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arrangement [['arrange-' on previous page]]. This morning when smiling 'thusly' Jim pointed to his wife, and said, bobbing his head up and down, "You see that dear Mother," Yes indeed, I said "Well she's the second edition." He meant that before him stood his second wife. The picture is being painted in their kitchen, it is a small room mostly under ground; of course there is no stove but they do all their cooking around the grate fire. The air in the room has an odor of 103 Fahr- and without the open fire place would probably be unbearable—— I shall work on, until the days come for the National Gallery (Thursday Friday) where as you  know I'm doing Raphaels beautiful Madona [[Madonna]] and Child——

Saturday I shall return to my own picture, and shall continue thus until the work is finished. 

My health has never been better for years, and my funds at present are just Two Hundred dollars four shillings and 8 pence.

The quarter that I am working in is rich in subjects, and I feel that I am fitted for the work because I have great regard for such people, and love their care worn features, and simple ways