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looks bald and bare tonight and not at all like our room. I dont see how people live in bare rooms and yet so many things are a great care. It has rained at intervals but has been warm, so warm that I put on my summer underclothes. I have had to look over many of dear Gertrudes personal belongings, her shawls and her bonnets. I found the Buffalo moths had got into some of her things. I feel less melancholy than I feared I would and as I almost invariably do on coming home in the spring. It is because I am busy and have my Western trip to look forward to. It is necessary to have some engrossing object in life. I am in hopes we can make a sale to Sam Cuykendall and if we can it will be a great relief to me and will give me a feeling of independence to which I have long been a stranger. The Powell makes her first regular trip for the season and came in tonight at 8.30.

Tuesday May 23. 1882. Finished the cleaning of my room today and now tonight it is all in order. Yesterday I thought I would get rid of some things which seemed of no use. Among them were two or three little bottles of preparations dear Gertrude had for transferring pictures on glass. I took them down to the dust heap and broke them on the stones  but one of them resisted two or three attempts to destroy it and it seemed a cruel thing to me to do it. It has been a cool, day after the rain. Lucy came home from N.Y. I had a letter from James Gifford telling me about his father and mother and about Mary who has gone to Philadelphia to be under the care of Dr. Weir Mitchell. Dunlap sent me my birch bark hat and also Downings by mistake. I wrote to Downing that I would send his to him.

Wednesday 24. Cleaned the parlor at which I assisted and also put away my winter clothes although the weather is still cold. We have had a fire all day in the sitting room and have really not had one warm day in May. A letter from Mrs. Taylor. I think it must be very sad for her there at Cedarcroft. A great place to take care of and little means to do it with. I feel very sorry for her. Also a letter from Mrs. Sawyer. Life seems serious to her also as I fear it does to all of us as we grow older.

Thursday 25. A rainy day. It was very cold last night and today I was forced to put on my winter clothes. Have been getting things together for my journey. Not a word from Maurice who has been gone ten days now. I am afraid he s in trouble. Packed up the little picture I painted for old Mr [[?]] which is to go to Andrews to give to him. The rain cleared off towards evening. I never saw the apple trees so loaded with blossoms. I wish I could paint them but I cant.