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6

Wednesday Dec. 23 1874. It snowed about three inches yesterday and cleared off towards evening. Last night was one of the most beautiful moonlight nights I ever experienced. I went down to the Strand to mail a letter and every common thing was glorified by the passing effects of the storm and the moonlight. I want to try to paint something from it for it was very pictoral. The shadows on the snow from the leafless trees were almost as distinctly defined as in sunlight and objects in shadow were full of detail. The sky was a soft grey with a hint of blue with hazy overtones and a soft subdued splendor filling the whole landscape. Maurice was very bad and Gertrude sat up with him until one o'clock and finally got him to sleep. Today he is himself again. Jamie and I went for Christmas greens this morning out in the Flat bush wood. We took a sleigh but the snow was very thin. I spent the day arranging the tree and getting it ready for tomorrow evening.

Thursday 24. We had our tree and distributed the presents a little after 8. The baby was delighted and in fact it was a very pretty tree and there were plenty of presents. Sara and Gerald came just after it was all over.

Sunday 27. We learned on Friday that Maurice had been sent away from the Freeman office. This event so long apprehended fell like a thunder bolt upon us. Since I have reflected upon it I try to see how it may be a blessing in disguise. He is very penitent and full of good resolutions which there is a bare possibility he may adhere to. John McEntee and Fred Norton were here on Christmas and Gertrude and Sara and I went down with them and spent the evening at Uncle Charles' while Uncle Charles came up here and spent the evening. Sara went back to New York today by the Wallkill Valley rail road.

Monday 28. A rainy day. I painted on the picture "First Steps" for which Lucy sat a couple of hours. I have got the baby pretty good and hope to make a good picture with the help of a nice interior.

Tuesday 29. The storm cleared off today and it has grown colder towards evening. I painted today on the dress of the mother in my picture for which Lucy sat, and I think greatly improved it. After I got through working for the day I walked up to Kingston and paid my own and my Mothers bills at Dimmick & Co's Gerrit Smith died yesterday in New York where he was visiting. There was a long and interesting obituary on him in the 

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