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for my "Christmas Eve." He said my Christmas attracted much attention. A number of pictures were sold but mostly small, low priced ones, but Galt told me there was a lull in the sales. Came to my Studio and tried to paint but to no purpose. Downing came in and wanted me to go to Barnums show with him which I did and was much entertained. The atmosphere however was frightful. After the show I went up to the dentists by appointment. It was raining. On my return called on Thompson whom I found in his room and looking himself. His hand is still unhealed and I doubt if he ever has the use of it again. I had a satisfactory visit with him and he seemed like himself. He has taken a studio at the foot of 23" St and has men at work on his Burnside statue. From there I hurried down and got ready for dinner. Saw Fitch. He has had another letter from Auchincloss about my picture but does not come to my terms. Fitch thinks he wants it and I told him to tell him I offered it at a low price and could not take less. I am in hopes he will take it finally. Spent the evening at home and at ten o clock went around to the club to look over the papers. There was a notice of the Academy in Mondays Herald in which all the landscape painters were noticed except me. In the Post tonight there was a notice in which both my pictures were commended as in a new view and characterizing my "Christmas Eve" as one of the most notable pictures of the Exhibition. It is raw and cold again and the rain has ceased. Last week I wrote Mrs. Custer a note expressing my satisfaction with her book. I received a note from her yesterday thanking me for what I had said and asking me to call upon her. I wrote her today I would do so with pleasure and asking her to name an evening. I have felt very distressed and troubled today but I feel it would take a very little pecuniary success to release me from it. How strange it is that such worries have such power to make us unhappy. 
Thursday Apl. 9" 1885. I awoke an hour late this morning and was obliged to have my breakfast in my room, which I had to hurry through with to keep an appointment with the dentist at 9.30. I have concluded to send my two pictures to Detroit in the hope that one of them will sell and went and arranged with Wilmont who sent for them today and says they will go tomorrow. I wrote to Hama and Ives that my prices were $450 and $300 respectively and that I would give them a margin of $150 on the one and $100 on the other. I also went to see Kepple about my Vanderlyn engraving and his man said they would send someone to look at them. Wilmont sent the frame for Fullers picture. I went to work on a picture 20 x 24 from a little sketch near Roggens. Mr. Mendelson called to see about my Mt. Katahdin. He said his daughter Mrs. Lewis was going into her new home and as she liked that picture he would like to give it to her if he could afford it. I told him it was in Nashville and he asked me what price I had put on it. I told him my price was $600 but had instructed them to take 500 for it at the lunch. He said he could not afford that and when I asked him how much he wanted to spend I could not get him to say. He has never bought pictures but is an intelligent man and ought to know something of their value. I told him when it came back I would see if we could not agree upon some price. Spent the evening at home and went to the club a little while. 

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