1862 October 21 Fauquier County, Va.

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

I have written this journal for your eyes, ever
since I commenced it, but I find that
my Christian life is not benefited thereby--
& I am going to change from this hour
I know not why it is, but in writing I
feel the same dislike to write on, as I am
to converse on, with you, that one great subject
which I hope we re both truly interested
in--Before you became a member of the church
I though that to see you openly profess Christ
before men would give me the greatest pleasure
on earth & so it did, but then it ended & neither
of us have been striving as we should have done
to help one another on; We have not opened our
hearts to each other I have felt that I  could do
it & think I have tried to do it but you
did not respond, & so we plodded along
you striving your way & I mine.  But I mean
to wake up, to arm myself, by Gods help, & never
rest till I feel assured that Christ is with
me--"Oh God, I pray & beseech thee, to
make this book a faithful witness of
my life.  Let me simply tell the truth
of my successes & failures in my course=
   I shall only state that I will hereafter-
write for my own good alone--hopeing that it may
be some restraint on my evil habits to know that
every evening I shall read them good, or bad,=
Oh God keep my [love?] pure so that at the

[continues on right hand margin of the page]


last day my name would be found in thy Judgment Book=For
the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ

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

MSS 15406