Cambridge.
Ther [Thermometer] Wednesday, Dec. 27, 1916 [December 27, 1916] Wea [Weather]
Stormy

Dark cloudy with sleety rain
freezing instantly wherever it struck
on board, brick or stone sidewalks
rendering these exceedingly perilous to
traverse save where they were kept
liberally coated with sand or ashes.
Daylight began to fail as early as 3 P.M.
after which I had to make use of 
electric light.

  Garden Birds. A Chickadee, a White-throat
Sparrow [White-throated Sparrow] (seen in bushes by kitchen steps
at 9 A.M.), a [male] Flicker (eating Parkman
apples[)], a few House Sparrows & a
single Blue Jay.

  Spent day in Museum writing
acknowledgements of Christmas gifts.
We have had less of these than 
in former years & none of mine
passes especial value or interest
but pretty Christmas cards from
old friends have come plentifully.
C. [Caroline Brewster] kept to her upstairs rooms where we
all sat & read or listened this evening.

Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Thursday, Dec. 28, 1916 [December 28, 1916] Wea [Weather]
Dull

  Another gloomy day with densely
clouded sky from which light, drizzling
rain fell occasionally. The clouds thinned
at sunset when the temperature fell
decidedly & a cold northerly wind began
to blow.

  In Garden no birds seen or heard save
House Sparrows.

  Spent day in Museum writing
letters and cheques in payment
of December bills.
  Gilbert [Robert Alexander Gilbert] went in town and brought
out a lot of Victor records selected
from the January list. We played
them all this evening but found
the majority undesirable while the
half dozen that will be kept include
only two that are especially good.
Among those rejected are one sung
by Gluck [Alma Gluck], another by Homer [Louise Homer], a third
by Gluck & Homer, all of which 
proved disappointing.