Rain all day. Morning reading at the Office. Afternoon and evening 163at Mrs. Frothingham’s. Abby has been detained in town by the bad weather.

Occupied in reading at the Office excepting a call at Mrs. F.’s. Incessant rain. Spent the evening with Abby. Mr. and Mrs. F. had gone out to a party.

Office. Call at Mrs. F.’s and sit an hour with Abby. Left her without any idea of seeing her for some time, and went in pursuit of my brother John. As I entered the Exchange I met Sidney Brooks just arrived from New York. He had a Gig at the door and asked me to accompany him to Medford. The suddenness of the proposal staggered me a little at first, but as I saw no objection, I jumped in and found myself at the house before Abby had reached it. The meeting between Sidney and his Mother affected me to tears. Indeed the feeling which he carried of delight at looking upon the scenes of his childhood proved to me that there could be some sentiment in the world without mawkishness. How little of this has been my lot however. And how much less is my prospect of having any, for my youth has been passed without any such associations to soothe me.

Sidney returned to town without me. Dr. Bancroft1 and his wife arrived here from Worcester in a “labour of love” for the parson of this Parish.

Attended Meeting all day. In the afternoon Sidney Brooks came out with Mr. Ignatius Sargent.1 This gentleman is the partner in business of Chardon Brooks, and is more particularly interesting as having been a rival of mine, and a most assiduous one supported by a large portion of her own family and not positively disliked by herself. Had I not come in, it is probable from her own showing that he would have been the man. Poor fellow, his meeting with me was painful to him, but without any possibility of my alleviating it. Perhaps she might have been more happy with him although she never loved him and she does love me. In the evening Mr. and Mrs. Everett and some Medford visitors.