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"How
singular! I began my 3rd volume on an 8th and so is my 4th. What
unforeseen events may not occur before I write at the close of this?"
Emily
and Ellen regularly say how much they enjoy writing their journals. They
were an important part of their lives and they liked to record in great detail
many aspects of their thoughts and feelings as well as their activities.
When she lost a finished diary, Emily was most upset:
Emily's
Diary, Thursday 16th January, 1839
“I have lately lost my last years journal -
where can it be, if not already gone to light our fires, I cannot
conceive…I am extremely annoyed at it and would give a great deal to get it
back again – it was so very pleasant to refer back to the days that are gone
and seem as it I were acting them over again, by reading my own account of
them…”
Ellen enjoyed journalising so much, that in 1839 she decided to write up her
notes from last years experiences into a proper diary.
Wednesday 6th February, 1839
“By the way, I’m thinking of writing up my notes of
last year and making a journal of it. I
think I could, I should I am sure be able to realise all the feeling with which
I then wrote, even tho’ they may have all gone away. Dear me! How nice it would be!
I study much and will try – and I think I could find myself time to
write something everyday.”
“I will go to Bells and get a book – something like the
one I am now writing in…”
Here is what
she wrote at the start of the book of written up notes.
Ellen, start of
1838 journal
“The time has been when the very thought of filling such
a bold mini book as that now begins would have scared me so much that I should,
in despair of ever finishing it, have laid aside all idea of commencing it.
I do not profess for a minute to write this at the time I have dated it -
but I shall copy and write up the notes which I wrote at the time and I
shall endeavor to realise the feeling with which I wrote the notes above
attributed to me…as it is only for my own gratification I hope I shall
write this not with feelings grown older by experience but what I then felt,
thought and acted…”
“May the God of all truth guide me and prevent my doing
things the writing of which may stain any future page.”
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