September 1911

My little Eugene [H. Harris]’s birthday & I expected to go to Sister [Mary Ord] Schofield’s house but Sister Nibley wished me to go to her home at Parry up in the mountains. Em. had already gone with Donna and Fern Geddes to Mrs. Louise Stoddard’s to spend the day (She was a granddaughter of Sister [Ann Dilworth] Bringhurst of Springville) President there many years. we were caught in a severe wind & dust storm and only escaped a heavy hail storm. had a fine ride home however and went to President [Franklin S.] Bram<wells> Had supper at President Bramwell’s and had a long auto ride before leaving on the train about nine p.M. had a State room. [p. 244] {p. 125}

All day Saturday on the train had a very good night of course. Emm. in an upper berth. very comfortable Sister Nibley one side and me the other– arived home about six p.M. Sister Nibley and we parted at the depot– she took her Auto and we the street car to Annie[.] Annie & Katherine came to meet us. had a fine supper and pleasant evening. John Q. very glad to see Emm. home also all the others, talked until late, off to the room late after prayers which seemed particularly pleasant and good after being so long without our own family home prayers. Slept with Emm in her room felt very weary but determined to go to fast meeting next day [p. 245] {p. 126}

Was in good time for the fast meeting saw Kate & Susan and Edna Smith & June Wells and many more old friends June spoke of the Whitmer’s and Philander Page his grandson and the testimony concerning him and his affadavit on his death-bed concerning the Book of Mormon and the Angel etc.¹ President Smith was not there Prest. Lund presided Ort. spoke very well, and others of the Twelve, Angus M. Cannon was at David Whitmer’s house almost the last of his long life. [p. 246] {p. 127}

This morning went direct to the office Annie came and told me about copy and a few other things pertaining to my work, I seemed rather hindderd with the vastness of the matter on hand to be attended to [p. 247] {p. 128}

Letter from New York Isabella Waters Nurse preparing a book address 265. Henry St. sent the letter to Dr. M. C. Roberts to reply to– Many callers & much attention from the several Sisters of the Board [p. 248] {p. 129}

Meeting of the Board Sister Susa Y. Gates appointed to take the minutes Hospital matters to be decided upon [p. 250] {p. 130}

The new girl came today and came down to the house by herself– of course when I came home at night there were many explanations to make but we got along fairly well and hope she will be contented and not too lonely. [p. 251] {p. 131}

I lay in bed very late and tried to get rested after a strenuous week read and wrote did much in looking up things wanted for others, then after Pauline the new maid had cooked dinner & so on I went over to Annie’s and enjoyed the evening with them though I had to leave earlier than I wanted to because of the new girl, It is nice to get where there is much going on I went later up to Belle’s and had a cup of tea, and a bite to eat and stayed a few minutes Dot & Will both came to the car with me and it seemed quite cheerful– had to wait on the street some time for Waterloo car [p. 253] {p. 132}

Reaper’s Social only Mrs. Maria Francis and Miss J. [Julia A.] Druce came later Emily [Williams] Cummings a very confused day and wearisome indeed Sarah Jenne Cannon’s birthday and I did not remember it– though usually I do, but some I wonder what was done for her she would be 72 this year and so would Dr. Penrose a day of confusion and yet not much accomplished I fear the week will be the same. I must make an extra exertion my time is so fully occupied with talking and explaining things to people and to our sisters in particular cannot help it [p. 254] {p. 133}

<Dr. [George W.] Middleton came to see me> This has been a very trying day and many callers & I was trying to get paper out of hand, and really I seemed to have more annoyances than I could stand. Louise came to see me and brought the twins² beautiful boys, Dick [Richard C. Andrew] had a toothache had been to the Dentist young to begin with that sort of thing, Junius came to say he was going to San Francisco for a week on business Emeline Wells came and Dr. Hunter of Los Angeles Clara [Wells] Hedges also. Annie & Katherine, Margaret and baby. Emma Empey was here the most of the day, I was twice at the Printing office, Mrs. Olive D. Christnsson [Christensen] was in a few hours. [p. 255] {p. 134}

A day of days I really cannot tell how many people called Louise & the twins Junius Wells Lee [Levi] Edgar Young Dr. Hunter of Los Angeles Emeline Wells Clara Hedges Emma A. Empey, Margaret and baby Bishop– David A. Smith Dr. Ellis R. Shipp, two young ladies whose names I did not learn, Miss Campbell³ Miss McLelland Mrs. Gates Edna L. Smith and Isabel Annie & Emmeline & Katharine tw[o] men with bells, at last I became so nervous I felt really ill. I had been twice to the Deseret News on business I called on Miss Connelly & Miss Stayner, Sarah Jenne Cannon Mrs. P. P. Jennings & Margaret [Mitchell] Caine [p. 256] {p. 135}

<Phebe Beatie & Sarrrah McLelland went to Nephi today> This is Eugene [S. Sears]’s birthday and of course Isabel and the family will sort of keep it in some special way, no doubt. I have been up to my eyes in work and over to the Des. News⁴ etc. paper so dreadfully behind. Committee Meeting at 2. and Special Meeting of the Board⁵ at 3. p.m. New Secretary⁶ acting for the first time– sung God moves in a Mysterious way– prayer by Alice M. Horne, singing Now let us rejoice– closing Lord dismiss us prayer Mrs. McCune– much business transacted. After meeting and all had gone I went out and had tea etc. to the Hotel Utah in the Grill Room– and met the Manager⁷ and was very politely treated but cannot go in there again⁸ [p. 257] {p. 136}

<wrote to Emelia D. [Dahlgreen] Madsen yesterday> This morning went up early and went through a lot of letters, Susa came and we went to Shay’s cafateria & had dinner saw Dr Hunter there, then I came back and worked at my books, the paper still lingers, Annie and her daughter Emmline called upon Mrs. Nett [S. Annette Wells] Culmer Cathie [Catherine Culmer] Roberts and Mrs. Tracy [Letticia Taylor] Cannon, Louise came to see me and brought baby Elizabeth– So many people have called and so little done, so much telephoning and questons to answer Amy Lyman came and we had a long talk, there is so much going on in all lines of work just now wrote a letter to [Anna] Eva Fay Milrose Heights Mass [Massachusetts] [p. 258] {p. 137}

This is an awfully busy day in the office before 9. o’clock and Emma Empey came very early and Brother Beatie– there was more or less confusion and I became very nervous tho’ I tried hard to keep myself from being annoyed. Committee on Conference came early and I tried to avoid helping them– soon the Daughters of Revolution came Sister Farnsworth early for private interview and wanted to resign from the Board cannot stand Sister Nibley,⁹ Belle came and there was a very few active workers, passed off fairly well and I began to recover myself to get things ready for Saturday night [p. 259] {p. 138}

Have been going over papers reading my blessing from Dr. Wm. Smith Patriarch it is a wonderful document, one would think he was indeed prophetic to hear it and recall how long ago it was given.¹⁰ Quite a number of things point to what has transpired since that time The day has been fine I have not tried [tired] today as I usually do. Went up to Belle’s this evening Dot seems better had some refreshment there and spent an hour came home– cold and lonly. It has not been so restful a day as I expected it to be– I am so cold. [p. 260] {p. 139}