P. M. - To Ball's Hill along river. My companion tempts me to certain licenses of speech, i. e . to reckless and sweeping expressions which I am wont to regret that I have used. That is, I find that I have used more harsh, extravagant, and cynical expressions concerning mankind and individuals than I intended. I find it difficult to make to him a sufficiently moderate statement. I think it is because I have not his sympathy in my sober and constant view. He asks for a paradox, an eccentric statement, and too often I give it to him.
Saw some small ducks, black and -white, - perhaps teal or widgeons. This great expanse of deep-blue water, deeper than the sky - why does it not blue my soul as of yore? It is hard to soften me now. I see no gulls myself. The time was when this great blue scene would have tinged my spirit more.
Now is the season to look for Indian relics, the sandy fields being just bared. I stand on the high lichen covered and colored (greenish) hill beyond Abner Buttrick's; I go further cast and look across the meadows to Bedford, and see that peculiar scenery of March, in which I have taken so many rambles, the earth just bare and beginning to be dry, the snow lying on the north sides of hills, the gray deciduous trees and the green pines soughing in the March wind - they look now as if deserted by a companion, the snow.
When you walk over bare lichen-clad hills, just beginning to be dry, and look afar over the blue water on the meadows, you are beginning to break up your winter quarters and plan adventures for the new year.
The scenery is like, yet unlike, November; you have the same barren russet, but now, instead of a dry, hard, cold wind, a peculiarly soft, moist air, or else a raw wind Now is the reign of water.
I see many crows on the meadow by the water's edge these days. It is astonishing how soon the ice has gone out of the river, but it still lies on the bottom of the meadow. Is it peculiar to the song sparrow to dodge behind and hide in walls and the like?
Toward night the water becomes smooth and beautiful . Men are eager to launch their boats and paddle over the meadows.
The spring birds have come a little earlier this year than last, methinks, and I suspect the spring may be earlier in the air, yet there is more ice and snow and frozen ground still, because the winter has been so much more severe. (1854)
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1850
- Oct 15, 2019 October 14
- Oct 1, 2019 October 1
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- Mar 27, 2019 March 27
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1852
- Oct 13, 2019 October 13
- Aug 18, 2019 August 18
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1853
- Jun 30, 2019 June 30
- Mar 31, 2019 April 1
- Feb 22, 2019 February 23
- Jan 22, 2019 January 23
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1854
- Dec 5, 2019 December 5
- Jun 30, 2019 June 30
- Mar 16, 2019 March 17
- Mar 14, 2019 March 15
- Mar 13, 2019 March 14
- Mar 12, 2019 March 12
- Feb 28, 2019 March 1
- Feb 15, 2019 February 16
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1855
- Mar 13, 2019 March 14
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1856
- Mar 15, 2019 March 16
- Feb 28, 2019 March 1
- Feb 22, 2019 February 23
- Feb 15, 2019 February 16
- Feb 13, 2019 February 14
- Feb 13, 2019 February 13
- Feb 11, 2019 February 12
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- Feb 3, 2019 February 4
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- Jan 29, 2019 January 29
- Jan 27, 2019 January 28
- Jan 26, 2019 January 27
- Jan 25, 2019 January 26
- Jan 22, 2019 January 23
- Jan 20, 2019 January 21
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1858
- May 31, 2019 May 31
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April 28
- Apr 28, 2022 April 28
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Ash Trees
- May 20, 2020 May 21
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August 27
- Aug 27, 2019 August 27
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Birds
- Apr 28, 2022 April 28
- Feb 26, 2020 February 26
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Cows
- Aug 22, 2024 June 20
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Fate
- Nov 17, 2020 November 17
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Frogs
- May 20, 2020 May 21
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Ice
- Feb 26, 2020 February 26
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June 20
- Aug 22, 2024 June 20
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Long-Tailed Meadow Mouse
- May 31, 2020 May 31
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May 12
- May 12, 2022 May 12
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May 23
- May 23, 2020 May 23
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May 31
- May 31, 2020 May 31
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Meadow
- Feb 26, 2020 February 26
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Metaphysics
- May 20, 2020 May 21
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Mountains
- Oct 20, 2019 October 20
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November 17
- Nov 17, 2020 November 17
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November 18
- Nov 19, 2020 November 18
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Weather
- Feb 29, 2020 February 29
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Wind
- Feb 29, 2020 February 29