[Manchester—Friday, 2 August 1867]
August 2d We heard the rain about 3 o’clock this morning begin to patter among the leaves of our tulip tree and it poured when J. went to the train. Nevertheless I was able to walk on the beach in the dim mist. The tide came up and caught me where I sat listening to the distant whistle of the curlews and the beating of the waves. I sprang backward but left my shawl to the mercy of the waters. Fortunately although somewhat wet the waves did not carry it off, so I ran and captured my property and sought another perch.
Such a rain I have seldom seen before. “The floods came” as in scripture days without thunder or cessation. The winds blew furiously towards night-fall and carried away a bough of our tulip-tree.
