Noticed what I think must be a young poison sumach[180] abundant by the roadside in woods, with last year’s berries, with small greenish-yellow flowers, but leaves not pinnatifid, three together; from one to two feet high. What is it? _Alnus serrulata_, the common alder, with a grayish stem, leaves smooth on both sides. _Alnus incana_, the speckled alder, downy on under side of leaves. The hard-berried plant seems to be _Andromeda ligustrina_ (?) of Gray, _A. paniculata_ of Bigelow, _Lyonia paniculata_ of Emerson. Thyme-leaved veronica, little bluish-white, streak-petalled flower by road sides. _Silene Pennsylvanica._ What is the orange-yellow aster-like flower of the meadows now in blossom with a sweet-smelling stem when bruised?[181] What the delicate pinkish and yellowish flower with hoary-green stem and leaves, of rocky hills.[182] Saw Bunker Hill Monument and Charlestown from the Wayland hills, and across the valleys to Milton Hill.[183] Westward, or west by south, an island in a pond or in the river (!which see!) A grand horizon. Probably saw the elm between Wayland and Weston which is seen so far in the horizon from the northwest part of Sudbury. A good, a rare place this must be to view the Sudbury or Wayland meadows a little earlier. Came back across lots to the black spruce. Now, at 8.30 o’clock P. M., I hear the dreaming of the frogs.[184] So it seems to me, and so significantly passes my life away. It is like the dreaming of frogs in a summer evening. _May 27._ I saw an organ-grinder this morning before a rich man’s house, thrilling the street with harmony, loosening the very paving-stones and tearing the routine of life to rags and tatters, when the lady of the house shoved up a window and in a semiphilanthropic tone inquired if he wanted anything to eat. But he, very properly it seemed to me, kept on grinding and paid no attention to her question, feeding her ears with melody unasked for. So the world shoves up its window and interrogates the poet, and sets him to gauging ale casks in return. It seemed to me that the music suggested that the recompense should be as fine as the gift. It would be much nobler to enjoy the music, though you paid no money for it, than to presume always a beggarly relation. It is after all, perhaps, the best instrumental music that we have. _May 28._ The trees now begin to shade the streets. When the sun gets high in the sky the trees give shade. With oppressive heats come refreshing shadows. The buttercups spot the churchyard.