Mary Emma Jocelyn diary, 1851-1852.

Harriet spent the day in New York where she met Starr and Annie who accompanied her on an all important shopping excursion and she returned laden with some very pretty articles for her trousseau. She has a great deal of taste in the selection of her things. We have all of us been so long accustomed to depend upon her judgement in matters of taste that I do not know what we shall ever do without her. We must soon go to work to exercise and cultivate our own -- certainly it is high time! Sunday..June 6th.. Very pleasant buy windy. Attended our church all day and evening and [Linda?] Father preached each time. His text in the morning was from John 3rd - 17th verr P.M. Gal 4..6. Communion in the afternoon.

Monthly Concert in the evening. Dear Father! how he labors to do good! O that my life might be like his -- but our holy, earnest effort for the cause of God and truth

==Monday.." Warm and pleasant. Harriet's dressmaker came to day as she will all the week and therefore we shall all expect a busy week. H, C, and I sewed quite steadily with her all day. A violent thunder storm in the afternoon In the evening commenced writing to Ellen S---

Tuesday. Unpleasant. Sewed all day and wrote in the evening.

[illegible?] [Mary] . was in high spirits. an occurence not unusual by this day. She staid late near dark and left promising to return in the evening. At tea time [Phineas Hudson] called with [Henry's] compliments and regretted that he would be unable from the effects of a severe cold to call this evening as he intended. [Joseph] and [Mary] spent the evening very pleasantly with [Hatty] and I. About six o'clock P. Me. [Heather] returned from [New York] with a message from [Cearrie] to [Harriet] saying that she had taken a violent cold and was confined to her bed and wished [Harriet] to come over to [Brooklyn] immediately Accordingly [He.] went directly over Friday.. Pleasant.. [Cornelius] was better. Mother spent the day in his room. I staid down stairs alone and felt quite lonesome. [Hannah Hudson] came to see me in the afternoon. [Henry] also called and before he left [Kate] came in. They brought the intelligence that they were soon to leave us as [Mr Hudson] has purchased a farm near [Huntingdon] some forty miles eastward and intendssoon to remove his family tither. They have been very dear friends of ours for the last five years and we shall miss them very much. [Mr ?rocdes] from [Holland], a highly educated and very pleasant gentleman took tea with us. [Hatty] spent the night in Brooklyn. Father brought word that [Carrin??] was better. [??] and [K. Hudson] called again in the evening to inquire after her health

Saturday April 3rd Pleasant but windy. Harriet Thompson called early in the afternoon. The remainder I spent with Cornelius. Poor little fellow & [and] the constraint of the sick room is becoming very tiresome to him but he is very patient. Father took tea in Brooklyn at cousin Rufus'. Carrie was very glad to see him [Dr?] is better, but is confined to his bed. Father reached home about half past ten. [Dr?] brought with him some very interesting letters from our relatives in [Dr?] ^ [insert] [Dr?] where a powerful revival is now in progress. Our cousins Arthur Graves Martha and Edwin Wood are hopefully converted. I read the letters aloud to Father before retiring. Sunday[Dr?] Pleasant. Attended our church all day[Dr?] Also S. [Sunday] School and Communion in the aftenoon. It was a pleasant day to me, yet sometimes I was very sad I read over those letters we received last evening and they affected me much. My heart indeed rejoiced when Henry H. [Hudson] joined us in celebrating the Lord's supper. He walked home with me in the afternoon and called for me to attend Monthly Concert at our church in the evening. He was very happy the struggle is over; he has conquered or rather Christ has conquered in him over the dark temptation that has beset him for weeks past. Doubtless ill health and bodily weakness have had much to do with it yet thanks be to him who giveth us this victory over the diseases of both body and soul. how weak my faith has been. Oh doubting heart! remember this [Dr?]. Henry came in after evening services and [Dr?] some [Dr?]. We talked soberly but pleasantly.

Monday. Cloudy. [Cornelius] was able to come down stairs today but is [white?] obliged to keep very quiet. [Mary Reese] called in the afternoon and after spending an hour or so at our house we together called on the [Hardon's?]. [Kate] was absent but we saw [Mrs Hudson] and [George] and made a very pleasant call. It commenced [hailing?] before we left. [George] and [Mary] accompanied me home came in and staid awhile and then left together Both were in high spirits and seemed to enjoy each others society. [Henry Henderson] spent the evening with me Of course it passed very pleasantly nothwithstanding for some time it will be the last. He leaves to-morrow on a visit to [illegible] [Island] and does not expect to return till after the family have left [Williamsburgh] So I shall not see him any more at present on which account I feel quite sorry ------ no, not exactly sorry either I shall miss him as a friend and if he misses me at all I hope it will be in the same way. He bade me "Good Bye" about eleven o'clock. I then retired. 8 am Tuesday. Raining. [illegible] announced himself is making paper flowers which he makes surprisingly well, and were very much admired by us all. [illegible] most of the day.

Wednesday April 7th Pleasant. Called on Mary Reeve in the afternoon. Returned with a bundle of magazines, containing, I suppose, some of what is called "the light literature of the day." I am not fond of such works generally but there are moods in which every one finds a well-told story acceptable and as Mary thought these were uncommonly good specimens in that line I concluded that I would at least take them home and give them the benefit of an examination however superficial. Ellen Dickinson called, also Mr [Mister] Shroeder to see Father. Mother dropped the large lamp this evening on the parlor floor, of course breaking the shade and chimney into an infinite number of pieces and almost ruining the carpet. Mother felt a little annoyed but Father changed the current of her reflections by suggesting the more serious consequences which would have followed had the lamp been filled with camphene instead of oil and so grateful were we that such was the case that our vexation was soon forgotten.

Thursday. Quite damp and in the afternoon it rained considerably. Harriet came over in the morning for the purpose of [Dr?] the wedding to-night. Mr. [Dr?] called very early to request Father to perform part of the ceremony. P.M. After an early tea we all dressed