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PATTIE FITZGERALD : 1872 - 1878 ORIGINAL, SAD MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A VIRGINIA TEENAGER SUFFERING AT SCHOOL AND STARTING TO HAVE DARK MURDEROUS NIGHTMARES

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer is a fascinating, original 1872 - 1878 manuscript diary handwritten by a young woman, likely a teenager, named Pattie Fitzgerald of Fredericksburg Virginia who attended a boarding school called the B.F. Institute. The 47 pages of handwritten entries make for an unusual diary inasmuch Pattie provides the usual day-to-day activities but this book is moreso a depository of her most private thoughts revealing an interesting narrative of life in the south after the Civil War. Spanning a number of years in long narrative form, it seems she became very depressed and despondent in the late 1870s, suicidal at times and writes about her feelings in a poetic style. She states that she moved around many times, and gives the names and locations such as Maryland, Sabot Island and Washington D.C. Other interesting entries she briefly discusses a murder that took place and the details of the murder, a fire and an amusing entry of attending to a picnic with fellow boarding school girls (one of whom gets drunk on whiskey and disgraces the school.) There are also entries regarding courting, and meeting young men the beginning of the diary contains some detailed descriptions of boarding school life. I believe she became a teacher later in the 1870s she mentions teaching and giving lessons. As mentioned she grows very depressed which may have been due to a broken heart but soon her depression takes a more sinister turn with her having several nightmares where everyone at the school is murdered. Here are some snippets including some of the more startling entries: Jan 1st 1878 Still in Buckingham this new years morning last new years I was in Pittsburg. Wonder where I shall be this time next year perhaps in my grave. Heard of Col. Berkeley's death or murder last week was shot down in his office by a man Raymond Kingly it was a dreadful murder Kingly than killed he. It has been a _ day he was to give a ball. Sabot Island Virginia Feb 17th 1878 Once more and I have changed my post office again that I will never get settled I think I must be that rolling stone that father mentioned. I am now searching for Wright How do things change in a few years, a few years ago I would have not thought for anyone Now I am _ for good as nothing I commenced teaching last Thursday A week ago the 7th of February I wrote several letters since I have been here all pride and hope dead within me nothing remains but the dark dreary future. I cannot look back at the past without surrendering, I cannot think of the future without pain. I am indeed to be pitied. May 8th Sabot Island Virginia 1878 Oh to write a few lines in this old diary their still hangs dark cloud over me I fear that it will never be dispelled my head aches dreadfully from crying I feel some times that death would be welcome. I often pray for it. "but not my will thane will be done" I think of going to Richmond tomorrow. Oh heart lie still Death will welcome you from all of you trials, and death only into each life some rain must fall, and mine is most of all My own making. Viaduct Relay Station MD Oct 15th 1878 I have changed homes again and a great many things have happened since I last wrote in my diary I stayed with Mrs. Wright until the 3rd of July than left there for Dansville I stayed there until the 1st of Aug I received a telegraph saying come at once Momma is quite ill I left Danville the 29th and find myself_ with Mama is up again. Mon 28th 1872 In the middle of reading Hart I asked if I could be excused I would hear my heart beat I thought he was going to give me a _ but on entering the parlor who should I see but Pa I was so glad I did not know what to do I kissed him three times he said all was well he left in about a half hour after he left I went to dinner. May 1872 I went to a picnic last Saturday, had a splendid time. Last night Willie White went down to the store and got some whisky, and drank too much, and I never saw so much carrying on as she showed. I thought she would vomit her entrails out, but the next day we had a big fuss and they said the school was disgraced. Willie White has not eaten anything since yesterday at dinner. May 23rd 1872 I am feeling badly this morning I had an awful dream last night when I woke up it scared me to death I dreamt that we were all murdered in cold blood." Included: a calling card with Pattie W. Fitzgerald name written on the front; Deed of Pattie W Fitzgerald dated 1883; three lose sheets of account information circa 1870s; one small group of dried flowers tied in string. The small notebook marbled covers shows heavy wear, for the most part pages are still bound together in one section , but disbound from the cover whose binding has fallen apart. The covers are loose page, some tears and smudges, also several lose items of ephemera a deed dried flowers as mentioned. Overall Fair+.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Fair+

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