October 6,1620

Dear Diary,

        Today, on the Mayflower, a little boy claimed that he saw land.Everyone rushed to see if it was true. The sea looked as deep and dark as ever. I wished that it was true. There were no clouds,so he could not mistake clouds for land. One of the sailors shouted,"You are a liar! Get out now!" Everyone was shouting things at the child.He did not show his anger,but he left stomping his feet. He went to the kitchen and no one tried to follow him. At night he did not come back to his pallet to sleep. I saw his mother sitting in a corner looking sad. I felt sorry for her.I did not have time to think about that because it was my sister,Rachel Karen's bed time.Next it was my bed time.I said goodnight to Momma and Daddy and fell asleep.

 Wednesday,October 28,1734

Dear Journal,

        I write this with great sorrow. Our baby brother,Nicholas, has typhus. Dr.Casey says he will not live. Mother is in her room crying, and Father is talking to the doctor. Jacob,Peter,Tom,Mary, and Elizabeth are asleep. I am quiet, trying not to wake them with the scratching of my pen. Lizzie and I are the only children who understand what is going on. She and I are a year apart, as I am eleven, and she is twelve. We are all praying that Nicholas will live, a great miracle indeed.

Dear Diary                                                      11-25-1772

    Today is Thanksgiving! I could hardly wait for this day to come.People brought  food of every kind. Pies, meats, vegetables, and fruits. In the morning I put my best dress on. Itís a red silk one with tiny white flowers and green leaves. My shirt was tight with lace. It was white with red flowers and green leaves. I also had a pearl white bonnet with little hand stitched ruffles. I combed my hair until it shone like the silk on my dress. Then I took a ribbon that matched my dress and made a French braid. I polished my black leather shoes until they shone like the sun and laced them all up. I got up and walked to my parents room. In there I walked to the corner where the washbasin stood. I splashed water on my face. Then with soap I washed my face. The icy cold water stung my face like a thousand bees. It woke me up thoroughly.
     I made my bed in a hurry and ran down the stairs. Maíam Pa and all my brothers and sisters were up. I was very late. Pa and me were supposed to go to town together but he just had time to say good morning to me. I ate my porridge, toast, and cider hastily and ran outside to help Maíam set the table for 97 people. Sarah was sewing with Frederick in her lap.Then we heard the wagon coming down the road. It was the first time seeing my cousins in 2 years. After that people flowed in. My friends and I had to keep restarting the game Blinds-Man Bluff so more people could join. We had the feast afterward. Al l those people eating and sharing was a wonderful sight. Soon half the meat was gone. Then 3 quarters. Finally it was dessert, pies, cookies, and everything you could ever imagine. After dessert we started playing and talking again. When it was getting late so people started packing up and leaving in small groups. My candle is burning low and I am very tired.

                                              Goodbye
                                                       Martha
 

                         Nov 15 ,1772
 
Dear diary,
     Itís finally spring and something unexpected already happened. In the morning the first thing I always do is put on my slippers, well, maybe the second thing.I usually check the fire and go downstairs. But today was different. The first thing I did was go outside . I just had this feeling inside me that something exciting was going on. I rushed out to the barn, one of the horses was having a baby.I tried to help (but  Iíve never done it before.)Finally the was baby born.Then I heard my mother call.  She sounded angry but worried I knew If  I went back I would get whipped so I hid.It was raining hard now. When I could not see nor hear my mother any more I quickly put the colt  in a corner of the barn and hurried off to school. I got to school late so I had to  put my nose in a hole  on the teacherís desk.That day was so boring.Finally my little sister Cecilia came over to me and said that she was just outside to go to the bathroom and Dr. Carrier came over and said for us to come home. Ms.Crippet made me say my lessons .I said them quickly because  the fire was burning  low and little Cecilia  was getting cold.
     When we got outside it was snowing and Cecilia was whining so I had to carry her.When we got home mama was sitting by the fire crying. îSarah!î she said sounding relieved.îWhere were you this morning? Why didnít you come when I called?î
     ìI .....there was a new baby  horse born.î Mama hugged me and sent me to bed without any dinner. Iím tired so Iím going to bed now before Cecilia  comes up.