Viewing page 179 of 473

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

178

Friday May 28 1880. A man came from Collamores and took my venetian glass up to Stedmans house. It cost me a pang to let these lovely things go so intimately associated as they were with dear Gertrude. I kept some of the pieces she was most fond of as Stedman wished me to and I sent him 29 pieces a list of which I have kept. This is to go sacredly toward a memorial stone at her grave and Downing and I have already partly designed it of red granite. As soon as he finishes the details I am coming to the city to have it made and will put it up as soon as I can. Booth came in and I told him I had finished Benedick. He was very pleased with it but I am not at all sure his wife will be. We packed all those up I had here, called a messenger and sent them to his hotel so that is at last done. I have most of my things packed but do not take a great deal with me. I feel an inclination as well as a very great need. Went to Numes Gallery to see the Christmas card competition. Very interesting and a few quite original. Mary and I called on Mrs. Walter Brown last evening in our house. She seemed to me to lead a most lovely life, to which mine is not comparison. We also called on Mrs. Taylor this evening.

Saturday May 29. Left town for the summer by the Mary Powell. Just before it was time for me to leave Prof. Marsh came in to look at pictures. He seems to want his cousin to take an important picture of mine with him to England and he also talked as though he would like to buy some things himself. I recommended him to take the "Sources of the Delaware" which I offered him for $500 and the [[?]] brook for $400. It was one of those embarrassing occasions when one does not know hardly what to do. All my baggage had gone, I had written to be met at the Powell and I did not see how I could wait. I told him he could bring Mr. & Mrs. Russell to my room and he told me not to be left so I concluded he was not ready to buy and came away. The sale of those two pictures would have made all the difference in the world in the coming summer. Weir told me Marsh has recently inherited two millions. He has no conception of my