Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

112. working on the tracks asks me the time.  My heart went out to him – working like that in the bitter cold, time goes so much more slowly when we don’t know the time.

     Late PM. to E. Aurora to study snow-covered hill, at sundown - Something disturbing & disappointing about the trip.  When I came home most of the children, with Mary Alice in charge busy baking cookies.  It gave me a pleasant secure feeling to them –

January 30, 1936-

     For a walk around town about 5. PM. An ideal time for a town ramble is at twilight in winter – lights in houses a few people on the streets, the snowy roofs beautifully, starkly white against the brooding leaden sky – from some chimneys, pale blue white smoke going straight up into the still air – a feeling of the whole town as belonging to me, of one big family – every one getting supper at once –

February 1, 1936-

     At Brunner’s meat market a boy ahead of me – he had a round friendly face, and from time to time he would glance shyly at me, as tho he were about to smile.  He attacted (sic) me in the same way many small boys do, who are so thoroughly “boy” – I wondered what does he think about me – I mean, am I as attractive to him as he to me – I mean, do I mean to him admirable quality of “man” as he does of “boy” to me?  It is something that could never be asked.  As the Butcher weighed up some wieners for him, the