Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-10-16
Che family Cirels.
How to Keep a Journal.

Autumn is as good time as any for n
boy or girl to begin to keep journal. Too
many have the idea that it is hard and
Improbable task to keep journal, and
especially is this the case with those who
have begun, but soon gave up the expert
ment. Th y think it is a waste of time,
and that no good results from it. But that
depends upon the kind of journal that you
keep. Everybody has heard of the boy
who thought he would try to keppa diary
He bought book and wrote in it the first
dav, " Decided to keep Journal" The
next day he wrote, Got up, washed.
and went to bed" The day after, he
wrote the same thing, and no wonder that
ut the end of week he wrote, " Decided
not to keep a Journal and gave up the
experiment. 1t is such an attempt as this
by persons who have no idea of what
journal is. or how to keep it, that discour-
ages others from beginning. But it is not
hard to keep a ionrual if you begin the
right way, and will use little persever-
ance and patience. The time spent in
writing in journal is not wasted by any
means. 1t may be the best employed hour
of any in the day, and a well kept journal
is source of much pleasure and advant-
age which more than repays the writer
for the time and trouble spent upon it.
The first thing to do in beginning IA
| journal, is to resolve to stick to it. Don't
begin, and let the poor Journal die in II
week. A journal, or diary. should be
written in every dug, if possible. Now.
don t be frightened at this, for you do II
great many things every day, and thi-
isn't IL very awful condition. he time
spent IN " be longer or shorter, according
10 the matter to be written up; but try and
write at least little every day. "Nutta
dies sine Inca "-no day without line
is good motto. 1t is great deal easier
to write little every day than to write up
several days in one
Do not get for II Journal book with the
dates already. printed in it. That kind
| will do very we'll for merchants note
book, but not for II young man or WON IN
who wants to keepa live. cheerful account
of happy and pleasant life. Sometimes
you will have Il picnic or excursion to
write about, and will want to fill more
space than the printed page allows. Buy
substantially bound blank book, made OF
good paper; write your name and address
plainly on the fly leaf, and, if, you choose,
paste Il calendar inside the cover. Sci
down the date at The head of the first page,
thus: Tuesday, October l, 1873" Then
begin at the record of the day, endeavor
rs lar AS possible to mention the events in
the correct order of time,-morning, after
noon and evening. When this is done
write in the middle OF the page, "Wednes
day, October 2, and you are ready for the
record of the next day. 1t is well 10 sci
down the year at the Top of each page.
But what are you to write aboutP First,
the weather. Don't forget this. Write
Cold and windy" or Warm and
bright" as the case may be. 1t takes but
moment, and in few years you will
have complete record of the weather
which will be found not only curious, bul
useful.
Then put down the letters yon have re-
ceyed or written, and, if you wish, any
money paid or received. The day of be
ginning or leaving school the studies you
pursue; visits from or to your friends; pic
| MICS or sleigh-rides; the books you have
read; and all such items of interest should
be noted. Write anything that you wan
to remember. After trying this plan Il
short time, you will be surprised at the
many things constantly occurring which
YOU used to overlook, but which now form
pleasant paragraphs in your book. Blu
don try to write something where there
is nothing to write. If there is only IA line
to be written, write that, and begin again
next day.
DO not set down about people anything
| L A CHI than in |
is not likely that any one will ever see
your writing, but it is possible, so always
he careful about what you write. The
Chinese say of IL spoken word, that once
let fall. it cannot be brought back by q
chariot and six horses. Much more is this
true of written words, and once out Of
YOUR possession, there is no telling where
ihey will 90, or who will see them,
The hest time to write in Il journal is in
the evening. Keep the book in your table
drawer, or in your desk, and. after supper
when the lamps are lighted. sit down and
write your plain account of the day. Don't
| try to write an able and eloquent article
but simply give statement of what you
have seen OF done during The day. Fol
the first week or two after beginning a
journal, the novelty of the thing will keep
up your interest, and you will be anxious
for the time TO come when you can write
in your Journal. But, after "A while. it be-
comes tedious. Then is the time when
Won must persevere. Write something
every day. and before long you will hnd
that You are becoming SO accustomed to II
Thai YOU would not willingly frego it.
Afler that, the way is plain. and the long
er Sou 1--we the more valuable and indis-
pensable your journal will become