Travel Diaries and Journals

He is considerably browner than he was when I last saw him. and looks much healthier; he is now quite well and strong. and finds that the life of a farmer suits him at last as far as health is concerned. He staid some time and after he left I called on Mary Reeve and she accompanied me to Mr Reginol's flower garden whither I went to see about some orange blossoms that Harriet wished to purchase ^ on wednesday Leaving there we passed through Fourth st and called at Kate Skinner's on another errand. We were therefore obliged to pass Mr Coffin's drug store and at the time in the doorway happened to be standing Mr [Dr?]. Coffin & Mr H. Hudson. We passed of course with a bow. Mary accompanied us home. Tuesday.. pleasant. Early in the morning Mrs [Dr?], a colored woman from N. [New] Haven and an old friend of the family, arrived to assist at the wedding bringing with her the wedding cake which was all made in N. [New] H. [Haven] by our old cook Ellen Thompson. Hannah Hudson called in the afternoon. I went out of an errand and Henry called very soon after my return. I felt badly when he informed me that he does not now enjoy religion. He says he has given it up entirely but I will still pray that the Lord will lead him back in the right way. _ Mr Murphy took tea and spent the evening here. What a glorious moonlight evening it was __ one could do nothing but enjoy it. Harriet employed most of the P.M. in packing her trunk Harriet answered Kate's letter in the evening. Mr & Mrs Hudson called.

June 30th. Sweetly dawned Harriet's wedding day and save that it was rather warm a more pleasant one could hardly have been desired. We were all up and [Dr?] at an early hour. I wswept the halls before breakfast and Harriet busied herself in making boquets [bouquets] for the parlors and dressing room. At the table she chatted away as usual perhaps a little faster than common and neve seemed in beter spirits. Mr Murphy came over with his trunk in the course of the morning and brought for Hattie a beautiful large pincushion from Matilda Corning and a sweet hood from Sarah Brinckerhoff. Douglas was in good spirits and looked uncommonly well. Starr and Annie arrived before dinner. Starr brought with him a basket of rare and beautiful flowers, and Annie a beautiful bag, and the wedding nightcap [O-oh!] all wrought by her own skilful fingers. It was a pleasant little party that sat down to the dinner table, though it was not at all surprising that neither Hattie nor Douglas seemed to have a very good appetite. The rest of us, however, did ample justice to the good cheer set before us. Immediately after dinner we all scattered to our several rooms to dress as there was

no time to lose. Annie dressed the bride and while we were all hurrying as fast as possible Cousin [Dr?] arrived from New Haven. There was a hasty though affectionate greeting. a wondering why she did not come before then she too hastened to make what needed alterations there were in her toilet. Carrie and I were soon ready and went down to meet the company who had already begun to arrive. Aunt Graves presented the bride with a silver fruit knife, and Mary Emma gave her a handsome bag with some verses of her own composition written for the occasion. It was almost tthree o'clock the hour appointed for the ceremony when suddenly in almost as little time as it takes to write it the hitherto bright sky was darkened and a violent thunder-storm swept over passing almost as quickly as it came. Every thing seemed so bright and clear, no one entertained the remotest idea of rain, but in five minutes it was pouring down as if preparatory to a second flood and in ten more was gone. The suddenness and the rapidity with which it came and went were remarkable, just at the hour too -- leaving us in doubt whether to consider it as a good or a bad omen but not being at all superstitious we did not take this into very serious consideration. I t had the good affect however of settling the dust, and slightly cooled the atmosphere, but several who were on their way hither

were caught in the shower and as many more were prevented from coming at all supposing that they would be too late, butHarriet unwilling to disappoint any one deferred the ceremony till half an hour later. Many came after the storm, our little parlors were ^ soon filled mostly with our relatives, and Harriet's and Mr Murphy's most intimate friends. About a dozenof Mr Murphy's classmates from the Seminary were here also. At exactly half past three the two came down stairs and entered the front parlor alone and took their places. How lovely they looked! always fine looking I never saw either of them look so handsome before Harriet was pale but calm, Annie said that Mr Murphy looked saucy, but I could detect no other expression on his fine [Dr?] [Dr?] that of exulting but thankful happiness. The bride was dressed in a plain, drab colored travelling ^ dress fitting closely, and setting off finely her beautiful figure, with white undersleeves, white kid gloves, and orange blossoms in her hair. Neither of them seemed in the least embarrassed, probally all other thought were forgotten in the solemnity of the occasion. Father performed the ceremony. I had hard work to preserve my composure for the tears would start to my eyes in spite of all my efforts as I kept my earnest gaze fixed upon them, and during the prayer I covered my face in my handkercheif [handkerchief]and wept.

I fear but natural ones. Dear Hattie, her mission to us is ended and nobly has she performed her part, now she goes to gladden the heart and home of another. There she cannot fail to be a blessing and indeed that she will be wherever she goes and hand in hand with a husband whose whole heart is bent on doing good, may they have many years to carry on their blessed labors God bless you, dearest brother and sister ___ my heart is full, I can say no more but once again -- God bless you!

After the ceremony Alexander Culbert led [Dr?] forward to salute the bride -- many were pressing toward them with affectionate kisses and congratulations, and amid the general gaiety I soon recovered my serenity and enjoyed the afternoon extremely. The bride and groom took their departure at half-pass four in order to reach the Albany boat by six o'clock the hour for leaving. Elisabeth left with them as she returned to New Haven to-night much against our wishes. After they had gone the company gradually dispersed, Starr and Annie alone remaining to tea but returned to N. Y. [New York] in the course of the evening. A more lovely evening could not have been desired for a bridal journey; the moon never seemed to have shone more brightly or more sweetly and [Dr?] perhaps thought two sailing up the majestic Hudson, and by the aid of Luna's kind beams enjoying to the full the rich beauty and granduer of the surrounding scenery

Thursday July 1st July weather in eanest. Was not very well from the effects of eating but a very small piece of wedding cake. It was too rich for me. Lay down nearly all the morning. Harriet's Sabbath School class spent most of the afternoon with me as H. [Harriet] had requested them last Sunday to do so, She wishes me to take her place to them now that she has gone and I shall endeavor to do so. I treated the children to as much lemonade and wedding-cake as they wanted, talked with them and let them play in the yard where they enjoyed some fine runs. They seemed much pleased with their new teacher and I was pleased with them but little Alice Wilde is my favorite. She is a sweet child, and a perfect little lady, and considering some peculiar disadvantages she has had to contend with her sweetness of disposition and manner seems indeed remarkable. Among the wildest rocks the sweetest flowers may grow, thought I as sitting in the back piazza I watch her gracefully sporting with the other children in the yard below with an air of [Dr?] superiority in every movement; yet I looked upon them all with an eye of affection, and an earnest prayer rose from my heart that to them I might come as a blessing. The children left just before tea.

Friday July 2nd Very pleasant [Dr?] Fathe accompanied me to the ferry about ten o'clock. I crossed at Division avenue ferry, made a long call on Mrs Kent in Christic st and spent the day with Mary Emma who is now boarding in Houston st near Broadway. Left before six, reached home in time for tea, and attended prayer meeting with Father in the evening [Dr?] [Dr?]. W. walked home by my side notwithstanding I had Father's arm and was perfectly silent. Father invited in, he hesitated, ascended the steps but as I did not second the invitation he did not come in. Saturday. Warm. Wrote to Sarah Gonsalves in the morning and evening. Called on Mary Reeve in the afternoon. Mary Willet called. --- Called on Mrs Sylvester in South 6th street with a message from father. Was very much pleased with her indeed Sunday July 4th A lovely day --- the heat of the preceding week cooled down by the gentlest breeze to the exact point of comfort. Attended our church all day and in the afternoonwas duly installed in my new post as teacher to Harriet's former class. Joseph W. walked home with me in the morning. In the evening attended monthly concert. Sarah and Hannah Wilde sat- with me and accompanied me home.

Monday July 5th 1852. The glorious Fourth happening on sabbath, this day was celebrated instead. At midnight commenced the firing of crackers, pistols and torpedos, of which the latter article seemed to take a great fancy to our chamber windows, and kept poor Carrie awake half of the night, but I having attended church three times the day before and s. [sunday] school besides, retired so much fatiqued that I slept soundly in spite of the racket. It had rained a little just before morning, settled the dust and cooled the atmosphere so as far as the weather was concerned the day fully equalled the hopes of all the good people who delight to show their patriotic zeal by making the most of this great national holiday. But as for me, though it was from no want of patriotism, I spent the day quietly at home, adding four more pages to the already closely filled ^ sheet of saturday to Sarah, spent an hour or two in selecting pieces for a scrap book, and read considerably in the afternoon. Carrie spent it mostly in the same way. Natty went on an excursion to Staten Island and was absent till tea-time Father spent the day in going about his Master's work .--- was with no to dinner.___ a great thing to us as it very seldom occurs except on sunday. Joseph and Mary called in the evening and accompanied us to see the fire works in [Dr?] [Dr?].___ they proved nothing very extraordinary

"What is a gift but a symbol, giving subtance to praise and esteem?" "His claim be strongest to thy help who is thrown most helplessly upon thee: Reason shall dig deepest in the night, and fancy fly most free.

"No soul had he for Nature --- no genial sympathies; No books he loved __ a vancant [vacant] mind that looked through filmy eyes. Wisdom and beauty and high worth to him were shadows vain, And shimmered but in spectral dreams about his cobwebbed x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x brain. A shadow falls upon your halls - a ghost shall haunt your rooms, Where solitude and emptiness pile up their dreary glooms. I see you crouching o'er your hearth -- a prey to nameless fears, And withering like a leafless tree, while fall your freezing years; The past shall [Dr?] no comfort, the future breathe no hope-- And in the heaven that thickens o'er your heart, no door shall ope." C.P. Crunch. " In vain, in vain! The lyrw is mute, Its chords are snapt in twain; You cannot string that silent lute, Nor clasp those chords again. "

how near was the final event. Starr said nothing to us of his fears, but went immediately to New York for Albert. After Mr Murphy had left the sick-room he said to Father, "you are going to lose him". "No! No! you must'nt say so." Father replied the Doctors give us every encouragement; he will be better soon" still he left us with sad forebodings. Harriet had heard during the morning that Natty was worse, and too ill to come to him herself she spent the day in earnest prayer for him she says she never prayed so for herself that she felt impelled to do so, she hardly knew why, for she also heard that we did not apprehend any serious result -- and that at times when she would stop overcome with the thought that perhaps her prayers would not be heard, she would think of Father and feel comforted with the reflection that God would hear his prayers if He would hear none other. So with me all the morning whatever I was doing, a prayer was ever in my heart and on my lips for him. Shall we not trust that He who at that solemn time gave us the spirit of prayer also lent a gracious ear to our supplications? -- About two o'clock P.M. I fed him for the last time with some broth. Is'nt it good I asked? "I can't taste it" he replied -- When he had finished I kissed his forehead and said, Dear Natty. He started and gazed earnestly and penetratingly into my face as if my words had been but an echo of his fears, but seeing nothing in my countenance but a look of quiet surprise he said nothing and I left him little dreaming that we had talked together for the last time. He seemed quite comfortable for an hour after that. I was busy down stairs when Carrie came and told me that Natty was worse. I hastened to him - he seemed to be in much distress and cried. "Oh I can't live so!- I can't live so!- can't you