August 4
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
August 4, 1997
Damn good day! Bored all day until about 3:00 when I went to Amanda’s with Gerard and Chris. He was so sweet to me! :) We were sitting on the couch, his head on my lap, his arms squeezing me tight, I was playing with his hair. We kissed and he went up my shirt. When it was time for him to leave he wouldn’t walk away and stop kissing me. I really like him. Spent night with Amanda. We had pizza for supper.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
August 4, 1960
Quite cool this A.M. Thot it was going to rain but didn’t. Cleared off and got warmer. Went to Mrs. B. as she expected the kids and didn’t want to leave the house. Lo home at noon in hurry to have hair done. We went to see Denny. She was happy wanted us to come again. Turned warm but not like yesterday. Carrie had litter from Mary.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
August 4, 1944
Nice at first but clouded up. Pretty busy all day. Mum had dentist appointment at 11 and didn’t get home till I was finishing my lunch. Hot afternoon. Wore new jumper. Got tired typing. Off at 5. Washed my hair when I got home. Pop returned. It was cloudy and fallish and lovely — reminded me of an afternoon at Lonely. I went around to Reed’s backyard and curled it (my hair, I mean). The sun was just a yellow lazy ball in the cloudy sky and that tree behind Marney’s looks so fallish. Oh, I loved it all and felt happy again. I loved people, too, and all the sounds that told of their presence. Home for yummy supper. Then took shower and prepared to practice. Felt so free and wonderful. All went okay till I dragged out some Sousa marches and made a valiant attempt to master the rhythm and still hit all the notes. This brought the inevitable. During a lull George made his customary entrance with a “hoo” that sent me figuratively to the ceiling. We struggled through a few more and then at 8 all listened to Tom Howard and George Shelton and had some good laughs. Pop had gone to Mason’s meeting and then to play ball. George departed very quietly at 8:30. It was sprinkling. I tackled the dishes with a song on my lips and then went for a pre-bed stroll up to Tarwaters! A sharp little shower descended near Mother Lane’s but my hair was wet anyway so I refused to be turned back. To bed before 10 and had good thinking session. Am all straightened out on the major point about Christ. And went to sleep feeling a new peace and confidence in the future. Pop made 2 runs — Legion won!
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
August 4, 1887
It was very warm when we got up this morning, and reached 91 degrees at 9 o’clock, and 94 at 2 P.M. I fixed a road out to the wood in the slashing this morning, and drew up some wood. It was so hot that I gave up work this afternoon and Kate, baby, Jessie Neill and I went to Crystal Lake and each took a bath. We got back about 6 o’clock feeling much refreshed. We are finding enough volunteer potatoes for our own use now, which is very convenient. It appeared very much like rain a short time ago, but does not now, and seems very warm again.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
August 4, 1871
Rainy to day. Had expected Mrs. S and Mrs. L to spend the day here. Mr. & Mrs. Lane were here for tea, we had the biggest mellon I ever saw, but ever. Have been all week making a doll for little Ida S.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
August 4, 1862
Willie’s bowels well. I hope they may remain so. I faced the hem of an under skirt today. Nothing of interest going on. Very dry & warm, needing rain badly. Jim’s foot mending slowly. He is mending up some old chairs. Mail brought no 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
August 4, 1668
Up, and to my office a little, and then to White Hall about a Committee for Tangier at my Lord Arlington’s, where, by Creed’s being out of town, I have the trouble given me of drawing up answers to the complaints of the Turks of Algiers, and so I have all the papers put into my hand. Here till noon, and then back to the Office, where sat a little, and then to dinner, and presently to the office, where come to me my Lord Bellassis, Lieutenant-Colonell Fitzgerald, newly come from Tangier, and Sir Arthur Basset, and there I received their informations, and so, they being gone, I with my clerks and another of Lord Brouncker’s, Seddon, sat up till two in the morning, drawing up my answers and writing them fair, which did trouble me mightily to sit up so long, because of my eyes.
*(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.)