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MARY BELLE HICKS [?] : 1872 ORIGINAL ONTARIO COUNTY MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A YOUNG ERUDITE UPSTATE NEW YORK WOMAN

48mo - over 3" - 4" tall. On offer is a late-19th century diary that details family life. It measures 4 inches by 2 1/2 inches and is 100% complete. The writing is legible, if a little hard to read. Written in 1872 by a young woman still living at home, it offers rich detail about her everyday life. Although the writer is not identified we can infer that she is a young female from records of her purchases (lace, corset, garters, etc) and that she is likely in her teens as she is attending school and also busy with housework. [We also believe she married George A. Wheeler in 1877 as this diary accompanied Mr. Wheeler whose diary 0008083 we list separately.] The diary is full of domestic details: "At home cold and stormy, snowed nearly all day. I doze off work in the morning worked in my net and read a little in the forenoon helped get dinner washed the dishes worked on my [ ] knitting read some in the evening knit and finished Bayard Taylors travels in the land of the Saracen. Father went to the hill in the forenoon Father drew logs in the afternoon" [Mar 15]. "Very warm and pleasant I broke out in the scarlet rash and remained at home Minnie called in the evening and did not do much all day. Not feeling very well I wrote a letter to Minnie and practiced my music lessons posted some pieces in my scrapbook and have 161 [ ]. Mrs. Cochrane called in the afternoon" [May 6]. "did housework all the forenoon in the afternoon went and did housework and went down in the woods very pleasant and got a few chestnuts and some very pretty leaves they were red and yellow in the evening I read and played" [Oct 11]. On the back cover, she notes the titles of books that she had read during the year, including Little Women. This diary makes for an interesting look at 19th century life pioneer life and, from a women's studies perspective, it is a fascinating glimpse into this young woman's life.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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