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442 improving it. I work however with no enthusiasm. No one comes here and I feel that I am passing out of notice. One needs some stimulus to work and I feel that I have none. I have a sad feeling of wanting to shrink into myself and would rather be at home than here, although I know I will not be happy there. I went up and spent the evening with Eastman. His eyes are still troubling him but he is at work. We went up to his studio and he showed me six or seven portraits ready nearly to be sent home. He has a stimulus and he has cause to lament every moment lost. People want his work while I hardly know how to pass the dull days. Julia Donaldson came this evening to spend the holidays with Mary. Saturday 24. Went home by 11 oclock train. Found Sara and Marion had the Xmas tree up in the sitting room and all ready except the things I bought and the candles. The children had been told we would have it all ready at 5 o'clock. They of course came over before and had to be kept in the drawing room like a lot of little wild animals. At 5 we let them in and while we were looking at the tree bells were heard out in front of the house and a shouting and stamping and we cried out "here he comes". It was very interesting to see the expression of Girard and Dwightie. Presently Girard bounded in as Santa Claus with a buffalo robe, a good big belly a cotton beard and a bundle of new India rubber boots on his back. His make up was excellent and he did his part well and finally shot out in a most mysterious manner. Then we distributed the presents and then cut the lights and the children all having gone home we took the tree out in the back porch and thus another Xmas ended, as so many previous ones have ended under this dear roof of home. There were present Girards wife, Girard as Santa Claus, Marion, Sara, myself, Katy and hired girl Tom & his wife and baby, Jimmy McEntee, Charlie, Girardie, Dwightie and the little girl baby who squawked all the time, and little Marie Anderson. Sunday 25 The mercury registered 0. this morning. I walked up to the station to meet Bowyer at 2 o'clock but he did not come. He walked in however just after I did having come by the morning train and gone to see some lady friend, I understood. After lunch he and I walked out to the Roatina where he had a little skating. We had our Xmas dinner at 5. [[strikethrough]] Sara [[/strikethrough]] Marion, Bowyer and I. The winter quiet at home was most grateful to me for I was sad and homesick. Sara went to Middleton. Monday 26" with the 9 oclock train this morning to see the superintendent of the asylum for John. Nannie is decidedly insane and they have decided it is wisest to take her to some institution. It snowed when she went out of the house in the dark. John sent his man to drive her to the station. I went downtown after breakfast and saw John. He was greatly troubled and thinks Nannie will never recover but I pitied him greatly for this is a very grave trouble. [[newspaper clipping]] DIED SHUFELDT.-In this City, on Thursday, December 22, 1887, Mrs. Mary A. Shufeldt, widow of George A. Shufeldt, in the 96th year of her age. The funeral will take place from her residence, 74 John-street, on Sunday afternoon, at 3 o'clock. Friends are invited to attend without further notice. [[/newspaper clipping]] came up to see Sara who returned last evening greatly [[obscured by clipping]] of affairs at the asylum. They have decided to [[obscured by clipping]] and they & Dr Chalker have been out [[obscured by clipping]] out the necessary papers. Lucy's box o f Xmas gifts came today by Express. I wrote Lucy about Nannie Wednesday 28" Sara and John went to Middleton with Nannie. It snowed when they left but turned to rain shortly after and was a most dismal day. They had a covered sleigh which came for Sara about 6 oclock. I went down to Johns directly after breakfast and found they had got off with little resistance on Nannies part. I sent [[strikethrough]] over [[/strikethrough]] to Lucy the last word that they had gone. When I came home it was raining. The gutters on the house were
Transcription Notes:
Newspaper clipping obscures some of the text//see next page which has entry without clipping
