[Boston—Sunday, 18 October 1863]
Sunday. Heard Edward E. Hale preach one of the best charity sermons we ever listened to. He said we had no idea that the warm weather of the past season had produced a more severe epidemic among the crowded poor than Boston had known since the day of cholera. 900 children have died in five months for want of air in Boston.
There were few dry eyes after the discourse. Money poured in plentifully.
Took five little children to drive in the afternoon. It was exquisite to see their enjoyment for the day was beautiful enough to make the seraphs happy. We stopped at Mr Longfellow’s. He took the children out of the carriage in his arms. How touchingly kind he was—his manner was full of harmony like his own poems.
In the evening went to Julia Howe’s. There was Henry Tuckerman the essayist, Mrs Apthorp, Miss Loring and Mr Dresel (soon to be married), Miss Elizabeth Peabody, Mr & Mrs Whipple &c. Mrs Howe always impresses us with her conversational skill. I am convinced none of the French women were more clever at this. Her face will shine and the words flow to an unobservant woman and yet Mrs Howe never be present.
