Sund. Dec. 4th 1853
Mond. Anne scoured the office floor and a good fire has diverted med. callers into the office
Tues Wd. Thurs.
At work upon Drs. green frock coat, vest pants, etc. Mr. Avery disappeared about this time, a great trial to the Candlers.
Sund. 11th
Dr. C.W. very much afflicted with boils on his hands and out of health otherwise. Breakfast room scoured overhead by Mike. I took some cold working in tho the weather was mild.
Wednes. 14th.
Dr. paid Katy King all that was due up to Dec. 16th
Sund. 18th
We all but Charly went to church. Mr. Knapp gave us a uncommonly good sermon, about advising with kindness our friends who are in errors. Commenced with a fact, a widow who reproached herself for not speaking out in season to her husband upon the subject of intemperance. Faithful are the wounds of a friend.
Mond.
Charly went to N York. Staid a week. Lizzy Pierce called and said she should go the same day. I made some [moss?] articles for M. Cushing.
Thurs. 22nd
I went up to the church to sew for Society. Afternoon went to Boston to a concert. In the eve. up to Blakes with Rachel the Dr. C.W. & Watty.
Frid & Sat
More sewing for family.
Sund. 25th Christmas
Miss Cushing went to Prov. Sat. 24th to see the Cushings Christmas tree. Staid until Mond. Then Watty met her at the depot with trunk for Hingham. The weather changed to snowy -- all day Mond. & the first snow storm.
Wed. 28th
The clothes got dry
Thurs.
One of the worst storms of wind, snow & cold we have had for years. Dr. E.A. started at 7 am to go to Brighton Street, nearly two miles & toiled a hour and 20 m. to reach the place, leaving his horse at Heaths. Charles W.W. has been unwell with a cold & sore eyes 2 weeks. Sen. Dr. not well but driving about as if he was well.
Dec. 29th 1853 Thurs.
The anniversary of our wedding, married 34 years. And many are the hard lessons that I have learned in that time. God knows it, and in Him do I trust. Let me never be afraid.
Sat 31st
EJC. & Mary walked up from Rox cars. To them my heart.
Sund. Jan 1st 1854
Stormy. Edward had some pleasant plans which cheered us for a while, concerning our change of situation. EJC. returned to Prov.
Mond. morn.
Mary & I talked over Laura's situation and Tues we went to Bridgewater, took a trunk etc. We enjoyed our visit & the children very much.
This probably refers to Samuel Avery, a nephew of Susan Candler. The circumstances of his disappearance are not known.
This was not the first or the last of the family's tragedies. In 1843, the mother of Susan Candler's daughter-in-law Lucy (Cobb) Candler, after attending a lecture in Boston by the Mormon leader Brigham Young had left her family to become Young's second polygamous wife. Lucy herself died in 1855 at age 23, leaving her husband, John Candler, with three young daughters. (John remarried and was later elected to two terms in the U.S. Congress.) Lucy's uncle, Charles Wheelwright -- he was co-owner of the Candler house (still standing) across Washington Street from the Wilds -- was a naval surgeon who died of disease while on duty during the Civil War.
