Morning passed in separating all my affairs and living at Quincy. I now take a final
leave of the place and launch my bark into a New Sea. Had some conversation with my
Father upon his projects of building and arranging his way of life. He now intends
to make a fireproof room for his Library and the papers of himself and his father.
I see objections to this as it entails the old Mansion upon me in case I should live.
But this must be the case I think in any event. And so I must calculate. Then I had
some general conversation with him, upon the subject of his Affairs which seem to
be looking rather better than they have done. After this I went to Boston. The weather
which was so warm yesterday changed this morning and we had a violent North Wester
which blinded me fully as I rode into town. I do not think for a long time I have
had a more unpleasant ride than during this morning. But it was my last. The morning
was passed very quietly at the Office. I did little or nothing having formed as yet
no systematic occupation through the day. This must now soon be done.
In the afternoon, after a light dinner, I went to the House, took a Bath, spent an
hour at Chardon Brooks’ talking with his Wife and then went to the House to dress.
My feelings were of a complicated kind, a little dread mixed with much coolness, and
determination to go through what was my task. I dressed in the gay and showy style
of a bridegroom, and at six o’clock went down to take up Miss Anne Carter one of the
bridemaids, and afterwards Mrs. P. C. Brooks, who also accompanied me out. Our ride
was rapid, but we reached there
1 late and not until many of the Company had assembled and the Minister had been sent
for. The Company was exceedingly private consisting only of the immediate members
of the family, Mr. Brooks and his Wife, Edward and his Wife, Chardon and Sidney with
their
{ 433 } Wives, Mr. Everett and Mr. Frothingham with their Wives, Edward Blake and Edmund Quincy,
Miss Anne Carter and Henrietta Gray. My father, Thomas B. Adams, Lydia Phillips, Mr.
Stetson and his Wife. Mr. Stetson performed the Ceremony with much hesitation, and
more difficulty than I could easily imagine possible. But I was not very much overcome
and Abby had screwed her courage so strongly that she succeeded wonderfully. Indeed
I cannot too warmly admire her conduct through the evening. She was spurred by many
motives and acquitted herself to my pride and my satisfaction. Indeed she manifested
to me qualities which I have always known to be in her, and for which I have married
her. Supper followed and I sat next to Mrs. Sidney Brooks and Lydia Phillips, the
two least interesting women in the room to me. It went pretty much as such things
usually do. And by midnight we were on our road to town, took possession of our house
and there consummated the marriage.
The Rubicon is now passed and I enter into a fresh and new mode of life. I shall therefore
begin a new Journal. This event to which we have all been so anxiously looking is
over and now the results may be seen. Let me pour out my Soul in prayer and devotion
to a most high God, that he may guide me in the right path, that he may sustain me
in this responsible station in life, that he may continue to shower down his blessings
upon me, and receive the thanks of a grateful but humble heart for the many mercies
already received, fit me to perform the part assigned me and lead us through this
life to a happier in the succeeding World.