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The 28th.
This is Prissie's wedding day. It is cloudy early in the morning but by 12 o'clock the beams come out very brightly. We hail them with joy for "Happy is the bride that the Sun shines on." The house being in great confusion, Sue, Dutchie and I go down town. Go through the square to see the monuments and the bronze forms of Jefferson and Henry, the only two that have come. When we get back, have a nice chat with Mrs. Williamson from Williamsburg while she dresses the candle sticks.
The ceremony takes place at 7 o'clock in the Monumental Church. The waiters are fourteen in number. They are all taught their parts in the church yard so there is no confusion in the church. It is a very solemn ceremony joining two people together for better for worse, for richer for poorer, till death do they part. To me the scene is rendered still more solemn by the Old Church and the painful associations connected with it. Well, the die is cast. There is no Prissie Macmurdo now. It may be selfishness in me but I'm sorry to give her up. She can never be to me what she has been but it's no use grieving, for we would all go and do likewise if the right one came and I don't believe anyone that says to the contrary.
On returning from church the party at home began. Oh what a sea of strange faces. I feel like a stranger in a strange land. Don't think any one would be likely to comment on my "amiable visage" this morning for I'm perfectly savage in consequence of being patronized by a gentleman that [I] don't admire. He is anxious that I shall see something of the city and invited me to take a drive with him the next day. I get off by pleading a prior engagement. Prissie had great many handsome present, 42 in all, and it speaks well for her popularity. The supper table is very pretty. Prissy has direction of affairs. [The 29th is a] beautiful day. Lue Baffi, Mag Bryce and I go out for a walk. Visit the gardens of two houses and feast our eyes and noses on the loveliest japonicas. See some strange looking plants from foreign parts. Eat dinner by gas light -- quite a novelty for country girls.
[On the 30th] the bridesmaids all dine together .. at Cousin Sops. Sue and I go with Daddy and Cousin Jim Trite to the theatre. This is my first night. I'm disappointed -not being acquainted with the play and the actors were bad. Find quite a party assembled on our return. Get up a dance. The bride's cake is cut. I'm shocked to see how the gentleman down their drink in the presence of ladies. They would not be considered gentleman in Albemarle. These are town ways, no doubt.
[The next day] Daddy calls early for Sue and I to go downtown to have our likenesses taken. On our way meet Mary B. Williams and Cousin Mildred on their way to see us. M B calls again later in the morning and we have a nice talk about old tines. Cousin M goes with us to the gallery and we have a pleasant time. Compare Richmond and Albemarle boys. Think the former suffer by comparison. Get some lunch and dinner on our return. The latter is late as the gentlemen dine to themselves today and the ladies have to wait. We are to attend a party at Mr. Wirt Robinson's tonight and as Mrs W R is considered the leader of the horse in Richmond, I presume it will be a brilliant affair. We get to the scene of action about 9 o'clock. How I wish I was quietly in my bed. Feel sorry for the poor dresses in such a crowd. They will be mussed a la Aunt Ria. The rooms are prepared for dancing and there is a fine bunch of musicians but no room for tipping on the light fantastic toe. Some of the belles succeed in keeping the floor in spite of the rush and crush. About 12 o'clock we are ushered upstairs to the supper room. You might imagine yourself in Fairy Land. How could any man's brain ever conceive such sweet things. It was like some of the feasts we read of in The Arabian Night. Such beautiful fruits, flowers and birds as I never saw before in candy.
Get back to cousin Sops after 2 o'clock [AM]and after looking at a fire for sometime betook ourselves to our pillow and "morpheus rigors" until 5 o'clock when Daddy came to take us to the cars. We were soon ready, the goodbyes said, and we are off for home again. What a delightful sound! Have to walk from Shadwell as there is no carriage to meet us. Sleepy and hungry, having known no breakfast and but little rest, find all at home glad to see us. What a long week this has been. What strange, what passing strange tales we will have to tell of our visit of four days. Now I am in the Lodge once more with the cats and dogs all around me and I feel as happy as a king.
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