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Mrs. Andersons and spent the evening very pleasantly. She is a friend of Dr. Ryers wife who told her of entertaining Gertrude and me at dinner in Florence. I gave them an account of Dr Ryers foolish behavior. It seems they do not live together she being here and he in Calfornia.

Friday Feb. 27" 1885. I had a letter from Sara this morning in which she says my father seems to be improving and she thinks he feels more hopeful. Also a letter from my Boston friend offering me $150 for the picture. I have written him I cannot accept but he can pay me $150 now and the balance at his convenience. It is snowing slightly this forenoon. Have not painted today. Wrote to Alice. Spent the evening at Marys and went to the club a short time.

Saturday 28" The last winter day comes grey with occasional flakes of snow, but before noon it cleared and was bright and sunny. This was reception day at the Studio Building and promptly at 2 o'clock the people began to come and continued to throng the studios until 6 o'clock. A day I so greatly dreaded has been most pleasant and satisfactory. I met many friends and many agreeable strangers and several friends whom I have not seen for many years, among them Mrs. Edwin White, Mrs. Ludington Mrs. Wickham and her daugher, a Mrs. Henry Knox of St. Paul who was a school friend of Gertrude and who spoke of her with the tenderest feeling, also Mrs. Dr. Ryer who came with Mrs. Anderson and Miss Nesmith. I met her in Florence 16 years ago. She seemed much changed and in speaking of the time since then and of Gertrudes death she made some expressions which showed me her life with Ryer has been any thing but a happy one. I think every one enjoyed this occasion. In the evening Calvert, Marion and I went to a concert of Mr. Newports at Steinway Hall at which Miss Rose Butler played.

Tuesday March 3" 1885.
I had my breakfast in my rooms Sunday morning and walked up to the foot of 42" St and went home by the 10 oclock train. I had a pleasant ride through the wintry landscape and arrived there at 1. It was raining when the train arrived and so I rode down in the street car instead of walking as I intended to. Found my father had improved a little although he is not willing to admit that he has. Poor Sara is alone there and it saddens me to think of it. We are hoping Lucy is soon coming. A tender melancholy possesses me at home, thinking as I cannot help of all the dear ones who once blessed it with their presence and whom I meet there no more. What homesick, inexpressible longings pass through my mind every hour in the day. I look into the future and wonder what it is to be, even whether we shall be able to remain there. I have done so poorly in the way of sales this winter that I am very greatly troubled about ways and means for the summer. I hope to sell some thing yet but it seems most difficult to sell any thing.- Charlie and little Girard came over and were at dinner with us. It is pleasant to have the children there. A letter came from Julia Wilkinson asking me to stay there over night on my way down as Mary was there and I telegraphed her I would. It rained Sunday afternoon but cleared in the night. I came away Monday with the noon train and

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-27 17:06:18 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-02 17:23:15 fixed some typos