00_1852-07-22 Diary of Martha Call 2021.061.001

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time she held her beloved child in her arms, that henceforth her little daughter was thrown upon the wide, wide world. The story follows little Ellen on her way to aunt Fortune's an old-maidish, and unamiable sister of her father's, to whose care she was consigned during their absence. It is highly interesting to follow the little girl through year after year, to see the many sorrows by which she is surrounded, the unkindness of Aunt Fortune, and the rough but sincere love of Mr Van Brunt - to watch the constant struggle to become a Christian, - sometimes almost successful, sometimes the ungovernable passions breaking out and sweeping all before them. Then her aquaintance with Alice and John, accidentally begun, and carried on till they became far more to her, than the brother and sister they called themselves. Then came that dreadful blow, her mother's death. Poor Ellen! it was a stunning shock, and not till in her own home and heart Alice had cherished her for months, and John with his love and kindness had raised her heart to that Heaven, where her mother was eternally at rest, did she in any degree recover from the blow. I have not time to follow her further, but will only say, that the same insidious desease that had brought her mother to the grave, now fastened itself upon the loving and lovely Alice. Little Ellen, now by the death of her father also, made wholly an orphan, was there

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to watch over the last days of her friend, who before leaving made arrangements that Ellen should for the future be the adopted child of their home, and living there, should as far as possible supply the place made desolate by her death. This was very gratifying to Ellen, who now, though saddened by the loss of her friend, gladdened also by the thought that she was in Heaven, in the company of dear Mr Humphrey and brother John, the time passed happily on. But her trials were not yet over. By some means, a packet of letters from her parents were discovered, directing her to go to Scotland, to her maternal grandmother and uncle, and though grieved to the heath by losing her, her kind friends decided that she must go. We will not follow her there - enough that she found friends every where - that though at first her religion was greatly opposed, she overcame all opposition by her true, firm but gentle spirit - that she became the idol of her grandmother and uncle, and that she finally returned to the happy home of her no longer brother John. I have not made very good work writing a sketch of what is really a beautiful story. Yesterday afternoon aunt Hadlock, Cara and I went to visit the Asylum for colored Orphans. It is a beautiful building, surrounded by gardens and play-grounds and affords a happy home to over two hundred little black boy and girls, the most of whom would if not so provided for, be wretched little vagabonds. Every part of

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the house was in perfect order, the sleeping rooms very large and airy, and containing about twenty beds apiece - All the children, who are from two to twelve years of age, and of every shade of color, from one little girl as white as most anybody, down to the blackest of the black, with the exception of two, who were apparently in a poor state of mind, seemed perfectly happy. In the evening we went to see a troup of trained monkeys - the performances were very amusing, but I cannot go into particulars now.

On the way home we stopped to eat an ice-cream which is quite a favorite performance with Edward. The young man tried to devise any thoughts, and accused me of being very silent on the way home. I have just been on the stairs with him, discussing the various ways of returning to Boston, and disputing about Uncle Tom's Cabin - on which he and I dont agree at all. Aunt Hadlock is some unwell today, and a little inclined to be nervous, but I hope that she will come out bright, and be able to return to Boston on Monday. I have written to Emmie to that effect. Just before dinner Cara and I received an invitation from Edward Williams, to accompany him to somewhere, where he had a little business to do, and he thought perhaps we might enjoy the ride. We didnt either of us wish to go, and so excused ourselves on account of the

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heat of the weather, aunt Hadlock being ill &c, but we feared he might not consider us altogether consistent, if he should know how much gratified we were, when a couple of hours afterwards Edward invited us to go and have a sail with him, and how eagerly we accepted the invitation without making a single objection - However, we did not intend to deceive him - at the time he asked us we had not the slightest idea of going out, and thought our reasons for staying at home very sufficient, and fortunately, he is a very amiable young man, and took no offence at our conduct, but on the contrary said he was glad we did not go with him, as the sail was so much pleasanter for us. Lizzie Griffith, and Cara Norton were here to dinner, and to spend part of the afternoon, and we had a very pleasant, sociable time. About quarter past four we set out to sail - Cara and I were the only ladies - Edward, William Stuart, Jake Halsey, and George Thorpe were the gentlemen. The boat was The [Fasion?], a very neat pretty little boat just large enough for our party, which two of the men rowed while one steered, and we went on bravely. The scenery on both sides of the river is beautiful, the air was cool and pleasant, and we were all in a good state of mind. We sailed to Astoria, where Edward wished to see a man on business, the returned to some other place about three miles from

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here, and as the tide was very strong against them, the young men protested that they could not work without something to eat - accordingly by climbing up with considerable trouble, they succeeded in procurring six enormous pieces of cake, with oranges and lemonade to match, of which we partook with great relish - Then began the return, and now the labor of the rowers was very severe, for the tide was exceedingly strong in opposition to us, and they were obliged to keep close to the shore, and use all their strength to get round the rocks and points which presented themselves. However they didnt seem to mind it much, and got on pretty briskly. As we were sailing on we saw a large vessel a little distance before us, and it was proposed to get into her wake as that would overcome the side. As we came near her, a very smiling man on board threw out a rope to help us along - which was soon fastened securely to the Fashion - the rowers ceased their labors, and we congratulated ourselves on the case with which we were being carried down -

At any rate the water was passing up by us very rapidly, so we supposed that we were passing through it. After sailing in this way some minutes, and being asked by the man on board sundry questions which if really asked for information, showed him to be very ignorant of his whereabouts, Edward and Halsey began as they said to smell a very large rat, and