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I came away with a very sad feeling and at tea time my father remarked that it was very sad over at the cemetery.
 
Tuesday June 8" 1886. I fixed a chair for Sara this forenoon and picked some peas. After dinner I picked the strawberries and then had the team harnessed and took my father, Sara and Mrs. Hopsadt out for a ride to Kingston and a short distance out on the Hurley road. Have been studying the map of our property and thinking of a plan by which lots could be sold in our garden running back 100 feet and if necessary a narrow street in the rear if one needed. I think our property on the hill very valuable and as people want choice places they will have to come here in the near future. John McCausland asked Girard what we would take for a lot 100 feet wide south of our house running from Chestnut to Holmes St. Girard does not know what object he had in making the inquiry. He and I attended a school meeting this evening to consider a proposition to enlarge No. 7 school house. A large number of people were present and $6000 were voted to build a wing 48ft to the west of the present boundary, to be raised by Tax and to cover a period of four years. Wodsy told Girard he met Sam Cuykendall at the West lately and told him there were only two houses in town for him to buy, ours and the OReily house. He said to him you will have to get out from where you are. "I knew it was the reply" If I can only hang on I feel sure he will buy of us sooner or later. Thinking over these possibilities I have felt more hopeful today, which had been one of the loveliest of days. - I looked a long time at the little portrait of dear Gertrude, which hangs over my mantel=piece, this morning. It seemed to have something of her sweet expression and brought her vividly before me. 

Wednesday 9" Awoke with a dull feeling in my head and have been pretty quiet all day, reading in Henry Esmond. Sara and I called at the Cantines this evening. Cantine thinks Sara would like to buy our place but thinks his wife wants to stay where she is, and is inclined to think they will eventually have that place, which I doubt I was careful what I said as he is Sams lawyer but I said I would rather sell to Sam than anyone else, and that I should sell smaller lots as I had opportunity and if I should do this it would spoil the place for him. Mrs. Cantine was over here this morning and we talked a little on immortality of which she has doubts. 

Thursday 10". Wrote to Eastman Johnson last night asking him, his wife and Ethel to come up and spend next Sunday with us. Went over to my studio and painted on my picture. I am not at all pleased with it. it. looks poor and spiritless and after every such failure I feel discouraged and despondent. The fact is I am in no mood to paint. I am too anxious and worried and troubled. We had a smart shower this afternoon after a warm but lovely day. After it was over I went out on the roof and cleaned out the gutters which had become clogged with the blossoms of the elm trees which are getting to be a great nuisance. Have nearly finished "Henry Esmond". A dispatch from Margaret says the Commission consisting of Green & Dirsheimer have contracted to have a plan of the park and that probably Vaux and Olmstead will be asked to make it jointly. I wonder how this will please Calvert they are limited in expense to two thousand dollars. A letter from Lucy tonight gives an account of Genl. Howards visit to Fort Gaston. He is to send Major Earnest to relieve John as soon as possible but no date is fixed and their coming is still in doubt. Girard went to West Point today. He saw Lieut. Brown for a moment only as he was on duty and The Annual Examination is going on.                                                                                                                       

Transcription Notes:
all transcribed but still 1 [[?]]s ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-09 23:26:16