388 MASS (Middlesex Co.) 1876 Saturday Oct. 14 Winter weather Clear and warm in the morning, Cloudy with light rain in P.M. Rising temperature up to 11 P.M. Spent the N.M. in my room writing etc. In P.M. drove down to Cambridge. Sunday Oct. 15 To the intense surprise of everybody the morning broke upon a wintry scene. Snow falling fast & the ground covered with the spotless though dreary pall of winter. By 8 A.M. the storm ceased and the clouds cleared away before a brisk & chill N.W. wind. About 2 inches of snow covered the ground & the mercury remained as near the freezing point during the day that but little of it melted. Starting for Concord at about 4 P.M. I drove up over the Sandy Pond road. The beauty of the scenery surpassed anything that I have ever witnessed before. The snow coming as it did in a moist condition adhered closely to every twig and leaf, and the weather afterwards becoming remaining cold through the day very little within shook or melted off. As I entered the Lincoln woods that hour was just setting and the ruddy glow cast over everything by its slanting beams enhanced the contrasts that had been enchantingly beautiful & furnished a transient spectacle almost too lovely for description. The autumn leaves in the full maturity of their gorgeous splendor delicately set off by the pure frosty