March 9
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
March 9, 1998
Damn good day at school. Chris was in English & it just put me in a great mood. He stared at me (meanly) a lot. (Tried to chew on his pen but missed his mouth!) Went 2 Ashley’s. Mom came. Did homework. Ate. Went 2 writing class. Did more homework & hated my mirror.
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
March 9, 1997
Up at 10:00. Read some. Got in shower. Went to MacGregor with Stammelys. Went to Wendy’s and we jammed. Eric helped me with math. Came home. Had dinner. Drew pictures for Art. Talked to Karen. Oh, and I already miss Sean. Damnit… [In left margin] Grounded.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
March 9, 1960
Woke up early, cloudy and thot it might snow but didn’t. Did numerous things then called Mrs. B. Every day do a little cleaning etc. Lo and Jim fed stock. I did a little baking. Had a letter from Fran. Lo decided to go to cabin and watch TV. I cleaned refrigerator, watered plants, took care of turtle. It had begun to snow while we were there but stayed and watched Perry and This Is Your Life.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
March 9, 1944
Bright and somewhat milder. Got philosophy papers back. Betty and I made S+. On Spencer. Read Jane Eyre during siesta. House meeting at 2. Saw movie on courtesy that was shown last year. Read book til 3, then instead of going to practice, went to sleep. Up at 4 and went to town. Got raisins which aren’t rationed anymore. Met Jane and walked back with her. Piano lesson at 4:30. Miss Good Smith thinks U. of Washington would be a good idea - she’s afraid I’d be lost at Chicago U. and not have any social life. She says Betty and I are too much alike but that just to know someone there would help me a lot. So now I’m all undecided again. Miss Good Smith also said that although I’m still financially dependent upon my parents and although I would always show deference to their wishes and treat them with respect, I must consider myself henceforth as independent. Back to hall and told Betty about conversation. We started talking and she made some remark about feeling that some day she and I would outgrow our need for each other but we would still be good friends. Well, I kept still but that hurt - maybe I’m too sentimental but if friends mature together they shouldn’t outgrow each other. Well, that was the beginning. At dinner we sat with Mary Jo, Jane, Mary and Kath. and Jane kept staring at Betty. Back to hall and Jane and Mary Jo came in and declared that Betty could be quite a little beauty with some renovations. So they set to work, fixed her hair very sophisticated-ly, applied rouge, powder, eyebrows and lashes and really transformed her. Joyce came in and raved and I guess I was jealous (ashamed to admit it) but Jane Eyre was suddenly no fun and I hated myself and Betty and the whole works. To vespers at 7:30. Very moving. I resolved this wasn’t going to get me down as I would have let it last fall! Afterwards Betty and I went to Uptown to see “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves” in technicolor. Beautiful photography but I didn’t enjoy the picture. All Betty thought about was her hair. I felt so far away from her. Dreaded going back to hall. Oh I must do something! This is getting awful again. Took bath. Joyce came in and threw cold water on me! Had fun then. We were all expecting stop day for sure. Betty and I went in Jo and Nan’s room after census. I was magnanimous and gave them some raisins. To bed late.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
March 9, 1941
Sunny, nice, milder. Dad in bed with a cold. Missionary delivered sermon. In afternoon, Helen, George, and I went over to Mary’s. George stuck some gray stuff on his mouth so that he couldn’t talk, but we had ways and means and soon, off it came. He finally left, and then Mary, William, Mac and I went driving till Christian Education time. I think Mary is coming back to school, tomorrow. I will like her no matter what. Fun at Christian Education. Miss Davis took our pictures afterwards. Wrote Marg. Saturday night. Ah! Tomorrow! And yet this week holds a dreadful day -- Saturday.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
March 9, 1888
It was cloudy today, but has been thawing. Mr. Waters came and got Kate and Una this morning and I went up there and took dinner. Fred brought them home tonight and brought the mail also. I received a letter from my poor mother; she is so lonesome now that I am very anxious to get home. I got the vest I ordered of the Plymouth Rock Pants Co., and as far as I can see it is good. It don’t seem to know whether to rain or snow tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
March 9, 1887
It rained a good deal last night and the roads are kind of soft this forenoon. It has turned cooler and is freezing tonight. I wrote copies this morning and then shaved and went up to practice telegraphy taking my dinner with me. I don’t have the help I ought to on the business, so that I could learn to read the sounds. I went over to Mr. Waters and took supper and went over to Mr. Green’s to practice some songs for the teachers convention. Mr. James Case was there and I had this company almost home. The evening is a beautiful one. I got two letters from Kate tonight, the latter one telling me to go into the store if I wish. I think I will if nothing happens.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
March 9, 1862
A warm pleasant day, wind from the South. Zona & I went to the goose nest (on the hill across the meadow) this morning. I sent Atheline to get her. When I came back, the house is nearly full of men or at least the fire place is crowded, so I write down near the branch in my “studio.” Harrie is still here. Mr. Henry got a sack of coffee in Charleston at 53 cts. per lb. Dear coffee. I fear he will not get it at all. He is so kind to me. I love him more & more every day. May God bless him is my prayer. Dinner will soon be on so I must stop. Harrie left soon after dinner.
*(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
March 9, 1668
Up betimes, and anon with Sir W. Warren, who come to speak with me, by coach to White Hall, and there met Lord Brouncker: and he and I to the Commissioners of the Treasury, where I find them mighty kind to me, more, I think, than was wont. And here I also met Colvill, the goldsmith; who tells me, with great joy, how the world upon the ‘Change talks of me; and how several Parliamentmen, viz., Boscawen and Major [Lionel] Walden, of Huntingdon, who, it seems, do deal with him, do say how bravely I did speak, and that the House was ready to have given me thanks for it; but that, I think, is a vanity. Thence I with Lord Brouncker, and did take up his mistress, Williams, and so to the ‘Change, only to shew myself, and did a little business there, and so home to dinner, and then to the office busy till the evening, and then to the Excize Office, where I find Mr. Ball in a mighty trouble that he is to be put out of his place at Midsummer, the whole Commission being to cease, and the truth is I think they are very fair dealing men, all of them. Here I did do a little business, and then to rights home, and there dispatched many papers, and so home late to supper and to bed, being eased of a great many thoughts, and yet have a great many more to remove as fast as I can, my mind being burdened with them, having been so much employed upon the public business of the office in their defence before the Parliament of late, and the further cases that do attend it.
*(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.)