1868
Monday, December 21.
  Clear and very warm
with a Southerly wind.
In fact, such a day
as would do credit to
April herself, & altogether
out of place in bleak
December. Ther. about
35 [degree]—45 [degree]—30 [degree].
Rose as usual. Walked
down with the boys.
Theo having a bad headache
was absent to day.
Came home through
the Square & bought half
a pound of paint.
When I got home painted
the seats of my old boat.
My new boat was sent
out from Boston to day.
In P.M. took a ride
through Belmont & Waverly
taking Dart & saw a
muskrat in the brook near
Belmont. Studied in the
evening at R's.
[margin]Wrote our fourth Lat. Comp. per .63[/margin]
Tuesday, December 22, 1868.
  Clear and almost as
warm & pleasant as
yesterday. Ther. about
25 [degrees]—35 [degrees]—28 [degrees].
Rose as usual & walked
down with the boys.
After getting back from
school had lunch as usual.
Then had Tiger harnessed
& rode up to Belmont
brook where I tied him.
First got a long shot at a
muskrat on the ice & killed
him. Then got a close shot
at one swimming partly
under water & Dart pulled
him out as he was in his death
struggle. Then got another close
shot & killed the rat with
charge of No 12. Walked up to
Belmont. Saw three Tit
Larks. Of the musk rats the
first two were very large &
the third somewhat smaller.
Studied at R's in evening.
Mr. & Mrs. Dexter got home this evening.