File:Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries- Volume 8, page 46, August 25-26, 1856.jpg

Transcription:

some mountain exploration. So dismissing our driver, we took up our abode at Falk's tavern. 'Tis a plain wooden house, with perpendicular and iron ornament sign in front. Falk is a stoutish old boy of Dutch ancestry, deliberately rustic in speech, and stolidly good humored. He charges $5 per week. Showing us the upper floor of his house, (to which you ascend by means of a darkish staircase presenting two sharp angular steps to damage your knee-pan against) he exhibited two neat chambers with the information that if we selected them, it must be with the condition that we’d vacate 'em for a lady from Boston, her baby and servant — if they came on during our story. Her husband had written to him (Falk) inquiring whether he could accommodate them. It proved, of course to be Mr Alf Hill [Alfred Waud]. So we took a sufficiently spacious two bedded room, smelling herb-like and countryish, and setting my heart yearning towards Chacombe. After a plentiful though homely supper in a rear room looking out on a garden, we turned out, crossed the stream by a temporary foot bridge — the freshet has carried off the old one — and so to the girls [Eliza, Matty, and Sally Edwards]. They looked very healthy and happy, especially the younger ones.

I love these Cattskills. I feel at peace here.

26. Tuesday. With the girls, their brother Jack [Edwards], and the little fellow Will up the streamlet, under conboy of a Mrs Williston, who resides here. A lovely sunny day. Up mountain paths, through