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Tuesday Nov. 1. 1881. Royal took me to Mattawamkeag yesterday in his birch in 2½ hours. It was a grey day. We had dinner at the hotel, an excellent one, after which Royal went back home poling his birch back although I offered to pay for having it hauled back. I took the train at 3.40 and at Bangor got into the sleeper in which I had secured a berth [[by]] telegram. The engine broke down and we were two hours late in Boston. My trunks were left by the inattention of [[the]] Express agent. Came home by Hoosac Tunnel.

Wednesday 2. Have had a head ache today. My trunks arrived by express and I have been unpacking them and putting my things in order. Went down to Roundout to see about shingling the carriage house & shop and about fixing the parlor chimney for the Franklin. This the 27" anniversary of our wedding. The moment I get home I think of dear Gertrude constantly, and all the events [[of]] our happy wedded life keep passing before me. Her memory grows tenderer and holier in my heart if such a thing is possible, and the sweet and winning qualities of her nature grow glorified in the lapse of time. I often think of what rapture it would be for me to meet her again and then I try to think of that happy time when we will once more be together. Have had a head ache all day but when I went down town feeling that it was going to be a severe one I got half bottle of champagne which I drank and after tea my head ache disappeared.  

Thursday 3. It rained in the night and today has been a warm cloudy day with misty effects. I made a fire in my studio and painted a little picture of one of the effects I saw on Katahdin. After dinner Maurice, Sara and I took a walk over towards Jacobs Valley to see the work on the west shore rail road. We came back by the Post farm and got some autumn beans and black alder berries. We walked over the ground where my dear Gertrude and I used to walk nearly every day in the autumn and I thought of her all the way. I stopped at the cemetery to see about having our lot graded and mean to have it done now if possible. Wrote a note to Mrs. Holland. Dr. Holland died suddenly while I was in the woods.

Friday 4. Have been busy about many things today. Went over to the cemetery to see if Mr. Post saw Victor last night. He had not been able to find him but said he would go again at noon. Went over again after dinner. He had seen him

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