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

Thursday, 24th.--Still a thaw. Wm., Mary, and I sate comfortably round the fire in the evening, and read Chaucer. Thoughts of last year. I took out my old Journal. Friday, 25th.--Christmas Day. We received a letter from Coleridge. His letter made us uneasy about him. I was glad I was not by myself when I received it. Saturday, 26th.-- ... We walked to Rydale. Grasmere Lake a beautiful image of stillness, clear as glass, reflecting all things. The wind was up, and the waters sounding. The lake of a rich purple, the fields a soft yellow, the island yellowish-green, the copses red-brown, the mountains purple, the church and buildings, how quiet they were! Poor Coleridge, Sara, and dear little Derwent here last year at this time. After tea we sate by the fire comfortably. I read aloud The Miller's Tale. Wrote to Coleridge.... Wm. wrote part of the poem to Coleridge.[43] [Footnote 43: See Stanzas, written in my Pocket Copy of Thomson's Castle of Indolence, "Poetical Works," vol. ii. p. 305.--ED.] Sunday, 27th.--A fine soft beautiful mild day, with gleams of sunshine. William went to take in his boat. I sate in John's Grove a little while. Mary came home. Mary wrote some lines of the third part of his poem, which he brought to read to us, when we came home....