1862 October 18 Fauquier County, Va.

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Was about well this morning. took a run
with Jack & the children in the yard
which did me good--Have been sitting down
entirely too much lately.  Must walk more-
It seems impossible to read, walk, &
get my sewing done--I just enjoy one
then the other can never combine the
three & regulate each days work so many
unexpected things turn up.  I never so fully
realized how little we know "what a day
may bring forth", The news is that the
Yankees have fallen back from C-Town &
our troops are advancing--about 20000
cavalry passed by our gate---The forage
masters men here again to day--Pa sold
a barrel of whiskey for 10$ a gallon:=
Beale went to Dr. B's on horseback for
Emma but she did not come wrote a
note for Pa to send the carriage-
some girlish pride at the bottom of it. The
day will come when she will see of
how little importance our looks are
in other peoples eyes-
My mending day--After reading
my Bible & some religious books--spent
the day mending-
Margaret told me that Pa did not hire her--I
told Pa of it & as he know that the understanding
was that he did--is much troubled & says he sees
plainly we will have no pleasure in white servants as long as we live  Mrs. Wilson
to is displeased because Ma told her she must cook for herself as
she could not have her eating at our table

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

MSS 15406