Raleigh Tuesday Night February 7th 1854—
Want of time, has made me sadly neglect, my journal, but here I am, once again quietly seated in my own room, by a cheerful little fire—dear me—how long it has been since I wrote last—I must turn my thoughts to last month—truly they are pleasant ones—well let me see—I went to Mr Dickersons—Carrie Holmes & Mr Holms, called by for me—spent quite a pleasant evening—Mr Bradly (don’t know which one) came home with me—and such a laugh as we did have, it was raining, and very dark—and we took a pretty hard fall, or least lurch before we got home, I concluded not to go to Mr William Wrights Sound party—which came off Wednesday—Mr Holmes asked to go with me—Mother thought as we had to start off so early the next morning, I had better not go—I went once and spent an hour or so with Carrie Wright, as she did not go—spent the rest of the day in packing—Carrie came over and took tea with me, left about 9 o’clock—Mr Cobb (who was again in Wilmington) and Mr Parsley called to see me—Cousin Kate & Dr Drane came over to say good bye—Friday morning we were up by time, and started off for Tarboro, it was damp, and disagreeable—when we reached Mrs Gray’s we could get no conveyance, and neither of the carriages were there, so we had that greatest of pleasures, spending the evening and night—hated it, but the time passed off, better than I expected—we reached Tarboro in time for dinner Saturday—Saturday, I mean Sunday about one o’clock, Aunt Bin, Uncle Weddell, and little Ann—and such rejoicing as we did have—Sunday evening Mr George Loyd called, soon after Mr George Howard, and Mr John Norflet—they spent two hours, I expect—after they went Mr Loyd made a very polite remark on my talking and left—Monday some one calling all the time—Tuesday, calling all day—Dr Louis amongst them—he spent two hours or more—he is so much improved, I think—after ten Mr Chapman and Mr D. McNair called—and soon after Mr Howard, & Mr Johnson—I did laugh so much the first part of the evening—Mr Howard and I had a nice long serious chat—about “the prayer book” he is a nice young man, and he has my best wishes for his future welfare—he spoke quite plainly and openly about ___ it is my opinion it will be a match—not from any thing she ever told however—they Mr Johnson and Mr Howard did not leave 'til 11 o’clock or very near—Wednesday morning we started off for home—and had two delightful days for traveling—spent the nights, at Mrs Vicks, as usual—Mr McNair accompanied us—we arrived at home “safe and sound” Thursday evening—Wednesday Friday we had snow—Mr McNair left— at night Mr Tucker came, I sent off a long, but poor letter to Cousin Jesse. Sunday—I received a short letter from Annie Grims—sent by Mollie, who is now here, came up to see Julia married, which is to take place tomorrow morning at six o’clock—I think it is such a poor way this getting married by day—I have not seen Mollie yet, but am going soon—I received a short letter from Jennie Jones the other day—I have been hard at work, on Mr Engelhards slippers, since I came home, and finished one this evening—I received a short note from Mr Saunders this morning asking me to send a letter to ___ for him—I have written him a few times refusing to do it, and sendning the letters back—he will get angry—I expect—I feel sorry to be obliged to do it—but I know I am acting right, and therefore, I feel satisfied—do not know how—will like it—but cannot help it—I attended a Soiree at Mr Smedes last night given to Jennie Dauer (that was) Col Tucker went with me—I spent quite a pleasant evening, great deal more so than I expected—walked with Col Tucker, and Mr Ivey, and then took a seat, by Emelie Hinton, Sue Wright and Annie Holmes—and spent the remainder of the time with them—it was about greater past one when we reached home—Dr Tucker came home with me also—It has commenced raining, I hope it will clear off by morning, for I do not love rainy weather, and we have had, so much of it—Good night—I will try and not let time slip away so, without my devoting a little to my journal—I had such a pleasant dream the other night, I hope to have as pleasant tonight—as I am to try wedding Cake—