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thought as he did that I asked too much for it and told him he would give me $30 000 for the whole property between the two streets and from Mary's line to my hedge. Cantine told him I would not let him have the fifty feet I had added to my place as I wanted to live on it and there would be no use making me this offer. He rather advised me however to take that for it all except this. I did not say I would not. I told him I had an advertisement written and meant to put it in the paper which he strongly advised me to do as he said it would confirm what he told him, and as he knew me to be a man of my word, he would not think it a price of "bluff" which I disclaimed. I told him Mr. Vaux and I had concluded upon this course and I did, go and put it in the paper for a month and paid for it. I think this will show how we are in earnest. If he should make me an offer of $35.000 for the whole I would take it, and perhaps I may be obliged to take $30 000. I don't mean to be too stiff this time although I think he wants it and it is a reasonable price. Went over and looked over the property beyond Chester St. Tom has been mending the rickety fences so that we can put the cows in there. I also looked at the corner in connection with the map. Found some one had been digging sod in the street. Two German women told me who it was and I went over to the house where he lived beyond the school house and saw his yard covered with what he took from there. He was not there but a young woman came to the door and I told her to tell him that I should put a stop to that sort of thing. That he knew he was trespassing. I ought to sue him and make an example of him. 

Wednesday June 16" 1886. No developments today regarding the sale of Clovertop. I talked with my father about what had been said and done and asked him if he would take $30.000 for the whole place if it were offered. He said he would hate to but upon the whole he thought he would as it would put us in an independent position. He talked very sensibly and intelligently about our affairs and hoped I would effect a sale, being perfectly willing to go over to my place to live. Two men came and picked 24 quarts of cherries for which they paid me two cents a quart. I am full of the hope of selling the place, going through all the plans which occupied me a year ago. Received a letter from Kurtz. Wrote to T. W. Wood and a note to Eastman Johnson. 

Thursday 17". Warmer weather and showers. Henry picked the sour cherries over on my place, for Sara to preserve. My father spent the day down stairs and shelled the peas and enjoyed having something to do. Girard and John McEntee went out to Leggs Mills fishing this afternoon. Just after they left a very hard shower came up. Janette and Mary came up by the Powell. 

Friday 18" A cool, almost autumnal day with the wind from the north. I am thinking constantly now as to what would be the wise thing for me to do. I cannot be too independent and I must not appear too anxious and so I wait to see what each day will bring forth. After dinner Janette, Mary, Sara and I went for a ride. We drove down there and stopping at Deyos I remarked to him that the town looked dull. He said business was very dull and seemed to be growing more so. The Canal Co. has taken a hundred boats off the canal which is an indication of the state of the coal trade. I had a long and interesting letter from Weir today, in which however he did not allude to the business upon which I wrote him. He is evidently troubled much as I am, but thinks his insight into spiritual things helps him to bear his anxieties. Perhaps they do, but temporal worries often are only met by temporal means.

Transcription Notes:
Calvert Vaux (this mans best friend, and the secondary architect of the Niagara Falls park) ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-09 23:30:36 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-10 01:14:49 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-10 12:08:34 .