The Morning was misty with Clouds, but mild. Immediately after breakfast, I started with my Wife to go to Medford. We had a very tolerable ride for the air was mild. Arrived, we found the family as usual, with the addition of Miss Mary B. Hall.1 We went directly to Meeting and heard Mr. Stetson preach a Communion Sermon, after which I walked home, enjoying my walk very much. It was one of those early Spring days which make one agreeably sensible of even the slight change of atmosphere that has taken place, when things begin to thaw in the shade. After dinner, I again attended Church and heard Mr. Hedge of West Cambridge preach a tolerably good Sermon, upon the vicious search after excitement which so generally prevails. Mr. Hedge is a young man of tolerable talents and more acquirement. He talks a little too learnedly about things in general, for the comprehension of his Parish, but time and reason soon cure that. He wants judgment, and that is seldom mended.

We returned home in the rain, and passed the remainder of the day and evening in reading the English Papers, which are amusing. But the occupation is not a very creditable one. It seems however to be destined that I shall waste my time.

Morning mild and clear. We returned to town from Medford and I went directly to the Office. My time was taken up insensibly without having any particular way of accounting for it. Two or three persons called upon me about the Houses, among others, Mrs. Harriet Lewis, the former Tenant. I talked with her, and was very glad of the opportunity to explain to her some facts which I had formerly heard about her. She was warm and earnest in denying them. There is no knowing how to go on with these women. I would rather never have to do with them. Mr. Jackson came to me to talk about the Dr. and I gave him special orders to remove his things. I also wrote to Dr. Lewis respecting some injury that was done to the House, and to Mr. Child about the Uniforms.1 Thus went most of the morning.

The afternoon was passed in an examination of the Houses, and giving directions how to mend them. My own opinion is that the rent of these at the price I set them is low, but I have no means of ascer-182taining, and no applicants who close with me. My idea of the trouble of property increases daily. There is little affording a steady settled income, beyond the influence of chance. And with a little money now upon my hands, I find myself seriously puzzled to know what to do with it. The chances are great and on the whole the profits small. Returned home and it being too late to attend to Demosthenes I passed the remainder of the afternoon in pasting Papers to my father’s books, a dry but necessary duty. The Evening was spent at home in reading to my Wife the rest of Lear. She was so unwell from a cold however that she could not enjoy it, and I felt nervous and lowspirited. The responsibility of this property now hangs very heavily upon me. Read a part of Walker’s Rhetorical Grammar.