Jervis McEntee Diaries

Wednesday May 22, 1889

Jervis McEntee Diary Entry, May 22, 1889, from the Jervis McEntee papers, 1850-1905, in the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

Wednesday, May 22, 1889 We missed Katy at breakfast as it took all hands, the little girl Christina, Sara and myself to get the breakfast which was not a shining success. The new girl came about 9 o'clock. her name too is Katy and she seemed so bright and bustling it quite gave us heart. I went down town, saw John McEntee who signed the deed for Mrs. Gregorys lot which Calvert returned with his signation. I also got a note from Ward in answer to one I wrote him asking for some suggestions about a soldiers monument. His views accord with my own in the main as I was quite sure they would. I walked up to Kingston to get seats for Barnums Circus, but found they will not be on sale until the day of the show. I paid for 2 for myself and 4 for John and they said they would secure them for me and I walked back again stopping at the cemetery when I saw the cover had not been removed from dear Gertrudes head stone and the grass needed cutting. When I got home Sara who was putting down the carpet in what we call Mary's room told me the new girl had said she could not stay as she could not stand a basement kitchen and I know not what. After consulting over it Sara wished I would go down and see Katy Dorlan and try to induce her to return. I did so but she declined as she said Sara had hurt her feelings by her haste to have her leave. I exausted [sic] all the arguments I was master of but to no purpose and came back. At present life does not seem worth living. The aspect one gets of it chiefly depends upon the cook I find. I went over to the cemetery and took Tom along who mowed the grass while I dug about the Phloxes on dear Gertrudes and mothers graves and set out some morning glory plants on Fathers and Maurices and gave the place a more cared for look. I also took off the cover from Gertrudes head stone and gave it to Port to take care of until winter. It seems only a little while since I put it on for the winter. Now we are trying to be calm hoping the new girl will have reconciles as she gets better used to her surroundings. She is bright and intelligent and generally agreeable although young and inexperienced. It was so cool tonight I built a little fire in the sitting room.

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