February 12
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
February 12, 1998
Ashley wasn’t at school 2day, but I went 2 her house anyways. I felt sad again, but playing racquetball w/ Eddie made it a lot better. I beat him in one game! :) We had Grillers and salad for supper, & cinnamon rolls. Home at 9:00. Got all packing done & did homework. In bed at LATE.
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
February 12, 1997
I guess it’s safe to say Sean’s been nice to me all week. WOW! I went home with Renee and we stopped by the mall to get some V-day candy. Sandra picked me up there at 6:00. Had pasta for dinner. Got in shower. Sean called me! He would not let me get off the phone. Accidentally slept with Becca.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 12, 1960
A bright beautiful winter day but very cold. Jim and G.B. came at 7:00. G.B. breakfast Jim coffee. Lo and Jim out to feed the stock. Good luck today. Cleaned up stairs did some down. Baked donuts and date bars. Had an easy supper. Lo meeting train to pick up Marian.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
February 12, 1944
Bright and cold. Practiced at 8 - read history at 9. Class at 10. Mr. Berry back to Philosophy - we met in a new room. Answered rather difficult questions and he said, “Excellent.” Good lunch. Betty in touchy mood - I probably was too and didn’t know it! Washed clothes and took laundry down. We ate cookies and candy Mum sent. Took Mary and Kath. some. Studied Eng. Lit., then History. Girls came to see Betty about calendars. Mary came down. Card from Pop. Good dinner - Mary, Betty and I fooled around a bit afterwards. Went up to her room and ate some candy. Then I studied shorthand. At 8 we three went over to Bond Rally and auction. Different faculty members auctioned off various services - such as writing a term paper, serving breakfast in bed, etc. - to the highest bidder in war bonds. We didn’t bid, of course, but we had more fun!! Highest bid was over $600!! Men of faculty were available as dance partners for a 25-cent stamp. Mr. Fowler, Donchiasa, Carson - they were really going to town. Some service men there, too. One was a wonderful jitterbug! Went to tearoom and then home just in time - 11pm. Bath and to bed. My face is so clean - can’t understand it, after all this candy and stuff!
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
February 12, 1941
Lincoln’s birthday. Mild, lovely. Mary absent all day. In chapel in morning, Calvin Moody was announcing about the Freshmen Food Sale on Saturday. Once when he paused for breath, a little sparrow in the rafters sang, “Tweet! Tweet!” We got so tickled. Made out all Mary’s lessons for her, and Ernest took them to her. He also brought me a note from her this morning. Enclosed was ten cents for my taking her lessons to her yesterday. I sent it right back! After school, Helen, Ruth, Betty, and I set out for Music Club via my house, Ruth’s house, and finally schoolhouse. Ruth left programs at school. Had to go back after them. So lovely out. Arrived at Music Club... I played and sang, “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair.” Mrs. Marsh and other teachers were there as visitors. Right in middle, the music collapsed and descended noisily to the floor. I heaved a great disgusted sigh and hastily retrieved it. And with Mrs. Marsh right behind me! My voice was very clear, although shaky, and lots congratulated me -- except Mrs. Marsh. Mary Louie, Roberta and I had fun. Also Ruth. Miss Hudson is married.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
February 12, 1888
We did not get around very early this morning, we were up with Una so much last night. She feels better today than she has in a long time. Mrs. Marrow and family were over to see the baby this afternoon and evening. Fred Neill came over this evening. We had a good visit together. I wrote a letter to Effie today. The weather has been quite mild.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
February 12, 1887
Wrote copies this morning before breakfast and immediately after I went up to the Court house and left my letter to Kate to be sent on the stage. It was quite cold all day. Taught at the College of course this afternoon. The Prof. and I reported one boy to the trustees, recommending him for expulsion. Fred came back today noon, and took a load of camp stuff out into Homestead for the man he worked for this afternoon and is home again tonight. We took a good wash out in the kitchen for which I feel better. There was a fine display of Northern lights at one time this evening. It is awful cold tonight, being now 12o below zero, 10 o’clock P.M.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
February 12, 1863
Finished the gown & sewed some on the shirts. Made the sleeves of both. Warm & bright, snow nearly all gone. Old Jim Night started yesterday after a load of corn to Dr. Kilgore’s in Transylvania Co., some Mr. Henry has there. He gave two dollars a bushel for 1000 bu. Corn is very scarce about here, now selling at any price. Poor soldier’s families. How are they to get along, no one can tell. I hope none may suffer for the staff of life yet I fear some will.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
February 12, 1862
Nothing of interest going on. Uncle Sam & Peter Guy finished slaughtering the beefs. I still mending. Warm & pleasant.
*(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
February 12, 1668
Up, and to the office, where all the morning drawing up my narrative of my proceedings and concernments in the buying of prize- goods, which I am to present to the Committee for Accounts; and being come to a resolution to conceal nothing from them, I was at great ease how to draw it up without any inventions or practise to put me to future pain or thoughts how to carry on, and now I only discover what my profit was, and at worst I suppose I can be made but to refund my profit and so let it go. At noon home to dinner, where Mr. Jackson dined with me, and after dinner I (calling at the Excise Office, and setting my wife and Deb. at her tailor’s) did with Mr. Jackson go to find my cozen Roger Pepys, which I did in the Parliament House, where I met him and Sir Thomas Crew and Mr. George Montagu, who are mighty busy how to save my Lord’s name from being in the Report for anything which the Committee is commanded to report to the House of the miscarriages of the late war. I find they drive furiously still in the business of tickets, which is nonsense in itself and cannot come to any thing. Thence with cozen Roger to his lodgings, and there sealed the writings with Jackson, about my sister’s marriage: and here my cozen Roger told me the pleasant passage of a fellow’s bringing a bag of letters to-day, into the lobby of the House, and left them, and withdrew himself without observation. The bag being opened, the letters were found all of one size, and directed with one hand: a letter to most of the Members of the House. The House was acquainted with it, and voted they should be brought in, and one opened by the Speaker; wherein if he found any thing unfit to communicate, to propose a Committee to be chosen for it. The Speaker opening one, found it only a case with a libell in it, printed: a satire most sober and bitter as ever I read; and every letter was the same. So the House fell a-scrambling for them like boys: and my cozen Roger had one directed to him, which he lent me to read. So away, and took up my wife, and setting Jackson down at Fetter Lane end, I to the old Exchange to look Mr. Houblon, but, not finding him, did go home, and there late writing a letter to my Lord Sandwich, and to give passage to a letter of great moment from Mr. Godolphin to him, which I did get speedy passage for by the help of Mr. Houblon, who come late to me, and there directed the letter to Lisbon under cover of his, and here we talked of the times, which look very sad and distracted, and made good mirth at this day’s passage in the House, and so parted; and going to the gate with him, I found his lady and another fine lady sitting an hour together, late at night, in their coach, while he was with me, which is so like my wife, that I was mighty taken with it, though troubled for it. So home to supper and to bed. This day Captain Cocke was with the Commissioners of Accounts to ask more time for his bringing in his answer about the prize goods, and they would not give him 14 days as he asks, but would give only two days, which was very hard, I think, and did trouble me for fear of their severity, though I have prepared my matter so as to defy it.
*(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.)