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Wednesday, February 1st. [continued from page 6] Thursday, February 2nd. The air cool and piercing. We were all quite busy in the forenoon, preparing the things for dinner, and putting the house in perfect trim for examination if any one wished to examine it. The people did not begin to collect much before 12 P.M. The sale was announced to commence at 1 P.M. but did not commence until after 2 P.M. The first bid was 135 dollars per acre by Mr. John Acker, and it was the last one too, no person crossed him, and the property was pronounced his. Thus have we this day parted with the dear old homestead in Chester Valley, the spot to which my dear parents moved immediately after their marriage which was in the year of 1826, rather more than 33 years since. Some think we have acted wisely in this movement and others again think we will not find so nice a home anywhere else. However this may be, I feel confident the step was not taken without proper consideration on our part, as a family, and I do most earnestly hope it may yet be shown that we have not erred therein. Uncle Melchi came this afternoon to inform us of the death of our dear Grand-Mother, or more properly Step-Grandmother, she died yesterday morning. I wrote a letter to Uncle T. Severn this evening, the first one I have ever written him. Friday, February 3rd. Quite cold again today. Did not accomplish much this morning, had an early dinner. Immediately after dinner Mother, Charlotte, Josiah, and myself started to Pughtown. We dressed very warmly and had heated bricks to our feet, so that we did not suffer in the least with the cold during our long ride. We arrived at Aunt Lib’s some time between sunset and dark, found all of Uncle Charles’ family there except Cecelia, they brought all the little ones over to take a last look at the familiar, but now lifeless, countenance of the aged and departed relative. Uncle Morgan came up later in the evening. Saturday February 4th. Arose quite early this morning after a very refreshing night's rest. The day was cloudy, but not stormy. The friends and relatives of our deceased Grand-Mother began to assemble at 10 o’clock, or a little earlier. Rev. Wilson Griffith made some plain remarks from 2 Cor.5.1 to 4. which were very appropriate to the occasion. The funeral procession started something after twelve o’clock, and proceeded to Vincent Baptist Church. When we arrived at the Church the body was taken in and an excellent sermon preached by Rev. George Sleeper from Job.7.16. “I loathe I; I would not live always: let me alone for my days are vanity.” After the sermon the coffin was opened as there were quite a number of persons at the church who were not at the funeral house. We went from the grave-yard to Isaac Dickinson's, some of the family were there, and gave us an invitation, which we accepted, took tea with them and spent a very pleasant evening, I enjoyed the visit very much with my old friend, classmate, and room-mate, “Kate.” Sunday, February 5th. A dull, hazy sort of a day, rained in the evening. Rachel, Amanda, Jonathan and myself went down to the Valley this morning heard our dear pastor preach an excellent sermon from 2. C.5:14 & 15. “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto
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