Kathleen’s Transcript

Below is a transcript of the whole diary with my annotations along the side. If I was unsure of a word, I used the * symbol. I always kept the spelling that she used. Many of the people are explained in Kathleen’s The People page.

April 7, 1927-July 16, 1927

Kathleen Willard

Saginaw High School

April 7, 1927 Thursday

It should be a very good day to begin another book, it was eventful enough.

At noon today was run the famous 1/2 minute dash. The record was made by Kathleen Willard, the race being run on the second floor of Saginaw High School, in the running course hall. the distance was from one wall to the other and Back Again, the feat being accomplished in 1/2 min.

Tonight Julie and I went to hear Dr. Dean, the parent-child counselor. Julie and I felt very silly; we had had trouble getting our bus, missing one bus, and arriving too late to get the car before finally getting the right bus, so we were in the right mood for adventure. A few days ago we had decided to collect autographs- especially those of authors, so we decided to practice by obtaining Dr. Dean’s. We searched frantically for paper; I had a book and a pen, but this time I couldn’t find any paper, so after securing seats at the north Intermediate* where the lecture was to be, I reconnoitered the surrounding country for a store where paper was kept. In less than five minutes, I was back with two notebooks, a pencil for Julie, and a pocket full of candy bars.

When the lecture was over, we went out of the auditorium, where Dr. Dean was standing in the hall shaking hands with people. When the crowd had thinned out, Dr. Dean saw me and started to shake hands and I actually asked him for an autograph. He agreed and borrowed my pen to write two autographs, one for Julie and one for me, in our notebook. Mine says,

My best to Kathleen

Arthur Dean

Only I can’t write as he dies.

Later, as we were standing outside waiting for the bus, Dr. Dean and a man and lady came out to wait for a car to come for them. Some other people were waiting but Dr. Dean talked with Julie and I. We asked him if he had a message to send the Saginaw High Students, and he said that he went his love, his faith, and his hope, and for us all to live by our dreams and to make life a big adventure, for we have more of dreams and ideals than the grown people. Then our bus and his car came and he told us goodbye, cautioned us not to get run over as we crossed the street, and we jumped in the bus and jolted off, jotting shorthand hastily in our notebooks before we had forgotten what had happened.

We were very excited all evening (just think, Dr. Dean paid more attention to us than to anyone else there). Julie stayed all night with me, and we talked until she fell asleep.

Friday April 8, 1927

Had fourth hour vacant in the study hall as usual. Busied myself with an eight-page (both sides) note to Anna and five pages to Julie. I hope that my studies will improve from the profitable time spent in the study hall. I mean, I hope that my grades will improve considerably.

Saturday April 9, 1927

            As usual, there is not much to say. I suppose that I could make up an adventure more exciting than any I’ve experienced so far, but on second thought I’ve decided to merely fade from the picture for today.

Sunday April 10, 1927

            Gaze upon a budding angel. I did dishes three times today. Don’t worry, I shan't do dishes for a few days now to make up. The fact remains, though, that I did them. I still feel rather dazed and unnatural, but that soon will be worn off and I’ll be the same as ever.

Monday April 11, 1927

            Such excitement this morning. We had scarcely begun our English work when the fire bell rang and we had a fire drill. Some of those having class on the second floor used the near fire escapes and it was worth a good deal to watch the people come sailing out. Some sailed too well and landed none too gently, and there were some skinned elbows and knees. You see, the fire escapes are like slides somewhat, only more like a round tube.

            (Drawn picture)

            That doesn’t look anything like it, but it’s supposed to be like it, so you must use your imagination and pretend that it’s a remarkably wonderful picture.

After the fire drill we had scarcely settled ourselves when the fire engines came clanging up and stopped outside the school. No, the fire wasn’t at school. It was the church house beside the church across from the school. That created a furor. It was a quite bad roof fire. We could see the flames and smell the smoke and hear the noise and altogether it was exciting. All the class lined itself at the windows, and I for one wished vainly for a thrilling rescue of some timid maiden from the blazing ship, but none was forthcoming, so we sadly took our seats and proceeded with the lesson.

This afternoon in French we had a test, nuff said.

Today I saw some flowers blooming- some white, fragile looking flowers, shaped something like tulips, but much smaller.

Clearing hour a notice went around that the fire escapes were to be opened at noon and at night for a week to allow the students to learn to use the fire escapes, so there has been more commotion. The boys use them as slides, and spend all their vacant time sliding, and the girls try with a good deal of fuss and giggling. I haven’t tried yet, but I will.

Tuesday April 12, 1927

            A test in Stenog.

            I committed many crimes.

            French and English to study and Mother calling for me to go to bed. What’s to be done? Ah well, my first duty lies at home.

            An A in French. Praise be to the fates who decreed such a thing.

Wednesday April 13, 1927

            Today I tried the fire escapes for the first time. I was a decided success; I made a big hit. The crowd of excited spectators voted unanimously in my favor as the best alightor of the entire group who tried it. All agreed that my landing had more of unconscious ease of posture, and least of studied pose. Also, the method was quite different; most of the others landed on their feet, knees, or backs, but I, to be original, gave my best imitation of a swimmer. My tactics were decidedly effective.

Miss Finlay says that I do more arguing than any girl she ever knew. How delightful it is to be appreciated. 

Clearing hour we had our pictures taken for the Aurora. I gave my best rendition of the correct expression for sea sick scarecrows and evoked much applause from the envious photographer. 

Thursday April 14, 1927

            Gaze upon an intrepid adventurer. After my marvelous success of yesterday at fire escape descending, I was again prevailed upon to suffer myself to be shot down that passageway of terror. This time, to the astonishment of everyone, including myself, I landed on my feet. It made me sick, but I was quite elated to have triumphed in such a fashion, and I bounded upstairs in two strides to tell Miss Riggs of my feat of bravery. 

            An A in Stenog test. Might be better.

            Handed our charts in for typing. My lesson work is 100 and my speed test 98, so my average is 99, and if Mr. Brennan doesn’t give me an A, I shall be greatly angered.

            Two years ago today was the day that Anna Douglas came to visit me for she was then living in Temple. She stayed all night with me and we celebrated by staying up all night. We had a feast spread on the floor, and before beginning proceedings, performed an Indian war dance around it. The room was lit with candles; we had decided to eschew electricity for once. We ate, read (we had each brought a book to read and keep to remember the occasion, also to write an account of the night in), talked, wrote notes to be read at a specified time next day, and laid plans for the future. It was great fun and we both enjoyed it immensely. 

            The next day, I was rather sleepy, for it had been two days since I had had a decent night’s rest, for I hadn’t had much the night before our meeting. All went well, however, until eighth hour and bookkeeping when Miss Kane elected to talk to us and I promptly fell asleep. It was not ordinary sleep; it was the stupor of extreme exhaustion, and though she nearly burst her lungs, all Miss Kane’s shouts could not awaken me. School was dismissed and everyone went home, but still I slept on. Finally, at five o’clock, the weariness having been relieved, I awoke by myself. Miss Kane was angry; she accused me of having feigned sleep. I wrote her a note telling her the facts of the case, so I hope that she was convinced otherwise.

            But to return to 1927. Anna and I decided to celebrate by having her stay all night with me. Directly after school, we went to a show, and then we came home, had dinner, and soon after that went upstairs. We fussed in my room until Mother made us go to bed. Then we closed the door and talked. I wanted to stay awake all night as we had done two years ago, but Anna became sleepy about two-thirty, and after trying for some time to keep her awake, I finally let her sleep.

            At about one-thirty, we put on the light and got on the bed writing notes to be read Saturday night or Sunday morning at one-thirty.

Friday April 15, 1927

            There was no school this afternoon because it was Good Friday.

            This morning I wore my spring outfit to school- my new suit, blouse, gloves, shoes, scarf, and hat.

            Tonight we dyed our Easter eggs. We all helped and it was jolly sport.

Saturday April 16, 1927

            All day I bought things for Easter. I had fun picking baskets, eggs, bunnies, and things. I like to do it. I hope that I can surprise Mother as I have planned to.

            At one-thirty I got up to read my note from Anna. I hope that she read mine at that time.

Sunday April 17, 1927

            Everything went off remarkably well. The first thing I awoke Mother by bringing up in her room a basket with two fluffy little yellow baby chicks which peeped and peered, looking as much like a picture in a book as a true pair of chickens.

            When Mother and Pauline came downstairs, I had them hunt for the baskets I had hidden for them. They (the baskets) were quite large, with a bow of ribbon on the handle, and a chocolate bunny in the center, surrounded by chocolate eggs, dyed eggs, and small candy eggs. After that Pauline and I had an egg hunt and then we had breakfast. At the table, we gave Mother a two pound box of chocolates. Her Easter lily had come, but as I had brought her some sweet peas last night, so that she didn’t expect any more flowers from me, and when the roses came she was very much surprised.

            I wanted to surprise Miss Brooks too, so I dressed like an old man in trousers, a raincoat, and a painter’s cap. An old piece of dark brown fur I pasted on my lip for a mustache, and off I started, a basket of eggs and things like the ones I had for Mother and Pauline in one hand and the covered basket containing two more little yellow chicks in the other. Mother didn’t really think that I would go, but I actually did. 

            The old lady where Miss Brooks stays came to the door. She thought that I was selling the baskets, and at first started away from the door. I made her see that I was not selling them though, and she took them. I didn’t say very much. I pretended to be a foreigner- I couldn’t even say Miss Brooks very well.

            On my way home I saw an old old lady in truly rusty black come feebly along, having quite a bit of difficulty. I immediately saw that she was headed for the church two blocks away, so, brave in my disguise, I offered to escort her to church. She agreed and I helped her to the church. Then I went home, helped Mother get dinner, and fussed around a bit. Mr. Roberts came and I had him hunt for the basket I had hidden for him. Then I dressed in my outfit so that he could see me, and Mother took my picture.

            It was the warmest April day that we have had for twenty-eight years. It was eighty-four degrees, the paper said. In the afternoon we went for a ride, and everywhere we saw signs of summer, almost.

            We went to Saint Louis in the afternoon and stopped for a while at La Fontaine’s. Lorna nor Lucille were not there, but we saw the rest. I am anxious to see Lorna, though.

            On our way home, after we had entered Saginaw, we passed Shaddeau’s new home. I had not seen it, so we stopped, not intending to stay, but didn’t leave until ten-thirty. I played with the collie, read “The Idylls of the King,” and took a walk by myself in the moonlight. Shaddeau’s live quite far out, and I could hear the frogs croaking. The air was cool and sweet and the moon was round and ruddy. There were many stars out and I walked quite far, enjoying myself to the utmost. It did me good, and I slept the better for it, I know.

Monday April 18, 1927

            Miss Brooks didn’t say anything to me this morning, but during stenography, Miss Riggs asked me if it were I who gave the baskets to Miss Brooks. I told her yes, but not to tell her. At noon, Miss Brooks, in much seriousness, asked my help in discovering the person (the young man, very foreign) who left the baskets and in much seriousness we kept up the play of my services as a detective. She told me that she was grateful and wanted to thank the person. Then she related the entire story of the receiving of them and she gave me until Wednesday to find them or she will employ another detective.

Tuesday April 19, 1927

            A speed test in Typing and tests in Stenog and French. In typing, my paper qualified for a silver pin, in Stenog I didn’t know a thing, and in French I didn’t even finish my theme.

            After school the German, Spanish, and French clubs had their pictures taken. I spoiled the French group.

Wednesday April 20, 1927

            I finished my pajamas in Sewing today, luckily. I am the first one to finish up and take hers home. Isn’t that an act altogether unprecedented in the annals of my sewing history. I must deserve a great deal of credit for such a thing. Now we are going to make dresses. I made the pajamas for Pauline, but Miss Finlay is trying to make me make a dress for myself.

Thursday April 21, 1927

A test in English. These teachers must hold a confab so that they will all be able to give tests at one time. The cards are out Tuesday, so there is an excuse for it this time. Rather hard on us though, don’t you think?

Friday April 22, 1927

Tonight was the Junior Play. I thought that it was good. Hazen Armstrong, playing the lead, did admirably. He had personality and acting ability. The play was “Seven Keys to Baldpate.” Pauline and I went together because Mother didn’t want to go.

Saturday April 23, 1927

I believe that I forgot to tell that spring is here officially now. Miss Burnham has changed from high shoes to oxfords, so we may all hang away the winter wraps. The wind today seems to say that they shall

Sunday April 24, 1927

            Such a day of sun and summer-like heat. In the afternoon we took a drive to St. Louis, where we stopped for awhile at La Fontaine’s. Lorna nor Lucille was at home, which disappointed me, but we saw all the rest. Ruth still remembers me.

            The drive was beautiful. Everything is green and bright and fresh, and I long to go someplace- anyplace.

Monday April 25, 1927

            Almost all day was spent in receiving marks from tests. I had 97 on my English test, which was an A, an A in the Shorthand test, and another A in my French theme.

            And tomorrow come the cards. I’ll wait until tomorrow to say much about that painful subject. 

Tuesday April 26, 1927

            There they are! The harbingers of grief have arrived amidst us. Doleful wailings have commenced. My marks are Typing, A; Stenog, A; Sewing, B; Bookkeeping, B; English, A; and French, A.

            A day to accord with our marking day mood. The skies are sympathetic, and a dreary day is in keeping with it all.

Wednesday April 27, 1927

            The first thing this morning, I gave a speech in public-speaking. I had counted on listening to a few before I essayed mine, but mine was the first. They said that it was all right, but I made it up as I went along, although they didn’t know it. I guess that I made it up entirely too much. I was telling about a jumping balloon, a new invention, and I gave a long spiel about some man who had made a trip in one. It made a good speech, but the fact of the matter was that I had made the man up. No one knew it, but my conscience told me that I had better tell Miss Goodman, so I did, and felt better for the telling.

Thursday April 28, 1927

            Tonight Pauline and I went to see the Saginaw Little Theater Players present, “The Merchant of Venice.” I like the Shakespearian plays. They are so dramatic and exciting. I should love to prance around with a sword, and to flaunt a cape, and flourish a hat with a huge plume, and bow, and duel, and have marvelous adventures.

Friday April 29, 1927

Marvelous for me, dearie! I actually had 100 on an English test. The only one in the class too.

            Only A on my French theme, though. Going down. All because of my own stupidity, too. I didn’t stop to think of the present indicative of dormir and calmly wrote the past definite. Ignorance can go no further. Stay me not, I must to the river to drown myself and my nonsense.

Saturday April 30, 1927

            This noon, since it was so nice and warm, Miss Naismyth and I took a ride in her little Chevrolet sedan. I should like to have a little car so that Pauline and Mother and I could go wherever we wished when we wished. I would go swimming every day, I believe.

Sunday May 1, 1927

            May day and a pretty one at that. We didn’t do anything much, as usual. In the afternoon we went away for awhile, and in the evening Shaddeaus came over.

            This is the opening of the fishing season, and all the men seem to do is to plan fishing trips and to talk over past fishing experiences. 

Monday May 2, 1927

            During French class we had excitement in the shape of a casual black bug visitor who appeared form beneath the desk in front of me. I pushed my chair back as far as prudence dictated and signaled frantically to the girls on the right and left. For awhile nothing was done, but finally some bold damsel ventured to bravely pick him up on a piece of paper and dump him unceremoniously in the wastebasket. And peace returned.

Tuesday May 3, 1927

A+ on a French test.

After school I stayed while Julia took a test in Stenog. While she was taking it, I read a long note from Anna. Although I was sorry for Julia, it made me feel rather good to sit at my ease while someone else underwent the agonies of a test.

Wednesday May 4, 1927

            “I should like to rise and go where the golden apples grow.”

            And so I should. Why are such longings awakened if not to be realized? I should like to “touch a hundred flowers and pick not one.” Underneath my window two trees are beginning to blossom. Across the street a glorious yellow bush lifts its rosetted arms and the hunger is upon me.

Thursday May 5, 1927

            I like to wear my red hat with the cherries when I am around children, for they all like it. Today on the street I spoke to a couple of littchildren (new speed writing for “little children”). One of them stepped up to me, after a whispered consultation with the other, and shyly asked if my “grapes” were real. He was adorable, and then I wished that they were real so that he might have some.

Friday May 6, 1927

            Three years ago (May 6, 1924) today, Anna and I parted, “never to see each other again until May 6, 1934.” In memory of that, today Anna and I celebrated (I don’t know if we celebrated it because we are back together, or whether it is the day). Anyway, we decided to see the Arthur Hill Senim* Play, “Polly with a Past.” It was very good.

            After the play, we grew tired of waiting for a bus, so we decided to walk home. The air was cool and fresh and the stars were many, so we enjoyed it very much. As we passed Bliss park, some little imp of satan prompted us to go into the park to take a swing. This we did, and found it jolly good sport to sway back and forth under the stars and a kindly moon.

            After our swing we walked on, feeling very silly. We came home past both Miss Rigg’s and Miss Brook’s home- that is, the places where they stay- and laid plans for serenading them some fine night. Then we went on home. It was midnight by then, and Mother was furious to think that I would walk home at that hour of the night, so we lost no time in going to bed, where we lay and talked for awhile before becoming sleepy.

Saturday May 7, 1927

            Today I was scolded by two more people for walking home last night. I didn’t stop to think that it would matter. It was great fun.

            Mother bought me another new silk blouse today. I like the pearl buttons on the front.

Sunday May 8, 1927

            This is Mother’s Day. We gave Mother a bouquet, a painted butterfly penwiper, and a gay little dude of a china man who cleverly conceals a tape measure.

            Grandmother came over in the afternoon and we went for a ride. Everything is beautiful now.

            Congratulate me. I actually made a cake today. I won’t know myself if this keeps up.

Monday May 9, 1927

I would I were a

            Little bird

A-flittin’ far away

Where warm clear days are

            Ever nigh

The sapphire-sparkling bay.

I wouldn’t thirst. I wouldn’t 

            Want.

I wouldn’t even care.

I just would pass the time

            Away.

Out in the sweet fresh air.

Yes, I guess that this glorious day has gone to my head. There is nothing else to account for it.

Tuesday May 10, 1927

            This afternoon in French we took a test to see which two of us would go to Mt. Pleasant for the exams there May 20, Friday. It was a long test; it took the entire period to write, and then she didn’t give us one part that she had intended to.

Wednesday May 11, 1927

            Julie James and I are going to Mount Pleasant. We are both tickled to think that we can go together, for it will be so much more fun.

This morning I was to have given a speech, but Miss Goodman didn’t call on me, so I was spared the ordeal- at least for the class.

Thursday May 12,1927

Tonight as Pauline and I were coming from the library, we met Miss Brooks, who was on the way to the post office to mail a letter. We went with her, and then walked home with her as far as Park and Cherry. I repeat all previous statements in regard to her with special emphasis. She is a lune*.

Friday May 13, 1927

This morning I returned the book, “The Heart of Opal,” by Opal Whitely, to Miss Brooks. Since Opal had named her animal pets long names, I bought two celluloid animals like the ones in the book, and fastened cards around their necks with pink ribbons, to show their names, which were the same as the ones in the book. The gray horse was William Shakespeare, and the cow was Elizabeth Berrett Browning. I put the boon in the center of her desk, an animal on each side, and a note thanking her in the book. The margins of the note were decorated with tiny prints of the pets with their names underneath.

I liked that book. The little girl was so lovable. Her step-mother was very unkind to her, but never one word of reproach did Opal use. I think that I should like to live in the country and have animals for pets.

Whatever am I thinking of. I almost forgot to use red ink today. This is a red letter day in more ways than one, too. Besides being a Friday, the thirteenth, it is Miss Brook’s birthday. At noon I gave her a book of Tennyson’s poems. She has a book of Tennyson, though so I ordered a volume of Mrs. Browning’s poems for her.

Anna and I intended celebrating at noon today and we did, but at first it looked as though we weren’t going to. Anna bought herself a copy of that complete volume of Shakespeare which we both want at Swintons, and a picture from Andersons. That used all her money and she said that she didn’t want to borrow any money from me for lunch. I tried to make her, but she said that she couldn’t eat if she thought that the money was borrowed. I told her that she couldn’t consider me much of a friend if she couldn’t even accept a loan from me, and I told her how that made me feel, and at last she consented to let me lend her some money, so we lunched together, and then went to school.

Anna doesn’t get her allowance until tomorrow, and she wanted to buy the book on the thirteenth, and so that was the reason that we almost were disappointed about our celebration.

Saturday May 14, 1927

            Just another day of rain and puddles and dripping umbrellas and painted slickers and hateful rubbers and drizzly dampers. It’s a good thing I like rain. Otherwise I would be hopelessly depressed.

Sunday May 15, 1927

            A dark rainy day, but, although we didn’t do anything of importance, I did quite a few things. Pauline and I were playing with our dolls, and I enameled new stockings on Mib’s legs with white enamel. They look much better, and if I can find my black enamel, I shall paint new black slippers too. Later on I washed my hair, we bathed our dolls, and then Pauline and I played school.

Monday May 16, 1927

            Julia’s Mother played quite a mean trick on Julia, I think. When we first knew about the tests at Mt. Pleasant, she told Julia that if she studied hard and was one of those to go, that she would buy her a new tennis racquet. Julia was delighted, and so, after she had studied and was one to go, her Mother said that she meant that if Julie won in the tests at Mt. Pleasant. So poor Julie has to start her work all over!

Tuesday May 17, 1927

            This morning the sun was shining, but this afternoon it rained. As I was coming home it was raining quite hard. I didn’t have a hat, but that didn’t bother me. As I came down Janes Ave., I saw a dirty little rain-soaked specimen of the poodle dog. I stopped as he trotted past me and cried out, “Why you dear little, dirty little ragamuffin!” It stopped also, turned half-way toward me, and, cocking his head on one side, gazed at me so quizzically that in spite of his unkempt appearance and the rain which was pouring down, I felt a desire to hug him.

            Tonight I intended studying my French, but when I got started, I began thinking of the barber who cut my hair this noon, and soon I was busy writing my short story for next week, using him as a character.

            I was still writing when Mother went to bed, and she told me to come to bed too. In a little while I hurriedly prepared for bed, but instead of going to bed, I resumed my writing. At five to twelve I was still writing. Mother had fallen asleep, but she woke up and demanded if I were in bed. When I confessed that I wasn't, she sent me flying in post-haste for it, but I lay across the bed and watched the dark clouds for awhile. They were beginning to break up, and a few cloud windows with billowy white curtains sailed by, and a few stars came out, only to be covered by more clouds.

            Finally I decided that I would do or die. Just a little light was coming through the window from the street light, and I sat on my bed in the dark, with the exception of that street light, which did not show me what I was writing, but which told me that I was not writing all the words on top of one another, and there I finished my story. Then I put the pen and paper away and crawled into bed and was asleep before I was fairly settled.

Wednesday May 18, 1927

We had a French test this afternoon. I don’t know what sort of a mark I got.

When I came in the bookkeeping room today, I had the scare of my life. Just as O was fixing my papers, preparatory for work (?), the girl who sits beside me placed a painted lead crocodile on my desk. I gave a scream and leaped into the air before I saw that it wasn’t real. Then I felt very silly, for everyone looked at me and laughed, and I became so red that I could feel my ears get hot.

Tonight I painted new black slippers on Mibs. Now she has both shoes and stockings that are nice and clean.

Thursday May 19, 1927

            Tomorrow is the day of doom. All day today and for a few days before this I have had a raging headache.

            This clearing hour there was a meeting in Miss Barnard’s office of all those going to Mt. Pleasant tomorrow. Mr. Lyttle came to bid us luck and to caution us to go to bed early tonight. Miss Barnard did the same, told us all to meet her in front of the school tomorrow morning early enough that the bus can leave at six, and then we went to the session rooms.

            All the teachers wished me luck as I left the building tonight. I sadly fear that I shall need it.

            I am going to try not to think a thing about French all this evening and to go to bed early. Then perhaps my headache will leave me.

Friday May 20, 1927

            As you see, I have at least returned safe, but I can’t tell as to the soundness of my mind.

            I’ll begin way back at the beginning, four-thirty this morning, which seems at least a year ago.

            I couldn’t sleep very well all night, but I had determined not to think of French. Early I awoke, but didn’t want to get up before four-thirty, for I didn’t want any extra time in which to get nervous.

            At four-thirty I got up, dressed, are some breakfast, and at five-fifteen I started off to meet Julia. We were to meet each other at the corner of Nalmib* and Genessee, and so we did. Then we proceeded slowly to school, for we didn’t want to be too early.

            A more glorious morning could not have been imagined. One of those big blue comfortable buses was ready for us, and we made a good load, with two seats to spare. There were twenty-four of us going, and it was nice.

            Most of the boys and girls had brought text books and were very busy doing last-minute studying, but none of that for me.

            Our way led through Midland, along the river, and it had never seemed more beautiful to me than this morning. I saw many pretty birds, also.

            At Midland the bus stopped and we went into the new courthouse. We saw the courtroom and many other things and then were on our way again.

            At Mount Pleasant we were unloaded at the college, where we went immediately to the gym. There, a meeting of all the contestants was being held. I had felt rather happy to be included in the contest, but when I saw the entire 1086 gathered in one room, my heart sank. Then the program cards were given out, and the first tests started directly afterwards.

            My program card gave my number as class A-289. We were to put the numbers on our papers instead of our names.

            Our test was included in the first group from eight-thirty to nine- thirty. We second year French people were ushered into a room, were given a five-page printed test, and started at a given time.

            The next hour I cannot describe. Oh the agony as I realized my ignorance! Please let’s pass it over quickly.

            As soon as the test was over, we started for downtown. From there we inquired our way to the government Indian school, which we had been told to visit. The walk was lovely. We saw blossoming trees, huge golden dandelions, and fields of growing things. Julia frightened me considerably when we passed a cow (at a safe distance), but soon we arrived at the school. When finally we found the school house, we had difficulty in finding the principal. He was a nice man, who was a former teacher of Miss McLeod’s.

            We visited the small children. They were so adorable. Many of them were dark, and some were even quite primitive looking, but a few were quite light.

            They were practicing a little exercise for commencement day, and we listened to them. There was a little shy serious girl, a sunny smiling sweet little girl, and an earnest hard-working little boy with a patch of adhesive tape on his head where he had fallen (perhaps a fitting sign of the energy he put into everything he did), and many others. One couldn’t help liking them.

            The teacher too was very nice. She explained all about the world, how very fascinating it is, and about some of her experiences. She keeps a book of all their funny names and funny sayings. I should like to see it.

            When we returned to the college we ate, picked some violets for a boutonniere in a woods behind the buildings they are creating, and then went back downtown. After awhile we came back to the college and watched some girls play tennis.

We were supposed to leave at four o’clock. The awarding of the prizes was to have been at eight o’clock, so we wanted to see the geniuses who would receive them. We did not get away at four because of some tests which had to be taken over. Julia and I have time to pick ourselves a fresh bouquet of violets before we left, which was around five o’clock.

On the way down the bus had been quiet, for many were studying, but all the way back we were in a bubbub. Everyone talked and laughed and was foolish. Miss Barnard didn’t come back with us. Two of the Mothers did, though.

We came back by way of St. Louis, and the way seemed very short. We had the driver stop at Breckenridge, and we all stocked up on candy. Then he stopped again while a girl who couldn’t write while we were going autographed a handkerchief. Harry McIntyre had bought a child’s handkerchief, so we all autographed it.

All the way home we were silly. Roman Haremshi, the boy who won the declamation contest and who is such a pianist and who won first prize in XI English today walked home from the corner of Janes and Twelfth with us. He was feeling very silly, but he had won a prize, so why shouldn’t he.

We won some prizes in English, but I don’t know yet which ones, so I’ll wait until tomorrow or until I find out to tell you.

I had a very nice time today, and I wouldn’t have missed going for anything. We did more than anyone else, I guess. We were the only ones who visited the Indian school and who picked violets. Now I am very tired, so I guess I’ll go to bed.

Saturday May 21, 1927

            Don’t faint; I have a little news for you. I won third place in the French contest yesterday. That doesn’t seem like very much, but when I think of the words they asked us that we had not had, it seems more like a miracle.

            Our school had fifteen points. That gives us fourth place for the state. The other awards we earned are English X, first place, William Taylor; English XI, first place, Roman Haremski; English XII, second place, Harry McIntyre; Typing, second place, Elizabeth Fischer; and History, third place, Rollo Carr.

            Mother read in the paper tonight the account of it all.

Sunday May 22, 1927

            Nothing much. It has been frightfully warm. I have been putting poems in my Tid-bit book and am about to re-write that short story for English. It is to be handed in tomorrow, so I must work quickly.

            This is a picture I just found of my Heebie Sheebie doll. Mine hasn’t any rompers like this, but it looks like it, except that mine is cuter.

Monday May 23, 1927

            This clearing hour all those who went to Mt. Pleasant Friday met with the Student Council. The ones who had won prizes were awarded them.

            In English I handed in my short story. I hope that Miss Burnham will be satisfied. She won’t be, though.

            First hour I was late to class. Miss Kane was asking me about our trip Friday, and we both forgot about the time. Finally after the bell had rung, we both woke up to find that it was past time for classes to start. I rushed to the English room and walked in very composedly and unhurriedly as if it were entirely right that I should come late. Evidently Miss Burnham thought that it was all right, for she merely handed me my Current Literature which had just come, and the work began. Once more my head was saved.

Tuesday May 24, 1927

            Yesterday morning the Gregg certificates came and, mistake or not, I received one.

            Almost every night lately, Pauline and I go for a walk. It is great fun.

Wednesday May 25, 1927

            This morning I gave my speech, “Young Lochinvar,” (the true story in blank verse).

            Tonight Miss Brooks was here for dinner. She was very tired, so she curled up on the davenport and slept while Pauline and I prepared dinner. Wishing to show my rare culinary ability, I determined to make biscuits and a cake. Such looking* things! The cake was far too rich, and the biscuits were flat things. I was a flop as a cook.

Thursday May 26, 1927

            I wore a little flower,

            But the petals fell away;

            So I pinned them on my jacket,

                        And I wore them there all day.

            That is the truth, too. Tonight I went to the library with Pauline. I borrowed the book, “The Forest of Arden.”

Friday May 27, 1927

            How beautiful everything is. The chestnut trees are in blossom, and the flowers are blooming, and the earth is most fair. This morning Edna Wendl brought me a lovely bouquet of lilies of the valley. I love them and I was going to wear them on my suit, but I gave some to Mother and Pauline before I left home and divided the rest between Miss Riggs and Miss Brooks after I reached school, so I watched theirs instead.

            Anyway, for two days I’ve had a tulip to wear, so it was someone else's turn; four can gain more good from a bouquet than one can.

            We had a French test today. I don’t know the bad news yet.

            Fourth hour we were excused from the study hall, Dorothy McCallum, Elizabeth Murray, and Rhoda Irdish and I, we stayed sewing all that hour and after school until after five o’clock.

            I did quite a few things on my dress. Maybe sometimes it will be finished.

            A girl gave me a yellow tulip fourth hour, so I had a flower anyway today.

Saturday May 28, 1927

            This morning I took a long walk. The sun was bright and the air was cool and fresh, so I walked out Washington and then down Jefferson.

            Tonight, about eight o’clock, Aunt Anna, Uncle Harry, and Charlotte Marie came to visit us for Decoration Day. I was so anxious to see them. Just think, I had just seen Charlotte Marie once before, and then for just a short time when we visited Cleveland while on our way home from our vacation. 

            Charlotte Marie is so sweet. She says such funny cute little things. We all played with her until way late tonight. She played with the new toys we bought her. A windmill, a ring, a purse, and a little wrist watch. She is a little over two years old now. She is small, with big, brown, long-lashed eyes, and straight hair.

Sunday May 29, 1927

            The baby is one dear little sugar lump. When she is eating, she holds out a bit of food and says, “Kitty?- No, no, Baby.” She says, “Tack tie” for “sit down.” She is so well-behaved, and not in the least destructive. And also, she loves to carry heavy things up and down stairs. We have all had barrels of fun all day with her.

Monday May 30, 1927

            This afternoon Aunt Anna and Uncle Harry went back home to Cleveland. We wanted them to stay, but they hadn’t prepared to. I dressed the baby when she got up.

            I wish that they would come often to see us so that I could play with the baby more. They want us girls to visit them when school is out.

Tuesday May 31, 1927

            I have a new baby cousin. Aunt Winifred and Uncle Ed have a baby girl. Mother told me tonight. I wish that I could see it: I am so happy.

            Back at school today. I had an A on the French test we took last Friday.

Wednesday June 1, 1927

            Flowers and sunshine for the first day of June, as is most fitting.

            Today was our last public speaking class for the year and the last sewing class before our examination next Friday. There is not much more school this year. I believe that I am sorry, too.

Thursday June 2, 1927

            This afternoon I typed the winning essay in the citizenship contest. It belongs to Marie Stabl, and it’s very good.

            Again tonight I stayed sewing on my dress. I am truly going to finish it very soon, I do believe. Won’t that be remarkamarvelous?

Friday June 3, 1927

            An English vocabulary test for Ann Arbor we took in French today. It really wasn’t so very difficult.

            At last! At last! At last I have finished my dress in sewing. I guess that everyone was quite surprised: I was. I finished it fourth period. I was excused from the study hall. There was only Miss Casey, Dorothy McCallum, Miss Finlay, and I in the room. I like Miss Finlay a big bunch.

Saturday June 4, 1927

            Another rainy day. Everyone says that it is bad for the farmers because they cannot get their things planted because of the over-abundance of rain we have had.

            Today Uncle Harry sent a box containing skates for Pauline + souvenir pencils from his store, and a set of books, the history of the world in ten volumes for me to read- Joy for me!

Sunday June 5, 1927

Another do nothing day. I meant to study for examinations, but I didn’t seem to get around to it. I wanted to write to Uncle Harry too, but I didn’t.

Monday June 6, 1927

            Our last English class before examinations. Delighted, I assure you.

            In French class we took an intelligence test. It is perhaps a good thing that I shall never know the results.

            I couldn’t take my French books home tonight because Miss Brooks, although she had told us to review ten lessons, took my books away when she saw me carrying them home.

            Tonight I tried out the new skates. Ethel Schwartz came over and we skated all over. It was great fun. I almost fell on my back, doing a fancy slide to keep from it, but there were no casualties. We both like to skate and Ethel is coming over after so that we can become - ahem - very proficient skaters.

Tuesday June 7, 1927

            This was the last day of regular class work that we will have until next fall.

            Tonight we had Miss Riggs for dinner. She is very nice. I can’t vouch for my dinner, but I managed to somehow pull through.

Wednesday June 8, 1927

            Examinations! How we love them. This morning I ploughed through an English exam and this afternoon I floundered through a period of Stenography.

            I do not know what Miss Burnham gave me for English, but Miss Riggs marked my paper first of all in Stenog. I had an A.

            The Auroras were distributed today. The usual array of pictures and things.

Thursday June 9, 1927

            Scratch, scratch, slap, - ooh! Mosquito time again! It isn’t safe to venture forth. And it is beastly hot - to help us to feel ambitious for exams.

            This morning was the French exam and this afternoon Bookkeeping. I don’t know my French mark, but I had 100 for my Book. I had a bad scare in Book. Two girls finished their tests before I did. When I took mine up, I saw a big E on each of the papers. My heart sunk, and when I saw her mark 100 on my paper, I almost fell through the floor.

            Oh, how I wanted to go swimming, but we didn’t. It doesn’t seem as if I could wait much longer.

Friday June 10, 1927

            Today I took my Typing exam, went for a walk with Julie, had my books inspected, took a Sewing exam, and called it a morning. I ate with Mother and returned to school for awhile to talk with Miss Brooks. Then I trailed homeward.

            I know all my examination marks except sewing. They are: English, A; Stenog, A; Typing, 96; Bookkeeping, 100; and French, A. I am slightly relieved. 

            Tonight was the Style Show. All the girls dresses were so pretty. I made pajamas for Pauline, so she had to wear them in it. I wore the pink linen dress that I made, but I didn’t have to parade with the others because I was the announcer, and the people saw enough of me without it. This is the program:

1. Song “Harp of Delight” by Harres Trio - Adelle Dulshi, Ethel Schwartz, Jan Tredennich, Dorothy Boyse-Harpish

2. Children of the parochial schools - St Joseph’s, St Mary’s, Mount Carmel, + Holy Rosary

Nightgowns + kimonos.

3. Sophomores

Pajamas

4. Two old-fashioned dresses made twenty years ago by the girls in the sewing department.

5. Sophomores

Dresses

6. Dorothy Boyne-Harpish

March of the Marionettes

Reverie

7. Juniors

Dresses

8. Seniors

Dresses for themselves and for small children

            I really had great fun at the style show. The old-fashioned dresses were screamingly funny, and the entire thing went off splendidly. The little children were adorable and funny.

Saturday June 11, 1927

            Yesterday was Mother’s birthday, along with the other excitement, I almost forgot to mention it.

            Mother has been letting her hair grow, but today she had it bobbed again. I guess she grew tired of it so long.

Sunday June 12, 1927

            Today we went for our first picnic for this year. We went to the dam above Edenville. It was a wonderful day - neither too hot not too cold, with a warm sun and a fresh breeze. We put up the tent and after lunch Pauline and I took a long walk to explore. We found many pretty wildflowers; I picked one of each kind that we saw. We also found some small sweet wild strawberries, saw two wild canaries, watched a small black and red beetle, sat on a log to watch the water, noticed several pretty blue and green dragonflies and a huge gorgeous black and yellow bee, got in a pricker patch, scrambled up a bank where I sprawled gracefully over a log, reached the end of the water, and started back, seeing things we hadn’t noticed on the way coming.

            I like to go exploring; it is great fun.

            After we came back, Pauline and I played with Mr. Robert’s knife*. She made a little boat so I tried to make a little doll. I had never tried anything like it and I cut my thumb eight times, but really managed to shape a piece of wood a little. I am going to paint a face on it and dress it.

            Then we played mumblety-peg. Neither of us knew how, but we amused ourselves and that was all that mattered.

            On the way home the sunset was marvelous. At about eight-thirty the sky was the most gorgeous spectacle of pink, rose, and the shades of the warm colors from the pale pink and yellow through the bright tints to the cool violets and blues. Now the moon is full and bright, and the sky is having a party. This has been a nice day.

Monday June 13, 1927

            This is the last day of school. In the morning I turned in my books, went home for awhile, and then went down to eat with Mother. In the afternoon I went back to school to get my short story from Miss Burnham and to see Miss Brooks. Miss Burnham has mislaid my story, so I am coming back tomorrow for it.

            I talked with Miss Brooks this afternoon. She showed me her scrapbook and told me things about college. Also, she lent me two French books, “French Lyrics,” selected by Campeld and “Cyrano de Bergerac” by Edmond Rostand to read this summer.

            After dinner Pauline and I took a long walk. Then we came home and went skating. After we grew tired of that, we had a jumping match. And after that, Mother sent us to bed. It won’t take me long to get there, either.

Tuesday June 14, 1927

            This noon I went shopping. I bought three books for gifts. I do so like to do that. It makes me feel so nice all inside.

            I like Swinton’s Book Store. Mr. Swinton knows good books, and he loves them. He keeps the store because he loves books. Just think, he has over five thousand books of his own, in his home.

            I should like to own a book store. I would have such a nice one. It would please all the nice people, but crovley* old cantankerous people wouldn’t like it one bit, and I wouldn’t want them to.

            Tonight again Pauline and I took a walk, went skating, and then had a jumping match. We will be good at it sometime, maybe.

Wednesday June 15, 1927

            This noon I had lunch with Miss Brooks. Then we returned to the school and I said goodbye to her and Miss Riggs. I like them both and I hate to say goodbye for the whole summer.

            Tonight Lorna La Fontaine graduated. I wanted to see her graduate, so we drove over to St Louis. We were a little late, but that didn’t matter.

            I was so pleased to see Lorna. She looked very nice in an orchid suit dress. 

            After it was over, we met the La Fontaine’s outside and Lorna and I had a jabber fest. There was so much to say that we didn’t know where to begin. I want her to come to visit me for a time this summer. Then we will get caught up, in part, for all the things we have missed for this long time.

            I gave her a leather bound copy of Dickin’s “A Tale of Two Cities,” for graduation. Just think, that is the first book she has ever had which she can say she really owns. With all the children in her family, she has never been given books. So the one I gave her is the beginning of her library. It makes me feel very happy to think that my little gift did some good. Also, I was very happy to see Lorna graduate.

Thursday June 16,1927

            Tonight was the graduation exercises for our school. Mother had a headache, so she didn’t go, but Pauline and I went. The graduates wore caps and gowns. They all looked so studious. The address was rather worrisome and Pauline almost fell asleep. She didn’t though, and we watched our seniors become alumni.

Friday June 17, 1927

            This afternoon I rooted in my junk and succeeded in cluttering my room with papers. One couldn’t imagine much more junk than I have. At that, I threw away a bale of paper. And sixteen days work arranging the remainder awaits me.

            Tonight Edna Wendl and I went skating. We were gone so long and so far that I wore my legs out.

Saturday June 18, 1927

            This noon Mother bought Pauline and me each a book. She told me to choose anything I wanted, so I chose “Elbert Hubbard’s Scrap Book” which contains quotations from authors from all times. Then she bought a Honeybunch book for Pauline. I am so happy to think that I have the book that I wanted. It made my whole day seem sunnier.

Sunday June 19, 1927

            This afternoon we took a ride, then went to Richville where we gave away balloons. On the way back we stopped at Frankintrost and gave some more balloons away. Then we came home.

            Tonight Mother went away, so Pauline and I sat on my bed and amused ourselves. She read her new book, and I pasted things in my French notebook and my note notebooks.

Monday June 20, 1927

            Ha! At last we are having weather warm enough for swimming - we didn’t go swimming. though. Honestly, it doesn’t seem as if I couldn’t possibly wait much longer, though. Everytime I see a pail of water I begin to bellow and sob and cry for a swim. Soon I shall walk to Bay City for a swim. Then everyone will be sorry that they didn’t take me.

Tuesday June 21, 1927

            Heat for today, followed by a rain as soft and gentle as a soft pattering of fingers on the windows. I wanted to go swimming today, but the fates were against me, so I stayed at home instead.

            Tonight the Sarles came over for awhile.

Wednesday June 22, 1927

            Now it is really - truly summer. I didn’t need anyone to tell me, though - it is beastly hot again. Tonight we had some more rain, but I am still waiting for my swim.

            This noon I found a letter from Anna awaiting me - just a few words to let me know that a long letter will be received y me before many moons have passed.

            Rose-time is here again. Everywhere one looks, one sees rose bushes and hige peonies. It seems that the flowers are especially beautiful this year. I think that there is a hollyhock growing beside our side door. I hope so, for we have no flowers.

Thursday June 23, 1927

(In not Kathleen’s handwriting)

Mary Jane Shaddeau  2719 Court St  134

Ben Shaddeau  2719 Court St  134

Fachon Shaddeau  2719 Court St  134

Kathleen Lucille Willard  406 South 12th St

Ella Margaret Willard  406 South 12th St

Pauline Willard (Alice)  406 South 12th St

(Back to Kathleen’s handwriting)

This is a autograph book. Very Interesting.

                                                BLAH!

            Pauline and Mary Jane Shaddeau thought that they would embellish y diary. It improves it greatly, don’t you think?

Friday June 24, 1927

            Last night I wrote a letter to Miss Finlay, who is in the hospital at Detroit.

            This afternoon Pauline wrote a note to me, and I will answer it tomorrow, and so we will write to each other, if we do see each other everyday.

Saturday June 25, 1927

            Grandmother bought Pauline a book, “Cleo’s Misty Rainbow,” by Lilian Garis this afternoon. Then she bought me a question and answer book. Now I will stump everyone (including myself).

Sunday June 26, 1927

            Hurrah! My long wait is at an end. At last we went swimming! This afternoon we went to Sarle’s cottage and went swimming. The water wasn’t at all cold, and I had a peachy swim. Now I am all ready for another one.

            After our swim, Pauline went down to our little private beach by the ice-house. Soon after we came back, it was time to go home, so home we went.

Monday June 27, 1927

            This noon I finally found the stationary for which I have been looking so long. Now I can write my letters satisfactorily - at least to me.

            This noon I received a long letter from Anna. She is in Temple, and she has a new desk. She said that she bought one as near like mine as possible.

Tuesday June 28, 1927

            Joy again! Tonight we drove over to Kilarney Beach for a swim. It most certainly was enjoyable after this terrifically hot day.

            You can’t guess from whom I received a letter today. Miss Einfall. She had just been to the hospital to see Miss Finlay. Miss Finlay asked Miss Einfall to write to me on her behalf. So she wrote me a letter in French. I was very surprised to hear from her.

Wednesday June 29, 1927

            Again tonight we went to Kilarney for a swim. Grandma went with us; she is a good scout. She swam with us, and we had a wonderful time.

            This noon I bought one of the new “Smeggles” purses. It is a little dog with a purse which opens by a zipper in the back. When you pinch his tail, he barks. I like him very much.

Thursday June 30, 1927

            Phew! It takes all my energy to make my pen track straight. It has been too hot to breathe. Tonight we went for a drive and that cooled us off, but as soon as we got back, we became hot again.

Friday July 1, 1927

            Heat! Don’t mention it. It was too sultry and close to live tonight, so we started for a drive at about ten-thirty. Soon it began to thunder and lightning, so we came home. It is still thundering and lightning, but we haven’t had any rain yet. I hope that some soon comes to cool us off.

Saturday July 2, 1927

            All was bustle today, getting ready to go to Machinaw.

            Mother bought me the most adorable little purse (rather a large one, though). It is shaped like a dog, of gray fur, with a pretty ribbon around his neck. His tail, when pinched, makes him bark, and a zipper in his back discloses the purse part. At first Mother didn’t want to spend $5.75 for a purse for me, but he was so cute that she too succumbed. 

Sunday July 3, 1927

            Wow! Who said that we would never cool off again. When we got here last night, it was windy and cold. In the tent we were warm and comfy, though, so it didn’t matter.

            We started out a little after seven, but we had to stop at a garage because we had a puncture and the fan belt was loose.

            The day was beautiful. I never saw so many large bright stars. One was so large that it made a band of light across the water just like the moon does, only fainter.

            We were already in bed at three o’clock, and it wasn’t a task for any of us to get to sleep.

            This morning Pauline and I took a walk down to the water and then had a swing before breakfast.

            In the afternoon we had dinner at Teysen’s, and then we saw Sarles, who were on their way to St. Ignase, and then came back to camp.

Monday July 4, 1927

            Hail, all ye patriot and sons of patriots! The rain is pattering, so that all ye may enjoy thy picnics. I don’t suppose that it will rain all day, but it is rather dark.

            The first thing this morning Pauline and I had a swing. It is a wonderful feeling to swing so that as one goes forward, he sees for over the lake while his feet touch the swaying branches of a scented pine. Then, as he swings backward, his head is encircled by the boughs of another pine.

In the afternoon we took Grace Teysen over to an Indian village to buy Indian baskets and things for their shop. The Indians are very wild and strange. Sometimes they will not even let a white man come in the house.

The day did turn out nice. The sun shone, and the water was as blue as it could happily be.

Before we went to bed, Pauline and I took another swing in our happy swinging spot. This country is beautifully set with wild flowers of every description. There are wild roses, buttercups, daisies, wild orchids, blue-bells, wild tiger-lilies, and many others which I do not know.

Tuesday July 5, 1927

            Here we are at home again. I can’t say that I wanted to come home, either. I gladly would have stayed all summer in the wilds, traveling on exploration trips, picking wild flowers, swimming, and just living. This land is true poesy.

            In the morning before we left, Pauline and I had a dip. It was truly a dip for Pauline, too, for she took one plunge in and started back for shore. She couldn’t be blamed, though, for the water was ice-cold. I swam back and forth about four or five times and my legs were numb. I liked it, though, and I felt fresh and vitally alive afterward.

            We started about eleven-thirty for home, and as it is only 225 miles, we had plenty of time for playing along the road. At Burt Lake we stopped and had another swim.

            The water was warmer, so we stayed much longer. Then we had a swing, tried the slides and teeters, and soon were on our way again.

            We stopped so many times that it was seven o’clock before we reached home. There was a silly note that Pauline had sent me before we left and a letter from Miss Brooks waiting for me. It’s nice to be at home, but I won’t say that I wouldn’t rather be up north.

Wednesday July 6, 1972

            Tonight Pauline and I had a shooting match with my new bow and arrows that we bought at Cross-Town, the Indian village. We played three games, and I made the glorious record of zero everytime. Pauline touched the target twice - once on the outside ring, and once on the second to the outside ring. If we keep on, in ten years we may learn to hit the bulls-eye.

Thursday July 7, 1927

            Mary Jane Shaddeau was here to stay all night, so I had to bunk with Mother. She came about noon today and will stay until tomorrow afternoon.

            We actually have a hollyhock in bloom. We didn’t plant it; it grew wild beside our side door.

Friday July 8, 1927

            Bring on your water. I have a new bathing suit. It is perfectly plain, a beautiful shade of red, in a Wil Wite suit. My bathing cap is helmet shaped, with a strap under the chin, in red too. Then my bathing slippers are bright red, and I’m a red fish.

Saturday July 9, 1927

            This noon I bought Pauline a little wooden sail-boat. It is very trim, white, trimmed in red and green, with white sails. Tonight when I got home, she had the bath-tub filled with water, and the boat was sailing serenely around upon the clear waters of Tub Lake.

            And now there comes among us this evening an experimenter. This personage has attempted many deeds. And now again she is prepared to cast forth for unknown shores to try for something new. In short, she is about to attempt to make a dress. Of course I made one in school, but this is a silk dress, so I expect that it will be much harder. Mother is going to help me, though, so it won’t be so bad.

The dress is to be made perfectly plain, with white collar and cuffs, a belt, and a bit of chirring or smocking at each side for fullness. I’ll tell you later if it turns out in any way at all presentable.

Sunday July 10, 1927

            Well, today I used my new bathing outfit for the first time! We started out for Crystal Lake this afternoon quite late, for it looked like rain. At St Louis we stopped to see of Lorna La Fontaine were at home. At first my heart sank, for she had gone downtown for her Mother, but we went down and found her in a drug store, and so she came with us. 

            With all our delays, we didn’t reach Crystal until about seven o’clock. The first thing we went for a swim. The water was warm, and we had good fun. Lorna doesn’t swim, but we fooled around and managed to enjoy ourselves thoroughly.

            After our dip, while we were eating, the sun was setting. It laid a track of gold across the water, and lazily moving canoes paddled slowly over it.

            There was a dinky little merry-go-round, so Lorna, Pauline, and I had a couple of rides. Then we bought a dozen strips of Finch’s fine taffy and started for home.

            The drive home was beautiful. The moon was full and bright, and the air was clear.

            I want Lorna to come to visit me sometime this summer. She says that maybe she will. I hope that she does; it seems so good to see her. She is even taller than I am now. She looked very nice in a little wash suit. If only she would come to see me for awhile. I am sure that we could have loads of fun.

            We ran into some very strange showers this afternoon. It stormed - rained, thundered, and lightened - while the sun shone, was dry in spots and almost covered over in others, and we didn’t know at what moment we might drive into a sudden brief shower. It must have been a speckled cloud which carried the water, for the rain came down in spots.

Monday July 11, 1927

            Another scorcher. I wanted to go swimming, but we didn’t. We did go for a nice drive, though. A cool breeze was stirred up as we drove, and now I am much cooler. I haven’t lost my desire for a swim though. If someone should propose going to the bay right now, I should jump at the chance.

Tuesday July 12, 1927

            Today Mother played golf for the first time, and tonight Mr. Roberts bought himself a new set of sticks and a bag. Even Pauline was out on the links today. It appears to me that I should have to make new arrangements for swimming if everyone is to take up golf, for they will have no time for my beloved sport.

Wednesday July 13, 1927

            Today my red ink means more than the thirteenth - I also mean a hot day.

            This morning Mother and Mr. Roberts played golf with Mr. Hillman and Margaret Hillman. Then, at ten o’clock, a man came up from the Buick to teach Mother to drive the car. It appears to me that Mother’s vacation is rather strenuous.

Thursday July 14, 1927

            Tonight we visited Sarles at their cottage. Of course, the first thing on the program was a swim, and it surely was a dandy one. The water was fine, and the waves were huge, just nice and big to dive in. I turned almost the most perfect forward somersault in the water this time that I have ever turned. ‘Ray for our sea side!

Friday July 15, 1927

            Another scorching day. I wanted to go swimming tonight, but I know there is no hope, for I am going to go to Julia James’ house to stay all night, and they don’t go swimming every night as we do.

            I found a letter from Lorna La Fontaine awaiting me when I reached home. I was assuredly tickled to hear from her.

Saturday July 16, 1927

            Last night, when I reached Julia’s, I found that Katherine Jackson, who was supposed to have come too, was unable to. We determined to have our good time without her. We started to seeing a movie at the theatre a few blocks away. After the show and some ice cream we came back to find two of Julia’s sisters. They soon left, and we talked until twelve-fifteen, and then started to make sandwiches and prepare things for our lunch. We spread a tablecloth on the bedroom floor and ate in our pajamas. It was great fun. We muffled the light to a mere glimmer and drank grape juice from goblets, toasting each other’s health, and acting up. Then, since it was about three, we went to bed, but lay talking for quite awhile. Consequently, we didn’t wake up until nine o’clock this morning.

            And so, my friend, I bid thee adieu, and hasten on to my eighth book since I started Saginaw High School two years ago. Farewell!