Cambridge
Ther. [Thermometer] Tuesday, Dec. 18, 1917 [December 18, 1917] Wea [Weather]
26 [degrees] max. Dull
Cloudy, chilly, almost windless.
A few snow flakes falling every
now & then. Altogether a rather
cheerless day.
  Garden birds. A plump, dull-plumaged
White-throated Sparrow in our clothes-
yard; upward of 15 House Sparrows
there & elsewhere; A Crow in linden
within two yards of our chamber
window; 15 to 20 Starlings feasting
greedily on fruit of Parkman's apple,
already much diminished by their 
persistent inroads.
  Rather more than the usual trifling
progress made with Umbagog M.S. [Umbagog manuscript]
Worked on it all day long, compiling
more than a page of new matter
& recasting some of the old.
Harry Spelman called at breakfast
time with an $11 cheque for Concord
apples and Percy gave me $3 in cash
for the same number of bushels sold.
C. [Caroline Brewster] came down into lower hall for supper
but did not remain afterwards.

Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Wednesday, Dec. 19, 1917 [December 19, 1917] Wea [Weather]
Dull
Cloudy, calm & mild but chilly.
Snow melting somewhat for first
time in above a week & despite
entire absence of sun.
  Garden birds: A Gold-crest,
6 Chickadees, A Crow, 12 Starlings
& the usual mob of House Sparrows.
The Starlings were engaged in the 
Parkman apple tree until about 3 P.M.
when we place there a stuffed
house cat to frighten them away.
It accomplished this purpose
admirably for they quickly departed
but the 6 Chickadees collected about
it to scold & viturperate [vituperate], evidently
mistaking it for a living Cat.
  Worked all day at the
Introduction advancing it 
somewhat. C. [Caroline Brewster] came down into
hall before supper & remained
there until 9 P.M. listening to
reading of "The Vicar" [The Vicar of Bullhampton by E.R.S. [Elizabeth R. Simmons]
Miss Henders went in town.