We went, half to Dr. Skinner's and half to Mrs. Elmes's:
mother, Aunt Esther, father, and James to the former; Kate, Bella, and
myself to Mr. Elmes's. They are rich, hospitable folks, and act the
part of Gaius in apostolic times. . . . Our trunks came this morning.
Father stood and saw them all brought into Dr. Skinner's entry, and
then he swung his hat and gave a 'hurrah,' as any man would whose wife
had not had a clean cap or ruffle for a week. Father does not succeed
very well in opening purses here. Mr. Eastman says, however, that this
is not of much consequence. I saw to-day a notice in the
'Philadelphian' about father, setting forth how 'this distinguished
brother, with his large family, having torn themselves from the
endearing scenes of their home,' etc., etc., 'were going, like Jacob,'
etc.,--a very scriptural and appropriate flourish. It is too much
after the manner of men, or, as Paul says, speaking 'as a fool.' A
number of the pious people of this city are coming here this evening
to hold a prayer-meeting with reference to the journey and its object.
For _this_ I thank them."
From Downington she writes:--
"Here we all are,--Noah and his wife and his sons and his daughters,
with the cattle and creeping things, all dropped down in the front
parlor of this tavern, about thirty miles from Philadelphia. If to-day
is a fair specimen of our journey, it will be a very pleasant,
obliging driver, good roads, good spirits, good dinner, fine scenery,
and now and then some 'psalms and hymns and spiritual songs;' for with
George on board you may be sure of music of some kind.
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