Jervis McEntee Diaries

Wednesday December 28, 1887

Jervis McEntee Diary Entry, December 28, 1887, from the Jervis McEntee papers, 1850-1905, in the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

Wednesday, Dec 28, 1887 Sara and John went to Middleton with Nannie [?[ snowed when they left but turned to rain shortly after and was a most dismal day. They had a covered sleigh which came for Sara about 6 oclock. I went down to Johns directly after breakfast and found they had got off with little resistance on Nannies part. I sent to Lucy the last word that they had gone. When I came home it was raining. The gutters on the house were frozen and the water poured into the lower kitchen. Tom and I worked in the rain but could do but little. Towards night it cleared and grew colder. Sara and John returned at 7 having got on successfully with their unpleasant errand. At the station they met Judge Parker Osterhondt, Henry Snyder and his wife all of whom were going to speak with Nannie and John was obliged to ask them not to as she was very nervous. They hoped no one they knew would be there so early. She implored them at Cornwall in a quiet voice to take her back, and when they arrived at the asylum she said she was going back, but the doctor (Talcott) was very firm but gentle with her and she finally made no objection. John was greatly pleased with the place and told Sara he did not believe if they looked the Country over they could have found so good a place. He is greatly relieved and a great responsibility is taken from him. The Dr. thought if they could feed her up and get her fat she would get well. I wrote Lucy the result and mailed it.