Diary of Annie Adams Fields

Tuesday June 6. My birthday. Lizzy gave us a beautiful present of her Venice picture and mother also sent me a little gift. Jamie brought flowers. We passed the day at Manchester. Mary Lodge dined with us. Mr. Dresel came in and played and talked. He was much excited about Wagner and the modern...

June 13. Came to Manchester. Our dear Alice Towne met us on the piazza with a bunch of Flower de Luce—blue as the sea. It has been rainy and warm in town, but very sweet here all day.

June 15. As I came upon these lines of Chaucer in my reading I could not help thinking that the free religionists would pounce upon the noble poet as after all, at the root of the misleading faith. In his “[La] Priere de Nostre Dame” he says

Saturday June 17. This noon we returned from a visit to Wellesley College and Mr. Hunnewell’s gardens. We found it warm in Boston yesterday where we arrived just about noon in season to pick up a few duds and to make one or two visits and for me to go to a meeting in behalf of the Old South...

Sunday June 18. A glorious day. Poor Jamie suffering torture all night with rheumatism. This lovely sunshine has been good for him and he is already gay once more.

Monday June 19th Lizzy Bartol & Laura Marquand came yesterday afternoon to see us. We were sitting together reading Heine and dear “J” was free from pain all day and nearly all night. I trust he is to be well again. This morning my first walk—it was raining, but the air was full of...

Tuesday. 20th Mr. Bartol sat with us last evening and talked of his protegeés. It was a lovely scene below us. One quiet sail hardly stirred but laid a soft reflection in the bay below us.

Wednesday 21. For the past three days I found a morning walk to the pastures as delicious as ever. Jamie busies himself about the place and with his work. Yesterday we stopped in the afternoon coming from the orchard to speak with Mrs Bowers. Miss Thomas & her niece Miss Olney and Helen Bullard...

Thursday June 22. We rejoiced yesterday in wonderful cloud scenery and in everything the heavens did, except not to give us rain. Today the breezes blow from the North West and it is cool and clear. Read Chaucer’s Book of the Duchess yesterday. We were utterly calm and alone, all day.

Friday. We drove together yesterday and made several calls on neighbors and friends.

Saturday. Devoted ourselves to our guests as they were to leave just after noon. Tall iris in bloom and magnolias. Emma & Henry Holland came. Weather exquisite.

Sunday also. Jamie rose at dawn to read Heine—his life which must be returned to the library tomorrow. I did my little best to entertain my cousins. A magnificent shower—a great pageant.

Monday. The cousins returned to Cambridge. The day floated by without incident, but the wondrous beauty of the earth, and the quiet around us made it seem a second Eden.

Tuesday June 27. Is I believe Commencement (either today or tomorrow at Harvard). What obliviousness do we live in of these events!! Watson and the cistern interest us I am afraid, more, just now. Watson said yesterday to “J”, “I have just peeped into the cistern, Surr, and ye are like a...

Wednesday. June 28. Walked as usual in the morning while Dear J. entertained the Chicago agent Mr. Slayton and sent him on rejoicing.

Thursday. Wild roses all in bloom. No sea-shell was ever more exquisitely veined and hued than those pink leaves with the golden centre.

Friday. My darling went to town. Anna H. & I bathed and read German and the hours flew.

Saturday. The weather is unusually hot and dry but always beautiful. Miss James and her aunt Mrs Walsh dined with us.

Sunday. Quiet day. Read the bible & German poems in the orchard. The warmest day yet.

July 3. Monday. Went to town for a cook—ours giving sudden warning on account of a sister’s illness. On mature deliberation I concluded the sister’s plea was a get up and she did not intend to stay. Found another woman Hannah Conlon & brought her down with me.

Tuesday. July 4th—A radiant day after yesterday’s rain. Everything has been burned by the drought here but today is clear and glorious.

Wednesday. Beautiful day. Read “All’s well that Ends Well” aloud. Jamie read many beautiful things also. The new cook seems excellent and we were very happy. Mr. & Mrs Batchelder called about the time of moonrise.

Thursday. A fierce rushing wind—no rain but a wind that seemed to tear everything up by the roots. I dared not venture out in the morning. To our surprise and delight Mr. Longfellow came to dine. He was pleased to find Anna here and fell to talking of Heidelberg in German with her and quoting...

Friday—Came Mrs Baker, Miss Burnap, and Lizzy Adams. The house was just pleasantly full.

Saturday. The guests of yesterday were escorted away by a young nephew who arrived in the afternoon. Miss Howard and Mrs Thompson the principals of Wellesley College, Mrs Eddy and Nelly arrived. House again filled.