February 11
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
February 11, 1997
Normal day at school. Didn’t see Sean that much, but he was nice when I did. Karen came to second lunch. It was fun. Eddie picked me up and we went to Crabtree to get Courtney’s birthday present. Got home at 4:00. Watched story. Ate. Sean called me! That’s cool. Courtney called me! Even cooler. Talked to Karen.
Laura M., age 13, North Carolina
February 11, 1996
Today was okay. Came home after school & went to Bond Park w/ Em & Ed. Ate dinner at 5:30. Went to school dance. Sean wasn’t there… I was so sad. He disappointed me. But I danced w/ Mike Thor. He had his hands really LOW! I had the best dance w/ Pat. When it was over we hugged & he lifted me off the ground. I love him. As a friend…
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 11, 1960
Up a little early. Lo and Jim were going to feed animals, got to first gate fine. Drifts as hi as gate. Backing out slid out of track. Called wrecker so sat for 2 hours, G.B. sent someone. Took a minute only to be pulled out. I finished cleaning stove and moved it out to clean behind it. Did some upstairs work. Had such a head ache, finally relaxed which helped.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
February 11, 1944
Bright and bitterly cold and windy. Snow and ice still around. Went to town at 11:30 and got valentines. Betty gave me some money for 2 apples and the man jipped me. Good lunch. I don’t like Katherine - neither does Betty anymore. Had all afternoon free. Typed “calendar” notes for Betty. Really was getting up speed. Then tried to read history but couldn’t concentrate so gave up and read philosophy. Betty went to town. Then Mary came and we planned to go out to dinner. I was hoping with all my might Kath. wouldn’t go. She didn’t and we left about 5:30. Was it ever cold! After great deal of deciding and undeciding we ended up at Harris’s and had fish. Then stopped in Crown Drug and had hot chocolate. We 3 have so much fun together! Began planning to go to U. of So. Cal. next year and have an apartment. Mary would work while Betty and I went to school. We got all pepped up. Nearly froze coming back. Mary brought University catalog down and we made list of courses we would want to take - I had about 30!! Washed my hair. We had so much fun planning!! Gee! if it would only come true! To bed early.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
February 11, 1941
(m) Milder, bright, very nice. Mary gave me a note she wrote to me last night in Greek -- “You were so sweet today. I love you, dearest.” Fun in history. Another test. After class Jeanne G. said something again to Mary about Saturday. As soon as Mary got to Latin, she put her head down on her desk and cried. I couldn’t stop her. Fortunately, Goody was busy and didn’t notice. All during class she kept trembling, and somehow it went through me, too, Diary. I hate Jeanne for hurting Mary. All I could do was to put my hand on her shoulder. Both our translations were bad. Goody says no more writing in books. How can I read? Mary absent in afternoon. Lots of lessons. Clay took Helen home last night from the party. After music lesson, I took Mary’s books to her. On way to doctor’s, they drove me home. Stayed at George’s at night while Mom and Dad were away. Love dearest more than ever. Lovely day. Beautiful moon.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
February 11, 1888
Una seemed better today than she was yesterday and last night. Mrs. Neill came over this morning when Fred sent for his load of lumber and stayed all day with Kate. It was 10 degrees below 0 this morning, but by noon it was 20 degrees above, it is 10 degrees above tonight. I received a letter from each of my mothers today. Got the Jan’y number of the Western Penman. I hope our little girl is going to get better, but I am afraid that she is pretty sick now.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
February 11, 1887
It stormed all last night and about all of today. I wrote my copies before breakfast this morning. Went over to my house and got my old over coat and big white wool hat to wear tonight. It was awful stormy when I went up to school and the wind blew hard from the north, it almost froze my face. I went up to the Literacy tonight and acted the part of 2nd murderer when the duke of Clarence is killed in Richard III. Every thing went off pretty well. It was my first experience in such acting. I got a good letter from Kate tonight, which helped me to get through with my piece I think. I got a letter from Rev. Mr. Butler also. I kind of wish I had been home this winter.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
February 11, 1863
Finished the pants by dinner & cut a little gown & two little shirts. Trimmed the gown with tape trimming & the shirts, one with hand stitched frills, the other crochet edging. I sewed little on the gown. Sold two turkeys today for three dollars for Mr. Latta in Asheville. He is a refugee or rather an invalid from Columbia S. C. Snow going rapidly, very wet under foot. Mr. Henry out most of the day. Capt. Moore dined here today. Mr. Henry went off with him, did not get back till night.
*(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
February 11, 1862
The mail did not come last night. A boy came along this evening with the mail. Vic the mail carrier is sick. Louise McKinnish staid with me last night. Sue Sutton was not at home & I don’t expect will be soon. I am not affraid to stay alone, yet I feel very lonely at night till bed time & then I soon go to sleep & forget that I am alone. I miss Mr. Henry so much. He will never know how much I miss him when he is gone, when night begins to close in, yes ’tis then. I miss his welcome footstep & his dear familiar voice. I cut out some shirts for Jim & John. Atheline is to make them. I am still mending up clothes. A little warmer than yesterday. The hands are cutting coal wood above the Branton house.
*(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
February 11, 1668
Up, and by coach to Westminster, and there made a visit to Mr. Godolphin, at his chamber; and I do find him a very pretty and able person, a man of very fine parts, and of infinite zeal to my Lord Sandwich; and one that says he is, he believes, as wise and able a person as any prince in the world hath. He tells me that he meets with unmannerly usage by Sir Robert Southwell, in Portugall, who would sign with him in his negociations there, being a forward young man: but that my Lord mastered him in that point, it being ruled for my Lord here, at a hearing of a Committee of the Council. He says that if my Lord can compass a peace between Spain and Portugall, and hath the doing of it and the honour himself, it will be a thing of more honour than ever any man had, and of as much advantage. Thence to Westminster Hall, where the Hall mighty full: and, among other things, the House begins to sit to-day, and the King come. But, before the King’s coming, the House of Commons met; and upon information given them of a Bill intended to be brought in, as common report said, for Comprehension, they did mightily and generally inveigh against it, and did vote that the King should be desired by the House (and the message delivered by the Privy-counsellers of the House) that the laws against breakers of the Act of Uniformity should be put in execution: and it was moved in the House that, if any people had a mind to bring any new laws into the House, about religion, they might come, as a proposer of new laws did in Athens, with ropes about their necks. By and by the King comes to the Lords’ House, and there tells them of his league with Holland, and the necessity of a fleete, and his debts; and, therefore, want of money; and his desire that they would think of some way to bring in all his Protestant subjects to a right understanding and peace one with another; meaning the Bill of Comprehension. The Commons coming to their House, it was moved that the vote passed this morning might be suspended, because of the King’s speech, till the House was full and called over, two days hence: but it was denied, so furious they are against this Bill: and thereby a great blow either given to the King or Presbyters, or, which is the rather of the two, to the House itself, by denying a thing desired by the King, and so much desired by much the greater part of the nation. Whatever the consequence be, if the King be a man of any stomach and heat, all do believe that he will resent this vote. Thence with Creed home to my house to dinner, where I met with Mr. Jackson, and find my wife angry with Deb., which vexes me. After dinner by coach away to Westminster; taking up a friend of Mr. Jackson’s, a young lawyer, and parting with Creed at White Hall. They and I to Westminster Hall, and there met Roger Pepys, and with him to his chamber, and there read over and agreed upon the Deed of Settlement to our minds: my sister to have 600l. presently, and she to be joyntured in 60l. per annum; wherein I am very well satisfied. Thence I to the Temple to Charles Porter’s lodgings, where Captain Cocke met me, and after long waiting, on Pemberton, an able lawyer, about the business of our prizes, and left the matter with him to think of against to-morrow, this being a matter that do much trouble my mind, though there be no fault in it that I need fear the owning that I know of. Thence with Cocke home to his house and there left him, and I home, and there got my wife to read a book I bought to- day, and come out to-day licensed by Joseph Williamson for Lord Arlington, shewing the state of England’s affairs relating to France at this time, and the whole body of the book very good and solid, after a very foolish introduction as ever I read, and do give a very good account of the advantage of our league with Holland at this time. So, vexed in my mind with the variety of cares I have upon me, and so 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.)