Diary of Annie Adams Fields

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...

Friday morning. Mr. Whittier came at 8 o’clock to breakfast. Lucy Larcom had arrived the night before. I found her here on my return from a chamber concert of wonderful beauty where Leonard, Eichberg and others had given us Beethoven, Schumann and Bach till our souls were filled with it. Sat...

Sunday. Feb. 4. Here we are round at Sunday again without a moment coming to set down any of the pleasant things which have happened—Whittier has been in town and has made us two visits. I have seen Mrs Hunt several times. (I went to hear Lohengrin played by Mr. Dixie at her home one night;...

Friday Feby 9. New Britain Conn. whither I came with J. who lectured here last evening. It is a flourishing manufacturing town, the home of Elihu Burritt whom Jamie has gone to see while I sit by the stove nursing a cold in my head—one that came suddenly on in the cars yesterday, just as it...

Saturday night. Refused President White’s kind invitation to dinner and went to bed.

Awoke Sunday morning better. Wrote a letter for Mr. Beecher to print in the Christian Union about Coffee Houses at his request. Neither of us went to church in consequence.

Monday. Laura came from Staten Island and passed the day with us, carrying her friendliness so far even as to come over with us to Brooklyn where J. lectured that night. It was a long tedious drive but she lightened the way.

Tuesday. For the 3d time saw the fine pictures at Goupil’s gallery—Gerome’s Crucifixion his master-piece—and a picture by Brion of the Creation. There were other fine things but these are supreme and never to be forgotten. Down Broadway with Jamie—Found Osgood getting Jamie’s book...

J reached home 9 a.m. Thursday. Feby 15.

February 16. Mr. James read his paper here upon Emerson—33 persons present. Holmes, Weiss etc. a brilliant company.

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.

Friday March 1. Came L.W. Johnson, Mrs Leonowens, with her marvellous tales of Siam & her daughter to pass a few days—a party in the evening—when Mr. Dixie played and Misses Cary played and sang. It was a beautiful, successful occasion. The ladies all arrived without their luggage and I much...

Sat. March 10 [sic]. They left us. I was ill with a cold.

Sunday 11 [sic]. Fine rain at last—utter quiet; not well enough to go out—read Voltaire by John Morley & Buxton Forman on living poets—two grand good books.

Monday 12 [sic]. Perfect day, went out in the sunshine—visit from Mrs C.L. Brace in the afternoon. Her husband has inaugurated and carried forward a truly marvellous missionary work in New York. 20,000 children yearly are sent west by him.

Tuesday. Snow and sleet. In came Mr. Collyer from Chicago again. He had travelled incessantly since Sunday Evening after church—says his wife is getting their new hired home in order. Carpets are all down and every thing has gone forward marvellously in his absence. “Such a lovely temper as...

March 13. J.T.F. left this morning for Philadelphia where he is to lecture. Robert Collyer is here with me. The house is still enough today.

Friday 15. This evening Robert Collyer and I sat together and he told me a touching story of his life. He was speaking of the unhappiness of married life and how it grew worse sometimes forever in this world. But not always he said. I must tell you! “When we were married, mother was a servant...

Friday March 22. Went to North St. school for a short visit in the afternoon. Mrs Elisha Atkins had called in the morning with a heart full of enthousiasm for a Holly Tree Coffee Room at South Boston. Her husband is a large ship owner it seems and all his ships come in to a government dock over...

Saturday morning March 23. Celia and I were first at breakfast but Mr. Emerson & J. soon followed. Mr. E. had evidently been at work, his hands were somewhat cold. I heard him stirring before seven o’clock. He came down bright and fresh however with the spirit of youth in his face. Jamie made...

Palm Sunday. Cold and clear again—snow blowing as if it were December.

March 30. Saturday. Heard Robert Collyer on C. Bronte this morning—saw Mrs Endicott upon Women’s Education afterward—visits from the Hunt Children—Mrs S. Johnson Jr., Mrs. Charles Pierce Cambridge, Miss E. Longfellow, Mrs James Lodge, Mrs Darrah, Mrs Osgood.

April 11th Last night Jamie dined with Longfellow. John Field of Pa. & Lowell were the two other guests. J. was there 20 minutes before the rest arrived and Longfellow gave him an account of the wedding of a school mate of mine, Dora Clark, an excellent generous hearted, generously built woman,...

April 12. Mr Alger called. He appears perfectly well but saddened and subdued when he speaks of his illness; 12 long months he was away from home. He says he knew he was overworking himself but he thought the result was simply weakness and a “running down” of the system, he never dreamed of...

April 14. Of late the days have worn quietly on and today Sunday Jamie has gone to hear Dr. Putnam as in the old times except I stay behind. Jamie is busy over his lectures and I am busied not only with the work in hand but with the thought of literary occupation for the summer.