Diary of Anna Green Winslow | Page 5

that your
cloths came off so much better than my fears--a troublesome journey, I
expected you would have; and very much did I fear for your bones. I
was always unhappy in anticipating trouble--it is my constitution, I
believe--and when matters have been better than my fears--I have never

been so dutifully thankful as my bountiful Benefactor had a right to
expect. This, also, I believe, is the constitution of all my fellow race.
Mr. Deming had a Letter from your Papa yesterday; he mention'd your
Mama & you as indispos'd & Flavia as sick in bed. I'm at too great a
distance to render you the least service, and were I near, too much out
of health to--some part of the time--even speak to you. I am seiz'd with
exceeding weakness at the very seat of life, and to a greater degree
than I ever before knew. Could I ride, it might help me, but that is an
exercise my income will not permit. I walk out whenever I can. The day
will surely come, when I must quit this frail tabernacle, and it may be
soon--I certainly know, I am not of importance eno' in this world, for
any one to wish my stay--rather am I, and so I consider myself as a
cumberground. However I shall abide my appointed time & I desire to
be found waiting for my change.
Our family are well--had I time and spirits I could acquaint you of an
expedition two sisters made to Dorchester, a walk begun at sunrise last
thursday morning--dress'd in their dammasks, padusoy, gauze, ribbins,
flapets, flowers, new white hats, white shades, and black leather shoes,
(Pudingtons make) and finished journey, & garments, orniments, and
all quite finish'd on Saturday, before noon, (mud over shoes) never did
I behold such destruction in so short a space--bottom of padusoy coat
fring'd quite round, besides places worn entire to floss, & besides frays,
dammask, from shoulders to bottom, not lightly soil'd, but as if every
part had rub'd tables and chairs that had long been us'd to wax mingl'd
with grease. I could have cry'd, for I really pitied 'em--nothing left fit to
be seen--They had leave to go, but it never entered any ones tho'ts but
their own to be dressd in all (even to loading) of their best--their all, as
you know. What signifies it to worry ones selves about beings that are,
and will be, just so? I can, and do pity and advise, but I shall git no
credit by such like. The eldest talks much of learning dancing, musick
(the spinet & guitar), embroidry, dresden, the French tongue &c &c.
The younger with an air of her own, advis'd the elder when she first
mention'd French, to learn first to read English, and was answered
"law, so I can well eno' a'ready." You've heard her do what she calls
reading, I believe. Poor creature! Well! we have a time of it!

If any one at Marshfield speaks of me remember me to them. Nobody
knows I'm writing, each being gone their different ways, & all from
home except the little one who is above stairs. Farewell my dear, I've
wrote eno' I find for this siting.
Yr affect
Sarah Deming.
It does not need great acuteness to read between the lines of this letter
an affectionate desire to amuse a delicate girl whom the writer loved.
The tradition in the Winslow family is that Anna Green Winslow died of
consumption at Marshfield in the fall of 1779. There is no town or
church record of her death, no known grave or headstone to mark her
last resting-place. And to us she is not dead, but lives and
speaks--always a loving, endearing little child; not so passionate and
gifted and rare a creature as that star among children--Marjorie
Fleming--but a natural and homely little flower of New England life;
fated never to grow old or feeble or dull or sad, but to live forever and
laugh in the glamour of eternal happy youth through the few pages of
her time-stained diary.
Alice Morse Earle.
Brooklyn Heights, September, 1894.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE ANNA GREEN WINSLOW. From miniature now owned by
Miss Elizabeth C. Trott, Niagara Falls, N.Y. Frontispiece.
FACSIMILE OF WRITING OF ANNA GREEN WINSLOW. From
original diary 1
WEDDING PARTY IN BOSTON IN 1756. From tapestry now owned
by American Antiquarian Society 20

GENERAL JOSHUA WINSLOW. From miniature painted by Copley,
1755, and now owned by Mrs. John F. Lindsey, Yorkville, S.C. 34
EBENEZER STORER. From portrait painted by Copley, now owned
by Mrs. Lewis C. Popham, Scarsdale, N.Y. 45
HANNAH GREEN STORER. From portrait painted by Copley, now
owned by Mrs. Lewis C. Popham, Scarsdale, N.Y. 65
CUT-PAPER PICTURE. Cut by Mrs. Sarah Winslow Deming, now