Thursday, July 18, 2013

► 1840 Journal

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Wednesday, January 14, 1959 - "Clarice B. Taylor's Tales about Hawaii"

     The missionaries were great scribblers. They wrote many letters home and they kept daily journals.

     Maria Patton Chamberlain was too busy to keep a journal until 1840, a little more than two years after her marriage, when Levi Chamberlain was forced by his health to take a "sea voyage" to the coast on the vessel Don Quixote.

     Mrs. Chamberlain had two small babies - little Levi and Isabella - and she describes for the benefit of her absent husband the housekeeping difficulties during "General Meeting."

     At General Meeting, the few mission families in Honolulu housed and fed the outside Islands mission families

NOT LONELY
     "Friday, May 9 - Messers. Parker and Jonson and Mr. and Mrs. McDonald arrived in a Whaleship this morning...though alone is this great house I do not feel lonesome or afraid - Yet I would rejoice with all my heart to have your company.

     "Saturday - A busy day... I know not how soon I may be cast on the care of others. (To have her third child.)

     "Monday - got the children to bed, but Mrs. Bingham came in and spent and hour and a half telling me her plan to help Mrs. Diell and her children on to Ewa...

     "Tuesday, May 12 - Mrs. B met me as soon as I came downstairs - She was kanalua (undecided)... had slept but little... the mea kaumaha (chief burden) was that they were belated - and had no fire and no breakfast... so I had the whole family seated at my table.

     "Wednesday, May 13 - Meeting here this eve, the room well filled.

     "Thursday - the natives and I did a great washing and ironing.

IN FOR TEA
     "Wednesday 20th - I had Mr. and Mrs. Condee, Mr. Bishop, Mrs. McDonald and Mr. Tinker to tea.

     "Monday 25th - I have not been in the meeting today. Baked and had Mr. Clark's family and Mr. Bingham to dinner. In the evening had Mr. Andrews and Mr. and Mrs. Dibble to tea.

     "Wednesday, May 27 - the Hawaiian brethren arrived at 4 this p.m. I had Messers. Lyman, Bliss and Wilcox families - I have offered the family the house in the yard... I have now eleven children in my family 16 in all.

     "I am weary and must go to rest. I thought about you until i fell asleep last night. In my sleep enjoyed your presence till morning."

     NEXT: 1846 JOURNAL

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