Sunday afternoon. It is a dull cloudy day we have had dull weather for a long time. I expect when it clears off it will be cold. It is a good time for people to plan. I do really feel kind[[?]] lonesome today. I wonder if you do too - I suppose you are writing to me today as usual Mary is by my side with a pen and a piece of paper - [[?]] she is "writing to Father" When I ask her whos daughter she is - she says "Fathers" - I know she will love his Father - The other day Walter came into the house - sit down and took a paper - she climb up [[?]]n a chair by the side of him and put her arms round his neck and looked into his face - so loving - He took no notice of her at all - he is no hand for children he did not take his own child only once in a great while - then he acted as if he did not know how - Mi[[?]]s Rider has never taken L[[?]]s little girls in his arms - is'nt it singular?
Mr John Hodgen is very sick will not live long 
Mrs Ho[[?]]ie has not gone home yet - she that was Ellen Ho[[?]]ie and her Husband are at Ms. Henry-Sargents Ellen got first coming - as she was stepping a board the cars - they started - she held on till she was draged into the cars - she was alone her Husband has come after her because she got-