East New Market

Diary Entries

Diary of Emma Edmondson 1854 - 1855

February 1855

March 1855

1st - we rode out to Mr. Wright’s this morning.  He would have us to drink some toddy.  Took me all around his mill dam and showed me its improvements.  Lizzie hath what she drank.  Coming home she tied her veil on the whip and such shouting and laughing.  Nellie and Billy P, Josey, and Pussy and Billy Martin spend this evening with us.  Even brought a nice horse and we rode out to Easton.  Had a splendid ride.  He is such a nice fellow.  I admire him so much.  We are all to be at Mr. Wrights.

2nd March - spent the day at Mr. Wrights.  Bill P did not come until afternoon.  I went to speak to Mr. Martin and called him Mr. Powell.  Did it twice and then he told on me.  The girls said he kept looking over to our table, and wanted him to go there as he would not pay and attention to the game over there.  We danced until 5 minutes of 12.  Nellie was taken sick.  How I nursed her.  She did not get quick until 2 o’clock when I went to bed.  Billy looked his thanks.

3rd - we have had delightful weather so far.  The sun rose beautiful.  We are going down to Mr. Powell’s dinner.  Nellie says she wants to see how I will like it.  Mr. Powell took me down.  It is a real sweet place.  The yard runs down to "Wye".  Sweet Wyee.  It looked so beautiful.  I wonder if I shall every have the pleasure of rambling on its banks again?  Lovely river.  How I love your sweet waters.  After dinner went to Wye Church.  Another sweet spot and River.  Read such a beautiful and impressive sermon.  Kate said we walked in as if the whole Church belonged to us.  I think we created quite a sensation.  I had bid dear Nellie goodbye.  I wonder when I shall see her again.  It seems, I love her more now, than I did before.  After Church we rode down to Wye landing and looked across at Pekars Island.  Also saw the home place, a very large and commodious house.  Never got home until they were all done tea.  Told me riding along, he liked to have asked me to sit at the head of the table.  My how I should have blushed if he had.  They worried me enough any how.  There was 21 dined there.

4th - we walked out to the gate and met Mr. Powell.  He took me around to Mr. Harris’s.  Pussy rode down with Lizzie and Johnny.  Mr. and Mrs. Bryan rode down also.  We took the slats out of the bed and Johnny fell in.  And they to match us, took our trunk and put it in his room, so we could not get out night clothes.  Poor Pussy was so mad.  The next morning, we hid the cushions and they could not find them.  Been playing cards.  Billy P and I always laughing.

5th - such beautiful weather.  Took a long walk.  It is clouding up.  Now is raining.  Mr. Bryan has left after a long search for his cushions.  Mr. Powell cannot go.  Played Loo.  Mr. Powell and I won both piles of coffee.  Had a dance, then went to bed.  We will sleep well.

6th - still raining.  Mr. Powell and I had a promenade.  Put my ring on with a wish.  Told me what it was hoped we might be "better friends".  But another one, hoped we would be "best friends".  Played "all fours".  Beat Mr. Harris the rubber and one game beside.  Cleared away.  We are going home this afternoon.  Mr. Powell wrote a letter and sent his daguerreotype to Lou.  She said she was going to send it away.  I know what she meant.  Said goodbye.  He told me to write a postscript when I wrote Nellie, and said if I would be a good girl, he would write.  Had a beautiful run across.  Took tea at Mr. Wright’s and then rode home to see my dear, kind Father.  How much I did enjoy myself whilst away.  How thankful.

7th - very pleasant, but not so warm as yesterday.  Planted our peas and seed today.  How often I have thought of all my Talbot friends today.  Indeed they would be quite vain if they only knew how much and often I thought of them.  Dear Jimmy and Mary were to be home on Saturday.  I did not have the pleasure of throwing him a bouquet. 

8th - rather cool.  Cousin Hill Smith dined with us.  Uncle Willoughby brought our new bed steads home.  Blowing quite hard now.  Clouded up some.  I thought it be pleasant.

9th - still blowing a gale.  Lou Houston and Lizzie H took tea with me.  Frank called and has just gone round to see to see Jimmy and Mary.  They certainly must have had an unpleasant trip today.  The wind blowed so hard.  Lou has gone to a party.

11th - Sunday went to Church.  Saw Jimmy.  Thought this evening I would write some letters and not go to Church.  Lizzie H called and stayed all the evening.  Saw Mary as she came home from Church.  Spoke to her after tea.  Went around to see her.  Found Jimmy quite pleasant.

12th - cloudy last night.  Was the darkest night I ever was out in.  Miss Ann Ennals was here this evening.  I have written to Sarah, Lizzie, and Lavinia Staplefort.  I am all alone.

13th - still dull and unpleasant.  Cleared a little in the afternoon.

14th - cleared away beautiful.  Frank called and took me down to Mr. Thompson’s to call on Miss Curtis.  Jimmy took Lizzie Houston.  How strange it was.  It is the first time he ever took anyone but myself when I have been in company.  I can’t tell how it happened.  John Stack took Mary.  Jimmy does not like my not going to the commencement.

15th - invited to spend the evening at Mr. Thompson’s.  Jimmy called to take me.  I thought he would come over.  Enjoyed myself very much.  Jimmy did not pay me any attention.  Scarcely strange fellow.  He told me when he was over, how much he enjoyed my society, and now he seems to dislike it.  Still his eye speaks the same.  His looks are as ever.

16th - Em Thomas, Mary, Frank, and Jimmy were here.  He has taken a dreadful cold.  He told Em, he would not say a dozen words.  I wonder what he means.  Say it.  Cousin Mary Smith came after me.  After tea, Billy Sherman called.  We walked to Mr. Jacobs after Mary to go with us to Federalsburg.  Found Dr. Robertson there.  Jimmy came to the piano and asked for the music he sent me, which I played.  He seemed to be pleasant.

17th - rained but stopped in the afternoon.  Went to Federalsburg.  Mary did not go.

18th - went to Church.  Saw Mr. Willis, the bean of the place.  It is such a sandy place, but widely far ahead of us in trade.  Julia Elliott and some Mr. Stack called and stayed for tea.  Then Mr. Williams and Davis Elliott and Willis.  We had a very pleasant evening.  Mr. Willis has read good deal.  We had an interesting conversation.  He is coming to play a game of cards with me.

19th - Julia went home this morning.  Cousin Lizzie Conervey came up and spent the day.  In the afternoon, Julia and I took a walk around the Mills.  Such a pity, she has not read more.  So amiable & virtuous.

20th - are invited to spend the evening with Mrs. Brown, a sister-in-law of cousin Mary.  She is a sweet woman.  So much like my Aunt Margaret.  Her manners, figure, and lastly her features are very like her.  Met with Miss Pancock, a teacher of the school.  She is easy in her manners for a Northern lady.  Mr. Willis and Davis were there.  Mr. Willis walked home with me.  We had a game of cards and I caught him Philopena.  He asked what it should be, and I laughingly said, a lifetime of devotion.  He said I should have it.  He wanted to give of me all of the time.

21st - Mr. Willis came down and I beat him the rubber in Euchre.  My how he hated it.  He caught me Philopena.  We are to drink another, which will decide who shall pay.  He wrote me on a slip of paper, would I walk with him at three.  I said yes.  We went walking.  Had a nice one.  When we returned, who should we find at home, but Frank Houston.  Had been up at Davis town.  Mr. Willis came in after tea and we had a game at cards.  I caught him Philopena.  He asked cousin Mary if she was willing, he should do what I laughingly said.  She was willing then turned to me and said what does Miss Edmondson say.  Then he wrote it on paper and handed it to me.  I answered after some hesitation.  When there was any reality in it would be time enough for me to think of it.  Then he wrote.  What other pledge then the word of a gentleman would I speak?  None other than he asked me the same question.  I said I would exact one other.  He must show by his future conduct whether he was in earnest or not.  He said it was just as I pleased.  I told him no.  He must ask Miss Carter.  She is a lady in Milford whom says he is pleased with.  He said not.  She had nothing to do with it upon the honor of a gentleman.  Asked me to answer the question.  I wrote devotion is acceptable from anyone to a lady.  Then he asked me, how is it in this particular case.  If what I said be true, of course.  This one come under the general head.  He said he never saw anyone evade an answer better in his life.  Then says I shall not see you again, and I want to know in earnest.  I said he had my answer.  Then bid me good bye.  Cousin Mary thinks he will be down soon.  I don’t know the men are so changeable.

22nd - father has come after me.  Had a party at Capt Stewarts last night, but I did not care to be there.  Saw Mr. Willis when he passed to take his Father down to meet the boat for Baltimore.  We are to go Mr. Houston's, when we get home.  Frank is to take (and Father) my trunk, which he says is far more agreeable.  An imprudent darling man is my Papa.  We went to Lizzies.  Really she entertains company well.  Jimmy payed me some attention.  Danced with me two sets.  We drank Philopena.  I caught him.  I was sorry to see him go out with Dr. Robertson to the carriage and afterwards to know what they went for.  I am so afraid he will be dissipated.  How many young men throw away talents, time, and I am sorry to say their souls too in dissipation.  I hope such will not be his fate.

23rd - received an invitation to Mrs. Willis’s this morning.  I am glad she had the good sense to look over such folly.  Enjoyed myself, indeed.  I think all did.  So they did yesterday judging from the time they left which was 3 o’clock.  We left Mrs. Willis at 2.  Had quite a long conversation with Jimmy.  Went with him to supper and with Cephas to the refreshment table.  We are going to Mr. Jacobs on Monday.  Hope to have more fun.

24th - Miss Curtis, Sallie Thompson, Dr’s King and Robertson, Tom, Ceph, and Frank, Jimmy came to the piano and asked for some music, which I played.  They spent an hour.  Jimmy has a new horse and carriage.  I wonder who will be the first lady who will ride in it.  How I will envy her.  Father brought home two letters, one from cousin Sarah Lizzie, and the other from Billy Powell.  How astonished I was, and I must say pleased too.  I had no idea he was in earnest.  He is such a nice fellow.  Father would be willing to that.  I know from what he says.  I expect he will be over next week, so he wrote.  What a week of pleasure this has been, party after party, and flirtation after flirtation, and the winding up was so pleasant a letter from Billy.  How thankful I should be for so many kind mercies, and how thankful to kind Providence for so many blessings.  The wind is blowing very hard.  A little boy was killed this afternoon, accidentally by a shot from his gun.  Harrison has been very sick, but thanks to kind Providence he is much better.  Jack Collins gives a party to the gentlemen tonight.

25th - Sunday.  The wind is blowing very high, yet I went to Church.  Mr. Haskins gave us fits about dissipating so much in Lent.  In the afternoon, Mary stopped and we had a long chat.  Went to night Church and Jimmy walked home with us.  He is pleasant.

26th - went to Mr. Jacobs and spent the evening.  Had a nice time.  Jimmy was more attentive than he has been since his return.  Stayed all night.  Proposed a ride on horseback.  Jimmy is to ride with me.  He is so fond of music.  He must be good.

27th - came home this morning.  He walked down with me.  Did not go to Mr. Thompson’s on horseback, but went in carriage.  I was the first to ride in the new carriage & horse.  Coming home he told me plainly he loved me and said that was what would make his cup of happiness full.  I am thinking it is almost full then.  Father is going to Baltimore tomorrow.  I hope he will have a pleasant trip.  Dear kind, good father, how I do love him.

28th - was up and dressed by 5.  Father started at 6.  Had a clear, but windy morning.  Lizzie H called.  I walked home with her.  Asked her mother if she might stay with me.  Said yes.  Went for Mary J.  Jimmy was at home with those pretty slippers on.  I wonder if he ever thinks of she who worked them.  Mary came home whilst at tea.  Sallie Collins came in and we were laughing very heartily at the good jokes on Mary and Lizzie.  When Frank rapped, which he had to do several times, we were keeping with a nod.  After a while Jimmy came.  We went up in the parlor.  Had some music and a game of cards, also dimes.  Mary would go home.  She did not like it because he did not want her to go with him.

29th - saw Jimmy pass.  He will be home on Sunday.  Very nice day.  Sallie Thompson came out to stay all night.  Went for Mary.  Mr. Myers and Frank called.  We had some taffy.  Slept on the new bedsteads.

30th - did not get up this morning til 9.  Sophia H and Sudie came and waked us up.  Pulling the bed clothes off scared Mary and Lizzie very much.  Went to Mr. Thomas’s in the afternoon.  5 of us on horse.  Did not stay for tea as I expected.  It was Lizzie’s fault, we were in a stew.  I told the servant, we would not be home for tea.  Did not expect us at Mr. Houston’s.  We concluded we would stay at Mr. Thomas’s, but Em did not ask us afterwards.  So we had to come home.  Lizzie insisted we should go with her, so we consented.  Had a very nice tea.  Afterwards, went to Singing School.  Mr. Myers came with me.  Frank with Sallie, Mary, and Lizzie.  Hath not a bean.  They kept teasing me.  They met with Sloat.  He walked with them.  Gave them some oranges.  They brought them home and put them in bed for safe keeping.  I thought there was something out.  I found one and put in my pocket.  When we retired, they missed it.  And hearing us keeping a noise, came and searched our bed, but could not find it.  And we had a nice orange.

31st - Saturday, last day of March.  Very lovely day.  Father will be home today.  All the girls have left, and I have cleaned all the house.  Sallie Collins has come over.  Yes and my dear Father has come, bringing so many nice things.  What a dear kind parent he is.  Miss Curtis and Dr. Robertson went home on Wednesday.  Both excellent company.  Father bought "Berth Hall".  I have just finished it.  My how she cuts her brother and indeed all of her relations.  If she gives a true description of them, they merit her sarcasm.

April 1855