Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

40. train of thought in my mind about winter nights and the romance of north places.

                   September 4, 1934 –

     I persuaded the children to transfer their activities to the playhouse, which they did with such docility and cheerful good-nature that I felt something of a cad, even tho I felt I have to get rid of the confusion and that sometime it had to come to an end. I do miss Arthur’s and Catherine’s busy-ness, and endless chatter, which is really thinking out loud. A child must accompany each action with a verbal announcement to some one that he is doing thus & so.

Swanie hailed me as he went by, on his way to work this morning. He said F was staying a good part of the time with them, “eating them out of house & home,” consuming all their cider, and boring them with his insatiable craving for noise and excitement, and doing but intermittent work on the business of converting their barn into a studio, which is his excuse for being there. We made an indefinite date to go sketching some day (sic) this Fall – he as my guest.

     Have started reading “The Journal of a