April 25
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
April 25, 1997
GOOD day at school. No Driver’s Ed! Went to Renee’s. Came home and felt sick. At dinner, I started to cry when I told Mom about weird symptoms I’ve been having. I’m sore all over, having weird moods…AAH. Went to Trisha’s. Zach, Mike, and Ashley were there. The 4 of us laid on the trampoline. WE KISSED! :) Ashley and Zach, too. :) Home at 10:00. Kathy and Bryan came at 11:00.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 25, 1960
Cloudy and much cooler. Washed later, dried nicely. Mrs. B. better she thot but not too good. She resting all day. I missed Census taker after watching closely. In P.M. had a little rest. Began to rain before Loie came home. Out to cabin, stormed quite hard. Shopped at Piggly’s.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
April 25, 1944
Nice day. Milder. Mr. Blanchard visited philosophy class. He’s so nice. Practiced in afternoon. Lovely in afternoon. I went to library about 3:30 and read Time magazine — I’m tired of being ignorant. Read for 2 hours and learned a great deal even in that short time. Went to P.O. — letter from Mum. At 5 went to Hickman for dictation. Only 3 other kids there. Miss Erb said I’d passed my 80 letter this morn! I stayed a few minutes after the others left and Miss Erb dictated a letter at 100. Didn’t get it, of course, but I will! Good dinner. Cloudy and cooler again. Betty talked me into going to see “Passage to Marseilles” with Humphrey Bogart at Uptown when I wanted to see “Buffalo Bill.” It was good though.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
April 25, 1887
Pa was over to see us this morning. Nellie is no worse and the Dr. said that if she did not take any cold she could soon be well. It was concluded that we should not try to move, so I am going to stay here until danger is past. I hope Kate and baby will not have the disease. I helped mother Queal do the washing this forenoon and stayed awhile. Ma gave me a pan of cookies and a cake of honey to bring back with me. The baby has not been well today, her ear seems to trouble her a good deal. I wrote a letter to Fred Neill this afternoon to let him know how we are situated. It has been quite pleasant all day.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
April 25, 1862
Mail came but nothing new going on. Cloudy dull day. Mrs. Fanning staid with me last night. The hands are at work on the dam, will soon have the mill going again. I did nothing scarcely all day but read the newspapers generally. No letter from Mr. Henry. I made some tatten in the evening. We had a good deal of rain this evening & heavy thunder. Tom Tidwell stays here tonight also Mrs. Fanning. I hope Mr. Henry is not out in this rain. God bless him is the prayer of his fond wife.
*(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 25, 1669
(Lord’s day). Up, and to my Office awhile, and thither comes Lead with my vizard, with a tube fastened within both eyes; which, with the help which he prompts me to, of a glass in the tube, do content me mightily. So to church, where a stranger made a dull sermon, but I mightily pleased to looks upon Mr. Buckworth’s little pretty daughters, and so home to, dinner, where W. Howe come and dined with us; and then I to my Office, he being gone, to write down my journal for the last twelve days: and did it with the help of my vizard and tube fixed to it, and do find it mighty manageable, but how helpfull to my eyes this trial will shew me. So abroad with my wife, in the afternoon, to the Park, where very much company, and the weather very pleasant. I carried my wife to the Lodge, the first time this year, and there in our coach eat a cheese-cake and drank a tankard of milk. I showed her this day also first the Prince of Tuscany, who was in the Park, and many very fine ladies, and so home, and 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.)