Diary of Annie Adams Fields

Monday. Mother & Sarah returned to Roxbury the former being slightly ill. Shopping with Sarah in the morning and preparations for their departure consumed the day, no study.

Tuesday. To Roxbury to see how mother was, found her better. In the evening just as Jamie and I were going to inquire after Aldrich who is ill, Mrs Stowe and Mr & Mrs Allen came.

Wednesday. Jamie went to Longfellow’s in the evening where Lowell read a new “Big’low” upon Andy Johnson.

Thursday. Warm as summer. We went to Manchester and took our lunch in the sun on Eagle Head; a soft haze covered the sea and the waves came up with their old beauty. The beach was wonderful with groups of gayly clad country children playing on the sands. I observed one young girl walking with a...

Friday. Went to Roxbury. Mrs Murray, Mrs Stowe & Georgie, Mrs Osgood, Mr Thompson (artist) dined with us.

Saturday. Went with Mrs Stowe to see two remarkable paintings Gustave Dore’s, “Mountebanks”—The Rescue by DeHaas. She is thinking of another novel to embalm Aunt Esther. Thinks to lay the scene in Natick where the real Big’lows ancestors of “Hosea” come from, relatives of Mr Stowe.

Tuesday. Tomorrow I expect Laura! What a pleasure it will be to see her. Today a few hours in the little study with the water in the bay as beautiful as spring and haze can make it.

Wednesday morning. Dear Laura came with Mr Johnson early at five o’clock. Ann ran down to let them in for we were really too sleepy for anything but to feel quietly glad they had come.

Thursday. Mr & Mrs Dana & Sallie, Prof. O.W.H. and his good wife & son took tea with us. We were very jolly indeed. Young O.W.H. is going to Europe. We shall give him good letters for he is not a commonplace young man.

Friday. Breakfasted with “Tom” Appleton. Saw a lovely Eastman Johnson, girl gathering water-lilies and much beside which was beautiful. He read us the last poem of André Chénier which I had never seen before, written a few moments before execution.

Saturday. Bessie came in town early and we all went together to hear Mr Emerson’s first lecture. Afterwise Mr E., Ellen, Edith & her husband, Edward & Mr Longfellow all joined us at dinner. We had a very happy time; the whole scene was like a festival; Jamie had brought in May flowers enough...

Sunday. Walked to Roxbury to see mother in the morning, went to tea at Louisa’s & to see the dear Bartols afterward.

Monday. Errands, to see mother, home in the evening.

Tuesday. Up early writing a little, reading a little, how delightful home does seem.

Wednesday. Read two cantos of the “Purgatorio” before breakfast—the analysis of love.

Thursday April 19. Excessively warm! Went to dressmakers then out to mother’s and gave her dinner, then in to the last Symphony concert with Jamie. The music was exquisite and I said, when I am dead if there are any here who still love me I wish for burial service the “Andante” from...

Friday. Prof’s Hunt of Montreal & Youmans of New York breakfasted. Prof. Hunt is one of the most fluent and graceful speakers as well as most learned men of our time. His chief labor in science at present is to prove the atmosphere of the earth at a very early period to be quite different from...

Saturday. Mr Emerson’s lecture in the morning—crowded.

Sunday. Little reunion here in the evening—Sterry Hunt spoke. Heard Mr Bartol preach about the necessity of the church. I was sorry because my sympathies did not run along with him. If the church as an organisation is a necessity to society and a purifier it will exist without preaching, but I...

Monday April 22 [sic]. Weather changing from summer loveliness to winter’s cold. Party at Mr James’ for Mr & Mrs Ripley but as we had a party for them last night and my throat is sore we conclude to remain at home. Passed the day with mother.

Tuesday. Rain, cold—lovely morning with books at home.

Wednesday. Lilian Aldrich—& mother in the morning.

Thursday. Mother for the day. Read Bayard Taylor’s story of Kennett in the evening (while Jamie was at the Club) and liked it better than I had hoped. It is a carefully studied picture with one thoroughly lovely character.

The last day of April in the morning. The faint moon was setting in the west as I arose, the east was resplendent and Nature was awake. The Linden leaves begin to throw a soft checkering shade on the walks, violets are in perfection in the open air, and the green world is at her loveliest.

Yesterday Sunday we passed in the morning with mother and on the Highlands of Roxbury; in the early afternoon came the Aldrichs to say that Osgood who arrived the day previously from Europe was ill, we went to tea with Louisa who upbraids us a little; she tries not to say too much for suffering...