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across through the woods about a mile to the beach where we ate our simple lunch and spent an hour very pleasantly when we returned to the pier and took a train for Highlands about five miles distant. Here two of the party crossed the long bridge and made and made arrangements at Thompson's Hotel for our dinner at 5 and we spent the intervening time on the beach watching the sea and the breakers.  It was a perfect day and we all enjoyed the delicious air. We had a very comfortable dinner and left by the train at half past five for Branchport and came to N.Y. via Perth Amboy. Rahway &c arriving there about 8. Nicoll and I went to the Century and had a pot of tea and staid there until midnight. Coming to my room, some one called my name on the corner of the street just as I was about to cross to the Park. A young man presented himself and said "you don't know me" I answered "I did not!" He said "I am Johnnie Wright" He looked well and not at all dissipated, said he had come from Colorado with a drive of cattle as a "cow puncher" as he expressed it, simply a man to look after them in the train. Said the man he came with was in the city but he didn't know where as he (John has stopped at Newark).  That he was to meet him the next day when he was to pay him sixty dollars, meanwhile he had no money and didn't know where he was going to sleep. Said he had drank no whiskey for three years, but admitted he took a glass of beer occasionally. Said he had saved eight or nine hundred dollars and was going to buy a little ranch. I didn't take much stock in his story but thought as he looked so well it might possibly be true. I have him all the change I had twenty cents at which he expressed great satisfaction, and after a little more talk we parted, he to spend it for beer probably, possibly to look for a place to sleep.

Saturday May 29 1886. Breakfasted with Calvert and Bonyer and afterwards went up town to get some articles and to call on Dr. Hunt about my eye. Then to Calverts office to see the plans of Griffiths house, some changes he has made in the Grant monument and to have some talk about the Niagara Park as a designer for it is to be chosen on June 9th. Came home by City of Kingston, leaving at 1. Sam Coykendall was on board but I did not know it until we were half way home. When we reached Pokeepsie or shortly after he found me and we had a social chat. It seemed to me he talked somewhat with reference to the matter of the purchase of our place but made no direct allusion to it nor did I, as I saw no use in doing it. Annie Norton and Aunt Christina were on board but as they were in a stateroom I did not see them until we were near home. I rode up on the hill in a carriage with them. Aunt Christina seems pretty feeble but she has seemed so for many years.

Sunday 30. Wrote to Mrs. Weir and also to Mrs. Morrell who had written me making inquiries about some place to go in the Kaatskills.  Tonight the thunder and lightning are roaring and flashing about and it looks very unpromising for Decoration day tomorrow. There are about 40 Cause men in camp up at Codingtons and they will have a pretty uncomfortable time.

Monday 31. Mary and Marion left for N.Y. by the 7.40 train. Marion is going to Boston tomorrow to visit Alice. We miss Mary very much when she goes. It rained in the night but today has been cool with a breeze from the N. and a tempered sunshine, an ideal Decoration day. We got my father up and he, Sara and Doughtie and I drove over to the cemetery where Sara laid flowers on Maurices grave at the head of which Genl. Grant Post G.A.R. had set 

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