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nearly as large around as my waist. In the afternoon I painted on Julias portrait but failed entirely and painted it out. Then I painted a small sketch of her but is not very good. Nothing I do comes to any thing. Had a card from Stedman from Swampscott where he is settled for the summer, and a note fro Jake Sharpe about the china Oscar has sent. A card from Sade announcing her arrival at Quincy on Wednesday 30" where she met Andrews brother and where she went in his special car. Downing and Bowyer came up by the Powell. 

Sunday July 4. 1880. Julia and Berger went to Harris Falls. Left the Mansion House at 6 with some friends who were to drive up. Wrote to Sade, Church, Jake Sharpe, Fred Sawyer, Stedman, Williams & Everett & McGinnis of Louisville Bowyer and Julia returned in the evening. 

Monday 5. A constant banging of canon and snapping of fire crackers all day. Bowyer and I went over to the cemetery. I put some fresh daisies on dear Gertrudes grave and cut the grass and afterwards we took a walk over on the common and talked of many of our anxieties. I am very glad to see Bowyer and Downing so conscious of their responsibilities and at the same time sorry that their young life is burdened with them. It has rained little this afternoon. Bowyer went down with the evening train and all the rest of them go tomorrow by the Powell, to go on to Hillsboro tomorrow night Maurice went on the Powell to assist Jansen Andrews today 

Tuesday 6. Downing, Julia, Marion and Gertrude left this morning by the Powell. I drove them down, and this evening Mary, Marion, Gertrude and Minnie Coan start for Hillsboro by the Fall River boat. It seems very quiet and lovely here with the young people all gone. I accomplished a long contemplated job this forenoon. Cleaned out my outer studio building over at my house and got rid of a great deal of rubbish. Doing it I came across many things that we have had about us ever since we were married. I had to shut my eyes and not look at things for there were trifles there which could awake very tender memories. There were the remnants of a case of Skeleton leaves which Mrs. Wheeler prepared for Gertrude many years ago and which we used always to have on our parlor table, and many things I did not dare to look at. I shall have to discard other things by and by but I find it easier to do it gradually. I have begun to write my "Togue Lake" and hope to make a reasonable magazine article from it. 

Wednesday 7. Went to Rondout this morning and got a letter from Mr. Gordon relative to my picture in London and one from Janette. She is writing a biographical