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427

Cantines called in the evening. A letter came from Mary Gifford from Pokeepsie and wanting us to come down.

Wednesday 12" The weather is cool and we sit in the parlor with a fire in the Franklin. Tom is gathering the few apples we have and bringing in the corn fodder. Sara and I went to Pokeepsie by the day boat and spent the afternoon with the Wilkinsons and dined and came home by the 6.30 train on the Hudson river road. Mary Gifford was there and it was she who urged us to come. We also saw Mrs. Wilkinson who is greatly pleased with Lily's marriage to Mr. Bachelder which took place at the Major's house on Sept. 28th. we had a charming visit as we always do there: Sara and I are trying to decide what is best for us to do this winter. It seems an extravagance to keep this big house open just for Sara and even then she cannot stay here alone. We do not know what is best.

Thursday Oct. 13" 1887. Still cool weather. I went over my accounts again to settle some things which were a little in doubt. Mrs. Van Deusen came to invite us to meet some of her Christian [[?]] at lunch next Wednesday but we declined. Sara and I went over to my house to look about. She has cleaned my studio as well as the outside one while I was gone, but everything I saw had a melancholy and depressing effect upon me, so intimately was it all associated with all my past life and with dear Gertrude. I could not help thinking how almost every thing is gone which made life attractive on this  hill, how Sara and I are left here alone, and how vague and uncertain is the future and how sweeping the changes which await us in the near future. Sara had a long and affectionate letter from Lucy written Friday four days after I left. They were all so sorry to have me leave and all missed me so much more than I thought they would. Genl. Crook and his party had arrived and gone to the mountains where a foot of snow had fallen and they had snow at the Post and it was cold. John was provoked at Col. Stanton for not doing something for me at Salt Lake, but I did not expect him to. Her letter showed me that my visit had been as much of a gratification to them as to me

Friday 14. Again the anniversary of dear Gertrudes death has come round to find her memory as sweet and fresh in my soul as it was when she had been gone but one year. How many changes since then, and they come faster and faster, and now comes the great change which will take our old home from us and transplant us into new surroundings. I walked over to the Cemetery after breakfast and looked upon the spot where her dear remains are mingling with the dust, by the side of those who were near and dear to her in life. The morning is still and bright and the fading landscape still bright in its autumnal dress. I feel a vague sorrow and a longing for something, I know not what; It must be for what I cannot have, "the days that are no more." I believe it would be for me happiness if we could go away from Rondout entirely, or if in some way we could arrange to live with Lucy or Mary. I felt none of this sadness at Lucy's and I am sure it was because I saw nothing in my surroundings to tell me of what is gone. Sara went up to Milirn to see Ella to get her to come here to live as Katy is going away on a visit to Ireland. I picked some Lima beans for the winter. This forenoon I wrote to Mr. Sawyer and to Tom McEntee and this evening to George Hall whose niece Georgie has lately died at Palenville

Saturday 15. Very cool and bright. I went to see Mr. Kent about the headstone for my father and mother. He is to communicate with me in a  

Transcription Notes:
Pokeepsie is not the correct spelling, but perhaps it was an endearing way to spell it in 1887? NOTE: The author spells it "Pokeepsie" throughout the diary.