274
*
Lake Umbagog.
Trip up Cambridge River.
1897.
Sept. 25
  A superb day with cloudless sky, a total absence of haze,
a warm sun, and a fresh but steady W. wind.
  It rained most of yesterday and when we anchored the
house-boat last evening at the mouth of Peaslee's Brook
(we had come down the Fork in tow of the steamer as
there was no wind) it looked as if we were in for
a long storm. But the rain ceased towards morning and
to-day proved to be altogether the most perfect that we
have had here this autumn.
[margin]We take the
houseboat
to Upton[/margin]
  It was fitting that it should be so for we had planned
a long trip up the Cambridge, the most beautiful river,
I believe, in all New England. Never have I seen it
more beautiful than it was to-day. The light was
of rare quality from sunrise to sunset, pure and rich but
at no time garish. The foliage in many places had
attained nearly or quite the perfection of its autumn
coloring and there have been no frosts to damage the
herbaceous vegetation. Everywhere along the river banks
this had attained a harmoniousness of growth seldom
seen in this region. No doubt the conditions have
been exceptionally favorable owing partly to the heavy
rains of the past summer and partly to the leaking
condition of the dam at the Lake House which
has failed to hold the water back & flood the banks.
[margin]* Cambridge 
River above
the Mill[/margin]
[margin]Autumn 
foliage[/margin]
[margin]Riparian
vegetation.[/margin]
  We started at about 9 A.M. taking Jim and Will
with the two small boats. I [delete]kept[/delete] went ahead most
of the way keeping a sharp lookout for Ducks. We
started eleven in all, five Black Ducks, five Wood Ducks, 
and a Hooded Merganser. I killed the Merganser
and all but one of the Wood Ducks. My first shot
[margin]Duck 
shooting.
Black Ducks
Wood " [Ducks]
Hooded Mer [merganser][/margin]