January 7
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
January 7, 1997
Today at school wasn’t as good as yesterday, but it was still pretty awesome! Sean gave me 2 big hugs — but I still didn’t see him enough. Came home and did homework. Watched story and then…Sean called me! We talked, he had to go, he called me back, we talked again. Does he know what he’s doing to me? Watched T.V. Talked to Karen. Bed.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
January 7, 1941
Not quite so cold as yesterday, but still too wintry for comfort. I’m getting to be a regular old Southerner. No like cold weather.
I started the day off wonderfully and as I walked to school I imagined all the nice things that might happen during the day. The mountains were lying under a cold misty haze and the trees outlined against the gray-blue were beautiful.
We had Mrs. Chitwood again today in Spelling. Earl missed eleven words out of 27! Don’t tell anyone but I missed three.
English class was absolutely perfect! We talked about transcendentalism -- believe I’m partly a transcendentalist. At least I believe some of their theories. Mrs. Bunch gave us lecture upon lecture and had us underline about every other line in Emerson’s essay on self-reliance. I never enjoyed anything so much in all my life. Mrs. Bunch suggested that since the year was still young, we make a list of our faults and our virtues, and try to mark out the faults during the year. Becky and I are going to do each other’s. Oooh! I love English when it’s like this.
After Latin was translated we had a study hall and I wrote Goody the note. Mary gave it to her when they dismissed at noon. I am excused at the first bell because of 12:15 class and going home for dinner. Mary said that she was so much in love that she couldn’t think about anything but -- him! At noon I couldn’t help telling Daddy because it was so funny and that made Mary mad! She wrote me a note saying how disappointed she was in me. Well, that started it -- we exchanged a few “sob” notes and finally I begged her that we call our friendship “quits.” At that she started lamenting her even being alive, and how perfect and clean and pure and high above her I was until I couldn’t help laughing. I’m always laughing at the wrong time. Just when I’m getting my life straightened out, this has to pop up. But I guess it’s better now than later. I hope we soon come to a decision.
In office last period Mr. Black had me type something for him and Coach borrowed my fountain pen. Mr. Howes came to talk to Coach about organizing folk games for the high school students. Oh! Just as he was leaving Bunny came in to see Mr. Black about a little child who had almost been killed. He’s a patrol boy. I thought I’d fallen out of love, but Gee!
Ruth, Helen, and I had fun coming home together.
Oh, yes, Mary actually did bring her diary for that nite yesterday, but, because I didn’t ask for it, she took it home again and says it isn’t coming back. But I did some fine and fancy begging. Sometimes I love Becky so much and then other times -- .
Mother is in bed with the flu. Daddy stayed with her most of the day. I do hope she’ll be better soon. But at least she’ll get rested up.
Oh yes, Goody sent for me after school to say that if what I mentioned in the note were very important she could talk to me today but her daddy was sick and she should hurry home. I assured her that there was no hurry. Her eyes are so big and blue and pretty sometimes. She said, “I believe you could help me more along that line than I could help you.” Goodness: I hope she won’t be like Mary!
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
January 7, 1887
Today passed off as yesterday, working hard studying and teaching. The trustees of the College met tonight, and will take action I suppose about securing a teacher to take my place as I do not feel that I can stand the hard work. The class in penmanship was so large that there is no more room. I received by mail tonight from the Penman’s Art Journal, Ames New Copy Slips, which are very fine. It was a week ago tonight that I left Webster on this mission of misfortune, as I will have to call it. It seems quite cold tonight. I will have to teach tomorrow, and what then, I can’t say now.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
January 7, 1862
I finished Mr. Henry’s pants today. The hands are going to kill hogs tomorrow. A good many here this morning hunting salt instead of yesterday morning. I had to give my room up to them & go to the kitchen. All are well. Willie can crawl anywhere, will soon be walking. Atheline & Jim stay in the kitchen loft. John & Peter came today & set into work. The corn not in yet.
*(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 34, London
January 7, 1667
Lay long in bed. Then up and to the office, where busy all the morning. At noon (my wife being gone to Westminster) I with my Lord Bruncker by coach as far as the Temple, in the way he telling me that my Lady Denham is at last dead. Some suspect her poisoned, but it will be best known when her body is opened, which will be to-day, she dying yesterday morning. The Duke of York is troubled for her; but hath declared he will never have another public mistress again; which I shall be glad of, and would the King would do the like. He tells me how the Parliament is grown so jealous of the King’s being unfayre to them in the business of the Bill for examining Accounts, Irish Bill, and the business of the Papists, that they will not pass the business for money till they see themselves secure that those Bills will pass; which they do observe the Court to keep off till all the Bills come together, that the King may accept what he pleases, and what he pleases to reject, which will undo all our business and the kingdom too.
He tells me how Mr. Henry Howard, of Norfolke, hath given our Royal Society all his grandfather’s library: which noble gift they value at 1000l.; and gives them accommodation to meet in at his house, Arundell House, they being now disturbed at Gresham College.
Thence ’lighting at the Temple to the ordinary hard by and eat a bit of meat, and then by coach to fetch my wife from her brother’s, and thence to the Duke’s house, and saw “Macbeth,” which, though I saw it lately, yet appears a most excellent play in all respects, but especially in divertisement, though it be a deep tragedy; which is a strange perfection in a tragedy, it being most proper here, and suitable.
So home, it being the last play now I am to see till a fortnight hence, I being from the last night entered into my vowes for the year coming on.
Here I met with the good newes of Hogg’s bringing in two prizes more to Plymouth, which if they prove but any part of them, I hope, at least, we shall be no losers by them.
So home from the office, to write over fair my vowes for this year, and then to supper, and to bed. In great peace of mind having now done it, and brought myself into order again and a resolution of keeping it, and having entered my journall to this night, so to bed, my eyes failing me with writing.
*(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.)