October 8
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
October 8, 1997
I got upset with Zach b-4 1st period, but it wasn’t a big deal. He apologized. Went home with Ashley (Renée, Zach, Chrissi). Mom came and I took Zach 2 Sol’s. Worked on tess. proj. Dad came and we stopped by Courtney’s. He bitched about me not getting Sandra a birthday present. Says I owe her. Talked to Courtney on phone. Homework.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
October 8, 1960
Went over to Carries with papers etc. Baked and got ready for eve. Lo cooking steaks. Went to Mrs. B.’s in morning. About noon she went with Russel for weekend. Just as Lo was about to cook steaks Pink and Marian came. We sat up until after midnite.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
October 8, 1938
Nice day. Up late. Washed dishes before going to music lesson, 9:00. When I came back I did some work and then sat out on the porch and read. Soon Helen came down and we went over to see if George could play but he couldn’t and soon Allan came out (of G.’s house). We went up to the Park and got some acorns. We came back and divided them (H. and I) and then Allan went back to get us some more. We ended up with about 104 each. Allan left soon. H. and I found 5 little worms and put them in a shell. When H. left I sat on the porch and read till nearly 1:00, when I went in and ate dinner. Afterwards I went over to Allan’s with something for his father and George (who had come out) went with me. We then went up to Helen’s but she wasn’t there so we came back down and G. helped me wash the dishes. Daddy listened to the ball game on the radio. I was acting silly (for G.’s benefit) and was dressing up a glass to look like a lady and had put a small strainer on for a hat. The strainer slipped, I started to grab it; the milk bottle slipped and I did grab it. The result — a broken milk bottle and 3 bleeding fingers. I rushed in the bathroom and turned the water on full force. The little finger on my left hand nearly killed me. Mother bandaged it but had to change it soon due to it bleeding so much. I nearly had to go to the doctor. Finally they stopped bleeding. I only bandaged one of them. George and Mother finished the dishes. I got Mother tickled. After all was done G. and I went outside and I got my camera and took a picture of G. sitting in a pile of leaves holding his coconut. Then Daddy (who had started to cut the grass) took one of G. and I standing by D.’s car. Then G. and I got D. to break our coconuts and we feasted on them awhile. We decided to wash D.’s car and earn some money but Daddy decided differently. So. Then G. and I started to play war and use the car for a tank. [In left margin: “P.S. Daddy went to town later in the afternoon.”] We were supposed to be leaving on a trip and we were waving goodbye to some soldiers. G.’s side was facing the street and just then a man came by in a car and, thinking G. was waving at him, waved to G. Quite funny. Soon Allan came so we stopped till he left. Then just as we were inspecting an imaginary hole in the road, G. had to go and wash his hair. I got my book and sat in the car and read while Allan practiced football. About 5:00 I went up to see if H. could play but she couldn’t so I went home. Soon she came down to see if I could go down to a house across from Dr. Neergaard’s with her. I went and then she rode a girl’s bicycle and I started on without her but she caught up with me. When we got home George was outside. The full moon was just coming up and G. said (in a silly mood) “How many romantic people has gazed at that universal (he doesn’t even know what it means) obstackle [sic]” (he pronounced the last word wrong). I nearly died laughing. I went in and made a sad attempt at practicing. Then I studied my Sunday school lesson and after supper I listened to the radio till bedtime. Helen might move (boo-hoo).
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
October 8, 1887
Finished picking the apples this forenoon. I put the Russets in a pit and covered them with leaves and boards ready to put on the dirt when it comes freezing weather. Kate, baby and I went up town this afternoon and over to the fair ground to get my book and cast of cards. Went up to Mr. Green’s this evening to practice a song with Prof. Greenlee and Mrs. Green, and from there to the singing class. It is raining tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
October 8, 1862
Mr. Henry went to Spring creek this morning, will be back tomorrow evening. I stay tonight with my little ones & Atheline. I am not at all afraid, yet I feel lonely when he is gone. I have quilted a little today. Mrs. McDowell & Mrs. Mont Patton spent the evening here yesterday. Mr. Henry went to Stan Jones’ yesterday evening. He is quite sick.
*(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
October 8, 1667
Up pretty betimes, though not so soon as we intended, by reason of Murford’s not rising, and then not knowing how to open our door, which, and some other pleasant simplicities of the fellow, did give occasion to us to call him Sir Martin Marrall, and W. Hewer being his helper and counsellor, we did call him, all this journey, Mr. Warner, which did give us good occasion of mirth now and then. At last, rose, and up, and broke our fast, and then took coach, and away, and at Newport did call on Mr. Lowther, and he and his friend, and the master of the house, their friend, where they were, a gentleman, did presently get a-horseback and overtook us, and went with us to Audley-End, and did go along with us all over the house and garden: and mighty merry we were. The house indeed do appear very fine, but not so fine as it hath heretofore to me; particularly the ceilings are not so good as I always took them to be, being nothing so well wrought as my Lord Chancellor’s are; and though the figure of the house without be very extraordinary good, yet the stayre-case is exceeding poor; and a great many pictures, and not one good one in the house but one of Harry the Eighth, done by Holben; and not one good suit of hangings in all the house, but all most ancient things, such as I would not give the hanging-up of in my house; and the other furniture, beds and other things, accordingly.1 Only the gallery is good, and, above all things, the cellars, where we went down and drank of much good liquor; and indeed the cellars are fine: and here my wife and I did sing to my great content. And then to the garden, and there eat many grapes, and took some with us and so away thence, exceeding well satisfied, though not to that degree that, by my old esteem of the house, I ought and did expect to have done, the situation of it not pleasing me. Here we parted with Lowther and his friends, and away to Cambridge, it being foul, rainy weather, and there did take up at the Rose, for the sake of Mrs. Dorothy Drawwater, the vintner’s daughter, which is mentioned in the play of Sir Martin Marrall. Here we had a good chamber, and bespoke a good supper; and then I took my wife, and W. Hewer, and Willet, it holding up a little, and shewed them Trinity College and St. John’s Library, and went to King’s College Chapel, to see the outside of it only; and so to our inne, and with much pleasure did this, they walking in their pretty morning gowns, very handsome, and I proud to find myself in condition to do this; and so home to our lodging, and there by and by, to supper, with much good sport, talking with the Drawers concerning matters of the town, and persons whom I remember, and so, after supper, to cards; and then to bed, lying, I in one bed, and my wife and girl in another, in the same room, and very merry talking together, and mightily pleased both of us with the girl. Saunders, the only violin in my time, is, I hear, dead of the plague in the late plague there.
*(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.)