April 20th 1857
Dr. gave me 3'00. I went to Boston shops bought silk & lace & rib -- made me a green summer bonnet then repaired my straw for second best. Cold & rainy weather so that I kept on wearing my winter clothes & bonnet.
Thurs. 30th
Frid. May 1st
I had of Dr. 10$ for my self, to pay Mrs. Young for making shirts and my fare to E. Bridgewater. Dr. made Laura a present of sewing machine 15$ and 20$ to Mr. Phipps to travel to the Convention in Alton, Ill.
I staid one week with them, and enjoyed my vis. exceedingly rode over [South?] call upon Miss Bennet & mother, Mrs. Mitchel &c. I brought home Em.
Friday 8th
Found all going on easy with Kate Early and Dr. said I had better run up to Prov. to take up a quantity of strawberry [vines?] I did so.
Sat 9th May
took Em with me, waited for EJC -- carriage. M. came in to go to Manchester, but turned back & we all had a nice ride out to N.P.
Mond.
Mary & I went up to see Hannah & the cottage.
Tues.
Called upon Mrs. Ballou, tumbled over a wall to get away fr. the cows. I returned to B.
Wednes 13th; noon.
Laura & family arr. from E. B. to visit us while Mr. P journeyed to Alton. He started Mond 11th. May -- Meetings began Wed. in Alton.
Sund. 17th
Laura & I went to church. L. & I went to Mrs. Blakes with the children to tea Frid. 22nd
Tues. 19th
L. & I met Miss Bennet in Boston & went shopping. Dr. gave me 4$. It stormed in eve. & Miss B. returned to B. with us stormed Wed. Thurs. and Frid. cleared enough for L. to go to the city with Miss. B. & shop. Then she went to E. Bridge. Laura came out here.
Sund. 24th
Stormed. Kate cross & odd -- about these times
Mond. 25th
I did not help her wash -- but found enough cleaning round to do. Mr. Phipps arr here in season to take Laura to Aniversary dinner Tues 26th
Wednes.
We took tea at Mrs. Davis
Thurs. 28th
L. & Mr. Phipps took tea at Sarah Searles. Emma out with scarletena
Sund 31st
Emma so sick Laura staid at home. Kate went to church all day & eve.
Sat 30th
I took the children to the Sund school picnic & Miss Searle
Mond. June 1st
I worked hard all day. Washing day &c. Mr. Phipps returned to Bridgewater.
Tues.
L. made some calls up town & Wednes. L & 4 children went home. I missed them so I made a call at Mrs. Crafts.
Thurs.
Called on Candlers & Cushings
Frid.
I had a hard time cleaning wardrobe closet from the moths &c. Mike took up the carpet & I finished the study cleaning.
Sat June 6th
Called upon Mr. Powers
Joseph Phipps, with financial support from the Wilds, was one of several Unitarian ministers from Massachusetts and elsewhere in the East to attend the Western Unitarian Convention in Alton, Illinois. The convention adoption a resolution condemning slavery, which prompted a walkout by representatives from St. Louis and other areas. Two years later, in the last of the Lincoln-Douglas debates (held in Alton on October 15, 1858), Abraham Lincoln referred to the events of the convention as he disputed Douglas' contention that it was political agitation, not slavery, that was dividing the nation.
The expression "in season" is used here and elsewhere in the diary. It seems to mean "in time for".
Scarletina, which Mary spells differently, is another name for scarlet fever.
Louis-Phillipe Jullien's band, which Mary had seen in Philadelphia (p22), played at the Music Hall in Boston this week. Members of the family attended several times.
Edward Augustus Wild (1825-1891) was the third oldest of Mary and Charles Wild's six children who survived to adulthood.
