November 1829

Sunday November 1, 1829. Cool day and looks like rain. Went to the village to meeting. The Meeting House is a very pretty house. The singers sit back of the pulpit. Mr. Evans [preached] from Psalms 84:10. He preached very well. In the afternoon he attended a funeral of Mrs. Simpson. The next time, 1 Peter, 4:7. She died a day or 2 since. There was no meeting in the afternoon but he preached a sermon at the funeral. It rained this afternoon some and in the evening. Went to meeting, liked it much.

Monday November 2, 1829. It is cold today and looks some like rain. They have got the frame of the roof of the new building up. Mr. Farnsworth has been unwell for a day or 2 of a cold. They are going to have some catalogues this term. They are subscribed for and will be had in a few days.

Tuesday November 3, 1829. Weather some cloudy and rained a little in the morning. I had a letter from home with $15 in it. The folks are all well. Father has bought me an alarm watch and Mother, a seal. Father wants me to keep school this winter if I can and enter college next fall &c. Went to the L.A. this evening, choose officers.

Wednesday November 4, 1829. Weather moderate. Did not rescite this morning because I went to the L. A. Last night I wrote a letter for home this evening. Mr. Farnsworth went away at noon and Mr. Farnum took his place at the "R. Exercises." I read. There was a good many absent. Got along very well. I shall not get a Greek lesson for tomorrow.

Thursday November 5, 1829. Very windy and cold. I almost concluded to keep school this winter and rescited one lesson in arithmetic. But afterwards I concluded not to because Mr. Farns. worth said it would be best for me to pursue my studies and that I could enter college in better standing. I wrote a letter home to that effect. I have not rescited for 2 lessons back. Mr. Farnsworth gave a lecture on Geography this afternoon and explained it with the globe &c.

Friday November 6, 1829. Weather pleasant. I went over to the "Mansion House" tonight to an inquiry meeting after meeting. I liked it much. Went to meeting this evening, had an inquiry after meeting,, They have got the frame on the new building and have began to board it. They have got one gable end done and another most so. There will be 3, one at each end and one in the front fac[e]ing the road

Saturday November 7, 1829. Weather looked like a storm in the morning and it rained and snowed and hailed alternately all the afternoon. We went down to the lecture this forenoon and when we came back it snowed considerably. The subject of the lecture was on the study of the scholars in the school and what books to be used. I got my boots mended this afternoon, they need but little. I shall not have a lesson for Monday.

Sunday November 8, 1829. Weather very cold and windy. Went to meeting in the morning without a great coat. I was some cold. Mr. Evans preached very well. There were 3 persons baptised at noon at a place called the "Baptismal Fount." It is a dam of water in a small brook a little this side of the Profs. house and a very convenient place too. The persons baptised were Mr. Fish, and Andrews and Miss Mary Perkins. They were baptised by Mr. Evans.

Monday November 9, 1829. Windy weather today. I did not rescite this morning.

Tuesday November 10, 1829. Weather hazy and rained in the evening. We went out into the Capt's field and got some peices of stumps for wood and it burns very well. There is going to be an inquiry meeting at Mr. Farnsworth['s] tomorrow night.

Wednesday November, 11, 1829. Weather pleasant. "Rhetorical Exercises" were performed today. They were very good, especially the Written Debate. There will be no other "exercises" this term. Next Wed. Mr. Farnsworth will hand in the Debates and Disertations which he has had to examine. I went to the inquiry meeting at Mr. Farnsworth's. There were 2 rooms for 2 different inquirers. The one for those who had any doubts concerning religion and the other for anxious inquirers. Mr. Philbrick and myself were of the latter Class, and Mr. Haseltine, Far.num, and Ingalls of the first. I had a very good season of conversation with Mr. Farnsworth. I dont know as I feel any more comfort or ever shall.

Thursday November 12, 1829. Weather is pleasant and warm. Did not rescite this morning because I had not time to get it. This afternoon we were entertained with a number of experiments in with the Philosophical and Chemical apparatus, such as explaining the orrery of the Solar system, some experiments with the air pump &c. The young ladies from the village were up and the seats of the lecture hall were all full. In the evening we were entertained with some experiments on electricity, Hydrogen Gas &c. Chain lightning was shown and various experiments with gas and guns &c. which were not only entertaining but instructive. Got through about 9 o'clock. The hall was full to overflowing and the small boys had to sit on the floor. We were all electerized. I took 5 shocks.

Friday November 13, 1829. Weather very pleasant. We have been getting up mornings for a week past at about 4 o'clock. Jewetts alarm watch wakes us. George and I intend to walk down to Concord next Friday if nothing happens more than I know of now. Went to meeting in the evening, had a good meeting. Had an inquiry after.

Saturday November 14, 1829. We arose this morning about 6 o'clock and on looking from the window I found that it had snowed about 2 inches and continued all day for short intervals. I rescited this morning. Went down to the lecture this forenoon. It was upon studying Arithmetic, Geography, and English Grammar. This is the last lecture. I shall not have a lesson for Monday. The snow is about 3 inches tonight. I went over to Mr. Putney's tonight to get some money that I lent him about 1 month ago. He said [he] would come over Monday and pay it.

Sunday November 15, 1829. Weather warm and the snow melts away fast. We went down to the village to meeting. Mr. Evans preached very well indeed. I heard that Miss Garland had obtained a hope in Jesus Christ last night at a meeting at Mr. Taylors. And Oh! when will my time come that I shall feel to rejoice to God for my pardon of sins. I know not when. We had a prayer meeting at noon.

Monday November 16, 1829. Rainy and hazy weather. The snow has all gone off most and makes it bad travelling. I went to meeting at Mr. Perkins'. There [were] quite a number there, most all were Profs. or had obtained a hope and I felt as though I was a Judas among the d[e]sciples of Christ and after meeting and after I had got home I felt that I had lost my burden and felt very light. I felt as though I wanted to praise God and to warn sinners to come to Christ and receive salvation.

Tuesday November 17, 1829. Rainy and hazy weather. George, Jewett, Carter and I got a dismission today and paid off our bills. Went down to the village to meeting. George and Rainsford went down with me. Rainsford is under deep conviction. We had a very good meeting, especially the inquiry which was in Mr. Evans' house. The room was full. Misses Garland, Swasey, Adams, Thompson, Hardy, Hadley have obtained a hope. We had a delightful meeting.

Wednesday November 18, 1829. Warm and pleasant weather. Went over to the Mansion House and talked with Mr. Braybrook and Hutchinson. Mr. Rainsford went over too. He is quite serious. I went down to his room yesterday and talked with him ..

Thursday November 19, 1929. Weather foggy in morning. Exami.nation today. I went in a little while. Catalogues have come. Had a meetlng tonight. We are going home tomorrow morning. We intend to walk down. Capt. Hanaford is going to carry down our trunks to Concord.

Friday November 20, 1829. We started this morning about 7 o' clock and walked down to Sanbornton Square before we called. We then called in to a store and warmed us. It is pretty cold this morning and we walked without a great coat. We then walked to the bridge and stopped there till the Capt. came along. We dont feel much tired yet. We started about 12 o'clock and Capt. went ahead, went down through Northfield and Canterb[u]ry. We went down to Blanchards tavern and to[ok] a luncheon. We then started and arrived in Concord about 6. We feel very stiff after sit[t]ing 5 minutes or so. We went into Mr. Williams this evening and had a long talk. I liked it much. I put up at Mr. Gen. Wilson's. I am going home in the morning in the stage.

Chichester Saturday November 21, 1829. Weather moderate. I started in the stage this morning at 7 for home. A number of the students came down today from N. Hampton. I arrived at home in very good season. I had a chance to ride over from Gen. Blakes and have my trunks brought. I found my folks all well. All of the property is sold and Mr. Cram has hired the house and out buildings for 6 months so that we shall live here. The mill is fixed up nicely and has a***** and 4 rims of stones.

Sunday November 22, 1829. Weather pleasant. There is no meeting in town so I had to stay at home and read. Aunt Ruhannah and I sung some. I feel rather lonesome to stay at home from meeting after attending so good ones as we have at New Hampton.

Monday November 23, 1829. Did not do much but read today. I have some doubts and fears whether I have a good hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, but I hope that he will give me a believing heart and a searching spirit to see whether I am a follower of our "Blessed Lord." 0 what will be my sorrow if at last I find myself to be a hypocrite in his cause. Nlay the Lord grant that I may go on in the light of his countenance and continue to brighten in my hope till I be perfected in his glorious mansions above.

Tuesday November 24, 1829. Weather moderate cold. I read in the "Pilgrims Progress" a considerable part of the time and find it a very instructive and useful book to me! I went to Concord today with Mr. Tenney and found it very cold and chilly. I saw George and he said he did not know whether he should stay with Mr. Kent or not this winter. He has been a marking and putting up goods since he came down. I bought a few for myself. We did not get home till about dark.

Wednesday November 25, 1829. Weather some cold. I read some today &c. We expect to go over to Grandfather's tomorrow if weather &c. will permit. Mr. Hopkinson has been sick some time past with a complaint on the lungs, it was bad.

Thursday November 26, 1829. Today is "Thanksgiving Day" in s states viz. Maine, N. Hampshire, Mass., Con., N. York. When I awoke this morning and looked out I found that it snowed briskly and there was about 2 inches on the ground. I read till about noon when it stop[p]ed snowing a little while and I went and got a horse and waggon and we were going over to Grandsir's but it began to snow again and so we put it off till tomorrow.

Friday November 27, 1829. Weather pleasant, the snow melts some today. We started (Mother, M. A. and myself) for Grandsirs in a sleigh and found it good sleighing. Grandsir's folks are well. Mehitable Libbey has gone home. She went home when her father was up. Grandsir is making pails. We came home about dark or before.

Saturday November 28, 1829. I think I shall not go up to N. H. till Wednesday. I posted up Fathers day book today. The snow melts fast but freezes in the night.

Sunday November 29, 1829. No meeting now. I talked of going to Pittsfield today but it rained last night and made the snow all soft as water almost, so I read all day most &c.

Monday November 30, 1829. This is the last day of this month and a month long to be remembered by me as well as by others. This is the month in which I hope I found Jesus to [be?] precious to my soul. This is the month in which I found that comfort in believing which I never felt before.