October 14, 1935
"Very warm today after many days' hard frost and coolness. River very clear for some time. Was hunting squirrels at Will's this afternoon in the woods that were cut over last winter. Did not see a squirrel but enjoyed the wood that is already trying to heal over the empty and devastated spots with new growth. Some Chestnut shoots are still growing - about the size of whips. The old trees are about gone. Here and there a limb can be found with a few imperfect burrs on it. Even most of the shoots are blighted. Is this recording the last stand of a great race? The Chestnut trees are among my dearest loves and, for me, the woods will never be the same without this beautiful and life sustaining tree. The squirrels know what I am trying to say.
George Brunskill and I were at Donald's hunting Saturday. I shot two squirrels and had a delightful time in the woods. George got none.
Fished Sunday at the farm. No bite. Beautiful fishing however in the crisp sunny air. Rowdy saw a monster groundhog on the opposite and gave a tremendous bark! It was just too much for him to take calmly. He swam that river and emerged on the other side just as the wise old groundhog retreated under the rocks. It was an interesting sight for me with dog and groundhog in plain view, each watching the other. Ritz did not venture across.
In the pond back of the paper mill were many small fish. It dried to be about 20 by 100 feet long. The children muddied this pool by wading in the silty bottom and caught and killed the young fish. It took me back many years when I did the same to a pool not far from this one."
October 14, 1935
D.C. Richard's Journal
Evidently, the two squirrels DC shot should have done a better job hiding in the "life sustaining chestnut tree". Enjoy the journal entries.
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He did love nature. . .it was good to eat.
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