Log Search Results

  8 A.M.—To Hill.

  Late rose shoots, two inches, say a fortnight since. Salix nigra pollen, a day at least. Wood pewee. Apparently yellowbirds’ nests just completed—one by stone bridge causeway, another on birch by mud turtle meadow. Veronica peregrina in Mackay’s strawberries, how long? Most of the robins’ nests I have examined this year had three eggs, clear bluish green . . .

  Fever-root one foot high and more, say a fortnight or three weeks. Scared it screech owl out of an apple tree on hill; flew swiftly off at first like a pigeon woodpecker and lit near by facing me; was instantly visited and spied at by a brown thrasher; then flew, into a hole high in a hickory near by . . .

  I found five arrowheads at Clamshell Hill. Saw, just before, on the flat meadow on the right, feeding on the edge of the meadow just left bare, along with the peetweets, a bird a size larger with an apparently light-brown back, a ring or crescent of black on its breast and side of neck, and a black patch including the eye. Can it be the Charadrius semipalmatus? or else Wilsonius? It looks like the latter in Wilson’s larger plates. It reminded me of the piping plover, but was not so white; and of the killdeer, but was not so large . . .

  P.M.—To Staten Island.

  See an abundance of Ranunculus abortivus in the wood-path behind Mr. E.’s [William Emerson] house going to seed and in bloom . . .

  P.M.—To Gowing’s Swamp and Copan.

  Quite warm, and I see in the east the first summer shower cloud, a distinct cloud above, and all beneath to the horizon the general slate-color of falling rain, though distant, deepest in the middle . . .

  When a fellow being departs for the land of spirits, whether that spirit take its flight from a hovel or a palace, we would fain know what was its demeanor in life—what of beautiful it lived.

  We are happy to state, upon the testimony of those who knew her best, that the subject of this notice was an upright and exemplary woman, that her amiableness and benevolence were such as to win all hearts, and, to her praise be it spoken, that during a long life, she was never known to speak ill of any one. After a youth passed amid scenes of turmoil and war, she has lingered thus long amongst us a bright sample of the Revolutionary woman. She was as it were, a connecting link between the past and the present—a precious relic of days which the man and patriot would not willingly forget.

  The religious sentiment was strongly developed in her. Of her last years it may truly be said, that they were passed in the society of the apostles and prophets; she lived as in their presence; their teachings were meat and drink to her. Poverty was her lot, but she possessed those virtues without which the rich are but poor. As her life had been, so was her death.

  Eddy. Write to Father that Edie’s got a book & a cabinet on her birth day.

  Edie. I had a wreath on my head, Thanksgiving; cause my birth day was on Monday. Mr Thoreau jumps us every night.

  Eddy. Mother, and tell him Mr Thoreau jumped a chair over me tonight! . . .

  Why have you sent no news-papers that will tell us how you prosper with the English Brethren? Henry says I must make it a special request from him that you will not fail to do so. Pray send all. Surely you will not think it un-modest to send the good said of your lectures nor of course be unwilling to send the evil reports if such there they should be.

The subject of this lecture was Economy, illustrated by the experiment mentioned.—This was done in an admirable manner, in a strain of exquisite humor, with a strong under current of delicate satire against the follies of the times. Then there was interspersed observations, speculations, and suggestions upon dress, fashions, food, dwellings, furniture, &c., &c., sufficiently queer to keep the audience in almost constant mirth, and sufficiently wise and new to afford many good practical hints and precepts.

The performance has created “quite a sensation” amongst the Lyceum goers.