August 30
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
August 30, 1997
Up at 8:30! Brittany left at 10:30. Did some homework. Went 2 poor excuse 4 a festival at Umstead Park. Came home and showered. Chris and Zach W. came over. He said I had nerdy friends. Told him off. Chilled.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
August 30, 1960
Up quite early. Geo came up, he going to Elgin to the Dr. later. Eve, Jim and Lo to funeral home. Joe W. drove him to the Dr. I washed not too good drying early but everything did later. No ironing too tired so took a rest.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
August 30, 1944
Up at 6:30 and went home to iron. Rather cloudy and misty but sun soon broke through. Lovely morn. The last time I’ll walk to town with a day at the office ahead of me. I’m sorry that the summer is over. On the whole it has been wonderful. We were busy all morn. I’m glad we were. I was half afraid he’d pay me and let me go. When I left at noon Mr. H. said, “Well, we just have another half day, Pattie.” And I could have cried. Beautiful noon time. So end-of-summery and schoolish and breezy! Met George up at Tarwater’s. Mum had gone to the dentist’s so I had lunch alone. Clure brought over some muffins. Lovely walking back but sad, too. I took Mum 2 muffs for her lunch. Found her writing letters in the Red Cross rooms. The afternoon was even busier than the morn. About 3 Mr. H. gave me the material for drawing up 2 deeds and left me to it. He had to go to Kingston. First, however, he gave me this week’s check, $6 for the Clinton depositions and $1 extra. We shook hands and he said it had been a joy having me in the office and to come back and work for him next summer. Mum and the other ladies were next door in the Red Cross rooms. It got actually hot and I had to turn the fan on. Well, I typed and typed and got all confused about the trust deed. Was so tense and nervous that I had to do one deed over 4 times. Mum said the ladies commented on how fast my fingers went. My speed has really increased. About 4:30 — it seemed much later — I finished up. Cleaned out my drawer, took one last look at the dear old office, locked the door and left. Stopped in Red Cross rooms a minute. Then by Pop’s office, but Jean had no mail for me. So I don’t know for sure that I am going to Rochester. Stopped by Kim’s and found her on verge of taking a bath. Mrs. Young told me about Mr. Love’s needing a girl down at the Water Works. Kim isn’t going to Red Cross, though her cold is better. I saw Kay at noon and we planned to go. But I was completely worn out — haven’t been so tired since the first day at the office. Met Mum staggering up the hill just as I was leaving. So we staggered on together, both feeling like dish rags. Quite warm but beautiful afternoon. Home about 5. I sat out in front yard and read some of the Screwtape Letters that Kim. loaned me. But felt too restless and tired to do anything. Alice Ann and her mater passed by on other side of the street and A.A. wanted to come over to see me. She looked so sweet. Mum was coming out to sit with me but espied Clure on her steps so went over to talk to her. Around 6 Pan called and wanted to come up and get my history book. I jumped in the tub but she and Kay arrived before I was out. Slipped on house coat and went out in yard to join them. A car passed just as I appeared on the scene and stopped at Clure’s. I didn’t pay any attention but sat down in the grass and kidded with them. Heard someone going up Clure’s walk a minute later, though, and looked up to see Ashley. He said “Hey” and we all returned the greeting. Well! I guess I got caught! We talked awhile about school, etc. and Kay can’t go to Red Cross on account of a Christian Education meeting. Pan gave me $1 for my American history book, which I had even forgotten I had. They left about 6:30. We had supper and then I got out some old music — “Kiss Me Again,” etc. and had fun. Pop came about 9 and I left for Walkers’. Early for a change. Lovely night with a hazy moon through the gently stirring trees. Oliphant seemed so near and I couldn’t believe that another summer was over. Walked around the block and then went in. Mrs. W. was surprised to see me so early. Alice Ann was just going to bed and had to come in to see me. Later I heard her saying my name and her mother told her I’d gone to bed and she’d better do the same. To bed about 9:30. Could see moon through window by bed.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
August 30, 1887
I put in a couple of hours practicing writing this morning and then cut fodder corn until about noon. After dinner I hitched up and took Kate and baby for a ride. We went down to Crystal Lake and drove along the shore on the east end. We saw a handsome bald eagle on a tree there. I had to wave the whip to get him to fly. I went in and took a good bath; the water did not seem too cool. Finished cutting the corn when we got back and then went to the creek and tried to catch some fish but couldn’t.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
August 30, 1862
Taylor left this morning. I sent Peter with him to get the horse & buggy left at Chuns bridge. He will get back tomorrow I think. I have been making tatten today. Cleaned the children after dinner, washed their heads. Willie is a great deal better. Tena got the cloth out this evening. Fannie baked some ginger cakes this evening for the children. She has done the washing & ironing this week. I was at Mrs. Fanning’s a short time yesterday evening. Mrs. Night getting on finely.
*(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
August 30, 1668
(Lord’s day). Walked to St. James’s and Pell Mell, and read over, with Sir W. Coventry, my long letter to the Duke of York, and which the Duke of York hath, from mine, wrote to the Board, wherein he is mightily pleased, and I perceive do put great value upon me, and did talk very openly on all matters of State, and how some people have got the bit into their mouths, meaning the Duke of Buckingham and his party, and would likely run away with all. But what pleased me mightily was to hear the good character he did give of my Lord Falmouth for his generosity, good- nature, desire of public good, and low thoughts of his own wisdom; his employing his interest in the King to do good offices to all people, without any other fault than the freedom he, do learn in France of thinking himself obliged to serve his King in his pleasures: and was W. Coventry’s particular friend: and W. Coventry do tell me very odde circumstances about the fatality of his death, which are very strange. Thence to White Hall to chapel, and heard the anthem, and did dine with the Duke of Albemarle in a dirty manner as ever. All the afternoon, I sauntered up and down the house and Park. And there was a Committee for Tangier met, wherein Lord Middleton would, I think, have found fault with me for want of coles; but I slighted it, and he made nothing of it, but was thought to be drunk; and I see that he hath a mind to find fault with me and Creed, neither of us having yet applied ourselves to him about anything: but do talk of his profits and perquisites taken from him, and garrison reduced, and that it must be increased, and such things, as; I fear, he will be just such another as my Lord Tiviott and the rest, to ruin that place. So I to the Park, and there walk an hour or two; and in the King’s garden, and saw the Queen and ladies walk; and I did steal some apples off the trees; and here did see my Lady Richmond, who is of a noble person as ever I saw, but her face worse than it was considerably by the smallpox: her sister is also very handsome. Coming into the Park, and the door kept strictly, I had opportunity of handing in the little, pretty, squinting girl of the Duke of York’s house, but did not make acquaintance with her; but let her go, and a little girl that was with her, to walk by themselves. So to White Hall in the evening, to the Queen’s side, and there met the Duke of York; and he did tell me and W. Coventry, who was with me, how that Lord Anglesey did take notice of our reading his long and sharp letter to the Board; but that it was the better, at least he said so. The Duke of York, I perceive, is earnest in it, and will have good effects of it; telling W. Coventry that it was a letter that might have come from the Commissioners of Accounts, but it was better it should come first from him. I met Lord Brouncker, who, I perceive, and the rest, do smell that it comes from me, but dare not find fault with it; and I am glad of it, it being my glory and defence that I did occasion and write it. So by water home, and did spend the evening with W. Hewer, telling him how we are all like to be turned out, Lord Brouncker telling me this evening that the Duke of Buckingham did, within few hours, say that he had enough to turn us all out which I am not sorry for at all, for I know the world will judge me to go for company; and my eyes are such as I am not able to do the business of my Office as I used, and would desire to do, while I am in it. So with full content, declaring all our content in being released of my employment, my wife and I to bed, and W. Hewer home, and so all 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.)