Travel Diaries and Journals

Sunday Jan 18th Snowed hard all day. Sarah and I felt disappointed very much as we of course were unable to keep either of our engagements. The day passed pleasantly at home, however, mostly in reading. Mr Murphy came over in the afternoon, and added much to the cheerful enjoyment of the evening. We sang and talked till near tea _ then retired. Monday. Bright. Fine sleighing. Sarah, Carrie and I practised vocal music. G. Hudson spent the afternoon very pleasantly with us. On account of the cold we all spent the evening at home. Tuesday. "The coldest day we have had for thirteen years", said the papers. It is the coldest day, that I can recollect. Sarah spent the day with her relatives in New York, [?]. She thinks of returning home to-morrow. _ I made a light silk apron. _ Sarah came back about dusk. About seven A?] Daniel & George Hudson called and accompanied [with?] us to the Culbert's. It was a freezing walk, but pleasant company, and the delightful evening we spent on arriving there, made ample amends. Annie took a great fancy to Sarah, and E.D. was [quite?] attentive to the same lady. Besides Elizabeth, [Marjorie?] and Annie, were their three brother Alexander, [Nat?] and Isaiah, who with ourselves and Dr and Mrs [Ach?] comprised the company. Mr Murphy and Nat were [ex?] but the difficulty in crossing the ferries prevented them

[written vertically in left margin, the following:] We came home about twelve. The river frozen so completely to-day that many walked from [?] to New York on the ice and back. Many of the ferry boats ever obliged to stop running. Mary R. spent most of the P.M. with me.

being true to himself -- his better nature. This he constantly betrays, and this contrarity puzzles me, I cannot understand it. Why should any one wish to [offens?] worse than he is! Not that I know of anything really bad in George. He has a careless, easy, but spirited manner; such as we might suppose any one would acquire in a place like California -- is very polite, especially to ladies but to his tongue he gives the fullest license. He evidently likes to create a sensation, to be the laugh, the wonder and the talk; and he gains his object but somewhat at the expense of his reputation. It is most laughable to sit and listen to some of his preposterous stories, which he is safe in telling because he knows that nobody will believe them, at the same time they are told in [such, scratched out] an off-hand, witty way that [illegible] then from being merily absurd, and the interest is so well kept up that we do not tire of them

We were speaking of charity this afternoon, when he remarked that feeling he had so many faults of his own he always threw the look of charity over those of others in hopes they would do the same by him. I thought it a very good idea.

In the evening cousin Hugh called for Carrie, and Sarah and I went with Nat to Lyceum. George H & Alexander Culbert gave us seats with them and their ladies (sisters of course) It made it very pleasant for us all to sit together, we also returned together and all stopped in at our house for about half an hour.

[written sideways along gutter edge] [illegible?] never went to this city this evening with his cousin Mr. Ferandoin? and as a [illegible?[ consequences poor Joseph had to attend the lectures alone. He tried to make ammends for if by walking with me. He came in with the rest but remained some time after they left. He says that Sam was nearly frozen to death while riding last week and suffered much while reviving. He was saved by his uncle who was with him. As for himself he was wholly unconcious of his danger. [Trie?] it was discovered by his friends

Monday Pleasant but windy. Sewed in the morning - went out shopping with Kate in the afternoon and called on Ellen Dickinson Mary Reeve made a long, pleasant call. Ed Daniel spent the evening here. We girls spent some time in singing before we retired. Tuesday July 20th. Warm and pleasant. Bells were tolled and cannons fired at sunrise and sunset. About two o'clock Kate, myself and the boys went to New York to witness the funeral honors of Henry Clay. Met [Natty?] on the other side of Rockship? ferry and he escorted us safely through the crowded streets to the Bowery where he had engaged seats for us in the second story windows of the store of Smith and Conant. To Mr Smith we were introduced at the door - he politely led the way up stairs, seated us and helped us to some iced water which, after our hasty walk in the hot sun, we found very refreshing. In about fifteen minutes the procession commenced passing and did not conclude till six o'clock. Though it was a magnificent sight I soon became very much fatigued and only remained till the conclusion on Kate's account, who never having seen anything of the kind before was anxious to see it all. On leaving Natty urged us to go to Broadway and refresh ourselves with some ice-cream. I was very unwilling but as Kate and Nat were so desirous to go I consented but we had no ice-cream however. Broadway was a perfect jam and getting through the crowd as quickly as possible we hastened home. I was very much fatigued, even more so than Kate who says she can stand a great deal more than I can [if?] she is [a southerner?].

all the young companions they could get to come. So now our part is to get teachers for this new supply of pupils. Joseph Wilde, when walking home with me in the morning, voluntarily offered his services, as a teacher, should he be needed.

I hope he will, and may his efforts be blessed to his own soul as well as to his scholars. Mary and I are very anxious that he should come out more decidedly on the Lord's side, yet as it is we have good reason to think that he is not far from the Kingdom of God.

His morality is of the highest stamp; he is very regular in his attendance on religious worship, and confesses that he feels deeply interested in the subject.

In the evening Harriet and Mr Murphy, Natty and I attended Mr Beecher's church.

Monday.. Quite warm. Spent most of the day in trimming a hat. Harriet received a note from Cousin Thomas stating that illness had prevented his visiting us, and that it was necessary for him now to go directly to Baltimore. We shall not therefore see him before he leaves. Margaret Culbert called. -- Joseph and Mary called in the evening and persuaded Natty and I to join them in a moonlight ramble. It was a lovely evening and we enjoyed the walk highly. Nat and Mary tripped gayly on before while Joseph and I more sedately followed them chatting pleasantly the while. Joseph would be very good company