September 26
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
September 26, 1997
Interesting. Went 2 Renee's with Julie and Zach. Then Casey came. Then Courtney came! At about 5:00, Chris came with Tim, Mike, Sean, and Jason. I bitched at him so much and all he could say was, "Man, fuck you, dude!" They left. Me, Renee, Jules and Zach went 2 Semolina's 4 Chrissi's birthday dinner. Courtney came, 2. (30 people.) Spent night at Renee's with Jules. Others were there.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
September 26, 1960
Thot I’d better wash if machine worked and did. Not a big wash but a beautiful drying day. Ironed and had drapes dampened. Ole came so didn’t iron them. Lo has a bad throat today and a little ornery.
Marcy S., age 48, North Carolina
September 26, 1972
This heavy burden of lack of self-confidence has weighed me down more than usual recently. Probably because I’m having to play the organ every Sunday and make so many mistakes because I’m actually afraid to play well — this need to punish myself (obsession is a better word) seems to rule everything I do. Instead of feeling good when people accept me I feel terribly uncomfortable — fearful, as well as unworthy. I think it goes back to Mother’s jealousy but that doesn’t apply any more — how can I be free of it? Let go and let God — but I’m even afraid to do that.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
September 26, 1887
I felt better today and have been doing a little work. Burned the log piles back of the barn and made it look cleaner there. Cut what little corn I had, think I may get 2 bushels of ears. I picked some apples this afternoon. Went up town this afternoon, after supper and got the mail. I got some different kinds of card ink of Packard. Received a letter from ma and got some papers from home too. The baby has seemed better today and we hope she will get well right along.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
September 26, 1862
Mail brought nothing of importance as Mr. Henry brought the mail yesterday. There has been some terrible fighting within the last week. We have been victorious so far. It seems God has been with us. I have been quilting since I read all the papers. Hanes attended to Willie. Mr. Henry went to Jim Sutton’s sale, everything sold very high. He did not get back till after supper. R. Boyd stays here tonight.
*(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 26, 1668
Could sleep but little last night, for my concernments in this business of the victualling for Sir D. Gawden, so up in the morning and he comes to me, and there I did tell him all, and give him my advice, and so he away, and I to the office, where we met and did a little business, and I left them and by water to attend the Council, which I did all the morning, but was not called in, but the Council meets again in the afternoon on purpose about it. So I at noon to Westminster Hall and there stayed a little, and at the Swan also, thinking to have got Doll Lane thither, but elle did not understand my signs; and so I away and walked to Charing Cross, and there into the great new Ordinary, by my Lord Mulgrave’s, being led thither by Mr. Beale, one of Oliver’s, and now of the King’s Guards; and he sat with me while I had two grilled pigeons, very handsome and good meat: and there he and I talked of our old acquaintances, W. Clerke and others, he being a very civil man, and so walked to Westminster and there parted, and I to the Swan again, but did nothing, and so to White Hall, and there attended the King and Council, who met and heard our answer. I present, and then withdrew; and they sent two hours at least afterwards about it, and at last rose; and to my great content, the Duke of York, at coming out, told me that it was carried for D. Gawden at 6d. 8d., and 8 ¾d.; but with great difficulty, I understand, both from him and others, so much that Sir Edward Walker told me that he prays to God he may never live to need to plead his merit, for D. Gawden’s sake; for that it hath stood him in no stead in this business at all, though both he and all the world that speaks of him, speaks of him as the most deserving man of any servant of the King’s in the whole nation, and so I think he is: but it is done, and my heart is glad at it. So I took coach and away, and in Holborne overtook D. Gawden’s coach, and stopped and went home, and Gibson to come after, and to my house, where D. Gawden did talk a little, and he do mightily acknowledge my kindness to him, and I know I have done the King and myself good service in it. So he gone, and myself in mighty great content in what is done, I to the office a little, and then home to supper, and the boy to read to me, and so to bed. This noon I went to my Lady Peterborough’s house, and talked with her about the money due to her Lord, and it gives me great trouble, her importunity and impertinency about it. This afternoon at Court I met with Lord Hinchingbroke, newly come out of the country, who tells me that Creed’s business with Mrs. Pickering will do, which I am neither troubled nor glad at.
*(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.)