September 4
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
September 4, 1997
Good day! :) Chrissi and Renee made up. Told Chris I didn’t need a ride 2 Renee’s 'cause there’d be too many of us. But I saw him after school and he took me, Renee, Ashley, Julie, and Zach to Renee’s. He stayed for about an hour and Travis and Malia were there, too. He gave Zach a ride home! :) Yeah, Chris. He’s not so bad. Stayed till 6:00 and Kathy picked me up. Did homework and watched story. Had pizza 4 dinner. Mom got home at 8:00. I want Chris.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
September 4, 1960
George came to eat Sun. A.M. Later Lo vacuumed all thru the house. Very warm. Didn’t know what time the folks would arrive but it was dark and had eaten. Made coffee tho.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
September 4, 1944
Labor Day and Pop has a holiday. Up about 9:15. Nice day. Hot. About 10:30 I drove down to Kimmie’s with Pop. She was almost ready to leave. I gave her a small going-away present. I sat with her while she gobbled down some cake and peaches. She and her pop had an argument about whether or not K. was going to take her umbrella. It got quite heated but I don’t know who won the final round. I went out to the car with them about 10 till 11 and we parted. This summer has been fun — things might be different next year. I went on down to Mary’s to see if she could fix some dresses for me and she asked me to come back for lunch after the dentist’s. So I called Mum and got her consent. Went to dentist’s ahead of appointment time (11:30). Started Crescent Carnival. He took me about 11:45 and I was out of the chair by 12 with a new filling. That’s service! Poor Dr. Adcock, though, this is supposed to be a holiday for him, too. Made another appointment. He was so solicitous and nice. I felt very good. A young man passed me and spoke very nicely and a lady gave me a big smile. Guess I looked happy. It was too early to eat so I washed the breakfast dishes while Mary mopped the bathroom floor and we talked. Then toasted some sandwiches for lunch and had fun. Both Mary and Horace want a baby right away. Mrs. Farmer doesn’t want them ever to have any children — she says she wishes she never had any, which makes Mary feel good, you know. Oh! that woman!! After a hearty lunch we did the dishes and I insisted upon mopping the kitchen floor. Henceforth I shall be able to sympathize with housewives who have to mop. It just about finished me. Then Mary fixed me up with pan-cake make-up, dark powder, dark lipstick, eyebrow and eyelash pencil and I looked like something out of a movie magazine. About 2:30 Mother ’phoned for me to come home and deliver some paper collection pamphlets. Mary drove me up and I showed her my clothes. She was as thrilled as I. Mum gave us some fruit juice. It was so hot. Then I gathered up the clothes that have to be altered and some water jars and Mary and I drove down to Stamers’ spring and got some good spring water. She brought me home and I took a cooling bath. About 4 I set out with the pamphlets and little pledges. Started down at Walden St. and worked up Cumberland on our side. Hardly anyone at home and I had to leave notes. Ran out so stopped by Mrs. Walkers and borrowed a pencil. Annie sat on the steps with me while I wrote them. Then a few minutes later I brought back the pencil and Mrs. W. said just after I’d left they’d missed Alice Ann and found her way down by the alley “looking for Pattie Anne.” A spanking was the darling’s reward but she was smiling brightly by then. I sat out and wrote in my diary. Then played piano. Good supper. Ashley was in the bathroom singing “Night and Day” and other amorous numbers. I didn’t do any screeching but sang what I hope was soft and low. About 7 Mum and Pop left for the Webbo. I went over the Clure’s to leave her a pledge and we talked awhile out on the porch. Ashley was up in his room still singing and I know he looked down once. I didn’t feel uncomfortable, though. Walked on down to the Princess and found Margaret and Roby already there. We got seats in the almost-full balcony and saw Lon McAllister (“Sparkey”), Walter Brennan and others in “Home in Indiana” in technicolor. Lon was just as cute as he was at school. It was very good. A community sing was on the program. Fun. Out about 9:45. Mr. and Mrs. H. were just in front of us. I was to meet Mom and Dad near the bank but they’d gone so the Hudsons drove me home. A storm was coming up. Mom and Dad were out on the porch. I joined them for a few minutes. Then the wind and rain came with heat lightning all around. To bed about 11. A good day. [In upper margin: “Pop sent a telegram to Rochester.”]
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
September 4, 1887
Kate went to church with the Neills this morning and I took care of the baby. She don’t seem to feel well someway, today, I think she had too much of a ride yesterday. I took her out of doors in her cart and got her to sleep this afternoon. Wrote a letter to the Vorce brothers in Frankfort this afternoon; they are the telegraph operators there. It has been a real warm day.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
September 4, 1871
Philip scarcely able to walk. J. R. said he would go to Roses for medacine yesterday p. m. Then put it off until today. Now he is sitting on the wood pile. Philip said “Can you go?” Yes, I am planning to go, as soon as the table is emptied, I told him.
I am stronger than yesterday. Arming myself with a stout cane off I started. It is hard walking through the long medow grass. When near the river I saw a big snake curled up under a tree. It did not move, and I backed away, badly scared. I had my cane, but was too weak to kill it.
I called acrost to Roses, who live near the bank, and one of the girls brought the medacine over. Mrs. R has the ague now. Coming home the wind waved the grass that it looked like waives, and I got dizzy— I feared I would fall, and wondered what next— I finily got to a bunch of Sunflowers that grew in a buffalo wallow. There I shut my eyes, and rested in their shade until I felt stronger— Brother was watching for me, and glad I got back, while I was glad to give him the medacine, and lie down.
This p. m. I made new pickle for the meat and fixed some to dry. After it is salted enough I get on top the dugout and hang it down the chimney. Very very handy—only one must be careful not to have a big fire.
I am asked sometimes if I am not sick of Kansas. No I am not. It is very sickly, nearly every one gets the ague. But so it is in most new settlements, and one is not always careful.
Philip was hardly over the bilious attack, when we went on the buffalo hunt, and the long ride in the sun was too much for him. I took that walk through the wet grass the morning the boys left, and I think that brought on the chills and fever again.
Mr. Smith had chills and fever, and was flighty, he thought he had a two story head, and could not keep track of the upper story. That amused the boys. With all our ague—some funny things happen—and on our free days—we have some hearty laughs. I do not write all that happens—only a sketch.
The sun is setting, the sky is a glorious vision of colors.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
September 4, 1862
Made Atheline’s other dress & John a pair pants, suspenders, besides patching Pinck’s coat. Louise stays with me tonight. All are well. The negroes are drying peaches for me, not peeling. The dry house is not done 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 35, London
September 4, 1668
Up, and met at the Office all the morning; and at noon my wife, and Deb., and Mercer, and W. Hewer and I to the Fair, and there, at the old house, did eat a pig, and was pretty merry, but saw no sights, my wife having a mind to see the play “Bartholomew-Fayre,” with puppets. Which we did, and it is an excellent play; the more I see it, the more I love the wit of it; only the business of abusing the Puritans begins to grow stale, and of no use, they being the people that, at last, will be found the wisest. And here Knepp come to us, and sat with us, and thence took coach in two coaches, and losing one another, my wife, and Knepp, and I to Hercules Pillars, and there supped, and I did take from her mouth the words and notes of her song of “the Larke,” which pleases me mightily. And so set her at home, and away we home, where our company come home before us. This night Knepp tells us that there is a Spanish woman lately come over, that pretends to sing as well as Mrs. Knight; both of which I must endeavour to hear. So, after supper, 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.)