Travel Diaries and Journals

Thursday. Pleasant but cold. Mrs Otis and Miss Stanley called in the evening Sarah and I attended Lyceum with Mrs? Miss? Carrie went as usual with Hugh. Friday. Cloudy. The ground was covered with snow. In the afternoon Sarah, Caroline, and I attended Dr Benton's lecture on Psycheology. We became very much interested. Mary Reeve called in our absence, and came around to [the?] lecture to see us. After the lecture Sarah, Mary, and I called on Hannah W. Mrs Hallock, and Kate Hudson. In the evening, Natty, Sarah and I attended Dr Benton's lecture. It was very amusing and exciting. We did [not?] reach home till about eleven. Found Mr Murphy sick. Saturday. Snowy. In the afternoon, Harriet, Carrie, Sarah and I attended Dr Benton's lecture. Annie Culbert called, but not finding us at home came round to Central Hall and staid a short with us. Sarah and I went into Grand st after lecture and did a little shopping. Sunday. Snowed a little in the morning. Sarah and I attended the Babtist [sic] church, and heard a very good sermon from Mr Rhees the minister. Attended our church in the afternoon. Evening at home. Monday. Pleasant. Was not very well. In the evening Sarah, Caroline, Natty and I went round to Mary R's. Joseph, Hannah, and her friend Emma Horing? were there and this evening [passed?] very pleasantly indeed. We returned about eleven.

[continued in left side margin:] The Cuthberts, Ellen Dickinson and Mary Willet called. P.M.

any reasons, but he said he knew what they were. Mary Reeve called in the afternoon, and accompanied us to the Hudson's, as Sarah wished to see Kate once more Mary returned with us. Hannah Wilde called. About four o'clock Sarah started for New York. Mary & I accompanied her to the ferry. Sarah wished us to cross with her but we did like to as it was so late. She seemed to think me very unkind, and would have left me without a kiss, had I not asked for one. She was either hurt or offended -- I had not time to consider which, as the boat was starting and she was obliged to leave us in haste. How unpleasant to part so. but I could not help it as a moment's reflection must have convinced her. Mary and I called on Mrs Mailler. -- Harriet Thorp?- -orn? and Mr Murphy spent the evening with us. Wednesday.. Very warm, the walking of course was nothing but mud and [spool?]. This day, chosen for the celebration of the birth of the City of Williamsburgh, was ushered by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannon. [Hope?] was closed and business suspended. Ellen Diskinson? called in the morning to invite us to come to their house in the afternoon, that we might have a better view of the procession, which was to pass through their street Accordingly after dinner Mother, Carrie, and I went. The procession was very good. The Mayor honored us with a special bow. He looked very complacent, and was

Saturday, July 17th Cloudy. Carrie and Kate were absent all the morning shopping and looking up dressmakers. In the afternoon I was about putting on my things preparatory to a call on Mary when I took up a paper just thrown in and the first thing I saw was the announcement of Mrs Tucker's death - Could it be possible and I had not even heard that she had been dangerously ill. She died this [morn?] at 12 o'clock of inflammation of the heart. I could hardly believe it, and resolved at once to call at Mr. Tucker's and learn the particulars. Poor Mrs Sager?! was my first thought - she has lost her best friend - they were dear to each other as sisters and indeed by that endearing title they always addressed one another. To Mrs Tucker, Mrs Sager? always went for counsel and sympathy and as Ellen? has told me she thought all the world of her then oh! how heavily will the blow fall on her widowed heart I could but weep as I thought of it - and then too, so far away without a friend to whom she can go for sympathy or consolation. But I forget! - her best friend is ever with her and surely He who has [sustained?] in a greater trial will not forsake her in this. - I went immediately to Mr Tucker's, stopping on my way to say a word to Mary. I was shown into the back parlor the room in which I saw her for the first time several months since. I have felt so well acquainted with her that I can hardly realize that I have known her for only so short a time, much less can [I?] I realize that our pleasant interviews will be no more. The corpse was in the room - ah! how unlike a corpse - so composed, so serene - a bright smile glowing over the pale expressive features like a ray of glory lighting up the dark realm of death.

Wednesday, July 21st. Very warm. Received a call from Mary Reeve in the morning - she came to bid me good bye as she leaves for the country this afternoon whither I hope soon to join her. Mary seemed rather melancholy, and half sorry to go though whether it was on mine or Joseph's? account I could hardly tell - probably on both. [Served? Sewed?] on a mantilla for Mother most of the day. Albert came over to tea and spent the evening. Kate seemed much interested in him - much more so than in the handsome Isaiah Caulbert who also passed the evening with us. It was very pleasant - Father and Mother seemed to enjoy it much. Albert, Isaiah and Carrie sang several pieces - Albert has his flute with him. How natural, and how much like old times it seemed to hear that flute pouring forth its sweet sounds on the evening air as it was wont to do when he ws home with us in the life of one household - before - oh Albert! would your sake that those days might come back again. Thursday. Weather the same. Harriet and Douglas reached home this morning safe and well. Hattie looks better, her trip has doubtless done her good. Douglas was evidently in high spirits - squeezed Carrie and I in an unprecedented manner and frolicked round with us all like a school boy Their meeting with Kate was quite an affecting one. Douglas [illegible?] to Brooklyn soon after breakfast and was absent till tea time. Hattie and Kate were closeted together half of the day, notwithstanding [?-found] times to relate a good many of her adventures to us all. Carrie and I received a letter from Harriet

still they were beautiful, and were much admired by the crowd who were assembled in the vicinity We returned near two o'clock. Joseph and Mary accompanied us home and remained about an hour later Father was in the the parlors with us a short time during their stay, and afterwards remarked that Mary was the smallest marriageable [piece?] he ever saw. "The best goods are done up in the smallest packages" Joseph says whenever Mary's size is referred to but however that may be he will have a nice little wife.

Tuesday. Very warm. In the course of the morning I started of to visit my cousin Martha Wood who is now with Aunt Graves in Brooklyn. I took one of our kittens with me as a present to Aunt, it was a pretty little thing but too smart altogether for becoming frightened by the rattling of the stages. It pushed of the cover of the basket in which I was carrying it, jumped out and vanished like a phantom I felt badly, got out of the stage and looked for it some time and being unsuccessful I proceeded on my way and arrived at my place of destination without further accident. Found Martha and Aunt at home - Aunt was not very well. Martha entertained me all day in talking about a fortune teller who had called there in the morning and pretended to unveil to her her future destiny yet what she said had much the appearance of truth and it seems hard to be accounted for