Travel Diaries and Journals

Monday.. Snowed all day. Helen Stearns called in the morning I was quite ill and lay down most of the afternoon. Nathaniel met George Hudson in the course of the day. who informed him that Henry was quite sick, and unable to leave the house. It is feared that he will have the [Chagres?] fever which he might have taken while crossing the [Isthmus?]. How unfortunate if it should so happen. A sad welcome indeed to one returning, bouyant with hope, after nearly three years absence, to his beloved home.

==Tuesday..]] The ground was covered with snow, and the sleigh bells jingled merrily by all day.. The sun shone warmly and brightly on the snow-clad earth. It was a lovely sight. I did not go out all day. We heard from the Hudson's that Henry was still worse. Mr Murphy spent the evening

Wednesday.. Cloudy. Morning in sewing with Nattie. Early in the afternoon Mother called on the Hudson family and found them nearly all sick. Poor Henry is confined to his bed in a raging fever. The Doctor says that "the old southern rascal has go hold of him". He feels the cold very much and says he could never live here again in this cold climate. He sent us word that if he was well he would come to see us but as he could not we must come and see him. - Went out of an errand and called on Mary Reeve. In the evening received a letter from [joseph? Gonsolves?] saying that [she?] would be happy to visit me but could not come this week. If she comes at all she

Thursday, December 25th / Christmas day.. Arose early to search fo a ring which I had lost the night before. I was [not?] successful and began to feel concerned about it as I had a particular reason for wishing to keep it. Mother said that Santa Claus had been sent after it; probably to give it to somebody who deserved it better. Carrie and Nathaniel attended the Catholic church in the morning. I did not feel well and lay down. [Starr?] and Annie called and Father returned before dinner. - Waking from a short slumber I spied my ring on the carpet just where it seemed impossible not to have seen it before. After dinner - a Christmas dinner by the way - Carrie curled my hair all over my head in a way that was pronounced very pretty and though at first I did not like it much myself it was universally declared that henceforth I should wear it in no other fashion than that. Universal opinion prevailed and I submitted. Mr Murphy presented Harriet with a very pretty [pin?]. Carrie and I made a long and pleasant [call?] on the Hudson's. Henry is still worse and has been delirious most of the day. George has watched with him [thru?] nights and they are all constantly busy in attending him. Just as we were leaving Henry sent us [an?] invitation to come up and see him. We hesitated and the [score?] of propriety but finally thinking that circumstance

[text continued on left margin:] justified the step we went up to his room. I followed Carrie to his bedside. She stooped and kissed him and I did the same and [then?] half drew back in surprise to see there not the very youthful young gentleman we had parted with three years ago but this full grown man whiskers and all. He has improved very much in appearance and his expression is at once very good and very pleasing. He grasped my hand warmly and returned my kiss with much fervor saying cheerfully How [?] [to?] Emma said he was glad to see me looking so well and made a few other remarks - then his mind appeared to wander and we left him. George accompanied us home. He told us that before the family he tried to put the best face on the matter but that in California he had seen so much of this dreadful fever he feared much its effects on Henry. He remarked however that Henry was [prepared?] to die and that he [supposed?] he was himself [not?] that there was no [?] [in?] wishing

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