January Sat. 1st 1853
A rainy icy day. Miss Cushing left here soon after breakfast to attend her mother’s funeral. She was carried to Hingham, and her age 86 years. Rachel having been here just 10 weeks paid me 40$. I owed her 2’50. Storming so badly that I did not go to the Fund concert. Dr. Ed. did not go to Prov. as he intended, to see my Charly at M.H. Cushing.
Miss Cushing read loud the eve. in the memoirs of T. Fowell Buxton. An excellent life & example. I finished off Watty’s 3 shirts in a set of 6. Made Wat. a pin cushion. Mended stockings etc.
Sund. 2d
I rose early to see the sun rise upon the most splendid ice scenes I ever beheld. It had rained two days and frozen soon as it rested upon tree or grass. Rachel and I went in a sleigh to church, and I never wish to hear a better sermon from Rev. Knapp. “Despise not small things” but perform faithfully all small duties to make a symmetrical Christian character that must be done, begin the new year with good resolves — and stick to them , correct all small faults, etc. I hope, if I live so long, that sermon will have benefitted me through 53. I did not go out the afternoon so chilly & the horse so smoothe shod. I wrote a letter to Mary and read some — and this eve began to jot down things. R — at the Morlands. Dr. gone to Boston. E.A. took Wat. over to C. —
Mond. 3d
Washing put into tubs. Weather so cloudy & stormy some snow. I sewed for self — petticoat — R Cushing read in Buxton in the eve.
Tues. 4th
Cold & very windy. Both Drs. busy all day. I pieced out my cloak lining. — it being the quilted lining to mothers cloak. Worked on shirts eve.
Wednes.
Dr. E.A. turned out with the cadets. Rachel and I walked over to G. Atkinsons to see his mother & wife. I called at Mrs. Candlers & Edmonds. Worked in the eve upon my cloak. Father was shaved and seemed about the same feeble. Mr. John Howe sent for the old Dr. Ellen Cole, sick, received a letter from S.S. Wood.
Thurs.
A letter from Laura , particulars about a bundle that had been resting, at Fram. station.
Frid.7th Jan.
Rec. a letter from Mary, an account of Charly’s visit to her and his ill health. I went to Boston. took 5$ out of the money Rachel pd. me for board. I bought trim for cloak one dol. handkerchiefs for Watty 84 cts. Car[?] tickets 3$. Lizzy Wilson and I went to the rehearsal. Sewed all the eve on Jan 8th. Finished nearly all my cloak and shirts 2 for Wat. a sunny day. Dr. E.A.W. went to N York to see C.W.W.
Sund.
We went to church all day & called for Mrs. Candlers. Mr. Knapp preached all day. Had on his new present gown. James Oliver at the organ.
This marks the return of the Wilds' oldest child, Charles, to the East, though he is, for now, at his sister's in Rhode Island.
Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, (1786-1845), was a member of the British Parliament, an abolitionist, and a social reformer. His memoirs, edited by his son, were published after his death.
Cambridge
Edward participated as the Independent Corps of Cadets escorted the governor, lieutenant governor, and legistlators from the State House to the Old South Church for the Annual Election Sermon after the opening of the 1853 legislative session.
This is probably George Washington Atkinson, (1825-1890).
This is probably John and Frances Edmond. It is not clear where they lived.
John Howe was an older brother of Mary Howe. Edward Wild had been engaged to Mary Howe before the engagement was broken off. (See p1)
Probably refers to Charles Wild, as opposed to his son Edward.
Identity unknown
Identity unknown
Although back East after a long time in the West, Charly does not seem to be in any hurry to come back to Brookline.
