for a week or two, or writing a hurried sketch, you can extend or copy
and illuminate at your leisure.

Consequently, write what you can, and let it stand with all its blots,
errors, and nonsense. And be careful, when you are five years older, not
to go through the diary with eraser and scissors; for, if you live still
another five years, nothing will interest you more than this diary with
all its defects.

I find after having written many diaries of many forms, that I have now
to regret I did not at first choose some particular size, say
"letter-size," and so have had all my diaries uniform. I will never
again use "onion-skin," which is too thin, nor any odd-shaped, figured,
cheap, or colored paper. I do not like those large printed diaries which
give you just a page or half-page a day, nor a paper whose ruling shows
conspicuously.

I like best when at home to write in a blank book; and when I go off on
a summer vacation I leave that diary safely at home, and take a
portfolio with some sheets of blank paper upon which to write the diary,
and mail them as fast as written. These answer for letters to the
friends at home, and save writing any more to them. They also, when
bound, form a diary exclusively of travels. When I return I write an
epitome in the home-diary, and thus prevent a break of dates in that
book. The paper for the diary of travels is strong, but rather thin and
white. I buy enough of it at once to make a volume, and thus have the
diary sheets uniform.

I am quite sure that you will do well to write a diary of your summer
vacation, upon the plan just named, whether you keep one at home or not.