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20

Monday Oct. 15th 1883. It grew colder in the night with the wind from the North and today has been a breezy, most brilliant day. Folded up the tents after thoroughly drying them and put them away. Calvert, Sara, Winnie and I drove out to the woods on the right of the Roatina where dear Gertrude and I got the last ferns. We went just before dinner and got a nice lot of ferns. The color every where was enchanting. What a lovely region this is at this time of the year. Have wiped off and varnished all my sketches with retouching varnish and they look much more brilliant. I have forty five that I have made this season and I feel rich in them and I mean to have more. Received a letter from Mr. Kuntz in charge of the American Art Union now at the Southern Exhibition in Louisville informing me that he has sold my "Indian Summer" for $600 according to my instructions. This adds to my comfortable feeling. Calvert went back to N.Y. this evening and Downing went with him to return on Thursday. Calvert hopes to return in a few days. The nights are most brilliant now with a full moon.

Tuesday 16. It was still cold today and the wind blew from the N. I picked the winter pears in the forenoon and trimmed the pear trees. After dinner Park and I took a long walk out beyond where we were yesterday. The autumn color has passed its culminating point and the strong wind of yesterday has stripped many of the trees- still I saw beautiful things and hope to go out and make a sketch tomorrow. Received a letter from Alice written on Sunday. She had not forgotten that it was the anniversary of dear Gertrudes death and spoke most tenderly of her. I also received letters from Pell and from Julia Dillon regarding a picture for Indianapolis which I have answered.

Wednesday 17th  After breakfast I trimmed one of the cherry trees, and brought Parks horse up from the barn. About 10 o clock I put my small sketching box in the wagon and drove out where I was yesterday, Park going along, and made a sketch of the bluff on the East of the Roatina facing the river. The North wind blew keenly and I did not succeed very well as I got so cold I could hardly hold my brushes. The color was beautiful in that place although many trees are entirely denuded and the landscape begins to look Novembery. After I came home I put up the stove in my room and built a fire in it. The nights are most brilliant with the full moon. Tomorrow occurs the Newburgh Centennial to commemorate the disbanding the Revolutionary Army and it promises to be a fine day.