1st of April - today is all fools day. Went to Church. Mr. Haskins read one of his good sermons as usual. Mary was there. Indeed the Church was well filled. Went to sleep, but Mary sent down for me. Lizzie and Sophia were there, such as I was dressed. Bill Sherman and Ivsey Houston called and stayed til 3. Then it was too late as Lorne had gone and I had supper to fix again. The wind was blowing too high. Miss Ann Ennalls has just left. Her cousin, Mr. Byus was married last Wednesday to Fanny Traverse. They say she does not suit him. How I pity him and his children. How thankful, I should be. Father has too much sense to marry anyone beneath him. I hope it will be a always so.
2nd - wind is blowing a perfect gale. Am very busy making bed curtains. Anna G called. She is going to call on Miss Pattison. People can not tell which of us is to be married.
3rd - I worked my fingers sore. Send down for Miss Ann to help me. She came and we finished the other curtains. Mrs. Jacobs and Mrs. Sewell were here. The latter saying she expected someone would be taking some of our girls down to Worster with him, and such nonsense. Miss Ann and I were walking out, and met Jimmy coming home.
4th - beautiful. I am so anxious to know where he is to settle, but the fates seem to be against me. Miss Ann has gone quite sick. I am so sorry and just as I was getting ready to go and see Mary. Cousin Sophia came and stayed for tea. Really, I am so tired of staying in the house. I am almost sick. Jimmy and Mary came down. He is to settle in Salisbury. I hope he will prosper. He was very pleasant.
5th - to think we made arrangements to go riding today and the raining. Still I should say nothing. Was so beneficial to flowers, herbs, and grains of all kinds.
6th - cleared away, beautiful. Went to see Mary. Jimmy came in. He walked home with me. He, Mary, and I went to Mr. Houston's. Had great deal of fun. He is a nice fellow. Came in town for some cards. Came on to rain. Came in his carriage. Father walked out. Stayed til 10. It rained so hard, we stayed all night. They came home. I said to Mary that carriage held the two I hold most dear. How she laughed. He wanted me to make an application of (afthezo~) use in the song called "A place in thy memory dearest". I said I did too.
7th - Jimmy came out for us in the carriage. We went down to the gate to meet him. In a few minutes father came. I rode with Jimmy and Mary with Father. Said he would leave New Market with a sad heart. Asked him to come in. Said it would afford him great deal of pleasure, and such a look. Who would withstand it. 3 in the afternoon, called to see Miss Chamberlain. Found her a very nice girl. Went in to see Mary and that [5-7 word blotch] is a great poet. And Jimmy wrote a thankful piece, the subject his "country". Very smoothly written.
8th - went to Church. Frank went with me. Met Mary and her father going to the Methodist. Thought they were going to Church. Went this evening to see Mrs. Haskins and Miss Winthrop. Then to see Ann Houston. Sallie was there, then came home. Had tea very early, but Mary did not come as she promised to do. "Never mind, I don’t like it". She told me, he asked her a question about me, but would not tell me what it was.
9th - yesterday was the prettiest day of the season. My how changeable. Today it is raining, but still very warm. Cleared up some this evening. Sue Houston and I took a little walk. She is a sweet modest girl. Coming back we met Lizzie and Sophia. I wanted them to come in, but they would not. So Father joined us and we started to go home with them. Soph, Sue, and I went for Mary and we went with them as far as the gate. This is the holidays, I suppose. And Lent was over on Saturday. I saw a piece in the chronicle of Wednesday written to Emma. I wonder if it was intended for me. And Dr. Ben wrote it. Well, I shall know when I see him. We are contemplating calling on Sallie Wright tomorrow.
10th - raining again, but I hope it will clear away. Dr. Jimmy and Frank were in here to make arrangements to go see Sallie W this evening if it clears. It cleared up beautiful and we went. Frank took Lizzie H, and Mr. Myers, Mary. How surprised I was. I know she does not care anything about him. I do hope she will give him the slip yet. We had a delightful time riding home. Uhoy! I would say just before we left. We were talking and he stopped and seemed wrapt in deep thought. I asked him the nature of them. He said I would not like it if he told me. I did not want to hear it. So would not tell me them when we started home. I asked him to tell me. He said he had thought of it for two years. Would not sleep the night before for thinking of it. Well, just as we came to that high bridge, he commenced. Says Miss Emma, I can’t help what you think, but please do not blame me. I have had an affection for two years and God knows, I never spoke of it before a young lady, and have tried to stifle the passion, but in vain. She has been my guardian Angel. Tend to her image, I owe what I am. And she, Miss Emma, is yourself. It needs, but one little word to make me the happiest or most miserable of beings. At least you will not despise me for it. I should be the happiest of beings if you could only in part return the love, which no words would express. Does silence give consent Miss Emma? I don’t know, but what I should keep you in suspense as you have been so long in telling me. You do not despise me for it. God knows you are the only one I ever spoke of it to. I would not ask a closer union til I win for myself a name which I intend to do with Gods help. At least you will let me think of you sometimes and the times the happiest I ever knew spent in your company. And you will promise not to forget me at the end of three years. You will see whether I am worthy of you or not, but why pay to describe that scene. I can’t think of half, although it is indelibly written in my memory. The tone was the softest and sweetest I ever heard. Surely he pleads beautifully, and okay that is not half of the conversation. I could not write more, but will keep it in the secret verses of my heart.
(Entries for May 1855 and June 1855 have not been found)