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weather is as warm as April and has been nearly the whole month. 

Wednesday Jan. 28. 1880. Rainy and dark. Aldrich spent a good part of the day with me and Booth came in. Was glad to hear I had perfected my arrangement with regard to the mortgage. Called to see Joe Tomkins. He is getting on well, has sat up and been dressed and seems to gain strength. Went to my drawing at the Academy. Loop, Yewell, Bellows & Henry were there. Finished our drawings. Came to my room where I found a letter from Sara telling me that Maurice had lost his place in the Freeman. I could expect nothing else but it gave me a shock. I dread what is to follow and can find no expression for my sorrow. I would have written to dear Sara who is very brave, but it was necessary for me to sleep and I feared writing would excite me so I went to bed and slept until six soundly. I dreamed I saw dear Gertrude lying on the sofa. I had no sense of having ever lost her but it seemed to be a moment out of our past life, but only a moment. 

Thursday 29. A letter from Sara last night giving me very bad accounts of Maurice and today she sent me a paper with the announcement of a new city editor in his place. Called to see Gussie today and she came to see me. Joe is anxious to go to Rondout and I presume they will go as soon as he is able. Have painted a little winter picture today but I do not feel at all like work. I am so depressed and seem unable to struggle against it. Julia Dillon called with a Mrs. Daniels from Colorado, interested in murals and in pictures also. She did not buy any thing but asked my prices. Went with Mary to Mrs. Pinchots afternoon. In the evening to the Anatomical lecture at the Academy and afterwards called at Platts.

Friday 30. Yesterday was dear, darling Gertrudes Birth day and I did not think of it until today. I have thought of it nearly every day for two weeks and hoped I would be sure to remember it, for I meant to have given the day to her memory but strangely it did not occur to me. Dear Gertrude. She always remembered my birth days and celebrated them and marked them with some gift to me. How empty the world seems to me without her. I have been