Week of December 26, 1909
December Sunday 26 1909 Did not get up until 10:45 but I went to Sunday School In the afternoon I wrote and then Cornelia came up she gave me a fine handkerchief we went over to Edna’s a while then I came back and wrote Oliver sent me a High School Pendant from Minneapolis. Mamma gave me a lovely new diary. I can hardly wait to use it she also she gave me some kid gloves, hat pin, side combs, birthday book
Kalamazoo Public Library, ca. 1910
Monday 27 In the morning I practiced 2-1/2 hrs. in the afternoon I dusted my room and then went and got Esther and we went down town we got a due bill of 60¢ at Beecher & Kymer for some old books. I took [it] down Ha! Ha! Then she got some rubbers at James store and we got three books at the library. In the evening I read “Two Gentlemen of Virgina” but did not finish it.
Tuesday 28 In the morning I practiced in the afternoon I took my music lesson, ironed for a surprise for mamma, wrote two letters one to Mrs Waite and one to Bernice. In the evening I went coasting up on Hilbert St. And Oh it was Grand!! Charley Nichols, Esther, Hazel and I were the original party, But May Stiman was with us some and towards the end there were 3 boys & 3 girls. John McKee and Roscoe Hartin.
Wednesday 29 In the morning I practiced In the afternoon I wrote and then Esther and I went down to the train to meet Helen Merchant but Papa and she got off at Main St. so they got home first and E & I got fooled. Papa didn’t know I was coming to meet her. Then we 3 girls started to read “Barbara” and Esther came back after super[sic] and we read some more & talked.
December Thursday 30 1909 In the morning I practiced then we went over to College pond skating but there wasn’t any so I took Helen over to the Normal.* In the afternoon Edna, Esther, H and I went out to the Asylum and they showed us into some of the wards and the patiences[sic] acted awfully funny then we went downtown and I took my mandolin lesson. In the evening we went coasting on Hilbert, Mamma & Mrs. D went too for a while. We had a grand time. [*The Normal is Western State Normal College, today we know it as Western Michigan University.]
Western State Normal School, ca. 1910
Friday 31 In the morning we studied the 1st 4 ch. of Rev. Amd then E & us read in “Barbara Winslow”* In the afternoon and evening H & I went up to E’s and finished at 11:20 p.m. It was grand! The new Presto! While I write the clock has just struck 12. It is the new year and I hope it will be a happy one. The whistles is blowing the new year in now, for me. May “God make his face to shine upon me and mine” [*Barbara Winslow, Rebel was written in 1906 by Elizabeth Ellis.]