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a ferment. Mr. Lindsley said he has greatly calmed down since we first came here armed with a power of attorney just after my fathers death. Then he was going to make all sorts of trouble, but both Mr. Lindsley and Ned showed him how unwise it would be and he for a wonder desisted. I never knew such a man. All he seems to want is to make trouble and he will do it. I have always known this and so I greatly avoid events. I painted on a little scene in Pueblo this forenoon and a part of the afternoon, but I have a cold coming on my lungs with a painful cough and I felt so badly I came over home. The awful disaster by the bursting of a reservoir at Johnstown Pa has filled us with horror. To think what was going on last night as we sat here so easily resting ought to make me thankful for the safety and freedom from any such a calamity that we have always enjoyed.

Sunday June 2" 1889. The weather has cleared and today has been a peaceful day. John drove up for me this forenoon and took me for a drive. It was very muddy. We crossed over the Kingston bridge. The water has been over the road and is still very high but has fallen three or four feet. We drove out on the Sawgerties road as far as the West Shore crossing but the roads were so rivery we came back. Tidings of flood and disaster came from all quarters and the horrors of Johnstown increase as tidings come in. The details are heartrending and it is now thought the deaths will run into the thousands. We dined with Cantine and Miss Sheffield and sat out on the porch until after 4 o'clock. The pretty little house reminds me so of Mrs. Cantine. The last time I was on the porch she was there. Girards wife presented him this afternoon with his fifth son (Jansen).

Monday 3". I passed an uncomfortable night, cold and at the same time perspiring profusely but feel better today. Down town as usual. Received a note from Marion and a postal card from the Sec. of State charities and to inform me the society will meet at Riverdale at the house of the Catholic priest. We are invited to lunch at 1. I wrote a note to Rev. J. J. Gleason accepting for Sara and myself. Also a letter from Wood in which he tells me my picture has returned from Gills and speaking of A.M.A. matters and not a word about the death of Mrs. Gaul about which I wrote him making inquiries. I awoke with a forlorn and discouraged feeling. I keep thinking and pondering over our property here and wonder what will be the end of it. It seems more difficult to sell any thing more than ever before and I keep troubling about it. However when one thinks of the awful calamity at Johnsville one should not reprise or be troubled for it seems to me all trouble sinks into insignificance compared to that. It is said today the loss of life cannot be less than five thousand and may reach ten thousand. I have been over to my studio all forenoon and a part of the afternoon painting and am trying to get interested. I picked the first peas today and we also had a nice basket of strawberries from our garden. I wrote a note to Marion and told her of the arrival of Girards fifth boy.

Tuesday 4. Another rainy forenoon. Sara went to Poukhoekie on professional business and I went down town to mail my letter to Marion and a note to the Art Guild and was caught by the showers and did not get back until 12 o clock. I have spent most of the afternoon reading over my diary since my fathers death as I am going to make a condensed record of everything in connection with the estate. Some young ladies, Miss Clara Van Deusen and Miss Larter came up to see if I would allow their tennis club to occupy the ground between the carriage house and the gate. They talked with Sara but I told her I decidedly objected as we were already invaded by baseball and all sorts of encroachments. I told her to tell them I regretted that I could not oblige them but I had decided objections and had been obliged to refuse Marion the same request. The people here seem to have no idea of any respect for ones privacy.

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