September 7
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
September 7, 1997
Up at 10:00. Went 2 Tarboro at 11:00 with Dad and Em. Ate lunch, did homework, went on walk. Me and Em visited Mema and Pop. Home by 6:30. Me and Mom went 2 Los Tres for dinner. Did homework and watched “King of the Hill.”
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
September 7, 1997
Very hot close to 100. Rosemary called had a cancellation so I went at 9:30. Heat seemed to get me down but managed both ways.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
September 7, 1944
Up late. Dusted and did various and sundry little things. Beautiful but cool. Mary was to call when she got home from work but she hadn’t called by 5 so I left for town. There was a very cool breeze and I nearly froze, being dressed for summer. Met Kay, Barbara and Betty Bowman on the way and I persuaded Kay to walk back to town with me. First we walked up to Marsh’s with B. and B. and kidded and had fun. Then Kay and I went back to town. She doesn’t want to go to Stephens now and gets more scared by the day. Poor kid — I wish I were going back to help her get adjusted. Ann isn’t returning so Kay won’t know anyone. She walked back up to Marsh’s with me. It was getting cloudy and was too cool for comfort. I stopped by Walkers’ to say ’bye. Mrs. W. and Annie were sitting on the steps. Annie looked so cute in a red jacket and little peasant skirt. I visited with Mrs. W. and Annie picked handsful of of green berries and deposited them in my hands. Her mother went in once to answer the ’phone and Annie and I had fun. Mrs. W. paid me $7 for staying with her last week! And I hadn’t expected more than $4. Home in time to help Mum with supper. Mary had ’phoned and wanted me down tonight. After supper I went over to borrow some chairs from Mrs. Waterhouse ’cause Mum was entertaining the Legion Aux. at 8. Arthur Burton was there borrowing, too, and we made quite a joke of it. George was cutting the grass next door and I hailed him in my most cheery voice. There was a gorgeous sunset. The sky was just streaked with pink and bright peach. About 7:30 Pop drove me down to Mary’s and he went on to his Legion meeting. Mary and Horace were still at supper so I looked at a magazine. Horace greeted me most affectionately by kissing my hand and patting my face. Then Mary and I retired to the bedroom and spent the next hour and a half fitting and pinning and reading jokes. Horace was listening to Dewey’s speech. He has a nice speaking voice. About 9:30 I called to see if Pop could come after me — the Greers’ car is out of order — but the young man was not home as yet — probably because the house was still full of women. So I was going to walk down to the library and wait in the car. Said ’night to Horace and Mary walked down with me. She gave me William’s address. Very cool out. No car at library and meeting apparently over. Well, I was going to walk home — in fact, I was determined to. But Mary was equally determined that I was coming back to the apartment with her to get Horace and they’d walk me home. Well, she is stronger than feeble little me and it looked at first as if she’d win out. But I resisted valiantly and we argued and “reasoned” and struggled till after 10 when she finally let me go, making me promise to call her the minute I got home. Well, Pop picked me up by Walkers’ but I was doing fine, thank you. On home to find Mum relaxing after the trials of an evening acting as hostess to the ladies of the Legion. I called and gave Horace the message, swiped a piece of gingerbread and retired to bed.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
September 7, 1887
Went to the store early this morning, and Irvie came up some time after. The telegraph worked fearful bad during the day, and I had hard work to get a message sent me by Frankfort. It was a rather dull day at the store. Irvie is staying at Mr. Waters’; he is going to start for home in the morning. It has been growing cool today and a fire seems comfortable tonight. I received a letter from Alice and one from Ida too.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
September 7, 1871
The sun is just setting, a great red ball in the West. To the south we see a great colum of smoak. A prairie fire, but out of sight.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
September 7, 1862
A very pleasant day. Rather cool this morning but pleasant through the day. We eat our large watermellon today. It was very nice & ripe. We also had a nice dinner. Peaches & cream for dinner & the day has passed very pleasantly. ’Tis now late in the evening & Miss Eliza, Dora, Matt & the children have gone to Sulphur Springs. I do hope Mr. Henry will come this evening as he is needed badly at home to attend to some business. I hope he may come tonight. If he don’t come before the mail leaves tomorrow evening, I must write to him at Simsville but I do hope he will come. It is now time to get out supper. Sister Jane is upstairs with her babe & I am alone in the hall writing.
*(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 7, 1668
At the office all the morning, we met, and at noon dined at home, and after dinner carried my wife and Deb. to Unthanke’s, and I to White Hall with Mr. Gibson, where the rest of our officers met us, and to the Commissioners of the Treasury about the Victualling contract, but staid not long, but thence, sending Gibson to my wife, I with Lord Brouncker (who was this day in an unusual manner merry, I believe with drink), J. Minnes, and W. Pen to Bartholomew-Fair; and there saw the dancing mare again, which, to-day, I find to act much worse than the other day, she forgetting many things, which her master beat her for, and was mightily vexed; and then the dancing of the ropes, and also the little stage-play, which is very ridiculous, and so home to the office with Lord Brouncker, W. Pen, and myself (J. Minnes being gone home before not well), and so, after a little talk together, I home to supper and 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.)