This description was provided by the seller and has not been verified: "July 1st, Today has lost it’s history. Who can judge of real life until experience breaks life’s mystic seals. Let the past be past and gone. May the future go down in brighter beauty and fairer realizations. Conscientious. There is an entry for every day of the year and many of those entries have to do with the school children, his farming while he’s not teaching, traveling around the countryside and of course his deep thoughts. I’ve taken several excerpts to give you a better idea of the contents. 1881 “January 2nd, Home by change of days and from home to Owen’s to go with them to church at Cross Roads. Not many out. Saw Molly. The bride and groom, Annie and the rest. At O’s for dinner and at Aunt A’s in the eve. Think Plummer crazy, or S. worse.” “January 4th, Time in his busy course brings work once more. About 40 in school today. Snow is falling and everything seems dark. At prayer meeting tonight. Appointed to speak tomorrow night.” “January 27th, When shall the time come when hope shall blossom with reality. If a man is to spend all his life in the school room at $50 per month what is to become of him? I say what shall be his lot among the men of the world? Teacher’s arise. Be what those wouldest up be doing.” “February 20th, Today we went to church in the sled. Sam’s sled. Mr. D. preached to the young folks. I think some of the Union folks are very backwards and yes a little peculiar.” “February 23rd, Feeling dull after last night. I think my old schoolmates are as backward as myself. Why is it that we cannot get through this pressing reserve? I went home today. Molly martin at home keeping house or trying to. A wonder what B. will think.” “March 5th, Doing but little of anything. Mrs. McCormick here. Came on Friday evening. Newton is away inaugurating President Garfield. If practice makes perfect I should soon be able to play a little bit.” “April 7th, Procrastination is the thief of time. He stole a whole week from my diary’s contents. Only as memory refunds it. Time flies faster and faster.” “May 19th, Raining this morning. Things look dreary. But the darkest hour is just before the dawning. This evening looking the surveyors work. His posts are not quite straight. Should see Charlie.” “June 21st - 24th, Not the diary’s of these six days, only remembrances and reserve. Away back in the years gone by here came floating down life’s river a something of the future. The stream warning this freighted baroque was rough and uneven but it gave promise of fairer seas beyond. It’s form was strange and rumor said, peculiar too. Yet ever on it swam and as the king of day, bad season’s roll away. That rescue nearer drew until all joined together in saying, “What can this be? Why these dark blue sails approach our favorite isle. Who can it be.” Then thoughts arose and fancy cast one timid glance, says she, “Can this be our friends of youth once more wearing a favored sky? If so let us welcome them with hearty cheer and they all said yes. The babbling brook with tiny ships rocked upon its little waves has become a river large and wide. The ship still floats in grandeur splendor. We know those sails are messengers from that far off land where wonder opens up her treasures to the toiling mind………” (There are two more days from this same passage.) “July 2nd, Oh! How we sometimes long for things to be different but were they as we would have them, would we be anymore happy than we now are? All is well that ends well and all is said to be for the best.” “July 11th, Nothing new today. The rye field has the strongest claims. Sometimes all claims are not satisfied yet save me from the power of that awful monster, the green eyed tyrant. He’s not far away.” “July 13th, What shall I write. Imagery can fill this blank. Future years may look upon this page and say, “The _____of today was there’s a teacher in the common schools of Alle. County. Changes must and will come.” “July 14th, Is it something original, you wish me to write? I hardly know how to begin for there is nothing original in me except original sin.” “July 29th, Better. Raking and binding oats. Wet again. My horizon is dark, very dark. Such clouds never before were seen. This is a sad world, a world full of bad people. I will wish for better.” “July 31st, When the eye of strangers meet this page if such ever happens just think of it all right and pass on to fairer scenes. Willie and I at Sabbath school but few present. I’m lost to all around for the present. How long will this thing last?” “August 15th, ……I have been feeling like giving up almost everything in blank despair….” “September 12th, The air is cool and it is more comfortable than ones past for a few weeks previous. Six more in school making fifty. I wish I could take a trip across the country some of these evenings……” “September 20th, Distant friends, warm and true…..Heard of President Garfield’s death at noon. A nations is in mourning. One of it’s brightest stars has set to rise no more. One brave man has bravely died in his countries service.” “November 12th, A wet morning. I walked to Mansfield. Went to Alle and then to Rochester. All were tolerable well but such a cool reception but once before that Patton’s. All things encircle all varieties. Poverty goes with neglect.” “December 2nd, Mrs. K. worse. Spelling on sides and some acting very ugly. Jealous yes, very. Would it be fair to give a challenge to the school? Better ponder first. Society not very good. Gained the decision.” “December 31st, …….I wish I could see my way beyond. I hope my dread thoughts shall never become realities……..”