Sunday, December 16, 2012

1862 December 16 Fauquier County, Va.

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Tuesday, December 16, 1862
Arose later than usual.  Made my own
fire-Did not feel very well have had a
headache for several days. sat in the sitting
room sewing till about 11 oclock when Jacque
goes to sleep & I have sometimes an hour &
sometimes none to read: I usually read
my bible & afterwards some religious book...
then go to my sewing & am very busy till dinner
time which is about 4 o'clock. Sometimes
walk but oftener go to my room & stay with
the children till Margaret brings the wood
& water: & then light my lamp & hear her
lessons.  She knows nothing about writing or
arithmetic & very little about reading so I give
her a lesson in each & hear her recite them
at this hour every evening.  She is anxious to
learn but not willing to bestow much time
or thought on her lessons.  I hope though she
will learn in time to appreciate her
opportunity-She is sixteen now.
I usually get all of my little ones to sleep
by seven & after that read or write till
bed time-run down stairs sometimes
when I feel lonesome.
  In this way day after day is spent-I only
record it here to refer to one of these days
& note the changes time brings

[transcribed by her granddaughter Anne Madison Willis Ambler in 1972]

MSS 15406

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