16-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Wednesday, August 23, 1911: Tweet and her mother were here this afternoon. Besser went to town this afternoon with her little “yum yum” to get him some things to wear to school. Miss Stout is called this evening, and we had a very delightful chat.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
It sounds like a pleasant day spending time with friends. Tweet was Helen Wesner’s nickname. Miss Stout referred to Carrie Stout. Both Tweet and Carrie were friends of Grandma’s.
Based upon previous entries I thought that the Muffly’s did not have a telephone—but this entry suggests that they may have recently gotten one. (Or perhaps “called” was being used in an older way and instead refered to a visit.)
Besser refers to Grandma’s married sister Besse. Besse did not have any children, but there was a previous diary entry which mentioned Besse bringing her nephew out to the Muffly farm, so “yum yum” may refer to him. But why would a person be called a yum yum? . . . . I guess that slang (and the meaning of slang words) has just changed over the years.
I’m really enjoying these so far! It’s amazing what insights such short entries can give into her world and I love your commentary. Where I grew up we still used ‘called’ to refer to a visit.
A post coming up in a couple days uses the word “call.” Your comment gives me an idea for what I might write.
Wow, glad I can be helpful! 🙂