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Sara and my father many times today and wonder is he can be kept comfortable - and what is Joe Tomkins doing. I am going home tomorrow and then will know. I sent Mr. Kennedys picture to him this afternoon. I feel easier now that the taxes are provided for but there are many other things to provide for, still I am not worried and am able to work.

Saturday Dec. 20" 1884. Went home by 4 o clock train. It was bitterly cold. Tom met me with a sleigh. Found all going on well at home. I have had no little anxiety this cold weather on my fathers account but he has been very comfortable. Last night the mercury at our house marked 16° below zero. Gee wiz!

Sunday 21" Moderated in the night and snowed about six inches and today is raining. In the house all day. My father laid in bed most of the day but about 3 o clock I helped him with his bath and he got up and came to dinner at 4. He needs constant care and looking after. I found him today in his room poking at the stove and the room filled with coal gas. We have to keep watch of him to keep him from doing some imprudent thing. I find our taxes are more than $50 more than last year and I have not quite enough to meet them. This worries me again for I thought I had enough and a little more. O the misery of these money worries. I wish we could leave them behind us. Joe had not been at the house and they had heard nothing of him. I am afraid he will cause himself and all of us great trouble.

Monday 22. Tom drove me up to the 8 o'clock train, which proved to be an hour and a half late. It was a most dismal morning fog and slush and we arrived here at 12; too dark to work. I might as well have staid home as I am going home again on Wednesday. I saw by the Tribune that Lydig Suydam died on Saturday of pneumonia. I saw him at the club only a few days ago. My head aches and I feel depressed and discouraged. I wrote to Booth I am afraid in rather a melancholy strain. While I was writing Wilmurt came in and asked me if I had a picture which I would be willing to have him take up to his store for some one to look at who wants to buy several pictures. He settled upon my Kaatskill winter picture, the price to be $600, and he thought it wise to offer the intermediate party, on whose judgement the pictures are to be bought $30. I told him he might say $50. It would be a great help to me to sell this now but I am afraid there will be no such good luck for me. The picture is to go on Wednesday.

Tuesday 23. Went to Johnsons this morning and bought some Xmas presents for the servants here and at home. It seems necessary for me to do this although I can ill afford it. I sent Alice a little Wedgewood sugar bowl which belonged to dear Gertrude and which has stood upon our bureau here in N.Y. until I gave up my bed room. Have painted on my little picture and improved it. Prof. Youmans called with a Mr. Iles a young man, proprietor of the Windsor hotel in Montreal. He had written a paper on Hotel Keeping which he sent to the Popular Science Monthly but Youmans thought it so good he advised him to offer it to the Century which he did and it was accepted. He seemed a bright man interested in literature and art: knows Lily McEntee and seemed familiar with my pictures. I had a very pleasant and interesting visit with him. Around at the club this evening and read Haydens paper on the revival of mezzotint which interested me. Wrote a short note to Alice. Marian and I go up home tomorrow for Xmas.

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-27 16:52:27 Gee wiz! is written by another hand and is noted as such this neeeds to be changed ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-01 16:40:28 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-02 14:58:40. David Lydig Suydam (d.1884), art collector