A Diary of Innocence: Ah! Me!
I will probably have to go into the Infirmary again. Ah! Me!'' Despite her declining health, 13-year-old Mary Hutchinson continued to keep a charming and uplifting diary.
Wednesday, July 13th. Arose 8.30 a.m. Over a week has passed away since I last made any record. I have been for a few walks. There is a lovely lane here. Almost like Nelson Lane. Only much longer.
Another small swelling has come. It is against my left ear. So we are visiting Dr. Mitchell. I have got a little garden in the corner against the back door. I have got a rockery in it. It is a very pretty little garden. Last night I went a walk with Dad. We had a poetic talk. On Sunday I went to Sunday School and Chapel morning and afternoon. Jim Atkinson, Mother’s cousin from Pickill, and his nephew came.
Today I went to Mrs. Cooper’s to order some gooseberries. She invited me in to see her plants. She has some most beautiful plants. She gave me one. I believe it is a blue campanula. I call it Mrs. Cooper. It is very pretty as just now it has three spikes with several beautiful pale blue bells on each spike. Dear little tinkling bells of Heaven, “Emblem of the bright and better land”, ringing us home. Retired 9.30 p.m.
Thursday, July 14th. Arose 8 a.m. Mother and I went to Ripon by bus and walked back. We went at 9.35 a.m. and arrived back at 2.15 p.m. We had a nice time at Ripon. It is 4¾ miles to Ripon from here. The walk did not make me tired. It was a fine day but not over warm. We met Jim and Gladys Atkinson in Ripon. It is a nice town. When we go again I would like to visit the Cathedral and the museum. Retired 9 p.m.
Monday, July 18th. Arose 8 a.m. It is a fine day today. On Saturday Mother and I went to see Dr. Mitchell again. I am to go to see Dr. Pavey Smith at Harrogate. I will probably have to go into the Infirmary again. Ah! Me! On Sunday I went to Sunday School twice. Mr. Cowling, a friend of Father’s from Harrogate, was the preacher. He came to our house. Today I have been reading a book of Longfellow poems. The chief poem in it is “The Courtship of Miles Standish“. It is a very good poem. I am charmed with “Evangeline“. It is beautiful. Alice is still staying at Mrs. Pick’s.
From the branches of the willow tree
Where the foliage is pale green
Comes a wondrous melody
Though nothing can be seen.
Whence doth it come from,
What is the source of this music?
Not one note is coarse.
From above like water that is glistening
Comes the song to which I am listening.
It is a blackbird that is singing.
Hark to the notes now softly ringing.
Now louder, sweeter, clearer than before
Rings that rare song that I adore.
Sweetly on my ear falls the musical rhyme.
Not one note harsh, not one out of time.
Perfect the measure, faultless the metre.
Did ever nightingale sing sweeter?
From this tree he ne’er takes his leave.
There he sings from morn to dewy eve.
Oh when far from here I’m roaming
As I’m sitting in the gloaming
When the light of day doth wane,
I shall hear that song again,
And my thoughts shall then turn backward.
I’ll be tripping o’er the greensward
Listening to that bird again
Piping out that sweet refrain
On the fragrant evening air
Midst that scene so still and fair.
