February 22d.–Bright and frosty. A fine February for fruit . Yesterday the Senate postponed action on the Negro bill. What this means I cannot conjecture, unless there are dispatches from abroad, with assurances of recognition based upon stipulations of emancipation, which cannot be carried into effect without the consent of the States, and a majority [...]
February 22nd, 1865.—Washington’s birthday I used to read of the War of the Revolution and wondered if it could be true; it seemed so unbelievable. I admire General Washington very much but I never once imagined war could ever be so real to me. I wonder when it will end? Some wars last so long [...]
February 22d.–Isabella has been reading my diaries. How we laugh because my sage divinations all come to naught. My famous ”insight into character” is utter folly. The diaries were lying on the hearth ready to be burned, but she told me to hold on to them; think of them a while and don’t be rash. [...]