[Boston—Saturday, 17 February 1872]
Saturday 17. From this date to March 1. I have skipped all record. The most interesting events and people have been passing before me but I am so much a part of the panorama as to have no time left to stand apart and observe.
I had many visitors I remember on the above Saturday and “rested on the Sabbath” except for afternoon school and visits which came afterward. Monday Mr. Collyer, Robert, of Chicago arrived while we were at the opera hearing Nilsson. We made an especial effort for tickets on his behalf but he came too late. I found when we reached home that his mind was too full of his own work of his own & the general great calamity to find it easy to direct him. He did not even wish he had seen “Mignon”—Nilsson’s Mignon with which our inner eye was filled, so beautiful, so strong, is her impersonation. He was most cheerful however and ready to hear of our enjoyment. I made him a hot punch while we talked and he went to bed and slept quietly.
All the week long he lectured every night and traveled every day while we saw him at meal times. His face has the grand light in it of one absorbed by a great aim and inspired by a great faith. At first I thought him much older and greyer than before the fire. I doubt not that he is. After a time I lost the thought of it in this noble uplift of the spirit which shines out in his face. His presence has been a benediction to the house. He is full of Yorkshire stories, full of literature, filled with a love of all best things. What a pity I can write nothing down except the spirit of love which haunts the man and overflows to those most near.
The week was a very occupied one—two wedding dinners, parties, North St. school etc. On Sunday R.C. preached twice to enormous audiences in the music hall and awakened the minds of the people to a larger spiritual life.
He is always gay after his work is done and comes down singing his hymns in the morning as fresh and jolly as a new-born saint.
And so the following week came in. Nilsson made us a visit just before R.C. left & Howells were here at the same time. We had a gay time. All fell in love with Nilsson. She is interested in getting autographs to every home with her. The weather has been cloudless and dry and at times bitterly cold. She bears up marvellously, & is to prolong her stay. Her eyes shone & twinkled and glowed by turns. Jamie humbugged her & she finding him out would turn upon him. She is a noble creature with great, great, powers, if not genius. I have only seen her once. We could not afford 4 dollars a place and the subscribers places were almost always used by the owners.
She is most friendly and wishes us to go to Roslyn to stay a few days with her before she leaves the country.
