January 1st 1914. Thursday,

I began the New Year very badly by allowing the sun to get up or nearly so before me, but I was utterly unaware of it until too late, of course we didn't pretend to do any thing but chores so it didn't matter much. We got every thing done up and I got dressed ready for dinner at Aunty Maude's which was supposed to be at half past one sharp, but as Tiddums went to sleep and they didn't like to wake him, Dad, Enah, Roy & Frank didn't get down till about half past two, but I went down on time and told Aunty Maude how things stood. However when we did get after the turkey we soon polished him off. Dad, Tiddums and I came home about five and did chores and minded Tiddums by turns.

Roy had to go back to-night and Enah and Frank went down to the station to see him off Enah and Aunty Maude also went over to Mrs. Johnson's reception where Winnie was tending door. Mrs. Johnson sent word over to have Huby go over this morning, as she wanted a man to be the first caller on New Year's day.

Dick was skating all the afternoon and I guess it is great on the pond. Enah came home after dark and Frank and Lila a little later. Huby and Aunty Maude went up to Mrs. Belle's to a party, Winnie came over to Aunt Lucy's and Quint is capable of looking after himself so Lila came over here to stay all night. Ed. was over here just before Dad. went down town this morning to talk over the coming election. Ed. says he has gone over the voters' list and given Vyse all the

doubtful ones and has I think one hundred and fifty something votes to Vyse's one hundred and ten, but still Dad. is shaking in his shoes for fear of Ed. being defeated. Dad. sent a card to Rus. Lampkins to-day saying to come down tomorrow if at all possible and put up the windmill. It has been freezing and cloudy all day but nice. The wind is rising to-night.

Friday January 2nd

Rus. Lampkins came at last this morning, he and his man have been here all day and now have the windmill all put to-gether and all ready to erect. I expected to see them build it up but instead of that they put the whole thing to-gether on the ground and rais it with, ropes, pulleys and a team. Huby and Quint came over at noon, Huby was up at his party till three o'clock so didn't get up this morning. He put in the after noon digging the holes for the foundation of the legs, they are just a little inside of the old legs and as they have been put in with stone and brick piled around them he had a fierce time but got them nearly dug. Frank went over and borrowed Tupper's post hole digger and that helped a lot as it will pick out a good sized stone.

Chris Quanbury came over this morning and took 16 of the roosters. Lila has been over all day but went home with them to-night. Old Mrs. Martin and {illegible} were over this after noon. Cloudy with raw wind, not very cold.

Saturday January 3rd

It has been a very disagreeable day, it was just spitting snow when we went out this morning and threatened to clear up several times during the forenoon, but after dinner it settled in to snow and stayed right up at it till by to-night there was a blinding now storm raging, before tea the flakes were big and wet but there is quite a north east wind and the snow is drifting.

First thing this morning Jim Waddle drove in canvassing for Aikens but Dad. didn't promise him his vote. When he left Rus. Lampkins and his man came, and soon after them Huby and Lila, although they were very doubtful about the weather permitting them to finish the job. We worked all morning digging the holes and Rus. levelled the little tank up and fitted the overflow pipe into it, after dinner they set two of the legs in cement, they just put a little cement in the bottom of the holes around the plates which are bolted on to the legs, and filled the rest up with clay. He said he didn't like to set the other two feet till he got the mill up and saw just where the wanted to go, and he couldn't raise it to-day on account of the snow, he said he would get his ropes all wet, so they left about three o'clock or a little after. Huby and Lila went at the same time. Rus. sized up the kitchen at noon and said he could put in a sink and all fittings from cistern to sink. and all for about $9.00 Dad. thinks he will let him. We put the three heifers in the cow stable to-night but let John go loose in there we had a bad time tying Snowdrop up as she was frightened

Sunday January 4th

When we got up this morning which was late we found ourselves almost snowed in, so we had to get right to work and spend an hour or two shovelling ourselves out. but by breakfast which we had somewhere in the vicinity of ten o'clock we had the buildings pretty well connected by canals through the drifts, some of the paths are pretty roundabout but we took advantage of all bare spots along the sides of the buildings and made them part of the paths. We put in the rest of the day doing chores Dick couldn't very well get down town this afternoon so he slept till noon and this afternoon he helped us move the piano from the parlor to the living room and Enah played for us most of the afternoon. Tiddums also tore off a little ragtime for us but spent most of his time on the floor. No one has been off the place to-day and no outsider been on it. It has been cloudy (mostly) cold and windy but as the snow had packed a little it didn't drift much to-day, it is milder to-night.

Monday January 5th

Dad hooked up Joe to the cutter and drove the boys down this morning as Frank had to start back to school, the drifts were pretty bad but he only had to break the trail to the corner as Ed. Forest had been up to Ivey's. Dad noticed just before he started out that Joe had rubbed the skin all off under her fetlock we supposed on Ginger's rope, she has been pretty sore on it all day. Dad. came right back and we did up all the chores this morning. After dinner we both drove down town. Dad. voted for Ed. and then I don't know where he went as there is a new law or else an old one being enforced that no one except the candidate can drive a voter to the polls, so Dad. lent Ed. the horse to do a little canvassing with, we took Belle because Dad. thought if he was allowed to drive any elderly ladies to vote they would not be at all afraid to ride behind Belle and they might be with Joe and Joe's leg was sore. and Belle needed the exercise.

I went around and got my hair cut and hung around all the after noon although things were very quiet. Dad. and Frank went home about five but as I had to be down at the band room at seven o'clock I didn't go home to tea but stayed at Huby's and Dad. and Frank drove down again with my horn. Quint and I were up in Jim Low's pool room when they were counting ballots, when we thought they ought to be about through we came down and the first person we saw was Hugh McQueen and my heart dropped when he told us that Vyse had beat Ed. by 40 of course we thought he was lying but on going down street we found Ed. in the Dominion, and it was all too true, although it is rather hard to understand. The councillors are Freeman Henderson, Billy Lang, Ward Sovereign and R. M. Taylor. I was up at the band room soon after seven and all the boys were there except Murphy and Fred Warren although they were both in town. and they say

Murphy was the one who first proposed that we go out to-night, but they suppose he was a little sore at the way things went, he should have seen Harry Moon who must have been as much disappointed as any of us and yet went and enjoyed himself as much as any one. We started out soon after seven with Al. Martin and Douglas the Scotchman hauling Harry Dyer and his drum on a hand sleigh in the {car?} and followed by a large number of kids ranging from those about two sizes larger than Tiddums right up to those old enough to know better, and we had Barge Waddles {Jeik?} McDonald, Tisy and Ceicl Schram as torch bearers.

Of course we set out for Vyse's first but by the time we got over the hill our horns were frozen solid so we had to go in to Carl Coleman's to thaw them out we got treated there to wine and fruitcake and in return played a measly waltz, which I got hopelessly mixed up in, we then went up to Vyse's and by the time we got there my horn was frozen solid and I had to thaw it out on a torch we got more wine and fruitcake in there to say nothing of the eloquent speeches of Walt. and Vyse, the former extending congratulations on behalf of the band and the latter slobbering smooth {illegible} us, intimating how grand and fortunate for the band to have had him in the past and to have him again in the future. Dover's chief cook and bottle washer.

We then dropped in on Uncle Ward. where we got a royal reception, Aunty Maude, Win and Lila were all there and Huby had been over with some cider which was very much enjoyed by all who partook of it, we also had coffee, cake and orange fixed up, as we were leaving Uncle Ward. remembered he had a box of cigars for us so chased us out into the snow to give them to us. I didn't take one but induced Pud. Slocombe to give me a few puffs on his, he became alarmed for fear I was going to keep it so knocked it out of my mouth into the snow but smoked it all the way down town then volunteered the information that it had been too much for him, our next call was on Mr. Taylor, but we had to thaw our horns out first at Bob. Rankin's before we could make our presence known to R. M. He didn't ask us in but made a donation to the band and passed around more cigars one of which I collared and smoked (foolishly I suppose) and was not bothered by Pud. claiming any puffs or by any feeling that it was too much for me.

The next man on our calling list was Henderson and we thawed out at Mr. Thompson's before doing our little stunt for him. He made another donation and speech which contained the information that his house was much too small for us, which we know to be perfectly correct. Walt also gave his recitation which he had pretty well off by heart at this time, the same as we had the piece of music which he had us play and every stop. Billy Langs living farthest away was the last councillor for us, so we beat our steps for his domain. None of our number resided in that vicinity so we called unceremoniously on George Steel to be warmed up. George told us we were a hot bunch to come in on a feller with out being asked and that Bill Langs had just as much gas as he did but he lit another fire for us and we rattled off "We wont go

home till morning" for him, he said it was pretty poor playing and sounded to him just like "To hell with Bill Langs. To hell with Bill {Young?}. When we went over to Billys he took us in and fed us up properly I had got pretty well filled up before though so didn't partake of much We were there quite awhile. and on coming out trailed down street in any old order playing "Marching throu Georgia" and such airs as we didn't need music for. I know I was coming down Main Street beside Carl who banged the drum, with Harry Moon ahead of me and leads out other parts both ahead and behind. It was getting late but at the door of the Dominion we found George Hammmond who we had heard had beaten Aikens by 109 votes so we went inside and kicked up a little row in honor of him Gundry who was last in the list of township councillors was also there. Hammond bought cigars but I'd had enough alone.

We played The "Campbells are comin" in which the horn drone on one note with out music. Harry struck the note but neither of us remember the name of it, I got Eb which sounded about like Harrys and played it all through finding out afterwards that it was the wrong note the right one being Ab. but Enah said that it would not be a discord although I guess it wouldn't have mattered much if it was and mabee would have been better to give the desired bagpipe effect. We then broke up, and went home I picked Dick up or at least he fell in with me as he had been spending the evening at the Dyer's and we got home about twelve. Every body was in bed of course but Dad. was not asleep as he was brooding over the elections, the only bright spot in the whole day for him was a little incident this morning.

When he was coming down Main street after leaving Frank at school. old man Stringer hailed him and asked him for a ride down town Dad. pulled up and growled at him to get in. and then said he supposed he was going down to kill his (Dads) vote 'Ah!' says old Henry "I don't know". "Well I know" Dad said good and savagely "darned well you are". They hadn't got quite to old Henry's place and hadnt gone half a block when he thought he would like to get out home and change his clothes, but Dad. assured him that his clothes were plenty good enough for the man he was going to vote for, however the old boy disembarked and told Dad. he thought he had used him a little rough, he had always had a great admiration for him Dad. said he had a mighty queer way of showing it. But what tickled Dad. about it was that Jack Martin told him to-night that old Henry has told the tale among the Vysebites.

It has been a pretty nice day as far as the weather was concerned, and a beautiful night, clear, frosty and moonlight. It think it froze pretty hard before midnight judging from the looks of things and the way the boards in the side walks scrunched and creaked, I didn't feel a bit cold although I had no overcoat or gloves on I think it turned milder towards morning.

Tuesday January 6th

Dad. drove the boys down this morning and got a sack of flour. Rus.Lampkins and his man came while he was gone but they

met him so he went around and got Huby. It took till noon to get everything ready to raise the windmill as the snow made things nasty to work with, but right after dinner we raised it with out any trouble Harry and Belle walked it up nicely and by to-night it was all complete and pumping water, it works all right. Mr. Flemming was here to-day to invite us to go thrashing there to-morrow. It has been a raw, damp, miserable day and windy

Wednesday January 7th

Dad. went down to Sam. Laws this morning and got Jimmy to go over to Flemming's for us as he thought my cold would be pretty was to bad to go thrashing, and as they are coming here next we were too busy to go any way. After breakfast he drove the boys down to school & bank and saw Butler about getting a set of bobsleighs. Butler had sold the set which was there but was getting two more in a day or so. When Dad got home he went down and borrowed Alfreds. We did up the chores this morning, as we had negected a lot of yesterdays we had enough to do.

After dinner we went down to Penmans to see if we could get a load of soft coal for the thrashers, Harry Moon said that the General Superintendent was there then and Henderson didn't like to sell any coal but we could get it if we came down after five to-night or early to-morrow morning, so we went down and weighed the sleighs and on our way home stopped in at Uncle Ward's to get some wood. He has some good apple wood which he split and piled in the shed last winter hoping to have it for his furnace but he found it smoked there so said we could have it. We got all that he had in the shed in two trips. and put it in the wood shed here. He has some more long stuff piled out side but we didn't take it to-day. This was Dick's birthday but he didn't get home till late to-night. Fine and mild.

Thursday January 8th

Dad. and I went down right after breakfast this morning and got our load of Coal Dick rode down as far as the mill with us. We only got 1850 lbs. and as no one was around the office to pay we don't know how much it cost. It wasn't very good, as there were hardly any big lumps, when we brought it home and unloaded it. Frank and I took the sleighs back to Alfred's as he wants to get a load of hard coal and Omar said it was going fast. Dad. did chores.

This after noon we cleaned up the floor of the old barn and about five Enah and I drove down town for provisions Frank was sick last night and has not been at school all day. Dad. also feels pretty rotten with a cold so does Enah but Tiddums and mine are getting better I think. It has been cloudy but very soft all day it looks as though our sleighing wouldn't last long. There hasn't been wind enough to drove the windmill since six o'clock this morning.

Friday January 9th

Dad. and I put in most of the morning cleaning up the

big barn floor and Dad. patched the weak spots. Jack McBride and Albert Reid brought over the wire fencing that Dad. ordered from Sid. McBride. He was in yesterday and said he would dump it off the car down there some place for us to get when we had time but as it is we are saved a trip. They finished at Flemming's soon after dinner and moved right over here. it took them quite awhile to get set and they didn't thrash any this afternoon.

About four o'clock Frank and I drove down for some more provisions which Enah forgot to get yesterday. While I was waiting for him Johnny and Helen Anderson came along and expressed the desire to see New York so I took them for a wirl around half a dozen blocks or so. Jim Law was in this afternoon and only charged Dad. $3.00 for two days and a half thrashing. It has been very soft again all day. There wasn't enough wind to drive the windmill till late this after noon and then she pumped a trough tank full of water.

Saturday January 10th

We thrashed all day to-day in the alsike but didn't quite finish as the clover mill broke down some where this after noon and there is still another load or so in the mow, it hasn't turned out very well so far we have only got about seven bushels of seed. We put the straw out doors and I looked after it or at least was supposed to I have kind of a {stede?} & square one but of course it isn't topped out yet. It was rather hard to build owing to a strong nor' west wind. It was pretty rotten up there except just on the north west corner. I kept that corner pretty well tramped. Dad. hired Jim Law again and Tupper sent Jonas over. Mr. Flemming sent old Bill George and Bill sent Teddy. Dad. did all the chores and as Enah had no one to help her, he and Frank I think looked after Tiddums quite a lot. It has been much colder today, froze a little all day and windy with a little snow.

Sunday January 11th

Dad. and I did chores off and on all day and I read, shelled corn and darned a sock in the intervals. Frank was sick in the night and has felt very miserable all day hardly stirring away from the stove. Dick got up about noon and this after noon took Belle and went for a drive we are not sure who with, conscience tells us it was Dess. Dyer but Dick tells us it was Mr. Hobbs. He didn't stay long ast it was a nasty day but went down to the pond as soon as he got home he said there was a big bunch down there, he intended to go to church and I guess did.

Allan Law came over this afternoon and put a little fire in the engine to warm up the water in the boiler. He said his father sprained his ankle last night and was pretty lame on it to-day. I was a beautiful sunny morning with out any wind but this after noon it got cloudy and blustery with a little snow and to-night there is a fierce south west wind with snow. Dad. had to kill one of the pigeons which came here from the shooting match to-day.

Monday January 12th

This has been the worst day we have had this winter. There has been a high north west wind and the snow blowing in clouds so that at times we couldn't see from the house to the barns, it has been very cold, and freezing hard all day. First thing this morning Mrs. McBride came over but of course didn't try to wash. Jonas and Ted. George came over too but there was no possibility of thrashing so they didn't stay long. I drove Dick down to the bank this morning and when I got back took Mrs. McBride home. The roads weren't impassable anywhere but our lane was drifted full in the roadway so I had to go along the top of the bank next the lawn fence. We didn't try to do anything but tend to the stock, not even clean out the horse stable. Allan Law came over this afternoon to put a fire in the engine to thaw her out. About five o'clock Dad. walked down town and got the mail and some whooping cough medicine from Dr. Cook for Tiddums as we are pretty sure he has it. He left word at Huby's for Dick to stay down all night. Frank was a little better to-day but feels pretty sick yet.

Tuesday January 13th

We didn't do any thing but chores and shovel snow all day. Mrs. McBride came this morning and was tuckered right out after her walk through the drifts. The road from here to the corner is impassable with a cutter and we shovelled a road out the lane. Ted George came over this morning thinking we would be thrashing but it was too cold so he played in the house with Frank most of the day building a swing bridge with Frank's Meccano. Sam and Allan came over this afternoon to thaw out the boiler and fix the mill where it broke the other night. Sam said they never thrashed when it was below zero. They said it was 7° below zero down town this morning and I think it must have stayed about that all day for I had to spend about half the time keeping my hands and ears from freezing although it was a lovely sunny day with just enough breeze to run the windmill. Dick went to Simcoe to-night with a sleigh load which Billy Boughner took up and he said it was 16 below up there. In Toronto it was lower temperature than they had had for 27 years.

Wednesday January 14th

I didn't feel very well when I got up this morning, and while I was watering the horses a sick & weak feeling came on me and it was all I could manage to get to the house and flop myself on the sofa in the kitchen. I haven't done anything but sit around the stove and read all day. To-night I went out to have a little tea but while I was at it I felt deathly sick and made for the door. I can just remember standing there for a minute and then tumbling over on the wood shed floor. Dad. and Enah hiked out and got me in on the sofa where I felt quite a lot better.

Ted. George was over again to-day but as they didn't thrash he helped Dad. do chores. Jonas was also over but didn't stay long. Dad. and Ted went down with the team this morning and got the bobsleigh from Butler, this afternoon they put the box on them and went down town again for groceries and got a load of apple wood at Uncle Ward's. This is smaller limbs than the last we got and will have to be sawed a couple of times I guess they thought it was too cold to thrash again today but we would have been short handed anyway with me sick and Jim. Law has gone to Stratford to a cheese makers convention. It has not been quite so cold as yesterday but more windy and with a little snow. Frank put in the day fixing a spring on Tiddum's carriage and fixing locks on various doors in the house

Wednesday Thursday January 15th

Although not quite O.K. I felt ever so much better to-day and was able to do quite a few little chores and fix a bit of sacking in the chicken house window to keep the snow out. Sam & Allan were in this morning and said they thought if it was fair they would thrash Saturday, but we saw Allan again this after noon and he said they would get at it to-morrow. Ted. and Jonas both came over again. Jonas went on over to Tupper's to work but Ted. stayed here all day and chopped wood. This after noon we hooked up Joe and Ginger to the bob-sleighs and Dad. Ted and I drove down town and got the mail. We saw Dick but as there is a dance on to-night he didn't come home with us for Wiggis is going to press his every day pants for him. Very soft and cloudy all day looks like rain.

Friday January 16th

Sam Law came over soon after daylight this morning but as it was raining then he didn't know whether to fire up or not, but at last decided to, as it let up a little it took an hour or two to get any steam for some reason or other and it was after ten before they got started to thrash and then a belt broke and it took half an hour to fix it. Ted. George was the only man to show up early Jim Law came over the middle of the forenoon and Jonas in time for dinner he was over at Tupper's. There was only a little alsike left and we just got about a bushel of seed out of it. They finished it up and got all moved over to the other barn by half past twelve as they had to spend half an hour or so getting the engine through a snow drift.

By the time we got through dinner it was raining again so we hung around in the drive shed for quite awhile where Jim Law mauled the life pretty near out of Jonas, and then over in the barn where we kept snowball on the fly but at last Sam decided to quit. and told them to be back by tomorrow noon. Dad. and I did up the chores and then we drove Belle down after the mail. and took Ted. with us. Dad. saw Dr. Cook about the baby as he has been very miserable today, the whooping cough is bad enough but he is cutting another tooth

Saturday January 17th

I drove Dick down to the bank first thing this morning and when I got back Dad. and I hooked Harry and Belle to the sleigh and went down to Porter's, we didn't get back till about noon. Sam Law came over while we were gone and fired up and they got started up about one o'clock, and finished about four, there was about two bags and a half of seed from the four loads. Allan & Jim Law & Bert Munroe were all down at Ern Flemming's to a dance last night and didn't get in till about six o'clock this morning they said they had a fine time but thought it a little strange that they should be invited to a private house with the stipulation that the ladies were to bring refreshments, and that a collection should be taken up to pay the fiddler, and that the host should keep two dollars out, and submit the remaining five to the fiddler, who was from {Waddle?}.

After tea to-night Dad. & I drove down to get the mail and we took Ted. George with us, (the others all went home to tea) we chased all over town to find Dick as he had the key to the post office box and at last found him and he came home with us, he got another fifty dollar raise in his salary to-day dating back to December 1st. That is the secon one since he has been in there which is just a little over a year. Lila has been over all day and is staying all night. Tiddums feels pretty rotten but is a little brighter to-day. It was cloudy and blustery this morning but the sun came out this afternoon and it was not so cold high north wind all day.

Sunday January 18th

I just did a few chores this morning. and went down to church alone Lila went down earlier to be ready for Sunday school. Frank's calf was too bad for him to go, Dick was in bed, Enah had to look after Tiddums and Dad's. time was taken up ministering to the needs of a heifer calf which Charlotte presented us with soon after we went out this morning. Its ear froze a couple of times but Dad. and Frank thawed it out with snow, when I came home it was on the kitchen floor, they had to bring it in to keep it from freezing to death. They took it out after it got good and warm and dry and I had taken a picture of it but Charlotte didn't seem very anxious to own it so Dad is going to try to teach it to drink now but it hasn't drunk any to-day.

Allan Law came in this morning with a bottle of stuff which he bought down town for Witch Hazel for Sam's eye. Sam said it wasn't the right color (dark brown) for with Hazel and told him to ask Dad. Dad smelt it and tasted it and said it was clear whisky. Allan said if Sam had known that he would have swallowed it but Dad said he hadn't better as something else might be in it, so he gave him some of his. Allan said his sleighs had come but weren't set up yet, so he said we would go to Jarvis with our seed to-morrow, with our sleighs and his team. This afternoon I drove Enah down town to see the Doctor about Tiddums, Dick went down with us and I suppose has gone to church to-night. It has been pretty cold all day but fairly sunny and no wind, milder to-night.

Monday January 19th

I was up before six this morning and we had the seed loaded and allready to start for Jarvis at eight o'clock, Allan brought his team up soon after and by the time we got his seed on and on the road it was ten minutes to nine, but the sleighing was fine and we got there in a little more than an hour. We unloaded the seed at Jake Fesses and he just got started on our lot a little before dinner. I had my dinner alone as Allan was down at Roy Mioner's. I was over at Fesses all the after noon but Allan was just there a little while. They finished cleaning up the seed about four o'clock in time for me to get my check cashed which I did as I wanted to buy half a dozen bags from Fess and forgot to tell him to take the price of them off the check. The whole thing came $55.26. The alsike cleaned away about half, so I only got 4 bushels and 20 lbs, he docked me a little on it as there was a little white clover in it but I got $8.00 a bushel for it. The red seed he said had a little buckhorn in it and I only got 7.75 for it. I brought home about a bushel of it and sold a bushel and 40 lbs. Alan only had about a pailful of alsike which he brought home and he got the same as me for his red seed, it had no buck horn in it but he docked him on brown seed. We got home here just about dark pretty well satisfied with the day's doings Dad. I guess did chores most of the day the new calf got loose this afternoon and milked Charlotte for him. Miss Newel was over to see Tiddums and he drove her home. Cloud, mild and a little breeze looks like snow or rain

Tuesday January 20th

We didn't get up till about eight o'clock this morning so were late with every thing. Dad. drove Dick down town while I was at breakfast. After I cleaned out the stables I sacked some corn and Frank and I bagged up some oats to take down to be chopped. Dad. wanted to go down to a meeting of the cream factory patrons but it was too late when we got through dinner. He and I took our grist to the mill after dinner and came up around by Uncle Ward's and got another load of wood when we got it unloaded Frank and I went down town for the mail and provisions and came up around by the mill and got our chop and some bran, shorts & buckwheat, getting home soon after five. Dad. did chores and cut wood while we were gone.

Mrs. Art Ryersie was in this morning with some garlicks which she said mixed with rum made a fine concoction for the whooping cough and she thought Tiddums would benefit by it I don't know whether he is to take it internally or not I think it will be informally which ever way it goes. Alan and Jim Law brought our sleigh home this morning. They drove down in them to get their own which are Bain make and cost $2.00. They are very similar to ours but a little heavier and there is $4.00 difference in the price. Rotten day, very cloudy and foggy, fine rain most of the day freezing light breeze to-night.

Wednesday January 21st

First thing this morning Molly had a fine big bull calf. good red one and as big as Charlotte now or bigger. Dad. drove Dick down

to the bank this morning and we didn't do any thing much but chores the rest of the morning. Lloyds Phillips came over and got a load of hay but he had Garf Porcrit and another fellow with him so we didn't have to help him put it on. This afternoon Dad. Frank and I wrote to Uncle Hal. for his birthday. and I went over to Martin's with the bit Frank borrowed from Art. Quanbury the other day, I saw Mr. Briley and he was telling me that he didn't think a mash was the right thing at all for laying hens, while Chris told me to feed it so it's hard to tell what to do exactly. Dad. and I hooked Joe & Ginger to the bobs and went down to post Uncle Hal's letter but we were too late for to-night's mail. Dick and Wiggins rode over as far as the corner with us and then walked on around the hill we gave {Bruce?} Vice a ride home too. We also brought some lumber over from Tommy Gilles's for John Quanbury as Chris asked us to on our way down. We had great difficulty to night in trying to catch & lead naught and drive him into his stall and at last by running him through the deep snow until he was tired and he went in of his own accord. Snowed an inch or two last night and had been rather cold and blustery all day.

Thursday January 22nd

I did chores this morning and cleaned straw out of the chicken house and also sat in the dining room for awhile to catch Tiddums if he woke up coughing and put in the time sorting "Farmer's Advocate" Dad. and Frank sawed down the old Northern Spy in the pig yard as it was dead. This after noon they cut some of it up and got a lot of first class firewood out of it. After dinner I put a lot of fresh straw in the chicken house and helped Dad fix a pent in the corner of the old barn to put the calves into. Lovely day, fairly sunny and not too cold, looks like snow.

Friday January 23rd

We spent most of the morning battoning up the calf pen and Dad. put the window in. This afternoon he put the surcingle & bridle on Osprey. He didn't like it at all at first but once he got started he walked down to the corner and back alright but sweat up a lot. When we got back I did a few chores and Dad and Frank got some more apple wood. Cousins Loll & Phoebe came over. and about four o'clock. Frank & I drove then home we also got the mail and a couple of boxes to feed the calves in Charlie Butler was in at noon to see Dad. about some horse. It has been cloudy and very soft. all day. Looks very much like a storm

Saturday January 24th

It was raining when we got up this morning, turned to snow about nine o'clock and snowed till noon. Dad. put the harness and bridle on Osprey again but we couldn't take him out so just left him there all morning He must have gone through some violent exercise, probably trying to get loose as when we went in at noon he was wringing wet. Dad. also trimmed his front feet and had to resort to chastisement to make him behave

noon we read did chores and listened to Enah play the piano. Dick got up and had a bath before dinner, got Dad. to shave him and went down town about the middle of the afternoon as he says he is going to church to-night. Frank spent most of the afternoon skating on the ditch out here from the lane fence up to the oak trees and down in Bannister's gully. Very cold and strong west wind, a little snow other wise not a bad day.

Monday February 9th

It froze about the hardest yet last night and has been pretty cold and breezy all day, but was bright and sunshiny part of the time, and snowing a little part of the time. We didn't do any thing but chores and Dad. cut wood. Mrs McBride was here washing all day and as it was too cold and draughty for Tiddums in the kitchen Frank had to stay home to look after him in the dining room.

Dad. and Enah. were contemplating a trip down town this after noon to sign the deeds to the lots but Mr. Hawey who is buying them and a Mr. Ross brought them over this afternoon and saved them the trouble. The option is up on them to-morrow so they wanted to get things settled. He paid Dad. a check for the six hundred. Jonas was over here most of the afternoon selling seeds. Dad. gave him an order for some of L.P. Gunson's seed oats and we are going to make out and order for him to-night of garden seeds from Simmers Nobody was down town to-day, so we haven't got the mail.

Thursday February 10th

Dad saw a load of ice going into Mrs Battersby's this morning and just remembered that we had not returned John Quanbury's little ice tongs, and as we thought he might be needing them I took them down but he said he never used them as they were too small so told me to take them home again which I did. I stayed there quite awhile watching & helping him. Bob. Leitch was hauling the ice, it is a lot bigger and better looking than ours but John says it doesn't keep at all well in Mrs. Battersby's ice house. It is cement and built right in the side hill. The let the ice slide down the hill and drop about eight feet to the bottom of the ice house and it breaks up badly. Dad. cut wood while I was away and when I got back helped me clean out the chicken house.

This afternoon I cut a piece off the stack and Dad carried over a lot of straw to the chicken house. Jonas came over this morning and we gave him the Simmer's order although we are sure he is not an authorized agent, but as we don't have to pay for the stuff till we get it I suppose it will be alright. Dad. told him he was crazy to waste his time selling seeds instead of cutting his hedge down for wood over at {Nyers?} but Jonas said he had to get a little money some way as he only had fifty cents. Frank said he was working down cutting ice this after noon. It has been much milder though still freezing to-day cloudy and just breeze enough this after noon to turn the windmill, snowing a little to-night.