Thursday, October 8, 1868.
  A.M. clear for the
most part. P.M.
cloudy and rained
quite hard for an hour
or more. Ther. about
60[degrees] - 74[degrees] - 60[degrees].
Rose at 4 A.M. and
went up to the pond
meeting Ruth. at his gate.
Got out our decoys by
daylight but saw nothing
but a Common Coot.
A flock of fifteen Geese went
over 'the pond'. After school
studied with Theo.
Then rode over to Stoneham
with J. Croswell and
tried Dark again. Found
a number of Woodcock which
he pointed. I fired once &
[?] once but both
missed. Gave Jup. & $23.00
for the dog.Saw eight Black
Ducks & several Grass
Finches.
Friday, October 9, 1868.
  Clear and cold.
Ther. about 40[degrees] - 50[degrees] - 
45[degrees]. Rose at 4.30 A.M.
and went up to the
pond but did not
take my ducks.
Took out my large boat.
Saw numbers of Black
Ducks but did not get
a shot at any.
Looked in at the little
pond at the foot of the lane
and got a sitting shot
at a Gallinule sitting
& killed him. Another rose
at the shot and I fired at
him wounding him badly.
After school went up to the
pond with Tiger and mended
my boat. Then rode horse &
went up to the pond again
taking my gun and Dark, Shot
a Kingfisher & made a shooting
hut. Saw Pine Finches
for the first time today.