August 27
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
August 27, 1997
Fate has put her foot down. I finally got switched in2 Ms. Dunn’s class for good and Chris got switched out. All I can do is laugh because bitchin’ won’t change matters. But I love my new schedule. Went home with Ashley. We did nothin’ but homework until 4:30. Came home and did homework. Went 2 Jasper’s with Sandra, Becca, Wendy. Stopped by Courtney’s for clothes exchange. Love her. Showered. Did homework. Talked 2 Renee some. Curled hair. Hate sleeping in rollers. Letting go sucks.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
August 27, 1960
Went to Mrs. B.’s not for long. Baked pie for eve. Cooks eating with us. Very hot on cabin porch. Suky came to eat again. Has had her kittens. Took Helen home. Dr. C met us with the news their friend Josie was dying and did pass away.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
August 27, 1944
We awoke about 8:30. Cloudy and cool. Heard Mrs. McCarter in the kitchen and presently Barbara, hearing us talking, poked her head in and said “boo”! That started it. We played hide-and-seek and then Helen and I had a good old pillow fight. I had put a handky under my pillow before going to sleep and it wasn’t there when I woke up — in fact, it wasn’t to be found anywhere. Not in the bed, under the bed or in the room. A great mystery which puzzled all of us. Then Mrs. Mc. stuck her head in and welcomed me. We got up but didn’t dress and went in for breakfast. Barbara is so cute. Helen has a lovely brown dog, Jack, and a little bob-tail kitten, Bobby. Afterwards we went in the living room and played the piano. While in the act, Mrs. Mc. entered and said “Look who’s here” and in walked Maurice in his Sunday best. And caught Helen in pajamas, house coat and curlers and me in gown, raincoat and curlers! He’s quite handsome. I retired to the bedroom and dressed and then Barbara and I fooled around a bit. I dried the dishes for Mrs. McCarter. Helen and Maurice were in deep conversation in the living room. Presently he departed and Helen looked tearful. Mrs. Mc. and I decided that he had gotten his call — to the air corps. Helen was rendered speechless for awhile but eventually the gates were thrown open and she informed us that he had to drive some people somewhere but didn’t want to take Helen away from me and was afraid I wouldn’t want to go, etc. etc. He gave Helen the impression that he had gotten his call though he wouldn’t tell her then. Well, Sunday is the only day she gets to see her heart-throb and there it was shot and the possibility of his leaving for good soon. She continued to look tearful till the idea struck her that we could go into town on the 12:30 and do something till bus time since there wasn’t anything to amuse us there. Well, Barbara wanted to go, too, and when she was told she couldn’t, she lifted up her voice and wept. But the bright thought that she might get to go next Sunday cheered her up. She took me out to see the pigs and then we played the piano some more. Helen polished her nails and I polished mine and Barbey’s, too. A bright red — pretty. Mrs. Mc. insisted that we have some dinner before leaving so we sat down again to chicken, okra, bananas and cake, though we really weren’t hungry. I passed out the little gifts Mum had sent and Mrs. Mc. gave me a bag of okra. Oh, yes, once when I was rendering one of the Chopin etudes, Barbara ran into the kitchen and exclaimed to her mother, “She does it with her hands!” Well, I packed, though I’d barely gotten unpacked and about 12:15 H. and I left. Mrs. McCarter wants me to come over and board with them this winter and work on the project if I don’t go to school. Wouldn’t that be fun? Hated to leave 'cause I had just gotten there. Little Barbara’s precious — she’ll be 6 in January. Doesn’t seem possible. Walked over to Grace Baptist and a boy friend of Helen’s came by on his bike and talked. He was cute. The bus was late but finally rolled up and there was Rex with another fella, right up front. We sat down behind them and Rex started in again. Helen told him leave me alone. He eventually did. Some other people got on. The trip seemed much shorter. H. and I got off near Gay Street and walked down to the bus terminal. I checked my bag, hat and umbershoot. Then we went out to wait for the street car to Aunt Ruby’s. That ride seemed short, too. Still cloudy and cool. I felt different at Helen’s and with Helen than ever before. There has been a change. Got off the trolley and walked up to Aunt Ruby’s. Helen and Maurice are pretty serious from the sound of things. They have told each other that they love each other and they don’t date anyone else. But Helen is honest and she’s sensible, I think. At first we thought no one was home but Ruby was there. Everything was closed up to keep the cool weather out and it seemed just like winter. Helen’s grandparents were there, too. We read the funnies and talked and then had some ice cream with chocolate sauce. They have a cute little house. About 3 Ruby and her husband, Helen and I left and walked quite a distance to a trolley. Back to Gay St. Went in a drug store where Ruby called home. Then she and her husband were going out to see some people. She told me to write her and to come see her again. She’s nice. We parted and Helen and I walked around looking for a place to eat. Finally ended up at Lane’s drug store and had a sandwich and drink. There was a whole gang of high school boys and girls in there and they seemed so juvenile. Helen and I sat and laughed at them. I insisted upon paying the bill. It was about 4:45 by then so we went over to the bus terminal to find out what track my bus left on. Then we window-shopped and at 5:15 went to bus station again and I got my suitcase, etc. Helen walked down to the bus with me and we said ’bye. It’ll probably be a year before I see her again. The Harriman bus came in soon and I got on. Not very crowded. One cute soldier but he buried himself in a book. Left at 5:30. Very sleepy. Nice driving back. Went by way of Kingston. Rolled in a little after 7. No Pop so I started walking. Up by Killifer’s he picked me up. The bus was earlier than he and Mum had expected. Still cloudy and wintry-looking. I ate supper again and about 7:45 Mum and Pop left for the revival, where Pop was going to sing. Mrs. Walker had called and wanted me to come for the night. Mr. W. was gone to New York. I took a bath and curled my hair and went up about 9:30, with my nightly necessities in my purse and the alarm clock under my arm. Alice Ann was still awake so I went in and said ’night to her. She looked so sleepy and lovable!! I popped right into bed. Lovely and soft. Beauty-rest mattress. Mrs. W. suggested that I bring Kimmie up tomorrow night and stay here.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
August 27, 1887
Worked at the store all day today. Mr. Hopkins was off fishing this morning and Charlie Case went this afternoon. I did considerable work posting up books. I had no telegraphing to do today. Kate and Mrs. Morrow came up town this afternoon driving Jimmie. I received a card from Irvie tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
August 27, 1862
Jinnie cleaned the dining room & then swept the yards, her & Hanes. Peaches are beginning to ripen a little, clingstones. I have done some mending today, indeed I have done nothing else. Berry Hogan came this evening & another man named Saunders. Berry is on his way to Tenn. Lane is driving a hack, taking a negro woman to nurse Sister Jane’s babe down home as she gives no milk. Berry is going to bring some sheep back. Jinnie’s brother Jim is along to help drive the sheep. Willie still improves very slow.
*(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
August 27, 1668
Knepp home with us, and I to bed, and rose about six, mightily pleased with last night’s mirth, and away by water to St. James’s, and there, with Mr. Wren, did correct his copy of my letter, which the Duke of York hath signed in my very words, without alteration of a syllable.1 And so pleased therewith, I to my Lord Brouncker, who I find within, but hath business, and so comes not to the Office to-day. And so I by water to the Office, where we sat all the morning; and, just as the Board rises, comes the Duke of York’s letter, which I knowing, and the Board not being full, and desiring rather to have the Duke of York deliver it himself to us, I suppressed it for this day, my heart beginning to falsify in this business, as being doubtful of the trouble it may give me by provoking them; but, however, I am resolved to go through it, and it is too late to help it now. At noon to dinner to Captain Cocke’s, where I met with Mr. Wren; my going being to tell him what I have done, which he likes, and to confer with Cocke about our Office; who tells me that he is confident the design of removing our Officers do hold, but that he is sure that I am safe enough. Which pleases me, though I do not much shew it to him, but as a thing indifferent. So away home, and there met at Sir Richard Ford’s with the Duke of York’s Commissioners about our Prizes, with whom we shall have some trouble before we make an end with them, and hence, staying a little with them, I with my wife, and W. Batelier, and Deb.; carried them to Bartholomew Fayre, where we saw the dancing of the ropes and nothing else, it being late, and so back home to supper and to bed, after having done at my office.
*(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.)