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10 August 1860. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau writes in his journal:

  2 P.M.—Air, 84º; Boiling Spring this afternoon, 46º; Brister’s, 49º; or where there is little or no surface water the same as in spring. Walden is at surface 80º (air over it 76)… Saw this evening, behind a picture in R. W. E.’s [Ralph Waldo Emerson] dining-room, the hoary bat . . .
(Journal, 14:52-53)

Ellen Emerson writes to her brother Edward on 11 August:

  Here at home the greatest event of the week was Mr Thoreau’s arrival last night for he was extremely interesting on the subject of Monadnoc so that we all wanted to set off directly and go there, taking him for guide. All tea-time Mr Thoreau told most wonderful stories of the rocks etc. that were to be seen there, and of the profusion of berries. Then after tea I went out to see about the milk, and coming back, found Father and Milcah in full pursuit of something, nobody knew what, which seemed to rustle inside the chimney, or behind the closet-door, but couldn’t be found to the surprise of everybody and the extreme excitement of Milcah. Presently it began again louder than ever, just as I came to the mantle-piece and I was sure it was behind the “School of Philosophers”, which I lifted and there was a bat. Mr Thoreau was immediately anxious to see it, and everybody came round but Bat began to fly round in circles and all watched him. At last, Mr T. caught him and he began to grin and chatter and gnash his teeth with rage, adn Mother said “There, Batty, you shall have something to bite if it will make you feel better, I’m sure,” and presented her little finger which didn’t seem to satisfy him particularly, but at last he did bit it and hurt a little. He was then confined under a glass-dish and Mr Thoreau got the Report on such creatures and identified him as a “hoary bat”, and he was afterwards liberated. The Family went into the parlour and Mr Thoreau proceeded to tell us more about the Mountain, till we were all on fire to go. We should certainly set off on Wed. next, if we could only afford it—which we can’t.
(The Letters of Ellen Tucker Emerson, 1:216-7)
10 December 1837. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau writes in his journal:

  Not the carpenter alone carries his rule in his pocket. Space is quite subdued to us. The meanest peasant finds in a hair of his head, or the white crescent upon his nail, the unit of measure for the distance of the fixed stars. His middle finger measures how many digits into space; he extends a few times his thumb and finger, and the continent is spanned; he stretches out his arms, and the sea is fathomed.
(Journal, 1:15)

10 December 1841. Cambridge, Mass.

Thoreau checks out The works of Sir Walter Ralegh, volume 8, The works of the honourable Sir Philip Sidney, volumes 1-3, and Chronicle of Scottish poetry; from the 13th century to the union of the crowns by James Sibbald, volumes 1-4, from Harvard College Library.

(Companion to Thoreau’s Correspondence, 289)
10 December 1853. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau writes in his journal:

  Another still more glorious day, if possible; Indian-summery even. These are among the finest days in the year, on account of the wholesome bracing coolness and clearness.

  Paddled Cheney’s boat up Assabet . . .

(Journal, 6:15-16)
10 December 1854. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau writes in his journal:

  P.M.—To Nut Meadow.

  Weather warmer; snow softened. Saw a large flock of snow buntings . . . (Journal, 7:81).

10 December 1855. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau writes in his journal:

  To Cambridge (Journal, 8:41).

Thoreau also checks out The history of the American Indian by James Adair, History of the mission of the United Brethren among the Indians in North America by George Henry Loskiel, and The journal of Christian Frederick Post, in his journey from Philadelphia to the Ohio from Harvard College Library (Companion to Thoreau’s Correspondence, 291).

10 December 1856. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau writes in his journal:

  A fine, clear, cold winter morning, with a small leaf frost on trees, etc. The thermometer at 7.15 and at 7.30 3°. Going to the post-office at the former hour, I notice those level bars, as it were, of frozen mist against the Walden wood. When I return, the sun is rising and the smokes from the chimneys, which slant farm northwest to southeast, though it
seems quite still, blush like sunset clouds.

  It is remarkable how suggestive the slightest drawing, as a memento of things seen. For a few years past I have been accustomed to stake a rude sketch in my journal of plants, ice, and various natural phenomena, and though the fullest accompanying description may fail to recall my experience, these rude outline drawings do not fail to carry me back to that time and scene. It is as if I saw the same thing again, and I may again attempt to describe it in words if I choose . . .

  It has been a warm, clear, glorious winter day, the air full of that peculiar vapor. How short the afternoons! I hardly get out a couple of miles before the sun is setting. The nights are light on account of the snow, and, there being a moon, there is no distinct interval between the day and night. I see the sun set from the side of Nawshawtuct, and make haste to the post-office with the red sky over my shoulder. When the mail is distributed and I come forth into the street on my return, the apparently full moon has fairly commenced her reign, and I go home by her light . . .

(Journal, 9:174-177)
10 December 1858.
New Bedford, Mass. Daniel Ricketson writes in his journal:

  My friends Thoreau and Cholmondeley left at 7½ A.M. to take the train at Tarkiln Hill” (Daniel Ricketson and His Friends, 310).

Boston, Mass. Thoreau checks out Gleanings in Natural History by Edward Jesse and History of Vermont, natural, civil, and statistical by Zadoch Thomspson from the Boston Society of Natural History (Emerson Society Quarterly 24 (March 1952):26).

10 December 1859. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau writes in his journal:

  Get in my boat, in the snow. The bottom is coated with a glaze (Journal, 13:19).
10 December 1860. Worcester, Mass.

Thoreau stays with H.G.O. Blake on his way to Waterbury, Conn. and meets E. Harlow Russell (Concord Saunterer, vol. 17 no. 2 (August 1984):8-14).

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