Travel Diaries and Journals

Journal Continued

Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 27th 1851

Mild & Pleasant

We all rose early. Father, Carrie, Cornelius, Fred & I attended our church in the morning. Father preached On our return home we found that Mr Murphy, Stan and Annie, Albert and Mary Emma had already arrived we having resolved to follow the old New England fashion of collecting all the family together for a good Thanksgiving dinner. This was soon served, and we all did abundant justice to Mother's good cooking. Turkies puddings pies &c dissappearing in short order. Then we remained quite a long time at the table chatting in quite a merry humour We toasted Father as the best looking man at the table which I thought true. After dinner Annie presented Mother with a very pretty cap, and the children insisted on giving some of us a sleigh ride on the ice in the back yard. The remainder of the afternoon passed very pleasantly indeed. We had some very good singing, and Albert entertained us by speaking some of the pieces that he was accustomed to repeat on like occasions in boyhood About seven o'clock we commenced singing some of the sweet old hymns that we had been accustomed to sing from the time we could remember. How sadly yet sweetly those [plaintive?] notes recalled the past, and brought back the Thanksgiving days when Grandmother and [Uncle's?] family united with ours in celebrating it.

[text written on left margin] Father read the [ninetieth?] Psalm in a very solemn and impressive manner and after making some very appropriate remarks was followed by Mr Murphy in prayer Supper at [eight?]. Our pleasant little family party broke up about ten; Stan and Annie Albert and Mary Emma returning to the city

Friday. Still very warm. Busy with my needle part of the though it must be confessed, not very steadily; listening to Harriet, singing with Kate and playing with Douglas who was home all day occupied considerable of the time that was left from my usual household duties. Albert and Mary Emma came over to tea. Mr Otis an intimate friend of theirs also called in the evening Albert discovered that he was acquainted with a gentleman living next door to us an excellent player on the guitar so what should he do but go in there and practice with him and in the middle of the evening came back with a polite invitation from the lady and gentleman to come in there to hear Albert and Mr Clark play. We accepted the invitation - were treated to some very fine music - and afterwards to some cake and lemonade - [wine?] was also carried around but no one took it. We returned about eleven o'clock. Albert, M.E. and Mr Otis then left and we soon dispersed to our chambers. Saturday - Was very busy all day. Harriet and Kate spend the day shopping in New York. Caroline went over to consult Dr Banning in the afternoon. Annie came in soon after dinner and spent the afternoon pleasantly with Mother and I. Carrie returned about six o'clock and with Annie we went into [Grand st?] to purchase dresses for ourselves but finding nothing to suit us we returned without them. illegible? was with us to tea - we all spent the evening very pleasantly together We were treated to some excellent ice-cream which Tillie? made today with a little assistance from Mother.

Monday May 3rd Bright and warm. Mr Murphy had remained all night and after breakfast before the gentlemen left for the city we spent a very pleasant hour in the parlor. Albert and Mary Emma bade us good bye and left for their new boarding place in Houston st. N.Y. Mr. E left this "Wide Wide World" for our benefit and accordingly evening found me entranced in the first volume. Went round with my tracts in the afternoon Was well received except by our Catholic family who refused any tracts, but of smiles and encouraging words there was no lack. Most are glad to see, and glad to receive what I have to give, and [illegible?] I feel very happy in the performance of this duty and pray that thus I may accomplish much good. Carrie's right eye has troubled her considerably for the last two or three days, and to-day it was so much swollen and inflamed that Mother sent for Dr Jones who pronounced it to be erysipelas. It makes her very sleepy which she considers quite a good thing as she can do nothing else. She retired very early. Mr Murphy spent the evening here Proffesor Abadie sent us a family ticket for the May Queen Festival to be celebrated by his pupils on Wednesday evening next. Miss Julia Waterman brought it in at his request and made quite a call.

utterly unable to realize my loss. Anne and Mary Emma came with Albert about ten o'clock, and just about that time Stan reached Brooklyn whither he had gone to bear the sad news to Harriet __ We retired late __ I slept from very weariness, and as if in mockery my dreams were what they seldom are at any other time -- of gayety and mirth and I would start from my slumber horrified at the thought: __ in every one Natty appeared as he was wont to do in his days of health and gladness, with the sparkle of joy in his eyes, and the flash of wit, and the kiss of affection on his dewy lips. How dreadful it was to awake, and feel how different was the reality. With the dawn the sobs that I could not restrain awoke Carrie and Annie who slept with me and we all wept together -- it seemed more than I could bear, and restless with pain I arose and paced the room and hall long before I could think of dressing. How clearly the morning rays brought back the recollection of him -- his was the first voice I used to hear at that hour and it was was his own sweet tones that called me to greet returning day. That voice, that step, it seemed as though I could hear them still, but I knew they would come no more. When at last I dressed I went first to Mother's room, she had not yet arisen but lay with her face buried in the pillow; __ when I spok to her how mournfully patient was the sad face that was turned toward me with sorrow written in every lineament. Father was up and appeared perfectly calm He in whom he had trusted had not forsaken him in the hour of trial. __ 'Twas a stricken family that bowed together that morning at the altar of prayer and every heart was heavy and every eye was dimmed __ our grief was quiet and subdued, but deep and bitter -- it was only