31 December
—the last day of the year, a gloomy, wet day, which were it not for the busy occupations of each hour would be very trying to the spirits.—Went to Church yesterday, and heard an excellent sermon from Mr Dickson, a retrospect of the past year, a very instructive train of thought. I have so many mercies to be thankful for, and here, while numbers are homeless, am enjoying a most comfortable establishment and what a poor creature I am, little deserving of any mercy.—
I was thinking over the children this morning and I find a loving and hopeful feeling for all of them. As people get old they become more indifferent and are spared much annoyance by not feeling or seeing things which when they were young almost crazed them.