Open Writing

Tuesday, April 12th. Arose 8 a.m. It is a nice morning. In the afternoon Mr. Warner called. He had been to Burns’s. Mr. Burns is very ill. Harold came home today. He had been with nine other brothers holding a ten-days mission at Leeds. He rode home on his bicycle all the way from Leeds. When we heard him I flew outside to him. Oh there was a going on. There never was such a homecoming. There was so much to ask and so much to hear. All about that wonderful place Cliff College. Even now we are told, we can never realise what it is like. At night Nellie and I went for a walk. We went right to Topcliffe. It was 8.40 p.m. when we got back. Nellie has never walked so far before. She does not go for walks like me. Tonight I resolved for Jesus. My prayer is ‘Hold Thou my hand, and closer, closer draw me.’ Retired 9.00 p.m.

If you and I -- just you and I--
Should laugh instead of worry,
If we should grow -- just you and I--
Kinder and sweeter hearted,
Perhaps in some near by and by
A good time would get started.
Then what a happy world ‘t would be
For you and me -- for you and me!

Wednesday, April 13th. Arose 7.30 a.m. It is a nice day. I have been sewing on my handkerchief case this morning. On one side it has a basket of pink flowers in cross stitch. It is lined with pink casement and padded. It has fancy hemstitched straps to fasten it, with weenie pearly buttons. It is hemstitched all round with pink. It is white lawn. The pink shows through so nicely. It does look lovely. Mother went to Thirsk. I went to meet her. The lambs were frisking in the fields. They are getting fine. It is lovely to have Harold here. I am getting a little closer to Jesus. Retired 9 p.m.

Thursday, April 14th. Arose 8 a.m. It is a lovely morning. Harold, Alice and I went to Mrs. Clayden’s. All the birds were singing and it really was a beautiful day. We took Rapp with us. In the afternoon Doris Bendelow came. She brought me an Easter egg in an eggcup with a spoon attached. Mrs. Bendelow sent me a bar of chocolate. I went with Doris to the bridge to watch the trains. At night Father, Harold, Alice and Nellie went to hear Bro. Sturdy at Dishforth. Retired 9 p.m.

‘Do all the good you can,
To all the people you can,
In all the ways you can,
As long as ever you can.’

Moody’s motto -- also mine.

Friday, April 15th. Arose 7.30 a.m. It is a lovely day. I went to Mrs. Clayden’s in the afternoon with Father. I had a pleasant time. Father helped me get some pignuts and showed me what they are. They are the roots of a plant which grows in the grass. It has a pretty fernlike leaf. They are like a potato on a small scale. They are good to eat with salt. It is Good Friday today, so it is Bank Holiday. There are some motors passing -- my word! People do not think what the day means and why it is a holiday. Jesus, make me a lifter, not a leaner. Retired 9 p.m.

Saturday, April 16th. Arose 8 a.m. It is a very nice day. I went for some violets. I got quite a lot. They have an exquisite scent. In the afternoon Mr. Bowman and Wilfred came. I obtained Mr. Bowman’s advice about my plants for he is a gardener. I showed Wilfred some birds’ nests. This earth is so beautiful that over and over again these words come to me: “Earth’s crammed with Heaven.” They do describe the world perfectly. Ah! Everything is wonderful. We are set in a perfect world to wrestle with trials and temptations and to be gentlefolk. To put in so much good that in the end Heaven will descend upon us and we shall dwell with the Lord for good. Retired 9 p.m.

God Bless You

When you’ve struggled hard and long
And the battle has gone wrong
And a world of cares oppress you,
Like cool water from a spring,
Like the balm the south winds bring
Are the simple words “God bless you.”
When you’re going far away,
Far from all you love to stray,
And the parting pangs distress you,
Like a sunbeam in the heart,
Though the choking tears may start,
Are the words, “Goodbye, God bless you.”

Sunday, April 17th. Arose 8 a.m. Now 8 a.m. is early for a Sunday and nobody was up. In spite of that my head is rather achy. I lit the fire. It was a beautiful morning. Just like a summer day. The thrushes and blackbirds seem to sing like this, “Mary! Mary! It is beautiful outside. Do come. Do come! Mary! Mary! It is bright and beautiful. Mary, Mary. Do come. Do come.” Well this morning the thrushes and blackbirds called. So I went out with Father. I saw a charming hedge sparrow’s nest. The first I have seen this year. In the field I saw an eagle. It was an old stuffed one. I saw a grey squirrel. But the dear creature was dead. I have never seen a grew squirrel before. Retired 9 p.m.

Monday, April 18th. Arose 8. a.m. It is a nice morning but not bright. The birds were singing gaily. A blackbird and a thrush are forever singing in the old willow tree. Alice went to see Dr. Mitchell. Mrs. Clayden called. She brought her two nieces, Elsie and Amy, who are staying for their Easter holidays. I went to Jackson’s wood with Amy. The wood looked very beautiful. The anemones were all over the wood like stars. Retired 9 p.m.

Old Time is a troublesome codger
As he nudges us on to decay.
He says, “You’re nobbut a lodger.
Get ready for gooin’ away.”

Tuesday, April 19th. Arose 8 a.m. It is a nice day. Mrs. Pick and Alice came at night about 7.45 p.m. Alice went to her tea and then came back with them. They stayed to supper. We played donkey. I was only ‘do‘. Father and Mrs. Pick were ‘donkey‘. We are going to leave Thorpe Fields. Father has bought a house -- a house of our very own -- at Rainton, a village two miles west of Topcliffe. Father will just work for anyone. We are going in May. It will be very nice, but we shall miss many things. For one thing we shall have no kitchen garden and not such a nice view. Retired 10 p.m.

Wednesday, April 20th. It is a nice day. The thrushes and blackbirds are ever singing in the willow tree where the new pale green foliage which has lately come on the graceful swaying branches hides them just a little. But the melody which pours out constantly is not less beautiful. Dr. Mitchell came. Retired 9 p.m.

Thursday, April 21st. Arose 8 a.m. It is a very nice day. In the afternoon I marked Harold’s handkerchiefs with his name in marking ink and Nellie’s and mine. I went for a walk after tea. I did enjoy it. The hedges were such a pretty green. The blackthorn was in blossom. The sycamores in leaf. The cuckoo flowers in leaf. Fruit trees in blossom and everything so lovely and typical of spring. Retired 9 p.m.

Opinion’s but a fool that makes us scan
The outward habit by the inward man.

Friday, April 22nd. Arose 8 a.m. It is a bright but windy day. Nellie is not very well so I have done quite a lot. I have fetched six cans of water. Done the potatoes, dried the pots twice and a host of other things. Harold has gone back to Cliff College for another term today. We shall miss him very much. It has been so nice having him. I think I am getting more industrious and doing more than I did. After all, “Rome was not built in a day.” Retired 9 p.m.

Saturday, April 23rd. Arose 8.30 a.m. It is a fair day but very, very windy. I went to Thirsk and back in record time. It was 9.55 a.m. when I set off and it was 11 a.m. when I got back. I did some shopping, and all the shop people did seem slow when I was in a hurry.. I took my walking stick to help me along. I have never taken my stick to Thirsk before. Now it acts like a charm, or shall I say a magnet. My word, I was well criticised. After I got back I pared the potatoes for dinner and then I helped to set the dinner. After dinner I washed up, cleaned the knives and scrubbed the table. Then I got the kindling for tomorrow morning. After tea I did some mending. Retired 9 p.m.

A telegram came to say that Great Aunt Lizzie had died and asking Mother to go.