Diary of Sarah Ann Jackson 1835 part 3

Submitted by  Jan Philpot
September 23,2001
Source: Original Diary

Transcribers Note: This is the final transcription, and as far as the journal takes us.

May 1st Children all very pleasant Camelia? Is my bed fellow as yet  A heavy thunder shower last evening We childrern and myself very much terrified as for myself this is generally the case for what reason I can not tell without it is, I am not prepared for the great change I should have to make if struck by lightning.  How strange that I should be so heedless when so many warnings occur daily.  Just returned from the hills had a very pleasant visit faired sumptuously very much pleasant with Miss Carl should be happy to become better acquainted had an introduciton to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Law?  Their children peeking out of the windows  Arrived home rather sooner than we was exspected by the family found Aunt N as usual very busy serving  Since then have been engaged in needle work  Aunt very busy preparing for a carpet her girls ? left looking for another.  Prospect of a school rather dull.  A gentleman called but did not exactly give me the refusal of it.  My spirits are good but if I should take all in consideration in respect to this world and my unconcern for the world to come it all together would be sufficient to weight them down My reading at present is pilgrims progress

Feel very much discouraged in respect to a school  Attended church at Babylon heard Mr. Platt preach two sermons in the forenoon his text was in 5ch 27v in Samuel?  The afternoon in Luke 22ch 22 v went during intermission at Mr. Carl had cake and watter for refreshment.  Spoke with Mrs. Staples set with the singers in the afternoon had an excellent dinner when we returned home  Awoke this morning just as the king of day shed forth a sufficient number of rays to gold the horizon  Had an introduction to a Mr. Hunt.  May 6th Spent the day very pleasantly.  Miss ?avis visited here this afternoon a very pleasant young lady.

Multiplicity of business today have scarce taken a seat Aunt moving no help find it quite necessary to assist her  Contemplate spending a few days in Babylon in visiting some distant connexion and acquaintances hopes are blasted in getting a school in this place  they have engaged a gentleman more competent no doubt than myself  I yet retain a faint hope of getting a select school in babylon Oh that I may prosper in that undertaking if not I then must give up all idea of getting a school this summer which will disappoint me much.

Thursday May 11th (Note from transcriber: again this does not match the perpetual calendar for that year, as earlier entries do and I have no explanation unless the date was 14 and has faded out to appear to be an 11 or the author had the date wrong).  Went to Mrs. Carlls in company with Uncle family had a delightful visit calle don Mrs. Staples several times took tea with her had an excellent repast  Spent the evening pleasantly at cousin Julia's rode home on Sabbath with Mr. Ireland had some very pleasant conversation with Mrs. Cornelius on our way home.  They confirmed??  That ? was to take the school ? news on my arrival  I ascertained it to be me? Case? To go I must no backing out

May 11th (Interesting the same date repeated here)  Went Monday morning according to agreement found Mr. B. waiting some ladies engaged in cleaning the schoolroom about nine I entered, and established the school, succeeded very well as yet like my employment much Had a very pleasant call from Mr. P before he left find my family differ much in disposition he has left some very difficult ?  Oh that I may succeed in my efforts to instill the principles of learning and teach the young idea how to s?

May 16th One week flew away with all speed.  It appears more like a recent dream than any thing I can compare it too.  Have had very little difficulty as yet with the children have one that would wish to be obstinate.  Tomorrow is the Lord's day oh that it may be kept by me wright.

Mo 25th  Since I have written many incidents have elapsed worthy of a place in this cabinet of valuables.  I write down such as occur to me.  When opened school on Monday I had several new names to remember.  I find that a difficult part of my undertaking.  Spent last week at Mr. Jar?  Quite pleasantly.  The first night took a delightful walk.  It was confined to the banks of a small rivelet.  This was lovely  The queen of night shed forth a sufficient number of rays to illumine the landscape.  It was rather brilliant or gloomy  All nature appeared to rest in the arms of morpheus all was still as and night the labour had, sought repose on his pillow the weary traveller had taken up his abode for the night  It was thus we sauntered along undisturbed admiring the serenity of the ? and silence of the watter.  I contemplate spending the present week at C Ketchums I dread the first night Oh why do I indulge such reflections All is for the best.

May 21st?  Never enjoy myself better than at Mr. C Ketchums all so familiar and pleasant.  It really appeared like home I took a walk with Miss K.  It was mostly confined to an apple tree viewing the many different lines exhibited in one tree  Stay at M. ? yet enjoy myself very much think of visiting at M. W. soon hope I shall be as acceptable their as here Think of commencing an epistle to busy I ?eward ?  Oh that I may receive a letter that ? nearly completed my letter to cousin Julia have 31 different schollars spending my time very pleasantly.

June 21st ? boarding at Mr. Ketchums spent my time delightfuly while there have an introduction to Mr. ? Usher while their  He said was from Kentucky very tall rather awkward yet interesting He reminded me of Mr. ? he had considerable of the curious very pointed in conversation.  Old Goshen was the theme for some considerable length of time after our introduction with the gentleman  He was spending the examination in establishing Sabbath schools He informed me that he belonged to the Princeton Theological Seminary.   While at Mr. Ketchums his daughters and important self frequently took a walk to see on our neighbours would sometimes return without making a call but our walks failed to be pleasant.  We sometimes would go to meeting  There is scarcely an eveing in the week but what their? An opportunity of attending some kind  There are three denom prevailing in this place Per.? Bap & Meth

June 22  Spent the day in scouting. Went in the morning to the beach  The afternoon we went on the north side of the Iseland  Called at Mr. Floyds Mr. Strongs and Mr. Carls  The last we were treated with cake and sider  We called at Babs? On our return

Transcriber's note: The rest of the page is almost illegible.  It appears to be erased or faded a good deal more than any of the rest of the journal.  Using a magnifying glass some words and phrases can be made out, but very few.  Following is all I am able to get from this area of the journal:

July the ?---------------visitng ------Mr. B------------this-------------thought-----------much better of respect ---------------------------------------I think I can perceive my pupils are making some progress---------------------------- There was a young man here taken on suspicion of---------------------I understand this morning he has been acquited nothing can be proved against him  If he is quickly---------------I have no doubt is--------------------

Transcriber: After this the ink is clear again.

July 4th  Spent the day with Mrs. ?  the noise of the cannon and guns disturbed me much.  Mr. M? brought me home on the fifth.  Entered my school room on the 6th and commenced a letter to send home.  A despatched another one of inquiry to N.J. to brother James as he lives in the place from which Hun? Came.

Friday 17th  Very small school in consequence of an exhibition of animals.  I have today made several good resolutions hope they will prove permanent.  I hope I may grow more zeal in that great cause.  I hope I may continue to pray experience in that great cause religion.  I hope I may from this moment espouse the cause for which I know I shall never have cause to repent.  Oh that I may never again grieve the spirit of God as I
have done repeatedly.  That I may hereafter read the word and hear it expounded with ? and not sit under the preaching of the gospel with so much indifference as I have heretofore.  Oh may I be enabled to carry out these resolutions May I be ? in all my undertakings.

Transcriber note: A blank page follows this.  After the blank page is a page on which the following is all that appears:

To my friend SaA B Jackson
Oh do not say farewell
Though we are doomed to sever
Tis like the sudding paping? Knell
Of pleasure gone forever

Their find a gentler language
The mournful truth to tell
Say parting friends may meet again
But do not say farewell

Mary Lewis
 

A proof of friendship's sacred power
In these few lines you see
And often in some lonely hour
View them and think of me

M Lewis

Transcriber note: after this appears a loose page, and seems to start in the middle of a thought, so maybe pages are missing.  The writing on the page is in pencil and difficult to make out, also does not appear to be same handwriting as Sarah.  The thoughts don't seem to continue in sentences either.  Here is the best I could do with it:

And could have left without regret.  A bref speech? Has elapsed like an ephemaia? It has been and has departed yet in that little point of time friendships have been woven which shall endure through life and when in future days adversyties dark clouds shall gather think around when hopes might becon shall become almost absent the ? remembrance of those so familiar to us all shall shine forth with meridian? Lustic and alleviate the darkness shed around by misfortune  Now to the mento who with untiring patience has smoothed the rugged -------- to the serentiffic mount ? has been the look to guide our dev? Steps to cheer our sinking hearts when alps arose.  Spent ---to the towering top.  When I think of thy mild control of the indefatigable efforts to instill the seeds of learning in our minds of thy patient kindness my soul melts into gratitude And though destined never more to hear thy kindly voice yet the lessons imparted shall stregthen fortify and cheer my heart through life.  Once more farewell friends of my heart The moments fly ------and we must separate perhaps to meet no more.  Hope joys and sorrows which have been blended all must be sever -----when time rolls on must the s? of youth are but dim discovered through the vistia of years still around this beloved that ---------thousands of pleasing remembrances a kind of -------shall burn brightening brighter.  And though --------a distant--------my widening footsteps rove their will be my --------its happiest touch.

Transcriber's note: after this pencil entry there is one last entry, in pen again and more legible:

If we ner should meet again
Oh may our friendship still remain
Unbroken by times cruel hand
Which often breaks this sacred band

Molly Lewis