Entry 2-September 1883
Dear Diary,
I can't believe it, the day has come so quickly! Today it is the 2nd of September. We will be going down to the Camperdown docks to board the clipper Duntrune. I am absolutely exhausted already because I can't think how somebody could get to sleep whilst knowing that they are leaving their homeland forever and going to Australia the next day. I certainly didn't get a second of sleep and I don't think my sisters did either. All these strange thoughts were going through my mind and I must say there is a lot to think about. There was just about fifteen more minutes until we had to leave our house. There were five of us who were actually going down to the docks. Cassetty, Felicity and I were going to Australia and our aunt and uncle were only coming to the docks with us. I quickly took a last look around and checked my bags making sure I hadn't left anything behind. Then I felt very sad for a moment because we would be leaving our home too. I went into all of the rooms and had a last look around. Soon we were all out of the house. Cassetty, Felicity and I waved a last goodbye to it and then we were off.
When we got to the Camperdown docks there was so many people there. There easily could have been more than five hundred. It was quite crowded but somehow the atmosphere was very friendly. There were all sorts of goings on, mothers looking very concerned about there children. Little children crying and waling, people talking to each other and laughing, the call of vendors, also many were crying and having a last minute word to their loved ones whom they were going to be leaving forever. There were so many individuals talking to anyone really. As I was walking I heard the sea waves hit off the riverbank and I could feel the wind against my cheek. I could even clearly smell the salt from the sea. I could also smell freshly baked potatoes being sold by the vendors as the smell wafted to my nose. Then I decided that I would go and meet some new people and make friends with them. I stopped by at seeing a women with about a three year old son, both of them crying with great sorrow because her husband was staying in Dundee but they were both going to Australia. I asked her what was wrong and she told me. She seemed so dismal as she spoke. Her name was Faith and she was about twenty-four years old. Her son was called Stephen. I took him into my arms and he seemed so well behaved. After a little while I said goodbye to Faith and went to meet someone else. Everyone was very friendly and we were all in the same position. Soon I met up with my two sisters and my aunt and uncle. The ship was going to arrive in about five minutes. I hugged my aunt and uncle and thanked them for all they had done. Tears suddenly started staining down my cheek. I made everyone cry. It was so sad. Felicity cried the most and nothing would stop her. With us we had brought my white poodle Harry. I couldn't take him on board with me because no pets were allowed. I would miss him so dearly for I had had him for about three years and he's always been there for me. I sadly kissed him goodbye and it gave out a little whine. Suddenly I heard a loud noise. Everyone turned around to see the clipper Duntrune in front of them. It was enormous! I had to tilt my head and gaze upwards to see it. Everyone had already imagined the ship as to being very big but not as big as this. It was just towering above everyone. The time had now come for us to board the ship. As the gangplanks lowered everyone queued up. I waved farewell for the last time in my life to my aunt and uncle and kissed each of them. The sadness was unbearable. I clutched hold of Felicity's hand tightly to make sure that she still had us and it wasn't the end of the world although I must admit I thought it was myself. She squeezed my hand so tightly that the circulation almost stopped. I took a step at a time as I boarded the ship.
Dear Diary,
I can't believe it, the day has come so quickly! Today it is the 2nd of September. We will be going down to the Camperdown docks to board the clipper Duntrune. I am absolutely exhausted already because I can't think how somebody could get to sleep whilst knowing that they are leaving their homeland forever and going to Australia the next day. I certainly didn't get a second of sleep and I don't think my sisters did either. All these strange thoughts were going through my mind and I must say there is a lot to think about. There was just about fifteen more minutes until we had to leave our house. There were five of us who were actually going down to the docks. Cassetty, Felicity and I were going to Australia and our aunt and uncle were only coming to the docks with us. I quickly took a last look around and checked my bags making sure I hadn't left anything behind. Then I felt very sad for a moment because we would be leaving our home too. I went into all of the rooms and had a last look around. Soon we were all out of the house. Cassetty, Felicity and I waved a last goodbye to it and then we were off.
When we got to the Camperdown docks there was so many people there. There easily could have been more than five hundred. It was quite crowded but somehow the atmosphere was very friendly. There were all sorts of goings on, mothers looking very concerned about there children. Little children crying and waling, people talking to each other and laughing, the call of vendors, also many were crying and having a last minute word to their loved ones whom they were going to be leaving forever. There were so many individuals talking to anyone really. As I was walking I heard the sea waves hit off the riverbank and I could feel the wind against my cheek. I could even clearly smell the salt from the sea. I could also smell freshly baked potatoes being sold by the vendors as the smell wafted to my nose. Then I decided that I would go and meet some new people and make friends with them. I stopped by at seeing a women with about a three year old son, both of them crying with great sorrow because her husband was staying in Dundee but they were both going to Australia. I asked her what was wrong and she told me. She seemed so dismal as she spoke. Her name was Faith and she was about twenty-four years old. Her son was called Stephen. I took him into my arms and he seemed so well behaved. After a little while I said goodbye to Faith and went to meet someone else. Everyone was very friendly and we were all in the same position. Soon I met up with my two sisters and my aunt and uncle. The ship was going to arrive in about five minutes. I hugged my aunt and uncle and thanked them for all they had done. Tears suddenly started staining down my cheek. I made everyone cry. It was so sad. Felicity cried the most and nothing would stop her. With us we had brought my white poodle Harry. I couldn't take him on board with me because no pets were allowed. I would miss him so dearly for I had had him for about three years and he's always been there for me. I sadly kissed him goodbye and it gave out a little whine. Suddenly I heard a loud noise. Everyone turned around to see the clipper Duntrune in front of them. It was enormous! I had to tilt my head and gaze upwards to see it. Everyone had already imagined the ship as to being very big but not as big as this. It was just towering above everyone. The time had now come for us to board the ship. As the gangplanks lowered everyone queued up. I waved farewell for the last time in my life to my aunt and uncle and kissed each of them. The sadness was unbearable. I clutched hold of Felicity's hand tightly to make sure that she still had us and it wasn't the end of the world although I must admit I thought it was myself. She squeezed my hand so tightly that the circulation almost stopped. I took a step at a time as I boarded the ship.
