The Sort of Life We Lead 3 1 



order to get good stout support for the wire fence 

 which must go around the whole garden next year. 

 Went oystering after lunch with A. and L. and the 

 children. Delightful on the water, although to- 

 wards the ocean everything seems to be as deserted 

 by the crowd as if it were midwinter. Brought 

 back a bushel of oysters in defiance of the law, 

 which is not yet up. Opened some of them before 

 dinner, and packed the rest in the cellar. For 

 dinner we had the sixth unfortunate chicken of our 

 devoted little band. Cold enough for a fire; we 

 had the first blaze of the autumn, the great bunches 

 of ferns and moss-covered twigs which have filled 

 the fireplace all summer going first with a crackling 

 roar. Read the last of Kennan's articles on Siberia 

 from the Century and some of the "open letters." 

 Pretty well tired out; between the effects of the 

 fire and the oystering began to nod over our books 

 by the time the clock struck ten. 



Thursday. Went over more than half of the 

 garden between breakfast and ten o'clock, giving 

 the last hoeing that will be needed this year. Not- 

 withstanding Monday's rain, the weeds already 

 show a disposition to stay in the ground, and it 

 is evident that all vegetation has lost heart. Got 

 through the task at ten o'clock, and as weeding is 



