A Diary of Innocence: 1 - Nurse Proctor
Thirteen-year-old Mary Hutchinson, began her diary in 1927. Mary, who lived at Thorpe Fields, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, was a sickly child, but her diary was filled with sunlight, charm and a concern for others. In this first extract from the diary she writes a poem for Nurse Proctor, one of the nurses who had cared for her during her stay in hospital.
From November 29th, 1926, to January 29, 1927, I was in hospital. I came home on Saturday, January 29th, 1927. The weather was rather mild the first few days of the year, but later we had some snow and it was bitterly cold.
The details of January I cannot remember. The nurses on the ward were Sister Berry, Nurse Gildon, Nurse Bland, Nurse Hall and Nurse Proctor. We could not have visitors many of the weeks.
Nurse Proctor lent me the poetical works of Ella Wheeler Wilcox. I learnt many of them. I wrote a poem to Nurse Proctor.
To Nurse Proctor.
You asked me to sketch your face,
And you wondered why I failed.
Did you know that all its grace
And beauty would be veiled?
If you’d asked the greatest master
Among all the painting men,
It would still have been a disaster,
So I’ll paint your portrait by pen.
‘Tis not the outward appearance
That doth all the beauty hold,
And all the painters in the world
Couldn’t paint your heart of gold.
Your beautiful large grey eyes
To me are like stars at night.
Out of them gleams the Star of Hope,
And one glance makes my heart light.
‘Tis worth a thousand disappointments
To be cheered by your smile so bright.
You are so very beautiful.
Once I didn’t know the clue,
But now I know the reason.
‘Tis your inner self shines through.
Sunday, Jan.30th, 1927. Arose at 10 a.m. A fine fair day but very, very cold. I went for a walk with Alice. Retired 9 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 31st. Arose at 8 a.m. Showery and cold. We had some very heavy showers. I got a new coat and some dress and pinafore material. Dr. Mitchell came. We had a fire in the room. Retired 9.45 p.m.
