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Thursday Aug. 6. 1863 Just after breakfast I went up to see Effie &
Nellie record of that sorrow. It began, "Robt. Gould Shaw – to whom in the course of nature this volume would have descended – had he survived his father –" After I parted from the girls, I went over to the Johnsons; As it was Thanksgiving Day, Mr Johnson was at home. I had a long talk with all of them about Theodore, and heard all the minute details of his life-history, even of his love affair with Miss Kingsbury with its tragic ending. I came home to dinner, but it was so hot that I did not incline to take Sadie and Martin out to bathe. I read Lilliesleaf to Lizzie and after tea, went into the Ward’s to bring Sadie home since she had been spending the day with them. It was far more comfortable than at home, so I sat on the steps, and, took a fresh cup and and eat washington pie, & chatted with Mr Ward. I had letters tonight from Mr Firth about Willie. There seems no immediate opening for him. Also a letter from Maggie Baird craving help. Staten Island. Just after breakfast I wrote a long letter to a letter from a Southern friend giving an– account of the finding of the body & what became of all the relics. She said as she went away that she had never spoken as freely to any stranger as to me – "but" she said – "I presume it "is not strange to you – your magnetism "must often compel such confidences." After dinner, – Sarah being at the Johnson's for the day – I read Lilliesleaf to Lizzie. Effie sent down to know if I would go to dine, and Mrs Ward also asked me, but I declined because I thought Effie & Nellie were coming down to tea. However toward night Effie sent a note saying that they did not feel quite equal to it. Staten Island. Early this morning Sadie went up to
Frank likes Sadie, and seeks to continue intercourse between her and their children. I came home to see Mrs Shaw according to special invitation and had a delightful talk of an hour. She told me that Anna Haggerty was nearly three years older than Rob. but had never known or cared about slavery till interest in him, carried her a fully armed Minerva – new-born into the cause. She said the Lord had mercifully inter- posed to prevent her feeling any responsibility in regard to Rob's decision. One letter & two telegraphs, in which she urged him to accept all failed to reach him. Anna Haggerty is sorry she has no hope of a child – she bears her trial beautifully, and Sarah thinks as I have from the first that she will never marry again When Rob. was 15 Sarah gave him a seal ring which he has always worn ever since. The stone was broken, & she gave him an antique in its' place, with a dove holding an olive branch cut upon it. She begged him not to carry it away, but he said "I want to –" and so that was what the rebels found on his open hand. I looked with fresh interest on the portrait of the first Col. Shaw, to whom Washington gave his commission, when he was 21, who was aid to Gen Knox – and our first minister to China Samuel Shaw. |