THE YEAR 1880 FOR SUSIE ERRINGTON MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN INFORMATION TAKEN FROM A DIARY GIVEN TO SUSIE ERRINGTON, WITH THE INSCRIPTION “SUSIE ERRINGTON, A CHRISTMAS GIFT, 1879, MUSKEGON” IN THE FRONTISPIECE. JUNE 1880 CONTIBUTED FOR USE IN THE USGENWEB ARCHIVES BY MYRA HERRON ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************ Associated photos with this diary can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/muskegon/6101photo.htm Saturday, May 1, 1880 Frank’s birthday. Went to Muskegon on the train, got there before they had breakfast. Poor cousin Addie has so much to worry about and Mrs. Harry is so horrid. I just detest her. Mattie is through examin(ations). Sunday, May 2, 1880 Cousin chancy came last night, the funeral is to be today at two o’clock. The baby looks so sweet and nice. Just as if it were asleep. It is so hard sometimes to say “Thy Will Be Done”. Monday, May 3, 1880 Went to Mr. Hendrick’s this morning for the key. School was not very nice today. I whipped Louie, kept Edna after school. I am only going to teach 3 weeks after this. Tuesday, May 4, 1880 School on the bluffs this afternoon, went to Mrs. B’s and got a slip of her Oxalis to take to school. I wish I knew how Cousin Addie & Mattie are. Only three days more this week. Wednesday, May 5, 1880 I hardly know what to do with my school. Edna is so trying I must ask my Father to help me. I had a very pleasant time at Mr. Beals’ tonight. Burtice saw me home. I like him. Thursday, May 6, 1880 My shool was just lovely this morning. Had half holiday this P.M. Went to Little Black L. Had a nice time but was very tired. May came to visit my school. Friday, May 7, 1880 School was pretty good, went to the month after school for my order. Had a nice time at the party, the wind blew dreadfully. Saturday, May 8, 1880 Sunday. I have enjoyed this day so much went to church & S. S. I have been making an inventory of my life during the last few weeks, I am not advancing as much as I ought. Sunday, May 9, 1880 I made a mistake and wrote in the wrong place for Sunday. My S. S. lesson today has shown me how empty my life is and how wrong it is for to call myself a Christian. I must ask my Father’s help. Monday, May 10, 1880 Rainy. I was almost discouraged last night. I am afraid it is more my fault than theirs usually. I wrote a letter for Miss Thiboult. Tuesday, May 11, 1880 Cold but pleasant. School was nice though small. The harder I work the better the school. I mustn’t forget to send Mattie that pattern. I am feeling happy for God is with me. Wednesday, May 12, 1880 Beautiful day, school on the bluffs. Went to Mr. Hendrick’s in the evening, enjoyed it much. Burtis’s foot is getting on nicely. Thursday, May 13, 1880 Another nice day. Someone entered the schoolhouse last night, nothing taken. Two nice letters from home, all well. What can I do for John and Owen Robinson. Friday, May 14, 1880 Nice day, school bad, went to the head after school took the train for Muskegon, and at half after 7 was at Cousin Addie’s. She is feeling better but her girl is sick. Mattie is all tired. May is going tomorrow. Saturday, May 15, 1880 Bright day. Clarence is better. Cousin A prepared the breakfast. After breakfast May and I washed dishes. I made pies, then we went to have my dress fitted. I fainted. We had a jolly time at the lake, went on Lake Mich. Climbed the bluff and got some Sand. Wasn’t sea sick a bit neither was May. Sunday, May 16, 1880 Another nice day. I got the breakfast. Cousin A, M & I did the dishes. May, M & I went to church, were late. Had a good sermon, but the church was so close it made me faint. The boys broughts back with Mr. Collier’s horse & wagon. Monday, May 17, 1880 Pleasant. School went quite nicely. Mrs. Kraar wants me to stay nights with her this week because her husband is gone. I think I shall go but don’t want to. Went to Mr. B’s after school, had a pleasant call. Tuesday, May 18, 1880 Nothing written. Wednesday, May 19, 1880 Pleasant. School was just horrid for the forenoon. School on the bluffs in the afternoon and it was quite nice. Went to Mr. B’s after it and applied for the winter schooled. Called on May. Pleasant call. Thursday, May 20, 1880 Rainy. We have had a nice rain. I have learned today that my school had been a failure. I commenced wrong and have kept wrong. Only six days in which to make amends. I am going to Mrs. K’s. I don’t want to go but I think it is duty. I wonder if that is denying myself and bearing my cross. Friday, May 21, 1880 Rainy all day, was going fishing but could not on account of the rain. Went down to Mr. Hendrick’s and staid a while. Had a nice time upstairs with May. Burtis came home with me. Saturday, May 22, 1880 Went to town with Mr & Mrs C, pleasant ride. May couldn’t go. I bought some ribbon for her. Had a may party in the wood. Went downtown with M. Mattie is past tired out. I’m afraid she will be sick. Sunday, May 23, 1880 Went to church & S. S. I don’t think I shall ever feel at home there, though it did me could today. I feel almost discouraged of ever living a christian life or of being one of Christ’s disciples. I wish I know how to go to Monday, May 24, 1880 I have had no school today on account of the show. This morning I helped Cousin A. then went to see the parade. After the parade I went to see Allie (Abbie?) Fraser, poor little girl. I am afraid she will never be any better. Tuesday, May 25, 1880 Warm. I came to Black Lake on the train this morn and then walked to Lake Harbor. School was very good. After school I went fishing and caught three fish. May and Burtis went with me and we had a jolly time. Wednesday, May 26, 1880 Wednesday and only the second day of school. I am afraid I shall never be a successful teacher. I haven’t the nack of teaching. I have been for a ramble in the woods with May tonight and I called on Mrs. Hile. Thursday, May 27, 1880 Only two more days of school this term, I am glad and yet how sorry I am. I shall miss my scholars and May so much. I have been fishing but one fish. Had a nice boat ride in a leaky boat. Friday, May 28, 1880 School was very nice this morning but this afternoon my boys called other names and Charlie and Leslie with the rest. I went to Lake with May and had a delightful ride on it in a row boat, it rocked so nice. Saturday, May 29, 1880 I staid with May last night, had a nice time. Wrote letter for Mrs. Kraar. School is out and I do feel as if I might cry. May came to school and is going to stay all night with me. Burtis has spent the evening, he and we have had a gay time. Sunday, May 30, 1880 I wrote Georgia this morning, read my S. S. lesson and I felt homesick. After dinner, prepared for S. S. Rode with the Hendricks. Enjoyed the services much. Said Good Bye with a lump in my throat. Enjoyed the walk home immensely. Monday, May 31, 1880 I began to look for Mr. B at seven, to come and take me to town and it rained so that he didn’t come till after noon. I arrived in time to see the procession but did not feel able to go to the cemetery.