OCR Text |
Show 109 whirl of excitement. How strange and mysterious is life in its multifarious changes. "We know not today what tomorrow will bring forth." April 19th Mary and I went out to our new home to whitewash and clean the house preparatory to moving on the morrow. April 20th Moved and spent our first night at Spring Dell-our future home. April 21st Began gardening, planted lettuce, onions, radishes, turnips, peas and potatoes. In the afternoon went to town, brought out some flowers and shrubs to set about the door. Friday April 22nd I was sick and enervated from over-excitement and fatigue. Had almost exhausted my energies and strength but I tried to keep up the best I could. Joseph began plowing. Mary planted turnips and I assisted Milford in fixing our grape vine on a frame. Bard and Richard worked about the yard carrying away the brush and sticks.6 There follows a season of energetic nest making and the logging of plantings of oats, potatoes, cucumbers, corn, and melons as another year ends for Ellis. It has been a year with wide gaps in the record, the brevity of which inclines us to include the next year in this chapter and to begin it with her first entry. Wednesday, May 5th My wedding day, nine years a wife and I think my prospects were never better for joy, peace and happiness. Maggie wished us to come to the City and take dinner. We went. The horses were so lame that we were obliged to remain overnight. Mary walked home. We spent the evening at Mother Shipp's, had some fine music by Flora and Moss Cushing. We returned home early next morning. Had some reflections on the selfishness of human nature. Strange that no mortal son or daughter is exempt from it, but some possess this trait to a far greater degree than others. I often wonder if my actions appear to others as the actions of others appear to me. The old saying presents itself "Could we see ourselves as others see us." If we would ever bear in mind that selfishness is a detriment to ourselves and places the desired object at a much greater distance-still farther out of our reach-we would act with |