That season of genial weather which usually comes after the first autumnal frosts: corresponding to the “latter spring,” or “All-hallown summer” of ‘1 K. Henry IV.,’ I. ii. Mr. Albert Matthews, in his valuable monograph, says that the term “Indian summer” is not found in Webster (1806), nor in Webster (1828), nor in Pickering’s ‘Vocabulary’ (1817).
1794. While at Le Bœuf, a few miles from the present city of Erie, Pa., Major Ebenezer Denny made this entry in his Journal, Oct. 13, “Pleasant weather. The Indian summer here. Frosty nights.” (Mr. Matthews.)
1798. Most people supposed the Indian summer was approaching (a week or fortnight of warm weather, which generally takes place about the middle of January).—Dr. Mason F. Cogswell, June 7, writing from Hartford, Ct. (The same.)
1817. About the beginning or middle of October the Indian summer commences, and is immediately known by the change which takes place in the atmosphere, as it now becomes hazy, or what they term smoky.—John Bradbury, ‘Travels,’ pp. 258–9. (The same.)
1823. The season, called the Indian Summer, which here commences in October, by a dark blue hazy atmosphere, is caused by millions of acres, for thousands of miles round, being in a wide-spreading, flaming, smoking fire…. Why called Indian? Because these fires seem to have originated with the native tribes. [An elaborate description follows, characterized by some exaggeration. A fire of the magnitude supposed would sweep all the U.S., with Mexico and the habitable fraction of Canada.]—W. Faux, ‘Memorable Days in America,’ p. 232–3 (Lond.). (Italics in the original.)
1825. This season is called the Indian summer, and the people pretend to ascribe it to the Indian custom of burning the long grass of the immense Prairies in the west.—J. K. Paulding, ‘John Bull in America,’ p. 128 (N.Y.).
1829. The sun was sinking behind the trees into the misty veil of Indian summer.—T. Flint, ‘George Mason,’ p. 47 (Boston).
1833. The Indian summer heat [has been] almost sultry.—C. F. Hoffman, ‘A Winter in the Far West,’ i. 38.
1840. It was a beautiful afternoon, in that most delightful of all seasons, the “Indian Summer.”—‘Lowell Offering,’ i. 51.
1849. The sound of the axe will be heard in every direction, and the crash of falling trees will attest the energy with which it is wielded; and the crackling flame and curling smoke make Indian summer for the sturdy laborer within his clearing. There will be “rolling” every Thursday, and “raisings” every Saturday.—Mr. Sawyer of Ohio in the House of Repr., Jan. 10: Cong. Globe, p. 80, App.
1853. Stanzas on the Indian Summer.—Yale Lit. Mag., xvii. 277–8 (July).
*** The compiler cannot close this note, which might have been lengthened tenfold by trespassing on Mr. Matthews’s collection, without mentioning James R. Lowell’s ‘Indian-Summer Reverie,’ one of the most beautiful pieces of word-painting in the language.
