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July 1-7
We do not attend church as Uncle Hatter is too tired from the harvesting. Monday cousins Ann and Rose [Macmurdo] are expected but do not come as it storms. Some strangers come in to get out of it. The hail stones are very large.
Tuesday July 3rd Sue's Wedding Day. Cousin Ann and Rose get up to dinner. We are all very busy. I feel quite strong today. Feel so thankful for it, for it would seems very unkind in me to let my aching heart to be seen. Sue had decided to be married in a black dress as she had heard a white one would be expected to be married in church. In consequent I objected to the black dress very much. Could not think of a bride in black but as no one else in the family thought it amiss. I was alone in my objection and I'm inclined to think they all considered it a kind of Minor kink but when Cousin Ann got here and she was told the color of the dress, she objected to it so much that Sue agreed to wear a white muslin of mine. I felt so much relieved. It was a very quiet affair, no one being present but the family, Cousins Ann and Rose, Bolling Picket who came up with them and remained until Thursday, Sam, John and Mr. Meade. I don't believe the marriage could have gone on without the two last. Sue had some very pretty presents. John gave her a beautiful little watch. The Macmurdo clan sent some handsome articles of silver and her Leitch kin all sent some token of love. Ma gave her such a beautiful pin of pearls and jet. All of us children gave some little thing: Mary Lewis a Prayer book, Nannie some buttons for certain garments and the other little ones some suitable remembrances. My gift was a set of hair ornaments made of the hairs of the whole Pantops family living and dead, from Pa Anderson to little Dick. The bridal party stayed until Friday and had calls from quite a number of friends. Thurday evening, Dr. Leitch, cousin Lou and Isabella and Sarah take supper with us. I am so glad that I'm able to bear up through it all. Indeed, now that the die is cast I really feel better about it. Sue seems so happy and every one speaks so well of the man of her choice, I begin to see light behind the clouds and think it is so selfish in me to wish her to stay and be with me. My prayer to God for her is that she may be happy in her new vocation and that His blessing may be upon her and John. The parting Friday was a sad, sad one for us all. Oh dear me, I feel as if I could almost bear anything now, to think that my darling Sue has gone from me and I'm never to have her all to myself again. Oh, it makes my heart ache so badly every way I turn brings up my loss in a new light, that I feel almost wild but that is weakness in me, and I must remember it as one part and lot in this life to be tried and that it was right to be resigned to receive from ones Father's hand many cups of bitter wine. Both John and cousin Ann give me a very kind invitation to return to Ashland with them but I decline as I was not ready and then I'm too feeble to be visiting. I hope in time to be able to visit them this winter. Black Emily goes with Sue as a maid. Little Dick is much troubled about giving her up. On Saturday Mary Lewis and I get settled in our closets. [Mary Lewis has moved into the Lodge with Louisa.] I don't feel much at home. Sam [Leitch] is with us and he is so kind and thoughtful of me. He is really more like the Sam of years ago. I am thankful for my heart is very heavy.
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