Mary Emma Jocelyn diary, 1851-1852.

Tuesday May 4th Delightful weather - just warm enough. Harriet and I spent an hour of the early morning in shopping Bought a new hat for the summer. Mary Reeve and Miss Thien? called P.M. Commenced making and marking half-a-dozen towels for Harriet - no great undertaking, by the way. Mr Murphy spent the evening here - thinks he will be married before a great while. We had quite a talk about it Of course [none?] of us are willing that that event should take place so soon, but the selfish couple run on most pertinaciously about their plans and prospects quite regardless of our feelings. Aggravating! They are so wrapt up in each other that they can't think of any one else. Dr Finlay called. Wednesday. Very warm. Hannah Wilde called in the afternoon I went into Grant st of an errand. Carrie much better Mr Murphy came over soon after seven and with Hat? Nat? and I attended teh May Queen Festival at Prof A's school. Met the Culberts there, and I was soon [mounted?] up on the back of school-bench between Margaret and [Aunt?] from which my prominent elevation I had an excellent view of the ceremony. The little queen, a very pretty and graceful girl, apparently about thirteen years of age, conducted herself admirably. After the [illegible?], a May pole [wreath?] with flowers was brought forward to the centre of the room, the queen descended from her throle and stood beside

it while the other children, all dressed in white and covered with flowers, danced around her. This was followed by a cotillion in which the queen took part, then waltzing - it was a pretty sight to see the little things whirling round so gracefully and in perfect order. As I looked admiringly on I could imagine nothing prettier. After dancing about an hour the children with the queen at their head walked through the room in a procession and up stairs to supper. During their absence the guests amused themselves with walking round and dancing. Bye and bye the children returned and such as were so disposed took their places up stairs. I accompanied the Culberts and others to see what was to be had. Natty and I returned about ten much fatigued but much pleased with what we had seen and enjoyed. Thursday. Excessively warm - began to think of summer clothing Sarah Gonsalves? called in the morning to bid us farewell The family intend taking their departure for Hamiltons? this afternoon. She staid about an hour. To-day we are involved in all the inconveniences and [mischances?] of house-cleaning, a state of affairs for which I always entertained a great horror, and accordingly kept out of the way of dirty carpets, piles of furniture and pails of water as much as possible, and wondering to myself how Mrs ?? Charlotte]] and Mr Murrow could scrub and work so hard on such a warm day. I took my sewing and esconced myself in the rocking-chair in the back parlor for the greater part of the time Kept the "Wide Wide World" near by and took a peep at its contents once in a while. Father called on Mrs Hobrook? who is very low of heart, [illegible?] Mother called in the afternoon

Friday, May 7th.. Clear and sultry. Sarah Wilde spent the greater part of the afternoon here, and her incessant chattering afforded Carrie and I considerable amusement. As Carrie says, we love to hear her talk just to see what a goose she will make of herself. But [Sarah] has some good qualities notwithstanding; she is good-hearted, generous and affectionate, yet a child she will always be, for what is necessary to make a [lady, scratched out] woman or a lady she has no idea. Her life is all outside; of the inward she has but a dim perception looking merely at externals her childish fancy is gratified or displeased accordingly, and her smiles and tears follow each other in as quick succession as those of any baby five or six years old. She has just beauty enough to make her vain, and by hearing the conversation of other young ladies she has gathered some notions of the beaux and getting married, on which engrossing topics she discourses with the most innocent, and original fluency. To the no small edification of her amazed and diverted hearers. But in fact in this wordly wise age, when a maiden of ten knows more than the grandmother did at twenty it is refreshing to meeting occaisionally with such an artless specimen of young ladyhood and were not her simplicity so apt to degenerate into nonsense, she would really be an interesting girl.

[written sideways along margin] Attending prayer meeting with Father of the Wilde's in the evening

Saturday.. Weather the same. Busy as usual in sewing and domestic duties. Preparations for Harriet's approaching marriage fills up our time pretty well and till then we shall have little or no leisure. I am afraid that I steal a few moments too many for my books and [fear?] but when they are in [night?] it seems almost impossible to resist the temptation. However as soon as I have disposed of what books I have just now in hand, I shall try to deny myself those dear privileges for a few weeks, [reocessing?] only the pleasure of writing my nightly record which must be attended to at all events. It must sometimes be brief but a line is better than nothing at all, and perhaps it will be better for me not to fill up so many pages with my poor scribblings.

Mary Willet made a long call on Carrie in the afternoon. Mr Murphy took tea with us.

Sunday. Pleasant. Attended our church all day and S. [singing] School in the afternoon. Father's preached text in the morning was "Choose ye, this day, whom ye will serve." and in the afternoon "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" I was much interested in them both.

Spent the evening at home in reading. Harriet read aloud To Mr Murphy and Caroline. Harriet was not well enough to-day to go out. Old Dr Beecher preached at Central Hall to-night but a shower coming up about the time to go prevented any attendance, Natty weak.

[written sideways along gutter edge] Mrs. Holbrook died this morning at four o'clock, falling peacefully asleep in the arms of the Saviour in whom she trusted

Monday May 10th.. Very pleasant and warm. Called at the milliner's thrice in the course of the morning, In the afternoon my new hat was sent home. It is a gossamer straw, lined and trimmed with white, and pleases me much, as is generally the case with anything new and tasteful. Called on Mary Reeve also took a short walk walk with ^her Returned, read an hour, took an early tea, and at six started for the ferry, crossed over and found Natty waiting for me on the other side. Walked to the Tabernacle, which we reached at seven, Half-an hour later seats were difficult to be obtained; and the meeting commenced. Natty and I sat in the first seat of the gallery, facing the platform.

It was the Twenty-Fourth Anniversary of the American Leaman's Friends Society. The speeches were very fine the singing also was excellent. The meeting closed about half-past-ten. I was much fatigued and felt as though I could hardly reach home, but at twelve cozily nestled in bed and clasped in Carrie's arms all sense of weariness was ^soon lost in refreshing slumber.

[written sideways near gutter] E. Daniels? spent the evening at our house.

Tuesday.. Warm and pleasant. Mother and I attended the Anti-Slavery Anniversary at the Broadway Tabernacle in the afternoon It was very interesting, and I enjoyed it highly. Speeches were delivered by the Hon. E.D. Cenbre? Mr Pray? and a blind mulatto man, and Henry Ward Beecher. They were all different both in style and substances and I could