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he is to escape having his business broken up, but I can't do impossible things and I will not be drawn into doing what seems to me so hopeless as signing his notes. I feel sick and discouraged. If I had the money I would lend it to him but I cant lend what I do not have. I suppose I might have been more gentle in my refusal but he was very aggravating and when he held me responsible for his ruin it was more than I could stand.

Monday July 29" 1889. The country is again flooded and soaked with rain. I went down town but there was no use painting on my study of the ferry for we had a hard shower while I was down there. I sent "She" to Roth at Morelia (postage 5 cts to remember) I went and saw John McEntee and he thought the weather would clear by dinner time and we would go fishing. I came home and got ready and after dinner his man drove up for me. The weather looked showery and the rain caught us just as we were driving in to Leggs. It held up dinner and we went out and fished but the water was much roiled and after running down to the rocks and another shower coming up we came back to the landing just as there was another down pour. Johnson the West Shore Restaurant man and a friend came out to fish but gave up when we did. We drove home over roads that were like [[?]] beds. I had a talk with John about Girards affairs. He sees how entirely discouraging the case really is but rather advises me to help him out, but to be sure to make him make over to me all interest in his fathers estate and to give (or rather to have Mary whom he says has the deed to the lot) give me a mortgage on that. I dislike this but he says and I think too it will be wise in order to prevent his hypothecating it elsewhere. John thinks it one of those desperate cases which have to be met if possible. I have talked with Sara and Mary and like myself they do not know what I had better do but will approve of what my judgement dictates. If I knew what I ought to do I would do it. It rains as I go to bed, and I feel perplexed and discouraged.

Tuesday 30" Rain in floods, overrunning the gutters, pouring into the kitchen and cellars and soaking everything. I was obliged to put on my rubber coat to get the corn from the garden and could not go down town until afternoon when the rain ceased for a time at least. I saw John who had talked with Girard and pretty plainly. He sees as I do the futility of doing anything to continue him in this sort of way of doing business. I asked him to come here this evening so that Mary, Sara and I could talk with him about the feasibility of offering the place for sale by advertising it here for a time and then selling it at auction for what it will bring. I received a letter from Alice in which she gives encouraging accounts of the Star Landing property. Business enterprises are locating near them, a village has grown up close by and the price of property has advanced. Tom has rented both houses and sold 1/4 or an acre for $1100. I hope this will go on. Went down to Johns.

Wednesday 31" More rain. It begins to be a wonder where it all comes from. I went down town and called to see Cantine about the protest against the blue stone pavement for Holmes St and he said Girard had it and was getting signers and he thought every one living on the street would sign it. I also had a talk over Girards affairs and then we got on the question of disposing of the property here on the hill. He advises me to lay it out in 50 ft. lots and have an auction. He is strongly of the opinion we will sell some of them and if we do not sell any for satisfactory prices it will not cost but little to make the experiment. He thinks we will not sell the place as a whole and I think so myself. He told me he thought he could get purchasers for two or three lots. I came home and drew out a plan for the division and if John agrees I will try this experiment. The fact is we will soon be obliged to do something. Mary and Sara think it a good idea.- John came up and 

Transcription Notes:
Please finish. -- Looks done to me!