Frost History - (Elizabeth) Marion Frost Journal

Below is a web page of text from a journal that (Elizabeth) Marion Frost kept from 1883 to 1921. There is a link to the next page near the bottom of this page. There is also an index of all of the pages.

November 29, 1883

     Today is Thanksgiving day. I spent it alone in my room, but I received letters today from Father, Carrie, Jennie, Cora and Theodora. The house is not yet built, but they have some hopes of getting into it this week. The roof is not on, but both floors are laid and Henry sleeps in it nights, downstairs.
     My Thanksgiving dinner consisted of a large baked potato, a dish of cranberry sauce, butter, salt, dried corn, biscuit baked in a loaf like bread …

     … told them to make spheres. They made some very nice ones. The best were Ottis Vandivin’s, age five, and Clara Shield’s, age 7; the second best, Milo Dunham’s, age five, and Willis Vandivin’s, age nine. The ages refer to the children, no to the spheres.

December 3, 1883

     Yesterday I wrote to Mother and to Aunt Em. I have read the Jour. Of Ed. for Nov. 22, and all before I also read Miss Brown’s Iowa Normal Monthlies for September, October and November.
     I have been to church this evening. Mrs. Snyder invited me. It was at the Congregational church. Mr. Norris, formerly of Wisconsin, preached. He also preached yesterday …

January 12, 1884

     … went to Mr. Plumb’s to carry some Christmas presents to Iona McLennan. We were going to Mr. McLennan’s but Mr. McLenan was working on the new railroad and Mrs. McLennan and Iona were at Mr. Plumb’s. There is going to be another little McLennan before this time next year. I gave Iona some Kindergarten balls and part first of the Kindergarten Guide. Freddie and Addie gave a cheese cloth crib quilt, but they decided to save that for the new baby. They also gave a blue cambric stocking filled with candy, popcorn, cookies, etc., to Iona. I gave Lodaska permission to use the balls for the new baby. Tuesday, no, Monday night we had our Christmas. Mr. Hovey … and Whittier’s poems; Mrs. Hovey, … else, I forget what; Fredrica … and Story of Avis; Adelaide … Charles Hovey, slippers and … a white linen apron, with … There may have … but I do not remember any … Plaine. Mr. Hovey’s folks …

     … bell from Lizzie Stiles. I sent Aunt Em and Lizzie Stiles New Year’s cards. I did not sent our folks any Christmas presents, partly on account of the scarcity of money and partly on account of the scarcity of time. I not only had the usual press of business incident to the close of a tem, but I was also helping some children get ready to try the examination for

[that is where a page ends, and the next begins with a discontinuity not only in text but dates]

November 18, 1883

     I got up this morning at 6:40. I … church and heard Mr. Lamb, of Marshalltown … It was a very good sermon indeed. I shall go this evening to hear him again. I called on Mrs. Hoyt, this afternoon … not generally make calls on Sunday, but … seen her since Cora went away. I … Story of Avis to let Freddie read. I do … Hoyt really liked to lead it, although … me. I think that I will … to Mrs. Hoyt instead … Freddie take it …

     … Trove [?] came for Arthur. I had it forwarded to him. His subscription expires with that number. I wrote to Mr. Patterson about a school for Jennie. I sent so A. S. Barnes for a First German Book, price thirty cents.

     Sunday I read a number of Whittier’s poems aloud to myself ad a few of Homes’ not aloud …

November 21, 1883

     … their firm name ever since Sunday. Monday I wrote to Henry D. Noyes [?] & Co., 13½ Bromfield St., Boston, about the same books. They advertise to supply teachers with books at wholesale prices. The books I inquired about were as follows:

November 25, 1883

     This morning it was sever or after when I got up. I went to church. Mr. Ambrose preached. I cannot find his text, but it was about running a race and exhorting the people to so run as to win the prize. The sermon was intended to rouse people from a false sense of security, and was doubtless needed. He said that a false sense of security was felt from different causes, and mentioned three causes. First, a feeling that many … that they were better than the other … and one of … worse than …

     … convenient, show him my Letter of Dismission from the church of which he is a pastor. The letter that was given my when the withdrawal of the Anti-Mesmerites was one of the conditions of the settlement of the church troubles; when we who loved our old pastor, Mr. Lane, gave up the church which he and some of our friends built up to those who wished to retain as pastor a man who was neither a christian nor a gentleman. The third cause was that people … to a church or consider … did not think … effort …

     It is nine. I have written the word used with the alphabet in my new German book. I will try to write my name in it and then go to bed.

[here again a page break with a loss of continuity]

June 15, 1884

     Still waiting. I think … wanted me in either of those … have let me know by this …

June 16, 1884

     I think it … at Columbus. It may …

Jan. 25, 1885

     To-night I wrote some original verse in Dolly Collister’s autograph album. I will copy them here.

I am still teaching in Belle Plaine, Cora is teaching in Cozad, Neb., Jennie, near Willowdale. Henry is editing the Kenesaw Neb., Free Press.

May 2, 1885

     I have been sick. I am not well now. A week ago Thursday night when I was first sick, or perhaps it was before, I suddenly had a vision of myself. I seemed to be going home at the end of the term. I seemed to be a little gopher crawling wearily but not slowly toward my hole. I got in and curled up to rest. Since I have been sick I have felt as if my chance to go home was gone. One night, suddenly, the idea came to me that when I had that vision I had my last chance to go home. I had no particular thought of death but death is the only thing that would be likely to prevent my going home. Last night I was tired and felt as if I would like to have … and take me away from myself … to be taken away from … should be sorry to die … at work seems to me the happiest death. More than anything I dread a long lingering sickness. To-day I was thinking about who would be my bearers if I should die. It is Mrs. Barlow’s death that makes me think of such things so much. I do not really think that I am in danger. If I did I would go home. It would be very bad for my school if I were to go now. I taught this except Monday forenoon.

[page break]

June 5,

     I don’t feel so any more.
     To-day is the last day of school. As usual, I talked to my children as if it were a very delightful thing. I always hate to see a school break up with tears and lamentations, or a class in tears as it goes from one room to the next higher. I never saw a school of mine in that condition. But this time I am leaving the room altogether. I told my "A" class that Miss Henry would probably be their teacher next year. Many of them signified their pleasure, and some said, "She is our Sunday School teacher, too." I told the "Beginners" that Mrs. Hartwell would their teacher. The only pleasure shown at that announcement was expressed by Donny [?] Blue. As usual, he was extremely proud because he knew it before. Mr. Lewis, the Principal, boards at his house. When the children were going out to go home, Ethel C … and turned, saying, "I don’ want the … I want you for my teacher always." … little bouquet of pansies, for … pink. Nettie Green, who lives in the house where we used to live, brought me a rose from the bush that I used to call Artie’s birthday bush. It almost always had buds that showed the red on his birthday. Sometimes it blossoms. Emma Shield also brought me some flowers. A rose, some white flowers that resemble apple blossoms, and some yellow, daisy-like flowers. [The David Henry Frost family, including Marion, lived in Belle Plaine, Iowa, before moving to Nebraska – this may be the house they owned in Belle Plaine]
     In a week I hope to be at home. It is 9:10 P.M.

Sept. 10

     I am back in Belle Plaine again. I got back yesterday morning. Last June I got out to the farms in Antelope Co., Neb. on the 13^th. Since then I have had measles.

May 8, 1886

     I cam[e] back to Father’s farm last October. Since then I have been sick a great deal. I do not seem to have got over the effects of the measles. I taught a four month’s school last winter, beginning Nov. 23. I was sick so much that Carrie taught six weeks less one day for me. I have been sick almost all of the time this year, and am now confined to bed.
     Yesterday, Father and Arthur went to Neligh. Arthur had a tooth pulled. Father went especially to get some plants (from Tryons) at the express office. He got them. He also goe ma this lead for my automatic pencil. They charged a double price for it, but I needed it, for I cannot write with ink in bed. He also got the May Wideawake in the mail. {?} Arthur Child sends it to Arthur. There was other mail, but I haven’t seen it.
     Ethel brought me three crocus blossoms and other flowers. Arthur brought me a wild pea; Jennie, some wild cherry or plum blossoms; Mother some wild violets. Father went to town with Gypsy. Ether took Tom and went horseback after Cora, about six miles. Jennie walked from her school, a mile and three-fourths, and carried her dinner basket, her shawl, gossamer,

[page break]

Last revised April 26, 2001.