Travel Diaries and Journals

Journal Continued

Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 27th 1851

Mild & Pleasant

We all rose early. Father, Carrie, Cornelius, Fred & I attended our church in the morning. Father preached On our return home we found that Mr Murphy, Stan and Annie, Albert and Mary Emma had already arrived we having resolved to follow the old New England fashion of collecting all the family together for a good Thanksgiving dinner. This was soon served, and we all did abundant justice to Mother's good cooking. Turkies puddings pies &c dissappearing in short order. Then we remained quite a long time at the table chatting in quite a merry humour We toasted Father as the best looking man at the table which I thought true. After dinner Annie presented Mother with a very pretty cap, and the children insisted on giving some of us a sleigh ride on the ice in the back yard. The remainder of the afternoon passed very pleasantly indeed. We had some very good singing, and Albert entertained us by speaking some of the pieces that he was accustomed to repeat on like occasions in boyhood About seven o'clock we commenced singing some of the sweet old hymns that we had been accustomed to sing from the time we could remember. How sadly yet sweetly those [plaintive?] notes recalled the past, and brought back the Thanksgiving days when Grandmother and [Uncle's?] family united with ours in celebrating it.

[text written on left margin] Father read the [ninetieth?] Psalm in a very solemn and impressive manner and after making some very appropriate remarks was followed by Mr Murphy in prayer Supper at [eight?]. Our pleasant little family party broke up about ten; Stan and Annie Albert and Mary Emma returning to the city

Monday, December 1st Very cold. Winter's drear reign has commenced Sewed in the morning. In the afternoon I called on Mary Reeve Mary [Robb?] , and the Waterman's. [?] Dickinson called and presented Carrie with a Lyceum ticket and with an offer of his hand which was rejected. She however accepted his company to Lcyeum for the winter on condition that he would accompany her only as a [cousin?]. He said he wished she would be an old maid but though he felt very badly about it they parted pleasantly Mr Murphy and Mr Roy a theological student called in the [ev'ng?].

Tuesday.. Busy at home all day.. Margaret Culbert called in the afternoon Dr Remmington was here to tea and lectured at our church in the evening. Mrs Hudson and Kate called and accompanied our folks to the lecture. Natty? and I spent the evening alone together in reading.

Wednesday.. Cold but pleasant. After sewing steadily all day early in the evening I dressed to attend Miss Hamilton's wedding. George Hudson and Kate called for Carrie to attend singing school. They returned about half past eight before we started for the wedding. Joseph Wilde and Hannah came in and [staid?] [till?] we returned. Mother and Father, Mr Murphy with Harriet and I attended the wedding. The rooms were crowded. The bride of course looked very sweetly and the groom Mr [Brinu?] looked well. We met there Stan? and Annie, the Culberts, and quite a number of acquaintances and, we enjoyed it very much. The [Calthumpians?] were serenading before the door when we left. It is the first time I have ever heard them. I should [?] like to have them come to my wedding.

Friday Jan. 16th. Snowed some. Mr Wilde, Mr Stearns, George and Kate Hudson called in this afternoon. George carried off a ring of mine. [Hatty?Natty?] brought some letters to me from Joseph W_ written by Samuel. They were very good, but announced that by the advice of his friends he had concluded to give up study and return to his business. I was rather surprised, but concluded that Sam had a right to do as he pleased, and it will make no difference to me. He wrote rather despondingly, said he did not wish to give up studying, but that he did so by the advice of his uncle whom he has great confidence. Joseph W_ spent the evening with us. Saturday. Cloudy but not so cold. Soon after dinner Sarah and I called at Annie Culbert's. She was not home but we were pleasantly entertained by Elizabeth. After leaving there we went into Fourth st where we met Culbert and all stopped awhile at the Equestrian Institute. After that Sarah and I called on Mary [illegible?] and made an engagement to go with her to the Baptist Church tomorrow. We then set out for Kate's. Met George Hudson on the way and he went with us. Kate Hudson persuaded us much against any inclination to go up into Henry's room. Mr Murphy disapproved so much of our doing so before that I though it must be really improper. I found Henry sitting up in a chair, though still very feeble.

[written in the left margin parallel to main text:] Sarah received a letter from her mother requesting her to come home immediately as they have decided to move out west in April and there is much to do before.

Sunday Jan 18th Snowed hard all day. Sarah and I felt disappointed very much as we of course were unable to keep either of our engagements. The day passed pleasantly at home, however, mostly in reading. Mr Murphy came over in the afternoon, and added much to the cheerful enjoyment of the evening. We sang and talked till near tea _ then retired. Monday. Bright. Fine sleighing. Sarah, Carrie and I practised vocal music. G. Hudson spent the afternoon very pleasantly with us. On account of the cold we all spent the evening at home. Tuesday. "The coldest day we have had for thirteen years", said the papers. It is the coldest day, that I can recollect. Sarah spent the day with her relatives in New York, [?]. She thinks of returning home to-morrow. _ I made a light silk apron. _ Sarah came back about dusk. About seven A?] Daniel & George Hudson called and accompanied [with?] us to the Culbert's. It was a freezing walk, but pleasant company, and the delightful evening we spent on arriving there, made ample amends. Annie took a great fancy to Sarah, and E.D. was [quite?] attentive to the same lady. Besides Elizabeth, [Marjorie?] and Annie, were their three brother Alexander, [Nat?] and Isaiah, who with ourselves and Dr and Mrs [Ach?] comprised the company. Mr Murphy and Nat were [ex?] but the difficulty in crossing the ferries prevented them

[written vertically in left margin, the following:] We came home about twelve. The river frozen so completely to-day that many walked from [?] to New York on the ice and back. Many of the ferry boats ever obliged to stop running. Mary R. spent most of the P.M. with me.