September 17
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
September 17, 1997
Actually saw Chris after 2nd period. I asked him if he heard me yell at him yesterday and he said no. Damn. Went home with Renee along with Mike T., Mike C., Travis, Sol, Zach, Julie, Malia. Fun. Stopped by Juice Shop. Took care of Hardys’ dog, Lucky. Sweetie. Dad came and I drove to his house. Ate. Did homework. I drove with Sandra 2 Melinda’s and got dresses. Showered. Courtney stopped by and got her’s. I love her.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
September 17, 1960
Gloomy this A.M. too but didn’t rain. Cleared off in P.M. By then not interested in work. Went over to Mrs. B.’s. Sat where I could watch door for man or men. Tried to keep busy and did pretty much as Lo ate down town with Lily. Cooks didn’t eat with us at nite and Al. and Pol. were here.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
September 17, 1938
I was up about 8:10 and at 9:00 went to my music lesson. I didn’t get back till nearly 10:00. I then worked awhile and at 11:00 went out to play but since I couldn’t find anyone to play with I sat on the porch and started to read the life of Napoleon but just then Helen came down the street on her skates. I got my one good skate and we skated around on the other street and then sat down on the curb at Gollihar’s and talked. Helen had the same idea I did, that of going on a hike this afternoon just the 2 of us. I told her about the dream I had last night about George getting his foot caught in the railroad track and Helen rescuing him just before a fast freight came by. George shook H.’s hand and thanked her later on when I told them both together. Helen and I went back to my house where we took off our skates and then went up to ask H.’s mother if she could go. We then sampled some of H.’s “hardtack” cookies she baked this morn. They were good though hard. We then went down to George’s where he and A.B. and Allan were. Finally after changing my shoes 3 times I was ready to play football. We had an argument about playing in the street or William’s yard and finally had to draw straws. Allan and I won so we played in William’s yard. I made a touchdown but when George was trying to he and Allan got in a fuss and a fight and G. thought his tooth had been knocked loose so he went home, crying. H. and I fainted (pretend). Then we went down to G.’s and he came out. Before H. had to go Allan and G. had a couple more fusses. I swept G.’s sidewalk and about 12:15, Mother and I drove downtown and while M. took her cake to the food sale, I went around to the Patton Hotel and gave Mrs. Key the gift to send to June, who has gone to a Catholic Convent in Nashville. I met M. at Robert’s Furniture store where they’re having the Bible Class food sale and we bought a pie and some fruit. Went into the Dress Shop to see a dress for Gran and spotted some pretty ones for me. Coming back later to look at them. When we got home, had to wait while M. talked to Mrs. Rodgers on telephone and then Stella Brown (our negro washwoman) came and M. talked to her. Meanwhile I starved. At 1:30 we ate dinner. Helen came to say George and Allan were going with us. About 2:00 Helen and George came to see if I was ready. George had to take a hat back to Miss King’s and Mother wanted to see it so we went over there. “Skeet” Cummins, Dr. Cummins’s grown daughter by his first wife, who is here for a few days was visiting with Mrs. McClure. She recognized me and after speaking she and Mother visited. Finally we got started (after watching “Daredevil,” an airplane that comes over a lot, doing tricks) that is, Allan, G., H., and I. We went thru town and while G. took the hat to Miss King, Allan went in Robert’s Furniture store to take a pan. He got talking with some of the ladies at the food sale and forgot to leave the pan. They called him back, though. (Absent minded professor.) We went by way of Margrove St. and past Mossip School and down that road. We escaped some little boys who wanted to go with us. We came to the highway but soon turned off on the road to Walnut Hill Cemetery. We walked around a bit and saw G.’s daddy’s grave and others. Allan was all the time after G. not to sit on tombstones or step on graves. We found a little bench and ate our lunch. I was the only one who didn’t bring something and I didn’t feel right but G. said I had fed him a lot and not to mind. There was a new grave that had just been made with a tent over it and lots of flowers. We sat there awhile and then started back. We went back by way of the highway and just opposite the railroad (down a steep bank) A. and G. decided they wanted to go the rest of the way by railroad. I went too but H. wouldn’t. I decided (after H. was out of sight) that we’d better not either but we took a short cut by Goodman’s and beat H. home. Soon M. and I decided to go to town, but the car was out of gas. We phoned Chuck’s Service Station for some and Joe Goddard brought it up. We drove to town and went to the Dress Shop, where I tried on dresses, skirts, and hats. I bought the pretty dress and a skirt but the hats wouldn’t fit. I walked home because M. had to go out to South Harriman to see Mrs. Coleman. When I got home I put Dickie in and then went up in William’s yard, where George, Jim, and Allan and Roy Frank Norman were having a fight. G.’s mother called him and then A.’s so I went home and then over to G.’s to stay till M. came home. Soon she did so we ate and then I read. Daddy home about 8:30. Cloudy most of the day. Sky beautiful in late afternoon. Cool. Fall really here.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
September 17, 1887
Practiced writing as usual this morning. I hope I can someday make some to pay for the time I am spending in this way now. Fred Neill cut the buckwheat today and I helped him bunch it up. Went to the saw mill this afternoon and took one of my little quart baskets, which Mr. Neill Case and myself took apart and examined, talking about the prospects for a factory to manufacture them here. We both think it would be a good point. I bought some windows off him to put in the kitchen.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
September 17, 1871
Neither of us feeling well to day. Letters for both & papers. The other day I heard some one call— Went to the door, there was a hearder on a horse, when he saw me, he jerked off his hat. He was surprised to see a woman. He inquired about some lost horses—then rode on. His horse had four brands W. 4- O -A. one below the other. A few horses have been in P – corn patch, and a white one has spoiled my garden—and comes here and eats the corn P wants for the ox. He was tame, so P caught him and tied a tin can to his tail, which I hope will keep him away. Jake sent up some sweet potatoes. We could not get any sweet potato plants last Spring when we wanted to plant the garden.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
September 17, 1862
I sew up a lining for a quilt. I want to quilt it soon (my cactus quilt). I made some peach butter today & knit some. Tena & Bets McKinnish washing the wool. Willie’s bowels are quite loose again.
*(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
September 17, 1668
Up, and all the morning sitting at the office, where every body grown mighty cautious in what they do, or omit to do, and at noon comes Knepp, with design to dine with Lord Brouncker, but she being undressed, and there being much company, dined with me; and after dinner I out with her, and carried her to the playhouse; and in the way did give her five guineas as a fairing, I having given her nothing a great while, and her coming hither sometimes having been matter of cost to her, and so I to St. James’s, but missed of the Duke of York, and so went back to the King’s playhouse, and saw “Rollo, Duke of Normandy,” which, for old acquaintance, pleased me pretty well, and so home and to my business, and to read again, and to bed. This evening Batelier comes to tell me that he was going down to Cambridge to my company, to see the Fair, which vexed me, and the more because I fear he do know that Knepp did dine with me to-day.
*(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.)