IMH 74:4 353

"Chronicles of Upper Burnet" (1)

Wednesday December 1st.

Nor to-day did I any work. I am strangely weakened, to feel so well, and have had no more indisposition
than that of the past few days. The day was sunshiny and considerable thawing took place. Father and
Alvin put in their time making a huge door nine feet in width and hung it at the end of the buggy-shed.
They then fixed at things about the cow-barn which will take I should think about four day's work yet
to complete. I went up to the school house on the hill at noon. The scholars were somewhat rude and
boisterous and I not very well so I did'n't enjoy it very much. Tom Newbern gathered a load of corn to-day

Teaching Notes: I think today's entry is very revealing about the character of William Gregory Harrison.
He feels very poorly...and why not...The infection of his abscessed tooth has had to greatly weaken him.
Yet where does he go? To school. What does this tell us about him? The comment " I not very well so
I did'n't enjoy it very much" speaks volumes about his love of learning. How many of your students look
for a way to get away from school when they feel poorly?