1893
Aug. 10 
Concord, Mass.

   Clear, still and very warm, the atmosphere 
humid and sultry.

   Immediately after breakfast I paddled up river
to the Clint[?] boat house to meet Mr. Hill with 
whom I had an enjoyment to spend the day
at Fairburn but I found him unwilling to go
on account of the excessive heat so after chatting
with him for an hour or so I returned to the house.
At 2 P.M. I started down river alone save for
the company of the two little cocker spaniels which
I took with me in the open canoe. The afternoon
was spent walking about in my woods and
after taking tea at the cabin I paddled home
in the early evening, starting a little after sunset
and arriving about dark.

   To my great surprise two Short-Billed Marsh                    
Hens were singing vigorously this afternoon in                       
the meadows opposite Ball's Hill. The [?] were
swinging their scythes about their little domain
and fast reducing the area of standing grass.
These birds must have come to this meadow within 
the past week. I have not heard one before this
season along the river below Concord.
[margin]Short-Billed
Marsh  Wrens[/margin]

   A Swamp Sparrow, several Song Sparrows and two             
or three Yellow Warblers were the only Songsters
along the river this afternoon. The woods behind 
Ball's Hill were as silent as the grass but an Oriel 
a Cat Bird & several Warblers were chirping or calling in
the Blueberry swamp.
[margin]Birds Singing[/margin]