Thoreau surveys a woodlot for Heartwell Bigelow (A Catalog of Thoreau’s Surveys in the Concord Free Public Library, 5).
Thoreau also writes in his journal:
In surveying Mr. Bigelow’s wood-lot to-day I found at the northeasterly angle what in the deed form the Thayers in ’38 was called “an old stump by the wall”. It is still quite plain and may last twenty years longer. It is oak (Journal, 11:339-340).
Thoreau also writes to Daniel Ricketson:
Friend Ricketson
I thank you for your “History.” Though I have not yet read it again, I have looked far enough to see that I like the homeliness of it; that is the good old-fashioned way of writing as if you actually lived where you wrote. A man’s interest in a single blue-bird, is more than a complete, but dry, list of the fauna & flora of a town. It is also a considerable advantage to be able to say at any time, if R. is not here, here in his book. Alcott, being here and inquiring after you (whom he has been expecting) I lent the book to him almost immediately. He talks of going west the latter part of this week.
Channing is here again, as I am told, but I have not seen him.
I thank you also for the account of the trees. It was to my purpose, and I hope that you got something out of it too. I suppose that the cold weather prevented your coming here. Suppose you try a winter walk or skate—Please remember me to your family
Yrs
H. D. T.
