January 25
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
January 25, 1997
Up at 11:00. Showered and had yogurt. Went on bike ride with Dad. Helped make dinner. Took a nap. Ate dinner. Watched “Dances with Wolves.” No Sean. :(
Laura M., age 13, North Carolina
January 25, 1996
Today was a good day. Went to pottery! It’s o.k., but I’m w/ Courtney so it makes it wonderful! I gave Shannon D. “the note” today. She’s being nicer to me now! She’s writing me back tonight. Yay! I’m still bummed about the skiing thing. But I’m going to flirt. Went to Eddie’s & got home at 7:00 ish. Good.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
January 25, 1960
Did quite a bit of cleaning up stairs so linty and dusty. A nice bright day. Lo took Helen and I up to see Ole. Seemed so glad to see us. Stayed while Loie shopped. Ole not eating much seemed pretty weak. In eve. went up to see Bess. Edw. not home.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
January 25, 1944
Rainy but wonderfully mild and springy. Wish this were the real thing! Up for breakfast. Had to serve. To practice at 8. Awfully sleepy. Shorthand class flew. Went to history at 10 but Mr. Carson has flu and wasn’t there. We signed roll and left. Hair all icky - got wet coming back. Finished “Dear Brutus.” To Philosophy at 11. Good class. Letter from Mum. Mary, Betty and I went to lunch. Gee was it good!! Meals are taking a turn for the better! Slept during siesta. Practiced at 2. Returned at 3 to find Betty creating a piece of literature where heroine’s name was Marcy! Studied shorthand and Eng. Lit. Mary came down about 4:30. She had gotten a thank-you letter from Mum. We 3 went to P.O. and then to town. Not raining - sky clearing. Lovely. Went to Peck’s and all had milk shakes. Back about 5:30. Table closed at dinner. Got together though. Good meal. Read at night. Mary came down. We discussed hate problem in post-war world, race prejudices, etc. Felt as if I had weight of world on my shoulders! Good thinking session in closet. Betty and I had fight during siesta - Nan left note at door reading “Aren’t you two ever on peaceful terms? Signed - two who care.” :)
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
January 25, 1941
Not so cold. Sorta nice. Music lesson. Just as I was coming out I met Helen going to town so I went with her to White Store. Saw Bunny. Marie left today for Mississippi. Helen thinks she and Bill are married. Ugh. Practiced two terrible hours. At night wrote letter. Washed hair. Mom got letter from England. Censor had cut out a sentence. Very romantic!
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
January 25, 1888
I suffered very much with my teeth this forenoon doing nothing but doctor them. It stormed hard all the forenoon. I went up town early today noon and got some Laudnamto use on my teeth so that I could stand the afternoon in my classroom. There came up a big north wind this afternoon and piled this snow up pretty badly. I got some of my Buckwheat flour at the mill as I came home. Una’s cough is pretty bad. The wind howls tonight.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
January 25, 1887
It has been snowing and blowing the most of today. Studied single entry Bookkeeping this forenoon. I don’t think much of that method compared with Double Entry, but I have to understand both systems, when teaching. Went up to the College right away after dinner to teach. I have eight in my Bookkeeping class and 3 new scholars came in to the writing class today. I went to the store after school and bought me a pair of stocking boots to wear in these deep snows. Have been writing copies tonight and also a letter to Kate. It is now 9:30 so I think I better begin to think of going to bed.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
January 25, 1871
Yesterday at recess—the children came running in yelling that the roof was on fire. I could not get up or do anything to put it out. Then I asked George to climb up the lightening rod. By holding to the places where it was fastened to the house. I helped him up to the first place—and then he could reach the rest. When up he pounded the fire out with his hat.
George is the N. Y. boy, he was here early this morning and we had quite a visit before school time. The children have been bringing cat tales to school, and he told me by soaking them in coal oil, they make good torches. He also said he had gathered and stripped them for pillows.
When I told about the fire at the supper table, I learned there was much bad feeling about the location of the school house, some wanted it moved, others did not, and some wished it would burn down. Well, I thought—not while I am teacher if I can help it.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
January 25, 1863
Cloudy & warm this morning. I staid by myself last night, only the children & Jinnie slept on the floor. Breakfast very late this morning as I had Pinck & Zona to wash. I did not wash them last night. Till promised to come over here this morning if her company left. I guess they did not leave as it is now nearly 12 and she has not come. I will stop now & eat some apples. How I wish Mr. Henry was here to help me enjoy them. I doubt if he has any today. I hope he may be at home in another Sabbath. Grant him long life & good health is my humble prayer.
*(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
January 25, 1862
I did nothing of any consequence but attended to Willie all day. He is no better yet. Fannie made the children some ginger cakes this evening. A cool day.
*(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
January 25, 1668
Up, and to the office, where busy all the morning, and then at noon to the ‘Change with Mr. Hater, and there he and I to a tavern to meet Captain Minors, which we did, and dined; and there happened to be Mr. Prichard, a ropemaker of his acquaintance, and whom I know also, and did once mistake for a fiddler, which sung well, and I asked him for such a song that I had heard him sing, and after dinner did fall to discourse about the business of the old contract between the King and the East India Company for the ships of the King that went thither, and about this did beat my brains all the afternoon, and then home and made an end of the accounts to my great content, and so late home tired and my eyes sore, to supper and 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.)