John Milton Binckley, June 1859 Travel Diary, Page 49

[John Milton Binckley, June 1859 Travel Diary, page 49. Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing scans of the original document, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source. This is my rough transcription. Extra paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.]

[continued] mean sentiment, could forgive him for being mean, but not for expressing it under the circumstances, When a stranger [?], he should always bear a high and noble sentiment, because what people hear a total stranger say, the always recalled[?], and to get such sentiments impressed is the object of all [?], preachers and teachers.

Passenger) "What place is this?"
Cond[uctor) "Woodpile!" -- general laugh[ter] --

-- Sonora, or some like name [probably West Sonora, Ohio].

-- Country more broken, hardly equal to the incomparable Miami valley, but excellent settlements springing up as if new country. Village with the stumps still, and streets partly in wood, Everything raw and crude.

This allows me, alltogether [altogether], to imagine myself in western Iowa with Mary. I fancy what she would say on looking hereabout as her home with me, would her Eyes fill with tears, would her heart sink, and would hope dip his wing in tears and resign the upper air, and would she hide it all, and say only, only say, "It is night!"

[John Milton Binckley (1831-1878).
Mary Louisa Mitchell/Michel (1838-1930).]