her calf and she has been bawling for it all the afternoon. Dad. says he feels like a traitor as John. went back this morning without her calf thinking it was safe up here and when he, Frank and Whit surrounded it. it was all alone. It was watching Whit thinking (so Dad says) that he (Dad) would protect it when he came up from behind & grabbed it. To-day's paper says that the war is commencing now in earnest and the Germans now occupy Brussels. They, the Canadian Government, have put a war tax on Sugar. Coffee. Tobacco & Cigars. so Dad. thinks he will have to quit smoking. Huby left to-night for Toronto. Saturday August 22nd Dad. plowed all day and got in a good day Frank and I took a look at the bees first thing and then I went out and finished turning the oats which took me till noon. This afternoon I put in cutting weeds along the fence bottoms & in the old garden, and to-night feel a great admiration for the pioneers who would swing a scythe all day and carouse all night. I don't wonder a lot of whisky was consumed in those days although I got along without even any water. Frank worked around up at the house all day. Winnie, Lila and Miss Leigh where here to dinner. This was the day of the Great Boughner Picnic which this year assembled in Simcoe, it is the first time they went out of Dover {which?} wouldn't {happen} now only they got every inducement from the Simcoe people to come there while other years Dover has soaked them for all they could get out of them. A lot of cheap sports down town here got up another picnic to-day in opposition, and made arrangements with Buck to get the Park free. They got out bills and put them all over the country they say advertising it as being formerly the Boughner Picnic but the Boughners threatened to take action against them. and they had to around and collect all their posters. I guess they didn't get much of a crowd. The Toronto regiments got a sudden order to go from Long Branch to Valcartier and they all left to-day. Aunty told us in her letter that Fred. McDonald is with the 48th Highlanders and Elva told Enah that Byron Johnson belongs to the signal corps of the Chatam regiment. Dick is wishing he was old enough to enlist. I don't know but that I would if I were in his place but I think until conditions develop more and the odds are against Britain, the Canadian farmer is of as much importance as the soldier, as they cant fight on empty stomachs, and Canada is where they are looking for their bread & butter, but I'm good & ready to scrap when they do need me. It has been pretty hot to-day, but looks fair.