Journal 48, page 05

till eve & so sit up half the night-cold halls & thaters &c. They claim the climate has frigified[?] within late years.

January 5, 1893

Hoodie came down to see about Exeter Hall meeting. It is a greatundertaking. I wish dear Cossie had "[ ............ ][ ...... J" but shewas bount to some[?] hours[?] now we see how the meeting may be made a leverage for "the party of progress" & the "wider movement." I do not write of the intricate contradictions of the English temperance cause-what is the use. I would rather buildbetter than recount the [ba........... ] lest Isabel & I should buildat all! Have written a leaflet of 23 pp 1[....] ca[.] today on "The Modern Temperance Reform."
Dear Cossie comes tomorrow!
So sorry for contradictions in the dear work at home.

January 7, 1893

Came up from Reigate and set at work here. The drawing room is in white-all revamped. I was writing away when, at 3:30 (after an interview with The Chronicle) in softly came Cossie, so sweet & strong, so brave yet tender. How my life is enriched by hers and greatened-how I wonder that so good and rare a gift has come to me-after I entered 50 and the "region of calms." Blessed Mother your prescience was infallible-you knew that I was to be sheltered and comforted-companioned and consoled by one whom God had given me. O thou who art my holiest blessing O most steadfast, where art thou? If I could only know-if I could only hear from thee!

Henry J. Osborn & family-getter up of the Exeter Hall meeting here to dinner-endless plans.

January 8, 1893

Hannah Whitall Smith & Hoodie here all day. They, with Isabel, Anna Gordon & I have been full of cares. A crisis in the BWTA made our work one of "necessity & mercy." Isabel's "progressive policy," her classified directions to the miserable conference, and other important documents have been set in order. I never knew a squarer head that Cossie carries on her shoulders or a braver leadership. I wonder if my Blessed Mother, with whom in the dear little parlor, gathered round her chair, we sat & sang the Song of Zion just a year ago, is cognizant of our proceeedings. W T Stead says "The body is but a top-coat that we take off & pass onward"-our own true selves as much as ever-and they call the process-death.

January 9, 1893

This is a day of great preoccupations for us all. The bell rings every few minutes; telegrams, messengers, letters, are in floods.