Viewing page 111 of 607

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

98 
I have the melons and cucumbers and eggplants in the garden and after dinner dressed myself and went over to my house and looked about my outside studio.  I found dear Gertrudes shop chair which she had in the summer. I took it into my studio, put the cushion on it and came over to the house and got the cover and shall keep it in my studio in the place of me of the chairs we bought me here. It was pleasant to look over my stock of colors and to begin to make some preparations for going and sketching which I hope to be able to do before long if we get our money on the French [[101?]]. He owes me $100 normally on it. I hope there will be no disappointment in this. I thought so tenderly of dear Gertrude as I went about my house and saw so many things connected with our early married life and I experienced such a longing for her and such a tender remembrance of her and our happy life together there. That the hope that we may live these again was more gratifying to me. Dear Gertrude. The years only intensify my sense of love in her and strengthen my love and admiration for her. What a blessing she was to me and what a comfort and charm in every thought of her. As I recall her sweet and lovely characteristics she seems to me to have been as near perfection in disposition and in unselfishness of character as mortals are permitted to attain. Thinking of where I shall go for my sketching the Head of the Roundout down below Griswolds, where the valley widens out and there are glimpses of distance, seems most to attract me. I went down to John McEnters after tea to see if he would not like to drive out there before long for a days fishing when I could look about and perhaps treat myself at Smiths, which Major Wilkinson said some friends told him was a very comfortable place to stay. John could not go this week but he thought he could before long and I look forward to the trip with a good deal of interest for it is most difficult to decide where to go.
Wednesday July 9" 1884 Another charming day with fine skies. How I wish I were at work with nothing to think of but my painting. I worked about for a while and then went over to my studio. I swept out the outside one and thought how I would arrange it for my room if we ever move over there. Then I went into my studio in the house and cleaned my oil cups and put my sketching box in order and made a list of the colors I need. This afternoon I worked in the garden a while and came to my room and worked on my accounts a while. Received a letter from Fuller saying he could come up Wednesday or Thursday. I ought to have had his letter this morning. I went down and telephoned him to come tomorrow by 3.45 N.S. Train. Received a nice letter from Laura. 
Thursday 10" I have worried this beautiful day about affairs and wished I could be free to go somewhere and settle down at work. I am afraid the money we are depending upon will be slow in coming as nothing has been send to us as ahead the sale of the property. Mrs. Cornell? called today and I told her we were needy to sell our place and she seemed to think we were wise in wishing it. I had a talk with my father and explained to him a statement of the money I have paid out and told him I thought of giving it to each of our family that they might know all about it. I told him I did not want the money or any interest in it, even if he sold the place, for as long as he had money it was the same as if I had it; I only wanted it made for [[?]]

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-26 18:59:45 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-27 12:30:57