Page:Familiar letters of Henry David Thoreau.djvu/411

 SST. 40.] TO HARRISON BLAKE. 385

The Monadnoc excursion above mentioned began June 3d, and continued three days. It inspired Thoreau to take a longer mountain tour with his neighbor and friend, Edward Hoar, to which these letters relate, giving the ways and means of the journey, a memorable one to all concerned.

TO HARRISON BLAKE (AT WORCESTER).

CONCORD, June 29, 1858, 8 A. M.

ME. BLAKE, Edward Hoar and I propose to start for the White Mountains in a covered wagon, with one horse, on the morning of Thurs day the 1st of July, intending to explore the mountain tops botanically, and camp on them at least several times. Will you take a seat in the wagon with us ? Mr. Hoar prefers to hire the horse and wagon himself. Let us hear by express, as soon as you can, whether you will join us here by the earliest train Thursday morning, or Wednesday night. Bring your map of the mountains, and as much provision for the road as you can, hard bread, sugar, tea, meat, etc., for we intend to live like gipsies ; also, a blanket and some thick clothes for the moun tain top.

July 1st. Last Monday evening Mr. Edward Hoar said that he thought of going to the White