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153

Thursday Feb. 26. 1880. A letter from Sara this morning in which she says that my father after getting better was taken with a chill and is not so well now. I feel troubled about him as she does. Went down to Wells and Fargo's express office to see about the cost of sending my picture. They charge 80c per foot. The picture went to Wilmots today and is to be boxed and will probably go on Saturday. It has been a dull dark day and I have felt very depressed. I have tried to paint but I feel jaded and have no invention and find it almost impossible to compose any thing. This has been a sad, unhappy day. Came early to my room and wrote to N. A. Smith to whom I send my picture, to the sectary of the Royal Academy, a short note to Broughton and to Ernest Parton. My picture is to go on Saturday 28".

Friday 27. Began a picture 24 x 36 from a small sketch of Hunter Mountain and the uplands near [?]. Booth came and we talked for an hour or so. He told me that when he was engaged to Miss Hansel he was sitting near her and talking about their approaching marriage and some remark was made as to whether anything could happen to interfere with it, when suddenly there was a small puff of smoke close to them, like an explosion with no noise but a strong smell of gun powder. This was about a week before the assassination of the President. Miss Durfee and Miss Hallowell called while he was here. Stedman came in the afternoon. He offered to buy my Venetian Glass, but I cannot bear to part with it. Called at Frank Weeks' in the evening.  They had just had news of the death of his brothers wife Mrs. Churchs sister and Mr. Weeks had gone up there. There was a Miss Whitman there who had made a good crayon portrait of Mr. Weeks. Stopped at The Century. Saw Stoddard. Poor fellow. He looked badly and talked very coarsely. I saw him drink