Page:Thoreau - His Home, Friends and Books (1902).djvu/105

Rh crawled out of some hole in the cover of the barrel and made for the river, as Mrs. Thoreau affirmed that when she heard them in the night their voices seemed to recede in that direction." In the same exact and thoughtful tone are records of trips for wild flowers, sweetbriars, or pine knots, practical lessons in anatomy, and ornithology, and share in the cultivation of the garden. The pupils had social pleasures, as well as studies and excursions for specimens. Tea-parties and picnics are mentioned. One interesting entry reads;—"After school Mrs. T., Aunt, Mr. H. T. and I went to Mr. Alcott's. His little girl comes to our school. I had the honor of carrying some yeast in a bottle for Mrs. Alcott." There is careful recital of the food, in true schoolboy style, including a feast of clams in the pupil's room, in which John participated. Very naive is the record of "April 2d. Is Fast Day. We had very inappropriately the best breakfast we have had since I came here, consisting of flapjacks. I went to meeting all day and to an antislavery lecture by Mr. Woodbury in the evening."

In a letter from this same pupil is reference to the boat built by the Thoreau brothers, made famous by "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers." This brief vacation, eagerly planned, was