Sund. 30th Jan. [1853]
Ann the girl sick with ulcerated sore throat.
Mond.
She was too sick to sit up. Margarett washed and I worked about house all day.
Feb 1st 1853
I sent a letter to Mary with 3$ for Roby for her work knitting
Tues.
Watty waited upon Aunt Cushing into Boston to go to Prov. from the Wilsons. Great stir coming at the old [boots?]. All collected to be cleaned.
Wednes.
E.A. put his letter in to the P.O. for Charly — N. York.
Tues.
Mr. Phipps dined with us. All well at home — except baby with a cold. Dr. took Rev’d. into Boston to the 4 o’clock train. James Pierce called. Looked very consumptive. He intended sailing for the Mediterranean, the next day 
Wednes. 2d
Ann is better. I begun to read “My Novel” — Bulwer. It will take me a long time to read it. I have so many old coats to mend, and other needful sewing which I never feel right to neglect for a novel.
Thus. 3d.
Paid the Baker 4’84 — up to the 1st of Feb. Sen. Dr. called to Mrs. John Griggs in Boston 2 o’clock in the night. Staid all next day. Fair, very foggy bad weather for several days. I had a severe cold come on and I was quite sick with ulcerated sore throat — in bed my birth day, Sunday Feb. 6th, 1853. I was 55 years with too much pain and distress about my head to think or say; I was old enough to be good — er[?]. Surely it makes double work to have sickness and reformation together. Therefore attend to the foibles in time of health. Letters this week Mond. 7th Feb. from Susan — and Charly he writes that he is better.
Tues.
Rev’d. Phipps came to talk about Bridgewater. I was better & able to go down to dine. Gave Watty 1$ for cravat.
Wednes.
Watty & Mr. Phipps went to Framingham. I gave from my box 2’59 to Watty to get tickets to & from Fram. In the afternoon Mr. Knapp called & Mrs. Davis. Bethan better and just returned from Prov. where she had been sick one month at Mary’s.
Today Thurs.
Mr. Reynolds called to pay interest on note to Dr.
Sat.
The last Musical Fund concert. I went with Dr. Sen. & Miss Cushing & Ellen Cobb.
Sund.
Frank Knapp preached. A driving snow storm all day. I wrote to Charly.
Mond. eve Feb 14th
My father was taken with palsy and he was so sick I sat up all night with him — but he spoke naught again and died Wednes. night 16th Feb. at 11 o’clock. Dr. E.A.W. went to Prov. Thurs. morning to make arrangements for the funeral. Frid. morning Rev. Knapp made a beautiful prayer. Then father was taken to the Prov. station. I rec. a letter from Mr. Phipps telling us of Watty's being sick with scarlet fever. The fever prevails generally in Brookline.
Sat.
Dr. C.W. returned from Prov. with the influenza.
Sund. 20th
So cold. I did not go to church. R.C. went. I spent my time pleasantly reading Mrs. Ware’s life by Mr. Hall and writing a letter to Emily Jennison. I bought of Miss C. 20 yds. of calico for a present to Margaret & Ann, enough for two dresses.
Mond. 21
Mr. P. preached in Quincy. Did not come out to Brookline which increased my anxiety to hear from Watty — and I wrote to Fram.
Tues. 22d
N. Jennison called to say Em
James L. Pierce of Brookline, a sailor on board the ship Parliament, died at sea of consumption in May 1853.
My Novel, or Varieties of English Life by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, published in 1853. Bulwer-Lytton was the originator of such phrases as "the great unwashed," "the pen is mightier than the sword," and "It was a dark and stormy night." The latter has come to typify purple prose, celebrated with the annual tongue-in-cheek Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest.
Joseph Phipps was offered the position of pastor at the Unitarian church in Bridgewater. Leaving Framingham, he was installed at Bridgewater in March.
Ellen Augusta Cobb, (1827-1913).
William Rhodes was 84 years old when he died.
Memoir of Mary L. Ware by Edmund Hall, published in 1853. Mary Ware was the wife of the Unitarian minister Henry Ware.
