Surveying for John L.
He says that he saw blackbirds about a week ago.
He says that the most snow we have had this winter (it has not been more than one inch deep) has been only a " robin snow," as it is called, i. e. a snow which does not drive off the robins.
By a bound of his wood-lot in Carlisle, observed a peculiar oak, very smooth and light-colored bark, which his brother, who knows them in Wayland, calls a chestnut oak. I am not quite sure. I did not see a chestnut oak leaf at any rate. Vide again. Says they will split like chestnut and are easy to cut.
J. says they have both red and white huckleberries near his house.
Described an "old fort," about the size and shape of a cellar, which he saw in 1816 perhaps across the river near Heywood's sawmill.
This man is continually drinking cider; thinks it corrects some mistake in him; wishes he had a barrel of it in the woods; if he had known he was to be out so long would have brought a jugful; will dun Captain Hutchinson for a drink on his way home. This, or rum, runs in his head, if not in his throat, all the time.
Is interested in juniper berries, goose berries, currants, etc., whether they will make wine; has recipes for this. Eats the juniper berries raw as he walks.
Tobacco is another staff of life with him.
Thinks, with others, that he has metals on his farm which the divining-rod might find, but is convertible on this point.
H. D. Thoreau, Journal, January 11 & 12, 1853
A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, January 11
A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau
"A book, each page written in its own season,
out-of-doors, in its own locality."
~edited, assembled and rewritten by zphx © 2009-2023
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