June 1831

Wednesday June 1, 1831 First day of summer. Very warm and sultry. Someone attempted to burn Mr. Chesley's barn of Epsom the other night, but did not succeed.

Thursday June 2, 1831 Very warm and uncomfortable day for Election. Many folks passed by on their way to Concord today. Shall not go, if I went should'nt take much comfort.

Friday June 3, 1831 A most tremendous shower passed over last evening accompanied with continual Monday if not before. Thunder and lightning. Going to Pittsfield

Saturday June 4, 1831 Warm uncomfortable day.

Pittsfield. Sunday June 5, 1831 Went to meeting this afternoon at the "Old South" in Chichester and after meeting got a ride to Pittsfield. Very warm.

Monday June 6, 1831 Went over to Doct. Blake's this morning to see Mr. Niles and found him a fine young man, a graduate of Dartmouth College. At nine, attended prayers in the Academy with thirty-five scholars. Shall study Sallust and G[reek] Reader at present. Pittsfield has gained very much within a few years. The factory has added much to its business and activity.

Tuesday June 7, 1831 Extremely hot today. Very barren of anything interesting to write. 'Twould be well to give up my diary on that score. Like the school pretty well. Tis nothing more than common, I think. Mr. Niles having graduated last year cannot be expected to be a very accomplished teacher.

Wednesday, June 8, 1831 I was called to go home today by Josiah Lake to attend another court. Didn't like it very well. Very warm. It is ridiculous to see the disturbance which that quarrel has created. This is the second court that has arisen from it and another is on foot. Sweet prosecuted Williams, John and Josiah Lake for assault and battery. Williams and Josiah were acquit[t]ed but John was fined one dollar and costs of court.

Thursday June 9, 1831 Very warm day. Didn't get a ride over to Pittsfield till the afternoon. Rode over with a bread ped[d]ler. Farmers are very busy now hilling corn.

Friday June 10, 1831 Remarkable warm day. Rescited in Greek this afternoon.

Saturday June 11, 1831 Nothing of great consequence.

Sunday June 12, 1831 Warm day. Went to the Baptist Meeting House situated on the road leading to Northwood and about a half mile from the factory. It is a plain, one-story wooden building finished in a neat and cheap manner. I like Mr. Niles very well. He supplies the place of Mr. Clark. Attendance was not so general as I should have supposed, considering this is the only meeting in the village. I was deprived of the 3d meeting by a shower.

Monday June 13, 1831 I study but very little, resciting two pages of Greek and a page of Latin a day. Went fishing last Saturday night and caught but few fish.

Tuesday June 14, 1831 Moderate, not so excessively warm as it was some days ago. We continue to have abundance of rain now, almost every day brings a shower. The prospects of the farmer were never brighter than now. It is conjectured that hay will not "bring" more than four dollars a ton.

Chichester Wednesday June 15, 1831 Last night I was taken again with my old disorder together with a very disagreeable feeling or dull kind of pain in my left side. I was forced to get up and walk the floor and 'twas late before I got to sleep. Today I have the same grumbling in my side which at times proceeds to my shoulder blade and makes it ache. I know that something is out of order and has been for some time. Rode home this morning with Mr. Sangmaid and think I shall not go over any more at present.

Thursday June 16, 1831 Rainy all day. Esqr. Whittle was here last night, and he wanted me to go to Pittsfield today and see Mrs. Cram on some business which he is transacting for her. Went over today.

Friday June 17, 1831 Fair weather today. Cram and his wife came over today to settle some accounts with Mr. Drake but did not succeed. My side and shoulder continue to trouble me. Mother thinks 'tis the "liver complaint."

Saturday June 18, 1831 Father, Cram and I went to Loudon today to attend a court there but found it was continued. So our journey was made for nothing. These little law suits on hateful things, blisters, moths, they draw and knaw" [gnaw] out the life of those who use them. Esqr. Whittle has regained his health, I believe.

Sunday June 19, 1831 No meeting within reach today. Religion is very scarce now about here. Years have passed away since this was visited by a shower of divine Grace. The Lords vineyard is so neglected that it [is] full of tares and almost become extinct. Epsom has become as bad or worse than this town, a place for incendiaries, and filled with broils. So long as vital religion, a regard for "holy things," is so little maintained, reformation is hopeless, and our civilization and an enlightened State will be fifty years behind our more fortunate neighbours.

Monday June 20, 1831 My shoulder is much better [than] it was, but still my hopes and courage are low. I take very little comfort except in the hope that I shall soon get better so as to study again, or in the hope of a glorious immortality. Supporting thought, what would I take for it? Support through life and in death? Nothing. Worlds would be no inducement to give away my support for a moment.

Tuesday June 21, 1831 The Legislature of our State is now in session. It commenced on the first of June and has been ever since doing nothing. It ought to rejoice the people of the state that they have done nothing worse than they done, considering their want of ju[dge]ment. No former Legislature was ever so inefficient in its ruling party.

Wednesday June 22, 1831 O 'tis a most dragging uneasy life to have nothing to do or to occupy a vacant mind. I try this, then that, only to wear away dull time which "hangs heavily upon my hands." I shall not go to Pittsfield to school any more at present; my health is too poor.

Thursday June 25, 1831 "Ditto" "I might-write all along if I pleased. I never was so dissatisfied with any place in my life as with Chichester, the place of my nativity. Everyone appears to be my enemy. When here I am a misanthrope. O hump! I wish I was five hundred miles from old Chichester.

Friday June 24, 1831 Apples are scarce this year. Very wet yet.

Saturday June 25, 1831 I have been fishing a number of times but find the river almost destitute of fish owing probably to the dams.

Sunday June 26, 1831 All things around us now look thriving and call for our gratitude and thanksgiving to God for his bountiful Providence. Notwithstanding all our blessings and privileges, few are the hearts which spontaneously rise to the Giver of all good and perfect gifts.

Monday June 27, 1831 Colombia, Colombia, the home of the brave The freemans abode, the patriots grave. Thy valour is sung, thy glory is known, Wherever the sun in his splendor has shone.

Tuesday June 28, 1831 Mary Ann being unwell came home from Hopkinton about a week before I came from Pittsfield. It's doubtful whether she goes back. My side does not trouble me so much as at first, but still it does not seem right yet. I hope for the best.

Wednesday June 29, 1831 If we do not have less rain, "hay weather" will be scarce this year. Fisk and Fellows have bought a waggon of Hopkinson who was lately up and a horse of Abraham Stangran for fifty dollars. H's health is tmproving fast now. Father thinks of buying a horse soon if he can get one cheap.

Thursday June 30, 1831 The last of another month, a fleeting month, composing with others the whole life of man.