Log Search Results

  Suddenly very warm. Hear a hummingbird in the garden. Pear blossomed,—some perhaps yesterday. Locust, black and scarlet oak, and some buttonwoods leaf. A yellow butterfly. I hear from the top of a pitch pine in the swamp that loud, clear, familiar whistle which I have sometimes wrongly referred to the wood pewee,—whip-ter-phe-ee . . .

  Minott says that some years ago, maybe ten or fifteen, a man in Bedford climbed to an owl’s nest (probably a cat owl’s), and the owl took out one of his eyes and nearly killed him. He read it in the papers.

  P.M.—To beeches.

  As I sat by the Riordan crossing, thought it was the tanager I heard? I think now, only because it is so early, that it may have been the yellow-throat vireo . . .

  Cleared out the Beech Spring, which is a copious one. So I have done some service, though it was a wet and muddy job. Cleared out a spring while you have been to the wars. Now that warmer clays make the traveller thirsty, this becomes an important work . . .

  Abel Hosmer thought that the Salix alba roots might reach half a dozen rods into his field as big as your finger . . . (Journal, 9:368).

Measured two apple trees by the road from the middle of Bedford and Fitch’s mill. One, which divided at the ground, was thirteen and a half feet in circumference there, around the double trunk; but another, in a field on the opposite side of the road, was the most remarkable tree for size . . .

  A woodcock starts up with whistling sound.

  I have been struck of late with the prominence of the Viburnum nudism leaf in the swamps . . .

  I see an oak shoot (or sprout) already grown ten inches, when the buds of oaks and of most trees are but just burst generally. You are surprised to see such a sudden and rapid development when you had but just begun to think of renewed life, not yet of growth . . .

  P.M. to Goat Island. Sight of rapids, from the Bridge like sea off Cape Cod. Most imposing sight as yet. The great apparent height of the waves tumbling over the successive ledges at a distance, while the water view is broad & boundless in that direction as if you were looking out to sea, you are so low. Yet the distances are very deceptive. The most distant billow was scarcely more than ¼ mile off, though it appeared 2 miles or more. Many ducks constantly floating a little way down the rapids, then flying back & alighting again.

  Water falling apparently broken into lengths of 4 or 6 or more feet. Masses of ice under edge of cliff . . .

  Horace Mann asked me if I did not hear the sound of the falls as we went—from the Depot to the Hotel last night—but I had not—though certainly it was loud enough. I had probably mistaken it for a train coming or a locomotive letting off steam of which we hear so much at home. It sounds hardly as loud this morning though now only ⅓ of a mile off—As I sit in my chamber is as if I were surrounded by many factories in full steam.

  This is quite a town with numerous hotels & stores, paved streets & &c. I imagine the falls will soon be surrounded by a city. I intend to walk down to the Falls & Goat Island after dinner.

  I pay a dollar a day here & shall certainly stay here till next Monday at least.

  We arrived at the Suspension Bridge last night at about half past eight, and stopped over night at the New York Central House. This morning at ten minutes of eight we came up here, two miles in the cars, and went around to find a boarding place; we went to every house but one in the town I believe and at last took a room at the American house where we are now for one dollar a day. Mr. Thoreau seems to feel better all ready, and I think that he will get better before long. I have seen the falls though I have not been to look at them yet, and I hear them roaring now all the time. I am very well. I do not know of any more to say now but I will write again in a day or two and tell you what I have seen; Good bye

Your Loving son
Horace Mann

P.S. You must direct to Chicago next time and send the letter so directed on Saturday if possible. H.M.