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the Mansion House with a sleigh and took me up home where they were all glad to see me. Gave Ma her birth day present which gave great satisfaction and was quite unexpected. Saturday I spent looking over and arranging and reading Gertrudes letters and I wrote to Alice. I also wrote another letter which I have not yet sent and the occasion for sending may never arise. Saturday and Sunday were beautiful winter days. Sara and I were invited to dine at Cousin Johns on Sunday and before we went I wrote to Downing.  Monday Lucy & John came to N.Y. with me. My father drove us over on the ice and we came with the 12 o'clock train. It was very cold when we left but when we arrived in New York it was raining a little. Lucy & John went to Marys as I did to dine and in the evening Lucy, John & Mary & I went to the Standard Theatre to see H.M.S. Pinafore which was a little amusing and John & Lucy came to my rooms and staid with me.

Tuesday Jan. 28. 1879. Went down to see about the curtain rods & to have the [[braces?]] for the Franklins made. In the evening went to Marys who had invited Janette, Julia Dillon Annie and Fred to spend the evening. Julia & Janette called on me during the day. Janette has grown very stout and she talked with me rather timidly in view of my lack of faith of her spiritual interview with Gertrude but I could say but little but to give expression to my lack of faith though not of interest. John and Lucy staid with me. 

Wednesday 29. Lucy & John had an early breakfast and left by the 8.20 train for Washington. I talked with Lucy yesterday, and she is to write me. After they had gone feeling lonely I walked down to the Bowery to amuse and entertain myself. It was a bright warm day. I stopped and bought some brass handles for my chest of drawers and returning to my studio went to work on my large picture. I put or tried to put my stormy and sad thoughts into my work. I painted a brooding sky with gleaming lights along the far horizon, for marking distances lost in mist and cloud and a fore ground rocky and broken with the faded weeds and the olive and russets of the autumn grass and at three oclock had covered my canvas with what I hope is the suggestion of a solemn and impressive picture. I do not know how it will seem to be tomorrow in another mood, then remembering it was my lost darlings birth day I took her letters from the cabinet and read them until I could see no longer losing myself in a sweet communion with her. Always her undying love for me and she wrote to express it with all the fervor of her trusting, loving soul. The tears would come as I sat here alone and I put them away in the twilight with a feeling that wrung my heart as I feel that that love was gone from me forever save in its consoling memories. I went over to Marys and we talked of her in the darkness

Transcription Notes:
can't make out what he is having made for the Franklin stoves