349
Concord to Cambridge, Massachusetts.
1897.
Nov. 24
  Clear and cold - by far the coldest morning of the
autumn thus far for the mercury standing at 10 [degrees] Fahr.
when I came down from the upper cabin at sunrise
this morning. The only open water to be seen from
our door was a strip a rod or two wide extending
up & down the middle of the river in front of
Ball's Hill and lower down near the sharp bend the
river was skimmed over from bank to bank.
  During the day the weather moderate and as the
wind was not very strong it was really pleasant
in the woods, especially in the openings.
  We spent the forenoon putting away our cabin
effects for the winter & after an early dinner
started up river having first to break a way for
the boats through ice fully an inch thick out
to the open lane already mentioned. This lane
widened as we advanced and above the first
rapid the river was almost wholly free from
ice the whole distance to Concord.
  Nearly opposite Bensen's landing we started a
Buffle-head Duck, a young bird which behaved
in a curious manner keeping at a very safe
distance but taking very short flights, often going
not more than fifty or sixty yards before realighting
and diving in the same spot a number of times
until again startled by our approach. We drove
the bird on ahead in this manner nearly to Dakin's Hill
when doubled back past us.
  At the Holt I saw a Titlark feeding on the