The poetry I transcrib'd from my Copy Book.
March 19.--Thursday last I spent at home, except a quarter of an hour
between sunset and dark, I stepped over the way to Mr. Glover's with
aunt. Yesterday I spent at Unkle Neddy's & stitched wristbands for aunt
Polly. By the way, I must inform you, (pray dont let papa see this) that
yesterday I put on No 1 of my new shifts, & indeed it is very
comfortable. It is _long_ since I had a shift to my _back_. I dont know
if I ever had till now--It seem'd so strange too, to have any linen
below my waist--I am going to dine at Mrs. Whitwell's to day, by
invitation. I spent last evening at Mrs Rogers. Mr Hunt discoursed upon
the doctrine of the Trinity--it was the second time that he spoke upon
the subject at that place. I did not hear him the first time. His
business last eve^g was to prove the divinity of the Son, & holy Ghost,
& their equality with the Father. My aunt Deming says, it is a grief to
her, that I don't always write as well as I can, _I can write pretily_.
March 21.--I din'd & spent the afternoon of Thursday last, at Mrs
Whitwell's. Mrs Lathrop, & Mrs Carpenter din'd there also. The latter
said she was formerly acquainted with mamma, ask'd how she did, & when I
heard from her,--said, I look'd much like her. Madam Harris & Miss
P. Vans were also of the company. While I was abroad the snow melted to
such a degree, that my aunt was oblig'd to get Mr Soley's chaise to
bring me home. Yesterday, we had by far the gratest storm of wind & snow
that there has been this winter. It began to fall yesterday morning &
continued falling till after our family were in bed. (P.M.) Mr. Hunt
call'd in to visit us just after we rose from diner; he ask'd me,
whether I had heard from my papa & mamma, since I wrote 'em. He was
answer'd, no sir, it would be strange if I had, because I had been
writing to 'em today, & indeed so I did every day. Aunt told him that
_his name_ went frequently into my journals together with broken & some
times whole sentences of his sermons, conversations &c. He laugh'd &
call'd me Newsmonger, & said I was a daily advertiser. He added, that he
did not doubt but my journals afforded much entertainment & would be a
future benefit &c. Here is a fine compliment for me mamma.
March 26.--Yesterday at 6 o'clock, I went to Unkle Winslow's, their
neighbor Greenleaf was their. She said she knew Mamma, & that I look
like her. Speaking about papa & you occation'd Unkle Winslow to tell me
that he had kiss'd you long before papa knew you. From thence we went to
Miss Rogers's where, to a full assembly Mr Bacon read his 3d sermon on
R. iv. 6, I can remember he said, that, before we all sinned in Adam our
father, Christ loved us. He said the Son of God always did as his father
gave him commandment, & to prove this, he said, that above 17 hundred
years ago he left the bosom of the Father, & came & took up his abode
with men, & bore all the scourgings & buffetings which the vile Jews
inflicted on him, & then was hung upon the accursed tree--he died, was
buried, & in three days rose again--ascended up to heaven & there took
his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high from whence he will
come to be the supream and impartial judge of quick & dead--and when his
poor Mother & her poor husband went to Jerusalem to keep the passover &
he went with them, he disputed among the doctors, & when his Mother
ask'd him about it he said "wist ye not that I must be about my Father's
business,"--all this he said was a part of that wrighteousness for the
sake of which a sinner is justafied--Aunt has been up stairs all the
time I have been writeing & recollecting this--so no help from her. She
is come down now & I have been reading this over to her. She sais, she
is glad I remember so much, but I have not done the subject justice. She
sais I have blended things somewhat improperly--an interuption by
company.
March 28.--Unkle Harry was here last evening & inform'd us that by a
vessel from Halifax which arriv'd yesterday, Mr H Newton, inform'd his
brother Mr J Newton of the sudden death of their brother Hibbert in your
family 21 January ult. (Just five months to a day since Grandmamma
Sargent's death.) With all the circumstances relating to it. My aunt
Deming gives her love to Mamma & wishes her a sanctified improvement of
all God's dealings with her, & that it would please him to bring her &
all the family safe to Boston. Jarvis is put up for Cumberland, we hope
he will be there by or before Mayday. This minute I have receiv'd my
queen's night cap from Miss Caty Vans--we like it. Aunt says, that if
the materials it is made of were more substantial than gauze, it might
serve occationally to hold any thing mesur'd by an 1-2 peck, but it is
just as it should be, & very decent, & she wishes my writing was _as_
decent. But I got into one of my frolicks, upon sight of the Cap.
April 1st.--Will you be offended mamma, if I ask you, if you remember
the flock of wild Geese that papa call'd you to see flying over the
Blacksmith's shop this day three years? I hope not; I only mean to
divert you. The snow is near gone in the street before us, & mud supplys
the place thereof; After a week's absence, I this day attended Master
Holbrook with some difficulty, what was last week a pond is to-day a
quag, thro' which I got safe however, & if aunt[A] had known it was so
bad, she sais she would not have sent me, but I neither wet my feet, nor
drabled my clothes, indeed I have but one garment that I could contrive
to drabble.
N.B. It is 1 April.
[Footnote A: Miss Green tells her aunt, that the word refer'd to begins
with a dipthong.]
April 3.--Yesterday was the annual Fast, & I was at meeting all day. Mr
Hunt preach'd A.M. from Zac. vii. 4, 5, 6, 7. He said, that if we did
not mean as we said in pray's it was only a compliment put upon God,
which was a high affront to his divine Majesty. Mr Bacon, P.M. from
James v. 17. He said, "pray's, effectual & fervent, might be, where
there were no words, but there might be elegant words where there is no
prayr's. The essence of pray's consists in offering up holy desires to
God agreeable to his will,--it is the flowing out of gracious
affections--what then are the pray'rs of an unrenewed heart that is full
of enmity to God? doubtless they are an abomination to him. What then,
must not unregenerate men pray? I answer, it is their duty to breathe
out holy desires to God in pray's. Prayer is a natural duty. Hannah
pour'd out her soul before the Lord, yet her voice was not heard, only
her lips moved. Some grieve and complain that their pray's are not
answered, but if _thy will be done is_, as it ought to be, in every
prayer; their prayers are answer'd."
The wind was high at N.E. all day yesterday, but nothing fell from the
dark clouds that overspread the heavens, till 8 o'clock last evening,
when a snow began which has continued falling ever since. The bell being
now ringing for 1 o'clock P.M. & no sign of abatement.
My aunt Deming says, that if my memory had been equal to the memory of
some of my ancestors, I might have done better justice to Mr. Bacon's
good sermon, & that if hers had been better than mine she would have
helped me. Mr Bacon _did_ say what is here recorded, but in other
method.
April 6.--I made a shift to walk to meeting yesterday morning. But there
was so much water in the streets when I came home from meeting that I
got a seat in Mr Waleses chaise. My aunt walk'd home & she sais thro'
more difaculty than ever she did in her life before. Indeed had the
stream get up from our meeting house as it did down, we might have taken
boat as we have talk'd some times of doing to cross the street to our
oposite neighbor _Soley's_ chaise. I remember some of Mr Hunts sermon,
how much will appear in my text journal.
April 7.--I visited yesterday P.M. with my aunt at Mr Waldron's. This
afternoon I am going with my aunt to visit Mrs Salisbury who is Dr
Sewall's granddaughter, I expect Miss Patty Waldow will meet me there.
It is but a little way & we can now thro' favour cross the street
without the help of a boat. I saw Miss Polly Vans this morning. She
gives her love to you. As she always does whenever I see her. Aunt
Deming is this minute come into the room, & from what her niece has
wrote last, takes the liberty to remind you, that Miss Vans is a sister
of the Old South Church, a society remarkable for Love. Aunt Deming is
sorry she has spoil'd the look of this page by her carelessness & hopes
her niece will mend its appearance in what follows. She wishes my
English had been better, but has not time to correct more than one word.
April 9.--We made the visit refer'd to above. The company was old Mrs
Salisbury,[60] Mrs Hill, (Mrs Salisbury's sister she was Miss Hannah
Sewall & is married to young Mr James Hill that us'd to live in this
house) Miss Sally Hill, Miss Polly Belcher Lyde, Miss Caty Sewall, My
Aunt & myself. Yesterday afternoon I visited Miss Polly Deming & took
her with me to Mr Rogers' in the evening where Mr Hunt discours'd upon
the 7th question of the catechism viz what are the decrees of God?
I remember a good many of his observations, which I have got set down on
a loose paper. But my aunt says that a Miss of 12 year's old cant
possibly do justice to the nicest subject in Divinity, & therefore had
better not attempt a repetition of perticulars, that she finds lie (as
may be easily concluded) somewhat confused in my young mind. She also
says, that in her poor judgment, Mr Hunt discours'd soundly as well as
ingeniously upon the subject, & very much to her instruction &
satisfaction. My Papa inform'd me in his last letter that he had done me
the honor to read my journals & that he approv'd of some part of them,
I suppose he means that he likes some parts better than other, indeed it
would be wonderful, as aunt says, if a gentleman of papa's understanding
& judgment cou'd be highly entertain'd with _every little_ saying or
observation that came from a girl of my years & that I ought to esteem
it a great favour that he notices any of my simple matter with his
_approbation_.
April 13th.--Yesterday I walk'd to meeting all day, the ground very
dry, & when I came home from meeting in the afternoon the Dust blew so
that it almost put my eyes out. What a difference in the space of a
week. I was just going out to writing school, but a slight rain
prevented so aunt says I must make up by writing well at home. Since I
have been writing the rain is turn'd to snow, which is now falling in a
thick shower. I have now before me, hon^d. Mamma, your favor dated
January 3. I am glad you alter'd your mind when you at first thought not
to write to me. I am glad my brother made an essay for a Post Script to
your Letter. I must get him to read it to me, when he comes up, for two
reasons, the one is because I may have the pleasure of hearing his
voice, the other because I don't understand his characters. I observe
that he is mamma's "Ducky Darling." I never again shall believe that Mrs
Huston will come up to Boston till I see her here. I shall be very glad
to see Mrs Law here & I have some hopes of it. Mr Gannett and the things
you sent by him we safely receiv'd before I got your Letter--you say
"you see I am still a great housekeeper," I think more so than when I
was with you. Truly I answer'd Mr Law's letter as soon as I found
opportunity therefor. I shall be very glad to see Miss Jenny here & I
wish she could live with me. I hope you will answer this "viva vosa" as
you say you intend to. Pray mamma who larnt you lattan? It now rains
fast, but the sun shines, & I am glad to see it, because if it continues
I am going abroad with aunt this afternoon.
April 14th.--I went a visiting yesterday to Col. Gridley's with my
aunt. After tea Miss Becky Gridley sung a minuet. Miss Polly Deming & I
danced to her musick, which when perform'd was approv'd of by Mrs
Gridley, Mrs Deming, Mrs Thompson, Mrs Avery,[61] Miss Sally Hill, Miss
Becky Gridley, Miss Polly Gridley & Miss Sally Winslow. Col^n Gridley
was out o' the room. Col^n brought in the talk of Whigs & Tories &
taught me the difference between them. I spent last evening at home.
I should have gone a visiting to day in sudbury street, but Unkle Harry
told me last night that they would be full of company. I had the
pleasure of hearing by him, that they were all well. I believe I shall
go somewhere this afternoon for I have acquaintances enough that would
be very glad to see me, as well as my sudbury street friends.
April 15th.--Yesterday I din'd at Mrs. Whitwell's & she being going
abroad, I spent the afternoon at Mad^m Harris's & the evening at home,
Unkle Harry gave us his company some part of it. I am going to Aunt
Storer's as soon as writing school is done. I shall dine with her, if
she is not engaged. It is a long time since I was there, & indeed it is
a long time since I have been able to get there. For tho' the walking
has been pretty tolerable at the South End, it has been intolerable down
in town. And indeed till yesterday, it has been such bad walking, that I
could not get there on my feet. If she had wanted much to have seen me,
she might have sent either one of her chaises, her chariot, or her
babyhutt,[62] one of which I see going by the door almost every day.
April 16th.--I dined with Aunt Storer yesterday & spent the afternoon
very agreeably at Aunt Suky's. Aunt Storer is not very well, but she
drank tea with us, & went down to Mr Stillman's lecture in the evening.
I spent the evening with Unkle & Aunt at Mrs Rogers's. Mr Bacon preach'd
his fourth sermon from Romans iv. 6. My cousin Charles Storer lent me
Gulliver's Travels abreviated, which aunt says I may read for the sake
of perfecting myself in reading a variety of composures. she sais
farther that the piece was desin'd as a burlesque upon the times in
which it was wrote,--& Martimas Scriblensis & Pope Dunciad were wrote
with the same design & as parts of the same work, tho' wrote by three
several hands.
April 17th.--You see, Mamma, I comply with your orders (or at least
have done father's some time past) of writing in my journal every day
tho' my matters are of little importance & I have nothing at present to
communicate except that I spent yesterday afternoon & evening at Mr
Soley's. The day was very rainy. I hope I shall at least learn to spell
the word _yesterday_, it having occur'd so frequently in these pages!
(The bell is ringing for good friday.) Last evening aunt had a letter
from Unkle Pierce, he informs her, that last Lords day morning Mrs
Martin was deliver'd of a daughter. She had been siezed the Monday
before with a violent pluritick fever, which continued when my Unkle's
letter was dated 13th instant. My Aunt Deming is affraid that poor Mrs
Martin is no more. She hopes she is reconcil'd to her father--but is
affraid whether that was so--She had try'd what was to be done that way
on her late visits to Portsmouth, & found my unkle was placably
dispos'd, poor Mrs Martin, she could not then be brought to make any
acknowledgements as she ought to have done.
April 18th.--Some time since I exchang'd a piece of patchwork, which
had been wrought in my leisure intervals, with Miss Peggy Phillips,[63]
my schoolmate, for a pair of curious lace mitts with blue flaps which I
shall send, with a yard of white ribbin edg'd with green to Miss Nancy
Macky for a present. I had intended that the patchwork should have grown
large enough to have cover'd a bed when that same live stock which you
wrote me about some time since, should be increas'd to that portion you
intend to bestow upon me, should a certain event take place. I have just
now finish'd my Letter to Papa. I had wrote to my other correspondents
at Cumberland, some time ago, all which with this I wish safe to your &
their hand. I have been carefull not to repeat in my journal any thing
that I had wrote in a Letter either to papa, you, &c. Else I should have
inform'd you of some of Bet Smith's abominations with the deserv'd
punishment she is soon to meet with. But I have wrote it to papa, so
need not repeat. I guess when this reaches you, you will be too much
engag'd in preparing to quit your present habitation, & will have too
much upon your head & hands, to pay much attention to this scrowl. But
it may be an amusement to you on your voyage--therefore I send it.
Pray mamma, be so kind as to bring up all my journal with you. My Papa
has promised me, he will bring up my baby house with him. I shall send
you a droll figure of a young lady,[64] in or under, which you please,
a tasty head Dress. It was taken from a print that came over in one of
the last ships from London. After you have sufficiently amused yourself
with it I am willing . . .
Boston April 20, 1772.--Last Saterday I seal'd up 45 pages of Journal
for Cumberland. This is a very stormy day--no going to school. I am
learning to knit lace.
April 21.--Visited at uncle Joshua Green's. I saw three funerals from
their window, poor Cap^n Turner's was one.
April 22d.--I spent this evening at Miss Rogers as usual. Mr. Hunt
continued his discourse upon the 7th question of the catechism &
finish'd what he had to say upon it.
April 23d.--This morn^g early our Mr Bacon set out upon a tour to
Maryland, he proposed to be absent 8 weeks. He told the Church that
brother Hunt would supply the pulpit till his return. I made a visit
this afternoon with cousin Sally at Dr. Phillip's.
April 24th.--I drank tea at Aunt Suky's. Aunt Storer was there, she
seemed to be in charming good health & spirits. My cousin Charles Green
seems to grow a little fat pritty boy but he is very light. My aunt
Storer lent me 3 of cousin Charles' books to read, viz.--The puzzeling
cap, the female Oraters & the history of Gaffer too-shoes.[65]
April 25th.--I learn't three stitches upon net work to-day.
April 27th.--I din'd at Aunt Storer's & spent the P.M. at aunt Suky's.
April 28th.--This P.M. I am visited by Miss Glover, Miss Draper & Miss
Soley. My aunt abroad.
April 29th.--Tomorrow, if the weather be good, I am to set out for
Marshfield.
[Illustration: MRS. EBENEZER STORER]
May 11.--The morning after I wrote above, I sat out for Marshfield.
I had the pleasure of drinking tea with aunt Thomas the same day, the
family all well, but Mr G who seems to be near the end of the journey of
life. I visited General Winslow[66] & his son, the Dr., spent 8 days
very agreeably with my friends at Marshfield, & returned on saterday
last in good health & gay spirits which I still enjoy. The 2 first days
I was at Marshfield, the heat was extream & uncommon for the season. It
ended on saterday evening with a great thunder storm. The air has been
very cool ever since. My aunt Deming observ'd a great deal of lightning
in the south, but there was neither thunder, rain nor clouds in Boston.
May 16.--Last Wednesday Bet Smith was set upon the gallows. She behav'd
with great impudence. Thursday I danc'd a minuet & country dances at
school, after which I drank tea with aunt Storer. To day I am somewhat
out of sorts, a little sick at my stomach.
23d.--I followed my schools every day this week, thursday I din'd at
aunt Storer's & spent the P.M. there.
25.--I was not at meeting yesterday, Unkle & Aunt say they had very good
Fish at the O.S. I have got very sore eyes.
June 1st.--All last week till saterday was very cold & rainy. Aunt
Deming kept me within doors, there were no schools on account of the
Election of Councellers,[67] & other public doings; with one eye (for
t'other was bound up) I saw the governer & his train of life guard &c.
ride by in state to Cambridge. I form'd Letters last week to suit cousin
Sally & aunt Thomas, but my eyes were so bad aunt would not let me coppy
but one of them. Monday being Artillery Election[68] I went to see the
hall, din'd at aunt Storer's, took a walk in the P.M. Unkle laid down
the commission he took up last year. Mr Handcock invited the whole
company into his house in the afternoon & treated them very genteelly &
generously, with cake, wine, &c. There were 10 corn baskets of the feast
(at the Hall) sent to the prison & almshouse.
4th.--From June 1 when I wrote last there has nothing extraordinary
happen'd till today the whole regiment muster'd upon the common. Mr
Gannett, aunt & myself went up into the common, & there saw Cap^t
Water's, Cap^t Paddock's, Cap^t Peirce's, Cap^t Eliot's, Cap^t Barret's,
Cap^t Gay's, Cap^t May's, Cap^t Borington's & Cap^t Stimpson's company's
exercise. From there, we went into King street to Col Marshal's[69]
where we saw all of them prettily exercise & fire. Mr. Gannett din'd
with us. On Sabbath-day evening 7 June My Hon^d Papa, Mamma, little
Brother, cousin H. D. Thomas, Miss Jenny Allen, & Mrs Huston arriv'd
here from Cumberland, all in good health, to the great joy of all their
friends, myself in particular--they sail'd from Cumberland the 1st
instant, in the evening.
Aug. 18.--Many avocations have prevented my keeping my journal so
exactly as heretofore, by which means a pleasant visit to the peacock,
my Papa's & mamma's journey to Marshfield &c. have been omitted. The 6
instant Mr Sam^l Jarvis was married to Miss Suky Peirce, & on the 13th I
made her a visit in company with mamma & many others. The bride was
dress'd in a white satin night gound.[70]
27.--Yesterday I heard an account of a cat of 17 years old, that has
just recovered of the meazels. This same cat it is said had the small
pox 8 years ago!
28.--I spent the P.M. & eve at aunt Suky's very agreeably with aunt
Pierce's young ladies viz. Miss Johnson, Miss Walker, Miss Polly & Miss
Betsey Warton, (of Newport) Miss Betsey is just a fortnight wanting 1
day older than I am, who I became acquainted with that P.M. Papa, Mamma,
Unkle & aunt Storer, Aunt Pierce & Mr & Mrs Jarvis was there. There were
18 at supper besides a great many did not eat any. Mrs Jarvis sang after
supper. My brother Johny has got over the measels.
Sept. 1.--Last evening after meeting, Mrs Bacon was brought to bed of a
fine daughter. But was very ill. She had fits.
September 7.--Yesterday afternoon Mr Bacon baptiz'd his daughter by the
name of Elizabeth Lewis. It is a pretty looking child. Mrs Whitwell is
like to loose her Henry Harris. He is very ill.
8.--I visited with mamma at cousin Rogers'. There was a good many.
14.--Very busy all day, went into the common in the afternoon to see
training. It was very prettyly perform'd.
18.--My Papa, aunt Deming, cousin Rogers, & Miss Betsey Gould set out
for Portsmouth. I went over to Charlestown with them, after they were
gone, I came back, & rode up from the ferry in Mrs Rogers' chaise; it
drop'd me at Unkle Storer's gate, where I spent the day. My brother was
very sick.
Sep^r 17. 18.--Spent the days at aunt Storer's, the nights at home.
19.--Went down in the morn^g & spent the day & night there. My brother
better than he was.
20.--Sabbath day. I went to hear Mr Stilman[71] all day, I like him very
much. I don't wonder so many go to hear him.
21st.--Mr. Sawyer, Mr Parks, & Mrs Chatbourn, din'd at aunt Storer's.
I went to dancing in the afternoon. Miss Winslow & Miss Allen visited
there.
22d.--The king's coronation day. In the evening I went with mamma to
Col^n Marshal's in King Street to see the fireworks.
23d.--I din'd at aunt Suky's with Mr & Mrs Hooper[72] of Marblehead. In
the afternoon I went over to see Miss Betsy Winslow. When I came back I
had the pleasure to meet papa. I came home in the evening to see aunt
Deming. Unkle Winslow sup'd here.
24.--Papa cal'd here in the morn^g. Nothing else worth noticeing.
25.--Very pleasant. Unkle Ned cal'd here. Little Henry Harris was buried
this afternoon.