Fred Dudley Swindell Diary

Diary 1897

Mar. 22nd Monday. This morning I sawed wood untill school time and rode to school on my wheell. Mr. Sharp kept in the Latin class after school because he gave them or us to much lesson that we would not get it. Slipped home at second recess for the first time in a weele. This evening I rode some of the girls and boys around here on my wheell. Also went down town on the pony and when I came back I went out in the country and got some flowers to carry to school tomorrow. It has been raining a little all day but we have had some sunshine. We are all well exscept brother and he did not go to school today. I lost the barn keys tonight and we are leaving a time trying to find them.

Mar. 23rd Tuesday. This morning I got up early and finished getting my Latin which I did not have time to get last night. Went to ride on horse back before school. Slipped home at second recess. This evening I went out in the woods twice to get some flowers and plants to carry to school, the first time I got a plant with long [bairs?] all over the leaves and some ground moss. The second time some little white flowers like "forgetmeriots." I had to saw wood this evening. I here was a pony show here this evening but I did not go. It was [here?] a pleasant day but has rained a little. We are all well exscept brother and he is nearly well. Papa and auntie went to ride this evening. I rode some on my wheell this evening.

Diary - 1897

Mar. 24th Wednesday, Sawed wood untill school time. Miss. Anna kept the grade in at second recess, and I was kept in unjustly, so this makes the third time I have been kept in unjustly, so I went to Mr. Foust, the superentenant house this evening to complain but he was not home. Papa plainted part of the garden today in straw-berries, peas, spinage, union and kale & mustered. I went down down this evening and got [EnouchEavden?], which we are going to read. Mamma and auntie went to ride in the buggy this evening. Today has been pleasant but we have had more wind than any day this month. I sawed a large pile of wood this evening. We are all well now for a wonder. Got lots of lessons to get tonight.

Mar. 25th Thursday. This morning mamma went to Sittlelow, she left at seven, o'clock. From then I spent my time in sawing and splitting wood untill school time. Miss Anna gave me back a book today which she had taken away about two months ago. This evening I sawed wood, went to ride on horse back out in the country and down town, went down town on my whell. Jim [Luniley?] came over here this evening and he and brother and I played ball. Today has been pleasant, and it is not so windy as it was yesterday. We are all well. I am very tired tonight after working so hard. Auntie had several visitors this evening. Slipped home at second recess and Tom Dewey and brother came too.

Diary - 1897

Mar. 26th Friday. Carried papa down to the train at 7 o'clock Sawed and split wood until school time. Rode to school on my whell. Slipped home at second recess. This evening I sawed wood then went down town in the buggy for, auntie. Wrote to mamma today, carried Mrs. [Luneley?] to ride out to the insane asylum and we had a good time. Walter Peacock came over and stayed with us all night. Today has been pleasant, but a little cool. We are all well. I had [shad?] for supper, & breakfast. Tom Dewey brought back my book he had borrowed, today. got a new botony book, and tablet, also got a book called the "Scottish Chiefs".

Mar. 27th Saturday. Got up and made aunties [five?] for her this morning. Finished getting my lessons. Jim [Lumley?] Walter Peacock, brother and I played ball for the best part of the morning. This morning before breakfast I saddled the pony and carved a note to her. [Roves?] for auntie. Went down town twice on the pony and twice on the whell today, also went out in the country on horse back. Rode around considerable on my whell today. Sent it to brother this evening. Auntie made some cakes this evening and they were good too. It has been a bad day, cold and rainy. We are all well, all that is here, for papa and mamma have gone off. Went to school and got my botony book so that I could copy it tonight Mrs. [Lumley?] is going to stay here tonight.

Diary - 1897

Mar. 28th Sunday. This morning we went to church, and in church there was quite an exciting debate about repairing the church. We also went to Sunday School. After Sunday school we took a walk in the woods and gathered some flowers. Mrs. [Lumley?] and Jim stayed all the evening and again tonight We boys had a good time fighting duels with clods of dirt this evening although we ought not to have done it. At night we had a long conversation on Henry the eight and his wives also a long talk de [mortis?]. It has been a pleasant day, just warm enough and just cool enough. We are all well today. Auntie says that we boys will run her crazy before mamma comes.

Mar. 29th Monday. This morning was cool and we found to our discomfort that we had no light-wood and had to dress in the cold. Rode to school on my whell today. This morning slipped home at second recess brother and Tom Dewey came with me. Mamma and papa came today, she brought me a scarf pin and lots of candy. This evening a carried a letter down for auntie. Stayed in the house this evening and got my lessons. I had twelve long Algebra problems to work and a long latin story to translate. John [Slocumle?] came over here this evening. Something got the matter with the pump and papa took it to pieces and found a broken glass bottle in it. Split up light-wood this evening so I would not be in the fix I was in this morning. Today has been pleasant. We are all well.

Diary - 1897

Mar. 30th Tuesday. Sawed and split wood untill school time. Went to school today. Got my Latin in school. This evening I staid in and got my lessons, all except a little algebra which I will get in school tomorrow. Slipped home at second recess today. We were invited out to tea tonight, but for certain reasons could not go. This evening I had to write a composition on the sweet gum bud for a Botony lesson. It has been a rainy and bad day. We are all well. Papa rode out in the rain today on my wheel and got it wet. I have begun, and have already read a book have through today called "Around the World in 80 Days" by Jules Verne. Mr. John the pastor called tonight. Papa went of with Mr. John to Mr. [Roves?] tonight.

Mar. 31st Wednesday. Sawed wood untill school time. Finished at bed time last night the book I was reading. Came home at second recess today. This evening I finished sawed that load of wood. Got a book out of the school library today. "The Talisman" The "Youth's Companion" and "Harpers Round Table" came this evening. Went down town on my whell today. Mamma and auntie were calling this evening. Auntie gave me five cents this evening - a very elaborate gift. Mr. Sharp gave us a long Latin lesson, but we begged him into reading it to us. Today has been cloudy and it rained several times. We are all well, exscept mamma who has something the matter with her throat, it seems that throat trouble will take a turn at all of us this winter. Papa went to church or prayer - meeting tonight.

Diary - 1897

April 1st. Thursday. This morning we arose late and the consequence was we had to go to school right after breakfast. Slipped or I did not slip today but got permission to come home at second recess. This evening I played ball awhile, then read until night. This evening there was a bad run away in town and mamma and auntie were out in the bugy, saw the horse a coming, but got of the way in time though auntie was badly frightened. To night I rode several times up and down in front of the house on my whell. To day has been a good day. We are all well. Mr. Sharp has given us to much Latin to get for tomorrow. We April fooled him several times today.

April 2nd. Friday. Went to school this morning right after breakfast. Slipped home at second recess. This evening I finished reading the "Talisman" and it was splendid. Mamma says I will have to stop reading so many books. Today makes one month I have kept this diary. This evening I rode out to the race track on my whell with Mr. [Foust?] and while out there punctured one of the tires and a man fixed it for me, and also something else got the matter with the other whell so I had to [rod?] it home, so I am very tired. We are all well exscept me and I feel a little bad. It has rained a little today but it has been chiefly a pleasant one. Mamma went to a meeting this evening and papa and auntie went out to ride. Papa has gone to somekind of meeting tonight.

Diary - 1897

April 3rd Saturday. This morning I fixed my whell, all that I could for I forgot to say that I lost the tap that goes of the valve. Then I rode out to the racetract and was looking for it, whe lo and behold! here came Mr. [Foust?]. We did not find it so I had to find a new one at the hardware store. Mr. [Foust?] and myself then went to ride and when he and I came back he treated me to lemon phosphate. Mr. Young came today and is going to preach tomorrow is has been a missionary amoung the indians. Papa went off today. Mamma made cake and gelatine this evening also had a turkey killed. I got my lessons this evening. It has been raining all the afternoon but was a good morning. We are all well. A [maw?] brough a load of [tale?] wood here today which I will have to saw.

April 4th Sunday. This morning we went to church to hear Dr. Young. It was a splendid sermon. Came home and got our Sunday School lessons. We went to Sunday ^School and right after, at four oclock Dr. Young gave a talk to the children which we enjoyed very much. We went to church tonight and as we walked it tired auntie out. Mr. Young told many of his sad and humorous experiences today, one about an old indian when his mother got to old to snare rabbits and catch fish he shoked her to death with a rope and then burnt her body so her spirit would not haunt him, and then from a tale like that he would till how the gospel stopped all murders and etc. It has been a rainy day. We are all well.

Diary - 1897

April 5th. Monday.

This morning I sawed wood untill school time. Auntie gave me a dollar this morning slipped home at second recess and Tom [Wenry?] came with me. Mr. Sharp excused me an hour before school was out so that I could see Auntie off, for she went home today. This evening I found a puncture in one of my bicycle tires and fixed it. Tom [Wenry?] came to see me this evening and we played ball, and had lots of fun. One of brothers bicycle tires burst today. I rode as far as Mr. [?] store [?] with Tom, and while there blew up one of my wheel tires with a new pump. Today has been pleasant but we had a shower near night. We are all well.

April 6th Tuesday. Sawed wood untill school time. Slipped home at second recess today. Got my latin in school. This evening I spent in sawing wood but I went down town in the buggy also. The hardware store here has offered a prize of a $5.00 bicycle lantern for the eadle rider under seventeen who writes the best advertisement for that wheel. and I am going to try for it. Mammas Sunday school class is going to meet here tongiht to decide about an entertainment they are going to have for Easter. Today has been like summer, and we boys are tired of study, but want to revel in the sunshine and the water. We are all well. it seems mighty lonesome since Auntie left.

Diary - 1898.

March, 12th Tuesday

Went to school today: Auntie came today. This evening was spent almost just like yesterday. I want to say that evenings went we leave Mrs. Bording I walk home with Rachel and Sadie and it is a pleasure. Papa since he has become a pastor and doesn't have to leave [us is?] coming up in his good looks and we all like it so much better. Katie is still working for us and I expect she will for a long time yet, Brownie will Stay with us untill death. shall pay another visit to our pets, the cow father is thinking about selling, our [?] are quite healthy, our remaining cat is not well. it has been a pleasant day. We are all well. It is vert pleasant weather now and I hope it will stay so.

March 2nd, Wednesday. Today I am sixteen. Went to school this morning. This evening I got a present from Aunitie. Went around to pauls again this evening and then walked home with Sadie and Rachel. When this day is finished I expect to put my diary away and to let no on see it but myself so I acknowledge that I have a queer feeling about a certain girl and that certain girl is Sadie Warden. I have tried to be neutral but old cupid has come out [vistor?] and behold I am [conquered?] and by a girl at that. Walter is my best friend, Tom [Werney?] and myself have drifted apart and it is for good for we can never be the friends we once were. Rachel and brother were reunited to each other today and

it looks like not what I said the other day but that they will continue to be sweethearts and I hope will some day marry, for I could not want a better sister, old woyle?] Privitt who ahs been my rival so long has at last left the field for me and [?] Ellen [Wortele?] for his sweetheart. I must remember that no one knows for dead truth my feelings as hear expressed and I challenge this diary to disclose them, It has been a pleasant day, We are all well. I have not decided wheather I will keep a diary next year or not, it depends on what kind of book I will get to keep it in, So farewell the old home we have left, farewell old Beauford where we had so many good times so farewell my fifteenth year forever, Fred Swindell