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me who proved to be Billy King whom I had known as a bright boy of 15 or 16. He had become a confirmed drunkard and loafer. He wanted to go over the river and having no money the captain put him ashore where he stood and cursed him. I would gladly have paid the poor fellows fare but Winter told me he only wanted to go over to loaf about some rum hole. He had a pretty sister with whom as a boy I was in love. I wonder where she and his poor mother are and whether they lived to see his ruin. Sunday and Monday were like the depth of winter. Snow on the ground and ice forming in the river. Tuesday night we went to Kingston to see the Children play "Red Riding Hoods Rescue". Wednesday was my fathers 77th birthday. We had Genl. Smith Mrs. Berier and Aunt Christina to dinner. The general and my father are very intemperate temperance men and we had a warm discussion at dinner. I spoke too emphatically, which is one of my faults of which I am conscious. We came home Thursday and in the drawing room car met Gifford. Mary Morrell called & just as we reached our roooms and invited us to spend the evening with them to meet Miss Adelaide Phillips the singer which we did and she sang for us delightfully. She is a real artist and to my great satisfaction spoke readily in praise of other singers. We were the only ones there except the Judge & his wife. I found a letter from Booth at my rooms and one from Robt Gordon wanting me to secure Homers picture "Cotton Picking" for a friend of his, which I did for $1500. including copyright. I amuse myself in my morning walks in visiting various parts of the city and often go to the Bowery to see the different sort of people and habits which prevail there. Yesterday was much amused by the new "American Museum" where they have a "fat woman" a "tattooed man" and two "wild boys" The pictures on the outside