00_1852-07-22 Diary of Martha Call 2021.061.001

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There are thousands of beautiful monuments, among others, three erected in memory of firemen, who died in the discharge of their duty. One of them lost his life in trying to save a little child, and he is represented on the top of the monument, with the child in his arms. The most costly monument is one to Miss Canda a beautiful young lady who was killed by a fall from her carriage on the evening of her seventeenth birth-day. It is very large and elaborately carved from white marble, and in a niche of the main part is a statue of Miss Canda herself, while at a little distance from it on each side are angels, one weeping, the other rejoicing. It is said that she being an only child, and her father very wealthy, he has expended what would have been her fortune on her grave. There are also many splendid tombs, but to me, it always seems as if it must be far less painful to lay a friend in the earth than in a tomb. It was about noon when we reached the house, and at three oclock the children began to return from school. The children are eleven in number, all but one of them being at home. The oldest, Lizzie, is a very intelligent looking girl of seventeen years, the youngest, Maggie, is a very pretty baby of four weeks, while between them come Mary and Walter, Nattie, John, Cara, Phoebe, Willie, Mason and Emmie. A prettier family in every respect it would be impossible to find, and Cara presides over the whole

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with the greatest east imaginable. After dinner we walked over the grounds, and saw all the wonders, in the form of tete-a-tete apple-trees &c, ascended to the [supula?] to see the prospect, and at half-past-five the carriage was at the door to convey us to the boat again. We reached home by seven oclock, and in season to give Cara, who had been having quite a busy day, some assistance, about getting ready for Edward's company, which speedily assembled. I did not enter the room until several had arrived, and when I felt and I fear acted rather [awarkly?]. - It is'nt pleasant to have to come into a room, and be introduced to a number of strangers. However, the evening passed off very well indeed, and I guess they all enjoyed it. There were here, two Miss Harveys, Miss Wise, Mr. Harvey, George Thorpe and George something else, a Mr Lincoln, with a great amout of whisker and mustache, who is a professor of music and did great execution on the piano, and several others, to say nothing of a young man, with a feeble little mustache whose name I dont recollect, but who hopes to be advised of it when I make my next visit to the city. Saturday morning Uncle took the two aunts and I out riding again, and after our return I wrote a long letter to the people at home, and a short one to uncle Handlock, selling them that we shall return to Boston on Thursday of next week, as aunt thinks that she cannot possibly stay longer. Soon after dinner Cara and I arranged

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ourselves and set off for down-town in a Broadway omnibus, and as we had some shopping to do called at some of the most splendid stores that I ever saw, one in particular, is a whole block in one store, and elegant beyond description. I purchased muslin and edging for a pair of sleeves, some light kid gloves and a lace collar for mother. Then we went to the celebrated Barnum's Museum where Cara felt a desire to take me. The play acted was Mary Lockwood, or Wealth and its Consequences. I never saw anything of the kind before, and did not fancy it much, but with the curiosities I was very much pleased. There is everything there, from a stuffed elephant to a stuffed humming-bird. After leaving the Museum, we went down Barclay Street to call on Harrison Liscomb, where I at first made quite a blunder by speaking to another gentleman for him. Harrison seemed quite pleased to see me, and wants me to go to his house. There I found Mrs Mellen's adress, which is Carmine, instead of Broome Street. After leaving there, and waiting on Broadway some little while for a coach, we found one and came directly home, and then I thought I must certainly stay at home and fix my bonnet to wear today, but Edward insisted upon it that I must go with them to choir meeting at the church, and the consequence was that it was past twelve before I got my bonnet fixed, and myself in bed. However, I

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was glad I went for the music was very fine, and both Mary and Mr Root were quite pleased to see me. One the way home we stopped and had an ice-cream, and I was introduced to Sarah Root. Darkness has overtaken me, so I must defer writing about today until tomorrow.

Monday, June 14. I forgot to, just down speaking of our call on Harrison Liscomb, that he weighed me, and found me to weigh only eighty-four pounds. Yesterday morning I was exceedingly tired and sleepy, but notwithstanding I succeeded in getting up at seven oclock, some hours before cousin Ned. We intended to go to the Mercer Street church, and as Cara was not going, and it was necessary to go quite slow on aunt Hadlock's account, we did not wait for the two Edwards, but set off quite early with aunt Mary for a guide. Our guide proved not to be a very good one, for she led us up several streets, which we had to go directly down again, and made the walk, which was in the first place full long enough, a great deal too long, and aunt Hadlock very tried. At last, we found the place, and were seated in the very front pew, before the services commenced. The text was Hebrews 14, 12. "And holiness without which no man can see God." and what was a little remarkable about it was that last Thursday evening, I went to a meeting with Cara, in another place, and heard another minister preach from the same

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text. A Mr Clarke came home to dinner with us, a very pretty young man, and a college student. There was more light conversation than I think just right on the Sabbath, but I carried my part in it.

Mr Clarke, I should think has quite a high opinion of himself, and Edward says, thinks himself quite a lady-killer. I dont know whether he intended to kill me or not, but he said that if I was going to spend the winter here, he should make a cousin of me, though Edward says that he would have to ask him first. Upon the whole I thought him quite agreeable. In the afternoon Cara and I went to Grace Church, which is magnificent beyond description - the music too is fine but of the sermon I had not a very high opinion - the text I have forgotten. It was quite late when we reached home, and Harrison Liscomb was here with his little daughter, also another young man - the name I have forgotten. I was too tired to go to church in the evening, so I stayed at home. In the course of the day Edward informed me that his engagement with Mary Root was altogether premature, and that no other Root has taken her place, as I had heard. He says that when he first saw me, he thought that I resembled Abbie Osgood, and determined not to like me at all, but he has altered his mind, and likes me very much.