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Color exhibition for few minutes with Hall and then came home. 

Tuesday Feb, 4, 1879. I had a letter from Lucy today from Washington. Her sweet and sisterly love and anxiety for me almost broke my heart. I have been very wretched. The struggling, immeasurable hopes I cling to are gone and I am trying to forget. I drove myself to work and painted on my picture. Am I not putting into it the storm that was swept across my soul? I do not know. I need to have Gertrude to tell me when my work was good. She knew better than I did and now I cannot tell. Mrs. Church and Mrs. Deforest came in. Mrs Church looked very ill and weary to me. They both seemed much impressed with my picture but I could not talk about it. I saw that Mrs. Church pitied me and I had hard work trying to be cheerful so that she would not pity me more. De Haas and his wife came in and he spoke with much feeling of my picture. Booth came about five o'clock. I was so glad to see him. Told him how sad and unhappy I felt and he was so kind and gentle, spoke so tenderly of Gertrude. He staid until I went to dinner and we walked up together. Came back to my room and wrote to Sara. I feel better now but all things seem unreal and like dreams.  I have been reading Gertrudes letters. There I always find her undying love and I turn to them in my sorrow and soothe my soul with the love she never wearied in expressing.

Wednesday 5. Painted a little winter scene I saw from the train near Peekskill on my way home. It has snowed and this evening rained. Church came in and told me Mrs. Church had spoken of my picture which she had been much
impressed with. It was too dark for him to see it. I am very glad it conveys an impression of solemnity to any one for it does to me. I was reading some of Gertrudes letters towards evening when a letter came from Lucy. She had just got the one I wrote from home on Sunday and her letter was full of sympathy for me. I answered it immediately and begged her not to worry or be troubled about me, that I was feeling better today. She is coming to Wilmington

[[clipping]]] A note from Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes on "the twenty-seventh letter of the alphabet" is published by The Indianapolis News. The correspondent who sends it to The News says: " I begged it for The News. It is evident that Dr. Holmes was impressed with the character of the fair inquirer's letter, and answered it believing Lavinia (which is the second name of Miss -----, a worthy member of the Society of Friends,) to be a lady, but his P.S. seems to indicate that he half believed himself sold as to the sex. I will first give you a note of explanation sent us by Lavinia.     T.C.F.
"The inclosed letter of Dr. Holmes was called forth by the following circumstances: " Coulson Edward" and I were reading with much interest the story of "Elsie Venner," as it came out in The Atlantic Monthly. One day he asked me, "What does Dr. Holmes mean by the twenty-seventh letter of the alphabet?" and when I answered he was not satisfied, and insisted I should write and ask the illustrious author for an explanation. To my inquiry the poet kindly sent me this witty reply. My willingness to gratify thy expressed wish prevails and I place it at they disposal. With great respect,
'LAVINIA.' "
BOSTON, March 4, 1861.
MY DEAR MISS LAVINIA: The twenty-seventh letter of the alphabet is pronounced by applying the lips of the person speaking it to the cheek of a friend, and puckering and parting the same with a peculiar explosive sound. "Cousin Edward" will show you how to speak this labial consonant, no doubt, and allow you to your proficiency by practicing it with your lips against his cheek.  For further information you had better consult your gra'm ma. Very truly yours, O.W. HOLMES.
P.S.-Are you any relation to "the lovely young Lavinia" who "once had friends," mentioned by Thomson in his "Seasons?"