Matthew Tomlinson’s New Year in 1834
From Matthew Tomlinson’s Diary, transcribed with original spelling. He lived at Doghouse Farm, Lupset and was 69 years old. Three volumes of his diary are held by the Local Studies Library in Wakefield.
“Jany 5th – This is the first saboth in the New year: Or a division of Months, and Weeks, and Days, and hours &c wisely ordered for the regulation of finite beings, and finite affairs: but in fact, to day is like yesterday, and the last day in the old year, and the first day in the new one, are twin sisters: if we were to lose our Almanacks, and be removed into the deserts, the days are so much like one another, (or so much alike) that we shou’d not know the one from the other: – so that weather it be, that Time passes; or that Man passes it mattereth not, for our threescore knotches will be counted up.
The last day in the old Year, about noon; a most tremendous Wind awoke from the West, and blew with awful fury most of the afternoon; we expected evry moment that our old house wou’d be unroofed: slate after slate rolled down; – my mind was anxious – looked out of the window: but cou’d do no more: Years, and infirmities have rendered me useless in such matters.”