00_1852-07-22 Diary of Martha Call 2021.061.001

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Thursday, June 17. Monday morning the word was that we were all to go and have our pictures taken, but just before we set off, Edward told me to wait until the next day and go with him, so aunt Hadlock, aunt Mary and uncle all had theirs, and very good ones they are too, then I sat down and wrote a letter to Henry and Emmie. In the afternoon Mary Root, Sarah Root, and aunt Catey Woodman were here to tea, and we had a very pleasant time. Tuesday morning we did not rise very early, but as soon as we conveniently could, which was about half past nine I think, Edward, Cara and I set out for down town to get our pictures taken. We went in an omnibus to Thompson's on Broadway, and after waiting a season for him to prepare his plates, we were taken, first Edward, a very good likeness indeed, but a little too straight and stately I guess that aunt Hadlock will carry it home with her, then my ladyship came on the carpet, but unfortunately the first time, the lady showed her teeth, which did'nt look well in the picture - the second time she had better success, - kept her mouth shut, and got what is said to be a very fine likeness. Having got through with this important business, we went to Harrison Liscomb's store and he showed us over the whole of it, mills, burning apparatus, engine and all. We were going to call on his wife, but when he sold us that he had had a new

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little daughter come that morning, we thought that we had better omit that call, however, he would not hear of it, and said his wife would be very much disappointed if she did not see me, so though we felt a little awkardly about going under the circumstances, we went, and were ushered directly to Elizabeth's room, where we saw her, lookin as bright as could be, and a beautiful baby, I should think most as large as Mrs Griffith's, that is four weeks old. When we saw it, it was aged six hours.

After leaving there we took a stage, and went to Mrs Mellen's on Carmine Street. Mrs Mellen was delighted to see me, so we made a long call there, and partook of some cake and lemonade. Then we went to Mary Olive's in Clinton Place, and made quite a call, two or three hours long, indeed I was going to stay to tea, but Cara having gone out to find some lawn to make her a bonnet, and returned without having met with much success, I thought that I would go and help her, first I wrote to George, saying that we would return today. We had quite a search after the lawn, which we finally found, and reached home about seven. In the evening we had a short call from Mr and Mrs Root.

Friday, June 18. Wednesday we had a very quiet day, stayed at home all day, and Cara and I made her bonnet, so that it

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looks very prettily. In the afternoon Mrs Mellen and Vickey made quite a long call. Just after tea as aunt and I were about to adjourn for the purpose of packing up, there was a great effort made by the Quimby family generally, to keep us for a few days longer. Edward in particular, was very earnest about it, and finally to my great gratification, aunt consented to stay until Monday morning, and so let Edward telegraph to that effect, so the packing was given up. In the evening a very young married man, and two Mr Abbots called. I had a very urgent invitation from Edward Williams to go to a concert, and at first agreed to go, because I did'nt know what else to do, but afterwards as I did'nt want to go at all managed to excuse myself. In the afternoon, as I was almost despairing of hearing from home, I received a beautiful letter from Ricker, - the first he ever wrote me. I was perfectly delighted with it, and answered it, the very first thing after breakfast yesterday morning, - also wrote to Bartlett, Emmie, Rebecca Hadlock and aunt Osgood. Tore a long place in my dress, and had the pleasure of mending it. Also hemmed a towel and a half and read the West World till eleven. Edward went down town to telegraph &c and as I was going down stairs I met him coming up, having just returned. He wanted me to go back with him, and much to my surprise gave me an elegant pair of embroidered lace sleeves, in a neat little box

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I didnt want to take them, and told him so, and even pursued him to his room to give it back, but it was all of no use, and I had to take them, he finally writing my name in the box. I dont know whether it is right to receive such present from a gentleman, but he being my cousin, I dont think it could be much harm.

Saturday, June 19. Thursday afternoon I received two more letters, one from Emmie, the other from sister Mary, and Mary says what I have been expecting to hear for a good while that our good friend Ricker hopes that he is a Christian. That is the very best of news, for that was all that was wanting to make him everything that a young man can be. Aunt Hadlock thinks that - will want to make me his wife sometime, but she is mistaken about that, though I cant make her believe it. He has lived with us so long, that he is almost a brother, a dear, good brother, and as such we all love him dearly. (It is fortunate that this book is not to be seen by anyone but the writer). Mary says too that I had better tell Henry that I feel differently from what I used to, but I hardly know how I can, for what have I done while there to make him think that I am different, or less careless than I used to be, and here it is worse yet, for I have even neglected to read my Bible, and my prayers have not been as they should be. The

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reason has been that here I have no place of retirement but that I know, is no excuse for me, "where there is a will, there is a way." I am so easily drawn away from what I know to be the right way, that I fear I have not the root of the matter in me, that I never shall be a firmly established Christian.

Yesterday was a very pleasant day, and not quite so warm as some. The morning passed off very pleasantly helping make a bed-sick shelling peas &c, also, I finished the Wide, wide world, which is a beautiful story - if I had time I should like to write a little sketch of it. The heroine is little Ellen Montgomery, at the time the story commences a child of seven or eight years, kind, pleasant and lovely, but with strong passions, which a pious but invalid mother is striving to subdue by the power of the religion of Christ. The father alas! is a wholly different character, who while he is a good, upright, moral man is wholly destitute of sympathy with his wife and daughter. The physician prescribed as the only remedy for the sick mother a journey to foreign lands, and Captain Montgomory resolved to take her with him on a long voyage, while he also decided that to take Ellen with them was out of the question. The parting between the mother and daughter was painful in the extreme, the latter only supported by the hope of her mother's return with renewed health, the former feeling that for the last