Journal of Dr GFW

As may be expected, from the importance of the day to me, I was soon up and viewed the first dawn of the morning. It is brilliant, not a speck can be seen in the blue arch above. I watch the first appearance of the su, as it rose above the horizon all was serene as the crystal; not a leaf was moved by the breeze, all was silent. I feel a placid serenity of mind and reconciled, be the ultimate fate of this day as it may. Indeed it may prove a day of continued sorrow and force a wish hereafter that it had never been. I rode to see several patients this morning and returned about twelve oclock and had a few words with my intended companion. Indeed she appeared more lovely and endearing to me than ever and seemed not once to think of reverses. Now many are anxiously waiting to see and hear the sacred words pronounced which is as biding as life, and I myself long to have it articulated and launch me at once on the ocean of married existence, and fervently pray that the voyage may be pleasant and prosperous. Having now adjusted myself and bid adiew to my present state, I repaired to meet the bride and lead her to the altar to receive and give before God and man the willing pledge I had made, which was done about two o'clock and in consequence of the crowded apartments of Mr. Conrad's house, the rites of marriage were solemnized in Christain Lash's house between Henrietta Sophis Hauser, daughter of John Henry Hauser, dec'd. The maiden name of her mother was Philpina Lash, daughter of Christain Lash. Both were born and raised in this country. The mother of my wife had three children by her first husband (John H. Hauser): the oldes, Theopholis C. Hauser; the second, Henrietta Sophia Hauser, and about fifteen years old; and the last, William Alexander Hauser. Mr. Christian Lash is a native of Pennsylvania and came to North Carolina sometime about the Revolutionary War and married here. His parents were from Germany. The father, John H. Hauser, was once an opulent man of this place, but by some mismanagement, became reduced in circumstances. He also was of German origin. The father of my wife, John H. Hauser, was dead before I came here, but it is said he was a very intelligent, active, and economical man. He died with the consumption. Some few years after his death, the widow and mother of my wife married Mr. A. Conrad, a wealthy planter of this vicinity, by whom she has one child now about six years old, named Julia Amelia Conrad. From this you will see that my companion is a German. Owing to the death of her father and the embarrassed situation of his affairs, his oldest children have never received the benefit of but very limited education. At his death they were too young to have received but little and unfavorable circumstances since have interfered so much that it has been tooo much neglected. My wife is much like myself, small in stature, but in constitution far different, as she is feeble and unaccustomed to hard labor, yet has been taught to work and never lived in idleness. We shall now commence a different tone of writing and faithfully describe the vicissitudes of the married state, exhibiting the causes that lead to difficulties and the result of these difficulties, if there should be any. I hope I shall never have to record animosity.