Good morning! Today is September 24th, 1828. A cool breeze enters through your bedroom window, letting you know that autumn has truly begun. The weather is overcast today, making it even more difficult to rise out of bed. The family cat Whiskers is sleeping soundly by your bedroom door; you know that as soon as you get out of bed, Whiskers will run over to you and meow for her breakfast. You remember the chores you must complete before you head to school for the day, so it is finally time to leave your warm bed and brave the cool weather.

Once you have finally decided to get out of bed, you walk over to your bureau where your clothes have been neatly folded. Whiskers, just like you expected, bounds over to you and circles your legs meowing for her morning meal. You give her a soft pat on the head before choosing your outfit for the day. Looking in your bureau, you decide on a brown silk dress. The color of the dress goes nicely with the bonnet you have chosen to wear. You slip into a fresh chemise, pull up your stockings, and then fasten your petticoats around your waist. You put the dress on over your head and hook the clasps shut. The vanity your father carved for you is positioned in front of the window, allowing for natural light to help you get ready. You tuck your hair up into a cap and head out to the kitchen for a quick breakfast.

After quickly eating some porridge your sister made for you this morning, you take a swig of coffee and head out the door, hoping that you aren't late for school. You grab your basket and tie on your bonnet before heading out the door. Inside your basket you have a pencil, some chalk, a slate for writing, and a handkerchief. Whiskers meows at you one more time before you rush out, and you reach down and pet under her chin, telling her that you'll be back in the afternoon. The Mill Street School, which just opened last year in 1827, recently hired a new teacher to teach the female students. You head out the door into the chill autumn weather.

You arrive at the Mill Street School this morning just in time for Miss Golding to take attendance. You are one of the oldest girls in class and you've become more advanced with your education in the past few years. Since you are a female student, you are taught more domestic crafts in addition to the same subjects boys learn. You know how to read and write, but you also spend your time learning to create samplers and practicing your sewing skills. Thankfully, the Mill Street School allows girls to learn geography and arithmetic as well, meaning you are truly a well-rounded student. You enjoy embroidery, but you find math much more exciting! Miss Golding's lessons are always interesting, and you feel like you've found a real community here at school. 

Miss Golding dismisses you and your classmates at 4:00 pm, and the sky is still as cloudy as ever. With only about ninety minutes of daylight left, you rush out of the classroom and back up the hill to your home. Some of your younger sister's petticoats need mending, and you have to help with the remaining laundry before it gets too dark. Your family is grateful for your support when it comes to washing the week's clothes. Whiskers is mulling around the clothesline as you hang up the damp dresses and shirts. After the laundry is washed and hung, you head back inside to light the lamps and get ready to begin your mending tasks.

You spend the rest of your evening mending a stack of petticoats that your sister had left for you. Because you've spent so much time in school working on creating samplers, your sewing skills are strong enough to get through the pile of fabric just in time for bed. Your mother prepped a small meal to snack on before you head upstairs to retire. Since you ate a large midday meal during the school day, you aren't too hungry for a late supper. You remember to place a bowl of fresh milk down for Whiskers, and then you head up to get ready.

As you settle into bed, you think about your day. The math lessons and sewing skills you learned from Miss Golding dance through your mind and you wonder where the future will take you. Opportunities for girls and women seem to be looking more promising with each passing year, and you think to yourself about how you can use your skills to better the community of Newport and the world at large. Goodnight!