Dear Journal,
Today I woke up around 4:30 or 5:00. When I got up I got dressed and went to start the fire and then went to milk Bella, our family cow. It was so cold. I hate getting up so early to milk her. She doesn’t even like me. If she could have her choice, she would kick me. She has before and Father almost got rid of her. But he couldn’t find a place to sell her. So this morning I put a new made candle into the lanturn and took the wood bucket out to the barn. It was very cold out there so I took Father’s coat out with me. I filled the bucket, much to Bella’s dislike, to the brim with milk. Then I went inside and started the porridge.

I’m always the one who makes breakfast. No one else will get up early enough. I filled the kettle with water and waited for it to boil. Then I poured in the oats and waited for them to finish cooking. It seems I’m always waiting for something. By this time, Mother and Father had woken up and were starting to rouse the other, younger, children. I poured some of the milk into a pitcher and the rest of the family came down the stairs and sat down at the table. No one offered to help me. They never do. Father is the only one who is sympathetic, and he trys to say nice things to me every once in w hile. I set the porridge down and we say grace. Then everyone digs in, smaller children first. Father compliments me on my cooking.

When everyone is done eating, Father goes out to work in the fields, Mother and I start to make some butter and then bake some bread, and the children go off to school. I had to quit school so I could help Mother at home. I didn’t want to but Father persuaded me. I liked school, But Mother is getting older and needs help with my 9 brothers and sisters, and the sewing and washing.

After Mother and I are done churning butter and baking, which takes a long time because it’s baking day for the whole week and we have to make 14 loaves, I sit down on the floor and start to braid a new rug. Our old one had many holes in it and we can’t have company over with a damaged rug. Mother wouldn’t have it. She likes to have everything clean and neat when people come over becuase she likes people to think we’re not as poor as we really are. When the new rug is finished I find Mother in her room brushing out her hair. I show her the rug and she is pleased. We set it out on infront of the door so when Father comes in he can see it right away.
Soon, Father comes inside and says he thinks its about time for lunch. Mother sets out some beans from last night and we eat some of the fresh bread. Father noticed my rug and said he loved the use of old material and the colors.

After awhile, we finish Father goes back out to the field and Mother and I start to clean up the house. I sweep the kitchen floor while Mother makes the beds upstairs. Soon the younger children start to get back from school and at about 2:00 everyone except Father is home. The children go outside and play while Mother and I keep working. I finish cleaning up the kitchen and Mother moves to the parlor to dust and polish. I move to the dining room because that is where we eat our supper. Mother likes to eat in there incase we have unexpected company.

For dinner, I make soup with dumplings in it. That’s Fathers favorite. He gets home around 5:00 and we sit down to say grace and then eat. It taste wonderful. Father comments on my cooking ability. When everyone is done I clear the table and wash the dishes. We put the left over soup and dumplings outside for Father’s dog Butch.
The children get ready for bed and Mother and Father read in the parlor. After they go to bed I get the fire going again and heat up some bricks for everyones bed. When everyone is asleep I go and check on them. My little sister seems cold so I put a hot brick underneath her sheets. She is my favorite sister because she is the only one who understands me. She sometimes tries to help with the cleaning or cooking. I put a brick in Mother and Father’s room also. Then I put one under my own sheets and climb into bed. I blow out my candle and fall asleep thinking about tomorrow.

That is how my day goes. Now you know what a day in my house is like.