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from Miss Nesmith from Melvin Highlands. The weather continues remarkably cool and comfortable. Last night I was obliged to put extra cover on my bed. Am reading Harriet Martineaus Autobiography. Her indifference to a future existence and her disbelief in it seem to me utterly abnormal, and yet apparently she was not unhappy. I think however it argues a lack of some of the rarer qualities of the soul.

Wednesday July 21" 1886. It rained just enough this morning to prevent getting in the hay in the lot back of Girards. I am not feeling well having an attack of indigestion. After dinner worked in the garden a little while. Mrs. Carnell called to see Lucy. She told of their papering and repairing down at Sams which seems to be done under her discretion, and said they had added a bath-room. One would never know from her they were so hostile to each other. I took my father for a drive to Kingston. We saw in a paper today that Capt. Verplanck Weir, Johns brother, shot himself Sunday night at Fort Hamilton, as was supposed in a temporary attack of insanity. What a blow this will be to John who has so many troubles to bear. I have thought of writing to him but perhaps I may hear from him. Wrote to Janette Hubbard today.

Thursday 22. Comfortable days and cool nights continue. I have been at work in my studio making a copy of the Winter picture by Boughton which I own. I am thinking of offering the original to Booth for our interest due last February. Avery told me several years ago it was worth $600. Which is just what our interest amounts to. This paying interest is becoming a tread-mill business to me. I should once like to experience the sensation of receiving interest. I got on very well with the copy and it seemed good to be interested in my studio. I wish I were at work painting from nature in some quiet, pleasant place. That is what I want to be doing and what I ought to be doing. 

Friday 23" Mary, Lucy and Sedgwick went to N.Y. today. I drove them up to the morning train. They have had a cool and lovely day. The atmosphere has been rich and splendid and the mountains very beautiful with a sky of exquisite blue and fine masses of clouds. Shortly after they left Sara and I were talking over our affairs and she advised me to go and see Hiram Romeyn, that perhaps he or Charlie his son might know of some one who might buy our place. So as I wanted to call on them I drove up to Kingston taking little Dwight with me, and stopped at Clarks drug store to find out if Romeyn was at his place. They directed me to the farm in Lucas turnpike but when I got there I was directed to the Pell farm near Burgevous. I drove there and found a lot of men at work in his fields and painters at work on the house and every thing in confusion. One of the painters told me Romeyn had driven in to town and so I returned that way but did not see him and thus ended that scheme. I saw fine skies however and a beautiful landscape. After dinner I went over to my studio and finished the copy of Boughtons picture which has come out very well. I painted in another picture I brought up from N.Y. with me and am in hopes I can make a good picture of it. This evening I received a letter from Kurtz enclosing one from Hanna & Ives dated the 19" in which they say they have my pictures yet because they have a good promise of selling the Autumn picture and if they do not it will be shipped on Wednesday. I sincerely hope they have sold it but fear it will fail at the last. He said Mr. Ives had replied to my letter but if he did I never received it. If I can only have a little quiet and can work in my studio it will be a blessing. There is where I am happiest when I can produce something and can fix all my thoughts on my art. Genl. Grant died a year ago today. Tom got in the last of the hay today and we have more than we have had in a long time, Tom says more than we ever had before, but I think he is mistaken.

Transcription Notes:
Harriet Martineau was a Sociologist ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-10 16:00:55 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-10 20:50:16 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-10 21:05:17