What Language!

Relax-no it's not cursing or anything like that. Joan W. Blos' A Gathering of Days is a girls journal set in 1830's New England.  The first thing that strikes you when you read this is the way Blos has captured the language of the day.  For example, when describing how close she is with her best friend Catherine says, "We tell each other every thing; and each of us in the other's dear heart finds secret dreams reflected."  What a delightful turn of phrase.

In undergrad I had a history minor and was particularly fascinated with this time period.  I loved the way Blos captured not only the language but also the flavor, trends, and everyday activities of the time. But none of this is explicit, instead it is skillfully woven into the story of young Catherine's life as she records it in her diary. I didn't keep a diary as a child but if I had there would have been similar themes.  Yes the past is different but on some level girls are always girls. For example Catherine writes regarding boys, "Cassie and I are quite agreed: we'll not reveal affection until certain of its return." Oh what wise words. All of the older girls are thinking, "yeah, good luck with that."

Throughout this diary Catherine exhibits wisdom beyond her 14 years.  I think part of this is because more was expected of children, part is because Catherine's mother died so it fell to Catherine to manage the household and she had to grow up faster.  Perhaps the greatest example of Catherine's wisdom is this tidbit, "and that is what life's all about changes going on every minute, and you never know when something begins where its going to take you."  Learning to accept these changes when they come-this is growing up.

Managing a household, keeping a diary, accepting life's changes...that's kids stuff.