Diary of Annie Adams Fields

Oct 21. Monsieur Bossange of Paris came to breakfast. Miss Dodge (G.H.) to lunch.

Sunday Oct 23. Came news of Col. Lowell’s death.

Dec. 1st 1863 [sic]. Night before last there was a little supper given by Dr Upham, his cousin, & Judge Putnam, to Mr Prescott Smith of Baltimore—there were but two guests beside—one of them being J.T.F. Mr Prescott Smith is the superintendent of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, a man of 39...

Wednesday. Dec 8 [sic]. Dear Mr Whittier passed the night here! What a benediction for any house! Dr Holmes dropped in in the evening. They made curious revelations to each other of their habits of composition; hours &c. and praised each others verses! It was really lovely to sit by.

Thursday morning, went with Mr Whittier to see Miss Sedgwick—she said to him you have done at least one good thing today—you have cheered the heart of a poor sick old woman.

At Christmas We had a tree and large number of merry children. Jamie Beal cried out—“Jolly Uncle ’Eeees give me the firs’ pesent”.

Feb 15 went into J.T.F’s office. He had kept a list of the people with whom he had engaged interviews today, they were

April 3. 1865. Forever memorable! Our armies entered Richmond. Genl Weitzel with the colored troops ahead.

Today April 4. Mr Emerson dined with us and said, “this is a great joy to the world not alone to our little America.” He brought some verses upon Spring to read but they were too fragmentary to satisfy him in reading. There was the excitement and exaltation of the Spring evident in spite of...

April 6. Mrs Hawthorne & Misses Mary & Kate Dewey passed the night with us. They came through in the same train and had many strange experiences to relate.

13th Fast Day. Mary & Kate Dewey left in the morning. Mr Trowbridge sat here nearly two hours. He is sure to be known as a true poet, if he lives.

April 14. Four years ago Sumter fell and today Mr Beecher has been speaking at the fort under the dear old flag!! Lee surrendered Sunday the 9th the news reached us the 10th. It rained hard but the Deweys were here and we drove all around the city. It was an inspiring sight.

April 15. Last night when I shut this book I wondered a little what event or person would come next, powerful enough to compel me to write a few words and before I was dressed this morning the news of the assassination of the President became our only thought.

April 22. False report. Up to the date J. Wilkes Booth has not been taken. A reward of nearly $200,000 is set upon his head but we believe him to have fled into Maryland or farther south with some marauding party.

April 29th Club dinner for J.T.F. Mr Brownell was present. Author of “The Bay Fight” as Dr Holmes’ guest. Dr H. said privately to us “Well t’ain’t much for some folks to do what I’m doing for this man but it’s a good deal for me. I don’t like that kind of thing you know. I find...

Sunday April 30. A day of perfect beauty. Walked about Roxbury in the morning and revelled in the exquisite blossomy loveliness. In the evening Mr Brownell, Mr & Mrs James, Mrs Chapman & her sister, Mr & Mrs Whipple, The Governor & his wife came to tea.

May 2. Left Boston for N.Y. reading Prosper Merimée novel Colomba by the way. Trying to find the story of “the Gipsy” which gave R.W.E. “The Romany Girl.” The sunset was perfect and the wonder of the sea without limit as ever. Plenty of people on board but I was not quite well and a...

May 3. Read Prosper Merimée’s “Colomba.” Went to the New Academy. How beautiful is the building. How interesting some of the pictures. Met Kate Field there & Hennessy the artist. Vedder & Boughton interest me as painters. Called to see Mrs Botta. Lorrimer Graham came in the evening....

Thursday. Mr Graham & Eugene Benson called to go to studios—couldn’t but drove with Jamie to see Mrs Rutherford—a lady with most sweet eyes—“sweetest eyes were ever seen”—drove in the park with her.

Friday. Have seen a lady who knows the person to whom Booth is engaged, said that her letter telling him she was true passed his letter of relinquishment on its way to Philadelphia. She thinks these two women have saved Booth. “I have been loved too well” he said once referring I suppose to...

Sunday. May 7. A radiant day. Went to hear Dr Bellows—a grand discourse—after service sat in his drawing room and talked and then walked together to see that pearl of a building, the Academy which he told us was designed by a young man of the age of 21 unknown previously to fame. Wight by...

Monday. Saw Mr Eastman Johnson in his studio—a man without affectations yet at the head for figure painting in this country. He is on his way to Maine to catch the picturesque season of sugar making from maple trees.

May 23. Began the grand musical festival.

June 3. Left home for Campton. A perfect June day. The morning was fresh and calm and the day grew slowly ripe until when we reached Plymouth at noon the beauty of midsummer was over us. What a contrast to this loveliness of Nature was it when a drunken soldier with his noble sick lieutenant got...

Sunday June 4. Arose ¼ before 6. Our church was as wide-roofed as the sky nor were choice books neglected.