Concord, Massachusetts.
1891.
Oct. 21
Carlisle. - A superb day, clear and cool with high
N.W. wind.
[margin]Woodcock shooting[/margin]
  Melvin drove down this morning and joined
me at the B[?]thicks' whence we started at 9 A.M.
in company with Arthur Robbins (who came up
from Newton by an early train) in a double-
seated open wagon drawn by my horse "Charlie".
  We drove up the Estabrook road through woods
brilliant with autumn coloring to ash Swamp
where we left George to look after the horse
and struck across country on foot to Bateman's
Pond. On the way we started two Partridges
and near the pond two more. Only one shot
was had at them and that a hard snap
which I tried unsuccessfully.
  In some birches N.W. of the pond Melvin found
a small & exceedingly wild Woodcock at which
he shot three times vainly before we came up.
Arthur Robbins then had a chance and brought
the bird down with his second barrel. To my 
surprise it proved to be a young bird.
[margin]A wild Woodcock proves to be a young bird.[/margin]
  Returning to the Estabrook road we started
for Carlisle but ere we had gone far one of
the wheels struck a projecting stone and
the spring broke with a loud snap. We tied
it up with a strap and sent George on
to Carlisle to have it mended by a
blacksmith sitting down on the roadside
under the lee of some pines to eat lunch.
After disposing of this duty we started
on foot to hunt to Carlisle. For an hour