17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Saturday, November 30, 1912:
It often seems the best comes last,
And so it must be with December.
As the end of the year recedes into the Past,
We see her last holiday, Remember.
Wanted to go to McEwensville tonight but Ruth won’t, so I didn’t. Made me feel sore for awhile.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
The first day of each month, Grandma began the diary entry with a poem. I’m still trying to figure out if she wrote them herself or copied them from somewhere. This month it almost seems like Grandma struggled to find a word to rhyme with December—so I’m leaning towards her writing the poems herself.
Why did Grandma want to do in McEwensville on a Sunday evening? . . to visit friends? . . . to attend an evening church service ? (Though, based on the diary, I don’t think that there generally were evening church services.)
And, (I guess I have more questions than answers) why did Grandma feel like she couldn’t go if her sister Ruth won’t go with her?
Hi – Like you, I often end up with many questions when researching material from the past. I wish I could ask each individual involved why they did what they did or reacted in a certain way. So many unknowns.
I agree, there are so many unknowns. It seems like the more I learn the more questions I have.
The questions never cease do they? Maybe she needed Ruth as a “chaperone”.
You might be right. . . hmm, I’m starting to envision a whole different (but fun) scenario in my head.
probably did not want to go alone
It’s always hard to do things alone.
I am so entranced with your blog. Your grandma’s diary is a true treasure and your follow-up 100 years later is such a fantastic idea.
Thanks for the nice note. I have a lot of fun doing this blog and it’s always wonderful to hear when others enjoy it.
I always picture young girls with their small novels back in your grandmas day…since there wasn’t tv or anything I think people read more books and classics too. Maybe she was going to a book club. That field on the edge of town probably hasn’t changed.
I also picture the field being about the same.