October 17th 1858

Friday Oct 17th 1858

Saturday Allie and I went over to Dora’s, Josie was there to meet us. We had a very pleasant visit. Sunday Josie and Dora came over to go to church with us, went to the Methadice (Methodists) in the morning. In the afternoon, listened to brother W-. In the evening, Harve came to see me. Allie and Ma went to church. Had a very pleasant visit with him. To night Jo came to see me and I told him to forget me or only remember me as a sister. May God forgive me for the pain I caused him yet he forgave me all and we parted friends. I felt bad and bitter. Bitter tears I shed that night. Tears of regret as I thought of the past .May he be happy and may Our Heavenly Father deal gently with him.

October 15th 1858

Friday Oct 15th 1858

To day I have been at work all day and to night we all are going up to *Carries. I think I can turn back to my last spring writings now but I cannot with as free a conscience as I did then. December will tell if it is not changed, still again will I wound where I would give but pleasure. Yet I believe in spite of my faults I have many friends. May I always have as many. But I am doing very wrong by giving **M- every reason to think I care a great deal for him, when I do not care anything. I fear we shall not part friends.

 Editor's note: * Her sister

                ** Moses

October 14th 1858

Thursday Oct 14th 1858

Monday night Allie and I went walking with Decker, went down to Mr Beebee’s and back . Had a very pleasant . Tuesday, went down to Carrie’s and Moses came to see me in the evening. He was quite angry with me because I called Allie in (on?) Wednesday staid at home like good children and had no company. Thursday, I went up to take my music lesson. Had a talk with Decker from the third story. In the evening Decker came to see up (us) and Jo Smith stayed until one o clock. We had a very nice little talk and I did get him to tell me some things and if I could not get him to tell me all. I’ll remember Sammie and *Agnes. I may stand in her way again if she makes remarks and as for Samie (Sammie) when I get time, I’ll flirt with him to pay him off. It will do him good I’m certain.

Editor's note: Agnes has the crush on Jo Smith. (...Its hard to keep up :) )

 

October 9th 1858

Saturday Oct 9th 1858

I feel very lonely to night. Why I know not ,for I have no reason for feeling so. Tuesday night, Allie and I went out riding. Allie with Jo R- and I with Jim H-, very much to my displeasure and it would have been still more so if it had not been so very pleasant and we had White's horse and carriage so that I could take my ease, and I did not trouble myself much about making myself agreeable. Wednesday, Jim and Decker came to see us and went up to the Academy with us to look at the constellations. I had a very nice little talk with Decker and shall remember his saving word? out at the back door and talking with me some little while.  Sunday evening Jo Smith called. I am not forgotten by any means I guess. He comes to see me again Thursday.

Pictures of Mary's Diary

It's in remarkable condition for being 155 years old.

You can see the type of penmanship she had.



It can get tricky to read sometimes.

October 4th 1858

Oct 4^th 1858 Home

Calls for the week: Monday night, Messers Decker and Hopkins. Wednesday night, Decker and Quimby, Friday night, Decker and Quimby besides Mr Decker coming twice home with Allie to keep the rain off of her and Saturday, Jo R and Moses. To day Allie and I went twice to church but was so sleepy we could not keep awake so we took a nap in the afternoon. I shall remember Saturday night some little time and all that was said on the sofa in the parlor. I have written that some many time and in the last year will all of sceanes? be remembered! My heart answeres they will and many times in the lapse of years be they years of sorrow or of joy I will think of these happy sceans (scenes) in this my happy girlhood home and of the many Sunday nights also. For always on the quite (quiet) sabbath evening I think of the past and I always silently thank my Heavenly Father for dealing so gently with so wicked a creature as I. And for leaving her her earthly comforters, her parents, while he takes away so many others. No one know that beneath a careless exterior I hid(e) a warm and loving heart and those that I I love dearly will Our Father in heaven guide me softly through life and when I at last sleep my last sleep, may I join my Brother in Heaven.

 

Editor's note: Her brother Elihu Wheeler Kirby died at 7 years of age in 1852. Mary was 13 years old.

October 3rd 1858

Oct 3^rd 1858

How many times in this same year have I written of different ones not in this book. Have I written so much. But in my memorandam I find dated March 10^th Jo Smith spent the evening, that is, staid until one of two o clock. Ma is anxious?  to know what we find to talk about, he comes so much. March 11^th Jo S- spent the afternoon and evening with me I --- - horses had to stand out all day most but Jo had to wait for some work that was done in the afternoon. March 12^th Jo came to see me to night. Spent the evening, had a very nice little talk. Libbie Hodges and Harrison Otis? are trying to do something, I dont know what. But I do know what makes Lib do so. She and Agnes are very much in love with Jo- . All fair play. We will see who comes out ahead. If they do (all right). March 16^th Jo came home from singing school with me -- -- . March 30^th Jo came home from singing school with me. Marves? with Allie first. We tryed to get away from them but could not, so came into the house and left them on the steps. They went off a riding afterwards. Jo and I went riding thursday. He goes west to night. Will not soon be forgotten by me. He has been sick which accounts for his not coming to see me before. I shall not soon forget about Marves? wiping my eyes for me while Jo was at the other side of the room and Allie plagueing him. But we both felt to (too) sober to laugh. While I know that all winter was only a rehersal of similar things, now the same things might be written of *Moses C-. While I care not for either of them, my heart says it is wrong but I continue to do so.

Editor's Note: Moses Cornell