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Page 234
1882. Nov. 19. Sabbath. The morning dawned upon Ida and myself in Stockton, but we came out home by train, because Ida must be at home to teach her school tomorrow morning, and I am not able to be left alone here. It goes against my conscience to travel on the Sabbath, especially by the cars. I have never hardly, in all my life, done so, and have always used my influence against it, as far as possible, but we seemed to be obliged to do it today. However, I felt mean all the way, and ashamed to look any one squarely in the face. I reached home much fatigued, and had severe pain in my breathing organs the rest of the day. Uncle went home to Stockton tonight, so Ada and Mr. C. who are intending to return home tomorrow (making their stay shorter on account of hurrying home on my account, to get to housekeeping, so that I can go and live with them) went to Stockton with him, and so Ada has really said goodbye to her parents' home, and gone to a home of her own. This is the birthday again of Willard and Hannah. Willard is now seventeen years old, and a large boy. He weighs one-hundred fifty-eight and one-half pounds and measures five feet, seven and three-fourths inches in height. So he is the heaviest of all the children so far, but Horace was nearly two inches taller. Willard is a good and gentlemanly boy, with high aims and purposes for the future. Just now he is at San Jose, in the Normal school, studying very hard, as he is taking private and special studies, preparing for the West Point examination. He is quick to learn mathematics, but Grammar is harder for him, but he stands high in his class. Hannah is now fifteen years old, and is also large of her age, weighing one-hundred twenty seven pounds, and measuring five feet and five inches. So only Howard, Horace, Ida and Willie were taller than she is and she is heavier than all before her except Willie. Her short stay in the mountains did her health much good, as she is stronger and better than ever before. In her studies she is quite forward, being in the first
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1882. classes in school, although she has to combat with weakness of eyesight. She is quite proficient in music, sometimes playing the organ for church and Sunday school, when Mary is not there, singing well also, and all without taking music lessons. Also she is quite efficient as general housekeeper, though she has not had the opportunity to learn to cook. I shall depend on her more now that all the other girls are away, and she is one in whom I can confide.
Nov. 20. Monday. I have been so poorly as to be in bed all day. Have received a birthday letter from Willie. He is now reciting special lessons to an old German teacher, by the name of Hottinger - eighty years old - but a thorough scholar.
Nov. 21. Tuesday. Have received letters from Mary and Bro. Josiah.
Nov. 22. Wednesday. A young babe of Mr. & Mrs. Medley's was buried today. Have received a letter from Ada. She writes that they found the house they had rented (253 Louisa St. Oakland) all cleaned and well stocked with provisions for them before their arrival. She now wishes me to come down without delay, but I have grown so much weaker I do not feel able to undertake the journey now, and so think I must wait and get a little more strength. I do not feel able to be dressed.
Nov. 23. Thursday. I sat up in bed this morning and wrote a little to Willie. Received a letter from Mr. Cooke. I have had much company today. Ellen Foster (I cannot recall her married name) called. She has left her husband in Tennessee, and come here with her little boy, to live with her mother. Mrs. Fletcher also called and afterwards Mrs. Bruml and Mrs. Ben Steacy.
Nov. 24. Friday. Sat up in bed and wrote to Ada. As I am not able to wait upon myself, and there is no one but Hannah to do the work up stairs and down (Mrs. Guilleman having left because she was not well) so that she cannot be much with me, and as it seems necessary that some one should keep up my fire and do other necessary things, Ida has
Date Original
January 1880
Dates Covered
1880-1884
Circa Date
circa 1880-1884
Source
Original dimensions: 22 x 34 cm.
Resource Identifier
Locke_Diary_1880-1884_Image_122.tif
Publisher
Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library
Rights Management
To view additional information on copyright and related rights of this item, such as to purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission to publish them, click here to view the Holt-Atherton Special Collections policies.
Keywords
Delia Locke, diaries, women, diarist, California, Locke-Hammond Family Papers, Lockeford, CA, Dean Jewett Locke, rural life, rural California, 19th Century, church, temperance organizations, Mokelumne River Ladies' Sewing Circle, temperature recordings, journal
