February 9th, 1864.—For more than a year we have not attended large parties nor have we given entertainments. Of course we have had our friends with us in social intercourse and enjoyed it, too, but we were wearing black and, while we do this, it is not suitable that we should be seen in gay places.
We are taking off black now and there is some talk of a great big affair at Goodwood. This has put us to thinking of something to wear; a far more difficult problem than that which confronted “Miss Flora McFlimsey of Madison Square.”
Sister Mag is living in Georgia now, but we get letters from her nearly every day. Last night, when mother opened and read a letter from her, she gave me a key and told me I could search through the big black trunk in the attic and see if I could find anything worth having. I had never been allowed to do this before and it sounded so interesting I could hardly wait until morning. As soon as breakfast was over I rushed up stairs and what do you suppose I found? That trunk was full of party finery sister Mag had worn when she was a young lady. It has not been so very long either, for she was married in 1859.
Susan Bradford is 17 years old when this entry was made.