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glad to be once more at our own home. It was in the Fall, that pleasant season of that year, that we found ourselves under our own roof.
February 8th 1838.
More than three months have elapsed since I wrote in this book. I begin now to feel sorry that I commenced to write of the earliest period of my life, instead of passing over those years, and only writing what occurred from the time I kept this Journal. I find it difficult to recall to mind things things that took place so long ago, and it seems to me I will never be able to bring up my Journal to the present period. It is however too late to repent, I must make the best of it; and write as fast as I can, and in time I will arrive at that goal I have long despaired of reaching.
It was in the Fall we found ourselves at our house in Legare Street. My brother soon after returned from college; was taken sick, and died. I will not comment on this event. Our feelings can better be imagined, than described. We mourned for him, and never will forget him Mamma had hoped to be able to return to the North to finish our education, but she now gave up all thoughts of it; and we have never returned there since.
9th Our two first summers after our return from the North, we spent at home; but we were so de-
bilitated from by the heat; Mamma resolved the next summer to spend at the North. We had written on word we were going, and our friends there were actually expecting us, when our plans were suddenly changed. The Upper Country of our State, which had never entered into our heads before, was [respresented] to us under such favourable auspices, by different friends; that Mamma changed her mind, and determined to pass the summer there instead of the North. General Thompson one of the cheif commanders of the Upper Country engaged us private lodgings, and in May, accompanied by our Uncle Robert we set off on our journey, much my regret; for I had a yearning towards the North, and wished to return there. However it was no use to [illegible], and I also anticipated a pleasant summer. We reached Greenville in safety, and were soon settled at the house we were to board at. At first we were tolerably well pleased; but as the weather became warm, we found one low, small room, unendurable, and the lady of the house had a large family; besides about a dozen school girls boarding with her; and we found the house more unpleasant, and public, than a large boarding house; we therefore removed to another house; and were much better satisfied with our situation. Greenville we now liked very much; we remained there three months
before going further. In August we began to think of moving, and spending some weeks in North Carolina. We went first to the Warm Springs and spend a month there delightfully, then return to Asheville, where we staid two or three weeks, there to Flat Rock where we staid a day, and back to Greenville again where we remained until it was time to return home. We with a large party visited the Table Rock; and this excursion caused one of my sister a long sickness brought on by the fatigue she underwent in ascending the Rock. We returned home through Fairfield and Columbia, very much pleased with our Summer's trip. The next summer we were spending at home, but the season becoming sickly, we again set off for Greenville, accompanied by our two cousins Robert and William Hayne. This second visit into the Upper Country determined my fate. We this time were not able to get into the house we staid at before; and therefore went to another one, much pleasanter.
At the Table every day a gentleman sat opposite to us; we inquired of someone who he was, were told he was Major Perry, and they inteneded to introduce him to us; accordingly one evening after tea, when a party of us were contemplating walking to the Falls Robert Hayne brought up Major Perry and introduced him; we walked together to the Falls, It was a beautiful moonlight evening; and the walk
though short was delightful, little did I think that walk was taken with my future husband.
That evening, the first of his introduction, I must have gained his heart. From that time he was attentive to me. I rather think he was prepossessed in my favour before we were introduced; for he seemed to choose me, in preference, from among the group; to walk with; [illegible] on [illegible] being over the events of the evening; the impression left on my mind was, that my companion had been very much pleased with his walk to the Falls; but I was not so foolish as to thinking he had been so well pleased that any thing serious would result from it.
We had conversed on different books; and the next morning after breakfast, he brought me two or three to read, the evening we went to a party at Mrs [Geoft's?]; Major Perry never left my side; I began to think, the impression made on him the evening before; was increasing, and that the evening at the party; was spent quite as agreeably, as the evening at the Falls, but the next day we were separated; he went to Pickens CH. and we went to the Limestone Spring. We remained there a week, and then returned to Greenville. On my return Major Perry renewed his attentions, and every one joked me. At the parties we attended, he was always near me,
Dancing which he was not fond of, and had given up; he renewed, to have the pleasure, I suppose of dancing with me. We rode in a party to Piney Mountain; I rode on horse-back, and he rode by me. At last he thought it time to make known by words, what he had already done by actions, so one Sunday he went to church with us, on coming out of chuch, he offered his arm to me, and not to Mamma who was near. I began to forbode, and to tremble. We walked a little way in silence, he then spoke, and told his love.
We were soon engaged.
A few days after a party was formed to Paris Mountain; I rode on horse back, he rode by me. Shortly after we left Greenville, I and he rode together; delightful ride! I gave him a lock of my hair, he accompanied us part of the way; we then separated; we then separated he on his way to Laurens C. H. we on our way home. At Edgefield where we remained one or two days, I received my first letter from him, accompanied by the watch I now wear, I wrote to him in return, and our letters were not few and far between. After the adjournement of the Legislature, he came to town to see me, and wished me to return to Greenville with him; but he could not prevail, he returned alone for the