Josephine Jordan was my great, great, grandmother. She lived the life of a common farm wife in northern Maine. She kept a line a-day diary. I have her complete diaries from 1892 to 1898. You can learn more about Josephine, her diaries, and some historical perspective by going back to the first installment of this series.
Your questions, insights, or comments about this month's diary entries are welcomed.
--Frid, April 1
Just one year since we moved here. All well.
--Sat, April 2
Very lame today. Don't seem to be any better.
--Sund, April 3
Have a great deal of pain today. Must not complain.
--Mond, April 4
Bless the Lord, oh my soul. He is so good to me.
--Tues, April 5
Thank the good Lord I am better. Had some maple sugar.
--Wed, April 6
Feel a little better. Frank commenced working for E. Hall.
--Thurs, April 7
Blanche churned today. I am still lame.
--Frid, April 8
Blanche washed, I worked out of doors. Feel very pleased.
--Sat, April 9
Had some new maple sugar. Not quite so well.
--Sund, April 10
Feel discouraged. But God is able to bring me through.
--Mond, April 11
No better. Hoped I'd soon get better but don’t feel like it.
--Tues, April 12
Think I feel some better, though my knee is very lame.
--Wed, April 13
Commenced to go on wheels. Mr. Wright fell down dead.
--Thurs, April 14
Very fine. Have done a lot of work. Had some maple sugar.
--Frid, April 15
This morning Mrs. Wright & Elder Young left for Vermont with the
corpse to inter him, where she is going to live.
--Sat, April 16
Boiled 24 pails of sap today. Sent for Frank. Flora. S. was here and
we had a nice evening. Dear little Frank was so glad to get home.
We had sugar and candy.
--Sund, April 17
Blanche, I & Laurie went to church and sunday school.
--Mond, April 18
Lovely and fine. Am boiling sap as fast as I can.
--Tues, April 19
Blanche is twenty today. Hope she may have many happy returns and give her heart to her Savior.
--Wed, April 20
Mr. & Mrs. B. were here & spent the afternoon & three children. Eva Smith died today.
--Thurs, April 21
My knee pains me very much. Had a short drive.
--Frid, April 22
They have just taken up Mrs. Smith's casket.
--Sat, April 23
Dear little Frank came home after supper. Raining.
--Sund, April 24
Frank & Blanche Have gone to church. I should like to go.
--Mond, April 25
Went over to Mrs. Shaw’s and spent the day. Husband Ploughed.
--Tues, April 26
The Lord is so good to me. A lovely day.
--Wed, April 27
Feel miserable. Did not get up until after breakfast.
--Thurs, April 28
Better today. Trimmed a hat for spring.
--Frid, April 29
Fear I got cold yesterday. Fear I got careless.
--Sat, April 30
Better today, thank the Lord. Feel so pleased.
Your questions, insights, or comments about this month's diary entries are welcomed.
###
--Frid, April 1
Just one year since we moved here. All well.
--Sat, April 2
Very lame today. Don't seem to be any better.
--Sund, April 3
Have a great deal of pain today. Must not complain.
--Mond, April 4
Bless the Lord, oh my soul. He is so good to me.
--Tues, April 5
Thank the good Lord I am better. Had some maple sugar.
--Wed, April 6
Feel a little better. Frank commenced working for E. Hall.
--Thurs, April 7
Blanche churned today. I am still lame.
--Frid, April 8
Blanche washed, I worked out of doors. Feel very pleased.
--Sat, April 9
Had some new maple sugar. Not quite so well.
--Sund, April 10
Feel discouraged. But God is able to bring me through.
--Mond, April 11
No better. Hoped I'd soon get better but don’t feel like it.
--Tues, April 12
Think I feel some better, though my knee is very lame.
--Wed, April 13
Commenced to go on wheels. Mr. Wright fell down dead.
--Thurs, April 14
Very fine. Have done a lot of work. Had some maple sugar.
--Frid, April 15
This morning Mrs. Wright & Elder Young left for Vermont with the
corpse to inter him, where she is going to live.
--Sat, April 16
Boiled 24 pails of sap today. Sent for Frank. Flora. S. was here and
we had a nice evening. Dear little Frank was so glad to get home.
We had sugar and candy.
--Sund, April 17
Blanche, I & Laurie went to church and sunday school.
--Mond, April 18
Lovely and fine. Am boiling sap as fast as I can.
--Tues, April 19
Blanche is twenty today. Hope she may have many happy returns and give her heart to her Savior.
--Wed, April 20
Mr. & Mrs. B. were here & spent the afternoon & three children. Eva Smith died today.
--Thurs, April 21
My knee pains me very much. Had a short drive.
--Frid, April 22
They have just taken up Mrs. Smith's casket.
--Sat, April 23
Dear little Frank came home after supper. Raining.
--Sund, April 24
Frank & Blanche Have gone to church. I should like to go.
--Mond, April 25
Went over to Mrs. Shaw’s and spent the day. Husband Ploughed.
--Tues, April 26
The Lord is so good to me. A lovely day.
--Wed, April 27
Feel miserable. Did not get up until after breakfast.
--Thurs, April 28
Better today. Trimmed a hat for spring.
--Frid, April 29
Fear I got cold yesterday. Fear I got careless.
--Sat, April 30
Better today, thank the Lord. Feel so pleased.
7 comments:
Thank you for sharing this diary. It is wonderful to have some chance to understand those times.
Joesphine sure packs a lot in very few words. Phrases like, "lovely and fine" to describe the weather, or "feel quite smart" or "had green peas for dinner" - makes me picture so much more than just what those words mean - there is nuance. I especially love her constant references to how good the Lord is no matter what.
"Bless the Lord, oh my soul" I wonder if she is quoting the psalm or the hymn. I couldn't find when the hymn was written. I'm guessing she is quoting from the Bible though.
The fact that Mr. Wright dropped down dead, and didn't discuss much is heartbreaking. Fascinating to see the mentality of someone living in that area.
God is always able to bring me through.
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Do you have any idea what kind of "car" the family owned in 1892?
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Regards,
John Burley! Our hats off to you!!"
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