Travel Diaries and Journals

Friday June 11th Pleasant. Sewed very busily all day.. Mrs [Hiams?], Helen and Milton called soon after tea. Miss Helen is the most complete piece of affectation I ever met with. Underneath all she appears to be a smart, intelligent, and good-hearted girl but is sadly deficient in common sense. Mr William Tyler spent the evening here. Saturday. Bright and windy. Was not very well. Mary Reeve called in the afternoon. Retired early Ellen Dickinson called A.M. Sunday. Fine day. Attended our church in the morning The minister who was to supply Father's place was ill so Mr Wilde conducted the services. Afternoon at home Starr was with us till near tea-time. He with Annie came over to spend the Sabbath with Kate, and so like a good boy he (runs?) up home awhile. Mr Murphy took tea with us. In the evening Joseph and Mary, Natty and I met by agreement and together attended Mr [McHane's?] church. The pastor preached a fine sermon -- his subject was Peter, his life and character. Monday. Rather warm. Busy day. Our mattrasses were exchanged for feather beds today - vice versa, what an odd mistake! Elisabeth Culbert called in the afternoon

Tuesday. To-day we began to realize that it is summer it was excessively warm and the heat increased as the day passed on. Before dinner sister Annie came over to assist Harriet, and we all seated ourselves in the front chamber with our needle-work and passed a very pleasant afternoon. Starr came over at tea time Harriet and Annie, Natty and I promenaded before our house a short time about dusk, then Starr, Annie and Harriet went off to pass the evening with Kate Skinner. I employed the remainder of the evening in reading. Became very much interested in a piece by Edgar A. Poe on the Philsophy of Composition, and quite unable to read any thing else I retired soon after ten in a very excited state of mind. How this roused my imagination from its usually quiet dreams ! ambition too awake. and in their train came high resolves, intense longings and trembling hopes. That [Dr?] - [Dr?] that has so long danced before my dazzled inner-sight, appearing and disappearing sometimes almost forgotten but reappearing again with renewed brilliancy and drawing nearer till casting its flood of light and beauty overmy soul, it chases away the shadows and darkness that enshroud it and reveals to me what perhaps I might do! What, perhaps, I might become! Light of my soul! wilt thou thus elude me forever? May I never grasp thee and keep thee, to gladden my heart and to send forth thy bright rays into many others, known and unknown[Dr?]

Wednesday June 16th Heat almost insupportable. We all spent the day in sewing. Mr Murphy took tea with us and afterwards in company with his dear intended and Starr and Annie went off a walking I spent the evening at home in reading. Thursday. Temperature the same. Sewing again occupied most of the day. Annie finished a sweet little bridal hat for Harriet on which she has been employed since Tuesday. We all pronounced it the prettiest one we have seen this season. There seems to be no limit to Annie's task and ingenuitty. She can make almost everything necessary for a lady's attire and that in the best style. Certainly no milliner could out do her in the production of so pretty a hat. Mr Murphy was perfectly delighted with it, he likes elegant and expensive things as much as anyone, perhaps more so than a minister should but Hattie's agrees with him perfectly and says she shall dress just as she pleases if she is a minister's wife and in this respect she differs some from the lady of "The Sunny Side" yet there is no doubt but that Harriet will well perform her part and going hand in hand with her dear Douglas willcome as a heaven-sent blessing whereever she shall be called Starr bade us Good Bye in the morning. Annie spent the day with us and returned home late in the afternoon when it began to growcool. Mr Murphy, Harriet, Carrie and I took tea and spent the evening delightfully with the Culberts. Josiah accompanied Carrie and I home about eleven o'clock.

Friday. June 18th Heat somewhat lessened. Aunt Graves, cousin Mary Jane and Louisa spent the day with us. They returned about five in the afternoon. I then went out on several errands. Received a long letter from Sarah Gonsalves. Mother received a letter from Father Evening in reading retired early. Saturday.. Very warm. Did not feel very active __ this warm weather weakens me. Harriet went to Brooklyn in the afternoon. In the evening received a letter from Mrs Kent who is now in the N. Y. Soon after tea George Hudson called, being on another visit to our city. He says Kate's health is very poor and urged us to visit her as soon as possible; this we promised to do if circumstanceswould permit. He staid awhile and on leaving as we all stood in the hall who should walk up but Mr T. W. Jr. Poor fellow he felt caught! __ He was dressed in the most outlandish style and his manners corresponded. Fortunately he did not stay long but went off with George. Wrote in my journal. Sunday.. Very pleasant. Attended our church in the morning. Father preached. I. Wilde accompanied me home Afternoon at home. In the evening Natty and I attended Mr Beecher's church. I. W. andMary R. were there and walked home with us.

Monday.. June 21st Bright and warm. Wrote a note to Mrs Kent. George Hudson A. M. He talked very good __ I liked him better than I have since his return for he seemed more natural __ more as he used to be. Carrie sent a note to Kate by him Mary Reeve called in the afternoon. Leigh Dickinson spent the wevening here. Tuesday.. Carrie and I sewed busily all day on some new curtains for the parlors. Carrie called on Mary Willet in the evening. Ellen Dickinson called. Wednesday.. Moderate.. Morning in sewing. Mrs Griswold called in the afternoon. Elisabeth, Margaret, Annie and ^ Alexander Culbert, andMr Murphy took tea with us and a very pleasant time we had. Douglas and Hattie were as loving and frolicksome ascould be expected of two lovers with only one more week before them of single felicity. We begin to realize that the 20th of June is drawing nigh and I almost dread to have it come We shall miss her so much! __ What will we do without her? __ The Culberts feel very badly about it, as they have been Harriet's most intimate friends in these all farewell tea-parties, but none of us seem to realize it. __ her farewell tea-parties as Miss Jocelyn I meant. Mrs Murphy will always be welcome __ Douglas too! Josiah spent the evening here _ an engagement prevented his coming to tea. Father received a letter from Uncle Nathaniel saying that [Dr?] was to be married to [Dr?] Cleaveland very soon.

Thursday.. June 24th. Cloudy and cool. Was not very well and after a busy morning found myself unfit for anything in the afternoon. Mary Reeve called. also Kate Skinner and her sister Maggie. __ Evening in reading.

Friday.. Pleasant. Sewed all day and went to bed very early with a headache. Nothing very important occurred Called on Mrs Dickinson [Dr?] M. and borrowed a directory for Harriet, and in the evening she made out a list for her wedding cards. Saturday.. Warm. Was not well. Carrie and I polished the parlor furniture in the morning. Sewed all the afternoon. Mr Murphy came over and brought the wedding cards and also a beautiful Spanish fan for Harriette from Mrs Brinckerhoff. __ The cards looked very pretty. I never fancied Harriet's intended name before, but on the cards I liked it very much. Looking at them I began to realize that she was soon to leave us for the heart and home of another, but however unwill -ing we may be to part with her it is much consolation to reflect that if there be faith and trust on earth she has assuredly fallen into good hands. D. and He spent the afternoon in the study directing their cards

Sunday. June 27th Bright and warm. Attended our church in the morning with Harriet. Father preached. Spent the afternoon and evening at home mostly in reading Mr Murphy took tea with us and spent the evening with H.

Monday.. Delightful weather. We of course all spent it very busily. Harriet's industry seems untiring but she is now nearly through. Every thing will be ready just in time there is no fear of that for who ever found her unprepared on any important expected occasion. It will all go off slick as a whistle you may be sure she says to Carrie and I as we wonder at her perfect composure and collectedness while she all eye, all ear, all attention attends to everything, disposes of everything forgetting nothing not even the most minute and unimportant, and withal is gay, as cheerful and as unaffectedly happy as if she had not a care. What a charm there is in a sunny disposition. At this busy anxious period, when the expectant bride might almost be expected to be a little abstracted, nervous and impatient. Harriet's calm bright smile seems indeed like a ray of light in our household. I was much pleased this afternoon to receive a call from my old friend Henry Hudson. This is the first time he has visited Williamsburgh since left. He came this morning with his Father, mother and Hannah Harriet received a sweet letter from Cousin Kate saying that she would be unable to come [Dr?] in time for the wedding for want of an escort, but hoped to come in a few weeks.

He is considerably browner than he was when I last saw him. and looks much healthier; he is now quite well and strong. and finds that the life of a farmer suits him at last as far as health is concerned. He staid some time and after he left I called on Mary Reeve and she accompanied me to Mr Reginol's flower garden whither I went to see about some orange blossoms that Harriet wished to purchase ^ on wednesday Leaving there we passed through Fourth st and called at Kate Skinner's on another errand. We were therefore obliged to pass Mr Coffin's drug store and at the time in the doorway happened to be standing Mr [Dr?]. Coffin & Mr H. Hudson. We passed of course with a bow. Mary accompanied us home. Tuesday.. pleasant. Early in the morning Mrs [Dr?], a colored woman from N. [New] Haven and an old friend of the family, arrived to assist at the wedding bringing with her the wedding cake which was all made in N. [New] H. [Haven] by our old cook Ellen Thompson. Hannah Hudson called in the afternoon. I went out of an errand and Henry called very soon after my return. I felt badly when he informed me that he does not now enjoy religion. He says he has given it up entirely but I will still pray that the Lord will lead him back in the right way. _ Mr Murphy took tea and spent the evening here. What a glorious moonlight evening it was __ one could do nothing but enjoy it. Harriet employed most of the P.M. in packing her trunk Harriet answered Kate's letter in the evening. Mr & Mrs Hudson called.

June 30th. Sweetly dawned Harriet's wedding day and save that it was rather warm a more pleasant one could hardly have been desired. We were all up and [Dr?] at an early hour. I wswept the halls before breakfast and Harriet busied herself in making boquets [bouquets] for the parlors and dressing room. At the table she chatted away as usual perhaps a little faster than common and neve seemed in beter spirits. Mr Murphy came over with his trunk in the course of the morning and brought for Hattie a beautiful large pincushion from Matilda Corning and a sweet hood from Sarah Brinckerhoff. Douglas was in good spirits and looked uncommonly well. Starr and Annie arrived before dinner. Starr brought with him a basket of rare and beautiful flowers, and Annie a beautiful bag, and the wedding nightcap [O-oh!] all wrought by her own skilful fingers. It was a pleasant little party that sat down to the dinner table, though it was not at all surprising that neither Hattie nor Douglas seemed to have a very good appetite. The rest of us, however, did ample justice to the good cheer set before us. Immediately after dinner we all scattered to our several rooms to dress as there was

no time to lose. Annie dressed the bride and while we were all hurrying as fast as possible Cousin [Dr?] arrived from New Haven. There was a hasty though affectionate greeting. a wondering why she did not come before then she too hastened to make what needed alterations there were in her toilet. Carrie and I were soon ready and went down to meet the company who had already begun to arrive. Aunt Graves presented the bride with a silver fruit knife, and Mary Emma gave her a handsome bag with some verses of her own composition written for the occasion. It was almost tthree o'clock the hour appointed for the ceremony when suddenly in almost as little time as it takes to write it the hitherto bright sky was darkened and a violent thunder-storm swept over passing almost as quickly as it came. Every thing seemed so bright and clear, no one entertained the remotest idea of rain, but in five minutes it was pouring down as if preparatory to a second flood and in ten more was gone. The suddenness and the rapidity with which it came and went were remarkable, just at the hour too -- leaving us in doubt whether to consider it as a good or a bad omen but not being at all superstitious we did not take this into very serious consideration. I t had the good affect however of settling the dust, and slightly cooled the atmosphere, but several who were on their way hither