During the nineteenth century, children were desired, and enjoyed by parents. It was evident that parents recognized that there were distinct stages of development. Household chores began as the responsibility of the husband and wife. As their family grew, children, depending on their abilities and gender, gained responsibility to assist with the household tasks. This paper will examine some characteristics of childhood in rural Nova Scotia during the nineteenth century. ?Louisa?s Diary: The Journal of a Farmer?s Daughter Dartmouth, 1815? edited by Dale McClare describes the daily chores of an eighteen year old. Jane Sprott?s ?Album Musquodoboit: A Diary and Letter-Book? introduced by Janet Guildford is written by a girl only nine years o

This was a time in which the women?s role was primarily in the home. Education was available to some by way of grammar schools, however a great deal of learning was done in the home. In Louisa?s Diary, there is no mention of formal education. We are made aware of the numerous household chores that she is responsible for. In many entries Louisa mentions spending many days ?spinning and carding?(1). Some other chores included washing, cooking, churning and making butter, picking currants and making wine, sewing, raking and making hay, and helping with the milking (2). Saturday was the day to clean the house and all the girls helped, ?This has been a very busy day with me and all-we had our house to clean all over after the rain,...-Papa has been to town today?(3). Although Louisa, being the second oldest daughter, had many household responsibilities, she did not question her role. She does these daily chores as routine, and it is everything else that is seen in a broader sense, ?I have not done much today except housework?(4). Although the majority of work can be described from Louisa?s Diary, similarly Jane Sprott had also learned that children must learn to work. Jane and her siblings shared in the work. As the oldest at age nine, Jane had already learned to milk the cows and scrub the floors (5). One aspect of a child?s life that was address through Jane?s diary was schooling. Although it had not been mentioned in Louisa?s diary, education, in the eyes of the Sprott family, was seen to be necessary for children, especially girls. In an August entry, Jane gives a description of what she understands to be the well-bred woman. She mentions the importance of education, but more so the importance of education that is based on religion (6). Both Louisa and Jane felt their responsibilities were important, and were what they were doing was expected from girls.

McClare, Dale, ed. Louisa?s Diary: The Journal of a Farmer?s Daughter Dartmouth, 1815 Dartmouth N.S.; Publications Committee of the Cole Harbour Rural Heritage Society,. 1989.

Life in the nineteenth century was not a time of all work and no play. Play was very much included in each of the girl?s life. Louisa spoke fondly of friends, reading and writing. Typically, if the weather was bad, and friends wer

Some common words found in the essay are:
Louisa Jane, Louisas Diary, , Jane Sprott, Janet Guildford, McClare Louisa, Sprott Album, Dale McClare, Daughter Dartmouth, mcclare louisa, louisas diary, Vincent University, sprott album, nineteenth century, dartmouth ns, farmers daughter dartmouth, journal farmers, nova scotia, diary journal, diary journal farmers, daughter dartmouth, musquodoboit diary, album musquodoboit diary, journal farmers daughter, daughter dartmouth 1815,
Approximate Word count = 1548
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)