Raked
at buckwheat. Got nuts. Afternoon, rainy. Rode up to Taylor’s with the girls. After supper, went after them.
Warm
& pleasant day. Went to meeting. Went up to Griffing’s to take Mary
Griffing
home. The hills were beautiful in the autumn colors. Wrote. In the evening there
was a rich golden sunset, but before the tints had scarcely begun to fade, a
sweeping wind arose. Stray black clouds swept the heavens like scouts, funereal
looking indeed, and in a few minutes the whole heavens but the southern &
western horizon were draped in flying clouds. The west still kept its skyey
blue, the southwest with its yellow depths, its purple tinge on the nearer cloud
glowed like fire. The hills looked long & wild. The cut grain & cattle
on the crown of them seemed like specters of the night. The wind sighed like an
autumn wind – a sad and dreary lullaby. The leaves rattled from the trees and
flew away to be scattered over the plain. Evening, prepared a piece for the [news]paper.
Took
up honey this morning – not much. Made fence in forenoon. [Our] cow has a
caked bag. Afternoon, threshed buckwheat for Lewis. He has a young Irish fellow
there to work who is Irishy indeed. He only gets 6 dollars a month. He is green
& that is the reason people impose upon [him]. His wages are altogether too
small. Evening, went to Owego [and] took an article [I wrote] for [the
news]paper.
Got
two loads of buckwheat down. Afternoon, threshed. Lewis helped. Nancy [Van Kirk]
and Lucy Stratton and the Truman’s called. In threshing, when one only, it
seems very slow movement. But when two take hold, it seems faster – but in a
measure like the Iambic or Trochee. When three and Reef time, it seems like the
anapestic & dactylic measure. Evening,
George Rice came & Waldo read some & went to sleep. Frank Taylor &
Carl & Ruth Goodrich here. Thomas the Irishman said it only cost him $35 to
come here [from
Ireland] and he went to Limerick, Dublin & Liverpool & staid about 2 days in [each] place. He came on a
sailor & not a steamer. His “Certainly to bi shure” is broad enough. A
fellow was with him & repeatedly was calling for Thomas. When at last he
said, “Or have you a son Thomas?” meaning that he was in the habit of
calling the name.
Picked
apples all day. Mrs. Giles & Miller here in the afternoon.
Finished
picking apples in the morning but before I got my regimentals off the
Stratton’s came. Lucy [Stratton] went down in the lot with me for the horses
& rode with me. She fell off & brought me with her. We walked part of
the way & then mounted again & rode up to the house when all the folks
came out to see us. Went up in the woods to get nuts. Anna [Fiddis] came over
[and we all] had a great time. My suspicions about Lucy I think are falsely
founded. I hope so. She explained some things satisfactorily. She is a good
girl. I think so now, but I was trying very hard in the morning not to think so.
The future is to decide. One thing [is sure], she does not think all the world
of Lyman Truman, whatever she may think of the girls. Evening, went over [to
Owego] with Aunt Lucy [Fiddis], the girls [riding] with me in the two horse
wagon. George [Stratton] came home with us [as well as] Anna [Fiddis] and Lucy
[Stratton]. We shucked the nuts and played “blind man’s bluff.” We had a
glorious time. I feel happy with myself & all the world [but] I never feel
as happy as I wish I could. Heard today that the [H.D.] Rice’s gardener
Perkins was killed on the railroad.
Cold
in the morning. Staid with [cousin] Lucy [Stratton] all the morning in the other
room. Sent her my Campbell. Like her better & better. She promised to write to me. Husked some corn.
Afternoon, they went up to Ann [Fiddis']. I husked corn. Evening, hitched up
& went to Owego with [my sister] Mary & took Lucy [Stratton] over to the
Truman’s. Went to the institute and also to the [law] office. George Stratton
said he had a letter from [his brother] Edwin to tell the girls to stay. Lucy
did not want to. Drove home in a rainstorm & found the south door open. Went
to [Jim] Mersereau’s with Higby
& Bill Ellis
[where we were] treated to the oysters.
Got
up feeling miserably. After breakfast, went to the district above to find a
school. It was [already] engaged. Went to another over the creek to
"Allen's Ot" that had been applied for by 5 or 6 [others already]. I came home having walked
nearly 10 miles, not having succeeded. Shucked corn. Afternoon, got hickory
nuts. I am disappointed very much. I have nothing to hope for. If anyone has
cause to be down-hearted, it is me. Evening, Ma scolding in her usual manner.
What I shall do I know not. To do something, I must & will.
Rather
cold today. Went to church & walked over to hear [Moses Coit] Tyler. Had a very practical sermon. It was nothing great.
Afternoon, [cousin] Jim Fiddis, Johnson & Ward came over & bothered me. Went up to the
greenhouse with them. Read some of [Bayard] Taylor’s pieces. Wrote in the evening.
October
10, 1859
Dry
potatoes. Abbott came where we were & [we drank] some whiskey. Afternoon, so
did another fellow. Evening, went to Owego. Abbott treated to the oysters. Went
up to Aunt Lucy [Fiddis']. Fellow then said something to be witty on me. I said,
"What rash attempt is that to be witty?" George Stratton thought
I did not use the fellow gentlemanly. Came home rather late. Read that relics of
Sir John Franklin had been found & that he had died in 1847.
Felt
pettish today for some reason or another. Dug potatoes. Evening went to Owego
[and] got a book of Geology & Ornithology. Came
to conclusion to go back and study law next week. Thought seriously today of
going to Kentucky
as soon as admitted [to the bar]. Wrote to Brown
in Florida [seeking a teaching situation].
Sick
in the morning. Cleaned up buckwheat & husked corn. Sold bushel of hickory
nuts.
Husked
corn. At noon went down to Wests to see if I could get the school to teach. Not
much hope. Heard Bob Turner
had been talking around town in a light way that I had been up to their district
to get a school. Went to the Institute evening. Came home sick.
Husked
corn in morning. Commenced a rain before noon and [I] did not do much. Afternoon thrashed beans & hay
seed. Attended the Institute. Wash Gladden delivered his commencement poem. It was
not anything very grand and did he speak it very well. The old maple tree in the
lot in front of the house was struck by lightning about a year ago. It is black,
split, & seared.
October
15, 1859
Cold
day. [My brother] Steve & [sister] Augusta have gone to Warren. Raining in
afternoon. Evening went to Whyte's party. Dull affair. Got home about 12 at
night. I remember when looking back what passages have kept running in my mind
& in some measure influenced my conduct. When first commenced to draw
the "north", never despise the day of small things was alays in my
mind. And later when doubting what to do, "What thy hands find to do, do
with all thy might." A stern command from an inexorable judge.
George
Stratton came over and we went to the hill near the narrows [of the Susquehanna River]. Mary went to church. It was a beautiful view.
The valley was brown & _______. Far below sheep with bells could be seen.
Evening, went to church.
October
17, 1859
Recommenced
the study of law. Studied home & attended court. Evening, very sick.
October
18, 1859
Cold
& rainy. Attended court. Felt sick.
October
19, 1859
Wrote
to G____, to N. York to answer an advertisement for a teacher & one for a
lawyer. Attended court & studied a little. Saw the German Hymes. He did a
German nor asked if he would not give credit to a son of a wealthy ________,
& then why not to Christ on the Father's account. He replied that the boys
parents were expected to ___ & he would have none of the money. But God was
always living. Evening, studied. Tiffany & family here.
Cold
& snowing today & feels very wintry. Studied some law. Wrote
a letter to Skaneately for a situation to teach in the Charlotteville Seminary [in Summit, New
York] with a recommendation from Mr. Smyth. Had my doubts today whether I would
make a good lawyer or not. The future is to tell. If I can't make a lawyer, I
shall be a learned man with the aid of Providence.
October
21, 1859
Cold
& blustery & fine snow. [Nathaniel W.] Davis had a suit in the office
& couldn't study much. [Cousins] Lucy & Anna [Fiddis] here [in the]
evening a little while. George Rice left. C. Parker said that he heard Chet Roy
died very hard [and] that he hated dreadfully to die.
October
22, 1859
Cold
today. Went up to Aunt Lucy [Fiddis'] in morning. Studied law a little. Went to
Aunty Betsy [Platts'] at noon. Went with [Willoughby] Babcock to get some
chestnuts. Evening, Lee [Goodrich] came down. Went to Owego with him. Saw Cady.
Sleepy after got home.
October
23, 1859
Sunday.
Pleasant to what it has been. Went to church. [Cousin] Jim Fiddis & Worthen
& Mrs. Tennent here in afternoon. Company here evening. Hard at work
studying, but I have difficulty. I have no regularity. I can't [study] in fact,
for I read what comes in my way. There's but little selection.
Rather
pleasant. Studied law all day. Evening
went over [to the depot at Owego] with the trunks & [my sister] Augusta & [her son] Johnny to start for Kansas
Territory.
Went up to Aunt Lucy [Fiddis'] and staid till the half past 2 a.m. [train
arrived] when she went. Walked with [my brother] Steve and [sisters] Sed and
Mary & went to bed & slept the next morning. Did not realize that she
had gone until some time, until I could seem to feel that they were gone. Lee
went over with us.
Feel
bad enough. Augusta & Johnny have gone. The fountain of the heart is again
broken up. Studied law. Afternoon called
& saw Mr. Peck whose son had been south in Virginia
to see about going there. Came to the conclusion that it would be a good plan
to go there.
Went up to Aunt Lucy [Fiddis']. Can't study much. Went to the store. [My
cousin] George Stratton got a trunk of apples & chestnuts from [his] home
[in Tompkins County]. A small package [was enclosed] for me of chestnuts [and]
containing a letter from [cousin] Lucy [Stratton] to me. It pleased me.
Rather
sharp cold day. Read law. Col. [Nathaniel W.] Davis told stories. Evening,
saw Wash Gladden. Said he thought of getting the Charlotteville [Seminary] school
[teaching position] so I will be again disappointed. So the world goes.
Went
to hear Lyman Tremain
speak. He is a very fine speaker & forcible & quite a fine appearing man
& very good cut. He was eloquent & witty – sometimes bringing down the
house. Went up to Aunt Lucy [Fiddis'] with the girls before going to the speech.
Lyman Tremainwitty – sometimes bringing down the house" -- RLG
October
27, 1859
Went
up to Aunt Lucy [Fiddis'] with butter. Evening, changed the kitchen stove. Mary
went up the river to a ball with Jack [Thorn]. George Stratton going [too].
Saw
one of my pieces in the [Owego] Gazette this morning. Am resolved to write &
see if there is anything in me. Studied law diligently. Went to Owego [in the]
evening to hear Gen. ____ Rep speak. [He is a] large fleshy man & looks some
like "Port Severance", Geneva. Very witty, little argument & a
good deal of burlesque. His speech would not convince an unprejudiced person
& if it cannot do that, what is it worth? Saw Wash Gladden. [Said he] had
not had a letter from Charlotteville. [I] rather that he would not. I hope he
will do well, and no doubt will, but I dislike the manner some people favor one
& slight another. (Smyth.) I don't think class just as he might.
Cold
& snowing. Afternoon, went with [sister] Mary, [cousins] Lucy & Anna [Fiddis]
up the mountain down the river by the railway. Went up the mountain by the way
& through the woods. We had a grand & beautiful prospect from the top
after a laborious ascent. Thinking today about going South. I am resolved to go
to the southern part of Virginia & do something.
October
30, 1859
Got
ready for church. Walked over. Went up with [cousins] Lucy & Anna as far as
the Post Office. Afternoon, wrote a letter to [cousin] Lucy Stratton.
The
weather was considerably warmer but lowering. Got
a letter out of the [post] office from [my sister] Augusta. She was writing on the way [back to Kansas Territory] & had sent it from
Chicago. Afternoon, went up to Aunt Lucy [Fiddis']. Staid a long time. Ma came. Saw Gladden. He had not
received a letter from Charlotteville [Seminary] yet. Felt worried some. We
talked about Fred Parmenter.
