The Hour Has Come

UNIDENTIFIED: 1887 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT DIARY DETAILING LATE 19TH CENTURY LIFE IN FLY CREEK NEW YORK BY A CHARMING AND ENTERTAINING SEMI-ILLITERATE BOARDING HOUSE WORKER, FLY CREEK NEW YORK NY 1887
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On offer is a handwritten treasure of Americana by this unidentified author who though semi-illiterate has a charming and colorful way of writing and keen skill of observation. She's outspoken, hard working and tender hearted especially when it comes to the many deaths the village experiences in 1887; the year this diary represents. Research finds that she lives in or around Fly Creek, New York. She mentions other places near there such as; Snowdon, Albany, Adams, Watertown, Litchfield, Whipple Hill, Mohawk, and Lawerance. A casual read suggest she's working at a boarding house or on a farm with a number of hands because of the amount of people they feed on and because she's always referring to the men in the house as "all the men." She alludes to her child but says the baby is better off with its grandmother. Her writing is so entertaining and a refreshingly unique observer of all around makes this a one of a kind manuscript of the times. Here are snippets quoted exactly how she writes: January 1st, "Some snow and blow. We had sparrib for dinner. I opened the bible for luck, openned to St. John 1st Chap and to Psalms 39 and 40. The day was not very happy. I was lonesom and homesick." January 15th, "Snow and wind. Mrs. Taylor is febel but she is viseting with Phebe the best she can. Mrs. Wilson has gone to help fire for Hannah utill they come home from funeral. Mr. Potts is beured to day." January 22nd, "Hard south wind. I done the cleaning got the dinner. Lew cand for me. I went home saw the baby. He is nice. I wish I could live with him but no, his Granma is best. I am glad she is." January 29th, "Pleasant, I made a lift cake, done the cleaning and cleaned the wood shed. O by the way we have a lamp to light evry night and it dose not distress the old lady one bit." February 9th, "Clear but windy. I put the rest of the close up, had more to wash. Had to hang some of them out doors. It was fun to see them whip and hear Mam Wilson fret the Dr. to day. If one could sell the Dr. and Will for what they think they are worth and have the money, it would be most of the world." February 28th, "Snow and blow. Mrs. Taylor is no better, fails all the time. I washed cleaned the kitchen washed the chairs, made a lift cake. Ritchard Dover, son and daughter came. He said Mrs. Druce was hung at eleven O. The doctor came. Harriet and I set up." [Casual online search into the Druce Case will find many links.] March 2nd, "Mrs. Taylor died at half past ten last night. I got up, got super for Will, Mrs. Leaning, Phebie, Harriet and self then we cared for the poor body and laid it in the parlor to rest then all went to bed." March 5th, "Pleasant but cold. The funeral today. A Mr. Templeton came from Watertown. A Neffew of Mrs. Taylor's, Rev. Mr. Ward attended. Hannah helpt to set dinner table. Had fifteen to dine. Mrs. Elderkin helpt set tea table. Twelve to tea. It is good by to Mrs. Taylor." March 10th, "We all of us picked over and tride to regulate the things so they will be right for the appriser. We get very tired. Will carried ____to town last evening. Tonight he found a calf." April 20th, "Got breakfast for seven. Done up the work, made five breads and got ready to go to town at nine o'clock. Went as a witness to prove Mrs. Taylor will. Back agan am as tired as I need be. Men gone but one .When the will was read some was glad and others was mad. One thing shure it was ill goten welth." April 27th, ..Any one that wants to see a men feel good just come and take a look at the men here, it will pay." "May 12th, I went up to Mr. Weldens to help them get dinner. The funeral was at one O'clock. I went to the grave with Mr. House and wife. Menzo's team went early to trim the grave." June 10th, "Very bright. Vira, Ella and Floyd go to tower to get his picture taken before the curls are cut off. Walter and I keept huse. I think so som." June 22nd, "The tin pedlar left, was gone fifteen minits then came back and staid the day and all night. Vira and Ella sew and do the work. Menzo and Lew work on the house." June 29th, "Vira, Floyd and Till went to town. Ella and I had the house to ourselvs. The little boys had a preasant of a mouth organ, eache had one. Spreading mortar is the work of the day. Not much to record except a shamefull roit (riot) at Martin Shaw. He kict and other ways illy treated a boy that worked for him." July 4th, "It is the 4 of July. Gene, Charly and Clarie go to celabrate. Ella washed, the men move the partition. It mabe a dirty time." August 15th, "Vira went to town fetched Mrs. Riply home with her stay a while to see if a chang of place will make her young. She is most eighty one. Flory has got a baby." September 2nd, "Vira went up to Mr. Sprague's this afternoon in the night she was taken with the cholery morbus and was very sick." September 9th, "The baby is very sick. The Dr. came twice then went after her in the night. Baby was so wild his Granma was fritened a bout him." October 4th, "Fair in morn. Rain in eve. It is set the tables for thirty nine and get evry thing ready for a large company. They came eight or more and fetched a present to those who could not come. Sent a present." October 25th, Ella and Claire went across the creek to get the ever greens to trim the grave. They and Gene carried them to Fly Creek. Menzo and Vira went to see Dora ..Gene, Ella, Clarie, Lew and I went to the funeral. There was a large concourse of people in attendance. They have carried Dorr away never to come back agan." November 9th, "Fair in morn. Rain in eve. Lew and Ella go to Laurance to attend the funeral. Mr. Mann was a soldier, he drew a pension. Has bin sick more than a year. Has bin a great sufferer." November 24th, "Hiram is very sick. It is medicine evry half hour and then every hour and a poltice once in four hours. I set up half of last night and all night to night. Sickness and poverty doth abound. Ask one to be thankfull. I think it is imposable." December 1st, "It is sad to record the fact. A mother of three young children is oblige to go in search of a husband and father that has bin four days on a drunk." G. 24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall Manuscript

[SW: HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, AMERICANA, ARCHIVE, NEW YORK, DIARY, DIARIES, ECONOMICS, NEW YORK, FLY CREEK, WESTERN NEW YORK, ANTIQUITE, CONTRAT, VELIN, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, PRE SUFFRAGE, WOMEN'S STUDIES, FEMINISM, Books and Manuscripts General Overview 19th Century Manuscript]

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Swinnerton, Frank Arthur,
Frank Arthur Swinnerton (1884-1982), britischer Schriftsteller und Kritiker. 2 eigenh. Briefe mit U. Old Tokefield, 1. und 9. August 1972. (2+1=) 3 SS. auf 2 Bll. 8°. Jeweils mit eh. adr. Kuvert. - An den Autographensammler Otmar Meisel: "I am very grateful for your kind letter, and am glad to know that you habe enjoyed my books. I must apologize for not acknowledging your letter by return. The delay has been due to unavoidable engagements. It is very kind of you to suggest coming to see us. I don't want to disappoint you; but Cranleigh has become such a difficult place to reach, except by car, that one visitor said on arrival that she would find it easier to get to Cairo. It is necessary to go to Waterloo station in London, take a train to GUILDFORD, walk about half a mile to a temporary bus-stop outside a big store named Plummers, and thence take an omnibus (23, 25, or 33) to Cranleigh, a journey of perhaps another 40 minutes. The train from Waterloo to Guildford, if an express on the Portsmouth line, takes 40 minutes; if a slow train a whole hour. And at the end of this very long journey you would find a tired old man of 88 who is really not fit for visitors. I therefore urge you not to come. This does not mean that your letter did not give me great pleasure. I was delighted to receive it, and thank you for it. I can at least, also, assure you that, whether they are the cats you are thinking of or not, we have two very amusing and spoiled cats who are a terrible nuisance to us, completely sure that we exist solely for their benefit, and in their way very affectionate [...]" (1. VIII.). - "I am very grateful for your consideration; and have gladly inscribed your book. This has been posted to you today, + I hope it will arrive safely. Thank you, also, for your kind wishes and compliments. They are much appreciated. I shall remember them on my birthday, which will have passed, I expect, before you receive this letter and the book [...]" (9. VIII.). - Jeweils auf Briefpapier mit gedr. Adresse.

Frank Arthur Swinnerton (1884-1982), britischer Schriftsteller und Kritiker. 2 eigenh. Briefe mit U. Old Tokefield, 1. und 9. August 1972. (2+1=) 3 SS. auf 2 Bll. 8°. Jeweils mit eh. adr. Kuvert. - An den Autographensammler Otmar Meisel: "I am very grateful for your kind letter, and am glad to know that you habe enjoyed my books. I must apologize for not acknowledging your letter by return. The delay has been due to unavoidable engagements. It is very kind of you to suggest coming to see us. I don't want to disappoint you; but Cranleigh has become such a difficult place to reach, except by car, that one visitor said on arrival that she would find it easier to get to Cairo. It is necessary to go to Waterloo station in London, take a train to GUILDFORD, walk about half a mile to a temporary bus-stop outside a big store named Plummers, and thence take an omnibus (23, 25, or 33) to Cranleigh, a journey of perhaps another 40 minutes. The train from Waterloo to Guildford, if an express on the Portsmouth line, takes 40 minutes; if a slow train a whole hour. And at the end of this very long journey you would find a tired old man of 88 who is really not fit for visitors. I therefore urge you not to come. This does not mean that your letter did not give me great pleasure. I was delighted to receive it, and thank you for it. I can at least, also, assure you that, whether they are the cats you are thinking of or not, we have two very amusing and spoiled cats who are a terrible nuisance to us, completely sure that we exist solely for their benefit, and in their way very affectionate [...]" (1. VIII.). - "I am very grateful for your consideration; and have gladly inscribed your book. This has been posted to you today, + I hope it will arrive safely. Thank you, also, for your kind wishes and compliments. They are much appreciated. I shall remember them on my birthday, which will have passed, I expect, before you receive this letter and the book [...]" (9. VIII.). - Jeweils auf Briefpapier mit gedr. Adresse.

[SW: Autograph, Manuskript, Dokument, Autographen]

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Archer, Jeffrey: To Cut a Long Story Short, HarperTorch December 4, 2001 ISBN: 0061032077
,,To Cut a Long Story Short reads like a series of modern fairy tales. In each story, Jeffrey Archer presents a moral problem, and a character finds himself tested in a dark hour. Evil manifests itself in the form of selfish relatives, corrupt cops, racist men. Good arrives in the form of unselfish minor characters who suddenly emerge as the real center of the story, or lost souls who come out the other side of corruption and renounce their old ways.\n\nIn "The Endgame" Cornelius Barrington decides to fake a bankruptcy. As one of the richest men in his small town, he hopes his sudden plunge into poverty will reveal the true character of his friends and relatives. He calls in debts, asks to borrow money from those he has lent to in the past, only to be turned away time and again. After lunch Cornelius took a bus into town--a novel experience. It was some time before he located a bus stop, and then he discovered that the conductor didn't have change for a twenty pound note. His first call after he had been dropped off in the town centre was to the local estate agent, who didn't seem surprised to see him. Cornelius was delighted to find how quickly the rumour of his financial demise must be spreading. "The Endgame" is a complex tale with a clear message. Not all the stories in To Cut a Long Story Short attempt such weightiness. "The Expert Witness" is a delightful parody of the legal system, a portrait of two pub mates--a lawyer and an expert witness--who often find themselves facing off in the courtroom, pretending not to know each other. Certain pieces (glimpses, vignettes) last a mere two pages, but whatever the length or weight of the story, throughout this collection Archer has a light touch, a quick wit, and a thorough understanding of the mechanics of suspense. --Emily White

Condition;Good ,Paperback ,To Cut a Long Story Short reads like a series of modern fairy tales. In each story, Jeffrey Archer presents a moral problem, and a character finds himself tested in a dark hour. Evil manifests itself in the form of selfish relatives, corrupt cops, racist men. Good arrives in the form of unselfish minor characters who suddenly emerge as the real center of the story, or lost souls who come out the other side of corruption and renounce their old ways.\n\nIn "The Endgame" Cornelius Barrington decides to fake a bankruptcy. As one of the richest men in his small town, he hopes his sudden plunge into poverty will reveal the true character of his friends and relatives. He calls in debts, asks to borrow money from those he has lent to in the past, only to be turned away time and again. After lunch Cornelius took a bus into town--a novel experience. It was some time before he located a bus stop, and then he discovered that the conductor didn't have change for a twenty pound note. His first call after he had been dropped off in the town centre was to the local estate agent, who didn't seem surprised to see him. Cornelius was delighted to find how quickly the rumour of his financial demise must be spreading. "The Endgame" is a complex tale with a clear message. Not all the stories in To Cut a Long Story Short attempt such weightiness. "The Expert Witness" is a delightful parody of the legal system, a portrait of two pub mates--a lawyer and an expert witness--who often find themselves facing off in the courtroom, pretending not to know each other. Certain pieces (glimpses, vignettes) last a mere two pages, but whatever the length or weight of the story, throughout this collection Archer has a light touch, a quick wit, and a thorough understanding of the mechanics of suspense. --Emily White

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Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn: Sisters of the Night: The Angry Angel, Avon April 1998 ISBN: 0380974002
,,In a distant age of brutal chaos, young Kelene is her family's salvation. An exquisite, golden-haired child just entering womanhood's embrace, she is blessed -- and cursed -- with a great gift: the protection of the Militant Angels. For most of her fourteen years, God's messengers have guided her, shielding Kelene, her parents, her brothers and sisters from the horror and devastation visited upon their neighbors by the bloodthirsty Ottoman hordes. \nBut suddenly another has invaded her dreams. This angel who speaks to Kelene in the night is far more elusive and demanding than any who came before -- filling her with uncertainty and terrors while tempting her with impure thoughts and unholy desires. He will come to her, he vows, in Kelen's darkest hour. And then she will be his...for eternity. \nBetrayed by her own blood in the city of Belgrade, facing a grim future of enslavement, pain and degradation, Kelene bravely resolves to endure -- and that is when her angel appears to her as promised, a dream no longer. A creature of mesmerizing sensual power -- more than mortal and less than human -- those who know his name fear it. It is he who purchases Kelene's body and soul for a fortune in gold, drawing an innocent child-woman against her will into sacrilege and sin. And though she realizes death surely awaits her at the end of the long and terrible journey to her new lord's fortress home, Kelene will oppose her dread fate as long as her spirit remains alive...as she struggles to preserve the humanity that is slowly being drained from her, drop by drop.

Condition;Very Good / Good ,Hardcover ,In a distant age of brutal chaos, young Kelene is her family's salvation. An exquisite, golden-haired child just entering womanhood's embrace, she is blessed -- and cursed -- with a great gift: the protection of the Militant Angels. For most of her fourteen years, God's messengers have guided her, shielding Kelene, her parents, her brothers and sisters from the horror and devastation visited upon their neighbors by the bloodthirsty Ottoman hordes. \nBut suddenly another has invaded her dreams. This angel who speaks to Kelene in the night is far more elusive and demanding than any who came before -- filling her with uncertainty and terrors while tempting her with impure thoughts and unholy desires. He will come to her, he vows, in Kelen's darkest hour. And then she will be his...for eternity. \nBetrayed by her own blood in the city of Belgrade, facing a grim future of enslavement, pain and degradation, Kelene bravely resolves to endure -- and that is when her angel appears to her as promised, a dream no longer. A creature of mesmerizing sensual power -- more than mortal and less than human -- those who know his name fear it. It is he who purchases Kelene's body and soul for a fortune in gold, drawing an innocent child-woman against her will into sacrilege and sin. And though she realizes death surely awaits her at the end of the long and terrible journey to her new lord's fortress home, Kelene will oppose her dread fate as long as her spirit remains alive...as she struggles to preserve the humanity that is slowly being drained from her, drop by drop.

[SW: Sisters of the Night Series]

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