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not improving but he makes no resistance and does not make the least effort to help himself. He could easily dress and undress only he will not and this makes it so difficult to take care of him. Lucy is debating about coming but I hardly believe she will. It would be difficult for her to break up her household.

Wednesday Oct. 29" 1884. Tom and I mended the gate on the side hill which the rabble broke down yesterday at the alarm of fire. Drove my father out for a ride by Steep Rocks and home by the Flat bush road and through Kingston. This afternoon put on some of the double windows. Sara, Girards wife Jamie, Girard Jr. & Charlie drove Billy down to see the great Republican parade. We drove down to the strand and then came up and took up our position on Spring St. opposite the Baptist Church where we waited more than an hour. The procession was to start at 9 but did not move until 10. Major Cogswell and Sams places were gay with Chinese lanterns. When the procession came up Wests St. they set off fire works very near us which frightened Billy so that he hopped into another wagon beside us. As soon as possible I got out and got him by the head but he jumped and reared in perfect terror. Some one came to get the women and children out, when I discovered he had broken the harness in his plunges. I thought I would be obliged to let him go but the thought of his tearing through that crowd gave me renewed strength to hold on and finally a man Mr. Meyer, brother of the wagon maker, came to my assistance when we turned him around and with great difficulty got him a little beyond the noise and tumult. Then we led him clear around by the Wester Academy house Mr. Meyer going with me. Billy was terror stricken and when we got to the barn found his mouth was bleeding from a cut in the lip I thought. Meanwhile it was raining and I did not know what had become of Mary and her children, but after the horse was put away I walked down the street and met them coming up pretty well wet through. Sara came around with me. I went with the horse and wagon against my better judgment for I thought it an unsafe place particularly with women and children. We had a most fortunate escape from a perilous situation. My father had a letter from Mr. Jervis today. I had one from the Art agent of the New Orleans exposition asking me for pictures but I was obliged to reply that I had nothing. It is raining and has seriously interfered with the parade which must have been a successful one as to numbers although I saw but little of it.     

Friday 31" Went to N.Y. yesterday at noon. It was raining and rained hard all night. Nothing has been done to my rooms and there is no prospect of any thing being done at present. Called on Church who was in his studio painting on a small picture. He looked very old and stiff with rheumatism. Is going to Mexico again this winter. Went over to Marys about 4 oclock and dined there. They are all hot for Cleveland to my great disgust. Called on Fred and Annie Norton, and at 9 o clock went to the Century to attend a meeting of the trustees. Saw Eastman Johnson who returned from his trip to the Yellow Stone park two weeks ago and to the city with his family a week ago. He looks flourishing and says he has plenty of work to do. I had a discouraged feeling in the city as I always do at first but with my room in disorder, the bad weather and a years rent of my studio unpaid it seemed unusually gloomy. Johnson and I walked over to 6" Ave about midnight and after I got to my room I had to make up my bed. It seemed pretty forlorn there and no immediate prospect of getting settled very soon.  

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-27 16:49:09 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-30 19:32:20 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-30 19:38:44 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-02 09:55:07 . ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-03 18:26:08