From Godey’s Lady’s Book, October, 1851, Outfits for the Fair
Tuesday Dec 16 Have finished the hood for the fair
Mrs Witherell has made a Dolls hood & half
dozen linen collars. Mrs Ames a hood & childs apron
Mr & Mrs Reed called on Mrs Witherell for the
things and made a long call Mrs S Ames
& self went to see her. She brought some
things she made such as dolls comforters bonnets &c
Mrs Howard & Miss Jarvis made eight straw hats
How productive the Unitarian women had been lately. Sarah Witherell, Sarah Ames, Abigail Reed and others had sewn or knitted many small items like collars and doll clothes to sell at what must have been a church fair. Both Sarahs were planning to work, or perhaps preside, at the event. Why wasn’t Evelina going to work at it? Had she been asked? Had she declined? Did she care particularly?
For whatever reason, Evelina was less involved in the church fair than either Sarah. Her sisters-in-law had sewn a number of articles between them to donate, while she herself only made one small hood. Was her small contribution a reflection of disinterest in the event? Was she too busy at her domestic responsibilities to take the time? Was it against her inclination to make things to give away?
Evelina admired the pieces that others had made, but it would seem that either the fair itself didn’t interest her or she felt left out of the goings-on. She never mentioned the fair again, which suggests that she didn’t even attend it.
evelinaames 