June 29
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
June 29, 1997
Up at 7:00. Was at work by 8:00. Closed with Megan ( :( ) and Jason for Winter. Mom picked me up. Showered. Nap. Dinner. Ride in country. “King of the Hill.” “Babysitter” with Kathy.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
June 29, 1960
Mrs. B. cleaning her bed room so couldn’t take time to come over. However later she did with lettuce from Lilly’s garden. Edna called, she washing. Olive called a very lengthy conversation. Really passes the time.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
June 29, 1944
Mum called me at 7 and I said to myself first thing “You’re 20 years old today.” But myself wasn’t convinced! I still felt jumpy inside and couldn’t eat much breakfast. There was a present at my place - a lovely pair of lace-trimmed panties and a card from Mum. Mr. Pridemore came. A lovely morn. I drove down partway with Mrs. Mildred. Mr. Harris sent me to pay some bills first thing. Getting hot again. Quite a few people came in - Mrs. Goodman for one and we visited. An old woman who has been Mr. H.’s client for 40 years also came in - she’s either 73 or 83 and Mr. H. introduced us. He said, “This girl (!) has never been married.” And she piped up, “I never want to get married.”! I made out a trust deed before lunch. Mum called to tell me to go to the Golden Rule for something and Mr. H. let me go about 10 minutes early. Mum wasn’t feeling very good - the heat and something she “et” that’s given her a stomach ache. Just as I was sitting down to dinner Pop came! With a 2 day’s beard and looking as if he’d been on every fire in the country! He’d only had about 4 hours’ sleep in 2 nights. Brought a birthday card from Helen. We all sat down and Mum and Pop recounted their troubles to each other. I went back at 1. Did some more trust deeds. Mr. H. went out and left me to figure out one for myself - but I think I did it okay. About 3:30 it got very dark and the wind was blowing around. Mr. H. said I’d better go before the rains came. He’s so thoughtful and kind-hearted - that’s why it’s so sad about his drinking. I went to Golden Rule for something and on home about 3:45. Mum and Pop were asleep. I closed most of the windows although it hadn’t started to rain. Mum got up. Then the rain began - I read the paper - all about Dewey’s accepting the nomination for President and Bricker to Vice-President. The storm didn’t come very close but we had a nice rain. The sun came out soon although it still stayed cloudy. Mum had called Mrs. Warriner this morning and invited her up for the picnic tonight - she accepted enthusiastically but about 5 she called to say she had to pack and couldn’t come! I felt sort of let down but didn’t show it. Took a bath and helped Mum get the supper ready. Played piano. About 6:30 I called to remind George - Clure got home this afternoon. He told his mother to tell me that he’d meant to tell us at noon that he had to play soft ball tonight and couldn’t come. Well, that party fell through with a crash!! Mum was more disappointed than I. I ’phoned Kimmie and we made arrangements to go to the show. Mum sat out on the front porch with me while I ate my birthday picnic supper. Had cake and ice cream. Pop woke up and decided to go over and play ball, too. Some men had ’phoned for him but Mum said he was too tired to play. I left about 7:15. It was lovely and cool. Mary Arnold was outside her house talking to someone in a car. It was Mary F. Greer!! Mary A.’s married sister was there, too, and I met her. She, too, said she’d heard so much about me! Hmmm! She’s very sweet. We 4 talked and kidded for about 10 minutes. I told Mary G. about my date with Earl and they all teased me. Horace was inside but he came out soon and nearly knocked me over with affection. Mary G. has been sick today - strep throat. She and mother beat all! We all bid each other fond farewells and Mary A. said we’d have to get together again. Sarah said we’d have to go swimming some time! I walked down to Kimmie’s feeling wonderful! Talked to Mr. Young a few minutes - then he and Mr. Massey went over to play ball, too. About 7:45 Pan came out, Kay came down, and lastly (as usual) Kimmie appeared. We walked down to the Princess. The west was so bright. It was very crowded and we had to sit up in the balcony. The pictures had started. It was “The Sullivans” and was just wonderful - though very sad. The 3 Stooges were on in a corny short. Kimmie and I sat together and when some people left, Pan and Kay moved down with us. Out about 10:30. As we started up by the grocery store across from the P.O. I saw the “man at Clure’s” coming up behind us. [In upper margin: “He was all dressed up and looked very handsome!”) As we crossed the street at the Methodist Church, he was right on our heels and said, “This is too late for you to be out, Pattie” (or something like that). I turned around and spoke to him. He turned up by Roberts’ and we went on up by Youngs’. The girls yelled to their mothers that they were going to walk me home. Pan and Kay wanted to hurry as we’d meet “him” up at Tarwaters’ so we mushed radly up the hill but he must have mushed radlier 'cause we didn’t see him in either direction. It was so funny! Kimmie is going back up to Cincy tomorrow for a week of opera! We talked awhile in front of the house and I felt so much more at ease with them! The moon and stars were out. We parted and I went in to find Mum having tea in bed. She was feeling somewhat better but was very sleepy. We talked awhile. Pop had gotten back from the ball game - the men lost! Oh yes - in the newsreel tonight there were some pictures of the aviation style show that we saw at school the last Sunday! To bed about 11:30. Truly, this has been the best birthday ever, just because I feel so different and have a new positive attitude. I was so happy I could hardly get to sleep!
Aloys F., age 16, County Cork, Ireland
June 29, 1926
Went to 8 Mass again. As this has now become routine, I won’t mention it any more. Julia sent me a long letter with terrific cigarette-cards, and cuttings yesterday so I wrote her to-day. She is coming here on hols. in August. After dinner went to School of Music to fetch Mám, but forgot a parcel of books for Prof. Stockley, and so had to go back again. Cycled there, and found Prof. and Mrs. Stockley, Mr. and Mrs. Neeson and Mrs. Smith O’Brien, sister of Dermot O’Brien, and a relative of Lord Inchiquin, all having tea in the garden. After tea, Irmah, Sophie and I went fooling around and had a feed of strawberries in the garden. After we had supper. There is always a wonderful atmosphere about Stockleys’, so refined and studious, so homely and quiet (except when Mrs. Stockley begins to act or imitate.) It was very interesting to listen to all the talk at supper. Mrs. O’Brien is a real lady. They live on an island in the Shannon. Got lots of books from Professor, and from Fräulein Engelmann, including Ruskin and Goldsmith.
*(Original Archive Copyright © Estate of Aloys Fleischmann. The Fleischmann Diaries Online Archive by Róisín O’Brien is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Used with permission.)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
June 29, 1887
It has been a very warm day. I got out some more timber for covering on the cistern this morning. Put paris green on the potato vines and young pear trees. Fred Neill sowed Buckwheat on the piece he plowed here, this forenoon. I went to the creek and got half a barrell [sic] of water just before dinner. I commenced to dig the cistern, breaking the sod and getting ready for a big days work tomorrow. Kate got Jessie Neill and they drove up town and made some calls this afternoon, and got the mail too. Jimmie don’t seem quite so lame today. We didn’t have our our supper until 8:20 tonight. The atmosphere is very smokey.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
June 29, 1871
A little rain this a. m. and cooler since. Yesterday p.m. I went to Roses. Her parents and brother have just settled on a claim not far away.-r’ They were going over, and asked me to go along and call. We had a merry ride and a pleasant call. I do like to hear Schotch people talk, although I cannot understand all they say. The river is very low. The Rose children caught a 25 lb. catfish in a pool. No trouble to cross the river now. But one must be careful not to step on sandburs before getting stockings and shoes on again.
Mr. Smith brought me a letter from Mother and three from friends. All keep well at home. I made two fans from the feathers of the turkey Philip shot, also one for Mrs. Rose from feathers of one he shot last winter.
Philips ague is broken, but he looks so bad.
Was to the garden this a. m. brought down a lot of cucumbers, and sent them up to Roses.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
June 29, 1862
Very pleasant this morning. I have picked our first mess of beans this morning, they are well grown. Mr. Henry & Pinck are gone to T. Harkins, will be back to dinner I think. Zona is in the hall room with me eating a biscuit. Willie out with Atheline. Old R. Wells has just left here. He called to mail some letters. Uncle Sam & others killed a hog Wednesday evening. Mr. Henry has the sides rendered up in lard. It was not very fat. I must stop now & get out dinner & string the beans for dinner & Fannie must make some dried apple pies for dinner. The cherries are getting ripe. Mr. Henry & I went up to the Murray place to see the goat (McDowell’s). He is a very fine one. It was late when we got back.
*(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 34, London
June 29, 1667
Up, having had many ugly dreams to-night of my father and my sister and mother’s coming to us, and meeting my wife and me at the gate of the office going out, they all in laced suits, and come, they told me, to be with me this May day. My mother told me she lacked a pair of gloves, and I remembered a pair of my wife’s in my chamber, and resolved she should have them, but then recollected how my mother come to be here when I was in mourning for her, and so thinking it to be a mistake in our thinking her all this while dead, I did contrive that it should be said to any that enquired that it was my mother-in-law, my wife’s mother, that was dead, and we in mourning for. This dream troubled me and I waked … These dreams did trouble me mightily all night.
Up, and by coach to St. James’s, and there find Sir W. Coventry and Sir W. Pen above stairs, and then we to discourse about making up our accounts against the Parliament; and Sir W. Coventry did give us the best advice he could for us to provide for our own justification, believing, as everybody do, that they will fall heavily upon us all, though he lay all upon want of money, only a little, he says (if the Parliament be in any temper), may be laid upon themselves for not providing money sooner, they being expressly and industriously warned thereof by him, he says, even to the troubling them, that some of them did afterwards tell him that he had frighted them. He says he do prepare to justify himself, and that he hears that my Lord Chancellor, my Lord Arlington, the Vice Chamberlain and himself are reported all up and down the Coffee houses to be the four sacrifices that must be made to atone the people.
Then we to talk of the loss of all affection and obedience, now in the seamen, so that all power is lost. He told us that he do concur in thinking that want of money do do the most of it, but that that is not all, but the having of gentlemen Captains, who discourage all Tarpaulins, and have given out that they would in a little time bring it to that pass that a Tarpaulin should not dare to aspire to more than to be a Boatswain or a gunner. That this makes the Sea Captains to lose their own good affections to the service, and to instil it into the seamen also, and that the seamen do see it themselves and resent it; and tells us that it is notorious, even to his bearing of great ill will at Court, that he hath been the opposer of gentlemen Captains; and Sir W. Pen did put in, and said that he was esteemed to have been the man that did instil it into Sir W. Coventry, which Sir W. Coventry did owne also, and says that he hath always told the Gentlemen Captains his opinion of them, and that himself who had now served to the business of the sea 6 or 7 years should know a little, and as much as them that had never almost been at sea, and that yet he found himself fitter to be a Bishop or Pope than to be a Sea-Commander, and so indeed he is. I begun to tell him of the experience I had of the great brags made by Sir F. Hollis the other day, and the little proof either of the command or interest he had in his men, which Sir W. Pen seconded by saying Sir Fr. Hollis had told him that there was not a pilot to be got the other day for his fire-ships, and so was forced to carry them down himself, which Sir W. Coventry says, in my conscience, he knows no more to do and understand the River no more than he do Tiber or Ganges. Thence I away with Sir W. Pen to White Hall, to the Treasury Chamber, but to no purpose, and so by coach home, and there to my office to business, and then home to dinner, and to pipe with my wife, and so to the office again, having taken a resolution to take a turn to Chatham to-morrow, indeed to do business of the King’s, but also to give myself the satisfaction of seeing the place after the Dutch have been here. I have sent to and got Creed to go with me by coach betimes to-morrow morning. After having done my business at the office I home, and there I found Coleman come again to my house, and with my wife in our great chamber, which vexed me, there being a bed therein. I staid there awhile, and then to my study vexed, showing no civility to the man. But he comes on a compliment to receive my wife’s commands into the country, whither he is going, and it being Saturday my wife told me there was no other room for her to bring him in, and so much is truth. But I staid vexed in my closet till by and by my cozen Thomas Pepys, of Hatcham, come to see me, and he up to my closet, and there sat talking an hour or two of the sad state of the times, whereof we did talk very freely, and he thinks nothing but a union of religious interests will ever settle us; and I do think that, and the Parliament’s taking the whole management of things into their hands, and severe inquisitions into our miscarriages; will help us. After we had bewailed ourselves and the kingdom very freely one to another (wherein I do blame myself for my freedom of speech to anybody), he gone, and Coleman gone also before, I to the office, whither Creed come by my desire, and he and I to my wife, to whom I now propose the going to Chatham, who, mightily pleased with it, sent for Mercer to go with her, but she could not go, having friends at home, which vexed my wife and me; and the poor wretch would have had anybody else to have gone, but I would like nobody else, so was contented to stay at home, on condition to go to Ispsum next Sunday, which I will do, and so I to the office to dispatch my business, and then home to supper with Creed, and then Creed and I together to bed, very pleasant in discourse. This day talking with Sir W. Batten, he did give me an account how ill the King and Duke of York was advised to send orders for our frigates and fire-ships to come from Gravesend, soon as ever news come of the Dutch being returned into the river, wherein no seamen, he believes, was advised with; for, says he, we might have done just as Warwicke did, when he, W. Batten; come with the King and the like fleete, in the late wars, into the river: for Warwicke did not run away from them, but sailed before them when they sailed, and come to anchor when they come to anchor, and always kept in a small distance from them: so as to be able to take any opportunity of any of their ships running aground, or change of wind, or any thing else, to his advantage. So might we have done with our fire-ships, and we have lost an opportunity of taking or burning a good ship of their’s, which was run aground about Holehaven, I think he said, with the wind so as their ships could not get her away; but we might have done what we would with her, and, it may be, done them mischief, too, with the wind. This seems very probable, and I believe was not considered.
*(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.)