[Boston—Saturday, 7 October 1865]
Saturday Oct 7. Tuesday 3 Edith Emerson was married to William Forbes. The old house threw wide its hospitable doors and the stairway & rooms were covered with leaves and flowers and the whole place was as beautiful as earthly radiance and joy can make a home. Poor Mrs Hawthorne laden with her many sorrows threw off her black robe for that day that she might rejoice with others. Edith made her own marriage wreath and even Mr Emerson wore white gloves. Old Mrs Ripley and many aged and many beautiful persons were there.
Jamie has passed an overwhelming week. Affairs crowd upon him until it becomes impossible to accomplish what should be done. “The sight of a manuscript is like a sword-fish now a days,” he said “it cuts me in two.”
We went out last night to walk off some of the excitement of the day. The moon was [sic] flooded the streets and all was peace. We went into a tent on the common to see the remains of the “Sparrow Hawk” one of the pilgrim ships which was wrecked on Cape Cod 240 years ago. It was touching to see it.
