Saturday, Oct 18, 1884 Janette and Emily went home today by the 11 oclock train. Sara and I drove them to the station taking Girard and Charlie with us. They have not been to the house since the day I ducked them in the water. The air was clear and brilliant and the mountains very fine. The Autumn color is only now beginning to be general. The trees in front of the house have hardly changed at all and Gertrudes tree is still green. Wood was to pay the Turck claim today but I waited until half past two without his putting in an appearance when I went down to the bank and paid our school tax $104 taking all the money I had in bank. Girard told me this evening Wood had been at his office (it must have been after bank hours for I called there just before 3) and left word that Griffiths had some money for me. Now I shall foreclose the mortgage and bother with them no more. They do not keep their engagements and I cannot depend on what they promise. The fire brick for the kitchen stove I brought up with me and this evening I attempted to put them in but the iron plates are so warped and burned out that I could do nothing with them and now we cannot have a fire in the kitchen stove until all that is repaired and they have to send to Albany for the plates. I am worried to death with all this miserable business. Servants never know or care when a thing is being ruined and one never knows a thing about it until the damage is beyond repair. If I had the money I would gladly pay for brains in servants. My father seems to get stronger but somehow he dont seem to want to get well and said tonight he wished he had been taken away. This is discouraging to Sara and me and yet after all I presume life seems sad to my poor father and rest from its burdens at his age I dare say seems a welcome reflection. I feel discouraged and disheartened but I have so often felt so that I wonder I do not get used to discouragements.
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