Travel Diaries and Journals

no doubt very well plased with all this parade. Many of the young men of the place joined the [firemen?] for the sport. I was much amused to recognize among them several of my acquaintances. The [music?] was very fine, and on the whole the procession did honor to the young city. After it had passed Carrie and I staid some time of the Dickinson's.

Ellen and I called on Mrs Leackwood?. As we left the procession stopped at an open lot near 5th street and thirty cannons were fired. At the same time the bells pealed merrily. But the noise was deafening and we were glad to get home.

An ox had been purchased to feast the procession, and on Monday it was paraded through the streets, decked with flowers and ribbons, but last night while those appointed for the office were peacably roasting it whole, it was forcibly taken by a Band of five hundred rowdies, dragged through the streets, and otherwise maltreated, so of course to-day there was no roast ox to grace the occasion. Those who expected to get a mouthful were very much dis-appointed.

In the evening there was a grand supper of the Equestrian Institute. Five dollars a [ticket?]. Father and Mother attended by invitation. The Supper was followed by a ball. Carrie and I attended singing school for the last time I suppose.

Thursday, February 5th Pleasant. In the afternoon made a long call on Mary Reeve who leaves ________for Farmingdale to-morrow. Distributed about eighty traets.

Wednesday, Feb. 10th Rained all day. We, girls, had intended spending the afternoon and evening with Miss Harriet Thompson in the city but the rain of course prevented. Mr. Murphy spent the evening with Hattie. Thursday, Chilly. Spent the day at home as usual. [illegible] Dickinson called for Carrie to attend Lyceum. I did not go Joseph Wilde called on me. The Holbrooks called in the P.M. Friday. Snowed. Carrie and I spent the afternoon and took tea with the Henderson's. We had a very pleasant time Mr. Henry, who is still very weak, was troubled with the blues, and did not make his appearance, which was quite a disappointment to us. Our church prayer meeting was held at their house in the evening. Quite a number were present. Mr. George very adroitly slipped out our parlor door as Father came in the other and absented himself [illegible] the services were over, when he again made his appearance. Carrie, Nat, and I remained till near eleven o'clock. George accompanied us home. Saturday. Valentine Day. Pleasant. St. Valentine, being taken very little notice of by the grown young people to-day seems to have made himself very friendly with the little boys. They entered into the sport heart and hand, but abused the poor saint most shamefully. their numerous billet-doux being anything but loving, and even much more frequently addressed to each other rather than to the girls. Hattie, Carrie and I, however, were humoured with a few of them. Our door bell was mercilessly assailed much to the amusement of Cornelius & Fred. Received good long letter from Mary Reeve also a note from [illegible] Hearns

Sunday Feb. 15th. Bright overhead, but the snow which lay a foot thick on the ground, chilled the air and made it unpleasant out of doors. I attended church all day and Sunday School in the afternoon. Father preached evening at home, reading. Monday, very pleasant. Kate Hudson made a long morning call. Soon after dinner I was surprised to receive a call from Henry. He was quite feeble, seemed scarcely able to walk, and looked almost corpslike, he was so pale and thin. This appearance did not seem at all natural, but his manner was the same as ever, though perhaps more manly and easy than formerly. He is that rare, but most pleasant and interesting character a perfect gentleman! He staid about an hour. Caroline and Harriet spent this afternoon and evening in New York. After Henry had left. I employed the remaineder of the afternoon in writing to Mary Reeve. About half past seven int he evening Phineas Hudson bounded in scarcely able to contain himself for joy, with the anouncement that his father had arrived about half an hour before safely from California. We could not get this delighted boy to sit down, he was off in a moment. Father went to their house immediately to see his old friend and rejoice with them. - Well! they are all back again at last, safe and well! Three years ago many feared and some prophecied that this would never be. Three years of doubt and fear mingled with hope have [illegible], but through a thousand dangers they have returned.

Tuesday. Pleasant. Sewed in the morning. Kate Hudson and Henry with Miss G. Griffin took teawith us. George called but pleading an engagement left just before tea. They all left about eight o'clock, mostly on Henry's acco[rd.] Mr and Mrs Hudson called soon after. Mr Hudson greeted us all with a kiss. He has altered very much and wears a beard three or four inches long. I do not think I should have known him. Mother and Father were not at home, they were visiting Albert and Mary Emma. Wednesday. Pleasant but very cold. Early in the afternoon [Hattie] and I called on Miss M. Smith and the Havers. Harriet then left me to call on Mrs Skinner, and I crossed the Houston street ferry and called on Mrs Evans in [Lours] (saw H. passing as I stood in the ferry house). Staid some time Mrs Evans, who is a cousin of Ellen Leager and then proceeded to the house of Miss Harriet Thompson in Rutgers Place. Harriet and Caroline had arrived just before me. We passed the remainder of the afternoon and evening very pleasantly. Five theological students and another gentleman joined us after tea. In such company who could but enjoy themselves. Piety and intellectual attainments are after all the things most to be desired in a companion. Conversation elevated and refined I find that I can appreciate much more highly than a [pretty] face, a fashionable address and a tongue and mind constantly employed on trifles. We left about half past ten. Mr Dane accompanied me to the ferry.

Tuesday, March 16th.. Went into Grand st of an errand, and called on Mrs Tucker. Sewed in the afternoon

Wednesday.. Rained in the morning and snowed in the afternoon.. Received a box from Mrs Leager and Ellen containing two very pretty boxes, crochet patterns a worsted pattern and letters from Ellen and her mother to Carrie and I. We were much pleased with them all. -- Mr & Mrs Hudson, Kate and Henry came over in the afternoon and took tea with us. Mr Murphy was also here and George He came in the evening. We had a very pleasant time both in the afternoon and evening. We had prayers and sing-ing together about half-past ten and soon after they left. Mr Hudson presented Father with a $20 bank note

Thursday.. Cloudy and damp. Wrote to Ellen Leager. Cornelius who has been complaining for the last two weeks was suddenly taken very ill with the rheumatism and the doctor was called. He was put to bed, the Doctor's prescriptions attended to and he soon felt much better. Sarah Wilde spent the afternoon here.

She has improved a little during her long sojourn from home but is herself still. She amused us very much Henry Hudson called and accompanied me to Lyceum in the evening. The Rev Mr. Pierpont delivered his celebrated poem on New England. It was received with much applause

Tuesday.. Rained in the morning but cleared off very pleasantly of noon. So soon after dinner I started for Brooklyn Reached Mary Jane's about three o'clock. Found them all well. Carrie was much pleased to see me. We called on Aunt Graves across the way before dusk returned in time for tea after which Louise played and sang very prettily for our entertainment.

Henry Hudson called about seven o'clock and accompanied Carrie and I to Mr Beecher's church where we heard an excellent sermon by the Rev Charles Finney on "Prayer" It suited Henry's case exactly -- nothing could have been more appropriate. -- I intended to return home with Henry in the evening but my cousins would not listen to such a proposition -- stay all night I must so at last I consented and Henry returned without me. Carrie and I slept together and talked an hour or two after retiring before we fell asleep.

Wednesday.. Delightful day... C-- and I rose early. Met the family at the breakfast table soon after seven. Breakfast was followed by family prayers. and at eight we attended a morning prayer meeting at Dr. Cox's church across the way. It continued an hour, we then returned, the children went to school, and Mary Jane, Carrie and I spent the morning in talking, reading, and sewing. I left at three o'clock P.M. and returned, as I went, by stage.

Thursday July 8th Warm and pleasant. Spent most of the day in sewing. Elizabeth Culbert called. Evening in reading.

Friday Very pleasant. Employed most of the time as usual. Called on Mary Reeve in the afternoon and went to Hamilton's. Evening in reading.

Saturday Very warm. In the morning Carrie and I received a letter from Harriet dated from Madrid where they are visiting Mr Murphy's father. They stopped at Troy & Saratoga on their way. Harriet enjoys herself highly and likes her new friends very much. In the afternoon Carrie went over to New York to pass the Sabbath with Annie - it seemed very lonesome without her.

Sunday Warm and pleasant. Attended one church all day with Sunday School in the afternoon. I.W. accompanied me home in the morning. In the evening Natty and I attended Mr Beecher's church. Joseph and Mary sat in front of us and walked home with us.

Monday The warmest day I think we have had this summer. About ten o'clock I started off to spend the day with Annie. Called at Mrs Tucker's on the way to the ferry - saw Miss Tucker who informed me that Mrs Tucker was quite ill and confined to her bed but no danger is apprehended. No further intelligence from theLeager's.

Wednesday, July 14th Very warm. Aunt Graves came over soon after breakfast to see Kate--staid about an hour, Kate not feeling well, and being [white?] much fatigued lay down in her room and I sat beside her reading + talking till dinner time. We sat a long time at the table talking about Aunt Caroline, her family, the South etc. Kate's conversation is very interesting and betrays a refined and highly cultivated mind with a very poetic turn. Sewed some in the afternoon--Evening listening to Kate. Thursday Very warm. Carrie and Kate went out in the morning. Annie came over before dinner. I was not well and was obliged to lie down most of the afternoon. Margaret Culbert called. Stan came over to tea and after spending a pleasant evening with us he with Annie left about ten o'clock. Friday Cloudy. Sewed in the morning. In the afternoon called on Mary R. but did not find her at home and made quite a long pleasant call on Harriet Strong. Attended prayer meeting with Father in the evening. S. W.? accompanied me home. He talked and appeared very well-- happened to be in a proper mood I suppose though I gave him no invitation to do so, he told me he would call soon. I replied that I should be pleased to see him.

Saturday, July 17th Cloudy. Carrie and Kate were absent all the morning shopping and looking up dressmakers. In the afternoon I was about putting on my things preparatory to a call on Mary when I took up a paper just thrown in and the first thing I saw was the announcement of Mrs Tucker's death - Could it be possible and I had not even heard that she had been dangerously ill. She died this [morn?] at 12 o'clock of inflammation of the heart. I could hardly believe it, and resolved at once to call at Mr. Tucker's and learn the particulars. Poor Mrs Sager?! was my first thought - she has lost her best friend - they were dear to each other as sisters and indeed by that endearing title they always addressed one another. To Mrs Tucker, Mrs Sager? always went for counsel and sympathy and as Ellen? has told me she thought all the world of her then oh! how heavily will the blow fall on her widowed heart I could but weep as I thought of it - and then too, so far away without a friend to whom she can go for sympathy or consolation. But I forget! - her best friend is ever with her and surely He who has [sustained?] in a greater trial will not forsake her in this. - I went immediately to Mr Tucker's, stopping on my way to say a word to Mary. I was shown into the back parlor the room in which I saw her for the first time several months since. I have felt so well acquainted with her that I can hardly realize that I have known her for only so short a time, much less can [I?] I realize that our pleasant interviews will be no more. The corpse was in the room - ah! how unlike a corpse - so composed, so serene - a bright smile glowing over the pale expressive features like a ray of glory lighting up the dark realm of death.