Jan and John Maggs Antiques
A nineteenth century diary
July 1873
Tuesday 1. It is a rainy day but quite a pleasant evening. I have been sewing nearly all day. Have been fixing over my poplin dress skirt. Mother and I go to Mrs. Stearns, get some butter. Mrs. F. Wyart broke her hip last Saturday. Father sold his old cart today for 20 dollars.
Wednesday 2. It is a warm pleasant day. I do most of the ironing. The man from the Falls brought us some wood. A tin peddler called with his friend and wished for a dinner. Mother got me some teaspoons. An agent called. The fish man was here. Nellie Blake came over, brought us some straw-berries.
Thursday 3. It is a very warm, pleasant day. We had a shower this p.m. I iron a few things this morn, lie down about noon and sewed some this afternoon. I started to go to the office , although the mail had not gone up. Today found a letter from Nellie at the other house, so did not go farther. Got Mother’s slippers at Mr. Miller’s.
Friday 4. It is a warm pleasant day untill afternoon, we have two showers. I am at home all day. I have a hard head ache, lie down awhile. Father and Joe got Edwin some fire crackers. I have written a letter to my own George and I would love to see him. I have felt so sick all day.
Saturday 5. It is a warm pleasant day. Father goes to Gfld and got the blinds and Mr. Phillips hung them this afternoon. Orrin came up and staid a short time. Mrs. Arms came staid all the afternoon. I am feeling almost sick abed. I went to the office, received a short letter from my George.
Sunday 6. It is a pleasant cool day. Before I was up, Uncle George Wilcutt of Northampton came. Orrin came and staid a short time. I bathe me, comb hair and dress, have supper. Then Orrin started for G[reenfield] and I go to Mr. Stoughton’s to see Aunt Wilcott. Mother, Joe, Celia, and Eddie come to meet me. I am so lonely without my darling George.
Monday 7. It is a chilly morning and a beautiful day. We do our washing at the house and a large washing. Joe at work at the Falls. I have been to the office, received a letter from George and O! how I would love to see him, but I must wait. I am very tired. It is after ten as I retire.
Tuesday 8. It is a pleasant morning but a rainy afternoon. Joe has gone to Greenfield to work. I do about half of the ironing. For a wonder no one has been here today. I went to the office tonight, no letter from any of the girls. I called at Uncle Luke’s. He and Frankie came a little way’s home with me.
Wednesday 9. It is a pleasant warm day. I iron some. Father goes to the Falls. Mother and Celia go to Mr. Miller’s. Mother and I go to the Falls, put letters in the Office, stay to Mrs. Stearn’s to tea, saw the fish peddler. A friend of Father’s, Mr. Hutchens, is there this evening. He works at Mr. Clapp’s.
Thursday 10. It is a pleasant day, a shower this afternoon. I sew on my fine sheets, bleached cotton. I commenced them this morning. I get supper. F[ather] and Eddie go to town and E[ddie]. goes to the office, I received a letter from Jennie W. this morn and I write a letter to George.
Friday 11. It is a cloudy day and rainy this a.m. Get work done then Celia and I go down the Barton Road for berries to make pies of. Frankie H. here this morn. This p.m. Mrs. Stearns and Emma Phillips are here, I had a splendid visit with Emma. O! how I wish I could see George.
Saturday 12. It is a pleasant day. Mother bakes this forenoon and about noon Uncle Luke came after M[other] for Frankie is sick. I go to the office and do not receive a letter from my own George. O! how I wish I could see him. I love him. O! so well. I wish he would come home.
Sunday 13. It is a pleasant cool day. Mother came from Uncle L’s this morn. I get morning work done, then write a letter to my George. I am awful lonesome without him today. And I could not help crying. Joe and Celia go to Uncle Luke’s this evening. O! my darling George.
Monday 14. It is a pleasant hot day. Joe goes to Greenfield with Mr. Hale. Father, Mother, and Celia go to G[reenfield]. Mother goes to Mr. W. F. Root’s to see about my wedding dress and sack. I do the washing, at night go to the office and I receive a letter from my own George and O! I am so happy.
Tuesday 15. It is some cloudy but a very hot sultry day. Father goes to G[reenfield]. Mother and Cele cut out my chemise, night dresses, and drawers today. I am to have two night dresses, three chemise, and two pair of drawers and a pair of sheets out of my fine cloth. Mother and Celia go to Mrs. Stearns.
Wednesday 16. It is a pleasant cool day. Mother and I iron this morn. Geo. Wyart and Eddie Bowman called for water. I sew a little this afternoon. Velvet is very sick all day, does not eat any thing. Our fish man came tonight and an other fish man called. Mother is sick tonight.
Thursday 17. It is a rainy damp day. I sew some. This forenoon Mother goes up to help Ellen Wyart, staid all the afternoon, then Celia goes up. I have made bread and it is good, have sewed some, and this eve I have written to my darling George. I receive a letter from Nell Hall.
Friday 18. It is a very rainy damp day. Mother and Celia came home this morning. I am up. My letter is ready to go. I get ready and go to River side with my letter for George and one for Joe. I hired a box, No. 27. Mother goes through the straits with me. M[other] and Celia go to Uncle Luke’s and M[other] to town.
Saturday 19. It is a rainy damp day. We bake some this a.m. Eddie Bowman is here. M[other] goes to Mrs. Stearns for butter. I get supper, go to the store and office. Got a letter for [Mother] from my George. He thinks of coming home tomorrow. I got my trimmings for my under clothes tonight. O! what a good mother I have got.
Sunday 20. It is a beautiful day and my darling George came home this morning. O! how glad I am to see him. I was bathing when he came. We go to Minnie’s grave, over to the grove and to meet M[other] coming from Mrs. Stearns. We retired at a quarter of eleven.
Monday 21. It is a pleasant dy. Father carried George to Gfld. I hated to have him go. I am so lone some all day without him. We wash. Joe and Cele go to Mrs. Stearns. I love my own, my darling George. I ought to have written to the girls yesterday, but could not. O! I am so lonely.
Tuesday 22. It is a pleasant day. I sew some and Mother sews on the sewing machine for me. Joe goes to the Falls to work. Mother and Celia go to town. I receive a letter from Eva Ward. I am awful lonesome without George and tonight I have had to cry and have written to him.
Wednesday 23. It is a pleasant day. I am up late. I send my letter to George by Henry Hayden. Paid him five cents. Aunt Melinda H. was with him. I iron this forenoon, and this afternoon I visit Emma Phillips. Clesson was there. I had a pleasant visit. I am awful tired tonight. O! my darling George.
Thursday 24. It is a pleasant say. I sew some today, and Mother sews some for me. We have some company. Uncle Sam was here. Aunt Sarah. Mother borrows a little oil at Uncle Luke’s. I have written to my George this evening and I am very tired.
Friday 25. It is a pleasant warm day. I go into the huckleberry lot. Not many this week. Mother has been to the circus with Uncle L[uke] and Aunt Sarah. Frankie staid here. I visited school this afternoon, it is the last day. I went to the Falls and receive a letter from George. Called to see Ella W.
Saturday 26. It is a warm pleasant day. At evening we have showers. Mother and Celia go to Uncle Luke’s and Eddie. I get cleaned up, sit down to sew, and Morris Williams comes. Nothing, but I must go to ride with him, so we went to Gfld. I told him I expect to be married.
Sunday 27. It is a cloudy rainy day. I am up late, as well as the rest. Have breakfast, go over the hill and wash me, then commence to write. Have written to Nettie, Orpha, and George, and O! I am so tired. Father got a new barrel of flour yesterday at Mr. Hale’s. I would love to see my George.
Monday 28. It is a cloudy hot day. I help wash. Send my three letters by Mr. Hale. I went to the Falls office but did not receive a letter from my darling George, and I am always so lonely when I don’t get a letter from George. Celia received a letter from Libb.
Tuesday 29. It is a cloudy hot day. I help about the work as usual. I sew some and Mother sews some for me. It rained some this afternoon. Mother and Celia been to George’s. Joe went away yesterday forenoon. Is not at home yet. I would love dearly to see my George tonight. God bless him.
Wednesday 30. It is a pleasant hot day. I iron some this morn, then Eddie and I picked huckleberrys the rest of the forenoon. Father and M[other] go to the Falls. Mrs. Stearns brings the butter. The fish man called. Ellen sends for Mother. She goes up and brings back the baby to take care of. Uncle L[uke] and Aunt Sarah called this eve.
Thursday 31. It is a pleasant warm day. I have a terrible headache. The baby is very good. I sew a little this forenoon. Just before dinner Mr. Geo. Drue, our tin peddler called. M[other] bought me a butter knife and spoon. I went to the office tonight and I passed Mr. Drue. I did not get a letter from my George.
To be continued in next month's newsletter.
A Nineteenth Century Diary
Table of Contents
Click on the picture to return to this month's newsletter.
