I waded quite round the swamp for an hour, my bare feet in the cold water beneath, and it was a relief to place them on the warmer surface of the sphagnum.—Journal, 30 August 1856
If anybody else—any farmer, at least—should spend an hour thus wading about here in this secluded swamp, barelegged, intent on the sphagnum, filling his pocket only, with no rake in his hand and no bag or bushel on the bank, lie would be pronounced insane and have a guardian put over him; but if he'll spend his tune skimming and watering his mill: and selling his small potatoes for large Ones, or generally in skinning flints, he will probably be made guardian of somebody else.—Journal, 30 August 1856
It would be worth the while to tell why a swamp pleases us, what kinds please us, also what weather, etc., etc., analyze our impressions.—Journal, 31 March 1852
Methinks every swamp tends to have or suggests such an interior tender spot.—Journal, 31 May 1857
Most men have no inclination, no rapids, no cascades, but marshes, and alligators, and miasma instead.—A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers
See two ducks flying over Ministerial Swamp.—Journal, 12 March 1859
Surely one may as profitably be soaked in the juices of a swamp for one day as pick his way dry-shod over sand. Cold and damp,—are they not as rich experience as warmth and dryness?—A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers
The filling up of a swamp, then, in this case at least, is not the result of a deposition of vegetable matter washed into it, settling to the bottom and leaving the surface clear, so filling it up from the bottom to the top . . .—Journal, 1 February 1858
The sharp whistle of the blackbird, too, is heard like single sparks or a shower of them shot up from the swamps and seen against the dark winter in the rear.—Journal, 2 March 1859
There being much more ice and snow within the swamp, the vapor is condensed and is blown northwards over the railroad.—Journal, 12 March 1859
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