Wait, and: Wealth, and: Weather, and: Wherewithal, and: Woe, and: World, and: Worth

Centos from Mary L. Bowers’s pocket diary, 1870

Wait

A week seems longer nowthan a fortnight used to. I hardly knowwhat has happenedworthy of recording. I wonderif he rode up the mountain last night.I wonder if he is sleepy.I know him too well to thinkthat any avoidable circumstancekept him away. I have no reasonto doubt what he says.He said he would see me.Alice Dowd came to see me.Mr. Clark came to see me.I have been washingand got so terrible powerfulthat I broke my mop handleright in two.

Wealth

Had a present of some green knit glovesHad a declamation entitled our glorious dead

Had visitorsHad griddle cakes

Had a nap which refreshed me muchly

Had a gay time, a nice timeHad a firstrate time and good deal of fun over my curls

Had plenty of time to thinkand build air castles for the future

Had visitors, had shortcake(Had rather be alone)

Had a letter from ElnoraHad a letter from Elvira

Mr. L. gave me a cucumberMr. Richardson sent me a book

Had strange thoughts and feelingsSherman sent me an orange

Had some music,Had a “love feast,” a jubilee

Paulina picked a milk pan full of strawberriesand we ate them all up

Had onions for dinnerHad lots of fun by the brook

Had a stove apple in the eveand that was more than I expected

Weather

Rainy in the forenoon but pleasant in the afternoon.Pleasant in the afternoon but cloudy in the morning.Pleasant, a beautiful day for our picnic. Pleasantbut I did not wash. Rainy this forenoon but pleasantthis afternoon. Pleasant part of the day but showerya little. Pleasant. Have felt about used up today +consequently rather blue. Pleasant. I believe it has beenthe hottest day I ever knew. Pleasant and excessivelywarm. Another very pleasant day. Pleasant — I washed.Rainy in the morn but pleasant in the afternoon. Pleasantin the morning but clouded up and rained by noon.Rainy in the forenoon but pleasant in the afternoonand I am still at Mr. Palmer’s waiting for someoneto come after me. Pleasant and cool. Pleasant butwindy and cold. Cold, cloudy, windy, and squally.I guess there will be pleasant days after this.

Wherewithal

I sewed on Paula’s pink dress. I fixed    Paulina’s white dress.      I ripped up and ironed

Jane’s old black silk dress. If there is    any such thing      as “perfect” love

or perfection in holiness, I want to know it.    I am sure I have      never known it yet.

I trimmed over my old hat and fixed it    for my best one.      I sewed on

my purple dress the afternoon some,    but ate peaches      most of the time.

I’ve cried more than before in six weeks    but — after all      what is the use!

I cut out an overskirt of that black silk    that used to be      Jane’s dress.

Woe

World

Down into the pastureTo “Mother Palmer’s”Out on to the pond

To the southlaneTo SouthwickTo town

Up to Grandmother’sUp to witness the opening of the sabbath school boxUp to see Alice according to agreement

To the dedication of the Masonic hallTo see the fireworksUp to the corner to get the mail

To the Library Association,the question for discussion was“Resolved that capital punishment should be abolished from the United States”

To be goneTo be entertainedTo be wholly

releasedTo hear Miss Olympia Brown from BridgeportTo hear Mr. Marsh (the colored minister) preach

After huckleberries but did not get manyAfter the cows but couldn’t find them allAfter young winter greens with the Warren children

After birchI think this is not so bad a worldafter all...