Thursday, December 31, 1835

1835

December

Thursday 31

7 10/..

11 55/..

No kiss.  Ready in an hour.  F 29 1/2° and fine, frosty morning at 8 10/.. –

Out from 8 10/.. till breakfast at 9 in 1/2 hour, then sat reading till 10 50/.. from page 242 to 324, end of Volume 2, Quin’s Voyage Down the Danube.

Then in and out – Spoke to Marian and arranged with her about servants’ luncheon and eating to be put in the upper kitchen – My men never to go into the Low court at all –

Mr. Jubb came between 1 and 2.  Saw Ann and my aunt – the latter poorly – Ann not right as to her digestive organs – Should have a blister between her shoulders – The climate here too cold for her –

Had Mallinson the joiner at 2 – Paid him his bill –

Then out again in the farmyard – Robert Mann + 3 at farmyard dunghillstead and drains – 2 masons came this morning – underfooting back stable and doing up about necessary embouchure and front path along the pigsties –

Came in at 5 25/.. Mr. Parker drinking tea with my father and Marian, came to wish them a happy new year – Ann did not see him –

I went in to my father and Marian while they were at tea for 1/4 hour or 20 minutes – Dinner at 6 1/4 –

A minute or 2 with my aunt while Charles Howarth put up a bell to ring just over Oddy’s bed – This and Mr. Jubb’s visit in the morning harassed my aunt –

Coffee – Ann went to lie on the sofa upstairs and I sat down till 8 1/4, making notes from Volume 2, Quin’s Voyage Down the Danube –

Then came the Lee-Lane (Shibden dale) singers to the door – Marian gave them 1/2 a crown – I went for Ann to listen to the singing, having just taken in to my father for a minute or 2 then took her to the hall to listen – She was upset – Hurried upstairs and lay in tears on the sofa – I came to her for a minute or 2, then seeing I had better leave her alone, went to my aunt, having 1st sent 1/2 a crown to the singers – Marian then asked them into the hall (at 8 40/..) – My aunt was interested in the singing and the people staid, about a dozen of them, till very near 10, I for my aunt and for myself having given them 5/. more so that they had in all 10/. besides beer –

My aunt toddled to her room door and stood 10 minutes listening to the beautiful and glee air For Auld Lang Syne – As she leaned on my arm I could not help thinking, Alas! This is the last New Year’s Eve that she will listen with me – My uncle is gone – She will soon follow – The dream of youth is gone – The day of love is gone, but I am left! And she too, who has deceived my hope, but changed and lost to me. Διὸς δ’ ἐτελείετο βουλή Dios d’eteleieto boule [Greek, from The Iliad – approx. translation: the will of God]

Sat with my aunt till 9 55/.. – Then a few minutes with Ann – Her tears dried, but looking wan and woeful – Would that she were in stronger health!

Very fine day – F 33° now at 10 20/.. p.m.

May the coming year be happy! But Quid sit futurum cras, fuge quaerere; et Quem fors dierum cunque dabit, lucro appone [Latin, from Horace – Avoid asking what the future will bring, and every day that Fortune shall grant you, set down as gain ]

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/18/0152