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to know I am never to see him again He passed his childhood with us and it seems like taking one from our very midst. It is sad to think of our young people leaving their babyhood behind them but to know that one of them is gone forever brings fresh solemnity to life. I wrote to Gertrude and yesterday I wrote to John Wolfer to tell him of my sympathy for him. Durning received a telegram from Joe telling him to go to Rondout to await instructions from him as to coming out there. This was before Dwight died and he did not hear of it until he reached Rondout where he went [[strikethrough]] last [[/strikethrough]] tonight.

[[newspaper clipping]] 
TOMKINS-At Hillsborough, Province of New-Brunswick, May 21, 1878, Dwight, son of Joseph T. and Augusta Tomkins, aged 18 years, 8 months and 22 days.
[[/newspaper clipping]] 

Thursday May 23. 1878. Booth came again today and stood for Brutus. I am not getting on very well. Before he went away he handed me a check for $1000 and said the $700 I will owe him when I get through he will take a picture for one of these days. I did not know what to say but he is a noble fellow and told me not to think about it or feel under any obligation. Mr. Bancroft and I dined together this evening and went to the Club where I saw Calvert. Wrote to Mary and to Gertrude last night. Wrote to Miss Durfee accepting the offer of $700 for my picture in the Academy "Over the hills and far away" for which my price was $1400. I did not feel that I could refuse it much as it humiliated me to accept it. A Mr. Wickes offered it and would give no more. 

Friday 24. Mr. Wickes who bought my picture in the Academy called on me today  and I was glad to find him an apparently genial gentleman. He told me the price he offered was in no sense the guage of