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extract in Saturdays Tribune, from one of the Magazines on Chester Harding the American artist. Whittredge told me some thing about him while we were out at Deans that fall. While Whittredge was working with his (Whittredges) brother who was a house and sign painter in Cincinatti Harding used to come there and have his colors ground and his canvases prepared for his southern tours, and Whittredge used to do it, by which he was brought into quite close relations with him. He says he was a man of great talent and painted fine heads, and moreover he was kind and sympathetic and helpful to him. He gave me great respect for him. I had only heard of him and fancied him not much of an artist but more of a sportsman. Wrote to Sussie. 

Monday 22. Dec. Have a very sore throat and not feeling well have painted but little today. Received a note from Vanessa [[best guess]] the agent of the Studio Building enclosing my bill. How I hate to receive such a document when I am not in condition to pay it. It has disturbed my whole day. I was reading the Mill on the Floss and this came just as I was in the midst of Mr. Tullivers failure and troubles. Somehow it gave a sharp point to the scene. A very urgent and friendly letter came from Mr & Mrs. Church for us to come and make them a long visit. It almost seems churlish to refuse but I cant go now. Answered Mrs. Churchs' letter.

Tuesday 23. Painted on my larger picture today and advanced it considerably. Received a note from Moore asking me to send the three little pictures which I immediately packed and sent by Express. He said in his letter he had sold a picture of Casilears for $500 and one of Eastman Johnsons for $1250 but that times were very hard. I have felt in a depressed mood all day chiefly I think because I have been in the house three days without having taken any exercise. Received a letter from Alice Sawyer. I finished reading on the "Mill on the Floss" Such books sadden me, the sorrows and failures of life are drawn with such vivid truth. I think the story has broken in upon my happy state of mind and revealed anew possibilities that await us. Still I was fascinated and held by the spell of a powerful genius.

Friday 24. I laid in a brook scene this forenoon 18 x 24 from a study on Scribners brook making some variations from the study. Not feeling very well having been so long in the house I took a walk out to the "Roatina" It was a bright winter afternoon and my walk did me good and I enjoyed it very much. Downing and Girard came up Downing to remain through the holidays.

Saturday 25. Downing and I went out to Aunt Katrines pond this morning taking Grant Van Deusen and little Robbie Livingston along. We went in a wagon Downing taking his gun and  

Transcription Notes:
John William Casilear was an American landscape artist