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277

Sunday May 1. 1881.
Ernest and I with Park took a walk down to the Point where we gave Park a bath, then through the brick yards and up to the top of Steep Rocks and home across the fields and through Ludlums Woods. He told me of Thomas' embarassment
and that he would not be able to keep his place. He had great anxiety about him. He seems to me a very earnest conscientious man, silent and with not much polish but sound and sincere at heart. I read some of dear Gertrudes
letters which always bring her so near to me. There is still snow on the mountains and a cool feeling in the air but the country is very inviting. I got some beautiful hepaticas today on my walk. Mrs. Sawyer has been to the Institution for Inebriates at Boston and Dr Day wants Maurice to come and try it, paying his expenses by writing and Sara is going on with him on Friday. It seems to be about the last
hope.

Monday 2 Took a walk out in the country to see if the violets on dear Gertrudes grave, which Lucy brought, had blossomed. They had not and seem barely alive. I walked out on the common and thought all the way of my dear Gertrude who used to go there with me. The summer looks sad to me. I am afraid I am to be at home powerless from the lack of money to do any thing, but I try not to think of it and to hope I may even yet sell my Academy picture which would make a great difference to me. I came home and showed Cousin Mary some of dear Gertrudes embroidery and the pretty things she had begun. It almost broke my heart to think that they remain while the dear hands that wrought them are crumbling to dust. I came to N.Y. with the noon train. Found a note from Mary Nesmith saying she would be delighted to accept my invitation for the theatre tomorrow evening. Attended the Council. Hot and close as usual to suit the thin blooded ones. The so called "reform" measures do not find much favor.

Tuesday 3. Splendid accounts in the telegrams from Booth who appeared as Othello with Irving as Iago and Miss Terry as Desdemona last night at the Lyceum in London. Mr. Van Dyke from
the Lydian Art Gallery Chicago called to get pictures. Had a long talk with him. Confident of selling my pictures and as usual surrender and let him have Autumn Reverie 20 x 32, and conditionally Scribners pasture (14 x 26). Went to the Academy and looked at all the pictures of candidates. Marion told me she went to the hospital with some flowers for poor little Maggie, who lived with Mary last year, and they told her she had died last night. Poor little thing. It made me sad, but she is at rest now and there was little of