24 days till Christmas . . .

starting over - there will be many revisions

Dear Anna,

     Only twenty four more days until Christmas. Today mama took some scraps of wallpaper and with her needle and some waxed thread she made me this little book to write in. She says any child with as many words as I have should have a place to keep them. I never had a diary before. All I know how to write are letters. So letters I will write. One day when I am old and gray, much older and grayer than Granny - I will take out my little book and smile at all my own adventures.

     We have finished our work for the day and are keeping the fire on the hearth company. Mama is busy knitting papa a pair of sorely needed stockings from wool she spun herself. I wish that he had them already as I imagine wherever he is out there in the wide world that his toes must be sorely cold.

Aunt Jane is stitching a blue wool overshirt for Uncle Charles. And I am hemming neat little handkerchiefs for both. Granny says they will be neatly hemmed even if I must take the seams out and begin again a dozen more times. I hope that the seams cooperate a little better than they have or that the days will move slower. I am not very fond of neat hems and they are definitely not fond of me.

Little sister, Elizabeth, is playing with a doll on the rug. She sings it lullabies and rocks it to sleep and whispers secrets in its little doll ears. I wonder what she would like for a Christmas present. I wonder if she even remembers how exciting the holiday will be.

My older sister, Sarah, is studying in the lamplight. Nobody makes her hem a neat handkerchief. But that is a subject for another time.

Till tomorrow, dear diary, I remain your own true loving

Anna

 

Reviews

[TL Boehm]

this is wonderful stuff and I agree that it sounds authentic. I think the part below was the most grabbing for me:And I am hemming neat little handkerchiefs for both. Granny says they will be neatly hemmed even if I must take the seams out and begin again a dozen more times. I hope that the seams cooperate a little better than they have or that the days will move slower. I am not very fond of neat hems and they are definitely not fond of me.
It made me chuckle. Its gentle, honest humor -timeless. Yes. I enjoyed this.

[Phibby Venable]

such beautiful entries, Emily, a very calming write. you capture
it all with such a grace.

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

I like this, it feels authentic...reading on :)

[TamiViolet]

Wow, I like the set-up of this story. Once again, wonderful detail! I'm a good cook, but sewing makes me want to scream...hehe... You have sparked my interest, so I must move on to the 23rd day...