April 21
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
April 21, 1997
I was in a really bad mood for most of the day. Mike came to 2nd lunch. I think whatever we had going is over. Shit… Driver’s Ed. Did homework and story. Dinner. Talked to Karen and cleaned kitchen. Went to softball at 7:30. Got back at 9:30. Sleepy.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 21, 1960
Cleaned garage got things ready for Sal. Army. Scrubbed floor so bad. Mrs. B. came over quite early, she’s not good. We had coffee.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
April 21, 1944
Cloudy in morn. Threatened rain. Had tennis on courts. Had fun. Lovely and mild. Started to rain just as class was over and I ran back to hall with racket under my coat. Met Jane and she wanted me to go over to Samson with her to get a book. Got a peek at the famous (?) Mr. Davis. Still raining but mild and lovely. Went to lunch with Betty. Came back and we locked Jane’s door and hid in the closet. They came soon and Miss Omer had to let them in — they sat down and talked and we were still as mice. Then, as a warning, I dropped a coat hanger and Mary Jo got up and said, “We’ve got spooks in our closet.” She opened the door and we jumped out with a “boo!”. Well, Mary Jo’s eyes just about popped out of her head! She was so scared she was shaking all over. We were immediately sorry! Valerie heard about it when she came to take census and shamed us. Went to library at 3 and read history. Went to town at 4:30. Letter from Alice Reed. Came back and Betty was there. Persuaded her to go down to dairy. I bought her a soda! Then some Vicks drops. She caught my cold. Back to hall. Decided to go to dinner at last minute. It was corny. Finished Paradise Lost. Betty went up to study for art test with Joan. I went over and practiced about an hour. Joan was studying with Betty when I returned. We joked and had fun.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
April 21, 1941
Beautiful, warmer in afternoon, clouded up. Up at 6:20. Mom and Dad got up at 6:00 to work in the garden. Beautiful bright morning. After breakfast I went out in the garden with Mom and picked some narcissus for Goody. The sky was so blue, the trees so green, and the lilacs so fresh and fragrant -- seemed like summer, but I’m glad it’s only Spring. To school at ten till 8:00 for one-hour book review, “They Wanted War” by Hobart Mayton. Good except I got tired of sitting. Fun in English. Our row has the cowboy songs part of oral literature. On way to history, J.E. told me that I was good in the play Friday night and said he hadn’t had a chance to tell me then. Ah! No test in typing because Miss A. forgot to give it to the first class. June Smalley and I started working on a banquet program. After school I sat out in the back yard and read the paper. Something very good happened. Lilacs so lovely. Then practiced. Cloudy. Mom went to town. I read again “The Man Without a Country.” To bed early at night. Missed “The Letter” on Lux Radio Theater.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
April 21, 1888
It was frozen quite hard this morning, so I had to wait for a long time before beginning to plant out the things I got yesterday. I dug out some locust sprouts and other nuisances. Finished putting out the small fruits this afternoon. I took much pain, and hope they will grow well. It is pleasant mornings but clouds up and gets cold.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
April 21, 1887
Slept well all last night and didn’t get up until breakfast time this morning. I went over home and helped Effie address her wedding invitations then I cracked and ate a lot of nuts. After dinner I took a long nap and then came over to help Kate. Mr. and Mrs. Butler were here visiting this afternoon and took supper here. I had a good visit with them. The young folks have all gone to prayer meeting tonight. The baby had a real sick spell a while ago, but seems better now. I wish Kate and she could get real well soon. It has been a pleasant day, but is very dry.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
April 21, 1863
Matt & I spun a little today. Fannie cooks. Atheline spins some and waits on the children. Willie is a very cross child. He tries my patience sorely. Zona is not well nor hasn’t been for sometime. Worms I think. Pinck is a stout healthy child. We have not named the babe yet. He grows very fast, notices a good deal & laughs. Does not cry much yet. Love’s nursing. I shall miss Matt a great deal when she goes home. She speaks of going next week.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
April 21, 1862
No news from Madison. I hope things are going on well. I cut out some three skirts for Willie today, made one & began another. The sewing machine is doing fine. I will trim two of them with the trimming Dora & Matt made last summer. The other with tatten (plain). Atheline has been helping a little, she is not well, has headache every day. The children are well. I have toothache nearly every day after eating.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Samuel P., age 36, London
April 21, 1669
Up; and with my own coach as far as the Temple, and thence sent it to my cozen Turner, who, to ease her own horses, that are going with her out of town, do borrow mine to-day. So I to Auditor Wood’s, and there to meet, and met my Lord Bellassis upon some business of his accounts, and having done that did thence go to St. James’s, and attended the Duke of York a little, being the first time of my waiting on him at St. James’s this summer, whither he is now newly gone and thence walked to White Hall; and so, by and by, to the Council-Chamber, and heard a remarkable cause pleaded between the Farmers of the Excise of Wiltshire, in complaint against the justices of Peace of Salisbury: and Sir H. Finch was for the former. But, Lord! to see how he did with his admirable eloquence order the matter, is not to be conceived almost: so pleasant a thing it is to hear him plead. Then at noon by coach home, and thither by and by comes cozen Turner, and The., and Joyce, in their riding-clod: they being come from their lodgings to her husbands chamber, at the Temple, and there do lie, and purpose to go out of town on Friday next; and here I had a good dinner for them. After dinner by water to White Hall, where the Duke of York did meet our Office, and went with us to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury; and there we did go over all the business of the state I had drawn up, of this year’s action and expence, which I did do to their satisfaction, and convincing them of the necessity of providing more money, if possible, for us. Thence the Duke of York being gone, I did there stay walking with Sir H. Cholmly in the Court, talking of news; where he told me, that now the great design of the Duke of Buckingham is to prevent the meeting, since he cannot bring about with the King the dissolving, of this Parliament, that the King may not need it; and therefore my Lord St. Albans is hourly expected with great offers of a million of money,1 to buy our breach with the Dutch: and this, they do think, may tempt the King to take the money, and thereby be out of a necessity of calling the Parliament again, which these people dare not suffer to meet again: but this he doubts, and so do I, that it will be to the ruin of the nation if we fall out with Holland. This we were discoursing when my boy comes to tell me that his mistress was at the Gate with the coach, whither I went, and there find my wife and the whole company. So she, and Mrs. Turner, and The., and Talbot, in mine: and Joyce, W. Batelier, and I, in a hackney, to Hyde Park, where I was ashamed to be seen; but mightily pleased, though troubled, with a drunken coachman that did not remember when we come to ’light, where it was that he took us up; but said at Hammersmith, and thither he was carrying of us when we come first out of the Park. So I carried them all to Hercules-Pillars, and there did treat them: and so, about ten at night, parted, and my wife, and I, and W. Batelier, home; and he gone, we to bed.
*(The Diary of Samuel Pepys M.A. F.R.S., edited by Henry B. Wheatley F.S.A., London, George Bell & Sons York St. Covent Garden, Cambridge Deighton Bell & Co., 1893.)