Cecil Sharp Diary 1918

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Document date

Thursday 9th of May 1918

Transcription Notes

Slept very badly again although the night was quite cool, even cold. But I miss a sheet (upper one) and the dogs make an infernal row and prevent my getting off to sleep. Weather fairly cool, so directly after breakfast make for Crab Tree Falls, calling at P[ost] O[ffice] where I found a large batch of letters awaiting me from England, Bradley etc. Last night there was a prayer meeting after which apparently the whole village discussed us. It was generally agreed we were German spies — noting tunes etc was clearly a blind to hid nefarious intentions — the fact that we eat no meat too was a clear indication that there was something wrong. Then we had asked at Mrs Taylor’s yesterday where her spring was (of course we had done no such thing) and that meant we intended to poison it! Although how killing poor Mrs Taylor would assist the Kaiser, no one seemed to think! Last of all we were 4 people not two and Mr & Mrs Coffey were greatly to be pitied for being taken in by two such obvious rascals — but then "Selina would do anything for money!". All this we heard at the houses we called at, chiefly from dear old Aunt Betty Fitzgerald aged 85 with whom we had many talks, but from whom we got no songs! The [….?] FitzGeralds obviously eyed us askance & refused to sing, and the two [….?] Elders staying with her treated us most curtly. Got no songs until we called on old Philander who sang us several first raters. His old blind wife, he told us, had cut out, made & served the skirt she wore all by herself. She threads the needle in her mouth with her tongue. In the evening I showed Coffey my passport in case he might be influenced by rumours. We all sat in my room & sang & laughed and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves till nearly 11 p.m. Bruce — a delightful youth of about 17 — Maisie nice but fat — William who has been and still is very sick and the parents. We have decided to leave tomorrow if we can get a motor to take us to Arrington. We have more or less finished the singers within walking distance.

Location

USA : Viginia : Nash [0,0]

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