Laura M., age 16, North Carolina
April 4, 1998
Jon called and woke me up. :) Worked from 12-3. Stopped by Née’s. Did homework. Showered. Ate. Picked Courtney up from work. Waffle House. Saw Liam 'cause his dad beat him. We spent night at Née’s with Ash and Les. Watched “Full Monty.” Cute.
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
April 4, 1997
Up at 9:30. Packed up and went to look at osprey and eagles. Got home around 1:00 and laid out for about an hour. I actually got tan! :) Got in shower and Mike and Zach called me again. :) Watched TV and ate spaghetti. Took Lucy on a walk. Came back and took a nap. Ate dinner. Watched TV. Talked to Karen and used my new Dream Kit from Courtney. COOL.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 4, 1960
Didn’t wash today. Lo drove her car, many errands. Brot two loads of hats for me to try, (not good). Hugh brot oil in P.M. Mrs. B. called for me to come over for coffee. Called Amy, not coming to Service Class. Something doing at school. Went to Carrie’s with her money. Wrote Bob and Ole.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
April 4, 1944
Peace
There is a stillness in the night;
There is a veil across the moon;
In the quiet places of the wood
I melt with peace - alone.
Lilacs of Memory
It is April again
And there are lilacs
To bring memories.
There are lilacs in the Spring rain
With a ghostly fragrance from the past
A fragrance that one remembers
From another Spring.
It is April and there are lilacs
Of memory in the rain.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
April 4, 1941
Oh my, Diary, I believe that Paradise will be one eternal Springtime. Isn’t it strange how the coming of Spring never fails to impress one with its beauty -- and how soon one forgets the loveliness of the Spring -- therefore, it is always new and ever more beautiful than the year before.
I’ve just been around in the back yard to comfort the little flowers which the hail abused -- but they still lift their golden heads, although they are heavy with water. The hyacinths smell so heavenly. The lilac bushes are just awakening and there are tiny green buds and leaves all over them. Oh please, let the lilacs be beautiful this Spring -- we didn’t have any last year. I also visited George’s back yard to see the white blossoms of the plum trees. It has changed so, Diary, just the back yard -- it is so different. The main thing, of course, is the absence of the flight of back steps with its “lookout” landing; and then one of “our” trees has been almost cut to the ground -- the grape vines are all gone from the arbor and it doesn’t seem a bit like the same yard in which we spent so many happy hours. I felt so old then and so -- well, like a stranger almost. It hurt to think that it’s all gone now -- all changed and different.
Tomorrow is April the fifth. I don’t know whether I’m frightened or not -- I suppose it’s very silly, but it just started -- really I couldn’t help it. And yet I have a feeling now that it can’t happen just yet -- not for a while. I don’t know whether I’m glad or sorry -- sometimes I can’t understand my own self!
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
April 4, 1888
Have been at the invoicing all day. The Hardware, Invoices, and Crockery are all finished now and probably two days more will wind up any work at the store. I called at Mr. Harvey’s this evening and then went to a sugar social at the hall; one dish was enough for me. It is quite warm weather now and the snow is going down. I got no mail at all tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
April 4, 1887
The weather was greatly changed this morning. The wind has been howling and the snow blowing all day. I went up to the store this morning and took my dinner along expecting to study telegraphy, but I heard that Mr. Case was not going away tomorrow, so I made up my mind that I couldn’t waste much more time there if I am not going to work there soon. I voted the Republican tickets and for the Prohibitory Amendment. Bought a pail of paint and went over to our house, built a fire and painted some on the inside woodwork. I took my dinner over there. It will seem good when I get Kate and the baby up here, and have a home again. I got a short letter from her tonight, written with a pencil. Wind still howls.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
April 4, 1871
The other day we went to church at Olive Branch. It is a log church, the first I have ever been in. The women sit on one side of the church the men on the other. Nearly all the women wore sunbonnets. I dont see how they can hear with them on. The P. O. is a mile from here. I walked over for the mail, and was rewarded with three letters. One from sister Mary. How good she is to write to me so regularly.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
April 4, 1862
Mail came but nothing new. We got no letters. Fannie & I scoured all down stairs today except the dining room & side room. I was real tired. Rained a little in the evening. It was late before we got to work as the mail generally brings a good many men after news.
*(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 35, London
April 4, 1668
Up betimes, and by coach towards White Hall, and took Aldgate Street in my way, and there called upon one Hayward, that makes virginalls, and did there like of a little espinette, and will have him finish it for me; for I had a mind to a small harpsichon, but this takes up less room, and will do my business as to finding out of chords, and I am very well pleased that I have found it. Thence to White Hall, and after long waiting did get a small running Committee of Tangier, where I staid but little, and little done but the correcting two or three egregious faults in the Charter for Tangier after it had so long lain before the Council and been passed there and drawn up by the Atturney Generall, so slightly are all things in this age done. Thence home to the office by water, where we sat till noon, and then I moved we might go to the Duke of York and the King presently to get out their order in writing that was ordered us yesterday about the business of certificates, that we might be secure against the tradesmen who (Sir John Banks by name) have told me this day that they will complain in Parliament against us for denying to do them right. So we rose of a sudden, being mighty sensible of this inconvenience we are liable to should we delay to give them longer, and yet have no order for our indemnity. I did dine with Sir W. Pen, where my Lady Batten did come with desire of meeting me there, and speaking with me about the business of the 500l. we demand of her for the Chest. She do protest, before God, she never did see the account, but that it was as her husband in his life-time made it, and he did often declare to her his expecting 500l., and that we could not deny it him for his pains in that business, and that he hath left her worth nothing of his own in the world, and that therefore she could pay nothing of it, come what will come, but that he hath left her a beggar, which I am sorry truly for, though it is a just judgment upon people that do live so much beyond themselves in housekeeping and vanity, as they did. I did give her little answer, but generally words that might not trouble her, and so to dinner, and after dinner Sir W. Pen and I away by water to White Hall, and there did attend the Duke of York, and he did carry us to the King’s lodgings: but he was asleep in his closet; so we stayed in the Green-Roome, where the Duke of York did tell us what rules he had, of knowing the weather, and did now tell us we should have rain before to- morrow, it having been a dry season for some time, and so it did rain all night almost; and pretty rules he hath, and told Brouncker and me some of them, which were such as no reason seems ready to be given. By and by the King comes out, and he did easily agree to what we moved, and would have the Commissioners of the Navy to meet us with him to-morrow morning: and then to talk of other things; about the Quakers not swearing, and how they do swear in the business of a late election of a Knight of the Shire of Hartfordshire in behalf of one they have a mind to have; and how my Lord of Pembroke says he hath heard him (the Quaker) at the tennis-court swear to himself when he loses: and told us what pretty notions my Lord Pembroke hath of the first chapter of Genesis, how Adam’s sin was not the sucking (which he did before) but the swallowing of the apple, by which the contrary elements begun to work in him, and to stir up these passions, and a great deal of such fooleries, which the King made mighty mockery at. Thence my Lord Brouncker and I into the Park in his coach, and there took a great deal of ayre, saving that it was mighty dusty, and so a little unpleasant. Thence to Common Garden with my Lord, and there I took a hackney and home, and after having done a few letters at the office, I home to a little supper and so to bed, my eyes being every day more and more weak and apt to be tired.
*(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.)
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