October 6
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
October 6, 1997
Kinda shitty. Tim’s acting different towards me. (He was wearing a golf cap.) Dad picked me up and I worked until 5:15 with Marc. Came home and did homework. Renée called and said Chris and Mike stopped by her house. Aaahh! Had Los Tres take-out. Did homework till 9:30.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
October 6, 1960
Started to wash as it was a good day. Went to Carrie’s for her sheets and cases. Talked with Mrs. B. as I couldn’t get thru in time to have her for coffee. Had ironed Carrie’s sheets and cases when Ole came. We had cake and coffee and enjoyed it. Thot he might go to Carrie’s but didn’t. We went to veg. stand and Bess’s she not home. Russo Reimer brot grapes for jelly.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
October 6, 1938
Practiced. Warm and nice. Mother up. No chapel. Usual lessons (classes). Home for dinner. Ate over at George’s and got my English while I ate. At 12:30 Mary and I went in the auditorium (for 3 cents) and saw an exhibit of birds and animals. Not very good. Then English and study hall. At 3:00 I went down to where Mrs. Moore usually is but she wasn’t there. Must be something the matter with her today. I went back to s.h. till school was out (3:22). Mary and I talked awhile and soon George came along and decided he was going to make Mary go up the hill by means of his knife. [In left margin: “P.S. Our Hi-Lite came today. P.S. The Drill Team practiced during 1st s.p.”] He got her nearly to G.L.’s house when she started shaking all over and crying. She nearly had me doing the same. G. got scared and went home (with threats from me). We parted soon and Mary went on with Elma (who had just come out). When I got home I changed my dress then went over to Helen’s but she had gone to her music lesson so I went over in Allan’s back yard where he and George were “tormenting” Helen’s little kitten so I took it away from them and petted it. We played around. Allan, who is just over a sick spell, is in an especially silly mood. Helen came soon and we ate tomatoes off Mr. Johnstone’s vine. Soon Allan and George went in A.’s house so H. and I went to our respective homes. I sewed some, studied and practiced. Dad came. After supper I curled Mother’s hair and then got ready for bed and hurriedly washed part of the dishes. Then, from 8:00 till 9:00 I listened to Major Bowes Amateur hour and then to bed. Cooler this P.M. and tonight. Pep meeting at town. Didn’t go.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
October 6, 1887
I finished working on Will Case’s books this forenoon and took his old Ledger home to him. He expressed himself as well pleased with the work and willing to recommend me if I wish to ever refer to him. I picked some apples this afternoon. Kate and Mrs. Morrow went up town. It cleared off this afternoon and was quite pleasant. Went to singing class again tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
October 6, 1871
Yesterday we had a real wind storm. Had a blanket up at the door with sticks acrost it to keep it from blowing up all the time. When it was open great rolls of tumble weed would come in. What a house we had.
Mended a pair of pants, and vest for Philip and tried to read. Towards evening, a thunder storm came. Then it was as unpleasant as it could be. Cold wind and almost dark. This is the way some people live all winter. I have not wished myself elsewhere, for I want to see how it would be to live on the frontier in all seasons.
I was chilly, although dressed warm, and went to bed early to get warm.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
October 6, 1862
Mr. Henry & I took a long walk. Zona was along also. Yesterday evening we took a letter to Mrs. Branton. Mr. Henry sent Peter to Asheville yesterday after the mail. Nothing new in the papers. I have been quilting today. I get along very well as I attend to Willie & have to get up often to wait on him & Zona. Mail brought no news.
*(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
October 6, 1667
(Lord’s day). Up, and dressed myself, and so walked out with the boy to Smithfield to Cow Lane, to Lincolne’s, and there spoke with him, and agreed upon the hour to-morrow, to set out towards Brampton; but vexed that he is not likely to go himself, but sends another for him. Here I took a hackney coach, and to White Hall, and there met Sir W. Coventry, and discoursed with him, and then with my Lord Bruncker, and many others, to end my matters in order to my going into the country to-morrow for five or six days, which I have not done for above three years. Walked with Creed into the Park a little, and at last went into the Queen’s side, and there saw the King and Queen, and saw the ladies, in order to my hearing any news stirring to carry into the country, but met with none, and so away home by coach, and there dined, and W. How come to see me, and after dinner parted, and I to my writing to my Lord Sandwich, which is the greatest business I have to do before my going into the country, and in the evening to my office to set matters to rights there, and being in the garden Sir W. Pen did come to me, and fell to discourse about the business of “The Flying Greyhound,” wherein I was plain to him and he to me, and at last concluded upon my writing a petition to the Duke of York for a certain ship, The Maybolt Gallyott, and he offers to give me 300l. for my success, which, however, I would not oblige him to, but will see the issue of it by fair play, and so I did presently draw a petition, which he undertakes to proffer to the Duke of York, and solicit for me, and will not seem to doubt of his success. So I wrote, and did give it him, and left it with him, and so home to supper, where Pelling comes and sits with me, and there tells us how old Mr. Batelier is dead this last night in the night, going to bed well, which I am mightily troubled for, he being a good man. Supper done, and he gone, I to my chamber to write my journal to this night, and so 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.)