1862 August 5 "Clifton," Fauquier County, Va.

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Tuesday, August 5, 1862

It is utterly impossible to accomplish
either sewing or reading while I am nurse.  I
get up early in the morning, dress all of the
children before breakfast & have every
intention to do something but when night
comes I feel that the day has been
throwd away.  I can not bear this.  I must
get a nurse if possible.  I have a
great deal of washing to do now that
I am not housekeeping & I must
do it -- for I know that when I begin
again I will have to work, more
than I have ever done before.  Can
you imagine how we are to get along
without servants,-- as to counting on the
lower class, in this part of the country
taking the place of our servants--It is
very plain to see they will not do it--The
democratic principle of equality has been
too often preached to them to teach
them better in a little while--if Va
will really be a free state--I think it will
be years before we can have any
comfort in white servants--It gives me
the blues to think of it--the idea
of coming into daily contact with
"poor white folks" as our darkies said--
I for one prefer the black.

[diary partially transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]


MSS 15406