April 13
Laura M., age 16, North Carolina
April 13, 1998
(No school.) Me and Née got up at 9:30 and I had 2 take Ash to work so I just took her home. Did house work and T.V. Jon came and we chilled. (Bed.) Went 2 Ash’s, Zach’s and Helen’s. Came home. Worked on essay. T.V. Courtney stopped by. Talked 2 Jon, Ash, Née.
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
April 13, 1997
Up at 11:00. Showered. Ate breakfast and chilled. Had lunch. Watched “Eddie” with Brian and Kathy. Went to Zebulon and back. Home at 6:00. Watched T.V. and ordered pizza. Watched “Simpsons” and “King of the Hill.” Talked to Renée and Ashley.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 13, 1960
Cleaning here and there. Mrs. B. came for coffee. Not a bit good. Looks badly. Very windy. Finished my work later and did some cooking.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
April 13, 1944
Bright and beautiful. Milder. No philosophy class. Practiced. House meeting at 2. Miss Winkler from grooming clinic spoke. Three girls with highest scholastic records in hall announced - I was one of the 3 and nearly passed out! Studied, then practiced. Piano lesson at 4:30. Fooled around til dinner. Wasn’t in mood to study for Eng. Lit. test. Good dinner. Betty and I had grand fight before vespers. Went at 7:30. Mrs. Jessie Burrall Ubank spoke - about God and giving, etc. Very inspiring. Back to hall. Didn’t feel like studying for Eng. Lit. test. Had sore throat and thought cold was coming on. Betty, Jane and I decided to go for a bus ride so about 8:30 we caught bus at corner and got a transfer in town. Then took north, south bus out to barracks. Got out near bus station and had rolls and sandwiches. Back about 10. To bed without studying! Katherine told us today that a girl from Mary’s home town told her that Mary is adopted! That throws a lot of light on the subject. [In upper margin: “Wednesday - Kath. came down to tell us that Mary is mad at her again - for no reason. Met Mary this morn - very sweet.”]
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
April 13, 1941
Lovely, warm as summer. Best Easter ever. Up earlier than usual to polish fingernails. So lovely first thing in the morning. Mom and Dad had to leave at 9:00 to sing at the Baptist Sunday school. I dressed in my new dress, blue straw, and white slippers. Felt wonderful. Most beautiful Easter day ever. I had such a nice time going to Sunday school. Miss Tindall wore a corsage of roses. More children there. Miss Spencer took over class. Sat with Ella in church. She wasn’t dressed up. She said, due to a Fellowship Club party Friday night, she was beginning to see what Helen saw in Clay; he took her home and Ella called William a moron. Beautiful flowers in church. Good sermon. Dad sang “Holy City.” Saw Helen before dinner and told her about Ella. Said she wouldn’t mind if it were anyone but Ella. At dinner I spilled something on my new dress. About 1:45 Mary came, all dressed up. George and Helen came, too. I hurried and dressed and at 2:00 Mary, William, Marg., Kay, Helen and I left for Walnut Hill.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
April 13, 1888
I left Mt. Pleasant at 6:30 this morning and got to Hamburg at 11 o’clock, where Willie was waiting for me, and we got home in time to eat dinner. Una did not commence to recognize me for some time. It seems good to be in my old home again, but strange not to have any sister here.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
April 13, 1887
Went to the store early this morning, calling at Mrs. Case’s on my way up to make some inquiries for her daughter in law. I got to the store before Mr. Hopkins a little while. We didn’t have much trade this forenoon, but did more this afternoon. I took dinner at Dr. Taylor’s. Had a nice visit with them. I received a message this afternoon but had to send word back to sending office that the person was not here. I had a little talk with the Frankfort operator, which did me good as I need lots of practice reading. I stayed in the store later then usual. Helped Fred get up a couple of lambs tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
April 13, 1862
Rain. We have had so much rain it seems the farmers will not get their crops in. Wheat looks well. Dick Night & N. Norris started to their company on last Friday & the torries on Laurel took them up & treated them very badly. I hear the stage has stopped running down the river. They are doing considerable damage down there stealing & so on. Mr. Henry went with Knight & Norris to Asheville & did not get back till night. I had the headache very bad all day. Took some pills, it got better on well after supper. Mr. Heath has been here all day & here tonight. Mr. Henry starts in the morning to Asheville & the company is then going on to Marshall. I hope he may return safe to the bosom of his family who love him so fondly. It has rained all day. Fannie & Jinnie baked some biscuits & boiled a ham for Mr. Henry to take along. I parched the coffee & had it ground. I want him to be as comfortable as possible & I pray God to watch over him & take care of him.
*(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 36, London
April 13, 1669
Up, and at the Office a good while, and then, my wife going down the River to spend the day with her mother at Deptford, I abroad, and first to the milliner’s in Fenchurch Street, over against Rawlinson’s, and there, meeting both him and her in the shop, I bought a pair of gloves, and fell to talk, and found so much freedom that I stayed there the best part of the morning till towards noon, with great pleasure, it being a holiday, and then against my will away and to the ’Change, where I left W. Hewer, and I by hackney-coach to the Spittle, and heard a piece of a dull sermon to my Lord Mayor and Aldermen, and thence saw them all take horse and ride away, which I have not seen together many a-day; their wives also went in their coaches; and, indeed, the sight was mighty pleasing. Thence took occasion to go back to this milliner’s [in Fenchurch Street], whose name I now understand to be Clerke; and there, her husband inviting me up to the balcony, to see the sight go by to dine at Clothworker’s-Hall, I did go up and there saw it go by: and then; there being a good piece of cold roast beef upon the tables and one Margetts, a young merchant that lodges there, and is likely to marry a sister of hers, I staid and eat, and had much good conversation with her, who hath the vanity to talk of her great friends and father, one Wingate, near Welling;, that hath been a Parliament-man. Here also was Stapely: the rope-merchant, and dined with us; and, after spending most of the afternoon also, I away home, and there sent for W. Hewer, and he and I by water to White Hall to look among other things, for Mr. May, to unbespeak his dining with me to-morrow. But here being in the court-yard, God would have it, I spied Deb., which made my heart and head to work, and I presently could not refrain, but sent W. Hewer away to look for Mr. Wren (W. Hewer, I perceive, did see her, but whether he did see me see her I know not, or suspect my sending him away I know not, but my heart could not hinder me), and I run after her and two women and a man, more ordinary people, and she in her old clothes, and after hunting a little, find them in the lobby of the chapel below stairs, and there I observed she endeavoured to avoid me, but I did speak to her and she to me, and did get her pour dire me ou she demeurs now, and did charge her para say nothing of me that I had vu elle, which she did promise, and so with my heart full of surprize and disorder I away, and meeting with Sir H. Cholmley walked into the Park with him and back again, looking to see if I could spy her again in the Park, but I could not. And so back to White Hall, and then back to the Park with Mr. May, but could see her, no more, and so with W. Hewer, who I doubt by my countenance might see some disorder in me, we home by water, and there I find Talbot Pepys, and Mrs. Turner, and Betty, come to invite us to dinner on Thursday; and, after drinking, I saw them to the water-side, and so back home through Crutched Friars, and there saw Mary Mercer, and put off my hat to her, on the other side of the way, but it being a little darkish she did not, I think, know me well, and so to my office to put my papers in order, they having been removed for my closet to be made clean, and so home to my wife, who is come home from Deptford. But, God forgive me, I hardly know how to put on confidence enough to speak as innocent, having had this passage to-day with Deb., though only, God knows, by accident. But my great pain is lest God Almighty shall suffer me to find out this girl, whom indeed I love, and with a bad amour, but I will pray to God to give me grace to forbear it. So home to supper, where very sparing in my discourse, not giving occasion of any enquiry where I have been to-day, or what I have done, and so without any trouble to-night more than my fear, we 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.)