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time last week. Mary told me of it. He was a man of talent and had many genial traits but was without moral sense. I wonder how far such a nature should be held responsible. We were very intimate at one time, but his behavior has been such that I could not recognise him and I have had the pain of passing him in the street as a stranger, which seems a cruel thing to do. He died almost friendless I learn although the woman he called his wife stuck to him to the last.

Tuesday June 22" 1886. Picked sixteen quarts of cherries this forenoon for Mrs. Lamont Smith. After dinner drove out with my father going to Kingston and down to the Point. It began to sprinkle and in fact has looked rainy all afternoon. A letter from Joe Warren telling me of the burning of his sisters house. Also a letter from Wood. Answered them both this evening.

Wednesday 23. Rained hard all day. I went down to Pokeepsie by the 4.35 train to visit Robt. Wilkinson as agreed. Found Mary Gifford and her father there. He will be 90 years old next month and yet he played two games of back gammon with his grand-children in the evening. The children were all at home. They are an affectionate and interesting family and I had, as I always have a delightful visit. Miss Irene Weir came in in the evening. Robert told me her sister was giving them great uneasiness and anxiety again. This will be a fresh anxiety to John Weir. Robert and I sat and talked until 11 oclock.

Thursday 24. Still cloudy and threatening. I came home by the ten o'clock train. Sara and I went up to the Wallkill Valley train this evening, somewhat expecting Mrs. Knight neé Gertrude Elling, but she did not come. Wrote to Miss Nesmith.

Friday 25" Cloudy and rainy and a day of discouragement and foreboding. I am waiting - waiting and unable to interest myself in anything - full of petty anxieties and apprehensions. Wrote to Downing. Sara attended Mr & Mrs. Degroffs golden wedding this evening. I have seen several notices of the death of Edwin P. Whipple lately. I knew him slightly and liked him very much as far as I knew him. I remember one evening at the Century the picture which Joe Tomkins has of mine was there - "Burning the Christmas greens" He came in and meeting me soon after said he knew I painted it. I asked him how, as I was not known as a figure painter, but he said he saw my hand in it and said at once it was mine although he never heard that I painted figures.

Saturday 26" I picked some cherries this morning and then took my father out for a drive. We went to Rondout where I returned to Genl Sharpe the two volumes of the Spy his mother sent me several years ago. Then we drove up to Kingston and home. There have been fine skies all day and an occasional slight shower. I ought to have been upon some bare hill top sketching these fine skies all day. This afternoon Sara and I attended the Rev. Mr. Waters funeral at the Episcopal church in Kingston. There were very few people there, to our great surprise. He was pastor of this church for 20 years. The remarks made by the pastor from Orange were utterly commonplace and it seemed to me, without heart. I could not help realizing how soon one is forgotten.

Sunday 27" Perfect day in temperature and richness of atmosphere. Yesterday I made the discovery that the currant bushes were infested with the currant worm. I spent half the forenoon picking them off. Wrote to Hanna & Ives for the second time about my pictures at the Detroit exhibition. I also wrote to Weir gently hinting that he is too much given to speculation and advocating simplicity of life as a help 

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