29 December
The Xmas passed very pleasantly with us, the boys were all here and we had a tree fixed off in a very lively and interesting manner with little Canibusses[?], ships, tables, chairs & dolls dressed, and lighted by little tapers. Papa dined with us, and we had a nice dinner and were pleasant. John has resigned and gone to town to offer his services to the Governor, he is very much enchanted at getting rid of a profession his heart was not very much interested in, and William and Berkley are very sorry he has given up his support. It is a great addition to Mr Grimballs expenses 3 hundred dollars a year.—
Mrs Wayne has been talking in her flighty style about giving her Palmetto nephews a New Years party. I said what I could to prevent her going to this unnecessary expense for she has not threshed her crop or sold it and has not been able give her negroes clothes, this winter, but now the matter is at rest, for the boys have been obliged to go to Town. Fort Moultry has been abandoned, and the U.S. troops commanded by Major Anderson have been clandestinely removed to Fort Sumpter, so the troops have been ordered off, and are marching round & round, to show their spirit and excitement.—
Daisy Barnwell dined with Lotty on Thursday & I think is a very fast little girl: she seemed wild with delight at John & Arthur flirting with her: & looked very pretty, Lotty is to dine with her to day if she can get there.
Mr Grimball is suffering from an attack of his difficult breathing, last night I had to get up & make the fire, he took his remedy but it does not relieve very soon.
A Plantation life is a very active one. This morning I got up late having been disturbed in the night, hurried down to have something arranged for breakfast, Ham, & eggs, wrote a letter to Charles in answer to one he wrote about Johns resigning, disapproving of it. Had prayers, got off the boys to town. Had work cut out, gave orders about dinner, had the horse feed fixed in hot water, had the box filled with cork:—went to see about the carpenters working at the negro houses, where there are men mending chimneys, white washing, & these carpenters Mr Grimball told me he wished me to see about every day, & now I have to cut out flannel jackets, and alter some work.—
Amy’s leg continues very bad, I don’t know when she will get better, a most provoking thing, for it is owing to her own stupidity.