[If you asked today's nine-year-old girl to write a story about a happy day, what would it be about? A trip to Disneyworld? The first day with the new Barbie doll set? I really can't imagine, but I am confident it would not read like this little essay written by my mother when she was nine years old, in 1926. It’s about a day she spent on the farm in upstate New York where she grew up. It’s a picture of a vanished world of innocence and simplicity. I share it today on Christmas in her memory.]
The story of a happy day is a very warm June day just after I had the measles. I was getting better. This day was the first day I had gone outdoors in 12 days.
When I first went out I had to have a big heavy coat on then after while I put on a thin coat because I was working.
When I was outdoors I transplanted 3 plants for winter. That took me a little while. After that I thought I would water the flowers. I went down to the shop to get the watering can to water the flowers, but I could not find it. I hardly wanted to do it anyway.
Then I was right by the barn and they had white washed it while I was indoors so I went in to see it. It all looked so clean. It all was very white. I walked through it and went up through the yard first to the pear tree which had had blossoms. I was looking for some little pears, but I could not find them. So I went to the syringa. It is a little tree with a very sweet little flower.
Then I went in the house to ask my mother if I could get some onions and radishes for supper. She said yes, so I went and my sister Eleanor went with me. I got the radishes and Eleanor got the onions. She got them quick while I had to look and look for them. I finally found enough. I thought I would go to the orchard. Eleanor had gone with the onions. I went through the orchard. To my surprise I found a green strawberry. I thought I would show it to my mother. Then a great surprise, I found one red strawberry. I picked enough to have a hand full, so I ran down to Mama. I said, Mama, what do you suppose I found? At about the third guess, she said, strawberry. I said yes. Eleanor came in quick from the swing and we ate them up fast.
Then I went quick to papa then I took a talk with papa a few minutes. Then I had a swing or two then went to the house.
Then I rested up and went outdoors and swinged and Eleanor she would swing me then I would swing her.
Then I went upstairs to take a rest. I got up and readied and sewed a little and then I went to supper.
Don’t you think that was a very happy day?
Thank God for the happy day. Thank him with your whole heart for everyday.
Courtland, New York,
June 28,l 1926