The Rugbeian. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1881-1882, 1882-01-07
LEAVES FROM THE DIARY
CT SAMUEL PEPYS
REDlVlVUS.

1881. Dec. 22nd.-This day am
carried by rail to Sludgemoor which
doe SCENE to me q mighty poor place,
and desolate Thence by mail coach
to ye Colony called Mugby. Am told
that this road do cost ye Board of Trade
three thousand pound, but Lord +! |
think my fine velvet coat has come
near to be spoiled by ye mire. There
did meet with my friend Thirwall who
asks me to his house to stay while am
in this place. Supped offoa breast of
mutton and vegetables which doe find
an excellent good supper though withal
ugly. Doe hear with great concern
that ye plague have been in ye Colony
and seven dead, but now passed, where
at greatly content. So wearied, to bed
when there do come an hogg making
an horrid noise without which did stop
my sleeping, whereupon l was like to
have fallen in pet. So fell to think
ing that this be a right curious town,
and ye dwelling houses curious, being
of white wood and covered with a kind
of roofing called Shingles mighty
craftily devised. Totsleep, but broken
in ye night being in this new place,
and often thinking Of what ] do hear
Of ye plague.
Dec. 23rd.-Up betimes, though ill
rested, and to walking with Thirwall
in his grounds, he explaining that he
have not yet put up ye fencing round
his boundary, which do we'll see, and
advise him that he doe doe. He tells
me that there be little done in fencing
and improving of the land there being
many stumps remaining on the ground,
which doe surprise me, the more SO as
| am told in England that ye land did
much resemble a nobleman's park.
Nor is there grass to be seen but only
baroness. | do now think that Hue's
booke is booke excellently writ, but
to my mind having only little truth in
it, but | shall know more of this anon.
TO breakfast when it was pretty to
see how Thirwall did spill coffee on ye
dog. Then to walking again in my
fine velvet coat which | doe find not
much spoiled of ye mire He showed
me the town, being it seems made of
two streets, main street from end to
end of ye towne But Lord it doe
give me much trouble to see the poore
state of things, and how oil doe SCENE
dull and dreary. To ye apothecary, a
mighty pleasant gentleman, who keeps
marvellous fine shoppe, and doe print
once week newspaper. Am proud
to see that my name is writ in ye paper
as visitor, but pray that ye honour
doe not make me vain and puffed up.
Talking with Mr.. Farrandon he doe
tell me many things of this place,
how ye English people did send their
sons here to be farmers, and that some
are dead of ye plague, and others have
paid a sum of money to become appren-
ticed, did find it bad bargain to
themselves but a good bargain to those
who took their money, but could not
teach them, which doe seem to me
most shameful. Took advice for my
gout which again doe begin to trouble
me. One cooling draught gid.
Then to Thirwalps when the rain
doe begin to fall heavy. Sat in read
ing of novelle which | doe find ye
most silly poore thing have ever read
After supper played at cards at a new
game called Poker, won 9l. 10. G.
This game doe appear to me a fine
game. So early to bed.
Dec. 24th.-This day being ye day
before Christmas Day rose betimel
and put on my new shag gowne trimmed
with gold buttons, and twist also my
new perriwig which cost me 93. but
did find it bitter cold in ye air
Went to ye post Office where pleased
to find letters from my wife ant
Brounker, with a silken neckcloth il
it for a Christmas Gift. There die
see some native Americans shockin.
poorly attired, chewing of tobacco, ant
splitting on ye floor which did turn my
stomach. After dinner toe a field OF
level ground out side ye town toe SEE
ye game of footballe which did nightly
amuse me toe see men grown up ano
kicking of bale of leather, and
making as if to fight for their lives, nol
can | see that it is anything but sort
of scufle wherein each party doe strive
toe maine the other; one of the players
being flung down and his arm hurt SC
that he was carried to the chirurgeor
in pitiful bad state. Back to Thir.