first ill at the end of January, has had difficulty of breathing, but
was better; at the end of April had a sort of fit that caused her to be
insensible for some time; in June after severe coughing she commenced
spitting blood that continued three weeks; violent palpitations of the
heart, greatly relieved by digitalis that she still takes; perspires a
good deal and one eye is still weaker than the other and is often
running; so ill was she that her burial suit was prepared. The
battlements of bridges generally coped with wood.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24TH.
Got both horses to the waggon, and all but the two old folks set off to
the Meeting House about 6 miles; rather late, found a great many other
horses and waggons, also one or two better looking carriages or as we
should say phaetons; there is no shed as in some places so that in
winter or wet weather the horses must suffer terribly. The Minister
Samuel Henderson, an Irishman, was just beginning the sermon; very
orthodoxical and loud; rapped the Universalists as relying upon the
mercy of God and forgetting His justice. The singing, German hymns,
chiefly done by the choir. After service notice was given of the Lord's
Supper, and those in the centre were requested to go to the sides to
make room for the communicants; after the bread was broken it was handed
to the deacons, then all arose and a prayer was delivered, the same with
the wine. An urgent request that they would not bring the service into
disgrace by any immoral conduct; nearly 2 when finished, therefore no
service in the afternoon and went and dined at Mary's, had tea, pies,
cakes and cucumbers; then a pleasant chat afterwards and a walk through
the orchard; not much fruit in consequence of snow and ice on the 15th
of May. On getting back, several neighbours came to sit with us and we
chatted till near ten. Alice retired earlier.
MONDAY, AUGUST 25TH.
After breakfast went with James and Ann to Pike. Rode on the back of the
waggon. A pleasant walk; entered one of the stores filled as usual with
a great quantity of articles. Walked back with Ann who said a good deal
about her father's temper. I admitted that he was often unreasonable,
but as he intended the best they should bear up with it, as it might be
possible that a time would come when such conduct would prove the most
satisfactory. Ann said her mother was quite the contrary, pleased to see
them get on and wished them to have a little company; was told t
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