Voices from the Past - Part Two

There are many questions one can ask about this journal....one mystery is the presence of several tables which have been tallied both across and down...the numbers don't seem to make sense, since, if they represent dollars, it would be amazing that he would have that kind of money available...if they were numbers (gambling) they wouldn't be totaled....so if anyone can shed some light I would be happy to hear. Also - was Mr. Robinson here to visit or had he emigrated? Not sure. I have been unable to this date to find him registered on a ship from that port of call on the dates given. Nevertheless, I think the little journal gives a mind's eye view of life in Philadelphia in 1888. "Friday 11th May '88 Wet morning, staid in lodge most of morning expecting our baggage to be delivered. Went in afternoon to Mr. J. McConachis; spent a pleasant evg there --- in forenoon we went to YMCA. Saturday 12 May After breakfast went to YMCA; got a few addresses there to call upon. Then went to Mr. Kelly’s; had dinner there. Went in evg to a meetg YMCA. Sabbath 13 May Went in forenoon to Rev. J. K’patrick; heard sermon from text -----; went to Lyle Marshall’s after dinner then after supper went to Rev. John Hemphill’s church. Text; 1 Peter 3:16. Monday 14 May Went to YMCA in morning then to some W. Sale Grocers. After dinner to J. McConachis then to Wm. Tweed’s; went in evening to I. C---- to Bob C. and staid till after ten. Tuesday went to J. McC--- in morning. Mr. J. Campbell agreed with David to start work on Monday first then to Wm. Kelley’s next. 2800 Frankford Ave.; then called in Hugh Henderson’s and he said for me to call round with him next morning. Delivered J. Johnston’s and Willie Tweed’s parcels. Wrote to Uncle Wm and Jas. Carson. Wednesday 16 May 88 Went to H. Henderson and engaged with him to go start work tomorrow (Thursday) morng. For a week at seven dollars; called & told WK and went through city rest of afternoon and evg. Charlie Orr went with us to W. Marshall’s and saw Jas. Stewart. Thursday 17 May ‘88 Commenced work in Hap Henderson’s 2459 Kensington Ave., Phila. Mixing and filling flour up to abt four o’clock or so in ---- bags; in evening aft store was closed got lodging and board in Mrs. Myers 110 York St. at four dollars a week; her to do coarse washing for me. Friday till eleven o’clock p.m. nothing very particular. Saturday ----twelve o’clock Sab. Went down to David, dressed and went to Ref. Church at half past ten after dinner went to R.H.C. staid there till half past four went to D’s lodg’s had supper and aft chg., clothes went up to my own lodgs. Monday taking bbls flour up out of cellar bringing up to store; fixing up warehouse; left Henderson’s in the evg, altogether. Tues. 22 May ‘88 Aft breakfast went down to D’s lodgs. Changed clothes went to Bob. C. then to WK next J. Tweed. Wednesday went through a few stores in Bob. Stewarts and Wm. Finlays. Thursday went to D. McArthur, C. McCunis, P. Railway; got letter from Robt. Saw procession of butchers; wrote to S. Mac M. Friday 25 May wet day wrote to Annie. Saturday wet morning ---- cleared up in afternoon. Wrote an appl. To L. office. Sab. At Dr. Steele’s church 18th and Filbert in morning at Rev. Faraar’s in evening. Monday nice bright warm day was at C. Orr’s and J. Tweed Tuesday got letter from C. Orr; went to 1352 N. 2nd St. G. E. ---- in forenoon and to Murphy’s in afternoon. Got letter from Mother and card from Jas. C. Nice, bright warm day; lightening and thundering in evg. Wed. 30 May ‘88 Decoration day; was to C. Mc and he told me to call round on Monday in afternoon D. got off and he and I went to Fairmont Park; at night abt ten when I was for going in to my boarding house Bob. C. Mr. Dunlap and Tom Hunter were waiting to see me and tom engaged me to go next morng. Thursday went to TH’s nothing very important. Wrote to Robt. Park. Friday ----fine day; got close abt qt past nine---- Saturday ---- Sab. Went to D. in morng Went to 19th and Federal Church; got dinner at D’s lodg. Went to J. Corry’s then to my own lodg. in evg. Monday---nothing particular Tuesday fine day; bot pair shoes $1.50. Wed. fine bright warm day D. came up to me in the evg and brought some of my clothes with. Thursday 7th June ‘88 Fine warm day; nothing particular hpd. Friday ----- Saturday fine day got (?) Sab. Aft. Breakfast went down to David; went to 19th and Federal 1st Ref. P. Church 10:30; went from there with J. McC to his house had dinner then went to church at 4 o’clock; again back to J. McC’s and had supper; went to J. Kirkpatrick’s church and Mr. Dunlop preached; had for his text Psalm 23:1; went from church with Bob C. for letter for David from Annie. Saw Rev. J. Sterling at church and was speaking to him. Monday wrote to I Carson and BMcK. Tuesday got a book from Annie as a birthday present. Wed. gave 2 linen and one undershirt, 4 collars, 2 pair socks to laundry to get washed. Bob. C. came up here in evg. Thursday pretty warm day; wrote to Mother and Annie. Friday 85d (degrees?) Saturday ---- Sab. Went down to D. and to 19th and Federal Church in forenoon. To Broad and Fitzwater in evg. Mr. Dunlop preached. Monday went to L. Marshall’s in evg. after shop was closed Tuesday left one linen shirt and 2 collars and one w. hkchief to be washed in laundry. Wednesday went to D. in evg Thursday bot 2 under shirts for 50c; went to W. Kelly in evg. Friday got clothes from laundry 17c Sab. D. came up to me went to 7th and Franklin P. Church. Monday 18 June A3388 B1669 C2024 Tot. 7081 Tu A3450 B2388 C 963 6781 W. A2368 2230 1407 6005 Th 1701 1775 1691 5177 F. 2115 2416 1769 6300 S. 7977 6387 5204 20168 51512 Tuesday 26 June ‘88 Got letter from Mary. Wed. nice cool day came on rain in evg. I changed into front room (80 higher) Th. Very wet day 68d Got letter from Carson. Fri. showery 62 Sat. cool 65 d Sab. Went down to D. went to 20th and Fitzwater heard Mr. Dunlop preach. Nice cool day. Monday nice cool day; got letter from Annie and letter fro S. MacM. Sab. 8 July ‘88 Went to Temple P. Church in morng. To ---- at 2:30 staid in house remainder of evg. Warm day. Monday wet took clothes to laundry 36 worth T. 76d Wrote to John G. Wed. wrote to Mary; went to D. in evg. Tues. had letter from Annie Saturday 9th July ‘88 (Here was another table of numbers) Sab. David came up to me; went to Temple P. Church in morning. Aft dinner took a walk out of the city – nice day. Monday had letter from Aunt A. Tuesday got offer from Robt. Stewart and accepted. Sab. Went down to D. and to 19th and Federal Church in morning and aft dinner had walk to the country. 16 July ‘88 (Here was another table - because Blogger will not allow formatting in a table, I have not included it) Monday 23 July ‘88 Went to R. Stewart; pretty warm day Tues. close warm day; wrote to Father in evg. Wednesday bought shirt 1.75 Friday bought hat. Sab. Went to Bob St’s enjoy the day very much. Monday wrote to Aunt Annie Tues. wrote to S. MacM. Wed. got letter from Father went down to D. Thurs." (Here ends the journal.)