The Sunday Blues
A Day in the Life: November 5th
(Aged 14)
Wea. THU. NOV. 5, 1896 Ther.
Went to school had an examination in history.
(Aged 16)
Wea. SAT. NOV. 5, 1898 Ther.
Chas Slater + I sawed bolts then husked corn. Ma + Ada Harrington went to the burg.
(Aged 17)
Wea. SUN. NOV. 5, 1899 Ther.
Stayed about the house all day. Was quite lonesome.
(Aged 18)
Wea. MON. NOV. 5, 1900 Ther.
Drove to Frewsburg with Pearle + Alice. Alice broke the news to father. Went to depot with Alice. She took the train for Jamestown. I went back to school.
(Aged 19)
Wea. TUE. NOV. 5, 1901 Ther.
Drew gravel same as yesterday.
(Aged 20)
Wea. WED. NOV. 5, 1902 Ther.
Frank Warn + wife came down. He + I went hunting up on the big hill. Saw some very big rocks. Killed 2 red + 1 black squirrel + a rabbit. Got the buggy of Arnie Shaw for $22 applied it on note.
(Aged 21)
Wea. THU. NOV. 5, 1903 Ther.
NO ENTRY MADE.
Editor's Note: All of my speculation was wrong as to when the engagement became official. I'm going to have to say that the news Alice is breaking to her father is that she has accepted Allen. Rather than one specific proposal it was more likely on ongoing conversation about their future that ended in blissful marital agreement. I think we can infer 11 months into the transcribing of his diaries, Allen was not the type to write his innermost feelings. He doesn't discuss his proposal nor go into detail. It is as if he had no idea that 111 years later I would want to know these things. He wrote, like my father often spoke, starting in the middle as if we knew what he knew and could jump in to the conversation with complete understanding. Sigh.
As I said, Allen didn't make a habit of showing us his feelings but when he ran off, his anger was obvious, when Alice seemed to take his love for granted he pushed back with false bravado and here in 1899, he is lonesome on a Sunday afternoon in the bunkhouse. Who hasn't felt the Sunday afternoon blues?
(Aged 14)
Wea. THU. NOV. 5, 1896 Ther.
Went to school had an examination in history.
(Aged 16)
Wea. SAT. NOV. 5, 1898 Ther.
Chas Slater + I sawed bolts then husked corn. Ma + Ada Harrington went to the burg.
(Aged 17)
Wea. SUN. NOV. 5, 1899 Ther.
Stayed about the house all day. Was quite lonesome.
(Aged 18)
Wea. MON. NOV. 5, 1900 Ther.
Drove to Frewsburg with Pearle + Alice. Alice broke the news to father. Went to depot with Alice. She took the train for Jamestown. I went back to school.
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| Greetings from Frewsburg, NY |
(Aged 19)
Wea. TUE. NOV. 5, 1901 Ther.
Drew gravel same as yesterday.
(Aged 20)
Wea. WED. NOV. 5, 1902 Ther.
Frank Warn + wife came down. He + I went hunting up on the big hill. Saw some very big rocks. Killed 2 red + 1 black squirrel + a rabbit. Got the buggy of Arnie Shaw for $22 applied it on note.
(Aged 21)
Wea. THU. NOV. 5, 1903 Ther.
NO ENTRY MADE.
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Editor's Note: All of my speculation was wrong as to when the engagement became official. I'm going to have to say that the news Alice is breaking to her father is that she has accepted Allen. Rather than one specific proposal it was more likely on ongoing conversation about their future that ended in blissful marital agreement. I think we can infer 11 months into the transcribing of his diaries, Allen was not the type to write his innermost feelings. He doesn't discuss his proposal nor go into detail. It is as if he had no idea that 111 years later I would want to know these things. He wrote, like my father often spoke, starting in the middle as if we knew what he knew and could jump in to the conversation with complete understanding. Sigh.
As I said, Allen didn't make a habit of showing us his feelings but when he ran off, his anger was obvious, when Alice seemed to take his love for granted he pushed back with false bravado and here in 1899, he is lonesome on a Sunday afternoon in the bunkhouse. Who hasn't felt the Sunday afternoon blues?
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