December 31.

This last day of the year finds me at Mr. P’s after having passed almost a sleepless night.  I was glad to see daylight.  If it wasn’t for Esther I should feel strangely enough but she is such a lovely, funny, cheerful little lady nobody can help feeling at home with her.  This afternoon, Mary came up here and pitched into me rough shod but I bore it patiently.  Col took Esther and I over [to the field?] 

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 29. Accident to Lady Thorn.

December 30.

Pleasant and very cold.  We almost froze up at the new school house this forenoon.  After school I got ready for my journey and Collins came before I got my hair combed.  We started about half past six and got there at half past eight.  Esther had gone to a lecture in Westfield and I felt like a cat in a strange garret and I knew I should but for that reason I would not consent to come until there had been a pressing invitation from Esther which I would not refuse.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 29. Quaker City.

December 29.

Cloudy.  I arrived home from school about to finish my dress for I expect to go up to West Parish tomorrow night and I want it to wear.  Hattie has been sewing for me all the afternoon and it was 11 o’clock when I took the last stitch in it.  Then I washed my feet and went to bed.  Mr. Morgan looked daggers at me.  I said not a word.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 29. About Dress.

December 28.

Cloudy and snowy: Mr. Morgan is awful cross–has not been to bed since Saturday night and says he shan’t any more while he stays on earth.  I am sure I don’t care whether he does or not.  I don’t believe I would worship a man so much as Hattie does him for the sake of having him go to bed.  The scholars had pieces this afternoon, school out at half past three and I sewed on my dress. 

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 22. World’s Fairs.

December 27.

December 27.

Pleasant.  Went to school as a matter of course but nothing alarmingly strange occurred.  This eve I done my ironing and then sewed.  Mr. Morgan has been butchering today.  Mr. Fred Stevens brought me two letters tonight, one from Silas and one was nothing but a “Merry Christmas” signed by [?] and mailed “Granville Corners.”

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 22. No Openings in San Francisco.

December 26.

Squally in the forenoon but pleasant in the afternoon, and very cold.  I declare it does not seem possible the year has so nearly gone.  It has been short and after all has seemed long sometimes to me.  Lille went out to North Granby this eve to see a Christmas tree with Henry Victs.  Mr. Morgan is as cross as fury.  He has stocked up some cloth for a frock because he was so mad at Hattie for making Christmas presents.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 22. Magnetism of Watch Springs.

December 25.

Pleasant.  All went to church.  Mr. Richardon preached from Luke 2nd 10th + 11th and Phil 2nd 12 and 13th.   When we went home at noon Mr. M. was not speakable and in the afternoon after meeting he gave Hattie quite a [?] up.  He says he shall leave here and find a new boarding place.  We also discovered that he had advertised his horse and [?] for sale on his farm and on a board by the side of the road.  For my part I don’t care if he does clear out.  I hope he will.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 22. Gas in New York.

December 24.

Pleasant and very cold.  Mr. Morgan, Annie and I went over to Turkey hills this morning.  We have been as busy as bees on Christmas presents.  Mr. Morgan said so much about the tree and acted so hateful that Hattie and I thought we wouldn’t go but just after the others had gone William and Alice Marvin came and was going over so I finally went with them.  I had a stove apple in the eve and that was more than I expected.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 22. Forty Wives.

December 23.

Snowy.  But not windy enough to do any good. Lillie and [?] did not go home at noon. Lil went to a surprise party last night with Henry V. This afternoon I was very much surprised to see Col appear to me at the schoolhouse door. It seemed that my letter to him did not go round so he came to see if I was dead.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 22. Dr. Dio Lewis.

December 22.

Hattie went over and served for Mr. James [Vicks?] and brought home two dolls to dress for Nora before Christmas.  They are going to have a Christmas tree Saturday eve in the church.  Mr. and Mrs. Morgan went over to Turkey hills this afternoon and brought me two letters, one from Ellen.  She gave me quite a lecture for hers because I am going with Collins so much.  She is the only one that has ever found any fault with me for it and I would thank her to mind her own business.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 22. A Modern Wedding.

December 21.

Pleasant and cold.  Mr. and Mrs. Morgan went to Hartford.  Sherman went with them.  When I got to the schoolhouse I was surprised (but not at all delighted ) to find three men painting it.  They worked all day and the scholars acted like Cain.  Mrs. Dryden Phelps visited at Mr. Morgan’s.  They got home from Hartford about 7 o’clock.  Sherman sent me an orange.  Duane was here in the eve hunting after a dialogue to speak in school.  Hattie slept with me at night.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 15. Purity of the Ballot Box..

December 20.

Cloudy.  Sherman expected to go home today but it looked likely to storm that he gave it up and read novels all day.  Hattie done my ironing for me.  Nora brought me a letter this morning from Urinna.  Lillie and Annie did not go home at noon because there was a little snow on the ground–for my part I enjoyed it and wish there was three feet of snow all around.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 15. Next!.

December 19.

Pleasant.  My head is much better but I dreaded going into the schoolroom again this morning.  Mr. Morgan was in an awful rage last night.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 15. Iron Railroad Tie..

December 18.

Pleasant.  All went to church in the forenoon except Mr. M.  Mr. Richardson’s text was 2nd Cor. 13th 11th.  Hattie Sherman and I staid at home in the afternoon.  I had the sick headache and lay on the sofa most of the time.  None of us but Mrs. M. and Lillie went in the evening.  They did not get home till after 11 o’clock.  Seymour was there again and made quiet a sensation, spoke several times and was pretty saucy I guess.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 15. Cost of the War..

December 17.

Pleasant.  I did not wash.  Martin came around with a subscription paper to get presents for a Christmas Tree.  In the afternoon Hattie and I went up to Andrew Clark’s a visiting.  I thought they were all a very peculiar family.  Albert brought us some when he came to class meeting.  Mrs. Morgan’s nephew (Sherman Windall) came this afternoon and went to meeting with Dibble.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 15. Chinese Immigration.

December 16.

Pleasant but very cold and windy.  The scholars had compositions and pieces this afternoon.  I some expected Hattie to see the school, but she did not come.  I felt so lonesome and homesick when school was out that I didn’t care much what became of me, but Homer Schifflin was here in the evening and I felt better after a while.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 15. Broken Vows.

December 15.

December 15.

Cold and squally.  Mr. Morgan and Hattie went over to Turkey hills.  In the eve she and I ironed and then went over to Mr. [J.s]: and then called to Mr. Richardson’s and then she pared apples for pies.  I like her ever so much.  Mrs. Morgan was sick this afternoon but is better this evening.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 15. Bessie Cotton.

December 14.

Cloudy and cold.  Nothing worth recording occurred as I remember, only Mr. Morton Stevens brought me a letter from Paulina just as school was out.  Mr. Fred Stevens and Mr. Alman Phelps spent the evening to Mr. Morgan’s.  Mrs. M. and Hattie washed today.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 8. New York-New Haven Railroad.

December 13.

Cloudy.  I went to school and made a fire independent of any one this morning for the boys acted as if I wouldn’t ask any of  them to do it.  Mrs. Dibble looked at one and said Henry should make a fire at this.  The boys learned a lesson in bookkeeping but I don’t believe they will like it at all.  I almost hope they can’t because they wouldn’t keep their philosophy.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 8. Standing Treat.

December 12.

Rainy.  The big boys have concluded now that they will study Book keeping and brought their books this morning.  I am about provoked at them for I never studied it and don’t want them to.  I have felt as cross as fury this afternoon (Mr. M. says he expected it last night) but I don’t know what should cause it unless it was the unexpected meeting with an old acquaintance who was no less than Seymour Merriman.  I was disgusted at him.

Pittsfield Sun. Week of December 8. Maine Cures.