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at John Forsyth this evening. There were there besides me Lev. Mr. Cross and a Mr. Ferman formerly state Librarian at Albany. He had knocked about the world a good deal, was a bright and an educated man and so we had a pleasant evening, Mrs Forsyth presiding at the table.

Sunday Dec. 22. Rained all day. I read the Conquest of Mexico which I find most interesting. It is pleasant to be at home and to sit by the cheerful wood fire and I wish I could stay here. It cleared at evening but the same remarkably mild weather continues.

Monday 23" Like a beautiful spring morning. No snow and warm and sunny. I walked down town Girard told me Mrs. Geo. M. Decker had been in and would have neither of the lots her husband agreed for on Saturday. She said she would not take them as a gift, and that as she had the money that was the end of it. She evidently wears the trousers of the family. I told Girard not to bother with her. I came home and walked up to Kingston to see Sharpe and Kenyon from whom I received a note on Saturday saying they had received the release of Jones' lot from Booths lawyerwho wanted to know why Mr. Booth received no cash in this transaction. I told Sharpe to write him that as I was to pay $143 in cash and $143 in mortgages on each $1000 released and as I had sent a $600 mortgage I considered that more than I was obligated to send but if it was not satisfactory I would send additional cash if desired.

Tuesday 24 Walked to Kingston and bought a nicelybound copy of Whittier which I mailed to Cousin Nannie at Middletown in care of Dr Talcott in which I wrote "in memory of many happy Xmases in the past and in the hope of many more in the future. I rode down to the N.S. Station and from there walked across lots back of O Reillys. It was a mild day but a little cooler than yesterday. We decided not to have a Xmas tree but to put all the presents for the children in a big tub in in the sitting room, have the servants and children and let them fish out their presents with a hook and line. We invited Cousin John and Julia and there were present Mr. & Mrs. Reed, Sara and I, Girard and Mary and all their children, Girard going over and bringing the baby Jansen wh owas wakened but came in smiling, Tom and Minnie with their two children Joe and Thomas McEntee Daly and our girl Katie Hilles. They all came and til the "fishing" was the children and when we had dined of the absent and this annual gathering came about 5 except John & Julia who did not get there until the "fishing" was all over. It was very successful and satisfactory to the children and they all went home by six carrying their trophies when we had dinner John & Julia dining with us. Many times I tho't of the absent and could not help asking myself how many times more this annual gathering would take place in the old house. Downing came by the 7.10 train

Wednesday 25" Xmas.
Splendid, sunny morning, no snow, no ice and balmy air, the mercury standing at from 60 to 70. Downing and I went over to examine the toboggan slide as he is intending to build one in the upper end of the city. It was as warm and bright as May and along the whole range of the mountains not a particle of snow was to be seen. We found Bowyer and Agnes at the house when we returned. They were spending Xmas with her people in Kingston and went back to dinner. We dined at 3 and in the evening Downing went down to Johns while I stopped in at Cantines. The Sheffields of Saugerties have failed and Miss Sheffield told me about it. She said her brother had lost every thing but 

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