Bessy Jefferson's death. Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Thursday, Feb. 7, 1918 [February 7, 1918] Wea [Weather] 
22 [degrees] max. [maximum] Dull.
  Dark cloudy, calm, very chilly.
Little variation in temperature
all day. Its rise since yesterday
morning must have brought
to countless people short of fuel.
We have had enough to keep both
house & Museum fairly comfortable
although there have been times 
where this was not the case elsewhere
than close about a fireplace
piled high with blazing logs.
The larger Museum room has been
heated mostly by an air-tight stove.
  Garden birds. 3 Jays & a Flicker
in the liiacs; an unseen Crow
cawing not far away.
  Worked all day on Introduction,
making some progress.
A cable message from George Jefferson
in London came about 10 A.M. It reads -
"Bessy joined the boys last night. Please
tell mother". This is a terrible shock
to C. [Caroline Brewster] & indeed all of us

Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Friday, Feb. 8, 1918 [February 8, 1918] Wea [Weather]
14 [degrees] 22 [degrees] Fine
  Brilliantly clear with crisp,
windless air, devoid of penetrating 
chill.
  Garden birds. 2 Chickadees at suet;
2 House Sparrows in clothes yard.
  Spent forenoon in Museum working
on Umbagog M.S. [manuscript], afternoon in
or near Harvard Square where 
I visited Becker's greenhouse to get
some flowers for to morrow's 40th
anniversary of C.'s [Caroline Brewster] & my wedding day.
Also had hair cut by Mark.
Found walking difficult because 
of dizziness & shortness of breath.
  C. went in town this morning
to see Dr. Cheeny [Cheeney] & returned 
much depressed by his admission
that there "has been serious loss
of eyesight within past nine months, 
or words to that effect. Bessy's death
has, of course, been an added &
indeed crushing blow, Lizzy [Elizabeth R. Simmons], too,
is pathetically broken and feeble.