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Thoreau writes in his journal:

Carry Aunt and Sophia a-berrying to Conantum . . .

In evening went to Welch’s circus with C. [William Ellery Channing] Approaching, I perceived the peculiar scent which belongs to such places, a certain sourness in the air, suggesting trodden grass and cigar smoke . . .

(Journal, 7:460-461)

25 September 1856. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau writes in his journal:

The river has risen again considerably (this I believe the fourth time), owing to the late copious rains. This before the farmers have succeeded in their late attempt to get their meadow-hay after all.

It had not got down before this last rain but to within some eighteen inches, at least, of the usual level in September.

P.M.—To Harrington road . . .

(Journal, 9:90)

25 September 1857. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau writes in his journal:

The red maple has fairly begun to blush in some places by the river. I see one, by the canal behind Barrett’s mill, all aglow against the sun. These first trees that change are most interesting, since they are seen against others still freshly green,—such brilliant red on green. I go half a mile out of my way to examine such a red banner. A single tree becomes the crowning beauty of some meadow vale and attracts the attention of the traveler from afar. At the eleventh hour of the year, some tree which has stood mute and inglorious in some distant vale thus proclaims its character as effectually as it stood by the highway-side, and it leads our thoughts away from the dusty road into those brave solitudes which it inhabits. The whole tree, thus ripening in advance of its fellow, attains a singular preeminence. I am thrilled at the sight of it, bearing aloft its scarlet standard for its regiment of green-clad foresters around. The forest is the more spirited . . .

(Journal, 10:41-44)

25 September 1858. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau writes in his journal:

P.M.—Go a-graping up Assabet with some young ladies . . .

Edward Hoar says he found last year Datura Stramonium in their garden . . .

In the evening Mr. Warren brings me a snipe and a pectoral sandpiper . . .

Melvin says he has found the pigeon hawk’s nest here . . .

(Journal, 11:181)

25 September 1859. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau writes in his journal:

P.M.—To Emerson’s Cliff . . .

As when Antmus touched the earth, so when the mountaineer scents the fern, he bounds up like a chamois, or mountain goat, with renewed strength. There is no French perfumery about it. It has not been tampered with by any perfumer to their majesties. It is the fragrance of those plants whose impressions we see on our coal. Beware of the cultivation that eradicates it . . .

(Journal, 12:352-354)

25 September 1860. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau writes in his journal:

Hard, gusty rain (with thunder and lightning) in afternoon. About seven eighths of an inch falls (Journal, 14:95).

25, 26, and 29 August 1853. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau surveys farmland for August Tuttle (A Catalog of Thoreau’s Surveys in the Concord Free Public Library, 11; Henry David Thoreau papers. Special Collections, Concord (Mass.) Free Public Library).

26 and 27 September 1853. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau writes in his journal:

Monday and Tuesday I was coming to Boston and Concord. Aboard the steamer Boston were several droves of sheep and oxen and a great crowd of passengers . . . (Journal, 5:433).

26 April 1838. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau writes his poem “The Bluebirds” in his journal:

In the midst of the poplar that stands by our door
We planted a bluebird box.
And we hoped before the summer was o’er
A transient pair to coax.

One warm summer’s day the bluebirds came
And lighted on our tree,
But at first the wand’rers were not so tame
But they were afraid of me.

They seemed to come from the distant south
Just over the Walden wood,
And they skimmed it along with open mouth
Close by where the bellows stood . . .

(Journal, 1:43-46)

26 April 1841. Concord, Mass.

Thoreau writes in his journal:

At R. W. E.’s (Journal, 1:253).

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