TRANSCRIBED BY
JEANNE WALLENDAL JESSIE, July 2012
FEBRUARY 1900
FEBRUARY
Thur. Feb. 1,
1900 Text Ps. 46:1
Cold with some
snow. Nice good old fashioned winter
weather. Mrs. Parish and I have had
quite a visit today. I do like her so
much. She told me of a man who always
tried to use big words regardless of the fact that he was so ignorant he didn't
know the meaning of them. One slippery
morn he went down town to his store & told the men that his wife's sister
went out at the back door and fell prostitute.
I just laughed as hard as I could.
Haha.
Fri. Feb. 2,
1900 Text Matt. 5:7
Another cold
day. Ground Hog Day too. I don't think Mr. Woodchuck saw his shadow
very plainly but the sun did peep out once or twice. Had a pretty good letter from Mary. Mabel & Fred were married Sun. Jan. 28,
1900 - long life and great joy be theirs.
Ada & I went to the Entertainment for the benefit of the poor
Children's show fund this pm. & oh dear, such actions! The kids were there by the 100000s and they
ran & yelled & did everything noisy they could. I enjoyed the music (piano) and one little
girl spoke a piece very nicely but the singing was anything but pleasing to my
uncultured ear. And the play was simply HORRID. And the Lady(?) trapeze performer was very
near perfect in her art but I hate such things.
I rather enjoyed the last which was two young men who performed on the
cross bars. Of course they & the
trapeze lady wore tights. House was
full.
Sat. Feb. 3,
1900 Text Prov. 30:5
Warmer with some
snow at intervals. Have worked all day
and am tired tonight. Miss Rhodes was
here to supper. Ada paid me the 50¢ she
borrowed last fall and she invited me to go out to the Soldier's Home next
Tues. pm then to her home for supper.
Mrs. Parish said I could. I like
Ada.
Sun. Feb. 4,
1900 Text John 3:14-16
More snow fell
in the night so we have lots now. Glad
of it. Tonight is as beautiful with a young moon & the bright stars &
the beautiful snow. I ran out and down
the street a block or more just to drink in the beauty of it. Claude Crittenden was here for dinner. He is such a nice boy.
Mon. Feb. 5,
1900 Text John 10:9-11
Nice day sort of
a grey day. Up at 4 & had my wash up
before 10. Went up to Mrs. Griffin's but
she was not home so I presume she is better.
Called on Ada awhile then wrote to Della and ironed some after
supper. Mrs. Parish said the other day
that Watson looked as if he'd been dragged thru tofel and beaten with the smut
bag. I had a big laugh of course. spent
2¢ for postage.
Tues. Feb. 6,
1900 Text Luke 11:5-13
Nice day. Got my ironing done early and this pm I went
downtown and got Net & Mary each a ring.
Net's $1.50 & Mary's $1.75.
Hope they will be all right.
Web. Feb. 7,m
1900 Text Rom. 12:10-21
Lots warmer and
raining a good share of the day. I went
down to the post office to send the rings & letter. I sent $5 to pa leaving ten more to pay. Oh I wish I had enough money so I wouldn't
need to work out but could have all my dear ones in a comfortable home.
Mrs. Parish went
to her Literary Club and they gave the question "who was Gustavus
Adolphus, the "Snow King?" He
was the King of Sweden 1611-32. Born
1594, died 1632. He was a Protestant. He was called the Snow King derisively by his
enemies.
Thur. Feb. 8,
1900 Text Ps. 145:8-9
Just 7 months to
day since I came here to work & I like it the best of any place I ever
had. Mrs. Parish went to Sparta this pm
to be gone till tomorrow eve. Last night
it rained & thundered &lightened & all the snow was gone this morn
and tonight it is snowing & colder again.
Been very windy today. Oh I long
so for a good old fashioned winter again.
I want to see Dan & Rob & Nat & Noah & Mary & all my
dear ones. I wonder if that time will be
soon or late. Oh for enough money so I'd
not need to work out but could have a happy home with my dear ones around
me. God grant we may meet in Heaven
anyway.
Fri. Feb. 9,
1900 Text Matt. 5:43-48
Quite cold and
nice. Mrs. Parish came home radiant over
her visit to Sparta and tonight she did my work & paid the 15¢ admission
for me to go to a lecture by Mrs. Prentice against Catholicism. It was very good & lots of fun. I got Ada to go with me & paid her
admission. Got a letter from dear Laura.
Poor girl is or has been sick.
She invited me up there next Summer.
Sat. Feb. 10,
1900 Text Ezekiel 36:26-28
Beautiful cold
day. May & Mr. Reynolds were here
for dinner & supper and spend the day.
Lee came up to supper. I like
May. I went up to see dear Mrs.
Griffin. She is feeling better but not
well. Oh I love her so much and she
likes me too. I guess & I enjoy
visiting her so much. Ran over to Mrs.
Peebles to see Grace Parkhurst who came up from Nunica this morn & is going
back tomorrow. Dear girl she looks so good and wholesome. Got a gay old letter from my good cousin
Abe. I'd like to see him.
Very nice
day. Snow all gone. Beautiful moonlight night. I have been thinking how much I should enjoy
being on a farm with a jolly good family who had a proper home & sugar camp
& help make sugar. Then in the fall
help in husking & apple paring bees & go to country parties &
spelling schools. That would be fun if
the right kind. I'd like to make a
Jack-o-lantern. Ans. Laura's
letter. Had a good bath & some good
apples afterward. Wish I could see my
dear ones now. Wonder when I ever will.
Mon. Feb. 12,
1900 Text St. John 14:1st
Grey day. Rain tonight.
Mrs. Parish & I have done a big day's work. Had a good time talking about things this
eve. Mrs. Weston came over & during
her conversation she told Mrs. Parish she wished she had a girl like me. Thanks Mrs. W.
Tues. Feb 13,
1900 Text Heb. 13:5
Snowed during
the night and some today. Then the sun
shone & tonight the moon is bright & it is real cold. I got a letter from dear Mary. Her ring suited her very well but Net's is
too small so I'll have to try again for her.
Went over & spent an hour with Ada & Mrs. Weston's Mother Mrs.
Johnson, a dear old blind lady.
Wed. Feb. 14
1900 Text Acts 2:21
Valentine's Day.
Quite cold. Snow in pm.
Dear Mrs. Griffin came down for the pm.
Mrs. Parish bought some carnations.
They were pretty. This pm I went
down town & got me a thimble 60¢ and traded Net's ring back for a pr. of
silver handled scissors then went & got Net a ring lie Mary's at Mr.
Siegels $1.75. Oh I wish I had lots of
money so I'd not feel so horrid when I spend a few cents. I went to the Public Library this pm. It is in the City Hall which of course, is a
nice building. I got "Little
Women" to read. Commenced to use my
Christmas spoon. Lizzie came up to
tea. I'm sick today. Oh I'm tired & wish I could rest a long
time.
Thur. Feb. 15,
1900 Text Ps. 145:18
Just 15 years
ago today since Aunt Becca & Uncle Hiram were married. Very cold that day and also today. I had real good success with my bread
today. Good.
Fri. Feb. 16,
1900 Text Prov. 31:30
Cold & clear
today. Mrs. Parish told me a true tramp
story or two today. I laughed &
laughed. One old burly fellow came to
her back porch when she lived in Peoria & demanded her to get him some
dinner & when she refused he swore that she would give him his dinner &
she told him she'd see whether she would or not. As luck would have it she was washing &
had a boiler of hot suds & a big dipper handy so she took a dipper of that
hot suds 7 let him it in the middle of his back. She and he just yelled & scratched &
swore & the second dipperful landed on his heels and he made such good time
that he didn't require the third. Haha. Good. Reading Little Women best story ever
was. Spent 18 cts for thread &
lining & 7 for postage.
Sat. Feb. 17,
1900 Text Ps. 51:12
This is my
prayer so often. I was thinking today of
the joy I once had and longing oh so much to have it restored in all its
fullness. Cold this morning but got
warmer during the day. Oh I'm enjoying
Little Women so much. Think it is the
best thing I ever read. Hope to have one
of my own some day. Think I'll try
keeping all my dimes. Commenced
yesterday.
Sun. Feb. 18, 1900 Text Matt. 7:7,8
Rather
cold. Clear in pm. Had company to dinner - Mr. Bennett a friend
of Watson's. I was so tired & felt
so bad it seemed I could have given a good deal for a good rest but instead I
had to just jog along. Oh will I ever
have a chance to rest & take things easier.
Oh for the strength & Grace to be good in my heart. Reading Little
Women and that always helps me ever so much.
Mon. Feb. 19,
1900 Text Matt. 6:25, 26
Nice day. Dear Mrs. Griffin came down this pm. I was so glad to see her. Got my work out of the way easier than usual
today. Answered Abe's letter.
Tues. Feb. 20,
1900 Text John 6:47048
Nice day. I got a good long letter from Saint Malinda
in ans. to one I wrote her last summer.
Mrs. Crittenden came over & hugged me & said she'd rather have
me to work for her than any one she knew 'cause I was good & honest. Thanks Mrs. Crit. I put on my velvet waist & got a good 'do
up' on my hair so I look rather "uncoming" tonight.
Wed. Feb. 21,
1900 Text Ps. 139:23,24
Snowy day and
tonight as I sit in my room. I hear the
wind blowing and the snow beating on the window and I'm thankful for food &
shelter etc. this stormy night. Clarence
is sick today & I was his 'nuss' this pm.
Someone sent him 1/2 doz. of the loveliest red roses. "Little Women" is the attraction
& oh how I wish I could write good stories.
Thur. Feb. 22,
1900 Text Prov. 16:32
Dear old
Washington's Birthday. Quite a nice
day. Kind of a thawy day. Considerable snow. Ada came over this eve with her first masquerade
rig on & oh horrors! How she did
look. So tawdry & dowdy with short skirts, semi-low necked waist, old red
cotton trimmed hat etc. etc. I fear she
is going downhill rather fast. Her
pretty face is more harm than good to her.
Oh that she may listen to wisdom before she is ruined. Clarence was in the kitchen and he didn't
seem to approve of her costume. No one
with good sense could. Got a postal from
grace Parkhurst.
Fri. Feb. 23,
1900 Text Prov. 4:18
Nice day. Snowing a little this eve. God is good to all. We had company. Mr. & Mrs. Abe Brokaw, to dinner &
Mr. Brokaw is a case. He says the most
ridiculous things in the funniest way.
They were talking about Cuba being such a perfect country according to a
pamphlet Mr. Parish had rec'd., so warm
& nice & May said she supposes they wouldn't need to wear any clothes
there & Mr. B. said as sober as could be "I'd be so ashamed I wouldn't
know what to do if I had to go around naked if I lived down there." Then the conversation turned to leaves. Mr. P. guessed Mr. B. could
find one big enough. Then Mr. B. was
telling how fat he was at one time & said he felt sure he must be in the
family way. Haha. Of course I laughed. I went up to see dear Mrs. Griffin. She is feeling real bad. Oh, I fear she is not to stay with us
long. Poor little dear. I feel so sorry for her. Clarence's Birthday age 26.
Sat. Feb. 24,
1900 Text Luke 1:37
Snowed a good
bit in the night and is cold today. I
finished reading Little Women. How I
wish I could write stories. One thing I
like is that Miss Alcott the original of Jo in Little Women never married. I'm an Old Maid sure, and am glad that I have
some distinguished company in the state of single Hesseduers (NOTE: not sure
what this is). Miss Willard & Miss
Alcott at least.
Sun. Feb. 25,
1900 Text Ps. 23
Cold, clear
& windy & plenty of snow. A
perfect writers day. Mr. & Mrs.
Parish went out to Mays & of course the boys were gone so I had the day to
myself. I ans. dear Aunt Becca's letter
& read a good deal. A kiss is worthless until it is divided between
two. I should enjoy dividing some with
my dear ones in Wisc. wonder when I will
have the pleasure.
Mon. Feb. 26,
1900 Text Isa. 1:18
Clear cold day.
Did my work & other work & this pm went down to the Library to take
back dear "Little Women." Got
a book on Astronomy for Mrs. P. & the Dec. St. Nicolas for myself. Don't think much of it, so won't get another. I'm thankful for the many blessings God has
given me. Food, clothing, shelter,
warmth, kind friends, a taste for good literature and many more. I do want to be a good girl & fully trust
my kind Heavenly Father.
Tues. Feb. 27,
1900 Text Isa. 55:7
Clear & cold
again today. Just a year since I bade
Aunt Becca, Aunt Phebe & Annie "Good Bye" before leaving for
Mich. I wonder what another year will
bring. God grant it may be for our
soul's eternal welfare & His honor & glory. I wish I could see my dear ones tonight.
Wed. Feb. 28,
1900 Text Jas. 1:27
Snowed all night
& all day so now we have a good big snow just the kind I like. The wind is howling around the house tonight
& I'm very thankful for a good shelter.
I got a letter from Mary & Net to today. Net was very much pleased with her ring &
Ma liked her thimble real well so I'm glad but I was very, very
sorry to hear that Mary is going to marry John James. She says he has become a
Christian but tho' he has I wouldn't think she could bear such a fellow. and I fear she will have a hard life of it. Of dear.
Just a year today since I left home to come out here. Oh I wish I could see them now & not lose
my place either. Wonewoc had a big fire
& John's store came near getting burned.
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