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nature through one comes so far short has still great satisfactions I have done up one of the Lippincotts with a novel by Miss Magruder Howard in the breach" to send to Roth in Morelia - I left word with Katie when I went down to the carriage house to sketch, where I would be. When I went back she handed me Joe Cornells card. He had been here to see me, presumably about the note for Houghtaling I directed to him a week ago, and as they could not find me at the barn presumed I was at my studio and not finding me then he went away. I regret greatly not seeing him as I am anxious to know whether Houghtaling got my note.

Tuesday July 16" 1889. It was rather lonely to sit at the lake today without Sara, but I have kept busy about something all day. I went down town and on my way stopped to consult Mr. Kent about the head stone for Maurice's grave as to the expense. It has been a cool lovely day. I took my things to the upper part of the carriage House hoping to get another sketch of a sky but I did not get a good opportunity although there were really fine skies. I wish I had some open, elevated place where I could see all around. We have so many trees now it is difficult to see the skies well. I went up to my room but it was difficult to do any thing from there so I did not get a sketch. I made a small door in the large front door of the barn like the one I made in the back door and picked a basket of vegetables which I had Tom take to the Industrial home. I read in my journal of 1883 and was struck with my cheerful and hopeful feeling although I had had troubles and perplexities, but I was eager to work. It was the fall my Mother died and Downing and I had been camping out in the mountains and I had done a great deal of work and my pictures were selling. I had a stimulus and encouragement which I do not seem to have now, and I was well and sound in body which alas! I am not now. For three or four days I have had that giddy and shaky sensation which seemed to have left me for a little. I am reading Thackerays English Humorists in the intervals of Faith.

Wednesday 17" One of the loveliest days with a delightful temperature. I got a note from Sara from High Falls but did not read it until I got home. She wanted me to go up there tomorrow by the 9.30 train and we would come home together by the afternoon train. I went back down town and telephoned her I would come. I also had a note from Joe Cornell telling me he had been here and could not find me; That Mr. Houghtaling  was at the Grand Hotel and that he had handed him my note and I would probably hear from him - which I have not. This afternoon I made a sketch from the dining room window to try to get the relations of the landscape with the soft luminous sky. I read again in my diary of 1883. I had a successful winter and was cheerful and happy. That winter I painted one of my most successful pictures "The Yellow Autumn Woods" and I sold a number of my pictures. I seem capable of painting just as good things and I am getting more interested and think more about my art. I wish I were somewhere where I had nothing but my painting to occupy my attention for I love to paint from nature. Yesterday I got the old saw sharpener who rides about in a little low wagon and has a red and black spotted dog, to come up on the hill and put all the saws in order, five in all. I wish I had money to keep everything ship shape and in order. I used to once at my little place and mostly with my own hands. It has been a pleasure to live on this lovely hill today. Nothing could be more beautiful and peaceful. The Cornell Iron Co. went to Catskill to a firemens parade and Girard went with them. There was an alarm of fire about 1 o'clock this morning. The fireman said it was Mrs. OReillys barn opposite the City Hall and the bones of a man were found in the ruins. It is thought some tramp slept there and set it on fire perhaps by smoking.