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Friday July 13" 1883. Sara and I drove to Kingston this forenoon to make some purchases. This afternoon I repaired the cushions of the two seated wagon which I trimmed several years ago. I am anxious to hear from Whittredge so that we can go off sketching but fear something will happen to prevent me from going. When I get to thinking how hampered I am in many ways I get very discouraged but as I see no way to help myself I try not to think of it more than I can possibly help.

Saturday 14"
My 55" birth day. I shall soon be an old man for the years fly by with an appalling swiftness. My mother in her invalid chair, Sara, Downing and I sat out on the front porch this lovely evening and my mother told us how well she remembered this day 55 years ago. She was almost a girl then - had just gone to housekeeping in the old Adams house, which has disappeared now. If I had children, growing old would look less forbidding to me. I cannot bear to think of a lonely old age and yet it seems to me mine will be likely to be that. We talked of poor Maurice remembering only his good qualities. He died a month ago today. I shall always regret that we were not more congenial and that I was not able to influence him for good. The weather is charming. What little breeze there was was from the North and it has been a most lovely day. My father, Downing and I took a ride across the Eddyville bridge and home by Capt Andersons. I spent the forenoon fixing the window in the stable and the grating which Toby broke. Went down town after dinner to make some purchases. Received a letter from Whittredge saying he hoped to get off the last of next week.

Sunday, 15. Wrote to Whittredge, to Mary Gifford, to Mrs. Sawyer, to Atlanta Exhibitions, to Mrs. Hewitt of Milwaukee and sent to Derve for some colors. A very hard shower in the afternoon.

Monday 16. Another perfect day with light breezes from the North and a rich atmosphere after the rain. It seems to me the summer never came in so lovely a guise. Frequent showers have kept the foliage full and green and the weather has in the main been cool and delightful. Tonight the moon shines over the landscape with a soft splendor that suggests nothing of earth. Our place was never more lovely. We have had my poor mother out in her invalid chair and Downing wheeled her about the place and over to my little house. If she could only be permitted to walk about and to enjoy it all. She cried when I laid her in her bed tonight. Life must seem sad to her who has always been so helpful to every one about her. - I spent the forenoon making a portable easel and this afternoon I cleaned up my mothers flower garden in which she so enjoyed working. Downing wheeled her around to look at it. She is interested in all we do and likes to have us about her. I feel sad when I think of going away but shall not be far off. Sara had a letter from Lily filled with longings for home and poor little Sedgwick wants to come "home" too and is very sad when he thinks of poor Uncle Morry.

Tuesday 17. Immediately after breakfast Downing and I went on the side hill and began cutting out the view. We cut down five trees and a number of branches from others spring up nearly twice as much of 

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