December 31.
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 29.
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.
December 30.
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.
December 28.
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.
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.
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.
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.
December 24.
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.
December 23.
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.
December 22.
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.
December 21.
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.
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.
December 19.
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.
December 18.
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.
December 17.
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.
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A Year in the Life
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A Day in the Life of a Schoolmarm 