Just beyond the Bridge I ventures into the swampy pasture field that leads to Mystery Hollow to see if perchance any skunk cabbage flowers had come up.  I have read that sometimes the may be found in January, but this must be when the weather had more or less mild for some time proceeding.  Today I found the patch completely covered with unyielding ice.
     Turning, I recrossed the fence that bounds the field on the north, and struck along the wagon path that leads along the foot of Cigar Hill for a short distance until it comes to a deserted lumber mill, where it thinks better of its boldness and stops.  The grass was now wet with melting frost, and soon the frost began to disappear from the trees, altho the sun was still obscured by the mists.  The woods here were beautiful.  Here it seems as tho Autumn had overpowered Winter, for this woods is composed chiefly of oaks and beeches, both grown trees and saplings, all of which retain their leaves; - the oak’s a reddish brown, the beeches’, a yellowish tint.  The sunlit lit mists spreading every where thruout the trees softened and blended these colors with the light yellowish and brown