Good morning! Today is February 22nd, 1810. You wake up to a chilly breeze rattling your bedroom window, and the sound of sleet tapping on the windowpane. The sky is rather dreary today; the middle of February in Newport is never the most exciting time. You crave the warm summer days by the harbor, running around the Point Neighborhood with your best friends, and visiting the markets on Thames Street. While downtown is still bustling with shop owners and workers, it is not quite the same with sleet blowing into your face and having to be bundled up in a thick coat. The bed warmer has cooled completely since you heated it up last night, and you finally decide to hop out of bed and begin your day. 

After you get yourself out of bed and you're standing up in your cold room, you rush to find warmer clothes to get dressed for the day. You can't stand being so cold, and you wish the embers in the fireplace hadn't dwindled while you slept. You choose a long-sleeve, woolen shirt to wear over your undershirt, and you bundle up with thick socks and long pants to cover them. You lace up your boots and head downstairs for some breakfast before school. You're starving, so you have a cup of coffee, some eggs, and porridge. You grab your schoolbooks before heading out the door into the cold morning.

Once you're out the door, you meet up with your friend James; he always walks to school with you, and you're grateful for the company, especially on this cold February morning. James is wearing even more warm clothes than you are! He offers you an extra scarf, and you gratefully accept! You had forgotten to grab yours off of your desk this morning as you were getting ready. The walk to 47 Division Street, where Mr. Newport Gardner keeps a music school, is not too long, thankfully. You and James are both students of Mr. Gardner and you're learning to play the piano. Your instructor will be teaching you a new piece of music today that he composed himself, and you and James could not be more excited!

At school this morning, Mr. Gardner showed you, James, and a few other students the new piece of music that you all will be learning after midday meal. You're amazed by how beautiful the piece is, and you're looking forward to figuring it out after you eat. When your instructor dismisses you all for your meal, you sit with James, Matthew, and George. Instead of going home for dinner today, you decided to bring a few snacks to school to eat with your pals. You chomp on some bread and cheese that your mother packed for you this morning after breakfast. You use this time to talk with your friends about their favorite pastimes and hobbies. You can't wait to hang out with them all after school once the weather warms up.

After the midday meal had finished, you and your friends head back to your seats to begin learning Mr. Gardner's new piece. You spend a little while annotating the music, writing in notes, and making notations for areas you suspect might give you trouble. You volunteer to practice on the piano and your teacher helps you through the tough parts. For only being your first run through, Mr. Gardner is surprisingly pleased with you and your classmates. He suggests that constant practice both inside and outside of the classroom will prompt musical growth. You hope that someday, your music skills will be just as refined as Newport Gardner's. 

By the time supper rolls around, the sleet has stopped and the moon is high in the sky, pointing to a clear night. Even though it is still quite cold outside, you decide to take a brief walk outdoors before settling in for the night. You throw on your jacket and lace up your boots, and you meander down to the water's edge at Bowen's Wharf. Even though the sun has set, the wharf is still quite busy with workers and fishermen. You enjoy learning about the lives of people who make their livings on the wharf, and you think that maybe one day, that could be your job. After some exploring, you head back to your warm home and get ready for bed. 

Your mother has kindly rekindled the fire in the fireplace in your bedroom, meaning you can sleep warmly tonight. You give her a hug goodnight and then you set out your clothes for tomorrow. You get yourself cozy into your bed and you stare up at the ceiling before blowing out the candle as Mr. Gardner's music dances in your head. You reach over and extinguish the candle and roll over into your warm bed. Goodnight!