Mary Leslie Newton recounts her birthday gifts, including a cloak and a subscription to Harper's; she notes but rejects her aunt's suggestion that, at 17, she is old enough to begin putting her hair up. She recounts some humorous mishaps, including her grandmother spilling ink and her own clumsiness…
Mary Leslie Newton notes her upcoming birthday, the recovery of her family members, a recent funeral, and the possibility of a visit to her father in Ooltewah. A humorous aside written down the page describes a new member of the community.