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February [Centered] Friday, Thursday 7 [Right] 1873

That was a wretchedly told story. Today is Charles Dickens birthday. He was born in 1812. Charles Dickens! Greatest of novelists kindest hearted of men! Oh how I admire you how I pray to have at least a little of that talent which distinguished you. Were I the author of but Nichola Nickleby or David Copperfield my ambition would be complet complete. I am afraid I will never astonish anyone with my talent. If I have got any and I am most I have not it is hidden behind a cloud that has no sun to pierce and to dispel it. How sweet a pleasure must it not be to write such a work as David Copperfield. If we the readers of the book are so much affected by the sad and joyful parts of the story, how much more so must have been he who created those images he who for years had those images in his mind for so many years. But if we can not ever become a Dickens and on this point I am sure none will disagree with me nevertheless we can read rejoice and weep over those pages and thank God for his goodness in giving us such a comforter as Char.Charles Dickens.

[Centered] Saturday, Friday 8.

Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded on the 8th of February 1587. Today is the 286th anniversary of her death. Whether or not she was guilty of what some historians accuse her I cannot say as I have not read much on the subject. I can say though that she was most barbarously put to death. In my heart and every true Christian’s heart Mary Queen of Scots is revered as one of the noblest the purest of women, How great a contrast is presented when the Virgin Queen of England Elisabeth passes before our imagination. Sweet-tempered, lovely, chaste and innocent woman how nice by you look when side by side with the victim of your treacherous heart. Wicked of heart, cruel of mind, impure in thought, immodest in conduct, fearful in temper disgusting in your vanity, a treacherous friend a jealous fiend a fickle lover and a disgrace to your sex Elisabeth thou art truly England’s greatest Queens. And yet how many historians there are who devote whole pages in praising this evil one in woman’s form.

[Centered] Sunday, Saturday 9.

Today is Sunday. how there was no necessity for saying it was Sunday for there is Sunday two lines above. What I ought to have said and what I now say is that today is Septuagesima Sunday. This name must be as mysterious to most people as O’Connel’s “parallelogram” was to the fish woman. Harrison was born one hundred years ago today.

[Centered] Monday, 10.

Today yes today is not tomorrow. Although today is not tomorrow nevertheless it is washing day. “Devil a bit of comfort upon a washing day” says the old song but I think nothing is more unjust than this same saying. Many a happy moment have I passed on this much abused day. Friday is hangman’s day, a day of fish, a day feared by superstitious traveller traveler, dreaded by gourmands, hated by merchants despised by all receives less real abuse than Monday that day when to use the words of a South Orange poet [Centered] “One half of the world is ring wig wet [Centered] “Or on the lines a – drying; [Centered] “That so the seven days’ smirch may get, [Centered] “A weekly purifying.”