August 31, 1938 Wednesday

P.P. Chipped in with Bob and bought some gas. Then we took quite a long driving lesson for me over around Harrisville. In afternoon Bob and I went to movie “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”—a resume of Irving Berlin’s music. It was nice. In evening I drove while Bob, Pa, Laura and I went for a ride.

August 30, 1938 Tuesday

P.P. Went to Doc’s to help him build a fence. Worked there all day. In evening shined up my horn and went to band concert at Armory. We played a lot of numbers tonight.

August 29, 1938 Monday

P.P. Went to Doc’s all day ($1.00). Red Sox are in 2nd place now—without much chance of 1st and a good chance of going lower. In evening Nareau, Louie, and Sherm arrived and we walked around town.

August 28, 1938 Sunday

Slept till 8. Went to church at Methodist church. In a.m. read Readers’ Digest. In p.m. went to Temple to Tobey’s hilltop service. It was nice but not too effective. In evening had band rehearsal.

August 27, 1938 Saturday

P.P. Collected. Took a horn lesson in a.m. Got a good lesson for next week. In p.m. went to show with Ernie. In evening bought 2 shirts and some stockings for school.

August 26, 1938 Friday

P.P. Worked at Doc’s all day.

August 25, 1938 Thursday

P.P. Went to Doc’s all day ($1.50).

August 24, 1938 Wednesday

P.P. Played horn. In p.m. went to library and to “Monadnock Region Exposition.” Bought a Currier and Ives print. Started reading “History of New Hampshire.”

August 23, 1938 Tuesday

P.P. Worked at Doc’s all day. Played horn. In evening went to “The Garden of Allah.” The story of a monk who broke his vows, ran away from the monastery, and married a well-loved lady. When she found out about it she and he decided he must go back to the monastery and he did. He really could do nothing else as he had rigidly bound his way of life but I believe he was too definite in his vows at first.

August 22, 1938 Monday

P.P. Worked at Doc’s most all day. Reading my Wicks book and found most comfort in reading Luke.

August 21, 1938 Sunday

Slept till 8. At 10:30 went to church. Rev. Ralph preached about the sacredness of the human soul and said that all that degraded it was sin. In p.m. Pa, Laura, Bob, Alden, Nancy, and I climbed Mt. Monadnock. Home at 6—good fun. Took a bath.

August 20, 1938 Saturday

P.P. Collected. In a.m. played horn. Cousins Sylvia and Wallace LaFountain and Aunt Flora came down for the day. Entertained Wallace most of the time. Went to movies in p.m. In evening went to library. Got “The Reason for Living” Wicks. I’m awful dumb. Tonight I went downstreet at 6:00 to buy a notebook for a Deering report—forgot I had taken my bike and walked home without it. By chance at 9:00 I looked for it—found it missing and after a little remembered where it was. Found it safe after 3 hours in the busiest section of a Saturday night mob.

August 19, 1938 Friday

Rose for the last time here—breakfast and to classes—which were very good “last word of encouragement and warning” classes. Mitzi, the Japanese counselor, talked in assembly. After dinner and sad leave-takings left with Mr. Ralph from one of the best and most enlightening weeks I have known. Home at 4:00. Everyone fine. Worked at Doc’s in evening.

August 18, 1938 Thursday

Rose and went to classes. Choir met in Judson for the last rehearsal and Mr. Woodbury gave us fond farewells. Went to lake for swim meet but mosquitoes were so bad it was called off—went swimming though. In evening had a “Show-Off” party—talented pupils showed their stuff. Later had campfire in Judson—had communion and it was very effective. Choir sang.

August 17, 1938 Wednesday

Rose and to classes as usual. In p.m. the faculty played the boys of camp in softball. Boys won 17-16. I got three hits out of four attempts. In evening we had a social for which I dressed up. Had campfire in Judson Hall because of threatening weather. Choir sang several numbers.

August 16, 1938 Tuesday

Rose and to classes per schedule. They are all interesting. In p.m. played softball, had choir, swam, etc. In evening came big circus. Coo Cluxers gave a “Gathering of the Clan” and a high dive and a tight rope walk—shams of course. Choir sang at campfire.

August 15, 1938 Monday

Rose with bell. Resumed Saturday’s classes in a.m. They are fun. In p.m. lost softball game 6-5. Coo Cluxers are behind some, now. Went swimming in p.m. In evening had a scavenger hunt. Sang in choir at campfire.

August 14, 1938 Sunday

Slept till 8. After breakfast rest till 10:45 and then to church in Deering Vilage. Beautiful dinner but was sick do didn’t eat much. In p.m. had choir rehearsal and at 4:00 we sang “Sanctus 4” at vesper service at which Mr. Goodwin spoke. After supper we had a “panel discussion” firing questions at teachers. Small group of us sang for campfire at 9:00.

August 13, 1938 Saturday

Rose with bell and after serving at breakfast went to classes on “Youth in a Changing World,” then “Knowing Our Bible,” and after assembly “Young People’s Problems.” At assembly the camps divided in clans. They are the “Cooties,” “Jitterbugs,” “Flat-foot Floogies,” and “Coo Clux Clams” (mine). In p.m. had choir rehearsal. I sing 1st bass. Then shot arrows in inter-clan competition–scored the only point for our side. Then swimming and after supper a hobo party with clan songs and yells and then campfire with talk. Campfire is impressive.

August 12, 1938 Friday

Arose at 7:00. Boston University pupils who were here for summer school left early and left the place practically empty. I went to the library and played horseshoes. In p.m. everyone came. I served at dinner and supper. In p.m. played ball and went swimming at a lake down the road. In evening got our classes straight. Had a bonfire on the hill later. A talk on fire and then bed.

August 11, 1938 Thursday

P.P. Got Skeezix to take papers for a week. Worked at Doc’s and packed all day. At 7:30 left with Rev. Willys W. Smith for Deering Community Center. Arrived here at 8:30-9:00 with 2 girls from Keene who are coming also. It was dark before we got here—everything seemed foggy, black, and gray. It will be a nice place, though, I guess. I got room no. 1 of a cabin (2 beds in a little room), unpacked and prepared for bed. Everyone seems nice so far. We are in the woods and I can hear a brook not far away as I write by lantern-light.

August 10, 1938 Wednesday

P.P. Played horn. Ma came home at 10 a.m.—much slimmer and with a beautiful baby boy. He’s awful cute. Watched him most all day. He’s just what we wanted and even cuter than we could imagine. In evening went with Laura to Keene Summer Theatre. Saw “The Bishop Misbehaves” presented by a professional cast. It was really good.

August 9, 1938 Tuesday

P.P. Played horn, etc. in a.m. Worked at Doc’s in p.m. In evening had band concert at Fuller Park. Learned today that Ma will be home tomorrow—much quicker than we thought, because she hasn’t even gotten out of bed yet.

August 8, 1938 Monday

P.P. Loafed. Played horn. In evening went to see Ma and Carl. Thought a lot today about careers and things. I believe I will aim at being a teacher in History or English—preferably History if I can find out “why.” Finished reading Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” A good comedy. Will start on “King Lear” soon.

August 7, 1938 Sunday

Slept late. Loafed. Played horn in a.m. Went to see Ma in p.m. and rode. In evening had Keene City Band rehearsal.

Today we were busy changing rooms. The big front room heretofore used by Bob and me was changed into Ma’s room and Bob and I went into their old room. I still sleep in the same room and will ‘till Ma comes home.

August 6, 1938 Saturday

P.P. Collected. Worked at Doc’s (50 cents). Bought two of Shakespeare’s plays at Goodwill store for 10 cents each. Went to see Ma in p.m. Bought supper at Emmond’s luncheonette. Went around town with Thrashers in evening.

August 5, 1938 Friday

P.P. Worked at Doc’s all day ($1). Took horn lesson in p.m. In evening went to see Ma. Discovered that I will be leaving for Deering C.E. Conference for a week just the day Carl comes home. Went to Marlboro St. Airport and saw a small (but large!) dirigible. It has been flying around all day advertising tires. Very interesting, though.

August 4, 1938 Thursday

P.P. Played horn. Went to see Ma in p.m. Bought a cantaloupe as an experiment in p.m.—it wasn’t bad. Went to Doc’s in evening (25 cents), then to 2nd show at Colonial to see “A Yank at Oxford.”

August 3, 1938 Wednesday

P.P. Played horn un peu—worked at Doc’s. In p.m. finished “Northwest Passage” at Doc’s. In evening tried to draw. Didn’t get to see Ma today.

August 2, 1938 Tuesday

P.P. Played horn in a.m. In p.m. went to see Ma at hospital. In evening had band concert. Mosquitos were terribly thick and made the most uncomfortable conditions I have ever played under.

August 1, 1938 Monday

P.P. Played horn. Practiced music reading. In p.m. went to hospital. Then rode bike with Alden. To hospital again in evening. Today I drew a bust of a man in pencil, carefully on a ½ sheet of math paper. Not too bad.

July 31, 1938 Sunday

Slept late. Loafed. In p.m. went to see Ma and Carl. Everything O.K. Be glad when Carl comes home. Went for ride with Thrashers in our car. Went to Keene City Band rehearsal in evening. Play “Poet and Peasant” overture –very good. Since Ma has been gone we have had a lot of work to do here and it takes lots of time.

July 30, 2008 Saturday

P.P. Worked at Doc’s (75 cents). In p.m. went to Winchester with Uncle Carl and Alden to see a semi-pro ball game between Winchester and some large shoe factory—shoe factory won 11-7. In evening went to see Ma. She is better. Carl is coming O.K. A nurse held him to the window and I saw him yawn and cry. What a baby!

July 29, 2008 Friday

P.P. At 8:20 a.m. this morning CTR was born at the Elliot Community Hospital. It was raining slightly at the time. He weighs 10 lbs. and 4 ounces. Both doing fine. Went to see Ma at hospital in p.m. She’s coming O.K. Saw Carl through the nursery window. He’s real big. Has well-shaped head, brown hair, large mouth (most outstanding feature). Awful cute. Had horn lesson. Went to second show at Scenic.

July 28, 1938 Thursday

P.P. Played horn. Went library. Loafed. Very, very hot today. Thought and read “Larry”—diary of a college student finding his place in the world. Agreed on morals and physical fitness with him. SPECIAL—Ma went to the hospital at about 3:30 the morning of July 29. Have no results yet. It is and was raining like everything with occasional thunder. All us kids slept right through her leaving. Pa took her, of course.