Charles E. Burchfield, Journals April 19, 1958

April 19 – Sat –
Warm and sun shining – (up to 74) –
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P.M. – While in the studio I thought I heard our back screen door slam, and I thought Hank had come over – but when I came out I could see no one – I sat down in the garden seat to soak in some of the warm sunshine – a few moments later I happened to glance toward the house and saw the dim form of a small boy standing behind the screen door. “Is that you Davy” I called and he answered “yes, Grandpa” – I told him to come on out and he burst out of the door and came running (I learned later that Hank had told him he was not to come to the studio or bother me as I might be painting) – There followed an hour of unchallenged joy for me. In the studio Davy had to try different things (putting his finger in the thermometer bulb to raise the temperature tickled him – he had to see the attic, & touch a stuffed crow, out doors, we built a bonfire – etc etc – it came over me all at once – that there was nothing better in the world for me to be doing but to play with my grandson under the warm shining sun, with flowers blooming all about us, and I thanked God for such a privilege – Davy is like a little elf – we had to talk to each other over the intercom in which Bertha & Hank joined – most of the time Davy was sort of tongue-tied, but at the end suddenly he started laughing heartily – Hank had come over to take down the storm windows and put up the screens, and also to wrap the picture & take it to the air-port –
A bad coughing spell in the evening – apparently I had gotten too tired in the afternoon.
Charles E. Burchfield, April 19, 1958