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their shoes were burst out and they had delayed it a day or two and he had died meanwhile. She explained "I would have done, (so and so) but the truth is I had no money. I often wonder what poor people do in such emergencies which call for ready money. There always seems some way.

Wednesday May 29
I had a letter from Mary today saying Charlie and Mary had been there and Gertrude came later and they went with her to the exhibition of the American artists where her Mr. Crawford had a picture of a girl combing her hair, conscientious work Mary thought but not interesting. She said they are coming to Rondout. Mrs. Lindsley called and said they had heard through Mrs. E. Tompkins that Charlie, Laura, Gertrude, Mary and old Mr. Tompkins who is 96 years old and weighs 300 pounds and is helpless is coming to their house. Sara had a letter from Laura from the cove saying they were coming to E. Tompkins on Thursday and would come up here Friday.- was not sure Gertrude would come. They have been coming now for two or three weeks and have evidently put Mrs. E. Tompkins to considerable inconvenience. It will be a painful visit to me and I would be glad to be spared it. Mrs. E. Tompkins drove up to tell us the latest arrangement. Sara also had a letter from Rachel Carle telling her of the death of George Belden her husbands son. Poor Rachel. Every one she becomes attached to seems to die. She has had a great deal of trouble in her life. I wrote Champney today that it was necessary for him to let me know if his decision to resign from the Artists Mutual aid society is final. I also wrote Wood and sent him George Halls letter, to make inquiries about the death of Gilbert Gauls wife to which he alluded in his letter and asking him if Gill had returned the pictures from his exhibition. It is colder today even than yesterday and a fire has been comfortable all day.

Thursday 30. Decoration day came dark and gloomy. It has not rained but has threatened it all day. The day has been generally observed here and throughout the state. I went down town after breakfast to the Post Office and received a letter from Mrs. Darley. Sara had one from Lucy. I bought a few flower seeds  and spent most of the morning planting them. I was out on the roof before breakfast cleaning the blossoms of the elm tree out of the gutters. I got up an hour earlier than I intended to. These elm blossoms clog up the strainers in the leaders so that the water will not run through them. They fall every where and spring up and take root before they are discovered and are a nuisance. I have seriously thought of having the tree cut down. I have been reading Madame d'Arblay most of the afternoon. I commenced "de Tocquevilles America" last night to read aloud for Sara but my voice is so thick I am afraid I will not be able to finish it. Today was the day our new "Katie" was to go if she insisted upon it but she had said nothing about it and we hope she intends to stay as we are satisfied with her.

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Friday [[strikethrough]] June [[/strikethrough]] May 31" 1889.
Showers every few minutes. I went down town and got Girard to telephone to the office of the cement co. to ask if Mr & Mrs Osman had arrived. The answer was they had. I sent word we would expect them to dinner. The reply was they had driven out to make some calls but they would be told of my message on their return. I came home and very soon they drove up in E. Tompkins carriage. Charlie, Mazie and her mother. They came in but declined to take off their things as they were to return soon. We invited them to dinner but Laura said they were expected back to dinner. We were quite certain it would be agreeable to Mrs Tompkins if they would dine with us as a cousin of Neds was there with his bride and Mrs T. had expressed to us her hope that they would not arrive together. Mazie has grown to be a tall girl and