were small as fish eggs.

12.
To Lakewood to dinner of the Periodical Publishers Asst. a pleasant time. Walked around the lake with Markham and Roberts, M. took off his coat.

13.
To Floral Park with the Rowlands.

14.
Rain all forenoon.

15.
Home today


20. A cool dry week, spend it at S.S.
22.
Almost a frost the past two night.

23.
The funeral day of Capt. Cox, at M, bright but cool. The Captain at rest after 8 years of agony, a brighter, more genial soul never lived. C. and V. and I walk to the cemetery, then C. and I go on walk to Pine ridge, and eat our lunch by a fire.

24.
Back home, then to Roxbury on p.m. train, walk up from station. Old hills green and tender and beautiful; family all well.

25.
A lovely lady, I roam the fields dreaming and shouting woodchucks.

26.
Apple trees in full bloom, a severe frost here on 23d.

Go down to the Hemlocks and back through fields, kill 10 woodchucks in all, country day. To Edens in p.m., Eden and Mag, pretty well. Rain at 6, not heavy.

27.
Rain enough to wet top of ground, come back to W.P. at noon, warm, no rain here.


29. Off to Mt. Holyoke College at 6.20. reach there at 3 p.m. Stay till Thursday p.m. June 1st. Dry and cool, a fine time; the girls show me the nest of a humming bird, nuthatch, rose breasted grosbeak, meadowlark blue jay and crow. The male grosbeak was on the nest. We found a phoebes nest under a bank with a cow birds egg in it and one egg of the phoebes. The nest was evidently deserted. We were shown a fox den one mile from college and in full view.
of the trolly and highway. Saw one young fox and one old one, seven had been seen that morning. June 2d. Cool and dry. 3d. Very cool and dry, all over showers the past three weeks flash in the pan - only rain enough to lay the dust, a sprinkle last night with much thunder.
4. Sunday, a little warmer and partly cloudy with sprinkles of rain - a ball sign. More queen bumble bees this spring than I ever remember to have seen before, stop anywhere in field or wood and you will see or hear one or more looking for a mating place. It seemed to be the game at So. Hadley last week.
-My little bush sparrow sings of times a minute I timed him at 8 and at 11a.m. on different days, and he has sang since April, he does not sing much in afternoon. He probably sings 300 times an hour for 7 or 8 hours or 2000 times each forenoon. As yet he shows no hoarseness or falling off in his song. The red eyed vireo sings all day till past mid summer. He is a continuous warble or a string of ejaculatory notes interrupted only [by long] while he is denouncing the warm he has just caught; He is hunting all the time he is singing, he is like a boy whistling at his work.
5.
Warm fine day, dry day.

6.
Fine shower last night, 3/4 inch, cloudy and cooler this morning.


10.
Fine warm day, start for De Bruce, C. joins me at M. Reach L.M. at one. drive to De B. and walk the last mile, fish the mongaup in p.m. with the C's.

11.
Cloudy, misty; a lovely place, beautiful trout brooks; drive forenoon.

Lunch in the woods on banks of the mongaup. Fish in p.m., only 5 or 6 trout, one 9 inches. C. very happy and eager to fish, I bait her hook and bait it with my heart and yet the fish do not bite, slow rain.

12.
Still warm and cloudy with spirits of rain. C and I fish the willowemoc before breakfast, only one 6 inch trout. Later all go up the willowemoc, a large fine trout stream but we take no trout. [the bee] But better than trout were the falls upon which C. and I came suddenly at a bend in the creek - a side show to be sure but very beautiful, ten or thirteen feet high the dark foliage of the woods on either side dashed here and then with masses of prick azalea, what a touch the delicate color gave. Above the road and the mossy rocks, we sat a long time in admiration, then more rain

Fish again in p.m. and gather wild strawberries but not the ones we wanted most. Leave at 4 for train; reach M. at 6 1/2, stay at the C's.

13.
Take early train for home, a warm lovely day, showers around us in p.m; heavy at Poughkeepsie.

14.
Ideal June weather, June is in my heart, a perfect day, 82 degrees in shade, cedar birds with finished nest, cherries repening.

15.
Lovely day and warm. Go to St. Stevens Commencement.

16.
Hot, go to Twilight Park in p.m.

17.
Hot day in the woods of T.P. Drive to Ontario to see Mrs. Dodge on her back, but cherry as ever.

18.
Hot, hot, come home at night.

19.
Very warm, cooler in p.m.


20 Cool, cloudy, go to Cornwall and climb to Southerlands Pond and to Black Rock, with Clara Reed and the Stillman girls.
21.
Cloudy, cool, no rain yet.

22.
Light showers - and slow rain in p.m.

23.
Warm, cloudy, not half enough rain. Heavy showers south of us. Hylas piping in the woods this month. Crow black birds have left my trees with their young

24.
Cloudy, cool.


30. The last June day, a week of very light rain, cool. [on the 29th] July 1. Warm with signs of rain. Go to Woodland in p.m. C. joins me at K, a delightful ride from Phoenicia to the Roxmare. 2d. All day in my old tramping and camping grounds in Snyder Hollow, very happy with C. Eat our lunch at "Sweden" with wild straw berries for desert - Back to Phoenicia.
for 4.40 train; home at 8 1/2, a light rain in p.m., also last night. 3d. Bright lovely day.
4. Clear and warm 86 degrees no rain, spend the day at home occupied with various tripling matters.
8.
Much company at S.S, no rain yet. Heavy shower south of us.

9.
Hot, in the 90's

10.
Hot, go home in p.m, reach Curtises' at 7 p.m. Two heavy showers in p.m, all well.

11.
Bright, hot; sit in the sap bush beside one of the old maples and read the Evolution of Sex.

12.
Hot, go up to Old Clump in p.m. Brisk brief shower at night.

13.
Hot, picnic with Suter girls on big rock over by spring; Then party and go up to the old clump.

14.
Hot, read and poke about, heavy shower at 7.

15.
Much cooler, to the Winnisook Club, reach there at noon; delightful.

16.
Very cold last night, was cold in my bed at the Hinkley Cabin.

17.
Cool, but gradually warm up; leave for home, run down into great heat. 96 at West Park and still no rain; things drying up, showers have come as near as Esopus on the North and Highland on the South; but not a drop here; never saw it dryer; rains all over the state, but just here.

18.
Hot, hot, dry, dry, 102 in the shade of the apple tree at 2 o'clock 99 1/2 on the house, a shade below 100 in summer house.

19.
Hot as ever, leave on12.15 train for M, a change comes at 3 1/2 cloud, rain in some places and high wind. Sit for my portrait to Miss De Cordoba at the Rustic Cottage.

20.
Cool and fine, sit for Miss Dr. C, in evening an automobile spin to State Hill with Vanamee, C. with us.

21.
Cool and fine, more sitting, see C in p.m. at 6 we walk to reservoir and sit long by the peaceful water and under the glowing sunset sky, a delicious hour.

22.
Moor sitting and another spin in the Auto, with Mr. V. and C, cool.

23.
Light rain from S.W. in morning, much of the day with C. Portrait a fair success.

24.
Off to N.Y. and take Steamer for Portland [Mc].

25.
Fine trip, reach P. at 9 1/2. Take trail for Seal Harbor at 11, arrive there at 6.35 and find the Rowlands and Mrs. Burnham waiting with the steam yacht.


Aug 1st. Stay on Sutton Island with the Burnhams till today, sailing, fishing, walking, looping, reading - an ideal time, ideal weather till the last three days when there was wind and rain, very cool all the time, twice we go to Duck Island when the gulls breed and the mother caress chickens. 2d. At Seal Harbor with the Rowlands till p.m, where I take steamer for Rockland, where I take steamer for Boston. 3d. In Boston, warm, in p.m go to Weekapaug in R.I. to see Lora Leonard, a distant relative.
4.
To Coseo's this p.m. to Thompson Setons.

5.
With the Setons, a pleasant time. Seton makes a favorable impression on me, a beautiful house of his own designing. Hot and muggy.

6.
At Ridgefield with Johnson; hot play my first game of golf and like it. Play well my competitors say, a lone drive to the Salem lakes.

7.
To Tyringham valley to see the Gilders, spend three enjoyable days. Old home week, Gilder one of the best souls in the world, like a child in many ways, unselfish, unworldly, generous, devoted to any and very good cause, does not spare himself, flutters about too much like bird from branch to branch lacks continuity and concentration of effort, yet carries out what he undertakes, lacks system and organization in his life, as seems to me, a real poet - fluid, lyrical with fine deep touches now and then - the nearest to keats of all our singers.


We dine at a house with Joseph Choate one day, C. a fine clear cut hawk eyed man - heard no great wit or wisdom full from his lips on this occasion.
10.
Home today, hot, hot, 90, showery.

11.
Above 90, Mrs. B. at Hobart. The Country green again.

12.
Fine shower in the night.

13.
Fine day walk to S.S.

14.
Fine, go to S.S. with St. Faith's girls, 6 of them pass the night there, the happiness of the girls make me happy.

15.
Raining hard, rain nearly all forenoon, girls remain and have lunch with me.

16.
Cool, 60 and light rain.

17.
Go to Cragsmoor to visit Dellenbaugh, a fine time; cool, clear.


19.
To M. today at 4.

20.
At M, an automobile ride with C. in p.m.

21.
Home today.

22.
To Worldstock today; fine weather. 23,24,25. At Byrdcliffe, on 25, Miss Moore and Miss Patrick and I walk to Meads and then around the mountain via shady and home - 7 or 8 miles.


26.
C. Came today with sunshine, I meet them at Hurley.

27.
To Overlook today with the Whiteheads and C, a grand view, unforgettable.

28.
Fine weather, C. leaves, I continue posing for "Cordy" and Miss Carpenter.


30.
Back home today in rain.

31.
To Hobart, Eden well for him. Sept 1st. At Eden's with Mrs. B, warm.


2.
At Eden's with Mrs. B, warm

3.
Rain

4.
Steady rain till noon, go to R.

5.
At Roxbury all well.

6.
Leave Curtsies' at 6, take train to West Harly, then to Woodstock again.

7.
To Kingston


9.
At Byrdcliffe again, lovely weather, C come in p.m.

10.
At Byrdcliffe, lovely day. Return home at night.

11.
At home writing letters, warm.

12.
At home writing letters, rain, rain

13.
At Slabsides with company, clearing and cooler at night.

14.
Clear and cold, mercury 50.


-Weenat says in his Human and Animal Psychology "P,350," The entire intellectual life of animals can be accounted for on the simple law of association.
15.
Nearly a frost last night; the first cold of the season, warmer today with S.W. winds.

16.
Warm, rain.

17.
Warm, cloudy and misty.

18.
Warm, foggy, misty, stagnant.

19.
Warm, clearing at noon, hot, go to Slabsides for the night, read life of Huxley.

20.
Hot, stagnant, cloudy, heavy rain in p.m.

21.
Stayed at S.S. again last night - sorted old letters and read the life of Huxley. Found myself at the bottom of a sea of fog in the morning. Cooler, clearing at 10. No real mark these days, only arranging my poems for publication in the spring. Health good - if I abstain from raw fruit.

22.
Off to Stamford. Come today to visit Mrs. Bonner, a bright day.

23.
Cool, clear at Mrs. B's place "hervana" an enthusiastic bird woman - in the first flush of her studies.

24.
Fine day, play golf. 25th. Off to Bridgeport - find Smith and Emma well, a day and a night with them, cool.


26. Frost last night. Start for home. Emma walks a mile with me on my way to the trolly a leaf out of the past, reach home at 3. 27,28,29, 30. Lovely days and warm, spend them at home, mercury up to 84 on the 30th a kind early Indian summer. Julian his family at Easthampton L.I. Oct 1st. Lovely, warm dreamy day, a remarkable streak of weather the 10th fine day. 2d. Foggy, overcast and a little cooler. Robins very much in evidence. The hilarity of the autumn birds very noticeable.
3.
Fine rain in the night, clearing today and cooler. Quiet tranquil days.

4.
Lovely, warm day. Denton and judge Upson come, at night company from Pa, warm as August.

5.
a day like yesterday, only warmer.

6.
The superb weather continues. Soar threat today a bad walk.

7.
A white frost at S.S, this morning, none at Riverby to hurt tomatoes, cold pretty annoying.


-The beautiful days pass and leave me only ashes, Julian still absent at East Hampton. White throats and knights here some days.
8.
The matchless days and nights continue, this is the 19 consecutive day of fine weather, clear, calm, warm.

9.
All gold by day and all silver by night. No frost yet to effect the tenderest vegetation, cold better, but still weak and flabby.

10.
No change in weather - only a little cooler, not a cloud for days. Many ducks on river yesterday. No thoughts these days, no work.

11.
Clouds at last -with threatening rain.


-When I look at the colors of autumn - red, yellow, orange, purple and C, I take but little stock in the notion that the colors of fruits are to attract the notice of some creature who will eat them and thus scatter the seed. I doubt if these fruit colors come about by natural selection, any more than the color of the autumn foliage did. In both cases it is the natural effect of the ripening process, and has no reference to use.
12.
Rain last night, heavy. Julian home from E. Hampton.

13.
Lovely day.

14.
Perfect day and warm, Vassar girls at S.S, Olley Gilbert and her husband at night.

15.
Warm and lovely.

16.
Warm and lovely. Influenza still has me in its grip.

17.
Bright, clear, cooler, a letter from the President this morning, says he hopes to Heaven that he will have a legitimate opportunity to skin M.J. Long sometime.

18.
Warm, cloudy from S.W. the trees and forests in the light of their autumn glory, no frost yet to kill the tenderest plants.

19.
Warm, above 70, light rain last night, still half sick with my cold. The foulest of all colds is a fair - weather cold.

20.
Rain, colder. Go to C. and spend day at the Stallmans. Clearing in p.m. Go to meet train at 5.30, a disappointment. To West Point at night to Denton's. A windy night with fast falling temperature.

21.
Clear, windy, cold. Walk to Highland falls and view the school house where I taught in '63-42 years ago, School house now used as stable, most of my pupils are dead; meet only two Denton and Royal Taylor, my best scholar

Frank Dusenbury a girl of 15, dead long ago. Few old landmarks left in the village, a kind if large ulcerous growth of the place, many long sad thoughts. Began my study of birds while living here, and of botany. Wife "got religion" here and joined the church. I read medicine; wrote nothing here. Walk up to Fort Putt. Foot ball in p.m.

22.
C. and C. come from N.Y, a happy day at Slabsides, chilly day but fair.

23.
Clear, cool, begin writing again. Effects of cold about gone.

24.
Overcast threatening, no frost yet to speak of. Green corn yet yesterday. Go to S.S. to stay and write.

25.
Mild and fine. 26 and 27. At S.S.


28.
Vassar girls; fine day.

29.
Fine day, company at S.S.

1905

30.
Lovely weather. Writing at S.S, on Human traits in animals.

31.
Frosty night, fine days. Nov 1. Cool dry weather; health good.


2. Cool dry weather; leaves half off trees.
4.
Cool pleasant. To M. in p.m.

5.
Delightful day at M.

6.
Home this morning. Rain at night.

7.
Fine day write in morning.

8.
To N.Y, to attend 1st academy dinner meet C. at Dr. J's. Dinner not a success - only 9 members present, Mark Twain very diverting as he always is.


10.
Snow in some parts of country, cold and partly cloudy here. Good Nov weather.

11.
Down to 18 this morning.

12.
Lovely warm day, Heffley, Rowland and Pittsburg lawyer at S.S, a good time.

13.
Fine in forenoon. Wind and cold at night.

14.
Clear, cold, down to 18, down to 12, back of the hill.

15.
Partly cloudy, down to 22 this morning.


17.
to N.Y. in afternoon. Clear, dry cold, at Gilders at night.

18.
Stay with Rowlands. To Cordis reception in p.m., C. there. To theatre at night to see Julia Marlow, a great actress, clear dry.

19.
To Dr. J's to dinner and to C. reception at 3.

20.
Home in p.m. clear dry cold.

21.
At home writing, clear dry cold.

22.
Bad sickness last night, all night, - everything inside me seized with sudden panic and rushing out by front door and by back, so that by midnight I am completely cleaned out. The effect of eating some state clam broth I think. Feeble all day.

23.
At work again, but soar throat coming on.

24.
Still clear, dry mild Indian

summer weather. One of the finest falls in 25 years, a bad night with my throat. Below par today, cough some.

25.
Lovely day, Vassar girls at S.S. Feel miserable, but do my best to be agreeable.

26.
Still fine and warm; feel better.

27.
Still much below par.

28.
Our first snow today, began at noon 2 or 3 inches by night, then rain and warmer.

29.
Snow all off and raining, still much below par; am taking Dr. Tuttles drugs.

30.
Clear, cold and windy; feel better; stopped writing two days ago; sorry I did not feel equal to the trip to Eden's today. -Paley defines instinct thus "an instinct is a prospensity prior to experience and independent of instruction." Natural theology, 2d chapter. Dec 1. fine day.


2.
Fine day, an attack of chills fever last night, a wretched

night. Glad the disease has declared itself. Start for M. at noon. Stay at Vanamees. C. comes at 5. Some fever in evening.

3.
Rain all day, much needed. C. comes at 11, stay till 10 p.m.

4.
Clearing and colder, keep in doors all day and write some. C. comes at 5 and spends the evening.

5.
Clear cold. go to N.Y. and to the Mark Twain birthday dinner at night, a gay company, only a few known to me, my partner is Louise Chandler Moulton, whom I do not find pretty or interesting. I could not recall one of her poems. Twains speech amusing as usual but contained a very few things, a serious man would care to say, except at the close. This was fine

"Your invitation honors me and pleases me because you still keep me in your remembrance, but I am seventy; seventy, and would nestle in the chimney corner, and smoke my pipe, and read my book, and take my rest, wishing you well in all affection, and that when you in your turn shall arrive at pier No. 70 you may step aboard your waiting ship with a reconciled spirit, and lay your course toward the sinking sun with a contented heart."

6.
Clear, calm. Home today on 10.23.

7.
Day of great beauty and serenity. River like a mirror, temperature above 40, not feeling very well, some fever again. Mrs. B. goes to P. today to board for the winter, I stay and board at Huds and then at Julian's.

8.
Another Indian summer day, clear - calm, mild, slightly veiled. Such a fall as we have had! Feel better today.

9.
Cloudy mild.

10.
Two inches of snow last night, mild. Write some today.

11.
Colder, cloudy. Write in morning for outing.

12.
Sun and cloud, calm, mild. No work today.

13.
Clear, calm, March like. No blue birds or robins this fall as last, and yet it is much milder.


-From a letter to Ernest McGaffey. -"There is many, a fresh breath of wild nature in the Sonnets (To a wife) and plenty of the good red blood of human love and passion. The thoughts of feelings are always tangible and well within the sphere of universal experience"
This last is a great matter to me, the airy and fantastic nothings of so much current verse - how I hate it! I want the ground just as real beneath my feet in poetry as in prose.
14.
Dry, nearly clear, sharp.

15.
Cloudy, cold, threatens snow.

16.
Clear [threatens snow] go to P.

17.
Clear, calm, lovely winter day.

18.
Fine days continue.


-Am trying to read Howells "London Films," while I am reading for the second time, after an interval of 40 years, Darwin's "Voyage of a naturalist" I turn with relief from Howells to Darwin, H. tires me. Why is it? Such a lover of good literature as I think I am, why can I not read Howells? Filmy indeed is his book - the mere glint and surface of things and done in that, to me, tiresome circumbinar style - nothing direct or emphatic or positive, but shaded and toned and qualified and miled till it all slips through the mind without making any impression, a seamless kind of style, wrought and manipulated till it wearies one with its mere verbal [per] cleverness and perfection, such a dept pen! What feats he performs with it, balances and tunes and tosses his subject around on his point like a juggler. The book lacks body and substance. It is like some fine flavoured confection that meets in your mouth and leaves nothing. Try Tame's notes or Emerson traits and see the differences.
18.
See in river fast this morning, though zero has not yet been recidual by 10 or more degrees, a long procession of boats has just passed up. Still the ice does not move.

19.
Still fair, calm, mild, walk to SS.


30. The mild placid day continue. Every morning the weather report says cloudy, or rain, or snow, but each day is of Dec, Indian Summer veiled calm, delightful, mercury in morning.
25 or 26. In middle of day 42 or 3, and yet very few birds. Feel better today; walk to S.S, am writing on my philosophy of life. Sleep in my study and board to Julian's. My fathers birthday - 102 years ago and my mothers death day - 25 years ago. Darius said in a letter to Hooker in 1865, that three or four days never passed without his thinking of his father. My father has now been dead over 121 years ago not a day passes when I am home that I do not think of him. But Darwin was engrossed with great problems as I am, several times and mother too, I am not perpetually comparing my life with his to my disadvantage. Father never ate of the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge as I have. This fruit begets longing and unrest and a hunger that nothing satisfies.
21.
Rain last night and rain today, mild.

22.
Mild, overcast, see floating again like March. Snow all gone

23.
Dark, misty, mild, looks like an open winter. Frost going out the ground. Writing on my philosophy of life.

24.
Clear, sharp, go to P. and to St. Faiths.

25.
Bright, lovely day, like Nov. No snow, spend it at St Faiths. Rarely see such an Xmas.

26.
Bright, mild, calm clouds look warm, only a few degree of frost last night, Write to C. Great white island and continents of thin ice floating on the river. Health all right again.

27.
A fine Indian Summer day, mild degrees (45degrees) hazy, tranquil, like the best of Nov. Finish my "Outlook upon life", walk to S.S. a fine spectacle in the Western skies these nights - Saturn and Mars almost shaking hands - now Mars is soaring above and away from Saturn.

28.
Another Indian summer day. Go to P.

29.
Rain last night from South clearing this forenoon. Warm and sunny like April, light thunder shower at 4.

30.
Colder, clearing, go to P.

31.
Mild, fine day, thermometer about 26. 1906 1st Jany. Clear lovely day only a few degrees of frost. go to S.S. in p.m. 2d. Still clear and lovely, calm, mild, mercury 29 in mornings, go to M. 4th. Go to P.


5.
Clear, sharp. go to N.Y. to lunch with Mr. Coffin.

6.
Windy, chilly.

7.
At the p.m and Brush Club.

8.
Sit for MacVeil, colder.

9.
Cold, down to 12 [at hon] in N.Y. down to 2 at W.P. A reception at Rowlands. 10 and 11. In N.Y. posing for MacVeil.


11.
To M.

12.
At M. raining.

13.
Home this morning and to P. in p.m., mild.

14.
Snow gone, mild.

15.
Mild, cloudy, in P.

16.
Rain in the night, mild, clearing in p.m, warm as April.

17.
Clear and windy like March a few degrees of frost last night. River open in front, ice fast above.

18.
Snowing this morning - 1 1/2 inches clearing in p.m. and warm as April.

19.
The wonderful winter mildness continues, bright calm, April like, mercury just down to freezing this morning. And yet hardly a bird of any kind to be seen. Working at my poems.

20.
Cloudy and light snow in morning. Chilly day, but warm enough at S.S.

21.
This winter is a record breaker above 60 today, above 70 some places North of us, calm, smoky, delightful, in P.

22.
Overcast but still April like, mercury 55, frost all out the ground, very humid and hazy.

23.
Still 55 and threatening rain from S.W, too warm - danger to fruit birds, came up to W.P., yesterday p.m, mercury stands at 60 now (3 p.m.) in my summer house, a sheet of fog lies close to the surface of the river, no rain yet.

24.
Cooler - down to 40, nearly clear, a robin this morning in the Gordon orchard. To S.S. in p.m; roads drying.

25.
Cold wave in the night, windy, down to 18 this morning. I have no doubt but that back of and working through those visible palpable forces and objects, is a whole universe of forces of which we only now and then catch glimpses. There are sounds too fine and sounds too coarse for us to hear; there are material substances too fine for us to see, odors too delicate for us to smell.

Would not analogy lead us to believe that there are forces and influences and presences that we want not of? There is occasionally a person who by some subtle sense becomes aware of a cat hidden in the room; others seem to have the power to detect hidden veins of water in the earth, others to read the thought in your mind e.t.c.

26.
Down to 18 this morning, a calm, bright, lovely day. No ice on the river and no snow to be seen.


-During the warm days at the beginning of this week the little piping frogs were heard in the marshes, I did not hear them but my neighbors did, this is something that never happened before since I have lived here, I doubt if it ever happened in my life time.
27.
Still bright and calm and warmer.

28.
In P, sun and cloud, mild.

29.
Colder, down to 18, clear, windy.

30.
Clear, milder, smoky, not a flake of snow even in the woods, a winter so far from out the South, probably quite as mild as a Carolina winter.

31.
Calm, hazy, only a few degrees of frost last night. Feb 2. Go to Hightstown N.J to visit Lora Leonard.


3.
A bright cool day, The Peddie Institute like the School at Cooperation I attended 50 years ago. Even the building the same size, shape and the campus. The same boys and girls too, and teachers. It all made me curiously sad.

4.
a bright windy day, a walk with Lora and Miss Knox, on the whole a good time at Peddie.

5.
Off for Washington: reach there

at 2p.m. Go at once to Harvey's for steamer oysters, as if old. then to Cosmos Club, put up at the Club by Dr. Howard, a quiet homelike place.

6.
Lunch at the White House, meet Root, Dr. Merriam, May Pitcher and others. The President very cordial calls me


Oom John and tells me of his affection for me, Mrs. R, very cordial.
Rowland comes in p.m.
I remained in W. from the 5th to the 21st part of the time at the Cosmos Club and part of the time at Aaron Johns and
Dr. Bakers. Dined at Dr. Merriam's, Dr. Howards, Mr. Baileys, Miss Gardiner Hubbards, Mr. Covilles, Mr. Gannetts. Lunched twice at the White House met Root, Tapt and Moody. Moody and small, rather important man -able, but not great, opens
his eyes too wide, Tapt big, fleshy judicial, among these men and senators e.t.c. Roosevelt is of a different stamp -the imprest of the machine is not upon him; he touches life at so many more parts, he is so alive all over. I liked Root the best of the Cabinet I saw, walked with the President on Tuesday p.m. for nearly two hours along Rock Creek and Pine Branch.
-A red hot walk through mud water and over ice and snow, a long paths, a long the highway, across fields, driving ahead as if on a wager. I could follow him easier than I feared I could; a four mile gait most of the times with much talk. Day clear and mild.
On the night of the 8 it snowed 3 or 4 inches. At West Park the snow fall was nearly a foot. A cold wave before and after made 8 inches of ice on the river.
C. Came morning of the 9th. We walk about my old haunts, Saturday the 10 we all go to Rock Creek cemetery, I visit the grave of my old and beloved friend Hugh McCulloch. C. returns Monday the 12th R. leaves same day.
W. very beautiful, weather fine a vague sadness fills me as I go about the ghosts of 40 years follow me. On Sunday the 18th we go to Plumer's Island above Cabin John's Bridge and picnic in the camp of the Biologist, an
enjoyable day. To Arlington on the 21st and on to N.Y. in p.m. Meet Julian in N.Y. Go to sportsmen's show and to Bronx Park and home to P, on Saturday the 24th
25.
Rain nearly all day, mild.

26.
Home to W.P. today; clear mild.

27.
Colder, windy.

28.
A cold wave, down to 10, clear. Return to P. Mch 1st. Clear, cold, down to 10, very windy. 2d. Milder, down to 20, streets dusty, staying in P. 3d. Raining - a heavy rain.


4. Mild clearing, in P. 5,6,7,8,9. At home boiling sap most of the time, no snow, cold some nights; pretty good sap weather.
10.
Fine day, picnic at Slabsides a happy day.

11.
A sugar maple picnic at Riverby, with Sickley and his girls.

12.
Colder, freezing at night.

13.
Boil sap all day, cold.

14.
Snow squalls, too cold for sap.

15.
A full blown mid winter snow storm from N.E. began before 7 and lasted till 9 p.m. reached its height about 4, when the river was blotted out, mercury about 20, probably 10 inches of snow, drifted, Kellogg here.

16.
Clearing, sap runs in p.m. snow softens.

17.
Clear, down to 20, a winter landscape and rivers cape.

18.
Cold and clear.

19.
Snow began at noon, finished at 9 p.m. 8 or 10 inches, much deeper in some parts of the state. In P.

20.
Cold, clearing. Like mid winter.

21.
Clear, cold, down to 20. Back to W.P.

22.
Clear, cold at work on my reminiscent the past week.

23.
Clear, cold, down to 12 this morning [at] 24 at noon. Boil in 4 pails of sap, snow 18 inches in woods.

24.
Cold and clear, zero in many places.

25.
Still cold, zero and below; yet but

little ice forms in river. The same temperature in Dec, would close the river.

26.
Warmer, cloudy, mercury 22.

27.
Mild, thawing, cloudy, misty, many letters about my cosmopolitan article.


31. Fine day but cool, off to M. April 1st. Clear cold, froze hard last night, at M. See C. in evening. 2d. Clear, cold, C. calls at V. 3d. Lovely day, mild, a walk in p.m. Health good, now I am on the road to 70 - seventy the next stop.
4.
Mild lovely day, now the robins do laugh, Mrs. B, home today gone 4 months.

5.
Mercury at 60.

6.
Light rain last night, cooler. 7, 8. Mild fair days.


9.
Snow starting to rain in p.m.

very heavy all night. The ground all afloat this morning (10).

10.
Clearing, snow all gone, mild. Frogs all the past week.

11.
Mild, light showers.

12.
Mild, grass starting.


-Saw a female blue-bird making love to a male and meeting with a spiteful rebuff each time. She followed the male about lifting her wings and calling to him in her most endearing tones, when he would dark at her viciously, I could hear the snap of his hill, she would utter a little scream of pain and protest dart away, and then as the male retreated follow him again pleadingly, amorously. Time after time, I saw the angry male dash at her with clicking beak and as often she recovered and followed him with her softest warbles and most winsome gestures. The female blue bird is the only bird I have ever seen make advances to the male. The hen sparrow always resents the addresses of the males. I have seen a her sparrow seize a male and hold him over the edge of the roof a moment and then at him drop. The hens always tweak the feathers of their admiring suitors.
13.
Clear, cooler, a high hole morning, yes and a bush sparrow morning.

14.
Mild, cloudy.

15.
A warm murky rainy April morning. Grass growing fast, an angle warm morning; they are crawling everywhere on the ground.

They began to throw up their casts several days ago - a heavy rain clearing in p.m, a red maple in bloom humming like a hive with bees.

16.
Clear, Cooler.

17.
Lovely day. 18 Lovely day warm - toads sing all day, work little in garden; walk to S.S. in p.m. Miss Alkins and Mr. Eastman


19.
Perfection of April days, warm tranquil, brooding. Blood root and dicentra in bloom. Bush sparrow sings nearly all day, laboriously reading Bachellers "Silas Strong", no writing but letter writing these days. Terrible earthquake in San Francisco.

20.
To N.Y. to Rowlands; fine day.

21.
Still at R's reception, C. in p.m.

22.
At Dr J's, in evening at Heffley's

23.
Rain with snow cold. Go to S.J.

24.
Clearing, colder, home today.

25.
Rowland, Noyes and Perrine come to S.S. Fine day.

26.
At S.S, a good time.

27.
Vassar teachers, lovely day, R. leaves at 5.

28.
Ideal April day; Vassar and Putnam Hall crowd. Light frost every night.

29.
Hazy, mild, company at S.S.

30.
Fine warm day. Work a little and answer letters, again farewell to April.


May 1st. Clear, cooler, May signs today - robins go by with loaded beaks; a nest on the end of a pile of grape or warts with 4 eggs; light yellowish patches over the brown woods - the blooming sugar maples; they are again shaking out their tassels; cherry trees just blooming; yellow patches of marsh marrigolds in the swamps; everywhere come the sweet ringing songs of the bush sparrows; dandelions just begin to dot the leaves; the Cheswick and brown thrasher here and the plough is doing its work.
-I often think of Lincoln's and Everetts speaches at Gettysburg; one of them has become a classic of the other not a word has servived in the popular mind, but Lincoln had greatly the advantage; he had been through the firing furnace and the pure gold in him brought out. He had had Gettysburghs of his own, events had brought him closer to the pith and marrow of things and to the heart of the people. The fearful responsibilities that had been put upon him and the ordeals to which he had been subjected had brought out the nobler and more heroic lines of his character. He had a depth of seriousness that E. could not have. Had E, been through the same trials doubtless his speech would have struck a deeper and more lasting note. Atlas with the globe upon his back will speak words of deeper wisdom than Atlas without the globe.
4.
Fine day, off to Atlantic City with the P.P.A. of A. Meet Ceveland on the train. Like him, kindly, serious unaffected, humble, young Ernest Colby - like him too.

Jersey getting green and leafy, a big day dinner at night; over 400 men - editors, authors, publishers, artist e.t.c, Young Colby makes the star speech of the evening. He has the real stuff, a fat man, John a wise of Va. tells the most laughable story, a fat man's humor comes easy. The stories on Jonny Dodge fall rather flat. He is too clear and intellectual. Paul Morton dull. Cleveland same and honest but not brilliant. Van Dyke presides well.

5.
Warm; loop all day on the sands with the Rowlands; then to Vanamees.

6.
Cool, cloudy.

7.
Rain all last night from N.W. Cold, walk with teachers of high 5.

8.
Bright and cold.

9.
Leave A.C. today in rain.

10.
Cool, partly cloudy.

11.
Frost last night.

12.
A little warmer, but chilly till p.m., when it gets warm.

13.
Warm, above 7-, maple leaves half out, apple trees blooming.


18.
Hot, dry, up to 92 to 96 in shade. Knox Taylor and his Lucy at S.S.

19.
Hot, hot, but cooling a little in p.m.

20.
A big change, very cool and no rain, a picnic at H.

21.
Go out home on morning train, a frost last night to scorch tomatoes.


25. Stay home till this morning, a peaceful, sad, happy time, all the friends well. The country very green and tender. Bobolinks madly singing in the meadow.
On the 22nd I go down to the grave yard and spend an hour or two in silent communion with my dead -sad, sacred hours.
step at the Suters on my way back.
On the 23rd go up to the old clump, on the 24 go fishing over by the school house, a willow near the site of the old school house very fragrant, delicious, never met it before, what kind is it? a fine shower at night.
26.
At S.S today with Brooklyn teachers getting very fry.

27.
Rain today from N, cold.

28.
Rain all day, cold.

29.
Clearing, windy, rain raised the weeds and springs.

30.
Clear, fine day, light frost last night in places, much company at S.S.

31.
Mild, partly cloudy.


June 1st Welcome to June with her dairies, buttercups and clover.
3.
Fine day, Brooklyn friends.

4.
A load of Vassar girls in p.m.

5.
Warm fine day, Saugerties visitors and Mrs. Packard.

6.
Bright warm day, off for Dr. Bruce. Take 8 trout after 4 p.m. 7,8,9. At the Caulfield's; warm fine days. Bring in 45 trout in all much enjoy my visit. The [menegaup] an ideal trout stream, how I wished for C.


9.
To M. in p.m., see C. at night, heavy showers with hail.

10.
Fine day with showers in p.m. All day with C. a lovely visit.

11.
Home today, cool, fair, company.

12.
To class day at Vassar.

13.
Restful day at S.S, the company appears.

14.
Bright day, resting at S.S.

15.
Hot day, 85 degrees, peace and rest at S.S. [no co]

16.
Raining this morning from S, needed and in p.m.

17.
Rained gently all night - a soft soothing rain but did not sooth my pain at S.S.

18.
[Cloud and] fair, go to P.E.

19.
Rain

20.
Fair and warm. L.L.L and G.P. come today. 21 and 22. Warm, fair days.


23.
Warm, heavy shower at boat races.

24.
Fine day, and cooler.

25.
Fine day, and cooler, ideal.

26.
Ideal June days continue. "Dr. Anna and A, Angell entered into rest June 8th "


What poignant emotion than words gave me! I had thought of her many times as probably dead, yet when the announcement came suddenly in these words, it sank into my heart all that trying, and to me, eventful time of 28 years ago and the part she played in it, passed quickly before me. How much she has been in my mind the past day and night, she was a fine spirit, without her aid I probably should not have had Julian. She came here a few years ago in my absence and Mrs. B. was very ugly to her, she probably came thinking Mrs. B. would feel grateful to her by this time, but she was bitter and abusive. The dear doctor with a pale face asked for a drink of water and left the house. I wrote to her and expressed my regrets e.t.c. Peace to her ashes!
27,28,29. Ideal June days, hot.
30. Hot, bright day, meet C. in K, a lovely afternoon at K.P. Long slow shower at night. Jult 1. Hot day, cooler in p.m, brief hard shower in the night. 2d. Sultry a terrific shower at 8 p.m, hardest of the season 2 inches of water in 1/2 hour.
3.
Still sultry, showers in the air.

4.
Pleasant day, go to Byrdcliffe.

5.
Cloudy, cool, still, with C. at B.

6.
Home today, fine day.

7.
At Slabsides, company, fine day. 8 and 9. At S.S, shower on the 9th.


10. Clear sultry, off for Byrdcliffe which I reach in p.m. Stay at Byrdcliffe part of the time in my tent till the 27th when I return home for 3 days. Much rain all the time and heat. Read several books, Stevenson's letter
and letter of Fitzgerald, life of St. Francis of assisi one of Paters and others. July 31. Return to Byrdcliffe, for 3 days, heat, humidity, much rain C. not in a happy mood, poor child. Aug 4. Heavy shower at noon, go to Saugerties and stay with Frelighs and Overlaghs at Hi-Crag, till Friday the 10, a fairly pleasant time.
10. Back to Byrdcliffe, stay till the 11, then home.
12. A change in the weather, cooler and clearing. 13 and 14 and 15. Charming clear, cool August days, enjoy being home and seeing J and Ed, work at the boat.
17.
To K. delightful day.

18.
Getting hot and humid.


24.
A hot sticky, hasty week from 85 to 88. Light showers, at home all week.

25.
go to Winnisook on early train and stay till tuesday the 28th, heavy rain on 26 and 27, a quiet restful time.


28.
Brilliant day, cool. Home to Roxbury - all well. The ideal August days.

29.
On old clump, today lovely day.

30.
Walk or sit about dreaming the old dreams. Curtis as well as last year still milks with the old vigor - sometimes 19 cows.

31.
Curtis and I go to see Jane and Homer, Jane well and broader than ever. H. very low, quite helpless, but he knows us and asked questions. To Eden's in p.m. Sept 1. Eden looks better than he has done for years, at light work most of the time. Mag well, a day of wonderful clearness and beauty. Back to W.P at night.


2d. Fine day, rain at night. 3d. Raining in morning till 10 1/2 clearing in p.m. warm.
5.
Go to Croton to visit Miss Truman, a pleasant time, cool.

6.
Back home today. 8 Warm and dry, at Slabsides alone.


9.
Hot 84 degrees sore throat.

10.
Still hot and dry; throat better

11.
Back to Riverby, overcast, cooler. 12, 13. Hot and moist.


14.
Cooler, after light shower.

15.
Clear, cool, from north dry. Health fairly good.