My grandmother's diary -- word for word, spelling for spelling, thought for thought, idea for idea -- just as she originally wrote it back in 1944 and '45. I hope you enjoy this glimpse into the life of an 11-year-old Swiss girl in Berne, Indiana.

1/25/09

Dec. 2

I scared Coretta awfully bad.

In the evening I went uptown for once again in the evening. I did most of my Christmas shopping. I bought ______ _______ for ________ and for Elaine, I bought _______ _______ for ________. I bought a dime’s worth of glittering V’s. I put one on _______ present.

1/18/09

December 1

It snowed. There was enough snow on the ground to make hard snowballs. Levi, Byron, Curtis, Paul, and Derryl always wanted to wash our face, especially Bonni’s, Lu Ella, and me. I went in the school house and embrodiered. We had fun anyway.

1/11/09

Nov. 30

Today was a very chilly morning. This is the first day this year I wore my snow-suit. It is 18 above 0. Brrrrr.

I got up and helped mom.

I copied some songs.

I was going to last night, but Samuel made me go to bed. In reading the Bible, I am at Exodus 13. I have _____ for the Christmas exchange. Elaine has _____. I don’t know what to buy either of them. I want to go uptown Saturday.

1/4/09

Nov. 29 Mrs. N. was here today

We played Shipwreck. The boys played too. Byron, Derryl, Bonnie, Lu Ella, Coretta, and I took the rest. The other side beat 42-0 in the morning. At recess the boys played regular ball. We beat the last recess

Our neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. had a wreck. Mrs. L. broke her collar bone. I don’t know how bad the rest was.