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Mrs. Van Deusen thinks them wonderful women. They are very attractive but they struck me as women accustomed to society who wanted a new sensation and have found it in this. What we learned years ago they regard as discoveries and some things they think they have discovered they will live to regard as chimeras. I met their father in N.Y. at the Century. Annie Norton called just before we left. She is very glad to be at home again. Dr. Mayer came home with us. He was not more impressed with the profundity of the two ladies than I was.

Thursday Oct. 20" 1887. Sara went to N.Y. on the Powell this morning an excursion for the Industrial House and a party from Hobart. I drove her down and a great many people seemed to be going as the fare was only 75 cts. Just before Sara left she had a note from Mary saying she would come up Friday and Calvert also if he could, but if he could not he would come Saturday. It was rather a chilly morning but promised to be fine. We had a hard front last night and now (9 o'clock) it is raining. I have been painting all day in my studio on a picture of a Shokan subject I began several years ago. It is about 3 ft. long. Sara brought it out when she cleaned my room while I was gone. I hope  to make a picture from it for my sale. Tom today tore away the porch from my studio which had rotted away and became very ruinous. Dear Gertrude often sat there in the summer warming under the eaves and it gave me a pang to see it fall. I have been writing to Lucy from whom I received a long letter this morning written on the 14 the anniversary of dear Gertrudes death. I had a letter from Hall from Palenville las night. I wrote him a few days ago when I heard of Georgie's death. Sara came home about 11 oclock in the rain. She had been at Mary's and she wanted her to stay over as Mr. & Mrs. Sawyer are to be there at lunch tomorrow. They are attending the U.S. Convention of Universalists. Mrs. E. Tompkins whom Sara met on the boat told her that when J.T. was here he said they had decided they could not spend another winter in Hillsboro and he could see no reason why they should not come come and spend the winter here at the old home! Mrs. Tompkins was amazed and so expressed herself. Certainly this the vagary of an insane man. I closed my letter to Lucy with this information.

Friday 21" Rained all night and most of the day. The girls both went out last night and neither put in an appearance. Sara and I had to get our breakfast. Katy came home about nine amazed that Ella had not returned. I have spent most of the day looking over the papers in my fathers desk in the hall but found nothing of any importance. I have been intending to do this for a long time and am relieved now that it is done. I telegraphed to Mary today to bring Mr. & Mrs. Sawyer up with her tomorrow. The wind has come out of the north and whisking the leaves from the trees. Hollands coal bill came today $45.- and also the bills of Stratton & Dubois for the Inventory $15 each $30. The school tax is due but I have no money and no authority to pay it. In spite of myself I am unhappy and troubled. I seem to be at the edge of disaster. I had a letter from Beard telling me something about photographs of one of my pictures and have written him for further information. We found out our servant Ella has gone to work in the tobacco factory, just walked off without the slightest warning.

Saturday 22" Dark & cold with north wind. Snow fell in Delaware Co last night. I went downtown and gave Sam Cuykendall all my notes for $750 to renew the one coming due Oct 25 and paid him the discount for six mos. $22.87. He was very kind and obliging and when he asked me how I was getting on I answered, pretty well but sill with worries. I told him our school tax was due today and I had no money to pay it. He immediately offered me his check and said I had better pay it. I am to give him my note and pay when I can. I am not responsible for the school tax, but now having paid it, I have the note to pay. I saw

[[left margin]] Mary & Calvert & Frank Thurber
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Transcription Notes:
Shokan is a hamlet (and census-designated place) located in the town of Olive in Ulster County, New York, United States, within the Catskill Park.