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January [7th?]. 1846.
The long cherished wish of my heart has been gratified today; I have entered the Normal School, passed through an examination to test my preparation for the studies and duties which the Teachers shall please to assign - have been encouraged to hope that by diligence I can remain for the present. My conduct has been very foolish - when shall I learn to control my feelings better - I know it troubled my teachers - may they forgive and forget - I will try and not pain them again by a like offence.
I felt sad when I first entered the school, but as I looked on the faces of the teachers and pupils, love seemed to be stamped on each one of them, and I felt I was not alone. The first exercises were truly devotional. As the Principal read these words from the bible - "God is our refuge" - I was happy. I wish I could always retain the many excellent remarks I heard from principal. This is my first attempt at journal writing "A thing well begun is half done" I have not got half through I am sure
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Jan. 8.th. It is said the first step towards gaining knowledge is to be convinced of your ignorance. I am convinced of mine, and aston- ished at it, but I am very thankful I came here. My mind has been continually receiving new ideas today. I have never studied nor been taught any of the elementary [beaches?] as they should be. It is good to be humbled.
The Sentiment given this morning was excellent but I cannot record it. It seems to me as if those pupils who have enjoyed the privileges of Normality for a year or more ought to be very grateful, and very wise.
I hope I shall not cause an unhappy feeling in the hearts of any of my teachers. Their trials and cares must be very great.
How beautiful to look at the consequence of always acting upon the golden rule as our Principal suggested this morn - may it indeed be a reality. I behold with admiration the order and systems with which the school is carried forward, but I have hardly become initiated yet. This day's account is sealed; all its moments have not been improved as should they should be. How selfish it seems to write about I so much.
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Friday, Jan.9th Rode this morn at peep of day: walked to the dwelling place of the dead. Must all the beaming faces I have seen in [?] today moulder in the grave. May the eternal home of our spirits be in Heaven. O that my head was larger and my mind stronger, so as to [?] digest all the food which is given them. Such quick successions of new ideas, new plans and modes of teaching almost distract me. My greatest axiety is fear I lose some of the truths my teachers tell me, and thus cause them to labor in vain, and myself, less useful in after life. I now reap the bitter fruits of indulging in habits of inattention all my life. I have a great deal to unlearn as well as learn. Misspelled two words this morn I was sorry. Reflections on the past, do us good only as [?} they cause us to make good resolutions for the future. Could not express my lesson in Phisiology so clearly as I should. Mr. Pierce's remarks on geography were valuable, shall preserve them in my mind and on paper. How plain Miss Tilden makes Arithmetic. I knew nothing of the Phonography until today. Live to the truth.