Here we all are at the modern-day version of what could be considered a narcissistic attempt at attention a diary. However,  these past few weeks I’ve been engrossed in a real paper diary from 1904. How things change.

This beautiful old scribbling diary made by Boots The Chemist was handed over to me to look at and as you can see the front page clearly states that this diary, at just sixpence, is far superior to the one you can get for 1/-. Look at them tearing into their competitors so boldly!

The diary is quite substantial and has some wonderful adverts which you will see as we go through this post. It even has blotting paper after each page. How marvellous.

The diary is written by Miss Maggie Taylor of Lincoln in 1904 at the tender age of 17. She didn’t have a watch, a bike, an insurance policy or even a season ticket.

I started to read the diary and wonder about Maggie and her family that lived a hundred and nineteen years ago.  Here are a few of her entries at the start:

Thurs 7th Jan – Busy. We have got some little lambs.

Fri 8th Jan – Rosina Durary came to tea also afterwards Mr Codd & Tom Clarke and his sister. Codd sang comic songs and we all joined in and had quite a musical evening. They went away at 11 oc.

Oh! How jovial!

Sat 9th Jan – Very busy, Harry Hollinworth came as usual at about 8.30. Sam Ford from Newark arrived unexpectedly. Dad was mad and went upstairs. Harry and Sam were talking about South Africa and left at 12 oc.

Ooh – Dad was mad at an unexpected visitor. How dreadfully rude to just roll up and stay till midnight. Can you see why I started to get hooked on this little diary? I mean, blimey, it’s all kicking off now.

Sun 10th Jan – Dad was mad and Harry went away jolly mad.

Up rather late and sat talking in the drawing room then at night Sam and us went to church.

Jolly mad! Tempers are well and truly frayed. This is better than Netflix.

Wed 13th Jan _ Churned, pretty busy. Uncle Ben came as usual. Got in for a row about getting up late. I begin to think I am a rum sort of a girl.

Churned! There’s a job. It’s like Heidi in England! Yep, I’d say she sounds like a rum lass.

Tues 19th Jan – killed a pig this morning. Higgat of Clinghanam came and Wiltshires came at night.

Busy cutting fat up

Ewww

Saw the moon tonight and wished.

I didn’t know this was a thing. Moonwishing. Hmm. Might try it.

Very busy baking pork pies. Played Bagatelle at night.

Mon 25th Jan – Ria’s 21st birthday. She received a lot of presents. Mama gave her opal ring, Maggie combs, brush and bag etc, Sam – prayers and hymn book, Harry – a case with brush in, Will Bartholomew a gold brooch etc. Will B, Tom Clarke and his sister came to the – 13 altogether. After tea had dancing and games such as turn trench, Postman knock, musical chairs and cards. Retired at 2.30.

I think we can clearly see Will Bartholomew has got a bit of a thing for Ria.

Of course, now that I was well and truly into this little life story it had to go horribly wrong, didn’t it? And we haven’t even got through bloody January.

Tues 26th Jan – In the afternoon Bab happened an accident – fell off a load of straw on his head in to the barn floor and they carried him in and we thought it was nothing serious till he was sick and raised blood. We then sent for Dr Johnson and we thought he would have died before the Dr arrived but before the doctor went he came round a little. The Dr says it is concussion of the brain and fracture of the base of skull.

Dear Lord. I am devastated. This child, Bab, aka Alfred, should be hospitalised immediately. However, we are 44 years off the NHS at this point.

Weds 27th Jan – The Dr came and said he was a little better but in afternoon he was very ill again and water came out of his ear so we sent word to the Dr.  He is always asleep and rambles a lot.  The Doctor came and said the water was a bad sign but he was a little better.

Water came out of his ear! OH. MY.GOD. That’s brain fluid. And the doctor said he was a little better. Is he insane? At this point I want to stop reading it as I’m horrified but I’m also too invested in Bab/Alfie and need to know that he’s going to be alright. I remind myself that all these people are long gone but that’s not the point. I need to know if Bab got through OK.

Thurs 28th Jan – Bab seems to be about the same only he sleeps all the time but can answer questions and seems to know us and he is fed with arrowroot. He is most certainly not out of danger.

Arrowroot? I’m assuming for inflammation? Yeah, that should do it, Doc.

Fri 29th Jan – The doctor came and said Alfred (Bab) was ever so much better though he still runs at the ear.

Mag Duncan went away – Ben drove her to Lincoln. I might as well say that he is a little soft on her.

I continued through. Aflred stayed in bed for ages. By the end of February Alf was up and about and eating scrambled eggs. I can’t tell you what a sigh of relief that was.

Friday 4th March – Doc came to examine Alf’s eye and says there’s a clot of blood behind it and also said it was a big wonder he was alive.

Bedside manner, Doc. Just sayin’-I’m all nervous again. I consider returning the diary but closure is important.

Tuesday 8th March – Alf took a walk for the first time down the front field.

Yes, I got up and punched the air.

Dad and lads have invented something to fit to a plough. Hope it will pay.

The wholesomeness returns.

Tuesday 22nd March – Cleaned the cellar and dairy. Also the Lincoln handicap races. Mama and Ria took the trap and pony and went to Uncle Ben’s.

April 1st – Ria and I played a trick on HH and Harriet. We sent a letter to each congratulating them on their engagement written by our own left hand. Harriet was wild and we had them on a long time until we told them.

Thursday 14th April – My birthday. Mama gave a gold curb bracelet, a shilling and a stamp album. Ria and I went to the wood and was ordered out by the keeper.

Tuesday 26th April –  Drove to Lincoln fair. Dad bought a young horse.

Received patent for plough.

Ooh! Inventors!

Tuesday April 28th – Mama, Harriet, Alfred and Harry went to the train (Alfred knocked his head up the sloop door and told me)

Saturday April 30th  – Alfred turned sick and got a headache and sent for the doctor. He is very bad and is partly unconscious. I do hope he will come round.

Absolutely gutted again. No. I don’t see why I should go through this alone, readers…

Unfortunately, the next page had so much writing on it that it didn’t bode well.

Poor Alfred passed away to heaven at 20-8 on Tuesday 3rd of May.  The police came. There is to be an inquest. This took place a few days later in the far room downstairs. Twelve jurymen viewed the body and declared that it was the knock on the sloop door that reopened the wound and brought up all his accident from last January.  Verdict “Death from Misadventure”

Friday May 6th – We received the most beautiful wreaths from friends and family.  and at half past three we played my dear brother Alf in his grave. I can hardly write what we all feel and am sure I shall remember it all my life. I shall never forget how beautiful he looked as he lay in his coffin. We miss him already and we shan’t see him in this world anymore but I hope we shall all meet in heaven and then we shall surely be happy.

Well, I certainly hope that’s the case. Just a quarter into Maggie’s diary and I was totally traumatised.  What a tragedy and yet such an insight into the past. That’ll teach me to read someone else’s diary. I will read the rest alone and only let you know if something good happens!

Continuing with the theme of the old book, and leaving you on a lighter note, I visited a book fair this weekend.

I ended up purchasing a beautiful old book called Saint Aldwyn’s Well and other sketches featuring illustrations and poems in 3 parts.

 It was designed and created in 1871 when it is clear that Art Philosophers of the highest order were abundant!

Anyway, that’s all. I’ll go and cheer someone else up.