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SUSAN C. HAMMOND : 1870 - 1874 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT DIARY OF A VERY TROUBLED YOUNG VICTORIAN WOMAN BESET BY UNSATISFYING AFFAIRS OF THE HEART

64mo - up to 3" tall. On offer is the handwritten manuscript diary of Susan C. Hammond who lived around Port Alleghany Pennsylvania. Susan's diary represents the year 1870 but she also has entries for 1871, 1873 and 1874. She seems to be a very troubled young woman especially when it comes to the opposite sex. There is one man she wants to give her heart to but he doesn't seem to want to give that love back because he doesn't trust her. Then there are two other men who love her but she does not love them and in fact in one instance she says she would rather die then to marry this one particular gentleman. The diary is sporadically written but what entries there are very noteworthy; ones depth and quite thought provoking. She has written on every day during 1871 up to the first of August and then much less. Some times she writes just a line a day and other times a full page. As far as the later years, she has just jotted down important days, mostly having to do with her love life. She writes in pencil on most of the pages but 29 pages that she (or someone) has torn out of the diary and are unaccounted for. One can only speculate what entries required excising in Miss Hammond's entries. Regardless, there are still many, many entries that give you a very good idea of what Susan's life was like in the early 1870's. An interesting poem at the diary's back cover may explain her troubled love life best: "Friendship may but last a day Passion is a spell, Transient as the whirlwind breath, Grant me love as strong as death." Here are snippets: 1870 January 2nd, "Just got home from church. Had a very good meeting. John McDowell is here. He has asked me to go with him to Port to a party Friday but I told him I would not go and feel though I was doing right." January 20th, "Tonight I asked the Lord to forgive my sins for dear Jesus sake. I pray the Lord to watch over me and keep me from sin. I know that I am unworthy to be called a child of God but I know He will save me if I trust Him for Jesus sake. I closed my school today. Rev. B.H. Carrier preached at 12:00 o'clock." February 5th, "At Home. I promised myself this night that I will not marry John McDowell. What I write here shall never be changed." March 13th, "May the Lord baptize me with the Holy Ghost and keep me from temptation." March 20th, "John McDowell is here. He told me this evening that he loved me but I can never, never return his love. He thinks I can learn to love him but I feel in my heart that I never can. I wish I might never see him again. I wish my school was out. I am very unhappy. Miles and Amelia went away tonight." May 29th, "I took a horseback ride and lost my ear ring." 1871 November 19th, "Six weeks ago today Niles and I went to Mr. Harter's from Mr. Knapps. We wished each others rings on until today and promised to write to each other today and all our wishes I have written but will not send it until I get his. Oh if I could only know that he returns my love. He told me going from Mr. Knapps that he never cared for Amelia but why do I hope that he will ever care for me." November 24th, Frank brought me Niles letter this evening. I have written another letter to him tonight. I cannot send the first one for he does not trust me. He will never never know that I love him. Why have I been so foolish as to think he would ever care for me. He can never never know my heart." 1873 August 3rd, "N. H. called at Palmers this eve. He seemed very formal. If I could only know why he treats me as he did tonight I would have asked him but he would not let me. He left me without a word." August 4th, I have asked myself many times and why did Niles treat me so coldly last night. Almost without respect. I cannot, I dare not hope that he ever might or will care for me. Oh, I have been but as "a friend". He never treated me so before. He never will know that I love him." 1874 April 5th, "Levi brought me home this afternoon. Dwight brought me a line from John Lewis. Oh why did I ever go with him. I never cared for him and I never liked his company. I have been very cruel and deserve to be punished. I will never go with him again." April 7th, "John Lewis came up tonight and staid until after 10 o'clock. He told me that I had deceived him. He says he never shall marry. I told him that I would not love him that I could not love him. Can I ever be forgiven for going with him knowing that I did not care for him. I would sooner die tonight then be his wife." For genealogists and Port Alleghany historians she also mentions many names, such as; Evans, Palmer, Kinney, Lyman, Harder, Cooper, Currier, Joliet, Nellie Morris, Simpson, Burdick and more. The diary measures about 2 ½" x 4" and is in good condition.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Very Good

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