The goose that lays the golden egg is on life support.

Throughout this past year, for reasons that are not entirely clear to me, I have returned again and again to the lyrical prose of Peter Matthiessen’s “The Tree Where Man Was Born.”

AMAGANSETT

Edwards Trust to Betty Englis, 425 Cranberry Hole Road (vacant), April 30, $2,550,000.

BRIDGEHAMPTON

Eugene G. Smith to J. and D. LI Home Builders L.L.C., 867 Millstone Road (vacant), Feb. 9, $225,000.

Stefan Wiskemann to Caroline and Jeremy Leventhal, 20 Audobon Avenue, April 26, $5,750,000.

Delvin Hemby Trust to 2211 Scuttle Hole L.L.C., 2211 Scuttle Hole Road, April 27, $875,000.

Karen F. Goldman to Martyn and Barrie Moskovich, 5 Mill Path, April 29, $3,100,000.