Extracts from the Journal of a girl of ten years of age. Wednesday, Jan. 13th, 1836. Before School, I read and then took my sister to school. In School, A. M. I came to school and wrote a copy on the tablet, and then wrote my journal which I like very much, and I think I shall like it better and better the more I write it. To-day is the day for conversation on the life of Christ but Miss Peabody was not here so Mr. Alcott began to read and after he had read a little, I knew what he was reading it was the Dragon of Rhode's it was very interesting and I think that it teaches us to master our passions as the Knight did that killed the Dragon. Mr. Alcott then said that this story taught us something but he would read us one that he did not think would teach us any thing he then took the Fairy Tales and read a story from that we had a short conversation, and then had recess. I read from Fairy Tales. Recess. After Recess. We wrote letters and I wrote one to my cousin Maria it was not writen very well, because I had a bad pen and was not quite so attentive to it as usual. it was not a very long one either. After School. I read from Robinson Crusoe which is very interesting as well as instructive. Thursday, Jan. 14th, 1836. Before School. I took a walk with Mr. Emerson and his daughter we went round the common and it was before breakfast, After breakfast I sewed till school time, and then came to school. In School, A. M. after writeing my journal I prepared to analylize from Pilgrim's Progress this is the sentance that we analysed it is on the 74th page. So he commanded his man to light a candle, and bid Christian follow him so he had him into a private room, and bid his man open a door, and Christian saw the picture of a very grave person hung up against the wall. We analysed it in the following manner. I like this exercise very much and it teaches a great deal. After analysing this I wrote my journal of to-day. We had no recess today we were so much engaged in analysing that I beleive we entirely forgot the recess I am sure I did. I studied the verb doceo but I only got the active voice and I shall get the Passive voice at home. Friday, Jan. 15th. Before School. I took a walk with Caroline Hemming our conversation was on flowers she had studied botany so she told me a good deal about them and made our walk very pleasant. In School, A. M. I wrote my journal as usual and then we had a lesson in writing. I then finished my journal, but I will now write the coppy that I wrote on the black tablet. Fortune is inconstant I had a bad cold to-day so I did not read but I read my journal and drew a map while the class were reading I then paraphrased the last verse of the peice that they had been reading the name of it was Humility, the last verse was as follows. But triumph, if thy soul feels firm In faith, and leans on God; If woe bids flourish love's warm germ, Then triumph, man; for this alone Is cause for an exulting tone. I think this is a beautiful peice and I wish I had time to write the whole of it. We studied a Geography lesson after recess but did not have time to say it Saturday, Jan. 16th. This morning before breakfast I took a walk after breakfast I read. When I got to school I wrote my journal up to this time because it is going to be examined after recess. the conversation was very interesting to-day it was about baptists mostly but I have not time to finish. I entended to write the conversation to day. but I have not time. Monday, Jan. 18th. Before school I read in Robinson Cruso, I heard some one say a few days ago that they did not like it but would not tell me why, and I could not think of the reason because I like it very much myself. In school I wrote my journal and then my spelling lesson in my book. We had a spelling lesson to-day as usual on monday but I cannot write it in recess I read from Fairy Tales. I understood the arithmetic lesson better than usual though I could not prove the sums (very well) or rather could not put them into words I like the spelling lesson better and better every day, after school I read till dinner time, after dinner I got ready and came to school, we first had a grammar lesson and then wrote our excersizes which I like to write very, much. In the evening I read with my sister. Tuesday, January 19. Before breakfast I went to walk it was not very cold so we had a very pleasant walk. I went to school with my sister and then came myself. I wrote on the tablet that is before my desk and then wrote my journal. After writing my journal I took up my book to write my spelling lesson (that I did not have time to finish on Monday.) but I did not have time to finish it before the clock gave the alarm for us to turn round to hear Mr. Alcott read he read from Krummacher the name of it was The Valley of the Bramins. it began thus. In one of the fairest valleys of India lived the pious worshippers of the holy Brama they call their God Brama but we call him God it is the same I suppose. I have not time to tell the story so I will only tell what it represents I think that the valley represents Conscience because when the young prince came into it he did not find happiness there but misery because it showed him more fully his own wickedness so conscience when you expect happiness it only showes you how wicked you are, but I suppose there are some who when they go to their Conscienses almost always find happiness and I hope there are a great many but I must stop or I shall go on to far. Today is one of the pleasantest days that I have passed at this school. and my journal is writen rather better than usual. After recess I gave my drawing of a girl to Mr. Graeter and he altered it and made it a great better and made a tree over her head it looked very pretty. my drawing to-day was the bust of Shakespear, but I did not succeed very well. The next Tuesday we shall bring a flowerpot (with the plant in it) for Mr. Graeter. Mother has a great many so I can copy from one of hers. This afternoon I wrote Latin exercises in a book that I have got for the perpose of writing Latin. Wednesday, Jan. 20. This morning we have a conversation so after writing my my journals we turned round to converse the section that we talked about was this. (The baptism of Jesus is inserted.) We had a very interesting conversation but we were interrupted in the midst of it because Mrs. Alcott came and said that that the sleigh was ready for we were to have a sleigh ride but there was not room for all so I wanted to give up my place to a little boy that wanted to go very much. Thursday, Jan. 21. I went to walk after breakfast but it was very cold so I could not stay long but came in and read till schooltime and then came to school. Wrote my journal as usual. We analysed the following sentance from Pilgrims Progress. I saw, moreover, in my dream, that the Interpreter took him him (Christian) by the hand, and led him into a little room where sat two little children, each one in his chair. The name of the eldest was Passion, and the name of the other was Patience. Passion seems to be much discontented, but Patience was very quiet. besides analysing this sentance we had a conversation on Patience. Mr. Alcott spoke of the Patient schollars, and the Impatient ones. After recess we wrote letters. I wrote to a friend. In the afternoon I wrote Latin Excersises but did not succeed very well. Friday, Jan. 22. After breakfast I read from a book that I borrowed I went to school with my sister this morning and then came myself. to-day is the day for reading but we had a geography lesson and we did not have time to-day. The geography lesson was on the New-England states. it was very interesting 1 think it was the most interesting one we have had and I think that I could draw the map with out the Atlas. I have not got a very good pen so I cannot write very well at least not so well as my last journal. I read from fairy tales in recess. After recess I wrote my journal of to-day I have not much to say in my journal to day. but I will just say what I did in the afternoon. I wrote a page of Latin exersises in my book and then got a lesson in my Grammar it was the verb Mereo like Doceo. It was rather hard but I got it. Saturday, Jan. 23d. I wrote my journal as usual in school and then drew part of the map of New-York. The conversation to-day was on the temptation |