Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

47.  How good it was to be out again in the country, to feel the upsurge of spring! Park on eastern part of Liberia Rd. - Sketch of stream snow-bank etc. with the sun pouring down.

     It was pleasant here. It was pleasant here. It was hard to get into the swing of working after such a long lay off, made harder by the presence of a fifteen year old boy who wanted to watch me and then brought his brother from home on his wheel - They were unattractive boys, dirty, rude, and forever talking in low tones together, with an inflection in thin voices that suggested evil. Once one of them drawing out a pack of cigarettes offered them to me with "Cigarette, Buddy" - ! - Fortunately, (as generally happens if I am only patient enough) they soon grew bored with the slow uninteresting manner in which I work, and left, much to my relief.

     Songsparrows and red-wings sang almost incessantly, with the murmur of the brook always as an undercurrent melody.

     After I had finished, I ate my lunch in the car; then alternately took little excursions out over the country roundabout, and sat in the car, absorbing the sights + sounds of the day. On one walk I came upon a sugar camp. Noone (sic) was about, but I went inside a moment just to sniff the soft gray-white steam that came off the boiling sap.

     Home by six -[i]

                   Mar. 21 (Saturday).

     A.M. Cathie to Buffalo - A dark, somber day, with a dense murky atmosphere, portending rain.

     At noon - (CD) who had an errand in Fredonia, had asked any of us to go along who wished. Cathie, Sally + I go. If (CD) is interested in anything beside the dry facts of teaching, I have never been able to discover it. A boring ride.