January 8th 1859

Saturday Jan 8th 1859

I can scarsely believe it possiable on turning to my Diary to find that it is over a month since I have written a word. But it has been a busy month to me. Just two weeks after we went to Newton's several weeks after George Halsey's party and a year since the part over to Quimby's, we went over to Ladds. I with Moses and Allie with Jo. We all went together. Jo Smith brought Agnes. He asked me to dance with him. He says to me as we stood on the floor together,"I am not happy to night Mary. I can never see you more except as we meet so for every time I see you I love you more". I talked to him kindly but as I would to anyone on indifferent subjects. I saw that he was disapointed but I thought it was for the best. He kept watch of me every time I spoke to Mose. I had a very pleasant time. Long shall I remember a talk I had up on the ---- . Monday morning after it we we awoke by crys of "fire" and spring [out] of our bed half awake. We found the **Hotel afire. Allie had some idea of going to over to awake her father and Willie before she dressed herself for fear they would burn up, but finally dressed ourselves and went over to Josie's and began to carry out things as they said the whole of that street would go. The wind blew so strong that way. After carring [carrying] out all of the things the wind changed, so they were able to save the house but in less than an hour all that belonged to Mr White were burned up. After consoling poor Mrs White and looking at the fire we came home, climbing over furniture to get there and then climbing over a medley of things, poured on the floor to find a seat to wait for light enough to come to see to carry things back again.

**Editor's note: Mary wrote at the top of the page "Josie lived on Corner across from hotel"

December 6th 1858

Sunday Dec 6th 1858

Last Monday attended Mr Giletts lecture on astronomy, went with Jo- and Allie, Julia and Elliot Tattle, and Carrie called on us before the lecture. Wednesday night went to another of the course, came home very independantly alone because I would not come with Allie and J-. Tuesday evening went over to Mr Whites and played for them all the evening. Mr Harte? came home with us. Thursday evening Decker called on us and we went up to singing school. Mose and Jo came home with us. Friday night went to the lecture. Mose and Jo spent the evening after the lecture with us. Saturday evening there [was] another lecture by Enoch Williams but Allie and I concluded we did not want to go. Today it has rained all day most and as Ma was sick we all stayed at home. But I am so tired of haveing nothing to do that I shall go another time. Report say's Harvey is going to be married soon next week. I believe to look at my first writings in this book anyone might think that prehaps I would regret it, but it is not so. Of all of his friends I would be the first to wish it was so. A strange thing is the human heart. His is [a] very deceitful one. I have learned to know him well in the last year and it has not improved him very much in my opinion.

November 28th 1858

Nov 28th 1858

It is a week to day since I wrote before. Monday I was nineteen.  In the evening I went to the Lecture with Moses, Allie with Joseph. But when we got up there Joseph said he should not go in and as M always does as he does, we went in alone and left them on the steps . They came in in a few minutes looking very sheepish. I had quite a time telling Mose he was ashamed of me. They came in and staid till twelve making up. I shall remember shadow's on the wall some time- first advances to a reconcitation [reconciliation] – – Wednesday night went to singing school. Josie, Dora, Jo, Greeny?, Marie and George were there. Of our far off friends, J- and M- came home with us. Thursday night singing school again. Again J- + M- came home with us. Friday night went over to the --fair with Link. By it was a regular Arab street bass? I had some fun talking with George Hodges. Saturday night Jo S- made me a visit he said he should not come to see me again untill he had learned to think of me only as a friend, that he loved me better the more he saw of me. To day I have been to church half a day and slept the other half.

 

 

November 21st 1858

Nov 21st 1858

Friday I attended Mrs Beebee's funeral. The sermon was be [by] Mr. Worthington assisted by Mr. Judd and Mr. Me? Gessold. Mr. A. J. Warner took charge of the singing . In the evening, Allie and I went up to the Lecture, met Jo R- in the hall and went and took a walk. Harvey and Jo R came home with us. They came in a [and] made us quite a visitation. Harvey is trying to do something but I have not yet made up my mind what that something is. But of one thing I am quite sure: he is deceitful and cannot be a very good friend to any girl. Of the boy's, I cannot say.