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| Achsah Brown Clough's |
| Diary for January 1887 |
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Saturday, January 1 -- A new diary, and a new year, with lots of new resolutions, to try to live better, and make more of privileges and blessings than last year. to live more for others and less for myself. Today finds me at Mrs. Mancks. Very cold, but bright and cherry, everybody busy and bustling, wishing happy New Year. [ could be Mancks or Manchs] |
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Sunday, January 2 -- Got up late. Mr. Manck went to church I just got through with my work as he got home. ready to get dinner. had oysters, corn, apple pudding, etc. Miss Blake came for me, to take care of Mr. Smith. He is very sick. Mrs. M is not well enough to be left yet. beside I did not like to take the responsibility. |
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Monday, January 3 -- Very cold, but we are so warm and cosy here. I have scarely felt any inconvenience from the weather since I came, rather dread going home. Lulu came down to see me this afternoon, and we had such a nice little visit together. She went downtown to do some errends for me. |
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Tuesday, January 4 -- Washwoman here today. Mrs manck getting quite smart, so she takes care of the baby some. I went down town this afternoon. Got material for a wrapper Miss Bates here in the evening, for me to go and take care of her brother, but I did not feel like going, so refused. |
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Wednesday, January 5 -- Ironed, and cleaned up the rooms, want to leave everything in good order when I leave tomorrow. When Mr Manck came home this evening, he told us Mr Smith died this morning, about five o clock Poor man has worked himself to death, in the prime of life. Who will fill his place? |
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Thursday, January 6 -- Breakfast, our last meal. Mr and Mrs Manck will board again now. They have both seemed to enjoy my getting their meals, while I have been here. I came home at noon found Lulu had cleaned my room all up. and brought up some wood for my fire. she came and staid all night with me. |
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Friday, January 7 -- Jenny has no girl and seems auful tired out I made bread for her to day. cut, and basted my wrapper, which seemed quite a job for me. But I must get up courage, and make myself some clothes, am ashamed indeed, of being so shabby. Am going to do lots of sewing for myself now. |
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Saturday, January 8 -- Have a stiff neck today. Took cold from the change of houses, wanted so much to go to Mr. Smith's funeral this afternoon, but did not feel able to take the long jaunt in the cars, so Lulu had to go alone. After the funerl she called on Nellie, then came and staid all night with me. |
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Sunday, January 9 -- This is a lovely day, but I staid home, read, wrote, and looked over some books, papers, etc. Arthur's folks went out riding in the afternoon, called at Archies, In the evening I went to church with Jenny, heard such a good sermon from Mr. Chase, and ater semon a good live prayer meeting. lovely evening but very cold. |
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Monday, January 10 -- Got up early, did up my room work. then sewed on my wrapper till dinner time. Jenny and I went down town in the afternoon. I got several things for myself think I need a recruit of clothing bad enough. Lulu came over to stay all night with me, has one of her sick spells, and feels miserable. |
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Tuesday, January 11 -- Lulu quite sick all night and kept me busy this morning waiting on her. mr Allen came for me to sit up with a sick child to night. On my way up there called on Nellie, the first time I have been to see her in Minneapollis. She looks much more comfortable than she ever did on the prairie, but is not happy. |
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Wednesday, January 12 -- Up all night with the poor little sick baby, O how much suffering there is in the world, and how little we think about it unless right with it. Spent the day visiting with Nellie, and returned here at five o clock to take care of the baby again to night. This has been such a lovely day, and Nellie and I had a good time. |
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Thursday, January 13 -- Found it snowing this morning, had a tedious time to get home, but was glad to get here, built up my fire, took a bath and went to sleep till dinner. Wrote annie in the afternoon, felt too tired to sew, read some, and knit some on my afghan. so glad I can go to bed and sleep all night tonight. |
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Friday, January 14 -- Got up in good season and got to sewing early, but tired out before noon. Went down town with Jenny in the afternoon. It was a lovely day, and felt as if fresh air was what I most needed. Sitting up nights and breathng the air of sick, rooms, takes the life out of one very fast. ....... a went to al ...... in the evening. |
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Saturday, January 15 -- Archie and Nellie here to dinner today. Jenny helped me finish up my wrapper She is very good to me. I ought to be, and believe I am thankful for so pleasant and comfortable a home as I have with her this winter. fear I can never repay them for all their kindness. |
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Sunday, January 16 -- Snowing and blowing this morning, but I went to church with Arthur and Jenny. Staid with the children in the afternoon, while they went to see Lydins [or Sydins] They went to church in the evening. I wrote my Sister Lurana. Lul came over to stay all night with me, very cold to night. |
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Monday, January 17 -- It seemed so nice to have Lulu here with me last night, am very gald we are as near each other as we are. Only wish I could see the other girls as often. Think so much about Hattie away off there alone. Poor girl is having a gard time of it this winter, I fear. Sewing on my dress today. Jenny came up stairs and we had a nice time. |
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Tuesday, January 18 -- Arthur's Sister Lydia sent up for me this morning as she was sick with a cold. I went down with Arthur after dinner, found her very miserable, tried to doctor her up, staid and did up her wash and got supper. Then she wanted me to stay all night, and help her tomorrow. |
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Wednesday, January 19 -- Lydia feeling a little better this morning. I baked some bread, and pies, and made doughnuts. Arthur brought me a letter from Annie at noon, went to call on Mrs. Jones in the afternoon, made an engagement with her for the first of April. Spent the evening in Mrs. Van's room. |
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Thursday, January 20 -- Swept all over for Lydia this morning, cleaned up things as well as I could, so she might get along easy for a day or two. Arthur called for me and brought me home this evening. feel quite tired, but was glad to be able to do her a favor as she has always been very kind to me. |
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Friday, January 21 -- Cut out my polonaise this morning, worked steadily on it till noon. Went down twon with Arthur, sent the dishes to Annie she wrote for. Called on Miss Blake, paid up my salary. Got me a hot water bag, for sickness, with the money Nell gave me for Xmas. Bought me another dress and some small article of clothing, came home in the cars. |
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Saturday, January 22 -- Worked hard all day to get my dress done, went over to sit with Lulu in the afternoon. Mrs Bushnell away, had a nice time, so thankful Lulu has such a comfortable home for the winter. She came over to stay all night with me, and we sat up very late visiting and doing odds and ends. |
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Sunday, January 23 -- My cloak looks so bad, I was ashamed to go to church, so staid home, cleaned up my room, took a bath, and was just through at dinner time. After dinner, had a nap, read awhile, and wrote Aunty Winsor. Went to church in the evening with Arthur heard such a good lecture on Ninevah |
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Monday, January 24 -- got up early, washed up my grey dress. Mrs Van came and wer went to wash on my green dress. Lulu and I went down town in the afternoon, looked at cloaks, bought material to go with her summer silk, to make her a dress. Wanted to call on Mrs Manch, but it commenced snowing and hurried home. |
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Tuesday, January 25th -- Arthur brought me a telegram from Clara Likens. saying sister Abby was very sick, and could I come. I did not feel as if I could afford to go, unless absolutely needed so wrote her I would come in a few days if she did not get better. Poor Clara I feel very sorry for her, all alone. wish I was there to night, fear it may be her mother's last sickness. |
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Wednesday, January 26th -- O dear, another telegram this morning saying Abby died at quarter past three this morning, Dear Sister at rest, how glad, and thankful, I am for the good time I had with her this last summer. I felt many times, as if it was my last visit with her, and so it has proved. But truly she was ready, and soon we will all be gone, [Achsah died 15 years after this diary was written] |
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Thursday, January 27th -- Mrs Van finished up my green dress to day. I went down town with Jenny this afternoon and bought me a cloak and bonnnet, am truly thankful that the Lord has prospered me, so I can have some better clothing, feel sometimes as if I ought not to have it, while the girls are so poor, but know they all want me too. |
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Friday, January 28th -- Cleaned up my room, and did several little jobs in the morning. After Dinner Jenny and I went calling went up to Nell Cloughs, and over to Nell Browns. In the evening, Annie an dCarmela came aon the train from fort Dodge to see me It seems so good to see Annie again, had so little visit with her while at her house. |
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Saturday, January 29th -- The girls and I went to call on Mrs Hennessy, then down town to do some shopping. Got lunch at Poegous restaurant, went out to Nell's in the afternoon, staid till night walked most of the way, home. It was terrible cold, and I froze one of my ears. So it swelled badly, and was very painful after we got home. |
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Sunday, January 30th -- Could not go to church to day on account of my ear. Girls went to Archies to dinner after church and staid till evening meeting. Lulu came over to staty all night with us, girls very cold and tired when they came home, feel so sorry we have such cold weather while they are here, its is very tedious to get out at all. |
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Sunday, January 31st -- Girls went up to se Nellie today, staid to dinner. In the evening Arthur, Jenny, Lulu, and the girls, went to hear Maggie Mitchell. I staid home and read, and wrote made an apron for the hired girl to day, did some mending, and ironed Lulus silk, to have it ready for Mrs Van to come and wash tomorrow |
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