Village Life in America 1852-1872 Part 12

_Monday evg., May_ 22.--I went to Teachers' meeting at Mrs.

Worthington's to-night. Mrs. George Willson is the leader and she told us at the last meeting to be prepared this evening to give our opinion in regard to the repentance of Solomon before he died. We concluded that he did repent although the Bible does not absolutely say so. Grandmother thinks such questions are unprofitable, as we would better be repenting of our sins, instead of hunting up Solomon's at this late day.

_May_ 23.--We arise about 5:30 nowadays and Anna does not like it very well. I asked her why she was not as good natured as usual to-day and she said it was because she got up "s'urly." She thinks Solomon must have been acquainted with Grandmother when he wrote "She ariseth while it is yet night and giveth meat to her household and a portion to her maidens." Patrick Burns, the "poet," who has also been our man of all work the past year, has left us to go into Mr. McKechnie's employ. He seemed to feel great regret when he bade us farewell and told us he never lived in a better regulated home than ours and he hoped his successor would take the same interest in us that he had. Perhaps he will give us a recommendation! He left one of his poems as a souvenir.

It is ent.i.tled, "There will soon be an end to the war," written in March, hence a prophecy. He said Mr. Morse had read it and p.r.o.nounced it "tip top." It was mostly written in capitals and I asked him if he followed any rule in regard to their use. He said "Oh, yes, always begin a line with one and then use your own discretion with the rest."

_May_ 25.--I wish that I could have been in Was.h.i.+ngton this week, to have witnessed the grand review of Meade's and Sherman's armies. The newspaper accounts are most thrilling. The review commenced on Tuesday morning and lasted two days. It took over six hours for Meade's army to pa.s.s the grand stand, which was erected in front of the President's house. It was witnessed by the President, Generals Grant, Meade, and Sherman, Secretary Stanton, and many others in high authority. At ten o'clock, Wednesday morning, Sherman's army commenced to pa.s.s in review.

His men did not show the signs of hards.h.i.+p and suffering which marked the appearance of the Army of the Potomac. The scenes enacted were historic and wonderful. Flags were flying everywhere and windows, doorsteps and sidewalks were crowded with people, eager to get a view of the grand armies. The city was as full of strangers, who had come to see the sight, as on Inauguration Day. Very soon, all that are left of the companies, who went from here, will be marching home, "with glad and gallant tread."

_June_ 3.--I was invited up to Sonnenberg yesterday and Lottie and Abbie Clark called for me at 5:30 p.m., with their pony and democrat wagon.

Jennie Rankine was the only other lady present and, for a wonder, the party consisted of six gentlemen and five ladies, which has not often been the case during the war. After supper we adjourned to the lawn and played croquet, a new game which Mr. Thompson just brought from New York. It is something like billiards, only a mallet is used instead of a cue to hit the b.a.l.l.s. I did not like it very well, because I couldn't hit the b.a.l.l.s through the wickets as I wanted to. "We" sang all the songs, patriotic and sentimental, that we could think of.

Mr. Lyon came to call upon me to-day, before he returned to New York. He is a very pleasant young man. I told him that I regretted that I could not sing yesterday, when all the others did, and that the reason that I made no attempts in that line was due to the fact that one day in church, when I thought I was singing a very good alto, my grandfather whispered to me, and said: "Daughter, you are off the key," and ever since then, I had sung with the spirit and with the understanding, but not with my voice. He said perhaps I could get some one to do my singing for me, some day. I told him he was very kind to give me so much encouragement. Anna went to a Y.M.C.A. meeting last evening at our chapel and said, when the hymn "Rescue the peris.h.i.+ng," was given out, she just "raised her Ebenezer" and sang every verse as hard as she could. The meeting was called in behalf of a young man who has been around town for the past few days, with only one arm, who wants to be a minister and sells sewing silk and needles and writes poetry during vacation to help himself along. I have had a cough lately and Grandmother decided yesterday to send for the doctor. He placed me in a chair and thumped my lungs and back and listened to my breathing while Grandmother sat near and watched him in silence, but finally she said, "Caroline isn't used to being pounded!" The doctor smiled and said he would be very careful, but the treatment was not so severe as it seemed.

After he was gone, we asked Grandmother if she liked him and she said yes, but if she had known of his "new-fangled" notions and that he wore a full beard she might not have sent for him! Because Dr. Carr was clean-shaven and also Grandfather and Dr. Daggett, and all of the Grangers, she thinks that is the only proper way. What a funny little lady she is!

_June_ 8.--There have been unusual attractions down town for the past two days. About 5 p.m. a man belonging to the Ravel troupe walked a rope, stretched across Main street from the third story of the Webster House to the chimney of the building opposite. He is said to be Blondin's only rival and certainly performed some extraordinary feats. He walked across and then returned backwards. Then took a wheel-barrow across and returned with it backwards. He went across blindfolded with a bag over his head. Then he attached a short trapeze to the rope and performed all sorts of gymnastics. There were at least 1,000 people in the street and in the windows gazing at him.

Grandmother says that she thinks all such performances are wicked, tempting Providence to win the applause of men. Nothing would induce her to look upon such things. She is a born reformer and would abolish all such schemes. This morning she wanted us to read the 11th chapter of Hebrews to her, about faith, and when we had finished the forty verses, Anna asked her what was the difference between her and Moses.

Grandmother said there were many points of difference. Anna was not found in the bulrushes and she was not adopted by a king's daughter.

Anna said she was thinking how the verse read, "Moses was a proper child," and she could not remember having ever done anything strictly "proper" in her life. I noticed that Grandmother did not contradict her, but only smiled.

_June_ 13.--Van Amburgh's circus was in town to-day and crowds attended and many of our most highly respected citizens, but Grandmother had other things for us to consider.

_June_ 16.--The census man for this town is Mr. Jeudevine. He called here to-day and was very inquisitive, but I think I answered all of his questions although I could not tell him the exact amount of my property.

Grandmother made us laugh to-day when we showed her a picture of the Siamese twins, and I said, "Grandmother, if I had been their mother I should have cut them apart when they were babies, wouldn't you?" The dear little lady looked up so bright and said, "If I had been Mrs. Siam, I presume I should have done just as she did." I don't believe that we will be as amusing as she is when we are 82 years old.

_Sat.u.r.day, July_ 8.--What excitement there must have been in Was.h.i.+ngton yesterday over the execution of the conspirators. It seems terrible that Mrs. Surratt should have deserved hanging with the others. I saw a picture of them all upon a scaffold and her face was screened by an umbrella. I read in one paper that the doctor who dressed Booth's broken leg was sentenced to the Dry Tortugas. Jefferson Davis, I suppose, is glad to have nothing worse served upon him, thus far, than confinement in Fortress Monroe. It is wonderful that 800,000 men are returning so quietly from the army to civil life that it is scarcely known, save by the welcome which they receive in their own homes.

_July_ 16.--Rev. Dr. Buddington, of Brooklyn, preached to-day. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Willson, Clara Coleman's sister. My Sunday School book is "Mill on the Floss," but Grandmother says it is not Sabbath reading, so I am stranded for the present.

_December_ 8.--Yesterday was Thanksgiving day. I do not remember that it was ever observed in December before. President Johnson appointed it as a day of national thanksgiving for our many blessings as a people, and Governor Fenton and several governors of other states have issued proclamations in accordance with the President's recommendation. The weather was very unpleasant, but we attended the union thanksgiving service held in our church. The choir sang America for the opening piece. Dr. Daggett read Miriam's song of praise: "The Lord hath triumphed gloriously, the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea." Then he offered one of his most eloquent and fervent prayers, in which the returned soldiers, many of whom are in broken health or maimed for life, in consequence of their devotion and loyalty to their country, were tenderly remembered. His text was from the 126th Psalm, "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." It was one of his best sermons. He mentioned three things in particular which the Lord has done for us, whereof we are glad: First, that the war has closed; second, that the Union is preserved; third, for the abolition of slavery. After the sermon, a collection was taken for the poor, and Dr.

A. D. Eddy, who was present, offered prayer. The choir sang an anthem which they had especially prepared for the occasion, and then all joined in the doxology. Uncle Thomas Beals' family of four united with our three at Thanksgiving dinner. Uncle sent to New York for the oysters, and a famous big turkey, with all the usual accompaniments, made us a fine repast. Anna and Ritie Tyler are reading together Irving's Life of Was.h.i.+ngton, two afternoons each week. I wonder how long they will keep it up.

_December_ 11.--I have been down town buying material for garments for our Home Missionary family which we are to make in our society. Anna and I were cutting them out and basting them ready for sewing, and grandmother told us to save all the basting threads when we were through with them and tie them and wind them on a spool for use another time.

Anna, who says she never wants to begin anything that she cannot finish in 15 minutes, felt rather tired at the prospect of this unexpected task and asked Grandmother how she happened to contract such economical ideas. Grandmother told her that if she and Grandfather had been wasteful in their younger days, we would not have any silk dresses to wear now. Anna said if that was the case she was glad that Grandmother saved the basting thread!

1866

_February_ 13.--Our brother James was married to-day to Louise Livingston James of New York City.

_February_ 20.--Our society is going to hold a fair for the Freedmen, in the Town Hall. Susie Daggett and I have been there all day to see about the tables and stoves. We got Mrs. Binks to come and help us.

_February_ 21.--Been at the hall all day, tr.i.m.m.i.n.g the room. Mr.

Thompson and Mr. Backus came down and if they had not helped us we would not have done much. Mr. Backus put up all the princ.i.p.al drapery and made it look beautiful.

_February_ 22.--At the hall all day. The fair opened at 2 p.m. We had quite a crowd in the evening and took in over three hundred dollars.

Charlie Hills and Ellsworth Daggett stayed there all night to take care of the hall. We had a fish pond, a grab-bag and a post-office. Anna says they had all the smart people in the post-office to write the letters,--Mr. Morse, Miss Achert, Albert Granger and herself. Some one asked Albert Granger if his law business was good and he said one man thronged into his office one day.

_February_ 23.--We took in two hundred dollars to-day at the fair. We wound up with an auction. We asked Mrs. George Willson if she could not write a poem expressing our thanks to Mr. Backus and she stepped aside for about five minutes and handed us the following lines which we sent to him. We think it is about the nicest thing in the whole fair.

"In ancient time the G.o.d of Wine They crowned with vintage of the vine, And sung his praise with song and glee And all their best of minstrelsy.

The Backus whom we honor now Would scorn to wreathe his generous brow With heathen emblems--better he Will love our grat.i.tude to see Expressed in all the happy faces a.s.sembled in these pleasant places.

May joy attend his footsteps here And crown him in a brighter sphere."

_February_ 24.--Susie Daggett and I went to the hall this morning to clean up. We sent back the dishes, not one broken, and disposed of everything but the tables and stoves, which were to be taken away this afternoon. We feel quite satisfied with the receipts so far, but the expenses will be considerable.

In _Ontario County Times_ of the following week we find this card of thanks:

_February_ 28.--The Fair for the benefit of the Freedmen, held in the Town Hall on Thursday and Friday of last week was eminently successful, and the young ladies take this method of returning their sincere thanks to the people of Canandaigua and vicinity for their generous contributions and liberal patronage. It being the first public enterprise in which the Society has ventured independently, the young ladies were somewhat fearful of the result, but having met with such generous responses from every quarter they feel a.s.sured that they need never again doubt of success in any similar attempt so long as Canandaigua contains so many large hearts and corresponding purses. But our village cannot have all the praise this time. The Society is particularly indebted to Mr. F. F. Thompson and Mr. S. D. Backus of New York City, for their very substantial aid, not only in gifts and unstinted patronage, but for their invaluable labor in the decoration of the hall and conduct of the Fair. But for them most of the manual labor would have fallen upon the ladies. The thanks of the Society are especially due, also, to those ladies who a.s.sisted personally with their superior knowledge and older experience. Also to Mr. W. P. Fiske for his valuable services as cas.h.i.+er, and to Messrs. Daggett, Chapin and Hills for services at the door; and to all the little boys and girls who helped in so many ways.

The receipts amounted to about $490, and thanks to our cas.h.i.+er, the money is all good, and will soon be on its way carrying substantial visions of something to eat and to wear to at least a few of the poor Freedmen of the South.

By order of Society, Carrie C. Richards, Pres't.

Emma H. Wheeler, Sec'y.

Mr. Editor--I expected to see an account of the Young Ladies' Fair in your last number, but only saw a very handsome acknowledgment by the ladies to the citizens. Your "local" must have been absent; and I beg the privilege in behalf of myself and many others of doing tardy justice to the successful efforts of the Aid Society at their debut February 22nd.

Gotham furnished an artist and an architect, and the Society did the rest. The decorations were in excellent taste, and so were the young ladies. The eatables were very toothsome. The skating pond was never in better condition. On entering the hall I paused first before the table of toys, fancy work and perfumery. Here was the President, and I hope I shall be pardoned for saying that no President since the days of Was.h.i.+ngton can compare with the President of this Society. Then I visited a candy table, and hesitated a long time before deciding which I would rather eat, the delicacies that were sold, or the charming creatures who sold them. One delicious morsel, in a pink silk, was so tempting that I seriously contemplated eating her with a spoon--waterfall and all. [By the way, how do we know that the Romans wore waterfalls? Because Marc Antony, in his funeral oration on Mr.

Caesar, exclaimed, "O water fall was there, my countrymen!"] At this point my attention was attracted by a fish pond. I tried my luck, caught a whale, and seeing all my friends beginning to blubber, I determined to visit the old woman who lived in a shoe.--She was very glad to see me. I bought one of her children, which the Society can redeem for $1,000 in smoking caps.

The fried oysters were delicious; a great many of the bivalves got into a stew, and I helped several of them out. Delicate ice cream, nicely "baked in cowld ovens," was destroyed in immense quant.i.ties. I scream when I remember the plates full I devoured, and the number of bright women to whom I paid my devours. Beautiful cigar girls sold fragrant Havanas, and bit off the ends at five cents apiece, extra. The fair post-mistress and her fair clerks, so fair that they were almost fairies, drove a very thriving business.

It was altogether a "great moral show."--Let no man say hereafter that the young ladies of Canandaigua are uneducated in all that makes women lovely and useful. Anna d.i.c.kinson has no mission to this town. The members of this Society have won the admiration of all their friends, and especially of the most devoted of their servants, Q. E. D.

If I had written that article, I should have given the praise to Susie Daggett, for it belongs to her.

_Sunday, June_ 24.--My Sunday School scholars are learning the shorter catechism. One recited thirty-five answers to questions to-day, another twenty-six, another twenty, the others eleven. Very well indeed. They do not see why it is called the "shorter" Catechism! They all had their ambrotypes taken with me yesterday at Finley's--Mary Hoyt, Fannie and Ella Lyon, Ella Wood, Ella Van Tyne, Mary Vanderbrook, Jennie Whitlaw and Katie Neu. They are all going to dress in white and sit on the front seat in church at my wedding. Grandmother had Mrs. Gooding make individual fruit cakes for each of them and also some for each member of our sewing society.

_Thursday, June_ 21.--We went to a lawn fete at Mrs. F. F. Thompson's this afternoon. It was a beautiful sight. The flowers, the grounds, the young people and the music all combined to make the occasion perfect.

_Note:_ Canandaigua is the summer home of Mrs. Thompson, who has previously given the village a children's playground, a swimming school, a hospital and a home for the aged, and this year (1911) has presented a park as a beauty spot at foot of Canandaigua Lake.

_June_ 28.--Dear Abbie Clark and Captain Williams were married in the Congregational church this evening. The church was trimmed beautifully and Abbie looked sweet. We attended the reception afterwards at her house. "May calm and suns.h.i.+ne hallow their clasped hands."

_July_ 15.--The girls of the Society have sent me my flag bed quilt, which they have just finished. It was hard work quilting such hot days but it is done beautifully. Bessie Seymour wrote the names on the stars.

In the center they used six stars for "Three rousing cheers for the Union." The names on the others are Sarah McCabe, Mary Paul, Fannie Paul, Fannie Palmer, Nettie Palmer, Susie Daggett, Fannie Pierce, Sarah Andrews, Lottie Clark, Abbie Williams, Carrie Lamport, Isadore Blodgett, Nannie Corson, Laura Chapin, Mary F. Fiske, Lucilla F. Pratt, Jennie H.

Hazard, Sarah H. Foster, Mary Jewett, Mary C. Stevens, Etta Smith, Cornelia Richards, Ella Hildreth, Emma Wheeler, Mary Wheeler, Mrs.

Pierce, Alice Jewett, Bessie Seymour, Clara Coleman, Julia Phelps. It kept the girls busy to get Abbie Clark's quilt and mine finished within one month. They hope that the rest of the girls will postpone their nuptials till there is a change in the weather. Mercury stands 90 degrees in the shade.

_July_ 19, 1866.--Our wedding day. We saw the dear little Grandmother, G.o.d bless her, watching us from the window as we drove away.

Alexandria Bay, _July_ 26.--Anna writes me that Charlie Wells said he had always wanted a set of Clark's Commentaries, but I had carried off the entire Ed.

_July_ 28.--As we were changing boats at Burlington, Vt, for Saratoga, to our surprise, we met Captain and Abbie Williams, but could only stop a moment.

Saratoga, 29_th._--We heard Rev. Theodore Cuyler preach to-day from the text, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world." He leads devotional exercises every morning in the parlors of the Columbian Hotel. I spoke to him this morning and he said my father was one of his best and earliest friends.