August 29
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
August 29, 1997
School was good. Saw Chris once, and he was cool enough. Mom picked me up from school and she took me 2 work. Was there till 6:15! Came home and showered. Brittany came and we went 2 the Apex/Sanderson football game. It was okay. Saw Kristina and others. Brittany spent the night with me. Called Chris. We had a cool conversation. Me, Brittany and cousins watched home videos and talked. Fun.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
August 29, 1960
Cleaned up in the basement a few corners. Dark and gloomy for a while but cleared off. Mrs. B. came over we had coffee etc. Before going to bed Lo and I fixed slat in back bedroom, had fallen.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
August 29, 1944
Up at 6:30 and went home to practice. Cloudy at first. School started at 8:30 — the first chapel and short classes. Oh! how I wanted to be going back! I think I really do want to be a school teacher. Down to office in good mood. Mr. H. had gone to Knoxville to try a case. I read and wrote and thus passed the morn. A few people came in. Home for lunch. Clearing. Mr. H. didn’t return in the afternoon and I got so restless. Called Kimmie and she isn’t going on the Y.W.C.A. picnic on account of her cold. I left about 4:30. Stopped by Kimmie’s a minute and then went up to Kay’s. We talked about Stephens — of all the courses she wants to take!! Made plans for the picnic. I went on home and cleaned up. Sun and blue sky out. It was right that school had started. I love the blue of the sky through the green leaves and the bits of clouds. About 6:30, clad in slacks and bearing my lunch, I went down to Kay’s. She hadn’t made her lunch. Pan came up to buy a book. She wasn’t feeling well so wasn’t going. Mary Arnold came over and about 7 we went down to the library. Only Miss Belk, Nancy W., Betsy and Ann Ray were there. So we decided to cancel the truck and go in Miss B.’s car. Fun driving. Went over this side of Kingston bridge down past the poor house. Parked car and walked to where a table and fireplace and spring were near the river. Almost dark. We gathered wood and lit the fire. Had sandwiches and wieners and Mary passed around a luscious chocolate cake. Moon struggled through clouds ever so often. Afterwards we sang. Kay and I talked Stephens some more. Betsy and Ann Ray gave us a show and we played a rousing game. Left about 9:15 and drove home. Stopped down near Webbo and Betsy said, “There’s Ashley.” And there he was walking down the street with another boy. Miss B. drove us home. I got out at Carson’s and walked on around. Up to Mrs. Walker’s about 10. Tomorrow my summer will end ’cause I’m going to leave the office.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
August 29, 1887
Kate did her washing this forenoon and I amused the baby and practiced writing. Built a jack to cut up corn on and I cut some fodder corn this afternoon. The baby has been sick all the afternoon; it is caused by teething and a bad cough. I went up town tonight to mail a letter to ma and do a little trading. It has been warmer today with the wind in the south. It was cool tonight though.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
August 29, 1862
I got a long letter this morning from Mr. Henry. It is needless to say it was welcome. I read it several times. He was in Richmond & well. I also received one from Harrie Deaver thanking me for the dried apples & turkey. He seemed very grateful for the farms. I read the papers till dinner & made some tatting after dinner for Zona a gown. I bought 12 1/2 lbs. of sugar of A. B. Jones today at 40 cts. per lb. Not good sugar at that. Berry & co. started soon this morning, will get to Sister Jane’s tomorrow evening. Newton Taylor stays here tonight on his way back to camps. Old Mr. Henry tollerable stout so Taylor says.
*(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 29, 1668
Up, and all the morning at the Office, where the Duke of York’s long letter was read, to their great trouble, and their suspecting me to have been the writer of it. And at noon comes, by appointment, Harris to dine with me and after dinner he and I to Chyrurgeon’s-hall, where they are building it new, very fine; and there to see their theatre; which stood all the fire, and, which was our business, their great picture of Holben’s, thinking to have bought it, by the help of Mr. Pierce, for a little money: I did think to give 200l. for it, it being said to be worth 1000l.; but it is so spoiled that I have no mind to it, and is not a pleasant, though a good picture. Thence carried Harris to his playhouse, where, though four o’clock, so few people there at “The Impertinents,” as I went out; and do believe they did not act, though there was my Lord Arlington and his company there. So I out, and met my wife in a coach, and stopped her going thither to meet me; and took her, and Mercer, and Deb., to Bartholomew Fair, and there did see a ridiculous, obscene little stage-play, called “Marry Andrey;” a foolish thing, but seen by every body; and so to Jacob Hall’s dancing of the ropes; a thing worth seeing, and mightily followed, and so home and to the office, and then to bed. Writing to my father to-night not to unfurnish our house in the country for my sister, who is going to her own house, because I think I may have occasion myself to come thither; and so I do, by our being put out of the Office, which do not at all trouble me to think of.
*(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.)