There’s no such thing as “time off work” anymore. George gets a break from his committee meetings, of course. I suppose Ellie enjoys a change of society in addition to mild weather.
I’ve forgotten: do they have children?
George Templeton Strong, Jr., born May 1856
Ellen Ruggles Strong suffered "a near fatal illness and loss of her first baby in the spring of 1849."
I don’t recall George mentioning children. I peeked at the 1858 edition of Wiki and there is mention of at least one child, a son, who will become estranged from his father.