Mary Emma Jocelyn diary, 1851-1852.

Tuesday.. Rainy. Occupied the morning in making [mottoes?]. Very busy also in the afternoon and evening. Mr Murphy spent the evening here - Heard that H. was better.

Wednesday.. Foggy and drizzling. Arose early and before break- fast escorted by Frederic I made my way through the mud and rain to Mrs Lee's (our washerwoman) house with a [tidy?] that I was very anxious to have her do up immediately. I had expected that Sarah would come today but as the weather was so unpleasant and as it was growing late I gave her up. She came at last however and we greeted each other as usual with a kiss and a hearty laugh. Then followed a rapid detail of what had transpired since we parted which whether merry or sad pleasant or disagreable seemed only to make each other laugh and then of course we had to wonder what made us act so foolish and to laugh at that. Finally Sarah's things were taken off and put away and we adjourned to the dining - room to see the rest of the family. The afternoon passed pleasantly and busily. In the evening Father read an impressive sermon from Dwight, made a short address, and prayed in a solemn & appropriate manner. We retired immediately afterward it was about ten o'clock

"The bells sing out the Dying Year In music full of hopeful cheer. One more is ended; let us [scan?] What this dead year has done for man, And cast the New Year's horoscope In the eternal light of Hope."

January 1st 1852.. As if in bright contrast to the gloomy close of 1851, the first day of 1852 dawned smilingly upon us. The sun so long hidden mounted rejoicingly the blue cloudless sky, and showering its warm beams on the grateful earth, soon banished the cold and damp, and presented to us one of the loveliest winter days I have ever enjoyed. We rose early, and also at an early hour dressed to recieve our friends. The calling commenced about eleven o'clock, and was kept up pretty briskly till about five P.M. then after quite a cessation, commenced again We had [???words crossed out] between fifty and sixty calls. Mr Murphy, Mr Dickinson, and [?] passed the greater part of the evening with us. Mr Murphy presented [H?] - with a pair of cuff pins, and Carrie and I each a gold pencil. Stan? and Albert called together in the afternoon. Of course the day passed delightfully; I enjoyed it fully. The young men seemed in high spirits and made themselves generally agreable, and we girls had merriment enough of our own to fill up the pauses whenever they occurred. We made some new acquaintances to-day, and also missed some old friends. The custom of making and receiving calls is not quite so fashionable as it once was, and the gents all said that the ladies complained of the small num- ber of calls. George H. called with E. Daniel & brother.

[text continues on left center margin:] George says that Henry is better. [?] [?] [this?] morning for Boston & Portland on important business.

Friday.. January 2nd Pleasant. Mr Murphy who had staid over night spent the morning with us. Miss [H?] & Mr M. Stearns Misses E & I Waterman, Mrs Cook, Miss H. Wilde & Miss Emma Horing? called also several of Harriet's Sunday School scholars. Mother called on the Hudsons and found H - much worse. - Hannah Wilde gave us an account of Mr Dias' insolent proceedings at the singing school one evening in the abscence of Mr Warner, at which I was so indignant that it was quite a while before I recovered my composure. - Sarah and I made quite a long call on Mary R. Joseph has presented his little intended with a beautiful gold watch. A New Year's present. Mr Murphy spent the evening with us.

Saturday. Cloudy. Sarah and I called at the Hudson's in the morning. George opened the door. He spoke to us cheerfully, but he was pale, and his eyes were red, as if by watching and weeping. He said that he had been up all night with Henry, who had suffered very much. Mrs Hudson took me aside into another room, and told me that they had but little hopes of his life. The thought of the dying youth affected me much, but after asking a few questions I left them quite composed I could not however restrain my feelings when I reached home though I would rather have done so. Poor Henry It seemed too bad to die under such circumstances, though I felt that he could lose nothing in dying.

[text continued in left margin:] Sent word to Father about H. as he had requested me to do in case he was worse Miss Dillingham called, also Mr ?. Corning

Sunday, January 4th It had snowed all night, and a rainy afternoon followed a damp cloudy morning. Sarah, Nathaniel and I attended Mr McLane's church in the morning. In the afternoon we went down to "our little santuary" (as [I?] - would express himself) and heard a very good sermon from Brother Douglas We all staid at home together in the evening, and passed it very pleasantly.

Monday.. Pleasant. The birthday of the city of Williamsburg. Cannons were fired, and other demonstrations of [salisful- tions?] were given by the inhabitants, who all agreed that it was high time for the over-grown village to emerge from its obscurity and take its stand among the cities of the Empire State. The number of inhabitants is at present about [30,000?]. and is rapidly increasing. It will certainly be a city worth mentioning before long. Sarah and I spent most of the evening with Mrs Stearns. Heard that H. was better and out of danger.

Tuesday.. Rained hard all day. We spent it pleasantly at home. Wrote to Dr Kent.

Wednesday.. Pleasant. George Hudson called in the afternoon. Henry is better. We attended singing school in the evening ? Warner, H. Wilde & E Horing? came home with us and stopped in. Sarah, Cornelius, and I commenced studying French with Caroline. Father returned.