Michael-Colburn

Dear Diary

       Mine life tis gettin' mush better lately and I intend on gettin' married soon, god willin'. Mine father's death tis not harrass me mind ne'more, and i hath learned that tis ok to forgeteth it. The shop i run with mine mother tis thrivin and we can now leave our poverty in the past. The deal we strucketh with that old sailor hath turned out well and we maketh much profit from him. Tis as if God now recognizes us as people and not as rats. He has given me Elizabeth my future wife. I wanteth to talk to her everyday of my god forsaken life but mine mother forbades that I speak with a girl lest I commit some wicked sin of adultery. But we find ways to see each other whether it be in the woods or late at night. I believe tis love between us. The only thing that distresses me is the cold of February. Mine mother tis gettin old and i feel she be gettin weak from the cold . I pray day and night that nothing happen. She might be a pain in my rear because of Of me only having 16 years of age but she is mine mother, and I love her very much. Lately I've gotten in arguments with her over problems in the shop. For example I forgeteth to clean up the shop one day and I do believe there was not one person in all of Ipswitch that did not hear her scolding me. Now that she is be weak I wish I hath listened to her lest I be on her good side.

At the shop today,

             I struggled to cleaneth up. I struggled to help patrons. I even struggled taking care of Bridget. Mine fathers death tis all on me mind. Why does god keep denying me the simple pleasure of happiness.The only thing that keepeth me going is the thought that i am to be wealthy in a few years. But that may not do much for my sadness. Life tis gettin hard, i can only hope that mine mothers deal may go as it was planned. But I do not trust the shipbuilder mine mother partnereth with. He seems as if he wanteth to take our money. I work at the top of the mornin to the bottom of the night. I am only eleven one may think a child needs a break. I feel as if God has left me and mine family. We are on our own, and i must carry the family. Everynight there is barely enough food to feedeth a family o three. I can not spare to live in this city any longer. I vow to the God almighty that I shall leaveth Ipswitch when i become of age to marry! All Ipswitch reminds me of is sorrow and all that is unhappy. My little sister Bridget is lucky to be young and numb to these pains. All I can do now is wait. Wait till im old enough. Then I will go on a journey and never come back!