I am a sinful creature, that I pray God I may believe
in him better than I do. Waud is not an un-
believer, nor yet a believer. He doubts, or rests indifferent.
His father was a brutal, negation sort of Deist, and Marshall
the Gold beater worse. He therefore has no home. Christianity to
fall back on. / Hillard chimed in occasionally, on my
side, but only talked ancient commonplaces.
25. Sunday. Christmas Day, God bless all. A cold, bright,
fresh sunny day. Got the room cosy, and Waud & Stone called,
as agreed to go to Chapin�s together. Stone hath picturesqued
himself to a mighty extent of late. A demi-loose. silk velvet
coat, wide loose sleeves, with a profusion of buttons and braid all
up the arms, so as to shew the shirt or under garment, or to hang
loose at pleasure. A wide brimmed beaver, curved up o� one
side, his long dark hair longer than ever, Vandykish beard, and
large melancholy-sort of eyes, � he looked as if Charles the First
had walked out of a picture frame. He was a perfect Anachronism
in New York streets. The fellows very tall too, � I think if
it were not that he looks a �tall fellow� in Shakspere�s
sense, he�d get insulted. Men try to think him a Snob, and
women admire him. To Church, and heard a noble ser
mon by Chapin, on our yesterday evening�s topic. He went over
all we had travelled, and more. A noble Christmas Sermon!
Returning, called in at Stone�s lodging, left him, and off
for Brooklyn. An excellent dinner, then upstairs in Waud�s
room for an hour, then presently a walk out, to Brightly
& Mrs Warners boarding place. I�d got a note yesterday, from
Brightly, inviting me, and as Waud had promised to go, I ac-