The Journals of Martha E. McMillan

7 June Friday. Pleasant. Murdocks. David started for the west on the 7 o’clock train. Afternoon rain. Eve James came (20). 13 June Thursday. Warm. James and I, Matt and Sam G- went to Xenia in the carriage. Matt and I took dinner at J.C. - Afternoon attended the Sabbath School state Convention at Trinity Church (21). 14 June Friday. Pleasant. Mother and Jane at Hughs’. Afternoon. Mary and Bill? here. Eve - James and I drove down to Cedarville and called on Alice - James came around and took us to the saloon- all passed off pleasantly - ride home delightful (21). 17 June Monday. Cloudy and damp. Sheep shearing still progressing. Silas and a Silversmith, from Cedarville, with us tonight (22). 18 June Tuesday. Pleasant. Matt at C- helping with the church cleaning. Still shearing sheep. Silas and the above mentioned personage with us tonight again (22). 19 June Wednesday. Pleasant. Afternoon - Matt and I called at N. Wright’s to see Clementine. From there we went to Cedarville. Eve - Sheep shearing is ended. I have just finished a work on the “Art of Conversation.” Taking all its merit and demerit into consideration I liked it pretty well (22). (Wood - 1860 - “Art of Conversation” in The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness. A Complete Hand Book for the Use of the Lady in Polite Society by Florence Hartley - Chapter 1 and page 11; 1863 - The Art of Conversation and Other Papers by Thomas De Quincey begins with the chapter “Letters to a Young Man Whose Education Has Been Neglected.”) 20 June Thursday. Bright sunshine. Sam Little Riley and Tommy here for dinner. Afternoon. James and I left home with the intention of attending a picnic at the Yellow Springs - but upon driving down to Cedarville changed our notion - James going with Tom C. to Xenia and I driving over to Clifton alone with the expectation of going over to the Springs with Jennie C. and meeting James there, but was disappointed in everything. In the eve a company assembled at Riley’s - refreshments - “Ice cream and strawberries.” James and I arrived home about 12 P.M. (22-23). 25 June Tuesday. Real pleasant. Mother and Jane at Mrs. Little’s. Eve. James at C- I have at last completed The Luck of the Hernshaws, or Story of Social Life in the West. (? I cannot find this text. Wood.) My greatest objection is its being entirely destitute of a religious element throughout - otherwise it’s worthy of one’s time and attention being beautifully written and ending nicely (23-24). 14