== 1881. == 5. MONDAY. [ 248 - 117] Drawing in Oats three loads from across creak and four from stumpy part of other oat field. 7 loads today such a day as this we have never seen since we came to Canada with smoke from bush fires. The high wind today has drawn them on we can scarcely see Duncan's barns for smoke and our eyes are painful . At 4 oclock it was almost dark the sun being clouded with the dance smoke many have been fighting fire today we have no doubt the fire about Keady 6. TUESDAY. [ 249 - 116 ] Drawing in all day 7 loads off 3 acres big acres of course. but it was a good crop. The wind was not quite so high today or the smoke so dense. We expected to hear of yesterday and so we have Aunt Mary's barn was burned and the contents.They came thrashing in the barn forenoon had to take machine away just in time for it caught fire a few minutes after from sparks. The swamp close by was burning furiously Barn insured for $250 contents at $500. I left for there tonight on horseback. 7. WEDNESDAY. [ 250 - 115 ] At Uncle Haverson's. What a desolation the fire has made their fences thrown down and partly burned The swamp nearly all burned down. Aunt Mary's place looks bare nothing but ashes for a full barn. The house is lonely without it but it is well that it was saved. Today the fire is quieter being in a sense burned out. I helped them to raise a new crib for well (as the are to {illegible} it) before I left plenty of water a comfort and necissity in their present state the contents of barn were Uncle Hs. They got two cattle killed on Monday by falling tree 8. THURSDAY. [ 250- 114 ] Ploughing pea stubble all day cooler today. Ground hard and flies bad on horses. Can my inference be drawn. Willie hd mare shod. Got the scraper here from McKees gate & started to level S.F. in front of house. I have got a severe cold by some cause or other 9. FRIDAY. [ 251 - 113 ] Ploughing forenoon through offload then drawing in afternoon from across creek 4 good loads so the Harvest of 1881 is in the barn. Seed time & harvest shall not cease. We have had a very pleasant harvest dry weather and the labour rendered lighter by the reaper we have succeeded well without a hired man. On the hole we have had a good crop. Cost of reaping 22 Acres $9.50 10. SATURDAY. [ 252 - 112 ] Ploughing all day a day will finish it now. I don't remember of the flies ever being so bad on the horses as this afternoon bot & black flies. Cloudy with a stiff breeze from the south. Willie and Father went picking up in fallow. I wonder if we will get in wheat in time in new land 11. SUNDAY. 13 after Trinity [ 253 - 111 ] We were at the S.S. today again had 12 Scholars 4 in my class Mr Currie had for his text today II Kings 5th 1st to 14th Naaman the leper. Learn 1st might and fruition do not exempt us from the ills of life. 2nd Great & important events often rise from trivial causes. 3rd The importance of the religious training of children. 4th True religion will make the possessor blessing wherever his lot may be cast. 5h We should not despise information from inferiors. 6th knowledge to be useful must be reduced to practice. Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only