[Boston—Thursday, 25 January 1872]
Thursday. Jany 25. Last night Jamie lectured in Leominster. Crowded house—pretty town—the moon was up and it was very cold but he walked out upon the snow this morning between sunrise and moonset and came home in season for a late breakfast. He described to me the good man who kept the hotel. Now said he after the lecter’ tonight I shall give you some oysters, hot. There was delay about the oysters, presently he came bringing them himself—“military ball here last night, cook as mad as thunder—but here are yer oysters!” putting them down triumphantly. The maid who waited at breakfast was always referred to by him as the “hired girl”. When the oysters were fairly on the table he turned to “J”—“I was in tonight!” Yes said “J”—I saw you!”
“Did!” with a faint surprised—“Yes, I was in and afterward Mr. Mamill & I was er talking of it comin’ out and sayin’ we guessed t’was about as good a lecter’ as w’d ever hed here.”
In the cars were an orthodox minister and a woman also orthodox, a perfect stranger to him who took a seat beside him & opened up the conversation. Wall, said she after a few preliminaries in a loud voice, now in a few words what is yur idea of atonement or at-one-ment as it mighted be that them folks talk so much about.”
This kind of thing went on for a long time with a description among other things of a young girl who at 11 years of age was a shinin’ light in the whole perrish because of her love for Jesus—all in a high hard voice.
