July 22 - Sunday evening. Attended church today. Heard Mr. Corss preach from Judges 5, 23 and the 34 Psalm. The past week has been one of peculiar interest. It has been spent in preparing for a family celebration, which came off on Friday. We commenced cooking early Monday morning and just got through in time. The beef, chickens, 4 kinds of cake, pudding, sauce, pickles, cheese, butter, tea, coffee etc. A table was prepared in the grove ---feet long, to which 196 persons sat down--217 in all. After dinner, we repaired to the speakers stand where seats had been prepared for the audience. Mr. Hendrick made a prayer, then followed singing by Wm. Phelps (who also played the Melodian) Dr. Gerould, Mr. Legg, Susan Phelps and Martha. Then came an address from Dr. Bullock, relating to the early history of this town and especially the time that Grandfather Tracy came in. After this was singing, then another address by Mr. Corss. The young people from the village came in a large wagon drawn by four horses. A band of music was aboard, consisting of two drums, a fife, and melodian. As the approached the house the band commenced playing and kept it up until they stopped before the door, when all commenced singing a beautiful piece accompanied by the melodian. When the dinner hour arrived the guests marched to the table to the music and after the exercises to the house in the same manner. It was a pleasant gathering and will long b e remembered by those present. How differently did Grandfather and his family spend the day fifty years ago! Then Smithfield was in reality "a wilderness" now it "blossoms like the rose".
July 24 - Rained again today. This afternoon Jerusha and I have been to Mr. Birds to take home dishes etc. Been washing and had the small number of 31 table cloths and other things accordingly.
July 25 - Rained nearly all day. Mary Ellen has gone back to the shop so we are alone again and indeed it is lonely after having so many around. It has been estimated that the dinner cost sixty dollars; this and the time spent by those engaged in it makes quite a little sum. The names of the waiters I here record for fear of forgetting who they were: Lark, Bebee, Henry, Wm, John, Elijah, and Selden were the head gentlemen. Then there were, Perry, Weston, ???, Wayland, John Bird, Orville Gerould, Alanson, Ladies--Fannie, Mary Andrus, Laura, Jenny Bird, Calista Bacon, Sue Phelps, Mary Ellen and I. The table was 184 feet long and pretty well filled.
July 24 - Rained again today. This afternoon Jerusha and I have been to Mr. Birds to take home dishes etc. Been washing and had the small number of 31 table cloths and other things accordingly.
July 25 - Rained nearly all day. Mary Ellen has gone back to the shop so we are alone again and indeed it is lonely after having so many around. It has been estimated that the dinner cost sixty dollars; this and the time spent by those engaged in it makes quite a little sum. The names of the waiters I here record for fear of forgetting who they were: Lark, Bebee, Henry, Wm, John, Elijah, and Selden were the head gentlemen. Then there were, Perry, Weston, ???, Wayland, John Bird, Orville Gerould, Alanson, Ladies--Fannie, Mary Andrus, Laura, Jenny Bird, Calista Bacon, Sue Phelps, Mary Ellen and I. The table was 184 feet long and pretty well filled.
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