Diary of Annie Adams Fields

April 24. Prof. & Mrs Sanborn of Hanover (Dartmouth College) dined here; his first wife was a niece of Daniel Webster and he told us a touching incident connected with that great man. Soon after Prof. Sanborn’s marriage with the daughter of Ezekiel Webster, Daniel’s favorite if not his only...

May 9th Jamie has been to Lewiston Me. to lecture and should return in an hour now. He is full of engagements although the season proper has ended.

Sunday May 11th Jamie at home, happy but plagued somewhat with the ague. My cook Julia who has been here 4 years went away yesterday.

Monday May 12. Bright sunshiny and lovely—warm sweet airs blowing through the house.

Wednesday May 14. Last teachers’ meeting of the North End School for this year—visit from dear Longfellow who asked me what they were doing to our pretty street (they were tearing up the pavement) “opening a vein?”

Thursday 15. Made several visits—met Mrs Agassiz—went with her to Cambridge to hear her husband. What a treat it was! A clear statement of embryological knowledge, its systems and history forming an insuperable barrier in my own mind & the faith of Darwin—the name of the latter was not...

Friday 16th George MacDonald & his dear wife “greedy Louisa!!” came round and passed the day here. Mrs Baker & Miss Larcom were still here but went for my sake, dear kind souls! to the N.E. School for the P.M. while we stayed with the MacDonalds till the last moment.

Saturday morning went to the train to say “goodby”. Pure true beautiful striving souls—how very dear they have grown to us. “Do not think I have always been so kind to this poor frail body of mine” said dear George but I find that is the way to get the most work out of it. I will tell...

Sunday. L.L. still here—went to church and saw Mrs Putnam in the evening. Mr & Mrs Darrah took tea with us, read Celia’s poems & letters to them.

Monday. Mr. & Mrs De Normandie brought their two children & nurse—they wished to consult the doctor (Mann) lunched with us—read Browning’s new poem “Red Cotton night cap country”—No, no, no, Browning! Why why, what is its excuse for being—?

Tuesday. May 20. Gardening in the morning—most lovely—pyrus japonica in bloom—but it is late for it—dear Jamie came out with me and we rejoiced in the sun and air and green growing things.

Sunday May 25. a warm day, full summer heat. Went to hear Phillips Brooks preach at the Technological hall where he has been ever since the great fire. I felt the lack of seeming earnestness—a great powerful correctness such as George MacDonald possesses indeed he has not, but his work is very...

Monday. Mrs Hemenway came in early to say the Hampton singers were to be at her house in the afternoon and would we come. We had already arranged to drive out with Miss Clara Doria but we arranged to go there first. We found the beautiful house thrown open in lovely summer dress, fresh green...

Tuesday. Still very warm and dusty. Errands & visits.

Wednesday. Still very warm and dusty. Went out to Mrs William Hunts in Milton and passed the day with J. on their lovely place. There was a great mustering of clouds. Their farm, which is not unlike an unkempt Abbotsford, about a mile in extent, was in the perfect beauty of early Spring. She is...

Thursday May 29. Went round to Mrs Putnam’s in the morning where was Mabel and her baby—a lovely fat, calm, fair, healthy baby which Mrs Putnam takes to her heart in a most touching way. He is just like my own children she says, and she holds him to her breast and runs up and down stairs...

Friday. Decoration day—another awful fire has destroyed the Globe Theatre, Chickering’s Workroom and much valuable property—while the smoke was still rolling up, the music and the solemn floral procession in honor of our dear young dead heroes went past the house. It was a day full of sad...

Saturday 31. Made a few last preparations for leaving home for a week. Was sorry I could not see old Mr. Minot—on Monday he was dead!

Sunday. Lovely day, passed the morning at home. We were 12 at tea. Louisa and all her family.

Monday June 2. early off to Hanover. We found ourselves at the hospitable door of Professor Sanborn at three o’clock. Two of the best students of the Senior Class Mr. Wright and Mr. King asked of Mrs Sanborn the privilege of driving down to meet us and bring us to their house. The dear...

Tuesday. There was time for a glorious ramble today which we took at once—early dinner—drive afterward and a party in the evening.

Wednesday. I was faint and obliged to withdraw from the party last evening—today was in bed until noon. In the evening was another party for the Psi-U’s as they call themselves, after J’s lecture on Sydney Smith I was up and able to talk with them and there was great singing, introducing,...

June 5. Hanover, N.H. Dartmouth College. We have been here already 4 days but before I begin to write of my surroundings, seductive as they are, with a wealth of June loveliness and troops of friends, I must return to the last week of May and try to set down something of our experiences.

Friday morning Mr Wright proudly showed us the library, the Ninevah figures the gift of his father through Sir Henry Rawlinson, Culver hall as it is called and we called on the minister and his wife. It was here George MacDonald and his wife stayed and Dr.Wright lives and it was pleasant to see...

Saturday—Came to Boston, feeling already as if we were leaving dear friends behind us. Came down the valley of the Connecticut shining in loveliness. Met Mr. Coffin (Carleton of the Journal) who told of a canal in Canada 29 miles in length to cost 3 millions of dollars wh. will bring grain...