Diary of Annie Adams Fields

April 15th Monday. Mr. Whittier came to breakfast at 8 o’clock. He had been in Providence to “yearly meeting” and had been visiting some cousins of his. The people were evidently very kind to him & he enjoyed his visit although his description of getting up in the morning to come away with...

Thursday April 18. The weather is already beautiful with the breath of Spring—the air is cold & as if blowing from the high seas but somewhere the news of Spring lies concealed in it. We heard a very beautiful concert—Beethoven’s 7th Symphony and music by Bach—also Dixey played very...

19th fine Spring morning again. Friday school at North St.

Monday April 22. A Springlike rain today is starting the grass and the birds are chirruping in cheerful anticipation of worms, doubtless—but this is almost the first hint of Spring; surely there never was such a cold bleak season before it seems to me. It is the second of Mr. Emerson’s...

Tuesday April 23. Shakspeare’s birthday. Emerson & his daughter passed the night with us and Edith Davidson, Ellen’s “daughter” came to breakfast. We talked over again the pleasures of the night before. Emerson had never heard Hunt talk before and had seldom found Longfellow so...

Wed’y morning—up earlier than usual. There is a Spring cloud over the face of heaven and a few drops of Spring rain: we are grateful for both.

April 25. Good Mrs Osgood of Hollis, Me. came to dine. She has given me the story of her wedded life which began and ended 19 years ago. She was married five months when her husband died of consumption and during all these years the tender memory of her happiness, blighted so early, has...

Saturday. Could not go to Framingham & Southboro’ to see Mabel Burnett, not being well enough. Went to Lincoln St. however in the course of the day and found poor Miss Philbrook much overworked and doing as well as she can I really believe under pretty adverse circumstances. In the evening...

Sunday at home—feeling rather streaked.

Monday. Emerson's lecture. Celia was there. Poetry still. He read a Welsh poem date 1000 A.C. on The Wind—glorious poem. Also The Dire. Also from Saadi.

Tuesday. Arranged bill of fare for Lincoln St. Restaurant in the morning. Family from Louisa’s, also Mother & Sarah to dine at 3 & pass the day.

Wednesday. Party at Lincoln St., out upon business pertaining thereto the entire morning. Sent a piano etc. There were about 30 present—the trades-girls with Kate Cummiskey did not come as usual. Perhaps there was a May Day Festival elsewhere but Mrs Claflin came and brought flowers, also Mrs...

Thursday. Beautiful soaking rain.

Monday May 13. Another lecture from Emerson. “Culture”. Poetry, religion, love. “Superna Respicit Amor.” The lecture was a storehouse of delights and inspirations. Goethe gave a noble contribution in that passage where he bravely recounts his indebtedness to the Great of all ages....

May 15. Went to see a bust in clay of John Keats by Anne Whitney—a noble work. I hope her reputation is secured by it. The busts of Shelley by Story & Robert Browning by the same a[re] weak and poor enough in comparison.

May 16. Jamie ill at home, obliged to give up our engagement to dine at Colonel Greenes Wildwood. Miss Weston & Miss Chapman, two over-dressed and well read old ladies lunched with us. They believe in Jane Austen and rank The Bridal of Triermain above the poems of Tennyson! Read that excellent...

Tuesday May 21. Call from Mr. Emerson, Mrs E. and Ellen. They came in a body to thank me, which Mrs Emerson did in a little set speech after her own fashion at which we all laughed heartily—especially at the “profit” clause. Indeed we had a very merry time altogether. Mr. Emerson gave...

Wednesday. Mr. Longfellow, Dr. Holmes, and Jefferson and Warren, the two first comedians of our time, dined here. The hour was three o’clock to accom[m]odate the two professional gentlemen. The hours until three with the exception of two visits (Miss Sara  Clarke & Miss Wainwright in spite of...

Thursday. A hard delicious rain. Mrs Hunt came for me in the P.M. and I drove about town for the sake of a talk with her. Found Mr. Alger here when I returned. He is subdued enough poor man. He does not seem quite well enough to preach.

Friday. To Nahant with Louisa to help put her country house & garden in condition. What a job! Blessed be nothing!

Saturday. Another soft warm rain. Went Coffee housing etc. Gardening in the P.M. Julian Hawthorne came from the Club home with J.T.F. It is five years since he left America and six since I have seen him. He has entered manhood, has married and has a child—Hildegarde. His wife is a Southern...

Monday May 27. 1872. Celia Thaxter came in, on the wings of a glorious Spring morning. She brought one short poem with her, also an unfinished ballad. Before beginning to read the last she told me in a natural way enough but with very great fervor of the squall which the ballad records in which...

Tuesday. A grand rain. In the P.M. the sky cleared & we drove out to Govr Claflin’s where the heavens poured down again & gave us a very lovely look at their glorious place and time for tea & to carry away flowers. L. Larcom was there & Mrs Caswell & altogether we had a very rare afternoon &...

Wedy. Went early with flowers to E.A.s studio—Miss Sara Clarke, J.F.C., Mr. & Mrs Aldrich & Miss Dewey came to tea.

Thursday. Decoration day—arose before six and made a wreath of white flowers—soon after nine dear Celia Thaxter joined us with more flowers and we carried them all together to the graves of Willie Putnam (for his mother’s sake) who is now in Europe, as well as for his own. We met...