DECEMBER 15TH, 1880

It has been almost 2 months since I last posted something. I am ashamed of myself. My only excuse is "summer." How busy the days have been since our son graduated from high school in June. We have been back and forth to the beach irregularly and life seems more topsy turvy than usual. When we are actually more busy with work there was more of a routine. But I think summers are supposed to be this way, don't you?

So tonight the house is quiet, all alone, except for the five doggies who keep me company. I've been doing necessary work all this Saturday and am indulging myself with a reward of blogging!

Since my last post I googled the book Helen's Babies from which Mattie Kate read an extract. I found it for sale, very inexpensive too, and ordered it. I'm reading it now and although it was written in the latter part of the 1800's I find so much commonality in the words of the author and life today. So, if you have an interest in this book, look it up on line and if you find it, yay! Or if not, let me know and I'll loan you my copy, when I get finished.

So, here is the next entry in the minutes of "The Evergreen Society": Of course it is Wednesday afternoon about 3 o'clock...

Dec. 15, 1880

I shall have to ask the members of our Society to excuse the way in which this record is written, as I very carelessly neglected to write it until this last hour. We opened as usual by reading a Psalm, and then we assembled in the music room. It was Lulie's time to play first, but she seemed to think she was not prepared, so we allowed her to read, as she promised to play next time. Nannie read "The Page" a very pretty piece of poetry describing a dear little boy. Mattie read a beautiful little piece called "A Moment." (this poem is not the one she read, but the title is the same and I thought it may be similar...)Lucie played "The Song of the Brook" very well indeed. I think she ought to be congratulated. Her mother told her when she first commenced music, that she wanted her to take it, and though it was harder than anything she had ever taken, she persevered and learned it. Sallie read "The Old Year and the New." Mattie Kate closed the entertainment with a beautiful piece called "The Tremolo", which we enjoyed ever so much. We were obliged to excuse Miss Florence from playing, because as we were very sorry to say Miss Fleet was sick, and she did not like to leave her so long. In my haste I have forgotten Lou who read a lovely piece called "Unrest."