Green Mount
April 7, 1880
Miss Lou has decided that all of the girls shall relieve the Secretaries by each one's writing in her turn. This week it falls to my lot I am sorry to say. I am almost ashamed to write after the interesting records of the last two meetings written by Lucie and Vir. We opened by reading a part of the 18th Psalm. Then we went in the music room and Miss Lou read us the interesting record of our last meeting written by Lucie. This was followed by some exercises from Lucie. It was very well done. I think Lucie believes in the verse which Miss Lou is always quoting to us; viz:"Whatsoever thy hands find to do, do it with all they might." Then Vir read "The Old Man's Motto" very well. This was followed by "Adalaida" (possibly Adelaide by Beethoven) from Sallie which she played beautifully. I think her musical talent is almost as great as her talent for drawing & that is saying a great deal. Lou read "Night" by Byron, which we all enjoyed. Miss Florence & Attie (this may be the young guest mentioned in an earlier entry dated March 31st) played "Secret Love", very well. It is a very bright a & pretty duet. Attie has improved a good deal in her music & bids fair to become a fine performer at her no distant day. Mattie Kate read "The New Danger of Courting." I think there is danger of the phonographs becoming a very bothersome invention, at least to some people. Mattie repeated some little scraps very nicely. We excused Miss Lou as she was fixing to go to Miss Julia Latane's wedding. I hope I won't be called on again to keep the record, as, there are so many who can do it so much better than I can.
Green Mount
April 14, 1880
The girls tell me it is my turn to keep the record of this evenings proceedings. This world is full of two classes of people, those who do the work & those who stand off with folded hands & say how much better it ought to have been done. As I wish always to be found among the workers, I'll take my turn & try to do my best to give a pleasant account of this pleasant hour, which comes in the middle of the week to relieve the monotony of our daily duties. The girls always have a little private session which they open by reading a Psalm. Then we assemble in the music room & often taking up the collection proceed to the business of the hour. Vir. played "La Marseillaise" the National anthem of France, & did it very well. It always reminds me of a thrilling story I read when a child of the ?. Attie read an account of a very sagacious horse. It is wonderful to think how much sense some dumb animals exhibit. Sallie read the "Celestial Visitor", we hope to see soon in the shape of a brilliant comet. There followed quite an animated discussion about comets in general & this one in particular. Lou played Valentines arrangement of the beautiful air "Home Sweet Home." Mattie repeated some lines on our Heavenly Home. Lucy read "How Slate Pencils are Made", & Attie told us of a more interesting account of how they make "Lead Pencils." Mattie Kate played with good taste & time Prof. Gimbel's variations on "Old Black Joe." Sister (I believe they refer to Florence as "Sister") read a piece from some good teacher on "Does it Pay" to vary the school exercises occasionally in this way, & we all agreed that it does. This had to close our enjoyable & profitable hour, as the time was out.
M.L.F. (Lou)
Green Mount
April 22, 1880
I have also been persuaded (though much against my will), to give the account of our society this evening. After the usual opening exercises we assembled in the music room. The treasurer's accounts being a little mixed, a few moments were first spent in getting them straight. Then Vir read a very excellent piece called "Carving a Home" which we would all do well to remember. This was followed by the beautiful hymn "Nothing but Leaves" which Lucy played with much expression. I think there would be fewer heartaches if all sisters would treat their brothers as they are advised to do in a piece which Lou read. Attie played "Away with Melancholy" so nicely that the girls encored her, & then she played a very pretty little Waltz. Mattie Kate then read a piece caled "Home Reading" which we all thought good. Then last but-not-least came Sallie's piece "Titannia" which she played well & which we all enjoyed.
Florence Fleet
Green Mount
April 26th, 1880
We opened exercises by reading the 21st Psalm. Then Vir played "Blue Bird Echo" very nicely. Sallie read "The Happiest Life". Which we enjoyed very much. Lou played "Gen. Beauregard's Grand March" very sweetly & we all enjoyed. Lou read "The thin Partition between Life & Death". It is really a serious thing how we think we are so far from it & we are so near to it. Attie played Fra Diavolo & then read the Baby's Sermon. Mattie Kate played Styrienne Waltz. I think it is beautiful & she played it very well. We excused Miss Lou as she had to go to the P.O. Miss Florence played Crown of Roses. We encored her & then she played Thornless Roses. We enojoyed the evening very much.
Attie
No comments:
Post a Comment