Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

The first pond we went to was probably originally an old creek-bed for it was of a long winding shape and narrow and was fringed with overhanging trees. In other ways however it was like the typical frog-pong - oily scum covered water, covering a bed of slimy mud about a foot deep from which sprung yellow pond lilies.

We had donned our oldest clothes and shoes in expectation of this and accordingly plunged into the water without a care. There was something nice about that too - not having to worry about one’s clothes all the time. On this trip, while not expecting too, we killed three frogs. Having gone the length of the pond we came back to “camp” and after a few moments loitering we set out for the other pond. It was much like the other one except that the water was cleaner and deeper. Often it came almost to our hips.

When we had completed this trip we returned to the Beech-tree and sat down to