Journals of Dorothy Wordsworth, Vol. 1 (of 2)

Sunday, 30th November.--A very fine clear morning. Snow upon the ground everywhere. Sara and I walked towards Rydale by the upper road, and were obliged to return, because of the snow. Walked by moonlight. Monday.--A thaw in the night, and the snow was entirely gone. Coleridge unable to go home. We walked by moonlight. Tuesday, 2nd December.--A rainy morning. Coleridge was obliged to set off. Sara and I met C. Lloyd and S. turned back with him. I walked round the 2 lakes with Charles, very pleasant. We all walked to Ambleside. A pleasant moonlight evening, but not clear. It came on a terrible evening. Hail, and wind, and cold, and rain. Wednesday, 3rd December.--We lay in bed till 11 o'clock. Wrote to John, and M. H. William and Sara and I walked to Rydale after tea. A very fine frosty night. Sara and W. walked round the other side. Thursday.--Coleridge came in, just as we finished dinner. We walked after tea by moonlight to look at Langdale covered with snow, the Pikes not grand, but the Old Man[36] very expressive. Cold and slippery, but exceedingly pleasant. Sat up till half-past one. [Footnote 36: Coniston 'Old Man.'--ED.] Friday Morning.--Terribly cold and rainy. Coleridge and Wm. set forward towards Keswick, but the wind in Coleridge's eyes made him turn back. Sara and I had a grand bread and cake baking. We were very merry in the evening, but grew sleepy soon, though we did not go to bed till twelve o'clock.