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west which have cleared the air and tempered the atmosphere. I walked up to the Kingston Creek this afternoon and made a pencil sketch of a win nearly opposite the town. As usual there was a crowd of howling boys in bathing just at the spot where I wanted to be. They came around me to look over my sketch but I shut up my book and they cleared out.
Mr. Vaux and Dr. Sawyer went back to New York today. I received a letter from Eastman Johnson
inquiring Mr. Fairbanks address. They expect to go to Nantucket this week or next. 

Tuesday 8. Bowyer and Fred. Stedman started on a tour in the mountains this morning. I took the horses and drove them out as far as the 
second bridge on the saw mill. They were to stay at the Meades tonight first going to the Overlook.  Shortly after we left them (Marion was with me) it began to rain slightly and continued to rain for several hours, but very moderately. When I got back I took Gertrude and Alice down to the train on their way to Boston. It is always a trial to Gertrude to go away and leave me. We have been so constantly together during our whole married life that it seems strange to be separated. Shortly after they left Maurice 
brought up from the post office a beautiful Russia leather belt mounted with silver a philopoena present from Gifford. I have sent it on to her. In the afternoon Sara and Marion went to High Falls with Annie Norton so that our family is very small again. I wrote to Church yesterday telling him why we could 
not come up there now for a visit. I am reading "Le Mandit" a sharp criticism on the abuses in the Catholic Church. 

Wednesday July 9. The weather is lovely now and the boys could not have a better time for their trip.  I painted a little picture this forenoon from the sketch I made on the Kingston Creek and am rather in hopes Cory Kendall may like it as a subject for a picture.

Thursday 10. Painted on my picture again this forenoon. Sara's bird "Dandy" was found dead in his cage this morning from old age I think. Maurice has put him on ice for Sadie to dissect when she comes home. We had a shower this afternoon. I received a letter from Maj. Wilkinson today telling me he could not go fishing with me and so I wrote to Gifford asking him to go. 

Friday 11. This has been a perfect day. I made a little