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104

Wednesday Aug. 13". 1890
Cool, quiet and grey. I was down town twice today. A letter from Mary. She has had letters from Calvert and Marion who had had a pleasant and smooth voyage and met agreeable people on ship board. She is coming here about Sept. 1" and will probably stay here after we leave for Maine having Mrs. Weld with her. I do not hear from Royal who, I presume is in the woods. I am anxious to know who our guides are to be. I wrote out my petition to the Common Council today regarding the steam whistles and the bells and gave it to Jas. Tubby who says he will present it for me. Tom is digging the potatoes, about 4 days later than last year. Sara has only been gone two days but it seems a week. I am very contented and happy, because I am able to pay everything we owe, we have a lovely home and there is nothing to trouble me and I am master of my time. Suppose I were at the beck of some one or immersed in an uncongenial business. I long to paint again from nature and hope to do so when I get up in Maine, where I will have nothing else to do.

Thursday 14" Cool and quiet Another in the series of thoroughly charming days. I was down town after breakfast. Had a note from Mary. Girards wife had some friends from Kingston and Mr. Nicholls from Davenport Iowa to dine with her. They all came over here this afternoon and were greatly entertained going about the house and looking at the views. I kept busy. I wrote to Lucy and to Royal Reed from whom I do not hear. I am afraid he is away in the woods, or has not got my letter. Mr. Brentin reported today with the list for postal delivery. He had about 200 names and was going on to get more. The death of Mr. Brace is a shock. I knew he went abroad for his health but I had no idea he was in a dangerous condition. We had a slight shower today. Sara came home this evening from Delaware Co. where she and Mrs. Overbagh went with 9 children from the Home. They succeeded in placing five of them and brought back four. It was quite pathetic to hear her describe how homesick some of the poor little things were, some of them only 4 years old - taken from a lot of their childish companions and put into some of these bare and distant homes. I have finished Marie Bashkirtseff - a strange, unhappy character, literally consumed with the love of admiration and thirst for distinction.

Friday 15" Cool & breezy Down town early. I first wrote a letter to Mr. Kauffman editor of the Washington Star asking his counsel as to the best way to proceed with my postal matter as I do not want to get into the hands of the local factions and politicians. The plans for Toms home came and I have looked them over and shall invite competition at once. Have been going over my accounts and verifying them. Van Ettan does not furnish me with the results of his survey and I am getting very impatient and disgusted with him as I can do nothing about Coykendalls deed until he gives me the descriptions. I was in at Welch's today to have a little work done. He told me he was very poor - that he had nothing. His son the doctor used to let him have money but now that he is dead he has no one to help him. I feel very sorry for him in his old age to see him deserted by his old partners, but that is usually the case. As we grow old we are laid aside as useless and younger men take over our places as who in their turn will be displaced.
[[left margin]] Picked Bartlett pears. [[/left margin]]

[[newspaper clipping]
JOHN O. LEGG.
Kingston, N.Y., Aug. 14 (Special).——John O. Legg, of Legg's Mills, north of this city, died at his home there last night at the age of sixty-nine years. He was the first to turn spokes for wagon wheels by machinery, operating the first Blanchard lathe for turning unequal forms about forty-four years ago. He also introduced the cultivated strawberry into the market, and spent much time and money in experimenting with new fruits and vegetables. He had a share in the introduction of the first mower and reaper in this part of the State, over thirty years ago. The machine was then a failure. But Mr. Legg had faith in it and worked hard to remedy its defects.
[[/newspaper clipping]]

Saturday 16" Perfect day Down town early. A note from Bonyer about the camp beds. It has been a beautiful day. The mercury at 7 o'clock marked 52° but it grew warmer and there was a gentle breeze all day. The hill never seemed lovelier than now. Tom has been at work most of the day cutting out the small growth in front  

Transcription Notes:
Marie Bashkirtseff - A Russian painter ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-30 16:42:57 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-07-01 10:45:40 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-07-02 15:42:48 .