Travel Diaries and Journals

Tuesday. Pleasant. Annie passed the day with us. She was evidently depressed though she tried at times to put on an appearance of cheerfulness, -- and indeed she has cause for sadness. To think of her sweet litter sister sacrifieced to such a villian as Mr Branch is enough to sadden any one.

Maggie has left him, and is concealed from him by her friends. He begged to see her but she has refused, and [told?] him in a note that she would not be his wife another hour. He seemed to be very much attached to her and intended to take her to Europe in two weeks; probably that for fear that any reports of his former life might reach her. A fortnight more and it would have been all too late, and she completely in his power, but she was saved in time. At the dinner table Annie told us how she felt when her brother came to her with an account of his true character, and of her immediate flight. It was quite affecting, and we all shed tears. Maggie always appeared to us very much like a child, and her decision and [energy?] which she now displays seems quite surprising. She has born his disappointment well thus far but is now quite ill.

Hannah W-- called in the afternoon. Mary Willet? took with us and spent the evening. Starr also joined us at [tea?] -time. Elisabeth Maggie? & Annie Coulbert? with Alexander Mr Hutchings and George Hudson and Kate? spent the eve with us very pleasantly. They left about twelve, o'clock.

not decide which I thought best. The colored man of course was not so well educated as the other two, but his remarks were witty, touching and original and his misfortune increased the interest he excited. The place was crowded at least half- an-hour before the meeting commenced. It continued about three hours. On leaving we met a number of friends Starr and Annie and all the Scheuet? family were present Even Maggie was there two. She was rather pale but was as pretty and smiling as ever. Mr Branch dares not disturb her and we hope ere long she will be entirely free from him. Mr Marshall accompanied Mary Jane.

Mr Joseph and Samuel Wilde were on the boat in which we returned. Joseph walked up with Natty and I while Mr J -- walked directly in a line with us on the other side of the way, as regardless of appearances and of other folks' opinion as you please.

Reached home much fatigued. Spent the evening in reading, and finished "The Wide, Wide World".

It is a beautiful story, but I need not stop to commened it, its praises being duly sung by the papers all over the land. It did me good -- I closed it with a humbling sense of my own short-comings in the way of duty, and a heart-felt prayer that the impression might be abiding. Harriet attended Mrs Holbrook's funeral. The brides of [courn?] were present, dressed in deep mourning. Poor girls! But a few weeks ago when a large company were there assembled on a far different

[Sideways along gutter edge] occasion, in their hour of happiness, how little did they dream that in that hour would so soon take place the funeral [solemnities?] of her whose guidance and affectionate sympathy they now so greatly need!