Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: June 11, 1859

The spring is most beautiful. My horseback ride in the morning exhilarates me beyond anything which is not artificial excitement, and it is much more satisfactory than any art can produce. From Corey's Hill the view is wonderful.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 153

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: July 9, 1859

Solferino. Hell on this beautiful earth, and men turned into devils. God grant that the result may in some way conduce to extend his kingdom in this world of fallen men.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 153

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: July 19, 1859

Bought some 25-pound dumb-bells, as those which I have used are too light.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 153

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: December 27, 1859

Went to see F. E. Parker and asked him if he would be president of Harvard College if he were asked. He was very much surprised; said it seemed to him ridiculous, but was too serious to answer then. I told him that I could vote for him confidently, and I believed Judge Hoar would, and his chance of election was as good as that of any one.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 153-4

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: December 28, 1859

Parker declines.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 154

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: January 10, 1859

Cold. 14° below zero at my house. Much colder elsewhere, especially in New Hampshire and Vermont. 38 in Montpelier and in some other places. Rode over to Cambridge. Asked a boy about a poor woman who is dying of consumption. He knew her and told me she had been burnt out (of the old Porter Tavern) and was living near. He jumped on my horse and rode him up and down the road while I went in and found the poor woman. She was overjoyed at seeing me, and laughed and cried by turns.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 152

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: January 11, 1859

Went over to see my poor woman again.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 152

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: Sunday, May 22, 1859

Across the fields with the children (how beautiful they are!) to Sunday-school. With such company how can any father wish for any situation in life better than mine: how can any one have more advantages than I have? Rev. Dr. Stone preached two excellent sermons; and at sunset we enjoyed the sermon of nature in the golden colors of the sky.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 152-3

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: May 23, 1859

Rode up Corey's Hill. What a view! The country is clothed with verdure and with flowers; the trees covered with blossoms. The blessing of God seems to be present in such a fair scene.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 153

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: May 27, 1859

Cricket in the afternoon in my grove with the children.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 153

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence:December 31, 1858

To-day my partnership with Mr. Mason is dissolved after about fifteen years. Walked to town against a driving snowstorm. Stopped at William's house; found him not very well. He is an invalid not unfrequently, and sometimes I have anxiety on his account. But I trust that he will be spared to us. He is very dear to me, as an only brother ought to be. This night, in 1852, my dear, good father went to heaven. God grant that we may follow him whenever our time on this earth shall be ended.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 151-2

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: October 22, 1858

In riding through Roxbury I saw immense placards calling on “the friends of Amos A. Lawrence and Newell A. Thompson” to be present at a great ratification meeting this evening. Such things can do my name no good. I hope they will not result in any harm either to the name or to its owner. No one will suspect me of standing as a candidate this time in the expectation of getting into office.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 149

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: October 28, 1858

Beautiful days. Up to top of Corey's Hill. Not a newspaper nor a public speaker has abused me. One of Mr. Banks's newspapers spoke of me in complimentary terms yesterday.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 149-50

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: December 13, 1858

Rode over to Jamaica Pond early, with my skates in my pocket. Tied my horse to a tree and skated half an hour on the most beautiful surface I ever saw. There was not a mark on the virgin ice, and as I flew over it I was reminded of “angels' wings.” Reached town at nine.

The Salmon Falls Company's account so bad that I have made an offer in writing to the directors through the treasurer to give up commissions enough to make the account up to three per cent, or $30,000.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 150

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: December 25, 1858

Christmas. Once more this delightful day returns, bringing with it the grateful memory of a Saviour's birth, and of his life on earth spent in poverty and suffering that He might bring to us salvation. There are the memories, too, of those who have been dear to us in this world, and who are now, as we trust, enjoying a better life in heaven.

We had spent the evening with the children at Mr. Nathan Appleton's, where were about a hundred persons, young and old, relatives of the family and near friends. St. Nicholas (little Nathan) came in during the dancing, bringing a large basket on his back in which was a pretty present for every one of the young people. Then there was supper, and we returned to the parlors, where Mrs. Appleton arranged an old-fashioned contra-dance and invited me to be her partner, which I accepted. All this kept us up till quarter before eleven. But the children were awake in the morning not less early than usual, feeling for their stockings and admiring their presents.

We went to Sunday-school and church. All were happy and I trust thankful. At five we went to town and dined at Mr. William Appleton's, where there was another gathering in the evening. At ten we left for home, bringing all at one trip, nine inside the carriage and myself riding as footman behind. If their precious lives are spared I would be content to ride always on the outside. May God bless them, and grant that they may never have cause to look back with sorrow on their present days of innocence.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 150-1

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: January 10, 1859

Cold. 14° below zero at my house. Much colder elsewhere, especially in New Hampshire and Vermont. 38 in Montpelier and in some other places. Rode over to Cambridge. Asked a boy about a poor woman who is dying of consumption. He knew her and told me she had been burnt out (of the old Porter Tavern) and was living near. He jumped on my horse and rode him up and down the road while I went in and found the poor woman. She was overjoyed at seeing me, and laughed and cried by turns.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 152

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: January 4, 1858

Rode over to Jamaica Pond to see about skating. Found it good. Met the omnibus driver, Mr. Kemp, to whom I gave a hundred-dollar bank bill by mistake. Told him to give half of it to Duffy the blacksmith for the poor.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 148

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: April 19, 1858

Anniversary of the battle of Lexington. May God give us courage to defend the liberty of the institutions which our fathers have handed down to us.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 148

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: June 19, 1858

Last night a circumstance reminded me of the passage of years. At midnight I was awakened by vocal music from under the trees near my window. It was some Cambridge students. I could hardly realize that these young men have been born since I graduated. Poor Mary, for whom the serenade was intended, could not be awakened, for her door was locked.

This afternoon we drove down upon the Western Avenue to see the regatta. The boys with me in my open wagon and the girls in the open carriage. “The Harvard” beat in the large boat race.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 148-9

Diary of to Amos A. Lawrence: July 5, 1858

The boys came into my room as usual, when they were dressed, to say their prayers. I prayed with them and for them, that they might always love their country, and be ready to suffer and even to die in its defence.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 149