A Diary of Innocence: 4 - All Nature Sings
"Father and I went for a walk to Mr Kilding's,'' wrote 13-year-old Mary Hutchinson in 1927. "They look at you for a minute as if to read your character. Then they seem to say 'We will trust you'.''
Here is another extract from Mary's diary. Although being desperately ill, she delighted in seeing beauty in everything.
Monday, Feb. 28th. Arose 8.30 a.m. Had my breakfast. Worked a long seam of Comp. Int. for father. Had my dinner. A wet morning, faired at dinner time for a short time. Mother will go to Raskelf if it is fine. Mother went to Raskelf. Alice and I met her. Nellie went for a music lesson. Had my tea. In the evening I sewed at my handkerchief. Had my supper. Went to bed. Alice and I plaited our hair in anticipation of waves. Retired 9 p.m.
Tuesday, March 1st. Arose 8.50 a.m. Had my breakfast. Dusted the chairs. Watered the plants. Had my dinner. Wrote yesterday's diary. It was a wet morning. but not very cold. The weather prophet is out for wet weather. My hair has waved quite nicely. But Alice's is quite hopeless. Had my tea. Alice, Nellie and I walked to the Chapel to the Lantern Lecture. It was very nice. Mother came home unexpectedly. Retired 9.55 p.m.
Wednesday, March 2nd. Arose 11 a.m. A very nice morning. The men were thrashing. I had my dinner. Wrote yesterday’s diary. I was up very late as I went to bed late. The weather prophetess is coming out for fine weather. Mother has made Nellie’s birthday cake. Mother and I went to Mrs. Burns. It was raining when we came back. Alice went to Mrs. Pick’s. Had an easy evening. Retired 9 p.m.
Thursday, March 3rd. Arose 10.45. A very nice day. Alice and I went for a walk. After dinner I sorted out my old letters. Then I planted the chrysanthemums that father brought me and the rambler rose. Then I had my tea. Isaac brought some lambs from Wildon Grange. After tea I helped Nellie with her music. Retired 9 p.m. Had sanatogen for supper.
Friday, March 4th. Arose 9.30 a.m. Had a good breakfast. It was a fairly nice day. A thrush and a blackbird were vying with each other in the willow tree. They gave me much pleasure. Alice and I went for a walk as far as the Mill Pool. The waterfowl were sailing on the water. The birds do sing beautifully. A little robin was singing bravely. As if it had not known hardship this winter. The robins have very sweet voices. My little plant, Wag, has died. I washed my hair at night. All Nature sings! Retired 9 p.m.
Saturday, March 5th. Arose 10 a.m. It is a fair day. The wind is singing. Alice and Mother went to Thirsk. I have made Nellie a diary book that she may make a daily record. I spent a very pleasant evening reading. Retired 9.30 p.m.
Sunday, March 6th. Arose 9 a.m. I was rather late to breakfast. It is a lovely morning. So sunny and the wind is bracing. Father and I went for a walk to Mr. Kilding’s. We stood outside and Father chatted. They have two beautiful dogs. They have rough coats. They look at you for a minute as if to read your character. Then they seem to say, “We will trust you.” Theirs is a pretty house. Afterwards I was invited in to see if Mary Miriam had grown. Mary Miriam is the baby. She is a dear little thing. She had quite long curly hair. She had grown. Then I saw a squirrel and an owl. They were stuffed though. Then I was shown the birds. They are very beautiful. In the afternoon Mother and I went to Mrs. Clayden’s. At night we all went to Chapel Mr. Spillman preached. Retired 9.30 p.m.
Monday, March 7th. Arose 8.30. It is a dull day. After a while it started to rain. Since then it has only faired at brief intervals. Today I trimmed my plants. I have nine plants. Three aspidistras, one German ivy, one geranium, three aloes, one unknown, one lily. One aspidistra is a very beautiful plant. It is Mother’s. I love all my plants and tend them very carefully. I have names for them all.
Earth’s crammed with Heaven,
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes.
Retired 9 p.m. Father said I saw beauty in everything. That is true!
