{Blank Front Cover Inside page on the left}

{Right side page}

DIARY. 1915

T.B.Barrett,

Port Dover, Ontario.

The Farm

From January 1st 1915 to December 31st 1915.

Friday January 1st 1915

When The New Year came in all of us who were dancing joined hands in a circle and sang "Should Auld Aquaintance be forgot", after which we had refreshments and danced for a couple of more hours. Ferdy didn't dance but was down there till the last and I suppose saw one of the girls home. He, Dick and I met at the bank and got home a little before three and turned in a half an hour later. After a few hours slumber I got up and did chores for the rest of the day. This evening I distressed Aunty Alice by sitting around and not going to bed and pleased Aunty by sitting up till nearly eleven o'clock and repeating the first canto of "The Lady of the Lake" off by heart. Charlie Teeple was in this morning and spoke as if Jim Waddle rather wanted to see Dad. so he and Enah drove out there this after noon. They want Dad. for one of the bearers. Dick and Ferdy stayed in bed till noon and spent the after noon and evening down town. Not cold all day turning very windy & stormy to-night.

Saturday January 2nd

It snowed and blew all night and has kept it up all day to-day so all the roads & tracks are drifted full but except for the wind it has not been very cold. I drove

Aunty Alice and Dick down town this morning in the bob sleighs and came home by the mill and got some chop Aunty Alice had to go down to the dentist's and stayed down to dinner. This after noon Dad. & I drove out to Mrs. Waddle's funeral, he was a bearer so I drove up to the cemetry to bring him home. We didn't know when we started but we had to go up to St. John's. Dad. & I both got our feet pretty cold. We came home around by town and brought Aunty Alice home. She got five new fake teeth.

Sunday January 3nd

We were too late this morning for Aunty or Frank to get to Sunday school although it was Aunty's birthday but I drove Enah, Aunty & Frank down to church in the bob sleighs and drove down again to bring them home. Winnie & Lila came over to dinner. This after noon Frank, Lila & I went back to the gully to try the tobaggan that Ferdy & Frank made yesterday out of a cheese box. It worked fine and went over the drifts beautifully. I lay down on it once to go down and when I came to the bottom of the hill it stopped and I slid ahead and banged my head. Dick and Ferdy didn't get up till noon and after dinner went down town. It has been a beautifully bright day with not a breath of wind. Rather cold this morning but milder to-night.

Monday January 4th

Frank stayed home from school to-day to see the last of the hogs. It took us quite awhile to get the waggon box rigged to hold them but with plank and stakes managed to make a satisfactory rack. We had no trouble in loading them as the whole seven ran right in to root in the fresh oat straw which was in the bottom, but they were very troublesome to unload. Neil weighed them. Dad. hoped Ed. would be there but he was up town electioneering but I guess Neil gave him good weight. They just weighed 1250 lbs and as the price has gone up to $7.40 percent. Dad. got a little over $92.00 out of them. We came around by Huby's on our way home and got a load of shingles for kindling. We boys and Fa. stored them away down there in the woodshed when they shingled the house. Hammond was in this morning to urge Dad. to go out and vote for him this after noon and take old Jonas with him so he did drive out to Wiggin's. He took Enah and Tiddums as far as the Shand's and left them while he & Jonas went on out to vote. Tom came back with the car while he was gone and said if he thought Dad. would vote for Hammond he'd quit hauling his cream. Frank and I did chores and unloaded the shingles. The two Miss Hardings came over this after noon but nobody was home as Aunty & Aunty Alice went down to Huby's before dinner and are

not coming back before they go to Toronto. To-night I hooked up Joe and Belle to the bobsleighs and took a bunch to Simcoe to see the hockey match between Simcoe & Welland. Dad. went down with me to see how the election went and learned to his satisfaction that Wm. Walker beat Vyse by 31 of a majority and Hammond beat Baughner by 240. The only town councillors that qualified were Wms. Laing & Caley so they will have to have another nomination. They defeated Local Option in Simcoe on an even vote by a majority of fiftynine. I got Quint in down at the house and the rest of the load which Dick had invited were waiting at the Dyer's. They consisted of Dess & Fraser Dyer, Rachel Henry and May Rankin. Dick and Ferdy. Cars. Rankin came home with us. They all went over to the rink right away but Quint and I went to the Armories and Quint went later to the rink. They had no lights again to-night so we had a short drill in the street. Thern I went over to the match. They had only been playing ten minutes when I got there and the score was one in favor of Simcoe. It was a good game and there were very few penalties handout but a lot of offsides but it wound up with a score of five to four in favor of Welland. The girls in our bunch had attracted two Simcoe fellows, Charlie Barker & Sam Hasley and after the match we all went over to the Battersby House to get warm and cut up over there for half an hour or so except Ferdy and Cars. who went over to the quick lunch as they hadn't had any supper. It was a junior O.H.A. match to-night but Cars. didn't play. I guess he doesn't know whether he is on the team or not yet. He has had a room up there at the Melbourne ever since the season opened trying out for it. We had a lovely drive home. It was a little misty but frosty and bright moonlight. I dare say we left in our wake a good many suddenly awakened farmers. Joe and Belle made a very suitable team for although I didn't go at all furiously they slid along at a good steady trot without any urging. Faulkner passed us going up with a load of eighteen all men or boys. Herb Lowril took another cargo of the same kind up. We got home about one. It has been a very nice day sunny and mild.

Tuesday January 5th

Frank went back to school this morning and Ferdy who for the first time nearly since he has been here got up about ten o'clock and had breakfast and spent the rest of the day down town saying goodbye. He went down to Huby's about two o'clock to say goodbye down there and had his dinner. This after noon Dad. Enah Tiddums and I drove down in the bob sleighs to say goodbye to Aunty and Aunty Alice who went to-night to Toronto

to stay with Roy and Vernon for awhile. Dad. settled up with his creditors and bought me a new pair of shoes and overshoes at Andrew's without telling me. Andrew seemed very cheerful and didn't mention election. Dad. got a postcard to-night he is sure it was from Ed. with a little verse on it applying to Vyse

It's a long way to the old farm / Good-bye Council Chamber

It's a long way to go / Farewell Andrew dear

It's a long way to the old farm / It's a long, long way to the old farm

Where I have got to go / And my heart's not there.

Misner was in this morning to have Dad. look at a horse and said Old Stringer had had his cutter out yesterday to get Ellis Ryersie to vote and had broken it, so Dad's conjectures were evidently right. Last night on his way home he saw somebody drive very carelessly around Geordie Long's corner at the top of the hill and up towards Vyse's where they went in. He heard the driver yell at Vyse and he thought the voice sounded like Old Stringer's. When Vyse came to the door Old Stringer asked him if he had won and Vyse answered very gruffly for him in the negative. It has been a beautiful day sunny & mild.

Wednesday January 6th

Dick drove Ferdy to Simcoe this morning so that he could catch a 10.45 train at the Air Line station. I think they took Dess. Dyer up with them and Dick didn't get back till after twelve. We did nothing but chores to-day. Mrs. McBride was here washing all day. Frank went over to a Sunday school entertainment after school and stayed to tea. Enah was to have gone down but it was to bad a night. It has rained nearly all day and our January thaw has set in.

Thursday January 7th

This was Dick's birthday but we didn't celebrate it in any way and postponed it until Sunday. We did chores all morning and Dad. helped me clean the straw out of the chicken shed as the water ran in last night and flooded it. Allan Law came over and borrowed our bob sleighs to take their seed to Green in Simcoe as Fess isn't buying this year. This after noon Dad. and I drove down town and Dad. told Toty Smith he didn't want to qualify again for school trustee. Frank went over to John Wess' to-night canvassing for subscriptions to "The Farmer's Advocate" but didn't get any. He had a long and amusing conversation with old Mrs. Watson. There has been an awful wind all day and it has been freezing. According to the papers the Germans will soon be starving. The French are making great progress in upper Alsapce and the Russians are trimoving the Turks in great shake. The British took the capital of German East Africa the other day and the British and French are trying to force their way into the Dardanelles but the Turks have sunk a lot of old ships in the straits laden with stone and earth which for the present holds them.

Friday January 8th

When Allan Law brought our waggon sleighs back this morning Dad. got him to go up to Duncan's and get us a load of the rails he bought from Duncan last Spring, he didn't like to sell a load as there is only about another load up there but as we can't get back over the plowing to get any wood he said he wouldn't see us stuck so I went up and helped him put on a load. We got back a little before noon. This after noon Dad. Enah and Tiddums drove down town and I went skating for a little while. The pond is a glace of ice all over except around the edge which is all water there being only about three places connecting the land with the ice but it is inclined to be rough. Sunny but cold with a little wind.

Saturday January 9th

Dad. drove Dick down this morning and went in to ask Hec' Henderson if Neil Elliott wanted to buy Charlotte as Dad. didn't tell him positively whether he would sell her or not the other day but just as he got home Neil and his man drove in and they not only bought Charlotte and her calf for fiftysix dollars but gave us seven for Joe Lamb and took him with them. Frank Dad. & I went down right away with Charlotte. I drove ahead with the calf in the cutter and the others followed. We went up town and Dad. cashed his check and got his new suit at the tailor's. After dinner Dad. Enah and Tiddums drove down town and got Dick some birthday presents. Frank went back to the woods and cut down some more trees. I cleaned the straw out of the hen houses and put fresh in. Bob. Ellis was in before tea representing Tyler's tea Company of London and left a couple tins here. I don't think he would have if he had been anybody else. Poor old Bob. he looks rather seedy. He has been working down at Tom Fearge's all fall. Cloudy and mild.

Sunday January 10th

We were late this morning so Frank was the only one who went to church. Dad. and I got the chores pretty well done up and we had an early dinner and celebrated Dick's birthday. This after noon Dad. Enah. Tiddums and I went out to the Shand's and were out there all the after noon. Winnie & Lila came over just as we were starting off and so had to go back Frank and Dick were skating on the pond all the after noon I think. Tonight I walked down to church. All Huby's family including Huby himself were in church and I went around afterward to see them, but Huby had gone around to see Jim Greenbury so I missed him. I wanted to say goodbye to Quint especially as Jack Herring has got him a job in one of his woollen cotton mills in New Bedford and Quint is leaving on Tuesday moring so if he takes the job and stays I won't seem him again maybe for a couple of years. Nice day to-day. Not very sunny but mild.

Monday, January 11th

We were all up pretty early this morning as Toby had to leave for Guelph at 6-30. I drove him down and we got there in time, but he had very little time to get his ticket, the train was moving out when he came out of the station. I drove round by Huberts to get him but he was not ready so I had to go in and wait for him. Lila came over with us, she and Frank had a holiday as Mr Smith had gone to Toronto to attend Birdie's wedding. Frank and Hubert went back to the woods and worked there all day. I worked around the place. It began snowing about 3 O'Clock and I drove Hattie down to Mrs H. Cooks to get measured for her dress. Lila has gone down to get the mail and post a letter and just got back in time to go with us. Quintin came over in the evening to say goodbye, he leaves D.V. in the morning for New Bedford. He, Hubert and Lila went home before tea, after tea I fell asleep as usual. When Dick came home he asked me to call him at 6 he wanted to go down and see Quint off I gave the Windmill a good oiling. It has been a lovely day, very mild and did not storm much.

Tuesday January 12th

I jumped out of bed this morning owing to some crazy dream I suppose and thought it was 6-50, but when I struck a match and looked at the clock I found it was only 4-40 so I went back to bed and stayed there nearly an hour. I called Dick and Frank at 6 and they got up and went to see Quintin off. Hubert did not come over with them as he thought it looked like rain but said he would come if it cleared off. I let Frank stay home from school as they might work in the woods together but Hubert never showed up all day and old Frank worked alone. I cleaned out all the hen houses and hog pen, killed 6 roosters and Mrs McBride cleaned them. It has been colder today with a high N.E. wind but it has been thawing all day. Dick came home to tea tonight and had gone to a dance and will be tired out. It is terribly lonely and only two days gone. I am nearly asleep now.

Wednesday, January 13th

We were not up so early this morning. Hubert did not get over till nearly noon. Frank and I fixed a fence for the steer we are trying to fatten and Hubert helped us move him, after dinner Hubert and Frank went back to the woods. I did up all the chores, it has been a lovely day, quite a strong wind.

Thursday, January 14th

Hubert and Frank worked all day in the bush and got a pretty good day in, I did considerable fixing up at difficult things cow stable and rocking chairs etc. Harry Ausley drove his new horse over just as I was busy with the evening chores and it made me late. Has been a lovely mild day, barely freezing in the shade.

Friday, January 15th

Hubert got over this morning about 9.30 and he and Frank went to the woods, after I did all the morning chores I went to the mill with Joe and the cutter and got 200$ chop $1.75 per {cent?}. The boys took their lunch to the woods with them so Hattie, Sunny Jim and I had a rather lonesome dinner. Hattie started for town about 3 O'Clock to mail a letter to Tobe and to get the mail. We did hope for a letter from Toby but none came. Hattie took the baby down in his carriage but brought him home in a grand red sleigh that his grand-dady made him it is a beauty. I went back to the woods and brought up a load but it is quite bare on the ploughed land we cant haul much till we get more snow. It has been a beautiful day more like Spring than mid-winter. I got 4 eggs today.

Saturday, January 16th

As soon as we had everything fed this morning Frank and I cut up the load of green wood I hauled yesterday. Hubert did not get over until after 11 O'Clock, he sawed up a lot of rails. Frank carried all the wood we cut into the woodshed, he and Hubert worked at it nearly all the afternoon, quit in time to husk some corn. I worked at the chores. It has been another lovely day. Frank and I had a bath tonight. Hattie had a long letter from Toby and we all knocked off work to hear it.

Sunday, January 17th

It rained last night and was very dark this morning I thought our trip to the Shands was off, but it turned out a beautiful day and we all left in the bob-sleigh soon after 12, the sleighing was not too bad. We drove Joe and Belle. We did not have dinner till 2 O'Clock. Mr and Mrs Harvey Shand and Charlie were over, Flossie and Willie had to stay with Mrs Nixon. We had a very nice day and did not get started for home till 5 O'Clock. We all got home safely but had a little mix up putting the horses away, Frank was doing up Belle and I did Joe, and through some mistake Joe's line was left fastened to Belle's bridle with the result that as soon as the stable door was opened Joe jumbed in as she always does and would have taken poor Belle's head with her if the bridle and bit had not broken. Old Sunny Jim had the time of his life prowled all over the house and they just let him go, he was very good and a great nights sleep. The sleighing was almost completely gone when we came home. It has been just like a march day. Dick went to church this evening

Monday, January 18th

I was up early this morning and wrote Toby a short letter, Frank got up and helped me do some of the chores before he went to school. Mrs McBride came quite early for her, we did not expect her until tomorrow. Hubert did not get over till nearly noon, he told us that poor old T. L. Gillies dropped dead in his lumber yard about 10 O'Clock. I cleaned the straw out of one end of the chicken shed as it was pretty wet. Hubert husked corn all the afternoon. Frank went down with him this evening as he had forgotten the paper. They have all gone to bed now and I must go too. It snowed quite a lot this morning and several times through the day it was very wet almost rain, I think it is getting colder tonight. I got 10 eggs today.

Tuesday, January 19th

Hubert did not come over at all today, he had some insurance to look after. Frank went to school. I did up the chores and we had an early dinner

as soon after as possible I drove Hattie and baby down to Mrs Herb Cooks, left them there and went on down town and mailed a letter to the girls, came back got Hattie and baby and went out to the Waddles, Jim was in Simcoe so I did not see him. The sleighing is splendid not it snowed a lot last night and it was a wet heavy snow and stuck in spite of the wind. After tea Frank and I drove out to the H. Shands and did not get home till midnight. Colin was there and we had a great talk. It has been a fine day.

Wednesday, January 20th

Hubert got over about noon today. After dinner I drove him down to Art Ryerses, he wanted to see Art about the insurance on the new school, but he had gone to T. L. Gillies funeral. We then went a got a load of wood and were back at 3 O'Clock so I went after another load and Hubert stayed and sawed up rails. Dick came home for tea and we had it early and he started for Simcoe to see a Hockey game. Hubert stayed to tea and drove down with him. It is now after 10 O'Clock and he is not home yet. it has been a lovely day. I had a long letter from Toby and Frank and I wrote him tonight.

Thursday, January 21st

Nothing of importance was on today. I did not get up till nearly 7 O'Clock. I waited up for Dick last night and it was almost 2 O'Clock when he and I went to bed. Hubert was not over at all today. Frank went to school. I did the usual round of chores and got up two loads of wood. Hattie made dough-nuts and cookies beside all her ordinary work, she is stocking up against Toby's homecoming. We had letters from the girls today and I had a card from Quint today and am going to write him now. It has been much colder today and is freezing pretty hard tonight.

Friday, January 22nd

Owing to Toby's absence from home the diary has so far been kept by Daddy but as he is almost asleep tonight I am going to try a turn at it. This has been rather a blustery

day, the worst day we have had this year. Cold East wind and snow. Hubert did not come over today. Lila told Frank he was fixing the smoke house. Daddy had to do everything himself. He killed and dressed three roosters. The little steer that we have shut up to fatten has been "off her feed" for the last two days but Daddy thinks she is some better tonight. Frank came home from school via Mrs. Cook's and brought my dress also a couple of rolled oats from the mill. He said Mr. Cook told him that Col. Thompson is dead and was to be cremated. He died out in California. Frank went down to the "Movie" tonight to see "The Millionaire Cowboy." He invited me to go but the weather looked too disaggreeable disagreeable for me. We are expecting Toby tomorrow evening and will be very glad to have him home again

Saturday January 25th

I see the family have been very faithful in keeping account of events of the past two weeks but as soon as I got within forty miles of home their efforts ceased and as I didn't pull in till to-night I don't know exactly what happened to-day, but perhaps a summary of my history of the last fortnight would not be out of place just here. The first day I arrived in Guelph I found the place full of strangers like myself prepared to take some of the short courses at the O.A.C. I was lucky enough to get the last place in a boarding house within walking distance of the College. The last place turned out to be a cot several inches too short for me in a room already occupied by two fellows in a double bed. There were only three bedrooms and seven of us. I slept in the cot the first night but my knee was bad the next day so as one of the other fellows said I could sleep with him in a decent bed I decided to do so, but in order to accomplish this I had to displace another and sentence him to the cot. This could not be done peaceably so we had to use force. This disturbed the household and the old man appeared in his nightshirt to inform us that it would be expedient for me or more of us to hunt a new boarding house. However things went smoother after that and I have slept in a bed ever since and instead of us any of us departing another was introduced and another cot erected for his benefit a week before I left. They weren't a bad bunch of fellows all students at the College. Two of them Jim De Leplante and Copelan were regular students

and the other four {illegible}. Ben Tex & Jack were taking the short three months dairy course and Coatsworth the last addition to the family was also a dairyman. One of then was from Toronto two from Buffalo one from Prince Edward Island one from England originally and Jack the fellow that got kicked out of bed was from a little town somewhere near St. Thomas. Tex who was my bedfellow proved to be the wildest and most entertaining of the bunch. His father lived in Chicago but owned a factory in Guelph. Tex wasn't bound much by home ties and said his father had threatened to disown him on one occasion for some of his rash actions. He had put in a lot of time in Texas and the West and would talk a blue streak about his numerous adventures. I would like to say whether they were all true or not. There was another very nice fellow up there by the name of Hamilton and he has had some experiences about as thrilling as Tex's and after hearing him recount them a fellow can just about bank on them being straight. He is altogether different from Tex a steady going well educated fellow and very interested in his studies. He has a great scheme about a chicken ranch and a market garden in his head, which if he doesn't make good on I don't think will be his fault. The life at the boarding house was very interesting and the life at the College was none the less so and much more educative. Our classes started at half past eight and every morning we had seed judging for an hour and a half. Prof. Javitz conducted all those classes but the last three which were devoted to the study of weed seeds and were taken by another fellow who name I don't remember. After the seed classs we went to the judging pavillion and put in the rest of the day. The first day we had sheep judging and an old breeder Mr. Harding did most of the talking but Prof. Day was the chief instructor. He was there for all the stock except the horses. The method they took every day was to give a discussion on whatever species of livestock we had before us then give the students a chance to place them in what they thought was the order meriting prizes and then for the proffessor or breeder to place them right and give reasons the students being permitted to ask all the questions they liked at any time. After the sheep we had swine with Mr. Bretham to talk on them then fat cattle and an old fellow named Mr. Gosling then Dairy Cattle with Mr. Bull of Brampton for Jersey's and Mr. Brenan for Holsteins and another for Holsteins. Last of all we had horses and Dr. Hugo Reid took Prof. Day's place. We had all the different types of horses. Some of the sheep cattle & hogs they killed and brought the dressed carcasses into the ring to demonstrate the relations between the live and the

dressed. We used to get through as a rule soon after four and would have time to look around the farm or go for a swim in the gym or go over to the library as they had a fine one in connection with college. I went over to the poultry department and had a talk with Prof. Graham one night. He told me he was going to bring his class down here to see Jack Martin's chickens in a couple of weeks Two or three evenings they had a lecture or something on which was always interesting. I would have had lots of skating as they had a dandy rink at the College and two or three down town but my knee was bad nearly the whole time. However I did go and skate after a carnival they had and as I knew Hammond who is a second year man up there I got an introduction to several of the girls. I spent one evening with the Graeser's who are friends of Miss Scott and the Millman's so taking it all round I had a mighty good two weeks of it my knee being the only drawback.

Sunday January 24th

Frank was the only member of this family who went to church this morning and Dick was the sole representative to-night. I had a sore throat all day and felt pretty tough. Dad. spent the day doing chores and about five o'clock took Enah and Tiddums for a short drive. Frank spent the after noon in the woods. Cold but lovely day, sunny and bright.

Monday Janaury 25th

Frank stayed home from school to-day and he and Dad. did chores and cut wood all day. They got a big pile cut. I felt too rotten to go out of the house at all. Cold day but nice.

Tuesday January 26th

Frank stayed home again to-day and this morning he and Dad. took the little steer over to the slaughter house. Whit. killed it and dressed it to-day and they went over and got it in the bobsleigh to-night. Enah and Tiddums went down town with them and waited down town while they went over and got the meat. They took one quarter down to Huby and another to Mrs. McBride. He just dressed 352 lbs. Mrs. McBride was here washing all day. Cold & bright.

Wednesday January 27th

Dad. cut up one of the quarters of beef this morning and this after noon he Enah & Tiddums drove down to Law's to get one of them to haul ice to-morrow Sam was there and he said if Alan couldn't come he would

Frank went to school to day but Huby came over and cleaned out the ice house. We had a long visit from Jonas to-night. Still cold and bright.

Thursday January 28th

Dad. and Huby have been busy to-day filling the ice house Alan came and hauled eight loads. it is nice ice now but the blocks are thick Huby came over just before dinner on Alan's second load. He voted first they are voting for councillors to-day. Dick came home for tea to have a feed of beef heart and he told us that Ed. headed the poles with Mat. Wilson second. Harry Smith just missed by one vote There were just the three running and only two were to be elected. I felt better to-day and took Tiddums out for a ride in his dandy new sleigh which his Granfather made him Weather about the same as yesterday.

Friday January 29th

I have been out a little more to-day and did a few chores and put the cotton on another of my window frames. Huby has been over all day packing sawdust around the ice. I guess we will have to get another load. Dad. took a load of ice down to Lea Marshall's this after noon as all the farmers are helping him fill his ice house. Frank went down to see a broom-ball match to-night which they are having between the East and West side of Main St. Very cold and windy to-day. Snow drifting.

Saturday January 30th

Alan Law came over this morning and borrowed our sleighs to haul ice for Bob. Miller but left his here so Dad. and I cleaned out the horse stable and boxstall which had been cleaned out for two weeks so altogether there were two good sleigh loads and Dad. hauled it out on the old garden. I also made a rack in the chicken house to hold the window frames when there are not in use. Huby came over about noon and he and Frank cut wood all the afternoon Dad. and I did chores. Lila came over with Huby. Dad. Enah and Tiddums drove down town about five o'clock They took down eight dozen eggs and got 32 cts a doz. Very cold last night and cold all day but very sunny and still.

Sunday January 31st

We were very late getting up this morning and except for Frank and Dick nobody has been off or on the farm all day Frank went to church & sunday school this morning and Dick who didn't get up till after noon went down town about three o'clock. Dad. & I did chores most of the morning and I

read this afternoon. To-night Dad. wrote letters and I drew Enah. went to sleep and Frank wrote a letter to Aunt Leena. It has been mild and cloudy all day snowed this morning turning to an icy rain.

Monday February 1st

It rained all night last night and this morning everything was flooded so I drove the boys down to school and the bank. It began to freeze before noon and the wind got up so by to-night there was a fierce storm raging with a cutting sleet and it was pretty cold. We didn't do anything but chores all day and not any more of them than was necessary. We sat around and read most of the after noon.

Tuesday February 2nd

This has been the worst storm we have had for quite awhile. It stormed all night and all to-day but to-night is quieter. No trains came in at all to-day and they took the engine of the freight to pull the Stratford train out Dave Turner got out a mile or so but came back. The snow is so solid it is just like sand drifts. I walked down town this morning and got my hair cut This after noon put cotton on another window frame for the chicken house. It was nearly full of snow this morning. Frank came home about three o'clock as there was hardly anyone at school and the room was so cold the snow which drifted in didn't melt all day. Mrs. McBride came over this morning I don't know whether she intended to wash or not but she didn't. The old bear didn't see his shadow to-day but its very doubtful if he stuck his nose outside his log all day, so I suppose we should have an early spring.

Wednesday February 3rd

Dad. and I spent most of the fore noon shovelling snow as everything was drifted full. Tupper and Mr. Evans broke the trail from the Winding Hills to the mill bridge. Tupper was in here to get a cure for ringworm he has a patch of it near his mouth. I don't think any trains went out to-day but the mail train got in about five o'clock to-night. Frank went down after tea to get the mail and see another broom ball match. Dick didn't come home at all last night. This has been a lovely day. Cold but very sunny and not much breeze. Frank has just come home and said it was the snowplow which came in instead of the mail train but the track is clear now.

Thursday February 4th

Tims and I are alone tonight, the others are all down at the Cadets' concert and as they thought there would be a dance after it I suppose they will be late getting home so I think when I have written this I will go to bed. I have read a lot of the papers Miss Newell sent to Frank we have had no mail since Monday and I dont believe there has been a train in on the Hamilton road since the storm. We prepared for Mrs McBride today but she did not come. Toby and I got a couple of loads of wood up today, it was quite a job breaking the road there is a lot of snow now. It has been a very fine day pretty cold but bright.

Friday February 5th

We were late getting up this morning but managed to get the chores done up in time to haul up one load of wood. We took Tiddums back with us and he had a fine time. Coming home he showed signs of uneasiness I think owing to the fact that his feet were cold although he declared they were not but when Snoop and Bluch threatened to have a passage at arms he cheered up considerably.The dogs didn't fight however as Sam called Snoop home. Yesterday they had a little set to but old Bluch settled the dispute very quickly. Snoop is game but Bluch is too much for him. It was beginning to rain when we got in and when we got the load off Dad. went down to the mill and got a bags of flour, chop, & rolled oats. By after dinner it was raining too hard to go back to the woods and it kept it up all the after noon and is still raining to-night. I put in the after noon making a door for the partition between the two pens in the chicken shed. Dad. did chores and took the pork out of the pickle and put the beef in. I was going up to Simcoe to-night with a load that Cars. Rankin got up to see a hockey match but as it was raining so hard I didn't go. I don't suppose the rest would as I don't think the ice would be any good let alone the unpleasantness of the trip. The train came in on the Hamilton track to-day for the first time since the blockade and we got out mail to-night after being without it for three or four days. This has been one of the worst storms we have had for a long time. They say the snowplow and two engines ran off the track down by the Creamery yesterday and smashed the snowplow all to pieces and injured one of the engineers quite severly. The last we heard of the Port Rowan train it was stuck in a snowbank a couple of miles south of Simcoe

Saturday February 6th

It rained all fore noon and turned later to snow it has been cold and raw all day. After chores I spent most of the day fixing around the chicken house and made a door for the opening at the east end of the shed. Dad. and Frank sawed wood all morning and right after dinner hooked up and went down after a load of shingles and pickets to make a {sheep rack?}. Huby had them in the woodshed down home. Win came back with them and stayed to tea. After they got home we separated the calves from the sheep and put the former over in the barn near Deadnought's stall. After tea Win, Frank and I went down to the Moving Picture show Win & I got in at the first show but Frank and Lila who were a little later couldn't get in on account of the crowd but they got in at the second show and saw The "Million Dollar Mystery" which was the principal thing we went to see. The films didn't come till the late train so Win. & I missed it. One of the ewes the old fat one looks very sick to-night. Her legs seem stiff and she is panting very hard and not eating, we don't know what ails her but she looks to be pretty sick I have got up fairly early in the morning to write this and although I have the fire lit. It is still so cold in here that I have put on my gloves and cap and pulled down the ear tabs in the hope of feeling comfortable

Sunday February 7th

Frank went down to church and Sunday school this morning and Dad. & I did up the chores. Dick got up in time for dinner. We all got ready to drive down to see the wreck of the snowplow after dinner on the bobsleighs but just as we got ready a terrific snowstorm came up and in the midst of it Elva, Said. Davis & May Perry came over and were here all the after noon and evening. Then we hooked up to the bobsleigh & Dick Frank and I drove them down home. We had a mighty pleasant time but poor Dick didn't get down at all to see Dess and he was terribly afraid she would be mad. It has been a lovely day most of the time but for a snowstorm now and then. The sick ewe was a lot better to-day but something is wrong with her.

Monday February 8th

I got up fairly early this morning and got most of my chores done before breakfast. I didn't do much during the morning but make some buttons to hold the frames in the chicken house. We had dinner early and hooked up to the bobsleighs and all drove down to meet the one o'clock train as Aunty & Aunty Alice came in on it from Brantford as they had gone over there from Toronto to see Miss Battersby.

They went to Huby's and so we didn't see much of them to-day. When we got home Art Ryersie and Colin came in to settle up some accounts. They were here a long time and Art was expressing his opinion of the war, hard times, and the outlook for feeding till Spring and others which are troubling the most of us just now. To-night just about six Jack Highland came in and wanted Dad. to take down the three bags of bluegrass seed. Huby told me the other day that he wanted it to-day but we didn't know whether he meant it or not so forgot it, so Dad. & Frank had to take it down to-night. I went to Simcoe to drill to-night and took Colin Ryersie with me but when I got there I found them practicing for another patriotic concert in the Armories and they weren't having any drill and wouldn't let Colin in at all so we didn't stay long and I got home before Dad. went to bed. Raw & Cold.

Tuesday February 9th

We were going after a load of wood this morning but Jack McBride came after Dad. to see a sick cow so I did up the chores and cut a little wood for Mrs McBride who was here washing. This after noon I went over to Jack Martin's thinking Prof. Graham would be there from the O.A.C. with his short course students as he told me he was coming down about this time and John Quanbury told us yesterday he was coming to-day but I found out he had come last night and been over here this morning so I missed them. After I got back Dad. & Tiddums drove down in the bobsleighs and brought Aunty & Aunty Alice over. it has been a nice day, sunny but pretty cold.

Wednesday February 10th

Dad. and I went back this morning and got a load of rails. We got all we could and nearly all there were but there are still a few under the snow. While we were at dinner Cars. Rankin came over to task me if I would take a load to Simcoe to-night. He said there were three or four fellows promised to go and an equal number of girls and that it would be worthwhile Dad. told me to tell him I wouldn't go so I did and then Dad said if i wanted to take Belle & Joe I could so I promised him I would. This after noon Dad. and I went up and got a load of gravel at Cantelon's and I had to hurry to get down town at the right time When I got there I found ten girls waiting and only one boy Charlie Nun. The others had disappeared and Cars. had gone up on the train. They all piled in and then I remembered that in my hurry I had come away without

my skates so they said for me to go around by home and get them which I did but it made us late and we didn't reach Simcoe till nearly nine o'clock and there Charlie Nun proved himself to be worth all the rest of the bunch put to-gether who promised to go and didn't for he paid for most of the girls' way in to the rink and also for my ticket Dick had gone up on the afternoon train so he took Dess over. The game was between the Simcoe O.H.A. Juniors and Waterford. Cars. played with Simcoe and their team proved to be far more than a match for the Waterford fellows and the score was 7-3 I think favor of Simcoe. It was a pretty poor game and pretty dirty on the Waterford side especially. We had a half an hour or so skating after the match and got well warmed up and left for home before twelve. I nearly knocked one of my teeth out and Mildred Henry's brains at the same time while we were skating We were playing tag and I was it and as she was skating towards me I made at her to tag her. She saw me coming and turned around as I thought to skate away, but instead tried to dodge me or some thing with the result of a great collision and the above mentioned consequences. Dick and Cars. came back with us and we got back about half past one or two. Lovely day & night but pretty cold.

Thursday February 11th

This morning Dad. hauled wood while I did up the chores and this after noon we hauled another load of gravel from Cantelon's. There was a bunch up there including John Wess & Tupper. Rus. Lampkins also came in but decided he couldn't get through to Lynn Valley with a load so didn't stay. This morning Art Munroe came over after Dad. as their (Ivey's) black mare was down and they couldn't get her up She was over in the back field by the woods and had an attach of the colic. She got up after a while but was pretty stubborn about it. It has been pretty cold and breezy to day.

Friday February 12th

Dad. hauled wood all day to-day, he got up four loads which was all there was back there. I did up the chores and worked around at odd jobs while he was gone and helped him to unload the loads of wood. The last load out but one Dad. took Enah and Tiddums down to Alfred's and called for them again when he had unloaded. He and I also went down to the mill and got a bag of buckwheat and a bag of shelled corn for the chickens. Frank went down town to-night and asked Huby if he would come over to-morrow and help him saw wood. Huby said he would. Very mild and Spring like to day.

Saturday February 13th

Huby and Lila came over this morning and have been here all day Huby & Frank cutting wood most of the time. This morning Dad. Lila and I went up and got another load of gravel. Yesterday's thaw made the roads pretty slippery and in some places the snow was nearly all gone, we had no trouble getting home with our load however, although Preston's hill was pretty bad in spots. As Frank wanted to make a trip to the Gravel pit he and Dad. went up for a load this after noon. They wanted to put it off way up at Sam's corner but when they crossed the ditch the bobs got stuck and they had to throw the load of where it was, unleach the team as Harry fell down and pull the sleighs out with the cham. Huby helped me put the netting on the chicken house windows this after noon and then Enah. Tiddums and I drove down town. Enah took down seven dozen eggs and got 28 cts for them. We saw Dick down town and while Enah was shopping he, Tiddums and I had a great drive around town which apparently delighted Tid. to the utmost. It rained this morning and hasn't frozen all day but the wind is much colder.

Sunday February 14th

I just watered the horses and fed the chickens this morning and then got ready and went down to Sunday school with Frank. Hazen started back a few weeks ago so I thought I would keep him company. I went around and called for him. He invited me over to dinner so I went after church. Hazen, Dave & Booze were keeping hatch to-day and Hazen did the cooking. We had a chicken which was mighty good. I was over there all the afternoon and didn't get home till after five. Just as I was coming over the bridge Dad overtook me with the team, sleigs and all the family, they had been out at the Shand's and had come around by town to get Aunty's and Aunty Alice's luggage as they are going to stay over here for awhile. To night We all listened to Aunty read "Little Lord Fauntleroy." Very mild and Spring like all day with quite a heavy shower of rain after dinner.

Monday February 15th

I happened to get up early this morning and while poking around heard a sheep blat. I lit the lantren and went out and saw the ewe which as been sick all week No 24 looked very much like lambing so I called Dad. and sure enough before long there was a lamb and before breakfast another and soon after a third but it was dead. Dad. has been running back and forward to the barn all day with first one and then the other to keep them warm and also to feed them as the ewe so far has hardly any milk for them, but to-night they look fairly comfortable

We built a pen over in the barn this after noon and shut the ewe and her lambs in it which separates them from the other sheep. Dad. helped me put the gate on the chicken yard and to-night I separated the three pens but haven't them sorted out yet. To-night Dad. & Enah went down to a concert by the Nanticoke Minstrel's. Frank went down to change a vest he got at Butler's. It has been mild to-day but cloudy.

Tuesday February 16th

This morning I went over first thing and got some roosters from Jack Martin. I got four to mate up with about fortytwo or three hens. I also got a little brandy from Mrs. Quanbury for the lambs as one of them was nearly all in this morning when Dad. went out but when I got home this one little fellow was dead. However the brandy revived the other one and by to-night was quite lively. This after noon I spent most of the time being coachman for the family. First I drove Aunty down town as she wanted to go to auxilliary Just as I got home Enah was ready to go down town to I drove her down. Then I nicely got back to the head of the lane when Mrs. McBride who has been here washing all day came out on her way home so I turned around and drove her home. I then was able to put Joe in for about an hour or so and then drove down and got Aunty & Aunty Enah and brought them home. To-night Dad. helped me get all the single comb hens out from the others and by themselfes and also to even up the other two pens a little better, so now I have about twenty hens and twenty two or three pullets. There may be a pullet or two in with the hens. It was colder to-day and cloudy and threatened to snow all day. I sat up till half past one reading "The Broad Highway."

Wednesday February 17th

I did chores most of the morning and nothing else much all day as I spent the time reading My "Broad Highway" I intended only to read at it odd minutes but it was too much for me and I put in nearly the whole day with it, after reading it, going back to feeding chickens and cleaning stables seems an unbearably tame way of living. This being Ash Wednesday Aunty & Aunty Alice went down to church this morning and Miss Harding came back with them to dinner She was here all the after noon and drove down to-night with Enah and I as we went to church this evening. Frank walked down to church but came back with us. The other lamb died to-day. About 9.30 to-night Tupper came after Dad to see a sick ewe. Sunny & thawing but raw.

Thursday February 18th

This morning I drove Aunty to Vittoria to catch the 11.40 train for Port Rowan as she went up for the day to see Aunty Ida. I didn't come straight home but went around to see if I could come down the front road but I saw both the Dunkin's and they said I couldn't get through that way so I had to come back around by Vittoria. Mr. Dunkin told me that he hadn't had the sheep registered yet and got me to give him the numbers again. As I wasn't in a special hurry I drove down the road that goes past the mill but after getting along it quite a way had to turn back but I wasn't sorry I went as it is so pretty. I think I have been through before but it must have been a long time ago and in the summer, it is just a pretty in winter, as the little stream is running along just the same, and the snow, sunshine and evergreens all combine to give it a very cosy & comfortable appearance and the narrow little roadway bounded by the artistic old rail fences over which you occasionally catch a glimpse of a field keep you in mind of the fact that you are still within reach of civilization but at the same time fits in beautifully with the fairyland surroundings. That is certainly a lovely country up there if it isn't much good. I didn't get home till after the rest had had dinner and as Sid. McBride had been here to tell us our wire had come Dad. and I had to go down after in this after noon. Dick came home to tea to-night and afterwards he and I went down to the Orchestra's dance. We had a dandy time, there were not many boys there but lots of girls. I danced pretty nearly every dance and with pretty nearly every girl and by half past two wasn't any more than able to toddle home. Perce Brock was down with his troops and so with him and Murray combined we couldn't help but have dandy music, the rest of the Orchestra was there too of course. The old ewe who has lambed could not get up to-day and all the after noon has been stretched out flat and although she was chewing her cud this after noon to-night she is just about dead. It has been a beautiful day fairly cold breeze but very sunny

Friday February 19th

Dad. and I didn't do anything all morning but tend to sheep and lambs. The sick ewe died during the night. Dad thought of skinning her but when he saw that her skin was all mottled he decided not to touch her as he was afraid of blood poison and besides the wool came right off her I suppose from fever. He took the fleece of her by pulling it and it came as easily and left the skin

as clean as a whistle. First thing this morning old ewe No 117 had three lambs, the first one not much bigger than a half grown kitten, the second one a little bigger but weak and the last one the biggest and huskiest. The first two were not only weak but didn't know enough to go and get their natural breakfast so Dad. has been carrying them back and forward to the house to feed them and keep them warm. About noon old Splitear had a pair of twins but they were bigger and much more sensible. This after noon we did chores principally and Dad. buried the dead ewe. Colin Ryersie came in for quite a visit To-night Frank went down to the train and Aunty came home with him Lovely sunny day

Saturday February 20th

We didn't do much this morning but chores and I put Queen in Ginger's stall and cleaned her up and monkeyed with her for quite awhile till when I was washing her stifle she kicked me on my sore knee which settled me till after dinner. Jim Waddle and the two little girls came in and were here for a long time staying till dinner time. Frank tore down some of the barbed wire fence along the road. This after noon I drove Enah and Tiddums down town Aunty went as far as Uncle Ward's with us. To-night we all stayed home and Frank and I had a bath. When Dick came home he stayed up till three oclock reading "The Money Moon" which Aunty Alice gave him Very mild and soft to-day. Sleighing nearly gone

Sunday February 21st

I went down to Sunday school again this morning with Aunty and Frank and also to church. Aunty and Aunty Alice went over to Mrs. Key's for dinner. This after noon Frank and I went for a ride, he took Belle with the little saddle and I was mounted on Joe. We had a dandy galop We went up the Gravel to the corner this side of the Half-Way-House crossed over to the Radical at the Brick School House and down the Radical through town and home. We were rather stiff to-night and Frank went to bed at eight o'clock but before I hit the strawpile we had some music. Softer and sunnier than ever to-day Sleighing no good at all

Monday February 22nd

Dad. didn't go to bed at all last night on account of the sheep. His ewe had one lamb about one oclock, it is very small and just as foolish as the others were about nursing we didn't pay much attention to it all day just holding

the mother a couple of times for the lamb to suck but this evening when Dad. went to look at it it was nearly dead. He brought it in the house and has been tending to it and feeding it out of the bottle with brandy & milk all evening and although for awhile he and Aunty Alice thought they had a hopeless case but now it has revived a little I haven't done much all day but chores and cleaned out the far chicken pen I also gave Queen a little brushing off and cleaned out the boxstall it has been a very rainy after noon and I read the "Money Moon" for an hour or two. Jonas came over before tea and bought a setting of eggs It has been very soft and Springlike but cloudy with a little rain.

Tuesday February 23rd

It has rained nearly all day to-day so we didn't do anything much except chores and Dad. put in a lot of time tending to the sheep. His lamb died to-day so he is going to try to put the little pet lamb on his ewe although she hasn't much bag. This after noon Dad. & I drove Aunty & Aunty Alice down town in the bobsleighs although the roads were mostly mud. They are going to stay down till Sunday. We brought Blaikeys old iron pot back from Butlers where it has been ever since Blaikey gave it to us since when he had his sale three years ago. Mrs. McBride was here to wash to-day and hung the clothes in the woodshed.

Wednesday February 24th

This morning we did up the chores and I put the harness & bridle on Queen but didn't take her out. I also went over to Jack Martin's and got an egg crate to start saving eggs for him. Old Mr. Silverthorn was over to see what we would send to the men's banquet on Friday night and put us down for some cream. Dad. & I took a walk back to see what the wheat looked like before dinner. The piece next Ivey's looks fine and there is no water lying on it although Ivey's place is flooded in spite of his tile. The other piece doesn't look so well especially on the knoll where it seems to be killed out and there are several places where the water is lying on it. Charlie Quanbury brought Chris' hams over to be smoked this after noon and I went out to his farm with him. He was fixing up his cow stable as he wants to get moved out in a week. He is going to keep hatch. I am afraid it will be pretty lonely for him but he thinks he wont mind. Frank went down to church to-night. It has been cloudy & very mild all day.

Thursday February 25th

This morning we put the pork in the smoke house and Dad. started a fire in the old iron pot we got from Butler's He thought it would make a fine firebox as there is a big hole in the bottom of the side which he thought would do for a damper (which it certainly did). He went out after dinner to see it and the pot had melted a hole in the ice for the smoke house had been flooded and when the pot sunk the water ran in the hole and put the fire out. This after noon I started to tidy up the shop and Dad. and I cut a little wood. To-night Dad. & I walked down to see Aunty & Aunty Alice and Dad. got his hair cut. They are staying up at Cousin Loll's for a day or two & Cousin Loll & Willie have gone to Toronto to see Hugh. They thought it very queer that last night Cousin Loll dreamt all night about Hugh She thought he had come home and it was so real she woke up and got up, then went to sleep again and dreamt the same thing over again, so she thought surely she would get a letter to-day from him but was disappointed, but late this afternoon Cousin Willie came up and said Hugh had just telephoned him from Toronto as he was there on business but wouldn't have time to come to Dover so wanted them to go down there. Cousin Willie had planned to go down anyway to a board of trade meeting so Cousin Loll went with him this morning and they expect to be back to-morrow night. Aunty & Aunty Alice expect to leave for the West Monday night. Tom Abbot and Billy {Haron?} were in this after noon Tom's mare has flatulent colic which is the same as Tuple's horse died of the other day so poor Tom was pretty frightened and wanted Dad to go down but Dad. gave him some medicine instead. It has been much colder and very blustery with snow today.

Friday February 26th

Dad. and I cut some wood this morning besides doing up the chores. This afternoon we were preparing to go over and pay Tupper a visit when Tom Abbot came in to get Dad. to go down and see Maude so we all walked down there judging from appearances Maude didn't seem in bad health except that she was a little bloated, but she was active and attentive and didn't seem in any pain however Dad. left Tom some medicine and advice. It was after five when we got home. I went down to the Men's missionary hangout for supper. I bought a ticket from Dick for fifty cts the other day so thought I had better use it. The cadets waited on the table and as I happened

think I was doing too badly when I could run up the G. scale two octaves and pretty nearly come down again and could also scrape off "Drink to me only" & "Sun of my Soul" so that you could tell what I was trying to play. Dick went down town this after noon after spending the first half of the day in bed according to custom and got home to-night about twelve It has been a sunny day but a cold raw wind.

Monday March 1st

The first thing on the programme this morning was the presentation of another pair of lambs by Greynose 118. I found them about half an hour after Dad. had looked in and found nothing. They were both dandy big fat strong ones and didn't need any nursing at all. When the sun got good and hot Dad. turned the old ewe and lambs in the shed where they were out of the wind. We did chores all morning and this after noon went down to say good-bye to Aunty & Aunty Alice as they left for the West to-night and are going to stay with Roy & Vernon to-night. I took 6 dozen eggs over to Jack Martin and Enah took five dozen down town. Jack said he wanted to send over a couple more roosters to put in the single comb pen. Mrs. McBride was here washing all day. To-night Dick and I went to Simcoe as Dick wanted to see a hockey match between Simcoe & Hamilton. Dad. assured us that the roads would be impassable as they said they were last Thursday but as Dick heard from several that they were good and as two or three had come down in automobiles and as it was a lovely full moon to-night we thought we would risk it, we were very glad we did for the roads were as smooth and hard as could be hardly any snow left on them except in one or two spots. It was a very good game between the Seniors & Hamilton and finished in two periods with a score of 4-2 in favor of Simcoe. I think the Hamilton fellows were a little the best team but Simcoe's goal-tender saved them. I went over to the Armories before the match and had about half an hour's drill. The third contingent fellows of which there are about thirty from the 39th are living at the Armories. They are going to have target practice down in the basement next Wednesday and cut out the drill one night a week. Sunny but cold to-day.

Tuesday March 2nd

I felt rather tough to-day as I had a sore throat and a cold I suppose due to my last night's exploit as Dick & I did considerable singing on the road home. First thing I went over to Martin's and got a couple of cockerels for the single comb

to sit down at a table which was under the supervision of Ed. Lindsay who didn't seem to do anything but run around with a large pitcher of hot coffee, I think I could have got a much better tea at home for nothing only I wouldnt have had three different kinds of cake. After supper we had to sit for about three hours and listen to speeches from fellows from Simcoe and Toronto as well as our own local talent. They didn't do or say anything much but crack jokes and talk about the war and the Kaiser and the missionary movement. Frank came down after tea and waited till I went home Dick was at the supper but had some excuse about having to work so missed the speeches. Cold wind and blustery. Lovely night.

Saturday 27th February

We didn't do anything much this morning but chores and cut a little wood. Frank and I had a good boxing match in the shop, he's not bad with his fists at all. Winnie & Lila came over to dinner Winnie had a collection box collecting to buy surplices for the choir. I donated a very nice two inch nail which I happened to have in my pocket. Winnie didn't seem very appreciative. Tom came in after dinner to tell Dad. that Maude isn't well yet although she is getting her appetite back having eat four bran mashes and is ready for as many more Dad. said she was doing all right but gave Tom a ball to give her. The minute Tom came in Tiddums solicited a nickel from him and got it. Just after Tom left Tupper came in and was here most of the after noon just visiting. Frank went down to-night to help eat up what was left over from last night's banquet. He'll get his supper for ten cents and won't have to listen to any speeches. It has been freezing all day with cold wind but sunny.

Sunday February 28th

Frank and I went down to Sunday school & church and Enah came down to church as they had a hymn sang to the tune of "Tell Aunty Rhody the Grey Goose is dead." And so Harry Moon sent her a special invitation to be there Aunty was in church and she & Aunty Alice came over here to dinner. They went back before tea however as Aunty Alice has a bad cold and didn't want to be out after sundown Dad. went down to church to-night and around to see them They expect to leave for the West to-morrow night. They were able to get cheap tickets after all. This evening Enah & I played a few duets but the parlor was pretty cold so I spent the rest of the evening practicing on the fiddle. Last night was the first time I ever tried it so didn't

pen I also took the little cockerel which has been running with them over but they said he was too small to be any good so I brought him back and shut him in the corn crib with the Old Plymouth Rock & Rhode Island Red to await execution. When Dad. went out the cow stable this morning he found a heifer calf belonging to Jim. so that has taken up a little extra time but it is a fine red calf & good & strong but a little finer than Mary, Dad. thinks Martha would be a good name for it. This after noon Enah went down to Auxiliary and I minded Tiddums who was wonderfully good but didn't seem to be able to satiate his ravenous appetite for apples and I didn't like to give him too many. Dad took the old Rhode Island Red hen down to Alfred's and traded her off for a rooster to kill. We hated to kill her as she is laying. It has been a sunny but very windy & raw day.

Wednesday March 3rd I didn't do anything to-day but chores as I felt rather tough with a cold and there was a cold high wind all day Dad chopped the smoke house door open again and put a fire in. I got twenty five eggs to-day, they are picking up. To-night Enah and Frank went to church & choir practice and I went to a party at Pat's & Bessies. I went up to the bank first and went down with Dick & Hazen. There was a big crowd down there playing pedro, we had a mighty good time but didn't get home till about two o'clock so I suppose will feel the effects later. Dick one won the gentleman's first prize which was a book. Art. Lawdon got the booby I think he was one game lower than me.

Thursday March 4th

As I expected I felt tough to-day but more on account of my cold than anything. I did chores and pruned some of the peach trees this morning and slept most of the after noon Dad. went down to the mill and had quite a visit with old Ivey and made arrangements to get about forty bushels of seed oats and run his {face?} for them I guess he succeeded all right and will get them to-morrow. Nice sunny day.

Friday March 5th

We hooked up the team this morning and went down to the mill to get our seed oats. We got forty bushels and put them in Ed's big bin It took us nearly all morning to fix things to hold them We left some right in the bags. We hauled over a few forkfuls of the old thrashed bluegrass out of the shed to the other barn. This after noon I took Ivey's sacks back to him and did chores. Old Jonas paid us quite a visit

last night. He has rented Hew Morgan's property up the radical roads about twenty two acres, house & barn some fruit and a grape vine for $75 a year. He thinks he will be able to make it growing vegetables. To-night Enah & I went down to Elva's to another pedro party. We got there early so I went back to town and came over with Dick & Harry {Wrey?}. We had another very enjoyable evening but didn't get home till two o'clock. Dick won a box of blacking this time for the booby prize with the inscription "If you can't shine at the head shine at the foot. There has been a rather raw wind all day and this after noon it began to snow it was still snowing when we came home but the wind had gone down and it had turned very soft.

Saturday March 6th

I havent done anything but chores all day and havent been very swift at them. I had a short nooze before dinner Tonight before six Frank & I went down and got the mail & some coal oil. Tony Bannister came over after dinner an he and Frank went back to see if there were any fish in the creek but there wasn't any water in it yet. Truman Walker was in at noon and borrowed the saddle as he was taking one of his mares to Simcoe to sell her for an artillery horse. His father is in Toronto having his eye treated and has been gone for several weeks Trum. says it will be a long time before he will be back It has been cloudy and snowing a little but very soft. There were quite a few cutters & sleighs out to-day but I guess it sleighing is pretty poor

Sunday March 7th

Frank was the only member of this family at church or Sunday school this morning and he stayed down at Huby's for dinner. My cold was so bad that I didn't do a pesky thing all day but sit around, practice on the fiddle write a letter to Quint. and read. Dad. did all the chores and this morning drove Enah and Tiddums down to the latter's Grandma's where they had dinner and and spent the afternoon Dad. brought them home at five o'clock. Dick got up about two o'clock and went down to see Dess for the rest of the day & a good part of the night. I went to bed right after tea. Snowed a little but mild.

Monday March 8th

I didn't get up till after noon to-day and have just sat around all the rest of the day. Dad. went down this morning to ask Sairy if she wanted his blind lamb to look after and this after noon Jonas came after it. They are getting all ready to

move up to their farm to-morrow. The chief item of intrest was Dick coming home to tea to-night to help us eat roast chicken, not only that but he stayed home all evening and went to bed quite early not before we had a grand musicale however with Dad. & Enah and the fiddle & guitar and Dick on the mouth organ and tin whistle Dick became so jubilant that he could not refrain from dancing very noisily around the kitchen and waking up Tiddums who came running out here in his bare feet and wouldn't go back to bed for about an hour. Dick had brought him home a tin drum full of animal shaped biscuits which he aparently enjoyed very mucch. It froze pretty hard last night but has been very sunny & soft today.

Tuesday March 9th

I got up for breakfast this morning but have been in the house all day. This morning Billy Hawn came after Dad. to go down and see John Watts mare but Dad. didnt have time so gave him some medicine. Then Alfred came up as the old black horse was sick again & Alfred wanted them her put out of her misery either kill or cure so Dad. went down but said She wasn't dangerously ill. I guess Alfred rather wishes She would die as she is 25 years old and as long as he has her he hasn't got room for another and yet when she is well she can do her share of work so he hates to kill her. This after noon Dad Enah & Tiddums drove down town and back then Dad. drove Mrs. McB home who has been here washing all day. Cecil MacPherson came over with Frank after school and borrowed one of Dad's canary cages the breeding cage as his mother is going to raise canarys. Very mild & sunny all day.

Wednesday March 10th

My cold was much better to-day and I have been outside most of the day. Dad. helped me bring the incubator up out of the cellar this morning and I cleaned it out and started the lamp. The door of the egg chamber is warped or rather swollen that it won't shut, we thought the spare room would be the best place to run the first hatch through this year as the cellar is so full of apples & vegetables that we were afraid the air would not be pure enough and it would take a long time to get it ready down there. John Wess came in to see Dad. this morning about one of his mares and Sat. Robinson was in this after noon for vetinary advice. This evening the assessor, Mr. Austin of two years ago was around and knocked off the five hundred dollars that Vair put on the assessment last year which pleased Dad. greatly

To-night Frank went down to the weekly Lenten service presumably to sit and watch Rosy. Sunny & mild all day. There are some very fishy stories going the rounds just now about Henry Hoffman being arrested in New York as a German Spy and having on him papers concerning Canadian Government buildings & forts which everyone should not know.

Thursday March 11th

I went over to Martin's this morning to ask Chris about the incubator, I was afraid the thermostat had gone wrong but he said it was all right. When I got back Dad. & I went down to Hammonds bush and got a waggon box full of sawdust to put on the ice. We didn't get back till after one I saw for the first time a very interesting looking character in the person of Ad. Frolic. I never heard of him till a little while ago but Dad. says he has been around here ever since he can remember, he & Jack Richardson were building a log hut down in the bush where Ad. intends to live in future. It doesn't look as if it would be a very comfortable habitation and is in great contrast to the mansion on the other side of the road where Oscar Howden has built up his old shack into a hip roofed structure of very prepossessing appearance or will be if Oscar ever takes time to paint it or clear up the rubbish around it but I suppose he wont have time for that kind of foolishness. Regarding the personal appearance of the above mentioned Mr. Frolic at a distance he looks very much like the gentleman universally known as Santa Claus as he is about wears his whiskers the same way and is about the same size & shape except that there is not such a large portion of the abdomen which shakes like and rhymes with jelly. On closer inspection however he would never be taken for old St. Nick as his face would I think have the opposite effect upon that part of humanity which the other so delights. It is of a rich reddish purple colour and all puffed and shiny and is used up nearly altogether to make up his nose which is bigger than any other two noses I ever saw. He was just going home to {dinner?} when we saw him and he had pulled on his old overcoat without bothering to pull the collar from where it had rolled under on his back. When I told Tom Abbott the other day that I didn't think I had ever seen him Tom. said he guessed I hadn't as I would be sure to remember if I ever had and I think I most certainly would. I spent the after noon washing out the incubator and getting it in shape to run but to-night the temperature hadn't gone up at all beyond 98°. Tonight Sam & Mrs. Law came over to spend the evening. It was rather cold

in the parlor so we didn't have any music. They were here till about eleven o'clock. It has been sunny but rather raw to-day

Friday March 12th

I took the mate to the rooster that died over to Martin's this morning and brought two more back here I didn't want to bring just one and put him in with the other for fear they would fight. When I came back I pruned a couple of trees in the orchard. Dad. took a look at the wheat and reported it all right so far. This weather lately has been hard on it as the snow is all off it and it looks terribly brown. This afternoon I started to clear up some of the rubbish around the windmill. It has been sunny and mild but cold breeze. We got a letter from Aunty to-day saying they arrived safely in Fort Saskatchewan.

Saturday March 13th

This morning I took Chris' ham over to him as Dad. thought they were smoked enough. I wanted to ask him about the incubator, this morning when I went in the temperature had gone down to about sixty seven and the flame was aparently just the same. Chris said it might have been on account of the outside temperature and advised me to put the eggs in, so I did when I got home. I put in 136 eggs and let it go. It has got up to 103° to-night and I put a screen up to keep the cold air from the window off it. I just did odd jobs the rest of the morning and Dad. & Frank went out and opened up the potato pit and found them in good condition so they sacked them all up and hauled them in this after noon. The baby went out to the field with us in the waggon and I took him back as far as the gully while they were loading. When we got in I rode down town and got the mail. Winnie & Lila were over all the after noon & Frank went down with them to-night to play poker. Snowdrop presented us with a black & white heifer calf to-day. Sunny & mild but freezing nights.

Sunday March 14th

Frank and I went down to Sunday school and church this morning and. They had service in the Sunday school as the church is in a state of upheaval owing to the cleaning of its inside walls and ceiling. Dad. did chores most of the day and Dick slept till dinner time and then went down town. Colin Ryersie rode up this after noon on Lady and as I was thinking of going for a ride myself I took Joe and we had a great ride for a couple of hours or so. Joe was full of mischief and I didn't have to urge to go at all. Frank went down to church to-night. Dad. has been reading Happy Hawkins to us all evening. Beautiful day no wind & very mild just like Spring.

Monday March 15th

I got up at five this morning and we got the chores done up fairly early. Dad. & I drove out to Jim Waddle's this fore noon as he had a steer out there with an absess on its jaw which he wanted Dad. to look at, it was nothing serious though, we poked around out there looking at the stock for about an hour and came home around by town and got the mail. Dad. also saw Old Walker and asked him if he could borrow fifty dollars to buy our seed with till we sell one of the two year old steers Old Walker said he could have as much as he liked for as long as he wanted it. This after noon I rode Joe down and got her shod so that took up most of the after noon. When I got back I went over to Jack Martin's with a doz. more eggs. Tonight I walked down and got my hair cut. Mrs McBride Nice day.

Tuesday March 16th

After we did chores this morning we put on a load of oat-sheaves and hauled them over to the horse stable, it took about an hour to chop the ice so that we could open the barn doors. This after noon we put on a load of hay which had been under the oat sheaves and hauled it over to the other barn for the cows we just left it on the waggon. Dad. then put the harness on old Dave and gave him a little exercise. Tiddums was out with us for a long time so long that he went in of his own accord. We got a letter from Aunty & Aunty Alice to-day. It has been sunny but a very cold wind to-day. Mrs. Charlie Martin started getting milk from us to-day.

Wednesday March 17th

We went down to the mill this morning as soon as we could and got some oats chopped and I got some short bran & corn for the chickens. Dad alao got 9 bushels of O.A.C. No 21 barley for seed It was $1.15 a bushel but was a lovely clean sample When we got back we cleaned out the box stall there was over a waggon load and Dad. hauled it out to where we had the potatoes in the old garden last year This after noon I took Dave out for a little exercise. We tried to get the chores done up as early as possible as Frank & Enah went down to a St. Patrick's Day tea at the Methodist Church and Winnie came over to tea to go to Simcoe with me as she wanted to pay Norah a visit. We had to go way up to the other end of the town to find the house. I went down to the Armories and we had target practice, it is the third one they have had. I made 12 out of 30 which was worse than most but not as bad as some. When I went back to the Cunninghams I found Norah & Winnie had gone to the picture show and I had

to wait quite awhile for them but Norah's younger sister Hildaguard was home so I didn't much mind the wait. Win & I didn't get home till quite awhile after twelve Dick and I had an invitation to a big dance down in the town hall to-night but neither of us went. Allan Law & one of the Powells down the lake shore got it up It has been a nice day but a rather raw wind.

Thursday March 18th

This morning we did chores and then treated the two youngest calves horns with acostic potash to kill them. Mary, Mully's calf, didn't have any horns so she escaped the ordeal, we haven't quite decided on a name for the other two calves but we thought that for Jim's calf coming next after Mary, that Martha would suit very well and for Snowdrop's blackie we thought "Just Gone along" might fit in, the only thing with that name is I am afraid that when she becomes of age and is eligible to be sworn at it will be rather a nuisance. This afternoon Dad. drove Enah & Tiddums down to the mill house to call on Mrs. Josef Ivey and he drove on down town and got a bushel of clover seed from Billy Laings. Charlie Nunn sent word over by him that he was having a party and wanted me to go down so I went. There were just a few there, the Henry girls and May Rankin & Mabel Almas and two or three boys but we had a good time and still got home soon after twelve. We didn't play cards or any such tame sport as that but we just cut up all the time peeled the rugs of the floor & danced and played a lot of games which we could run around at. It has been a nice day but rather a raw wind.

Friday March 19th

This afternoon morning Dad. Tiddums & I drove up to Billy Dixon's and got our seed corn we got all we think we will need for a dollar. Dad. stopped in on the way up & saw George Duncan about getting some rails George told him they were going to tear down a lot of fence around the big orchard & Carpenters bush and that we & Allan Law could start in to haul it right away so Dad. went down to see Alan when we got home and he said he could go tomorrow morning. It was a lovely morning and I think Tiddums enjoyed himself but couldn't keep awake to enjoy the latter half of the journey and when we came through town he was sound asleep on my knee Dick & Harry Ausley both wanted to wake him up, he did open his eyes but shut them again immediately. This after noon I took both Dave & Queen out for a little exercise. Queen

went fairly well but Dave took me unawares once and got away. We had quite a little trouble catch him and getting him quiet. Lila came over after school to-night to stay all night. It has been a lovely day. They say Art Ryersie was working on the land to-day his flats too.

Saturday March 20th

Dad & Frank got off about eight o'clock to haul rails from Duncan's Alan went up with his team at the same time, he had Frank McBride to help him. They got back just about noon with a good sized load. They came down through town and around by Mrs. Munroes instead of around the hill or up Preston's hill. They got off about two o'clock after another load, they didn't expect Alan to be there this after noon but he was there ahead of them. Dad. said the field was very bad pulling and he told Alan he intended to haul half a load out to the road at a time instead of pulling a full load through the soft field but Alan was so sure his horses could pull it and so he piled on all the rails he could and the consequence was he got bogged in the middle of the field and had to throw half load all off besides tramping the sod all up. They got home about five. I did chores and this morning pruned apple trees but the wind was too cold for that this after noon so I just puttered around. I went down to the mill and paid them $20.00 on the account and then took 1/2 dozen eggs over to Jack Martin. It was a lovely day this morning but a rather cold wind has been blowing since dinner.

Sunday March 21st

I didn't get the chores done in time to go to Sunday school but Frank went down and Enah & I drove down to church. They had the church all cleaned up in great shape but Mr. Johnson was sick so Cousin Willie ran the service and did twice as well as Mr. Johnson. This after noon I coaxed Dick into going for a ride he took Belle & I took Joe, we had a nice little ride but Dick says he got terribly sore. When we got back I rode down and asked Colin Ryersie if he wanted to go to Simcoe Wednesday night, riding, and he said if his horse wasn't working to hard he would. They have got some seed in the ground down along the creek and part of the side hill is sowed. Dick went down town when he got home. To night I practiced on the fiddle. Frank went for a ride on his bicycle this after noon. There has been a cold wind all day to day and to-night was spitting snow. I broke an egg in the incubator to-night and found a live chicken in it.

Monday March 22nd

Dad. got off about half past eight this morning after rails and got with a pretty good sized load about noon he was there quite awhile before Alan so was all alone as I didn't go with him this morning but stayed home and did chores. I got everything done up so went up with him this afternoon. Alan was a little more careful to-day and this after noon hauled half his load out to the road. We both had on a big load to-night. Alan seemed greatly troubled over the fate of Jack Wardell who he was talking to on the road He hired out to Ged. McSloy for a year with the intentions of getting married to Bert Sindon's daughter but her parents wont let her get married so he threw up his job and was going home yesterday. Alan gave him some very good advice and told him to make a date with the girl to-night and scoot and get married but he thought he would go home and let the matter settle for awhile. To-night Frank and I tested the eggs we saved out forty one out of one hundred and thirty six but after cracking one of the ones we saved out and finding a chicken in it we put six back so that leaves a hundred and one still in the machine. It was inclined to want to snow this morning and to rain this after noon but didn't do either very vigorously and has not been very cold but a raw wind all day.

Tuesday March 23rd

Dad. & I got off pretty early this morning and got back with a good big load of rails by noon. This afternoon we went up and hauled what were left all except a few panels which were behind a big pile of rails.We only had half a load on this after noon. Alan didn't haul at all to-day but was in at noon for a few minutes, he has an awful cold and can hardly speak. Dad. told him last night that rum was the best thing on earth for a cold so he said he was going to try it. This after noon when we got home we unloaded our rails put the waggon in the shed and hauled the bobsleighs over into the barn as up till now they have been standing out in the lane. Mrs McBride was here washing to day. Sunny & mild but a raw wind.

Wednesday March 27th

This morning Dad, Tiddums and I drove around to John Wess' and Dad. made arrangements with him to come over the day after to-morrow with his engine and saw and cut up our rail pile as he promised to come over when we got enough rails to make it worthwhile last fall. He said he went over to the Shands the other day and cut up sixty cords of ash which were {illegible} tops and limbs from the logs they sold this winter. We drove up as far as Duncan's

orchard as Dad. wanted to pay George for the rails but he didn't see anything of him around outside he didn't go in as he was afraid he might see old Bill and not be able to get away from him for the rest of the day. This afternoon we didn't do anything much for an hour or so after dinner Dad. had a snooze and I read chunks of Charles O'Malley then we went out and started to clean out the calf pen but didn't finish the job before it was time to do chores. Colin Ryersie was up here about six o'clock on his black mare to go to Simcoe with me. I wasn't quite ready so we didn't get started till nearly half past six and although we didn't ride at all hard we got there about half past seven and as we were home much earlier we decided that riding was the ideal way to go. We had rifle practice again and I made five more points than I did last time. I hit the bull once. The first shot I had I blazed away at a hole in the wall instead of the target but I got another shot Pud. Smythe was there to-night. It has been a pretty cold wind all day and looked very much like rain this after noon and to-night but didn't. Lovely night Enah and Frank went down to church to-night.

Thursday March 25th

It rained most of the day to day so we couldn't do much outside Dad and I spent a large part of the morning trying to take a nut off a bolt in the oven damper of the old stove we got from Cousin Bessie but all out efforts were in vain for although we soaked it in coal oil and heated it and had all manner of instruments from a flat rasp to Dad's equine dental forceps we could not budge it so we left it, we put the sleighs away however over in the big barn. This after noon I sat around and read for quite awhile and about four o'clock drove down town to get some household supplies. There was a great {tril?} going on this after noon between Sam Jacques and Nichols the new hotel keeper over a bottle of whiskey which Sam got hold of a couple of weeks ago. I went up for a few minutes but the place was packed and it was rather late so I didn't stay long. Frank was up there and when I left said he guessed he wouldn't come home just yet but we were rather surprised and Dad. very much annoyed when he didn't turn up till about eight o'clock. He had stayed till the thing was over but he said they couldn't come to any decision. It was much colder to-night.

Friday March 26th

Frank didn't go to school this morning and he and Dad. went over in the waggon to help John Wess load his engine & saw and bring it over. They got back about eleven with the saw but

John Wess didn't come as it was so windy, he said it was a horrible job with a wind as the sawdust gets in the eyes. He said he would be over the first fine day. I did chores while they were gone and helped Enah entertain a visitor who was here in quest of old rags & rubbers and also to sell wonderful pails which were guaranteed forever against leaking, burning, melting, bruising, bursting & breaking and which Hugh McQueen could make for a quarter at the bargain prices of 45 cents & 25 cts. We gathered up some old rubbers and gave them to-gether with 10 cts for one of his small pails to induce him to proceed upon his journey to the Doy's next whether he said he was bound. Frank went to school this after noon & Dad. & I just did chores and sat around. It has been very cold all day and windy. To-night the wind has gone down but it is freezing hard. It snowed a little this morning.

Saturday March 27th

I got up early this morning and wrote to Aunty & Aunty Alice as I heard from them yesterday. After we did up the chores Dad. Frank. Tiddums & I amputated the tails of the six lambs. It should have been done before as the lambs were big and bled pretty freely, however I think to-night they are all right. Dad. & I finished cleaning out the calf pen before dinner and Frank cleaned out the old musty straw and hay out of the hay in the big barn. This after noon we hauled it and the thrashed bluegrass which was over the shed over to the other barn and Dad. is going to use it to bed the cows. We then put on a load of hay and hauled it over to the other barn for the cows. We didn't take it off the waggon. Tony Bannister was over here all the after noon. The German from Jack Martin's came over this after noon and got my eggs I had 10 1/2 doz. for him. Lila has been over since before dinner and went back after tea. Nobody has been down town to get the mail to-day but Lila brought us over three "Jack Canucks" which Dad seems to be enjoying. It froze very hard last night but has been sunny though cold wind.

Sunday March 28th

When we went out this morning we found a big, red heifer calf depending on the maternal instincts of Bobby for protection & sustenance. It is the first heifer she has ever had and is the sixth heifer to come this year or rather this season as some came before the New Year. Last year they were all steers but one. I didn't get chores done in time to go to Sunday school and instead of going to church I looked after Tiddums and induced Dad. to go. I don't know whether I will get the job again or not as I let him play out on the front lawn and incidentally

to fall into the ditch, he went to walk over the plank that lies accross the ditch and not looking where he was going stepped one foot off and fell k-spat in and got soaked. It didn't hurt him but he must have been frightened for I couldn't under any conditions persuade him to stop crying till he got ready and then when I had all his wet duds off and he was beginning to take a more optimistic view of the trials and tribulations of life when he happened to touch a wet spot on his dress. This incident aparently called back visions of the forgotten-for-the-present past for he burst forth again with renewed energy and wept profusely. However Dick was up and we soon got him into a more cheerful frame of mind and kept him there till the folks got home and assumed the responsibility for his conduct and disposition and as far as I was concerned were most welcome to it. This was not the only adventure of the morning in which a change of raiment due to the effects of aqua pura was concerned but time, space and my accursed bashful nature will permit me to give no more details. This after noon Colin & Floyd Ryersie came up on horseback and I joined them. We had a very enjoyable ride although I started out a little too vigorously considering the dinner I had just partaken of and consequently felt some qualms of consience of stomach. I was not in a position then to figure out which but upon reflection I have become convinced it was the latter troubled me most. We went down the lakeshore to Corbett's had a talk with Corby went through their lane to the plank down the plank to the {illegible} and from there home. This evening I intended to go to church but failing to get ready in time I went down after church and called on the Harry Moons, and it was after midnight when I "hit the hay" It has been cold and raw all day. Snowed a little tonight and freezing hard

Monday March 29th

This morning Dad's tooth was so bad that he went down and had it pulled. It was broken and in awful shape as it was all ulcerated. Bill Lemmons injected some of his dope into it to ease the pain but it didn't do any good and Dad. has been nearly sick with it all day. This after noon Enah went down to the dentist's and got some teeth filled Mrs McBride was over here washing this after noon Enah expected her this morning but she had been over at Preston's where they are all sick. I did chores and sat around all day. Frank and I managed them with Dad. assisting us only by instructions. This has been a fierce day very windy with snow, a regular blizzard and and raging this after noon. To-night it is freezing hard and the ground is white.

{There is a wee sketch of a conifer tree at the top of this page}

Tuesday March 30th

Dad. fed the calves this morning but hasn't been out of the house since and feels very miserable. His head ached to-night. It took me all day just doing chores. I went over to Martins for a minute or two this after noon. To-night I spent an hour and a half leg banding the pullets with stove pipe wire. Cold & windy to-day, not so bad as yesterday.

Wednesday March 31st

Although Dad. has felt much better to-day he was not able to get out of the house at all, so I was busy all day with chores and Frank helped me when he came home, this after noon I rode Joe down to the Ryersie's to tell Colin I couldn't go to Simcoe to-night. This morning a man walked over here from town to see the old duelling pistols. He is a traveller but told Dad. that at his home is in St. Mary's and that he had over two hundred firearms besides swords, dirks and suchlike. He would have liked to have bought them but didn't like to say so. He said the sight of them was well worth the walk. Sid McBride was in to-night selling fertilizer & binder twine. Dad offered ordered 50 lbs of the latter. We heard on Monday from Roy they are coming up to-morrow for Easter. It hasn't neen nearly so cold to-day but cloudy.

Thursday April 1st

Dad. helped me milk this morning but his mouth was pretty sore and he wasn't going out again but John Wess came over with his engine to saw up the rail pile so Dad. had to be out all day. As Vernon & Rebecca were coming up on the eleven o'clock train I had to leave to go down and meet them, that made us short handed so I called in at the school house and sent Frank home He was very good about it and didn't seem to mind very much. Huby was down at the station and I got him to come over. So this after noon there was lots of help and they got through in lots of time. Vernon & Rebecca arrived safely. Dick Huby & Aunty Maude were down at the station. I did chores most of the after noon and to-night drove down to meet Roy. Miss Ethel Phipp's came up on the same train so we drove her home. Not at all windy but rather cold.

Friday April 2nd

When we got up this morning the ground was white as it had snowed a little in the night so as there was no wind I went out before breakfast and sowed about half the clover seed on not quite half the field of wheat which is on the old alsike stubble. I spilt a little of it by pulling

the feed lever back too far till it caught and it sowed too thickly anyway. This being Good Friday Dick had a holiday and Enah, Vernon & Frank went down to church Dad & Roy looked after the babies. I watched the incubator most of the day. The eggs are beginning to come out and Roy & Vernon are very much interested in them especially the latter, she sat in the room for about an hour watching the little fellows pick themselves out and drop overboard in to the nursery below. This after noon Dad. helped me get the brooder down from over the hog pen and put it in the empty chicken shed. Very nice day

Saturday April 3rd

I got up this morning and sowed the other half the wheat field and had quite a lot of seed left so Dad. thinks it isn't thick enoug and will have to be gone over again. I had the machine shut tighter and walked quite a lot faster. Roy & I spent most of the morning getting the brooder in shape and he fixed up Enah's dairy thermometer to put in the brooder. Dad. did chores most of the morning This after noon Dad. went down to Carl Coleman's to see a sick cow and then on down town to the dentist's as his tooth was still sore and Bill picked out some pieces of bone. We hooked up the team to the waggon and took the whole family down town, Roy, Frank & I went down to the beach and got a part of a load of sand for to put in front of the brooder to soak up the mud. Mr. Pickford was down there getting a load and we had quite a visit with him We came up around by town and got Enah, Vernon & the two babies on, we had to go down to Mrs. Skey's stepping block to let Vernon in as her skirts were too narrow to get in on Main St. Dad. walked home as he had to go in on his way back again to see Carl's cow. When we got home Roy & I put the sand in in front of the brooder. To-night Vernon & Roy went over to Mrs. Battersby's to tea and I drove Enah down to choir practice. I drove down after her about ten o'clock and met her coming home with Truman & Topsy Walker. It has been a very nice day. Vernon has been dyeing hard boild eggs for the kids to-night.

Sunday April 4th

Roy got up early and went down to early communion this morning so that he could keep Rebecca and let Vernon go down to the other service but Vernon stayed home and kept house so the whole bunch of us went down at eleven o'clock even Dad. & Dick. This after noon we moved the chicks to the brooder, there were just fifty eight and some of them were

crippled. The two Ryersie boys came up on horseback and got Frank and me to go with them Frank took Belle & I took Joe. We had a dandy ride and called in for Corby and got him to go with us. We went way down the lake shore to the town line from there to Mud Street and up it home. A couple of times we rode down on the beach and then made the horses climb the hill. It was nearly six o'clock when we got home. Roy went down to Huby's for tea and He Frank and Enah went to church. Enah had to play for Zeitha Barwell who sang a solo. Tiddums wouldn't stay with Vernon after Enah left and I came in and found him under the table just yelling for all his might but he soon cheered up when I took him out and showed him old Gladys and the horses. It has been a very nice mild day but raw breeze

Monday April 5th

This morning Frank and I took down three sacks of oats to the mill to be chopped and then went down and got a load of sand and unloaded it before dinner and went back down to the mill and got our grist. Dad. drove Vernon & Tiddums out to Tommy Jackson's as Vernon wanted to see Mrs. Jackson about getting some eggs. (Toby and Frank are going down to Huberts tonight so I said I would finish this up as it is behind it now being Wednesday night). He did not do much in the afternoon, worked at the brooder a little. It has been a raw day and threatened rain several times this afternoon. Roy went down town and Vernon and Rebecca went to Mrs Battersbys to play bridge. I drove Hattie down there for tea. We took the baby with us and he came home with me. Willard won the big fight.

Tuesday April 6th

We were all up early this morning and I drove Roy to the station. Mrs McBride came to do the washing, the boys and I put a load of hay over the horse stable, after dinner Toby and I took a little hay to the cow stable and then we hitched to the other wagon and took the girls and babies down town on our way we picked up Mrs Jack Martin and Miss Cope. We unloaded at the Post Office then Toby and I went to get a load of sand, brought it home hitched Joe to the buggy and started to see Vernon off, but it took us so long to get home with the sand on account of the roads that we missed the train

Frank had been fishing all the afternoon with his usual luck. Toby walked home and I brought Hattie and the baby. It has been a beautiful day, mild and bright.

Wednesday April 7th

As soon as all the morning chores were done I sowed oats in the little orchard, then I went over to Charlie Martins to telephone to Atkinson about pulling up the headstone for Alice they said they would put it up between 1 and 2 O'Clock so I got ready and Hattie gave us an early dinner and I started with Hattie and baby a little after 12, but they had the stone up and gone. Mrs Charlie Munro said they left about 10-30. Toby started Frank on the disk and he worked up the little orchard in good shape and then harrowed it. Toby and I went back to see how the land was over the gully and decided we would try and sow tomorrow. The boys as I said before have gone down to Huberts.

Thursday April 8th

Out of bed at five o'clock and on the hump ever since is a summary of to-days record. Dad. & I got back to the back field about half past eight and Dad. started to sow the oats broadcast right on the furrows and I followed with the disk. The ground except in one or two spots where it was a little wet was in beautiful shape to work as it is just as the frost left it without having had any big rains on it to pack it and it works up just like an ash heap. Some of the travellers on the side road thought Dad's method a queer one and didn't seem to approve of it but Dad. says they always used to do it out West & Charlie Batty was past and said they used to do it here with success. Dad. thought it was better to get the seed in & covered before a rain than to work the land all up and then run chanches of getting a big soaker on it. We took back six bags of oats with us this morning and Dad. sowed nearly all of it and although he couldn't tell exactly he wanted to sow {2?} bushels ot the acre. Dad. disked this after noon and finished he had sowed but couldn't go crossways very well on account of the piece in the centre which he didn't get plowed last fall Allan Law was harrowing for a couple of hours this morning

on their side hill but he didn't come back this after noon. Huby & Lila came over this morning and this after noon they burned the grass off the back field next the woods It looks as if there would be good pasture there soon Last night when I came home from town I went to look at the brooder and found that the temperature had gone down to forty on account of the window being left out and this morning there were nine dead chickens in the brooder and four have died since. Chris. told me yesterday that lake sand would kill them so we got some yellow sand and covered up the lake sand which was in the pen. The white ewe had a pair of twins this morning but won't own one of them so has to be caught every now and then to give the lamb a chance to suck Lovely Spring day with a south westerly breeze and not freezing to-night. Mrs. Lorne Myers was in to-night and got Dad's hen canary which he was has been wanting to get rid of for quite awhile.

Friday 9th April

Dad. and I got back fairly early this morning and Dad sowed about four bushels more seed while I harrowed the hill I crossed it which necessitated marching up and down hill all morning I didn't mind it much but I guess it was pretty hard on the horses. This afternoon I disked what Dad sowed this morning and he harrowed with Joe & Ginger. We got all the seed pretty well covered when it began to rain and is still keeping it up. We took the little team back in the shape of a four horse team with them as the leaders but Joe was no good for a leader as she lagged. Lila came over this after noon and is staying all night. It has been fine and very mild all day and this is a warm rain which was needed for the wheat & hay badly.

Saturday April 10th

We didn't get started so early this morning as we didn't know whether it had rained enough to make things too wet or not, however we found it hadn't rained much so Dad. went back to finish plowing the little piece on top of the hill which was left over from last fall. He finished it about three o'clock in some spots it was very wet & sticky and other places the frost isn't out yet but it is pretty good. He intended to sow it as soon as he got done and work it in but when I went back at three o'clock the wind was so strong and it looked so rainy that we both came up and Dad. drove Enah & Tiddums down town to get the mail. I took some eggs over to Martin's this morning and Frank got the cyclone clover seeder from Vyse and when I came

back I sowed the half of the wheat field that I sowed the thinnest over again. Chris. didn't seem to know what ailed my little chickens they are aparently as lively as can be one day and the next there will be two or three dead and two or three more getting ready to die. I have lost nearly half of them now and don't know what to do for them. Cloudy mild windy & showery. It thundered and rained heavily to-night.

Sunday April 11th

I didn't get ready in time to go to Sunday school with Frank this morning but Enah and I drove down to church. It was a beautiful mild sunny morning and Dad. intended to drive Enah over to the Tupper's this after noon but it began to rain so they couldn't go and we had a musical instead. It rained quite hard for awhile and it is colder & windy to-night. It is wonderful to see how much greener the grass & wheat have got during the night.

Monday April 12th

Dad. was ditching in the back field all morning and I drove down town to get some coal oil and I took a pair of guinea fowl down to Cousin Bessy. She told me to shut them up and Julien the {illegible} would show me where to put them, but she had so much difficulty in making Julien who doesn't speak English very well understand what she wanted that she told me to put them in a little coop which had a wired in yard to it. I let them both in there but while I was talking to her the cock bird got out of a patched up hole in the wire, he went over into Joe Jacques backyard and Jacques dog scared it up into an apple tree. Cousin Harry had appeared by this time and said he knew the yard wasn't tight and that they would watch the guinea cock and catch him to-night but Dick who came home for tea said they had caught him. This after noon we sat around till about three o'clock and then put on a jag of timothy hay and hauled it over for the cows. Dick was home for tea but had to go back, he said Huby was working over at Jack Martin's now but didn't know how long he would be there. It has been cloudy and raw all day with a drizzling rain most of the time.

Tuesday April 13th

Huby came over after breakfast this morning to get his smock and I went back over to Martin's with him and took an old sick rooster over whose comb was all black and that had been sitting around with no life in him for two or three days. Brirely & Chris said he had indigestion

so I left him over there. When I came back I started to rake up down under the old willow tree. Dad. & Enah worked at the stove and at last succeeded in getting the nut which caused us so much vexation the other day, out by cutting the head off with a cold chisel. This after noon Dad went back to look at John Wess' cow as John Wess came after him, he was over there quite awhile and then opened out some ditches in the field we have in. I continued to clean up down at the road and but to-night have it looking pretty nice I burned the grass all along the road so there will be some nice pasture there soon. Huby came over after six to-night and borrowed the alarm clock as their timepieces are all broken down there and he needs his watch. He was giving us a very amusing account of his duties He says the watering the chickens takes too much brain work going the rounds with a pail and a dipper filling the little drinking cups and rinsing them out and hooking the myriads of doors and gates all gets on his nerves. Dad. said than one of the England kids came in after school to-night to John Wess' with a great big bunch of hepaticas for Mrs. McBride we didn't think they were out yet. It has been a lovely day sunny & mild. They gave Bunnian a hearing down here to-day but will have to put the trial off till the Vigilant comes in with some witnesses.

Wednesday April 14th

Dad has been opening up ditches in the field out here where we intend to put the barley all morning, he says it is pretty wet. I cleaned out the roosters in the chicken pens this morning and raked up along the old fence bottom which divided the field from the yard in front of the big barn & horse stable. This after noon I went back to see what the new piece of plowing on top of the hill looked but it was pretty wet so I got some earth along the creek and brougt it up and planted tomato seed in it. Frank got home early, he has had a holiday all day as Mr. Smith is sick in bed with La Grippe. Frank, Billy Miller & Harv. Taylor were fishing up creek and on the pier all morning. Billy Barlow was in to-night for a short visit. Another lovely day.

Tuesday April 15th

Dad. was back ditching again this morning, he thinks the back field will be dry enough to go on to-morrow if it doesn't rain. I went down to Vyse's and borrowed his post auger and he gave me a ride home on his way down Mud Street to sell machinery and as he thought he was going to feel cold and had come away without his overcoat he borrowed mine. Dad. didn't seem to approve of being

at all friendly to Vyse, but I have nothing in particular against the poor cuss and this backbiting sore head business gives me a pain anyway. Dad's always friendly enough when he happens to meet him and I don't see why he isn't other times or why if he hates him so much as he says he does, he doesn't tell him so. I spent the rest of the morning and most of the after noon boring the post holes and inserting posts there in to stretch a piece of chicken wire on to divide off another yard for the single combed hens. Dad. made a gate for the yard. Lila has been over all day as she & Frank are both home on account of Mr. Smith's illness. Winnie came over after four and stayed to tea but Lila had to go back and have her music lesson. Huby was over to dinner. Tonight Frank and I went down with Winnie and Huby, Aunty Maude, Lila. Frank and I spent the evening playing poker. Enah & Frank have been been house cleaning all day. It has been a nice sunny day & is a mild night but looks like rain.

Thursday Friday April 16th

When we got up this morning the sky was the color of lead and has been all day but except for one pretty heavy shower this morning has rained very little only a very light drizzle part of the time but still enough to keep us off the land and to keep Dad's spirits down. This morning he and Frank helped me put the wire on the posts in the chicken yard and put the gate on. This after noon Dad. helped Enah house clean and I just puttered around and raked some leaves and old grass out of the ditch at the foot of the lawn. Frank went fishing down at the East pier but said they weren't biting, he has about the poorest luck of any body I ever heard of I don't remember of his having caught a fish since he has been here. He says he is going to get up early some morning to try his luck and if it isn't any better he is going to quit. I had a practice on the fiddle to-night. I am making a little progress.

Saturday April 17th

Although we had visions of doing a little work this morning of some kind or other just to keep in trim but we wound up in doing nothing but receive callers the number of which was two. First Alfred came over with some cabbages for us and he was here a long time talking of every thing under the sun except the war which is getting rather played out as a topic of conversation amongst us farmers now that Spring work has commenced and the weather is of such vital importance to us. Alfred thinks it is going to be fine now for awhile I guess like Dad that the wish

is father to the thought. He hadn't been gone long when John Wess drove in and wanted Dad. to give his mare a ball so Dad did but she was the worst one he said he ever tackled not that she was very mean although she scraped about half the skin off the back of his hand and took a chunk out of the end of his finger, but her mouth was so narrow that he couldn't get the dose back far enough but at last after two unsuccessful attempts he managed to get one down her. This after noon we hauled a load of hay over to the horse stable and a jag over to the barn for the cows. Frank cleaned out the shop and now has it very tidy. Before tea we got the old stove we got from Cousin Bessy set up on its blocks but Dad has to cut a piece off the stove pike to make it fit the chimney It has been a lovely sunny day and is a nice clear night although the wind as gone around to the south an its pretty hard to say what it will do The new moon is nearly flat on its back and that is a positively certain sign that one of the two prophecies concerning it in that position will prove correct. Some say it is that way so the indians can thang their powder horns on it and stay in camp as it will rain or else when in that shape it will hold water and not spill any consequence being a dry "spell"

Sunday April 18th

I got up fairly early this morning and was able to get around in time for Sunday school with Frank. Hazen was there and volunteered to teach Mrs. Tuck's class. After Sunday school he & I went to inquire after Mr. Smith, he came to the door himself and said he was feeling better but that Harry would not let him go to school to-morrow He seemed very worried about missing so much school at this time of year, he said Mrs. Smith was very ill and that if Harry hadn't come up the other day she would have never got better but as he did she was better this morning. Instead of going to church we took a walk up the lake shore and got quite a few mayflowers in McCoy's & Dixon's woods then Hazen came over with me to dinner. This after noon we took another walk back to the gully and through Charlie McQueen's place and I went part way down town with Hazen. Colin Ryersie came up to go for a ride so Frank went with him. Dad & Enah went over to Tupper's the took Tiddums but he kicked up an awful row they said when they tried to take him in the house but was alright after they got in. It has been a lovely day but looks very much like rain.

Monday April 19th

We have been working on the land all day. This morning

Dad. sowed the little piece of spring plowing on top of the hill and I worked it in. This after noon (Tobe has gone to sleep over this so I will take it) We worked two teams on the other part of the field over the gully I had Joe and Dave, Dave went first rate for his first hitching. Beautiful day warm and bright.

Sunday April 20th I worked on the field alone this forenoon, finished disking. After dinner I took Harry and Dave and Tobe Belle and Joe and we cross harrowed and disked the field, finished about 5 O'Clock then Tobe came up with Joe and Dave and I put Harry and Belle on the drill and drilled until 6-30. Tobe and Frank were busy at odds and ends all forenoon. Another fine day but cooler. We got the good news to-day that {Wese?} and Alice were coming home.

Wednesday April 21st

Toby and Frank cleaned out the cellar this forenoon and I went fback and finished drilling and began harrowing. Young Porritt came way back then with one of Hugh McQueens hounds to have me sew it up. I told him I could not do it there but to leave it tied up in the barn and I would fix it up at noon, that and other chores made me so late that I thought I would not go to the back of the place but would begin on the corn stubble it works up all right. Frank went back to see if he could measure in some way the number of acres we have sowed he has not made his calculations yet. Hattie is tired to night she has been house-cleaning the clothes room and it is a big job. Frank has gone down town Toby to bed and I must go too. I nearly froze on the disk this after noon it was very cold a nasty North East wind all day but bright.

Thursday April 22nd

Dad. finished harrowing over the gully this morning and has been harrowing on the corn stubble the rest of the day he had Joe & Ginger all day. Frank disked for an hour or two this morning while I finished up with the chores and then I went out till noon but Frank has been disking all the after noon with the big team. The corn stubble will take a

lot of work on this side as it is so soddy. I did chores all the after noon and went down to the mill to see if they had any barley for seed as Dad. thinks he will mix oats & barley to sow on the corn stubble. They only had the O.A.C. No 21 and it was $1.10 a bushel but I guess Dad. will get some. There were a couple of fellows down this morning from Simcoe Murdock was one of them and they want Dad. for a witness at a lawsuit that is coming off next Tuesday Murdock says that Hamilton & Yeager hired Lea to skin him on a horse deal. The horse is the big grey stallion with the crooked legs that was travelling down here last spring and as Dad. saw him they want him to say that he was unsound. Poor old Bluch has a pretty sore leg to-day and can only hop around on three legs. He & Snoop Law got into a scrap yesterday and aparently Snoop was the best dog for once in his life. It has been milder to-day with the wind in the south but very cloudy with a little rain.

Friday April 23rd

It rained hard enough during the night to prevent us from going on the land but will do a lot of good as it was hot & cloudy all morning and will make things grow Frank and I drove down to Billy Langs this morning to see if he had any barley cheaper than they had at the mill, but Jack was at school and poor Billy was sick and in bed. We went up to the house and after I chased around from the front to the back door three or four times to discover a fain hallo! which I was sure I heard in answer to my knock I discovered it was escaping from a partially raised window which evidently belonged to the room where Billy was in bed. His voice sounded unnaturally weak as he told me he hadn't any barley so Frank and I went on up and got six bushels at the mill. We found Dad. with the old white ewe half sheared when we got home and he & Frank finished her by noon while I did chores. This after noon Dad. helped me get my incubator down cellar again and then we mixed the oats & barley out on the barn floor. We put one bag of oats through the fanning mill so see if we could clean any of the straws out of it but we got more good oats out behind than we did dirt so we stopped. It is pretty clean anyway. Dad. & I then put the beans through and got most of the dirt out of them while Frank went down town. Dad. has felt very miserable all day

Saturday April 24th

We didn't do much but chores all morning and Dad I

cleaned out the bull's pen. Dad felt pretty miserable all morning but still worked around he & Frank went out to look at the field to see if it was dry and they thought it would do to go on after dinner, so Frank got out early and got a good half day in at it while Dad. sheared old Greynose. I helped him hold her and according to my nature when I am not in action, went fast asleep. I also went over to Jack Martin's to see what I could get fifty eggs for to set under the hens I got from Tupper and I was agreeably suprised when he told me he would trade evenly with me and that I could get them Monday. I thought it was pretty decent of him as he said they would be better eggs than mine and I could toe punch the chicks for cockrels. Dad. went out about five to relieve Frank who came in and went down to Huby's to tea as this was Winnie's birthday. I went down after tea as Huby was over to dinner and said we would have a game of poker but there were two or three girls there who didn't care to play poker so we played catechism instead. We got home early. It has been hot all day and is very hot to-night feels very much like rain.

Sunday April 25th

I got up at five o'clock this morning so managed to get to Sunday school and church with Frank. As Topsy has resigned Enah had to go down and play the organ Dad. drove her down and came back after her leaving Tiddums in Dick's charge. This after noon Charlie Dunkin & Frank Bond drove in and Dunkin brought us the registration papers for the ewes, at last we thought we were never going to get them, they were here most of the after noon but Dad & I wernt back over the wheat to the gully and Tiddums followed us. The wheat is pretty fair only spots which don't look very well. I drove Enah down to church again to-night but came back home. Frank has been down all the after noon so he will be at church. Colin Ryersie rode in after dinner but we thought it was too hot to go for a ride so he went down the lake shore alone to get Corby. It has been very hot all day but is a little cooler to-night. Looks rainy

Monday April 26th

Dad. & Frank got out good and early this morning and with both teams and I got out about eight to take Franks team as he had to go to school to-day. Mr. Smith being well enough to be on the job again. Sam Law came over to give us a day with his springtooth I had the disks and Sam & I got over to the middle of the field by noon & Dad.

got it all harrowed. This afternoon Dad. took the drill out and got four rounds drilled when it commenced to rain a thunderstorm had come up very suddenly and there were two or three very close flashes of lightening. It seemed to be all around us, it rained very hard for a few minutes and Sam went home. Dad. brought the seed in and after it was over went out to bring in the drill. When he got out there he found it had soaked right in and has scarcely wet the ground so he went right on & harrowed and then came & got the seed and finished drilling, he worked till after dark and then didn't have enough seed to sow the headlands. He started with the drill set at two bushel of oats to the acre but he found it was going too fast all to-gether, as when it is set for two bushels of oats it is three of barley so he tightened it up a little but it was still going too fast so he finally got it sowing two bushels of barley which is the same as one of oats he sowed what seed there was left at this rate. I just did chores this after noon and went over to get my eggs from Jack Martin to-night I set them under five hens. Mrs McBride was here all day.

Tuesday April 27th

Dad. went out first thing and sowed the headlands of the corn stubble broadcast with oats out of the granary & harrowed them in, he then started harrowing on the barley ground I did up the chores and came out about half past nine to relieve him, as he wanted to leave for Simcoe at half past eleven to be at the court house at one. I harrowed all morning and got nearly all over it. It works up beautifully. Frank came home at noon and after he did up the noon chores he came out and disked while I just did chores around. Dad. took Enah & Tid with him and they didn't get back till about eight o'clock so Frank and I had to look after ourselves. We were rather disappointed to hear that after all they settled the {illegible} without any lawsuit, but Dad. had to wait up there all the after noon to find it out. He saw everybody he knew up there though and got the harness fixed. Bob. Davis went past to-day with an enormous black Percheron stallion with a white strip in his face he would weigh about twenty one hundred and twice the size of Bickler's. In to-day's and yesterday's papers there are long lists of Canadian casualties. They had their first serious engagement on Friday & Saturday at Langemark where they recaptured some lost guns & ground and prevented a wedge of Germans from surrounding and taking a body of French troops. The paper said their losses were heavy but they saved the day. Nice day

Wednesday April 28th

Dad. took the big team out first thing this morning and disked and as soon as I got the chores done I went out with the littlle team. Dad. took them and harrowed over the corn stubble and I disked on the barley ground till noon. This after noon Dad. took the big team and ran out the land furrows in the corn stubble it took him all the after noon and he didn't get any cross ditches run. We didn't work the little team as they had a pretty hard morning of it and we didn't want to put Ginger on a tongue anyway so I did chores all the afternoon. The cows broke out of the barnyard and I thought if I let them on the road they wouldn't go far as there is some lovely pasture but they weren't content to stay anywhere so after chasing around for about an hour I had to put them in. Win came over to tea to-night and Frank has just gone down with her. Bickler was down here to day with "Trachety". It has been sunny all day with cool breeze a little thunder shower early this morning Poor Ade Millman was married to-day.

Thursday April 29th

Dad. finished running out the ditches this morning while I did chores and then I took the big team and disked the rest of the barley ground while Dad. shovelled out the ditches in the barley & oats, he says he dug up quite a few wireworms. I just finished disking by noon and took the disks up. This after noon I harrowed with the little team and Dad followed me with the drill. He didn't get started till after four so it was dark before he finished but he got through all but a plot 20 yds square in the north east corner which we left to sow my O.A.C. No 72 oats on. Enah got an announcement of Earney Skey's wedding, he was married yesterday. Nice day but cool wind all day.

Friday April 30th

Dad. went out first thing this morning and sowed the little plot of O.A.C. No 72 oats and harrowed them in as he sowed them broadcast he said they were a little thin in the centre of the plot as he ran short of seed. When he came in, he Tiddums and I went down town in the waggon and got Aunty Alice's trunks which were at the station having been checked right through and took them up to Hubys My little chestnut tree from Glen Bros was there too. It cost me $1.00 duty & expenses. We got some cream jars over at the James' and some oats chopped at the mill Dad took a whole waggon load of bags up to the mill for old Ivey and we also got a bushel of clover seed at Billy Laings to sow on the barley and oats. It was raining a little when we got back

and Tiddums was just about asleep. Dad. helped me set out my chestnut tree before dinner, we put in the same place where one of the little English walnuts had been and filled the hole up with nice black earth from the garden and back of the barn instead of the stiff clay of the lawn. This after noon old Mr. Evans came after Dad in a great state of alarm as he had let his cows out on the road and one of them came home very bloated. Dad. went over with him and found John Wess & Cam there looking at the cow but didn't seem to know what to do. Dad just tied a stick in her mouth and he said the never saw bloat go down so fast, before he left she was chewing her cud and old Evans was tickled to death. Dad. was over there the best part of the after noon and when he got back he put the dining room carpet down for Enah. I spent the after noon cleaning out the chicken houses. Harry Smith drove in to-night with the little Pecan tree I ordered from Brown Bros. through Mr. Morgan. It wasn't wrapped up at all and had a long tap root about twice as long as the top and very little fibrous roots I just heeled it in for to-night. Harry stood out in the rain for about half an hour dicussing the future prosperity of Dover in his comical and characestistic characteristic (or however you spell the dum word) way and telling us the difficulties he had in getting money on the lots he sold over Brant Hill, but he thought the war couldn't last for ever and hard times would be over some day and when the new railway "come in from Brantford" and they established a lake traffic and "drudged the mashes" all out up the creek, why he looked for a big boom. Old Ivey told us this morning that last nights paper had the news that Blight had been completely burned out and Dick said to-night that it was reported he had lost thirty thousand dollars as he had just put in seventeen thousand dollars worth of new machinery It has rained most of the day but it has been a nice gentle rain

Saturday May 1st

Dad. put in another whole day on the barley ground, this morning he rolled it and this afternoon harrowed it and ran out the ditches and started to clean some. Frank and I spent most of the forenoon trying to catch the old white ewe or her lamb to give the little fellow a suck but she was too cute for us and wouldn't get in a corner at last we got her around in the shed and managed to catch her and put her in the barn. Tiddums followed us all over the field saying he was having a good time, he could hardly walk part of the time for laughing at us and the ewe. We then

{This is a repeat of the previous page}

went out with a rail & a chain and started to pull the posts along the old fence bottom which is between the barley field and the corner field. Frank took Dad's place on the roller and Dad. helped me pull posts, we got about half of them out by noon. This after noon I went over to Jack Martins with some eggs and borrowed their post auger, when I came back I dug a hole with it in the lane in front of the house and Frank helped me plant my Pecan tree in it. I have my grave doubts about it ever ammounting to anything although it had root enough. Frank went over to Preston's and sacked up four bushels of potatoes as we are out of them now and when Dad finished harrowing we took the team & waggon and went and got them they were forty five cents a bushel. I went in for a few minutes to see Arthur who has been laid up for about a month and he looks tough, he hasn't had energy enough to shave and with his beautiful beard is the image of the old man. Bluch followed us down there and while prowling around saw Mrs. Herb. Cook's tame rabbit and took after it. The rabbit was too fat to run so the consequence was he killed it. Darn him! I spent the whole evening practicing on the fiddle and piano. Dad. was up at five o'clock this morning and took a letter he had written to Aunty down to post then while he was separating the milk Jack Anderson came after him to tell him his grandfather's cow was choking on an apple Dad. was hopping mad at old Lige sending after him but he went down and fixed the cow and said he gave Lige an awful calling down and told him never to send for him again. Lila and Dorothy Anderson have been over here all the after noon. Today's paper has another long list of Canadian Casualties and the 48th Highlanders have lost heavily. Fred McDonald is missing and his picture is in the Globe, it says the missing are either prisoners or their bodies still lie in the no man's land between the two armies. It has been cooler to-day and cloudy but no rain.

Sunday May 2nd

I was up fairly early this morning but didn't get to Sunday school, Frank went and Enah and I drove down to church, we were late so I sat up behind the organ. It was communion sunday and after the sermon I thought I would go out till those of the choir who didn't stay could went out and I went down and was talking to Pud. Slocombe for awhile and when I got back to church I was too late to go in This afternoon Colin Ryersie came up and he Frank & I went for a ride. Colin's mare "Lady" & Belle had both been

working all week so we didn't ride them hard, we went down the Lake Shore to Corbett's but Corby didn't go with us. When we got home Enah, Dad. & Tiddums had gone back to the gully for a walk. Cool & rather cloudy all day but no rain.

Monday May 3rd

Dad. cleaned at the ditches in the barley field most of the morning but didn't quite finish them. Enah, Tiddums & I went down town in the lumber waggon as Enah wanted to get some oilcloth for our bedroom and some other stuff. We got a post auger at James', he said it was the best kind he knew but it was just like Vyse's. When we got back Dad. and I gathered up the good posts that we pulled the other day from the fence bottom between the barley & corner fields and took them back to the gully to fix the cross fence. On our way back we gathered up the other posts that were pulled and what rubbish there was and brought it up to the house. This after noon Dad let the cattle back the lane and we went back with them to fix fence, we were back there most of the after noon and got soaking wet as we were out in the biggest part of a cold rain, but we put in four posts and got the fence fixed fairly well. The cattle as soon as they got out instead of gorging themselves on grass took a walk around every fence to see if there was any place where they could get out. Mary who Dad. let out of the barn for the first time this morning didn't know what grass was and was afraid of the mudhole in the lane so didn't go back with the others, but I think she will soon be acquainted with the outside world. Charlie Quanbury was in on his way home from his farm to-night, he said Steve Powell hadn't heard anything from or of Cecil since the big battle so they supposed he wasn't in it, the last letter they got from him he was in the hospital with pneumonia which he contracted after spending forty eigh hours in the trenches. I saw Herb. Cooke this morning and he informed me that in retaliation for the sudden death of his pet rabbit he was going to shoot Bluch the next time he came around his place I told him to go ahead and shoot him. Cloudy and a cold east wind to-day. It rained all the after noon and evening but will likely do good.

Tuesday May 4th

Dad. & I went back to the gully to finish fixing fence but while we were back there John Wess came along to ask Dad. about a cow that stood around and didn't eat but grunted. Dad. told him to give her a dose of salts but he said he did so we went back with him to see her. We had a look at her and then turned her out for a bite of

grass, had a look at his new bull which is a beauty but very small, got weighed on his new scales, I weighed 156 lbs and Dad. shrunk a few pounds since the other day when he was over so that he didn't weigh so much as John Wess. We then all had a drink of cider and a look at the sick horse and the young calves and went in to the house to see the new 25. calibre rifle that Cam brought home and the new telescope sight he brought for his father, he also brought him a little 22. and we had a few shots out of it at a target while Dad. was talking to Mrs. McBride and when he came out he wanted to know where the sick cow had got to so we had to go and look for her. John Wess and I had forgotten all about her but she was out behind the barn nipping a little grass but it was beginning to rain so we put her in. John Wess gave us about a peck of peas for seed in the garden and after having a look at the little pigs and the wheat we started for home, his wheat looks beautiful it is so even and clean. The piece that was sowed first was on a summer fallow and was up a little higher than that on the pea stubble which was in pretty late but was not so good a color. One part of the pea stubble field next the lane didn't get any manure on it and there is about four inces difference in the growth of it and the other part of the same field. He has a dandy catch of clover but clover is going to be thicker than we expected but the {illegible} is thicker still. It was nearly one o'clock when we got up and Enah and Eliza McBride were waiting dinner for us Mrs McBride is in Buffalo on a visit so Elizas is on the job to-day. They said the two Quanbury boys had been over and had looked all over the farm and the whole length & breadth of the gully for us to get their pigs but couldn't find us of course. Just after dinner Mrs. Tom Cooper and old Mrs. Billy Anderson tramped over in the pouring rain to see Dad. about old Mehaley's little dog which got a crack over the back with a club the other day. As they were soaking wet there was nothing for it but for Dad. to hook up and take them home. It poured rain all the after noon so we didn't do much but sit around and get in Enah's & Eliza's road. I was pretty lucky this after noon though in steering clear of job for Eliza is just as bad as her mother to work. I drove her home after tea. It has been a cold rain but no thunder.

Wednesday May 5th

Dad and I took a walk over the barley ground or around it rather and around the barley & oats but there

was very little water lying but the ditches were all full Dad. of course thinks we got altogether too much rain but we saw Tupper coming along the side road and he gave us a ride around to the house, he thinks we just got enough rain as it is really the first rain to ammount to anything all year. Tupper wanted some advice from Dad about a cow with a teat torn so that the milk came out of the side of it. He turned his cattle on the road the other day and they got up near Walker's lane and Trum set the dog on them and he took after the best cow Tupper had. Dad. told him to put a siphon in it and draw it up and wrap it with adhesive tape. I spent the rest of the day cutting the lawn and got it looking better although the old lawn mower doesn't work very well and leaves it all streaked. Dad. helped Enah paste up some wallpaper in the hall and this after noon went back to set a couple more fence posts. The war news is not very cheerful to-day. The Allies are advancing all right in Turkey but the Russians are being driven back by the Austro-German advance in Galicia and the Germans are bringing in a half a million fresh troops to the Western Front. I don't think we know much about it from these papers. There has been rain and sunshine by spells all day to-day. Milder

Thursday May 6th

Dad. Tiddums and I went down to the mill first thing this morning as I was right out of chicken feed. When we got back we went out and pulled the old posts that were in the old garden and the few that were left in the old fence bottom and hauled them back to the gully and strewed them along the road fence. Tiddums went with us but got pretty sleepy. We had to go up the road to turn around and Art Quanbury had left his waggon on the road with his horse food in it and Evans & Lampkins cows were all into it. Art. was plowing but I guess it would be too wet. This after noon Dad. & I went back and fixed more fence in this end of the gully, we got the crossfence and the north fence pretty well fixed. About five o'clock we went over to John Wess' to see his sick cow He had her out although she wasn't feeling right yet. She ate and chewed her cud but still grunted. We were there till nearly six visiting. We shouldn't have stayed so long as it made us too late to get down to the train and Aunty & Aunty Alice came home to-night. Frank went down to meet them and Dad. & I went down to Huby's later to see them. It has been nice and sunny to-day but a rather cold wind. The Quanbury's got their four pigs yesterday.

Friday May 7th

It rained before we got up this morning and has been raining pretty much all day although there were a few patches of sunshine. This after noon there was a terrific downpour but it didn't last long. The ground is full of water now and of course Dad. thinks or says he does that we are ruined, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if we lived through it all and maybe even through next winter without starving to death. I tested the eggs in the incubator this morning and they tested out about half I took out sixty four and left a lot of doubtful ones in. I didn't expect much of a hatch anyway as the eggs were old. I hard boiled all the ones I took out and am going to keep them for the little fellow. This after noon Dad. Enah and Tiddums went down town to see Aunty & Aunty Alice, they didn't get caught in the heavy rain but got some of it. I spent the day making hen's nests for setting hens and a coop for hens and chicks or rather repairing an old one which Williams left here. To-night I went down and got my hair cut and then down to Huby's to see Aunty and Aunty Alice. Everybody is talking now about the news in to-night's paper. The Germans have torpedoed the "Lusitania" and about fifteen hundred passengers were drowned. They gave warning to passengers in Washington before she sailed but everybody had such confidence in her great speed being such a protection to her that they didn't pay any attention to the warnings of the German embassy. Dad. thinks they were perfectly justified in sinking her as she was carrying a large consignment of ammunition and other contraband of war, but even then it doesn't seem to me to be any excuse for sinking so many women and babies. I think the Captain and the Cunard line were also very much to blame for allowing women passengers to go with such a cargo. There were about 150 babies on board and they all either drowned or died of exposure about six hundred people were saved. They were in the Irish Sea about ten miles out from the Irish coast and there were a lot of ships came out immediately she sank but it was so sudden and she sank in thirty minutes that there was no time to get ready for it. Aunty & Aunty Alice came home on the train with a little woman 21 years old with a four months old baby who was going from her home in Saskatoon to her father in Englan as he was all alone, his five sons being at the front and she was the only other child. She was to have sailed on the Lusitania. The porter on the train begged her not to go on that boat as she was doomed but she said she was not afraid.

Saturday May 8th

Instead of fixing fence this morning as we intended Dad. & Frank worked all morning cleaning out the woodshed while I weeded out the rose bed and got it looking much better. This after noon Aunty & Aunty Alice came over and we all except Enah went back to the woods for awhile. They intended to go back down town after tea but it rained so hard they had to stay here all night. I got a letter from Ottawa to-day with a copy of the Canada Gazette enclosed with a law marked in it prohibiting the importation of chestnut trees from the States and saying that I would have to either export it back or destroy it. I was naturally pretty mad about it as I thought they should have never let it cross the line and not sent it up here and let me pay duty on it and get it all set out, however I wrote them a nice letter asking them to let me keep it if possible. It has been a lovely day but rained to-night.

Sunday May 9th

I didn't get ready in time this morning to get to Church or Sunday school so Dad. drove Enah down and went down again after her. I wrote to Quint instead of going to church. Aunty & Aunty Alice came over to dinner with Frank and Win also came over for the afternoon. After dinner we had a little music and then Dad. drove Aunty & Aunty Alice up to the cemetry. Soon after they left Mrs. Smythe & Pud drove in and were here all the after noon and to tea Pud. and I went to the back of the place and wandered around Enah, Mrs. Smythe, Frank & Win. went down to church while Dad. Pud & I stayed here to guard Tid in case he woke up Dicky Smith was in for a while after tea to get some information concerning the dehorning of a cow. Charlie Quanbury & Colin Ryersie were both in a different times this after noon on horseback. Nice day but cooler.

Monday May 10th

We fixed fence all day to-day but as we were working along the road we didn't get on so amazingly fast, but we got it pretty well fixed from Evan's line down to the gate into the big gully, we also fixed the gate which got all broken to pieces during the winter or on Hallowe'en, I forget which The two Quanbury boys were pulling posts on their side of the road and that was conducive to considerable mutual visiting and restarted progress. This after noon Art. Walker came along and told us all his experiences during his ten weeks stay in the General Hospital having his eye

treated. As it was the longest period Art. ever spent away from home, there was much to tell. Then Tupper appeared on the scene with about half a dozen boards in his waggon & had evidently been down town all the after noon at the very least but we were up on the hill and couldnt hear him talk very well on account of the wind so he didn't stay long with us but went up and spent half an hour or so talking to the Quanbury boys. To-nights paper says that Fred McDonald is a prisoner in Germany and Aunty got a letter from Cousin Carrie which confirms the report. They heard through some lady in London whose son is sharing the same fate at Fred. Cousin Carrie said that if they had received the news ten days ago it would have been awful but after the suspence they have been in since he was reported missing it is a happy relief. George Duncan came over to-night on his motorcycle and said the rails which Dad spoke for are in their road now as they have to put their fence up so Dad. told him we would be up to-morrow after them, although we hated to stop our other work. Sunny and warm.

Tuesday May 11th

We got a good early start this morning and managed to get home two loads of rails before one o'clock. This after noon we only got one load as we were delayed considerably. Jack Davis came in before we left with King Chocolate. I think we will use him this year with Belle as we can't seem to get any colts from a heavy horse and we don't know of a thorobred stallion in the country. Sensation has gone to Montreal where he stands for $100. and I guess King Chocolate is the next best we can get. We were stopped again on the road by Wess Buchner who wanted to ask Dad. about his horse's shoulder. He, Jack McBride, Wm. Walker and another fellow are all riding the road machine to-day and seem to be having a very sociable & enjoyable time of it, they have changed the beats now and those fellows come right down to our corner, Dad. told them he wouldn't raise any kick if they scraped our lane for us and we were very much surprised to-night to find they had. Our next holdup was when we reached Duncan's as old Bill was in the lane clipping weeds when we went up and coming back. He would have been talking yet but happily they were hauling manure so we had to move on in a little while to get out of the men's way. We didn't get home till nearly six o'clock and there is still a load up there which

we will have to get in the morning. Mrs. McPherson & Mrs. Myers were in this morning each with her "youngest". Mrs. Myers brought back the hen canary she got the other day as it wouldn't mate with hers. Dad. thought that as he had given it to her she might have had the decency to keep it as we don't want the pesky thing. Aunty & Aunty Alice came over to-night to stay awhile. We saw in to-nights paper that Earl Dewar who was at the front with the 10th Battalion was dead. I think he must have died of some illness and not wounds as we saw a week or so ago that he was seriously ill. Very hot & sunny to-day

Wednesday May 12th

This morning we went back after our last load of rails. We were gone all morning as Dad. had to stop in at Wess Buchner's to lance his horses' shoulder. He had two of them each with an awful shoulder. He just ran the exploring needle into one and says it will have to be opened again. On our way out of Duncan's lane with our rails we ran across old Bill again. He was worrying to death because one of the manure spreaders wouldn't work. He says he worries all the time and can't help it. he is afraid everything will go wrong when he isn't at the head of things and every little mishap he sees drives him nearly crazy. George is in reality doing fine. We had a very early dinner and right after it Dad. drove Aunty & Aunty Alice up to the cemetry and I spent the after noon disking, harrowing and rolling the garden and disking & harrowing the strip in the plum orchard where we are going to put the raspberries. After they got back Dad. caught his ewe and sheared her and before tea Aunty Alice put in some onion sets or multipliers at the head of the garden. Aunty and Tim-boy worked all the after noon at the flower bed in front of the house.Very nice day not so hot as yesterday.

Thursday May 13th

Aunty Alice and I worked in the garden all morning and got in a row of squaw corn which she brought from the West three rows of peas which John Wess gave us five or six rows of Dad. Atkinson potatoes and Aunty Alice went over to the Quanbury's and got some cabbage and tomato plants and put them out We then ran out of seed but Enah had to go down town this after noon to give Miss Dyer some instructions about playing the organ in church and she got some more

Dad. sowed clover seed on the barley & oats and alsike on the wheat this morning and this after noon ran a ditch up through the garden and helped me set out some raspberrys which I dug up out of the old garden. It was very hot this morning but got cloudy and cooler.

Friday May 14th

I helped Dad. stick up some wire this morning between the orchard & the plum orchard as there is fine pasture in the one while the oats in the plum orchard aren't big enough to turn on yet. I then helped Aunty Alice put in the rest of the garden we put in beets, carrots, beans and a lot of Golden Bantam corn which I planted with the planter and some radish, lettuce & pepper seed and some lettuce plants which came up from seed. This after noon Dad. & I worked at the gully fence again and got it pretty well fixed along the road. Aunty & Aunty Alice went over to Mrs. Battersby's to roll bandages for the Red Cross Mr. Quanbury gave Aunty Alice some more cabbage plants and lettuce plants as the old gobbler ate a half a dozen of the other cabbages. Miss Harding and Winnie were over to tea to-night. I got word yesterday that my little chestnut tree must go back to the States or perish here. Nice day.

Saturday May 15th

Frank had to go to school this morning for some special exam so Dad. & I spent the morning fixing the fence along the north side of the gully at least he did but I just sat around most of the time. It is a job that two have to be at part of the time but part of the time one is out of a job. This after noon Frank helped him and I dug up my little tree and took it down and expressed it back to Glen Bros. asking them to refund my money but I don't suppose they will, Aunty & Aunty Alice went down town too. We were in at Huby's for a little while He has been working all week at his garden and has it all in now. He says he is coming over to the farm on Monday There has been quite a cold wind all day and it froze last night but not enough to hurt anything here.

Sunday May 16th

Dad. woke up somewhere about four o'clock this morning and was reminded that he didn't turn the windmill out by hearing it going so he got up to do it, and on taking a look behind the old barn found Ginger with great big mouse colored colt as fine as a fiddle. As it was beginning to rain and was cold Dad. got me and we put

them in the box stall. Billy is a dandy horse colt as straight as a string two white feet and a spot in his forehead. Dad. thinks he will be black. Aunty, Frank and I drove down to Sunday school and church this morning but none of us ezxcept Dick who followed his usual course of action went anywhere else all day but spent the after noon reading and I had a little practice on my horn with Enah. It has rained a quiet drizzling rain nearly all day but has been cold.

Monday May 17th

Huby came over at seven this morning and he and Dad have worked all day up at the cemetry doing some work for Aunty Alice. They took a waggon load of rich earth up and a lot of sod. This after noon Aunty, Aunty Alice and Tid. went up with them and they were rather late getting home. I spent the day cutting the lawn and doing odd jobs, my chickens are all starting to hatch to-day and there seems to be quite a bunch of them. I wernt over to Jack Martin's a couple of times to see if I could get some chicken feed but just enough for to-night and the morning. Albert Buck was over to-night to see if he could sell Aunty Alice his house. Everyone seems to be deluded into thinking that she wants to buy although she has never had the slightest intention of it. Some even went so far as to say she had bought Maneers house on Main St. Enah and Aunty Alice went over to Mrs. Battersby's after tea and when they got back Enah and I had a little practice on the fiddle & piano. It has been cloudy and very raw and cold all day.

Tuesday May 18th

Dad & I took the chickens out of the machine this morning and stuck them under the old hens over the hog pen. They only had thirteen between the three of them and one hen didn't hatch any at all. About thirty came out of the incubator and they are still hatching. I put the eggs which weren't hatched from under the hens in the incubator. Dad. got started to plow the corn ground but Bob Miller & Whit Dixon came over to look at the steers and they were here about an hour. Dad. wouldn't sell either of his steers but Whit came over to where I was and asked me what I wanted for my steer. I thought likely he had been dickering with Dad or I wouldn't have sold him but Whit said the market was glutted so I let him go for seventy dollars and they get him when they want him. I guess I lost on him but if I

can get my money for him right away it will be worth something. Huby dug up enough more raspberries out of the old garden to finish the line we started and another one. After we set them out after dinner, we went back and grubbed out some old trees which were along the old fence bottom at the north end of the gully fence wheat stubble and where Dad is plowing He is going to plow it up the fence bottom and put potatoes on it if we ever get around to it as Peter McArthur says. We didn't finish this job till it was time to come up and do chores. Aunty & Aunty Alice went up to the Smythe's to-day to stay for a day or two. It is still cold and raw. It froze last night and will again to-night. It is bad weather for all the crops.

Wednesday May 19th

Huby has been over all day and has been grubbing out dead trees in the plum orchard most of the day and got them all cleaned out. I did chores most of the morning and this after noon went over and got 559 lbs of mixed feed from Jack Martin for the chickens. I had to sack it up myself so was gone quite awhile. Chris told me to hook old Jack up to the democrat and bring it home which I did. Dad. quit plowing about five and we all went down to get Aunty Alice's freight which Dick told us came yesterday. Enah & the baby went down with us and stayed at Huby's till we came back from the train, we left the boxes at Huby's. I got a letter from Glen Bros. to-night saying that they could not accept the tree as it was not barred from entering the Dominion. They sent me a copy of a letter they received from the Government Botanist of B.C. saying there were only two varietys of chestnut trees barred. They also sent me a copy of a letter they wrote to Mr. {Gusson?} telling him he was wrong. To-night I rode out to the Smythe's to see how they were out there and found them all right It was after half past nine when I got there so I didn't stay long. Huby brought over two little chest butternut tree which he got on his way over and set them out. It has been cloudy & cold all day but is not going to freeze to night. It did again last night. Charlie Quanbury lost 600 tomato plants in a cold frame.

Thursday May 20th

Huby came over this morning and has been digging out old peach trees in the old garden all day, while Dad. plowed. Sam Law came over and borrowed the disks, roller & harrows to work up his garden and and his lane which he graded up. I did a lot of chores aided by Tid both after breakfast & after dinner. I have about sixty little chicks all to-gether under three hens, the incubator did better than I expected.

after I did chores I went out and helped Huby We got out all the old peach trees and all but a few of the old currant bushes We left a few for this summer's crop. We also burned the old haycocks which were out in the field. It began to rain about five o'clock and we had to come in. It has been a little warmer to day but a cold wind and cloudy.

Friday May 21st

It has rained off and on nearly all day clearing up late this after noon. Dad. plowed three rounds but got pretty wet. It would stop raining every time he got to this end of the field and look so clear that he would start off again when it would immediately start in again to rain, this kept up for three rounds but the fourth he quit anyway although in the dry but it was wet again before he got to the house We didn't do much all day but chores. This after noon we hooked up to the waggon and went down to the mill after some chop & flour. Tid. went with us. We saw John Wess who was telling us about his neighbor Smith who is Bill Oakes son-in-law and who just moved down on Wright's place this Spring. He is sick in bed with Typhoid fever and the other day John Wess had to go over and bury his horse which got over a barbed wire fence and cut itself so badly that it bled to death. It was a fine big three year old which he had been offered $275.00 for this Spring. About seven o clock Mrs. Smythe brought Aunty & Aunty Alice back. Frank spent the evening down town playing poker with Huby & Aunty Maude as Win & Lila were at the show. Milder since the rain.

Saturday May 22nd

Dad. got in a pretty good day plowing to day. Frank had to go to school this morning and I just did chores. This after noon he & I levelled up the water troughs. The one at this end had sagged so that when it filled the water ran out of the top instead of the overflow pipe but I think we got it fixed pretty well. When we got that done Frank, Lila & Dorothy Anderson went back to the woods and I started to hoe the patch where the currant bushes are. Enah went down town this after noon and I drove down after her about half past five. Aunty & Aunty Alice went down town this morning and Aunty stayed at Huby's to dinner. She & Winnie came over this after noon & Win. went down with me before tea. Mrs. Col. Smith & Mrs. Hobbes came over this after noon and Aunty Alice and Tiddums entertained them. It has been a fine day but rather windy and cool much milder that it was though.

Sunday May 23rd

Aunty & Frank got a pretty down to Sunday School & church this morning and Dad. & Enah got a pretty good start for the Smythe's so that they were able to get to St. John's for church Mrs. Smythe invited them up there to dinner to see Louise as she came up from Toronto yesterday with the Evan's in their car to the Bowlby's but as they found they would see much more of Louise if they went to the Bowlby's to dinner so Mrs. Smythe was nice enough to let them go, they were there all the afternoon and Dad. got back in time to help me milk. They left Tiddums in Aunty's & Aunty Alice's care and he was very good and didn't cry a bit. At dinner he got a little egg on his dress and he looked up at Aunty and said "I usually wear a bib." This after noon Mr. Lawrie & Hubert came over for awhile they are here for over the 24th. Aunty Alice & I had a little concert this after noon. Frank went up to Walleys to look for Ginseng but didn't find any. Frank went down to church to-night. Nice sunny cool day.

Monday May 24th

Dad. plowed all day to-day, he helped me get the brooder out of the shed this morning and put it in the plum orchard and I was quite awhile cleaning it out and working around out there. I let the three old hens with their broods run loose to-day. I went over to Jack Martin's and got some chick food & scratch food. This after noon to celebrate the day Enah, Tiddums and I took a long and very pretty drive up around Vittoria & Port Ryersie, we took some pictures. Frank was down town all the after noon. Dover & Simcoe Nanticoke were playing baseball, but Dover got beaten by nine runs. Cars. Rankin accidently hit Art. Lawson in the eye with a bat and broke his glasses cutting his eye. Dick was down town all day too. Frank went with Winnie to the Moving Picture show to-night. Huby and Skinner Manning drove over to see Dad this after noon. It has been a lovely day. Sunny & warm

Tuesday May 25th

Dad. plowed till about five o'clock but had to stop as his shear was so badly worn so he disked till six I did up the chores and hoed every thing that was up in the garden I hoed a little more around the currant bushes it took me a good part of the day doing chores as the little chickens take up so much time. Aunty & Aunty Alice went down to have dinner with Mrs. Allen at the Norfolk House to-day and stayed down at Huby's to-night. Huby was over all day and got all the old rubbish out in the old garden

burned and the old post holes filled up. Frank went down town to-night to get Aunty to help him with his lessons. Very warm all day and a lovely gentle rain to-night. Bred Belle to King Chocolate this morning.

Wednesday May 26th

I did chores nearly all morning and sorted out the barrel of apples down cellar. I also started the incubator going. Huby came over and after he finished cleaning up the old fence bottom beween the barley and the clover field which he started yesterday, we started to line up for the chicken fence which I want to put up along east of the raspberries in the plum orchard. We were at that all the after noon and got stakes set and enough old posts and rails which we will use for posts between the bigger posts. We got enough old boards off the road fence to put along the bottom. Dad. plowed all day but didn't quite finish. He was delayed at noon by Bickler's man coming in with Truchety and we bred Ginger. He quit about five and to-night he & Enah went out to the John Shand's, they didn't get back till about twelve. Aunty & Aunty Alice came over this after noon but Tid didn't wake up. Colin Ryersie went past this morning and said they had started plowing the big flats yesterday, they were going to start two or three weeks ago. Colin said "It is just eighteen years ago the day before yesterday that Paw and {Drake?} Watts were out before the crow flapped her wings in the morning and planted the big field by one o'clock, then went down to play football for the Queen's birthday sports in the after noon". That was the last time the flats were plowed and Huby says it is just about that long ago next October when the creek was the highest he ever saw it and was running full with corn shucks, pumpkins, rail fences and down around the swing bridge apple barrels where they had floated off the cars at the station. This may account for the long span of years that Art's big flats were left in sod, but the creek is about two feet lower now than it was in those days. It has been cloudy and a very cold north wind all day and it looks like frost to-night.

Thursday May 27th

Huby didn't come over to-day so I spent the most of the morning doing chores but got the two lines of raspberries hoed and some of the old manure out of the chicken yard put around them. Dad. finished plowing the corn ground and got nearly over it with the disks it will take a lot of work. This after noon I drove Enah & Tid. down town for some groceries just as we got back Mr & Mrs Johnson & George came in with their car and they took Aunty Aunty Alice Enah & Tid up to the cemetry. Lila

came over with them. To-night Aunty Alice went over to Mrs. Battersby's to borrow a book and I went with her. I also took Mrs. Charlie Martin a setting of eggs for which she paid me forty cents. I see by to-day's "Norfolk Reformer" that Capt. Simpson left this morning for England to join the Army Service Corps, I wish I had been up to drill before he went. Dick said to-night that May Ivey who is at the Culp's with plural pneumonia is not expected to live through the night. It froze hard again last night and did a lot of damage I guess. Some of our tomato plants in the garden were nipped and some were not, has been sunny but a very cold wind all day from the north.

Friday May 28th

After I did up the chores this morning I went out and took the team and Dad. came up and took the old sow down to Porter's, he was down there to dinner and didn't get back till four o'clock. I rolled the corn ground and got started to harrow it. Huby was over all day and set the posts in the plum orchard for the fence along the raspberries Something has been wrong with Snowdrop all day and to-night Huby Dad. & Frank examined her but couldn't see much but a little spot on her jaw which Dad. didn't think would affect her much, she went around all day with her nose to the ground and didn't eat at all. He ran the probang down her throat but everything seemed clear. Frank and I went down to Huby's to-night and had a game of poker. They had a baseball game down town to-night between the married and single men. Frank took it in but I didn't get down in time The single men men beat 6-5. Much warmer to-day.

Saturday May 29th

I worked on the corn ground all day to-day. I finished harrowing it and got it disked over lengthwise. Dad & Frank sheared sheep all day, they got four done I think Dad. says he is getting quite expert at it. Lila and Dorothy Anderson were over all the after noon and I let them ride the horses in from the field to-night which they seemed to enjoy, they had been waiting around for about an hour for me to unhook. Snowdrop is aparently all right to-day, we don't know what could have been wrong with her unless there was something in her throat that Dad. loosened with the probang and didn't know it. Aunty Alice has been tending to the little chickens for me, a lot of them have their eyes swelled shut. I think they have caught cold. It has been sunny all day but there has been a cold east wind.

Sunday May 30th

Aunty & Frank and I went to Sunday school and church. Enah came down to church and Dad. brought the baby down and went over with Enah to the James' for dinner and to spend the after noon, they took Tid. down to the lake for a little while and had an early tea down there. I saddled Joe and went for a ride after dinner. I went down to the Ryerse's but none of them went for a ride so I went out to the Shand's and got Charlie to go with me. His uncle John had the little sorel which he generally rides so he had to take Billy the big grey and the consequence was we couldn't go much off a walk. We went down to Marburg and up the third concession. I stopped in to see Sid. McBride but he wasn't home. I wanted to ask him about getting some more of his hog-meal. We also saw Hammond on his way home from Sunday school, we were talking to him for about an hour. He was telling us all his Guelph experiences, he would like to go to the war but his Dad. won't let him, the whole three of us would go if we got the chance, but Charlie is not well at all. I don't know what is wrong with him. Frank rode to Simcoe this after noon on his wheel, when I got home he was back after the cows. He was gone a very long time and upon investigation I found that a newly arrived calf was causing the delay, it belonged to Spot and Frank was bringing it up to the barn. It was a fine big red & white bull and had evidently been born quite early in the day. Dad. just got home as we got it up into the yard. Aunty and Aunty Alice went down to stay at Huby's for a week It has been a fine day but a cold east wind.

Monday May 31st

I disked crosswise on the corn ground all day but didn't get quite over it. Dad. sheared some more sheep, I think he only has two more to do now. Huby was over all day and put a post in at this end of the lane to put the gate latch on, he also fixed the fence at the end of the lane between the gatepost and the anchor post, he didn't feel very well to-day. To-night Frank and I went down to see another baseball match between the married and single men. The single beat 5-4. I fooled around town till about nine o'clock and then went down to Huby's for a little while. Frank was down there and Aunty was going over his lessons with him. They were all working late in the bank to-night as it is the end of the month. It has been quite hot all day to-day but the wind is still from the East.

Tuesday June 1st

This morning I finished disking the corn ground and got started to roll it At noon I drove Enah and Tiddums down to Mrs. Leslie Battersby's for dinner and brought Huby over, he said he felt well enough to work but didn't like to walk over, he sat in the house and shelled corn all the afternoon. I also got old Daddy's collar from Val. as Dad was going to hook Joe & him up but he sheared the last sheep instead, he sheared the other one this morning, he took the team till I got out after I had my dinner. I finished rolling and started to harrow crosswise, about five Dad. came out and relieved me and I drove Huby home. I drove him out to Charlie Tuple's first to get some archangel which is a weed that grows in a ditch out there and which Charlie claims to be a cure for Huby's ailment, he steeps it and makes a tea of it. We went around to see Bill to see if he could come and mark the corn ground for us to-morrow after noon he went down and asked his boss at the canning factory and said he could get off. He was telling us that they operated on his son-in-law over here who has just got over typhoid fever for apendicitus last night and Bill doesn't think he will live through it. May Ivey is still alive and I guess stands a chance of pulling through. Hot to-day.

Wednesday June 2nd

I drove Dick down to work this morning and went around to Billy Laing's to see if I could get any seed corn as Dad. is afraid to use what we have. Some of the cobs were mouldy when Huby shelled it and some Dad. planted in a flower pot only tested about 60%. Billy didn't have any and didn't know where there was any Aunty went up to Mrs. Battersby's with me and got some dahlia bulbs to send over here. When I got home Huby went over and telephoned to the Smythe's and they said they had a little so I hiked right out there but found it was just in the crib and didn't look as if it would be as good as what we have so I didn't get any. It began to pour rain just as I lef so I got pretty wet. This after noon after it stopped raining I cut part of the lawn. Huby spent the after noon building a fence two panels long from the pig pen to the orchard fence to make a small yard for the little pigs. Dad. rolled this morning but it was a little too wet this after noon so he hoed in the garden. I drove Huby down to-night and we saw Bill Oakes and told him not to come over till he thought the ground was fit to mark. Frank saw Billy Laings to-night and he said he could get us some corn in Simcoe. Cloudy and wet all day raining to-night.

Thursday June 3rd

It rained hard during the night so that everything was flooded this morning but it was a good rain and as it has been pretty hot all day will do a lot of good. Dad. is beginning now to talk about a big crop of wheat this fall. This being the King's birthday Dick had a holiday. There wasn't any school but Frank went down to see and was down there all morning. I didn't do very much but cut a little lawn. Huby & Lila came over but it was too wet to do anything much so Huby went back home. Dad. opened up a few ditches. This after noon Frank and I drove to Simcoe to see if we could get any seed corn but we found that Simcoe has begun already to shut up Thursday after noons so we couldn't get in anywhere but Edmond's and they didnt have any, we got some rocksalt there. We went down to see what Brook's Mill was paying for wool and they said the same as it was quoted at in Toronto and in to-day's paper they have removed the embargo and unwashed fine which is ours has jumped from 18cts to 23 & 25cts. We saw all the Dover cadets up there they went up to take part in some contest but as near as I can make out they were the only company present so took the prizes. Frank McBride got four dollars and a medal for shooting.

Friday June 4th

This morning I finished rolling the corn ground and Dad. fixed fence in the gully as the cattle have been in on the oats the last two mornings. Frank saw Bill on his way to school this morning and Bill came over this after noon and marked the corn ground. It was in nice shape on top. Huby came over this after noon too and tore down fence along the road. After Bill started to mark crossways I started to plant instead of helping and Dad. helped him. It was a little too wet to plant but I got quite a lot done when Charlie Martin came over and wanted Dad. to go and look at his old mare's leg which Sam Law's mare had kicked and he was afraid had broken. She had been running at pasture in Sam's gully. Dad. went and Charlie took Huby with his shotgun over. Dad. said it was properly smashed, so Huby cut a shell and shot her. I had planted smart-nose corn from Charlie Dixon's as far as I went but when Frank came home he said Billy Laing's told him we could get some down at Jack Mason's so he and Dad. went down after tea and got about half a bushel. Aunty came over to dinner to-day and brought a piece of the blue lilly from home which we set out in the front bed. Nice day and very warm

Saturday June 5th

Huby and I started in first thing to plant corn and have been at it all day. Dad. has suffered intense agony from a pain in his back which stabs him with terrible torture if he gives it the slightest twist, he doesn't know what caused it unless he hurt it a little yesterday after noon when he was helping Bill. He rolled down part of the barley and oats this morning and before noon drove out to Lorne Kniffens and took Aunty Lila & Tiddums with him to get some more seed corn as Kniffen stopped this morning and told him that Billy Laing said we were short and that he had about half a bushel left, we also got about a peck from Jack Martin this morning so that we got the biggest percentage of the field in with "Longfellow" instead of "Santrose" Dad. helped us plant this after noon till Frank finished rolling the barley & oats and then Frank helped us finish while Dad. did chores but we got it all in before six and think it ought to be a good crop. Aunty, Aunty Alice & Cousin Clare have been over all the after noon and Winnie was over to tea Aunty & Aunty Alice stayed all night. It has been very hot all day.

Sunday June 6th

Frank and Aunty went to Sunday school this morning and I went for a swim down at the Quanbury's. Mrs. Quanbury was very anxious to have me use their bathroom instead of the pond but I didn't and the water was fine. She gave us some asparagus and lettuce onions to bring home. Art has been sick and got pretty well behind with his work so Dad. told him last night that I would take the team and give him a day on Monday and he seemed very pleased. When I got home I got dressed up and Dick, Aunty Alice, Enah & I went down to church. This afternoon soon after dinner Jim Waddle and the two little girls came in and were here for quite awhile, before they left Uncle Ward & Bob. Ellis came in. Bob. didn't stay very long but went down to see Clarence Ferris but about five o'clock Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Shand came in and they & Uncle Ward stayed to tea. Frank and I did the milking and Mr. Shand drove Uncle Ward home before he & Mrs. Shand left. Dad's side has been better to-day but there is still quite a pain there when he twists it. It has been very hot to-day and feels like rain.

Monday June 7th

Dad's back felt worse again this morning but he helped me milk. It was nine o'clock however before I could get out with the team and started for Quanbury's

with the disks, Charlie was disking with their team and Art. was setting out tomato plants. We worked up a pen to put more tomatos on. We all went over to Charlie's place where Charlie cooked dinner, he said he didn't approve of cold lunches. After dinner we had a look around Charlie's ranch, he has corn planted on the flats and he marked it himself. It is so crooked the crows cant follow the rows to steal it. Art. hooked his team on to the waggon to drive back to his place but Charlie & I each rode one of my horses and had "some time" on the return trip. It began to rain about five o'clock so Art. who was equipped with a rubber coat drove my team home and their old team went home without driving, while Charlie & I took to the woods and walked home after the rain had dried up a little. It was hot all day but sultry.

Tuesday June 8th

I saddled Joe first thing this morning and rode over to John Wess' as he was going to telephone up and find out what wool was worth in Simcoe. I found it was only 20 cts which was what Henderson told Frank he was paying so when I got back Dad. & I weighed it all up and put it in a sheet and loaded it into the buggy but found it was too big a bundle to take in the buggy so we caught Belle & harnessed Joe & her and put the wool in the waggon. Old Ivey from the mill came in for awhile and talked He wanted to put his horse out to pasture for a couple of weeks but I don't know whether he will or not. By the time I got started down town it was getting near noon I didn't stop at the mill on the way down but went and got Huby to hold the team for me and when we got back Henderson had gone to dinner El. Ryerse was there so we put the wool in the warehouse and left it. I was going up to see about some locust fence posts which Dick Faulmsbe had but Huby saw Place and he said he had a car load of cedar posts on the way here so I thought we had better wait. When I got home Aunty & Aunty Alice had gone to the Harding's for dinner and Enah was due to go but Tid. wasn't awake yet so I had to hook Joe to the buggy and drive them down when he did wake up. On my way home I stopped in at the mill and got the money for the wool which was 97 lbs I got 20 cts. $19.40 When I got back I had my dinner and then Dad. & I went down to Mr. Flemming's and got a load of old shingles for Kindling as he has put a new roof on the west side of his barn and told us we could have what shingles we wanted to pick up. Dad. felt a little better to-day but not much It has been pretty hot to-day but a cool breeze

Wednesday June 9th

We didn't do anything much this morning but putter around and talk about going down town but Dad. was pretty lame so we didn't get around to it till after dinner. This after noon Dad. Aunty, Tid & I went down in the waggon and were down most of the after noon Aunty didn't come home with us but walked home to tea. Dad. went to the doctor and got an electric shock on his sore back and some medicine. I got a roll of poultry netting and Mr. James loaded up the waggon with boxes. We saw Bruce up the street a little farther and were talking to him for quite awhile. Dad. & Bruce held a sort of court of advice on Main St. as farmers from all over came flocking around with tales of woe concerning their livestock. Aunty didn't come home with us but walked over. Winnie & Rosa Jack came over to tea. Mrs. & Miss Woodson were in for a minute or two after tea before going to a bridge party at Mrs. Martin's. We had some music this evening but the girls went home early. Frank & I went down town with them. Nice day.

Thursday June 10th

This morning we hooked up the team and Dad & I went down to Flemming's to get another load of shingles. We took Tid. with us. Just as we got there we noticed that our colts were out of the gully and in the field so I struck right accross to put them back but I couldn't head them off alone and so they got out on the road and ran up the lane to the house. There with Enah's & Aunty Alice's help I managed to get them into the barnyard. I had to go back to the gully and fix up the place were they got out. I took the shotgun with me in case there were crows on the corn field but there weren't so I went on over to the woods but didn't see one. It was nearly noon when I got back but Dad. & Tid weren't home yet so I walked over to see if they were waiting for me but just as I got there they had left but I ran accross Vyse and he kept me in conversation for half an hour. Aunty & Aunty Alice went over to Mrs. Battersby's for dinner in honor of Mrs. Skey's birthday. This after noon Dad. & I took a strand of barbed wire and stretched it over the piece of fence where the colts broke out and fixed it a little better. It was in the middle of the new gully fence where we left a place for gates but only stretched a piece of wire by hand. I think old Dandy probably caught his foot in it. Dad. felt quite a bit better in his back to-day but felt a little sick. Nice day.

Friday June 11th

I don't remember just what we did this morning but this afternoon I drove Enah down town for provisions as we just got word last night that the Millman's are coming up to-morrow to stay over Sunday & take Aunty and Aunty Alice back with them. When we got back Dad. & I started to clean out the floor of the big barn where the sheep were all winter. Dad. hauled a couple of loads out to the old garden to plow under. While we were there old Ivey from the mill brought his horse over to turn in the pasture. Aunty went down to a Red Cross party at Mrs. Buck's this after noon. Aunty Alice got word to-night that Mr. Billings was dead. He died at the hospital in Montreal and Mrs. Billings left right away for the West so Aunty Alice won't see her as She hoped. She feels very badly about it. Another nice day.

Saturday June 12th

When Dad. got up this morning he found old Ivey's horse over in Thos. A's oats. Harry must have kicked him over during the night as they didn't seem very friendly. I spent nearly the whole day cutting the lawn but I got it all cut front and back and it looks pretty nice I also dug up the rhubarb bed but not the plants. Dad put in all the day cleaning the manure out of the barn and got it looking pretty slick. We put old Ivey's chariot and our buggy in there as we will put the Millman's car in the drive house Frank spudded thistles to-day in the barley. Dick came home to tea to-night to see the Millman's. They got here just before tea. Mr & Mrs Millman, Kathleen & Orm who acted as chaffeur. After tea Orm took us three boys, Kathleen & Enah to Simcoe also Winnie & Lila. It has been hot to-day but breezy. Frank and I went down to Huby's to sleep to-night.

Sunday June 13th

I came home as soon as I got up this morning but Frank stayed down to go to Sunday School and church. Aunty was the only one who went down from here. Orm. Dick and I went for a swim this morning as soon as they got up, the water wasn't bad at all. After dinner I took Joe out and jumped on her back and as Kathleen was so anxious for a ride Orm out her up behind me but we didn't go very far as it was too strenuous to hang on without a saddle so then I put the saddle on her and Orm took a short ride while Kathleen was putting on an old pair of overalls then she had a little ride. They both seemed to enjoy it. This after noon Orm took all but Aunty, Aunty Alice Frank and me

down to Hammond's bush to see old Ad. Frolick's log cabin, he got some of them down at Huby's too. When they came back Orm. Frank, Kathleen, Tiddums & I went for a ride down town and up to see Globe Park. They thought it had changed a lot since they used to summer there. We took Aunty down to stay at Mrs Leslie Battersby's to tea. After tea we took Cousin Clare home as she had been down here all the after noon - got Aunty and went up to Cousin Loll's for awhile came home again, then Orm took Frank and me down to Huby's so the car had a busy day of it. Dick was down town all the after noon. It has been very hot all day.

Monday June 14th

Huby came over with Frank and me to breakfast after which Huby, Mr Millman, Orm and I left for Billington's armed with fishing tackle and arms ammunition and a spade as Paw was anxious to get some ground hogs and trout We didn't get up there much before noon and spent an hour or so hunting woodchuck. Mr. Millman killed one and shot at two others at once but they went down the hole. He also set Huby and Orm to work digging one out but that got too tiresome so we quit for dinner. The Billington Bros. were very pleased to see us and gave Huby & me a pressing invitation to come up again some Sunday for a fish. We fished most of the after noon was had but they weren't biting, we caught four fish alto-gether. Mr. Millman one and I caught three. Before we came home we had another groundhog hunt but didn't get any. It was after eight when we left but it didn't take long to get home. We went through Normandale and saw old Bowlry Oakes. Tonight Orm took the notion that he wanted to sleep in the barn so of course none of us would be stumped and the whole four of us gathered up all the robes and quilts we could find and made a very comfortable bed but we didn't get into it till midnight and Dick was telling stories when I went to sleep but I never woke up till daybreak. It was pretty warm all day but a cool breeze.

Tuesday June 15th

It rained during the night and has been rather wet all morning but cleared off and was a fine afternoon Mr. Millman wanted to start for home this morning but we thought the roads would be too wet for the car so I drove Dick down to the bank this morning and took Orm with me before he was up. When Orm & I got back we thought they had decided not to go to-day so we went down again and took Kathleen with us. I took Joe down and had

her shod so we didn't get back till noon but fooled around down town all morning. At dinner we were very disappointed to find that Mr. Millman was determined to go this after noon, we did our best to persuade him that the clay roads of Walpole would hold him up but it was no use. They didn't get started till two o'clock but I guess they got home safely, the place seems lonely with so many gone all at once. I don't know how the chickens will get along without Aunty Alice. A special train came up from Hamilton this after noon with about 15 members of the Board of Trade and a brass band, they were here for about an hour and the Dover fellows took them around town in their automobiles. They delivered a few speeches. R. L. Tobey from Hamilton made a speech from all accounts principally about Huby and said he wanted to see him, but Huby wasn't up town. Huby used to be in the store in Chatam when Tobey was errand boy Huby said they used to kick him all over and never had much use for him. Enah and I & Tid. drove down for a little while but were late, we met all the automobiles on the hill and had to turn around. We saw the cadets march down town. There was crowd enough for the first of July. I went to bed about the first thing after tea to-night.

Wednesday June 16th

Huby came over this morning and started going over the cornfield and planting the hills which the crows and blackbirds have taken. He saw a blackbird pulling some up but the crows don't come around when any one is near. I worked around the garden most of the day. This after noon Dad. & I cultivated it. We went over to Mrs. McBrides this morning and got five bushels of dandy potatoes some of which we will use for seed. Bickler's man was in this after noon and we had to breed Ginger again. Fine and warm to-day.

Thursday June 17th

Huby got over the rest of the cornfield to-day and we got a bushel or so of potatoes planted. Huby & I planted and Dad. plowed them in. We put them right on the sod in every third furrow. When Frank came home to-night he told us that Place's carload of posts had come. Sunny & hot.

Friday June 18th

Dad. went down first thing this morning and twenty five of the new cedar posts. He brought Huby over with him and they went right back to John Wesses line with them and burned the old stump that was in the line. Shand came in while

they were gone and said the two cars of crushed rock had come and he wanted us to turn out this after noon and help haul it, so Dad. & I went down with the team and waggon I stayed down there at the car loading waggons all the after noon. There were nine or ten teams hauling all to-gether. Dad had a tight box so he hauled the fine stuff. They are putting it on the big hill on the side road out here by our place It has been sunny and sultry all day, looks like rain.

Saturday June 19th

I got up good and early this morning and Dad. & I went down to haul stone again. I spen the whole morning in one of the cars shovelling out the side that didn't dump. I finished it all but about a wheel barrow load by noon but it was heavy work. They hired Huby for the day and he & Tupper's man were in the other car. They finished hauling the stone by soon after dinner, but Dad. was all the after noon hauing the fine stuff. There wasn't nearly enough of it to cover the big stones so they had to use earth which I am afraid will not be nearly as good. I stayed down at Huby's to dinner. Enah and I printed pictures to-night. Frank took Gladys down to Porter's this morning and this afternoon caught old {Dadudy?} and cultivated corn. Rained a little last night. Hot to-day but windy.

Sunday June 20th

Frank went to church & Sunday school this morning but Dick and I went down to Quanburys for a swim, we both swam across to the stump and back. The water was elegant but the wind rather cold. This after noon Dad. Enah & Tid went for a drive out to Mt. Zion Church. Frank went for a ride on his wheel and Dick down town I wrote to Aunty Alice. Five or six of my littlest chickens disappeared yesterday and I suspected a cat and to-night Frank caught the white cat running under the shop with one so to-night Frank put her in a sack and took her down to the fish shanties to lose her. It has been sunny all day but there has been a cool breeze.

Monday June 21st

We were all ready to get at the roadwork again this morning when Harvey Shand came in and said that there was another car with some fine stuff on the road and he thought it would be better to wait for it than to cover the stones up with earth, so after breakfast. We took the little jag we had on the waggon from Saturday night and put it on the road. Enah and Tiddums went with us and picked some wild straw berries along the road.

Huby came over and when we got back we planted some more potatoes. We have been at that all day and Dad. is plowing them in. Huby hoed corn while Dad. was plowing the empty furrows and I pulled the sour dock in the barley. We quit early to-night and Enah & I went down to the the picture show to see Mary Pickford in "Tess of the Storm Country". It was pretty good. Frank rode down on his wheel, his exams started to-day, he had History, Hygiene, Composition & Spelling, he thinks he did pretty well except in the spelling which he isn't sure about.There has been a strong East wind all day and it rained quite a spatter to-night.

Tuesday June 22nd

I went over to Martins with some more eggs this morning and Jack said he wouldn't be wanting any more. Huby didn't get over till late as he thought it would be too wet to do any thing but he and I put the boards along the ground on the posts he set in the plum orchard for a chicken run. Mr. Morgan came over and was here to dinner, he talked to Dad. all morning who was hoeing in the garden. He told me he would get me other walnut trees and a pecan for the ones that died. This after noon we didn't get out very early but I disked over the potato patch that was planted and we planted two or three more lines all tnat we will plant I think. Huby hoed some more corn and then went back to the woods to see if he could shoot a crow but was unsuccessful. He took a couple of sitting hens down to-night to set on some Plymouth Rock eggs he is going to get from Mrs. Flemming. The white cat came back from town last night some time and was purring around complacently this morning when we went out so to-night we caught her and put her in a bag with a lot of stones and I threw her over the dam bridge, so don't expect to see her back. I hated to do it and it may bring bad luck but I don't think it is very lucky to keep her here and feed her chickens. I went down to-night for awhile and got my hair cut. Sunny but cool breez all day.

Wednesday June 23rd

Dad. finished plowing the patch between the potatoes and the corn this morning and disked it up well. I went over to Jack Martins with the roosters and took some bags over to get chicken feed, he said he would fill them and I could get them in the morning. Huby came over and we rolled out the poultry netting along the posts and found it

till about eleven and then went down town and got some wire to finish the chicken fence. Dad. helped me put it up after dinner before he went out to cultivate. I planted some pop corn in the garden between the potatoes rows and then spudded thistles till chore time. Charlie Shand was in to tell us the stone had come for the road. Quite warm to-day but nice breeze. Huby set nine posts along J.W's line to-day.

Saturday June 26th

Dad. & I got down to the car about half past eight this morning and I stayed there until we got it all unloaded. Huby was there too. There was only half a car for us, the other half was a little coarser and was for Dave Lampkin's bridge but they had a little more than they wanted so we took two or three loads of it. We were really through at noon but Dad. & Tupper said they wouldn't mind coming back for the sake of having it done right so instead of going home to dinner I went out to the Shand's and saved a long walk. Dad. went home. This after noon we got some sandy loam along Tupper's fence and covered the rest of the stones on the Winding Hills. We didn't work very hard but got it all done by six o'clock. Frank cultivated corn all day and has big blisters on his feet. Huby came over at noon and set some more fence posts. It has been pretty hot and sunny all day. We need a good rain now.

Sunday June 27th

Frank went to Sunday School and church this morning but Dick and I went down to the Quanbury's for a swim. Dad. Enah and Tid drove up to the cemetry. This after noon Dick and I went down town and Frank went for a ride on his wheel and didn't get home till about eight o'clock. The Oddfellows marched this after noon and went up to the cemetry but they didn't have any band. I just hummed around the beach and park all the after noon It was very hot and sunny all day

Monday June 28th th

Frank has put in another good long day in the cornfield with old Dandy. It is beginning to look pretty nice. Huby has been setting fence posts all day and this after noon Dad. went back with him and slashed down a lot of young ash that were in the road. It is pretty hard digging back there now. This morning Dad. & I sharpened the mower knives and I got started culling on the corner field. It is so weedy Dad. wants to get it done before the frist of July as he doesn't want sojourners into Dover to see it. I got a pretty good start with it but was bothered considerably with the brass boxing at the end of the pitman rod heating and had to take it off two or three times. Chris Quanbury from Lynn Valley came down to

night with a crate of straw-berries for Enah at eight cents About nine o'clock Elva Said. Davis, May Parry & Bessie came over with Billy Boughner in his car to see if we knew where they could get some Brown Eyed Susan's to decorate Billy's car with on the First, but I guess it is a little early for them. I took Bluch back after the cows this morning and tied a plow shear to his rope and let him chase them hoping it would teach him not to be so savage. It holds him back a little but I don't know how it is goin to work. Very warm all day and feels a little like rain.

Tuesday June 29th

Frank and I went down town in the waggon this morning and got our hog meal at the station a bag of sugar for Enah to do up all her strawberries and I got some wheat screenings at the mill for the little chickens. When we got home I mowed & Frank cultivated corn till noon Dad. & Huby spent the morning at the fence and have it nearly ready to turn the cattle in the back field. This after noon I raked up what was cut yesterday while Dad. Huby and Frank cocked up. Then I cocked up while Frank went on and mowed. He kept on till it was too dark to see and then Dad. finished the field. The rest of us came in and had tea at six o'clock and then Dad. milked and Huby & I went right out again and cocked up till dark. There is only about one side of the field in windrow now and it is beginning to rain a little to-night. Pretty hot all day.

Wednesday June 30th

It rained part of the morning so there was nothing doing in the hayfield. I drove Dick down town this morning and got some turnip seed and some cabbage plants at the Quanbury's. Dad. & I set them out before dinner over in the old garden next the potatoes. We put out over a hundred. Huby came over after dinner and he and Dad. worked all the after noon at their fence but it isn't quite ready yet to put the wire on Frank cultivated corn with Belle all the after noon I went over to Charlie Quanburys and got his little seed drill to plant the turnips and when I got back went over to Mrs. McBride's and got another bushel of potatoes, then planted the turnip seed. The drill was certainly a great improvement on last years method. I planted nine rows the full length of the old garden in a little over an hour. Changing the lines took the most time as I didn't have a marker on. Sultry all the after noon but a nice breeze

was seventeen paces too short so I went down town and got some more but got just seventeen feet instead of yards, so it still about ten yards short but Dad. & Huby put it up on the posts as far as it went this after noon and let the sheep & hens out into the oats. The sheep instead of going for the oats as we expected kept pecking right around the chicken coops and nibbling what suckers they could find around the trees. I went out and rolled the potato patch over a couple of times and then harrowed it. There has been a very cold north west wind to-day and it looks as if it might freeze to-night. Cold enough for overcoats.

Thursday June 24th

First thing this morning Frank and I went over in the waggon to Martin's to get my chicken feed. They hadn't it mixed up yet so we had to go over to Bush's barn to get some buckwheat and then wait for Chris to mix it so we were quite awhile but when we got back Dad. was out cultivating corn with Dandy and Frank went out and relieved him. Frank has been cultivating all day and has got all over the cornfield lengthwise and started over crosswise going twice in a row. After I got my chicken feed put away and some chores done I went out and spudded thistles in the barley till noon. I had some chores to do after dinner but got a couple more hours in this after noon in the barley Huby & Dad. have been back at John Wess' all day getting a line staked out for the fence. John Wess thought William's had crowded the last fence they put up a little and so they wanted to get it right and had to measure from the road. They found it about three feet shorter at one end than the other. To-night Dad. & Enah went down to a concert for the Patriotic Fund. Tiddums of course woke up and I had to tell him Jack & the Beanstak till we both went to sleep, we were both sound asleep in the big chair when they got home. It has been much milder to-day but there is still a cool breeze

Fruday June 25th

Dad. & Frank were figuring on getting in a good day in the cornfield to-day cultivating with Belle & Dandy but young Harv. Leany came & got Dandy just before seven. They were disappointed but Dad. took old Harry and got Ivey's cultivator and tried it. He got quite a lot done but I guess old Harry was very exasperating. Frank and Belle got on all right and kept at it steadily all day. They are going crosswise and twice in the cow. I spudded thistles

Thursday July 1st

Dad. and I went back first thing this morning and fixed the wire on the posts that Huby put in on John Wess' line and Dad. let the cattle into the back field. There is some lovely pasture in there and it is beginning to get short in the gully. Frank went down town to celebrate and has been down all day but came home at supper time to help Dad. do chores I went down after dinner, stayed at Huby's for tea and went up and sat around the park till half past ten. Enah and Tid went down this morning and stayed at the James' all day. Dad. drove after them to-night. It was a fine day for the celebration and there was a big crowd. It was sunny but not too hot or dusty. It looked very black this after noon but all blew over but they say there was an awful storm down east. Besides the usual list of foot races and tug of war, they had the cadets perform and representation of the "Queen Elizabeth" under Rear Admiral John Gordon bombard the forts at the Dardanelles Harry Moon was very much in evidence in this performance with a long tailed blue coat and flowing beard. He yelled himself hoarse through an instrument which served equally well for a megaphone, ear trumpet or funnel when he took a drink from a black bottle which was suspended in mid-air on a gallows which later in the day served to stretch the neck of an imitation Kaiser. Another item on the list of sports which I think was an original idea was a duck chase in the harbor. They let an old tame duck loose in the harbor and gave a prize for the one that caught it. There were a good many boys swimming after it but they couldn't catch it. They tried diving and coming up under it and cornering it but it was no use so at last they drove it up on land and let young Dickerson catch it. Huby was down there with the scow and Lila went in after the duck. Young {Brufy Cooker?} got a chill from being in the water too long but apart from that I didn't hear of any accidents and everyone had a good time.

Friday July 2nd

We thought the hay was a little to damp to work in this morning so Dad. hoed corn and I cut some of the lawn. Before dinner we greased the waggon and put the stakes for the slings on the rack, as it looked rainy and we thought it would be better to get a load in first and then rake up what was in swath. We got a small load in after dinner but it was very heavy and short. We put

it over the horse stable and the last lift came broadside of the stakes in some way and broke them both off. When we got the load off. We went out to rake but just as we got there it began to rain. It just rained enough to dampen the hay and make it unfit to rake so we came in and Dad. & Frank fixed the sling stakes. Frank cultivate corn all morning but young Harve Leany came after him before dinner so Frank helped us this after noon. I went down town to-night and fooled around for awhile It has been cloudy and not too hot to-day

Saturday July 3rd

It was too wet to go out first thing this morning into the hay, so I washed the buggy. Ed. Forest came over to have Dad. look at his horse's tail as she had hacked through the window during the night and he thought there was some glass in there. Dad probed around and succeeded in extracting three pieces of glas two of which were large pieces. About ten o'clock Dad. & I went out to put up the rest of the hay. It looked very black in the West but Dad. went a couple of rounds with the rake before it commenced but then we had to quit. We had a good steady shower and were glad to see it as every thing needs it. The oats are commencing to head out and are only about six inches high. Whit Dixon was over to ask us to put my big steer in Sunday night as they want him Monday. This after noon Dad. & I ground the extra mower knife. Frank rode Belle down town after the mail and was down most of the after noon, he said it was raining hard down there but it didn't rain much over here It cleared up about five and to-night I went down town to see Marj. I didn't get to bed till about twelve o'clcock

Sunday July 4th

Dick got up fairly early this morning and we all then went for a swim and then Dick went down town to go to Brantford with the Dyer's. Frank and I went down to church I drove Enah down. This after noon Marj. & I went for a drive, we had a very happy time, when I got home Mrs. Lawrie & Edith & B. Kains were here to tea. It has been a lovely day as near as I can remember.

Monday July 5th

It rained very hard last night so we couldn't do any thing with the hay this morning. Dad. & I cut thistles in the barley & oats till noon and after dinner Dad. started to rake hay but just as he did start a shower blew in

for about two minutes and soaked things so he came in We just sat around the rest of the afternoon and every now and then a little shower would come up. It has been cold and a strong west wind all day. Whit. came over this morning and got the big steer of mine which we put in for him last night. Billy Barlow was in this after noon to try and buy the others but Dad. told him he had promised them to Bob. Another fellow was around buying cattle to-day. Billy said it was likely Lea from Simcoe. Old Joey brought a couple of fellows over in a car to look at his horse and later two other fellows drove in to look at him but none of them took him away Dad. was wishing they would because he leans over the fence and eats Ivey's oats and bends the fence all over. Mrs. McBride was here washing to-day. Enah and Frank painted the kitchen this after noon and every body is forgetting about it in spite of the smell and getting into it. Dad. was going down town to-night but he woke the baby up getting dressed and it took him about an hour to put him to sleep again so he stayed home, but Frank went down to Huby's to play poker.

Tuesday July 6th

Dad. thought it was too wet to work in the hay this morning so he and I hoed a patch of couch grass in the corn. Frank cultivated with old Dandy all day but Harve Leany came after him to-night. This after noon Dad. raked up the rest of the hay and he and I cocked up. It looked rainy after tea to-night so we went out after tea and got quite a lot more cocked before dark. Landon Ivey sent over after the rake when we were through with it and told Dad. he could have the upstairs part of the root house over there for Enah to paint the oil cloth in the kitchen. Vernon & Rebecca were to have come up this morning to stay at the Woodson's Nice day but windy.

Wednesday July 7th

We got in four loads of hay to-day, we would have got in another but the rain prevented us, but we hauled in out of the windrow and what is left out is in cock except a few windrows of couch grass. Frank bunched it up ahead of us and Dad. loaded pitched on & I loaded. We put it all in the horse stable but we are going to change the car to the barn for what is left. This being Dad's birthday, Win & Lila came over to see him this morning. Enah & Tid went down to see Vernon so we had a cold lunch but had dinner to-night when Dick came home and stayed home all evening. I drove down town town after tea and right back again to get my pants from Tip and some pictures. Windy & cool all day cool rain.

Thursday July 8th

It rained hard nearly all night so we couldn't do any thing in the hay. Dad. drove Dick down town and got his hair cut. Frank and I fooled around here and went over to Ivey's to measure the upstairs part of their root house to see if there was room to put the kitchen oil cloth down to paint it, we found there would be lots of room. When Dad. got home we took Joe and drove out to McPherson's with the beehive as Mrs. McPherson is going to give Frank another skip for the one which died. This after noon Dad. and I changed the car from the horse stable to the barn and Dad. tied a pulley up in the west end of the barn he had to do it with one hand and nearly fell once so we are afraid it wont hold when the strain comes on it. Frank spent the after noon making a super for his bee hive he made a dandy, he then worked half the night making a stick for the reel of the binder as one got broken. We took up the kitchen oilcloth this after noon and Dad. & I took it over to Ivey's root house. To-night I went down town & Marj. & I went to the show. Dick came home with me as I was driving. It has been sunny & windy all day

Friday July 9th

I cut the lawn this morning and worked around the garden Dad put some sleepers down in the hay in the big barn and put some rails accross them to keep the hay up off the ground This after noon we put rails across the two beams over where we ran some implements in so that the hay wouldnt come right to the floor. We then went out and brought in a load, but the rope that Dad. was afraid of broke and we were so long getting it fixed that we could only get the one load. Dad put another rope up but couldn't fix it very strongly as there wasn't enough hay in the bottom to shove the ladder up very high. To-night I rode down town and got the mail. Cousin Clare came over this morning and is going to stay all night. Nice day

Saturday July 10th

We hauled in hay all day but only got in five loads and left the last one on the floor. We would have finished the field but we were bothered a lot with the ropes breaking.Two lifts just got on the track when, with the first one the rope on pulley in the end of the barn broke and we couldnt uncatch the car from the gate so we had to trip the lift on the barn floor and pitch it into the east hay by hand. The next one that acted that way

the pulley over the door gavey way splitting the rafter it was attached to and pulling the hook right out. We had to trip this lift too but lay a sling rope on the floor and managed to catch most of it so saved pitching by hand. We came to the conclusion that the track being so loose was what was causing the trouble so Dad. managed to tighten it a little at the risk of his life, however all our delays prevented us from cleaning up the field. Frank and Dad. brought the last load in and I rode down to Nanticoke and right back. Cousin Clare went home to-night. It has been hot all day and was a warm night.

Sunday July 11th

Frank and I went for a swim this morning Dick has a game knee so didn't get up to go, he doesn't know what is the matter with it but he is very lame. Frank went down to Sunday school from the pond and I came home and got ready to go to church. Enah & I were going to drive down but just as we were ready to start it began to rain and poured down from then till about four in the after noon After dinner Dick and I drove down town. We both came back to tea. We saw Huby and Bill Oakes down town they had been out to Old Ed. McQueen's funeral.

Monday July 12th

It was too wet to work in the hay to-day so I drove Dick down first thing and when I came back I set out a lot of asters and stocks. Dad. & Tiddums drove down to Law's after the butter to pay for the butter and Frank went over to Ivey's root house and gave the oil cloth another coat of paint. Dad. also made a short ladder to nail up in the east end of the big barn to tighten the nut on the rod as he has it screwed up as tight as it will go at the other end. This after noon I drove Enah down town, she wanted to see Cousin Loll as it was her birthday and as it was too wet to work I went around to take Marj. for a boat ride She, Essie & Joe Brown who is staying there were down at the lake swimming, so I went down there by the time they got dressed and Marj. was ready it was about four o'clock and looked very black in the north but we went down to Jakes and got a boat as he said he didn't think it would rain. We met Bird Smith and her husband Mr. Parker and Nell Smith and her lover in two canoe's at Coleman's point and they told us it was going to rain but we went up as far as the Willows below Joe Long's before we turned back and then it began to sprinkle so we got back to Jake's as fast as possible and just got inside

his place when it began to pour and then followed the heaviest rain we have had for a long time. In a few minutes the foot of Main St. was a lake and there were torrents running down each side. Bird was in at Jake's and her husband was over trying to get a white fish at the fish shanties. Nell's beau had to get off on the {fire?} train so they had gone home and had to come back down to the station in the bus. After the train went out it was impossible to get from the station to Jake's so we four had ice cream and peanuts watching poor Nell over in the door of the express shed, where she stood for about half an hour, then when the storm had abated a little she sent Al. Faulkner over with his car as he had been imprisoned in the station too and got us all in and took us home. Al. had to make three or four attempts to get up Main St. but he managed at last I waited at the Bagley's till about six and then it was pretty well cleared off I went around to the Jome's after Enah and the baby but found they were going to stay to tea so I stayed down too.The town was a pretty mess. All the cellars and low spots were flooded and they said there were boxes floating all over Anderson's store. Very nice day but poor hay weather.

Tuesday July 13th

I drove Dick down town this morning and as the roads were next to impassable I drove around to bring Mrs. McBride over but she had left before I got there and I didn't catch her till she was half way up this road. I didn't do any thing much all day but set out the rest of the stocks out under Dick's bedroom window. This after noon I drove Enah & Tid. down town for the mail and as Mrs. Charlie Martin is having a tobaccoshower for the soldiers to-morrow Enah had to get some of it. Dad. cut thistles in the plum orchard this morning and this after noon took a walk over the place. He says the oats in the barley & oats have come on wonderfully since the rains and that what last week looked like a field of straight barley now looks like a field of straight oats but the oats across the gully although the grains are filling well are very short & thin. Lila has been over all day and she & Frank have picked cherries and Frank put a shelf up in the shop this after noon. He went down town to-night with Lila. I had a little practice on the fiddle to-night It has been hot & sultry all day. This seems to have been the only place that got any rain yesterday.

Wednesday July 14th

As soon as the dew was off this morning Dad. started to cut the clover and bluegrass east of the orchard. It was high time it was cut as the bluegrass was a little too ripe. Frank and I went out and turned out few cocks there were in the corner field. They were all damp but not in such very bad shape. Tupper came along and talked for about an hour so we were out there the best part of the morning, when we got through I staked a few of the little poplars along the road and Frank went over to Ivey's to give the oilcloth another coat. This after noon I staked the rest of the poplars and Dad mowed till I quit about four o'clock, he got all the one field down and got several rounds cut on the field north of the orchard. It looks to be a nice quality and fairly heavy for this year. We then put of the load that was on the barn floor and got another in of what we turned out this morning It was still a little damp and so heavy, but we thought we had better get it in. There is still a load out there We left it on the barn floor. To-night I went to the picture show with Marj. Dick came home with me. It has been fine & hot all day. Looks rainy to-night.

Thursday July 15th

It began to drizzle here before breakfast this morning and kept it up most of the morning. It cleared off in the after noon but this evening there was a very heavy thunder storm. This morning I levelled off the hay in the big barn where it had just been left as the slings dropped it and Dad. cut the grass & weeds around the fences of the meadows he cut. Frank tidied up the shop and before noon we picked some cherries for Enah. This after noon Dad. finished cutting the field north of the orchard. Tiddums followed him out and rode around on his lap most of the after noon. Betty Jean & Rebecca all came over this after noon. Frank was in the "Reformer" to-day that he has passed Entrance and feels so elated over the fact that he actually wants to go back to school after the holidays. Dick walked home to-night and got covered with mud.

Thursday July 22nd

I have neglected writing in this for a week as I have either been away or too sleepy at night and not up in time in the morning and too busy all day. It was too wet of course to work in

the hay Friday so Frank and I hauled a load of broken tile and two loads of sand and put them in front of the cow stable door as there was an awful mud hole then Dad. cleaned the muck all out and we put the broken tile in on the solid ground and the sand on top of them, The cows didn't appreciate the improvement much and we had an awful time making them go over it. Saturday was a fine hay day - and I went down about eight to get Huby. He came over and cocked up all day. Dad. raked up bothe fields which were down and we got the one all cocked up by noon. We all four cocked up till about four o'clock and then Dad. & I hauled in the one load which was left on the corner field. It was pretty dark so we hauled it in the old barn and will put it up over the granary. Huby & Frank cocked up till dark but we had a lot of trouble with the callte. We had to put Bluch after them to make them go in and he chased Snowdrop over the barnyard fence. She hit on her head and turned a beautiful summersault. We couldn't get John it at all so she didnt get milked to-night. I drove Huby & Lila home to-night and brought Enah back. Poor John R. Davis died very suddenly this evening, he had a sort of stroke over on the bowling green and died in a few hours. Sunday Dick, Frank and I went for a swim and Frank went from there to Sunday school, Dick and I came home but drove down to church with Enah. This after noon Marj. and I went for a drive and I stayed down at the Bagleys to tea. Marj. and I went to church but as we were about ten minutes late we didn't go in but went for a walk and then up to see Glad. Law to tell her about the visit we paid the Preston's this after noon. Monday was a fine day although it looked very rainy all day. Dad. Frank and I cocked up in the field north of the orchard till about ten o'clock and then Huby came over, he had been up to see Harry Ansley about getting the Customs House job in John R. Davis' place. Harry said they would do all they could for him and are going to get out a petition to be signed by all the conservative voters they can. Huby and Frank cocked up the rest of the hay and finished by to-night. Dad. & I hauled in and got in three loads After tea I went down and got Marj. and drove her to Simcoe to get C.P.R. tickets for herself and Mrs Bagley. She is going to the {illegible} & Mrs. Bagley out to Saskatchewan. We went to the show up there and got home a little after twelve. We had a lovely time. Dad. rode Belle out to Jim. Waddle's to get his influence in getting Huby the job but Jim said he had applied for it himself. Tuesday

Huby came over first thing and mowed away or hoed in the garden. Dad. & I hauled in two loads this morning but as he & Huby went to John R's funeral this after noon we had to quit on time. Dad. went with the Masons. In the after noon Frank & I hauled in two loads, we cleaned up the field east of the orchard and got one load off the other field. When Dad. got home he & I got in another load. After tea I walked down town and got my hair cut. It rained a little. Haib died yesterday he has been sick about a month and was only twenty eight years old. The then Dyers kids (boys) were over here picking wild raspberries in the woods all day, they are thick back there Dad. & Frank got up at half past three this morning and went back and picked a lot. Wednesday I got up before five and got fixed up and went down to see Marj. off. She & Mrs. Bagley left for Toronto and from there up the lakes. It was too wet to haul all morning so Dad. & Frank cultivated the garden and the raspberries I didn't do much but hoe a little We put off the load that was on the barn floor before dinner and this after noon Dad. & I got in three more, we were going out after the fourth when it commenced to rain. It had been raining all around us all the after noon and we got a piece of it at night. It rained pretty hard for about an hour. I went back after the cows and got soaked. Aleta McBride was over all morning picking cherries. This morning Thursday, Dad. & Enah & Tid. have been out all morning canvassing the country for names to go on Huby's petition for the custom's office. Dad. got about a dozen nearly all the ones he saw were very anxious to sign it as they all think the job belongs to Huby A lot of them had signed Huby's in town. Mr. McPherson was the only one who didn't sign and he said he was very sorry but he had another man in view. The other man was aparently Wilson as they saw him on their way out and he told them that he had applied for the job but when he saw Huby's petition last night he put his name on it. Huby and Sandy Leitch were over after dinner in the latter's car and Huby had a paper three feet long filled with two columns of names. He had over 200 to-night. Frank mowed all morning the field north of the old garden he finished it soon after dinner. I cut the lawn this morning. Aleta McBride was over and picked the rest of the cherries. After dinner Dad. went out and turned out a lot more hay and about four we hauled in a load. Then we went out and cocked it all up again

as it looked very rainy. However it didn't rain here although we could see a terrific storm raging north of us. Dad. & Enah drove down town to-night and took Mrs. McBride's share of the cherries around to her. They went down to see Huby and he had just heard from Jack Herring saying poor old Quint was in the hospital. Huby was pretty anxious about him but I don't believe he is very bad. Lila is also laid up with biliousness

Friday July 23rd

We put off the load that we hauled on the barn floor last night and then Dad. took the team and raked up what Frank cut yesterday. Frank and I threw the tops of the cocks which didn't get turned yesterday and then came in and changed the car from the barn to the horse stable. Dad. came in before we were through but the time we got that done it was half past eleven - and not worthwhile going after a load, we got out fairly early after dinner and got three loads in leaving the last one on the barn floor, we quit early as Huby was over and wanted Dad. to go to Simcoe to-night with him, Barwell & Ansley to see Alex McCall about Huby's job. Frank and I did the chores. Dad. said that it looks pretty well for Huby as McCall wants him to have it and says in the face of the petition that Huby has over 250 names it would not be right to let it go anywhere else but of course he hasn't all the say and Jim Waddle has all the Conservative committe on his side outside of Dover, but they think there is a chance of him dropping out. It has been sunny and breezy to-day a good drying day.

Saturday July 24th

This being my birthday Dad. & Enah presented me with a tripod for my camera, Frank with a necktie and Dick with a box of Holeproof hosiery. Aunty sent me a shirt and Aunty Alice a dollar so I came off pretty hicky. We hauled hay all day, got the load and and a little over that was on the field north of the orchard and then hauled in off the bluegrass field which Frank cut on Thursday. We got it all in but about half a load. There were only about three loads on it, but it took a long time to haul as it was in windrow and Frank just bunched it up ahead of us It was in nice shape though as it didn't get wet at all. Dad. and Frank did up all the chores to-night as I felt rather sick. I haven't felt extra well all day but to-night I felt really rotten. It has been a nice day sunny and windy, looked a little hazy this after noon

Sunday July 25th

I didn't feel up to much all day and Enah was right down sick so nobody went to church all day. Dick & Frank went for a swim before dinner. Huby was over for a little while this morning, he said he didn't feel very well either I don't know what is the matter with all of us but Enah and I felt better to-night. I drove Huby home. This after noon Dick went down town and Frank went back to the woods and discovered a black cherry tree with dandy big cherries on it right at the edge of the woods. He also reported that the wild raspberries were thick back there Sam Law came after Dad. to go and see a sick pig he had Dad. went and saw it, came back to get a syringe and when he got back the pig was dead. I wrote a letter to Aunty & Aunty Alice. Enah spent the after noon in bed. About four o'clock Rus. Ickey cam over and stayed to tea. We were of course highly entertained by his conversation. Fine day.

Monday July 26th

Frank and I spent the morning back in the woods picking raspberries and supplying breakfast to the one million hungry mosquitos which inhabit that portion of the ranch We got a nice lot of berries. Enah put down five quarts and we had some for dinner and tea. Dad. cut hay all morning. Just after dinner it began to rain and we had quite a long shower so couldn't do any thing more in the fields. I wrote a letter to Mr. Yussou about my chestnut tree and also one to Prof. Zavitz asking for another potato platform in place of the one I lost. When it stopped raining I put up a bit of two foot poultry netting across the bottom of the raspberry patch and shut the five young dudes in. Frank spent most of the after noon making a whipple tree for the cultivator out of a piece of hickory. He is making pretty good job of it. They got word from Quint to-day or rather of him, they are afraid of typhoid fever, his temperature goes up at night to over 103° and down in the morning, they are pretty anxious about him.

Tuesday July 27th

Dad. and I spent the whole morning hoeing potatoes out in the old garden but got on very slowly owing to the grass which has come up so thick with the potatoes since the rain. Frank finished cutting the old timothy sod and brought the mower up as everything is cut now. At noon Sam Law came over to see if Dad. would go down with our binder and cut his wheat and let him come up here, but Dad. told him he had better bring his team up and hook on the binder. Their binder won't work at all the knotter

seems to be at fault. Krompart told them he would be down to day but Sam is anxious to get his wheat cut and thrashed before he goes out with the thrashing outfit which he expects to have to do about the end of the week. Dad. & Frank went over with Alan after dinner and they got things going with our binder when Krompart & the General Agent came along and they were there all the after noon, put a new knotter on but it didn't work any better At last they discovered that the tension sit screw had been turned up as tight as it would go and that was what was causing all the trouble. Then they took a link out of one of the chains on our binder which was too loose and which Dad. never could tighten, but it was four o'clock or after before Dad. got home. However Dad. went out and raked up what hay was down and got it all up in windrow by about half past seven. Frank and I did up all the chores. I went down town right after dinner to get some coal oil and the mail and some cucumber plants from Huby which I set out when I got home. I don't know whether they will live or not as they were pretty big to move, but I also fixed some hills in the garden to plant seed in. To night Frank and I went over to McPhersons and got the bees they have been in the hive over a week. Percy Millman was down at Hubys to dinner to-day, he came up to look for a cottage, he said that the rest were all coming up Friday in the car and Aunty was coming with them. Cloudy and warm all day.

Wednesday July 28th

We were going to haul in what Dad. raked up last night right out of windrow but just as we got the team hooked up to draw the load that was on the barn floor out and unload it, we decided that it looked so black it would pay to go and cock up as we could get more cocked up than we could loaded and it would be in fair shape while if left in windrow it would be an awful mess. We hadn't been out there an hour when it commenced to rain and rained pretty hard for the best part of the fore noon. After dinner Frank and I drove down town and got the mail, they heard from Quint down at Hubys, he has typhoid all right but it has been running for sixteen days and they think the worst is over with. I went around to Howey's saw mill and found they had lots of stuff to build a colony house if I can only scrape up money enough to buy it. When we got home Frank and Dad. went over to Law's to load the binder and bring it home but just nicely got there when it commenced to rain and poured for about two hours from four to six. I went out and separated the old hens from last years, I want to see if they are laying and if not I will kill them off. I went to bed early to-night as I have started getting up earlier. I have come to the conclusion that an hour to read & write in the morning is worth about two at night. I got up at four this morning and got quite a lot done beside getting a good early start for the day's work.

Thursday July 29th

It was of course too wet to do any thing in the field this morning so Dad. & Frank went over to Law's and loaded the binder on the trucks and Alan hauled it home and borrowed the manure spreader. I went over to Martins to get a few more pointers on building an 8 x 10 colony house and when I got back Frank and I went down with the team and waggon and got all the lumber I wanted at Howey's. I was a little surprised to find the bill was only $15.10 as I thought it would be more, but I acting on Mr. Howey's advice I got Hemlock for the walls instead of pine as he said if painted there was no fear of it warping. Right after dinner Frank and I droved down in the buggy to get the mail and some stuff we couldn't get this morning. Bob. Miller & Whit Dixon drove over right after dinner and Bob gave Dad. his price $140.00 for the two steers much to Whit's disgust who said it wasn't in them. The evidently had some altercation about the red & white one's disposition as Dad. was very anxious that he would act as quietly as mine did as Whit said he was a wild nervous brute. They want to take him in the morning so we put him in the cow stable to-night without much trouble. Herb Cook came over and took old Dandy, I suppose to work for awhile as his mare is lame. Zeitha Barwell came over to see if Enah could play for her at the concert to-morrow night but as we expect the Millman's Enah told her she couldn't. When we got home Dad. went and turned out some hay and Frank and I started in on the colony house. We did pretty well and apart from getting a rather warped scantling for front sill and putting the floor on up side down, we did pretty well for a first attempt. I was going down to Tom Abbotts to-night to see some half grown chickens he wants to sell but it got too dark Cloudy & sultry.

Friday July 30th

Frank and I got out as soon as possible this morning and worked on the colony house all morning. Whit came over after the steer and we had to help load him Dad's hopes for his good conduct were not realized by a long shot as he raised cain. We managed to get him loaded but Whit's horse waas frightened so we had to take him out and put old Harry in his place. Dad. went down with him and they were nearly all morning getting him tied up over at the slaughter house. I think Whit was rather pleased that he did cut up so that he could say "I told you so" to Dad. who said he that if the bottom of the rack was not so slippry he would have been all right. This after noon Dad & I

went out and started to cock up the hay that Dad. turned out yesterday but scarcely got out to the field when we heard the wind and rain sweeping across the cornfield so we lit for the house. We just got there in time as the rain came down it torrents. We went in the shop and ground the binder knives till it was over, we then went out and worked a little more at the hen house and got quite a little bit more done. Allan Law and Frank McBride brought back the manure spreader. The Millman's hadn't arrived by six o'clock and we thought there was no chance of them getting here, but they did seven strong including Aunty. Their car was covered with mud and they said the roads had been awful but they had got a bit of rain. Nita and Billy came up with them this time. Percy with his wife, baby, maid & dog came up on the train this morning and is boarding down at Harry Moon's for a couple of weeks. After tea we all went down town again to see Percy and went down to Hubys to see Walter who came up on the train to-night. We four boys slept in the barn to-night.

Saturday July 31st

The ground was too wet to cut wheat this morning so Dad. & I worked nearly all day at the colony house and it is beginning to look quite respectable. Frank and Nita drove Dick down this morning and Kathleen & Orm spent most of the morning with us. They all went down in the car about eleven o'clock to bring Walter & Huby over to dinner but didn't get back till after one and Walter walked over and was here before them. He was here for only a short time after dinner as he had to go back to Toronto to-night. He is going to stay wth Ray till after Monday which is Civic Holiday in Toronto and then is going back to Regina. All the Millman's and Enah and the baby went down to the lake for a bathe which they all enjoyed very much except Tid. who {sadly?} cried Win was down there and they said she nearly got swamped She was out in the deep water and got a mouth full. Fortunately Percy noticed her as she couldn't call and was about all in. To-night we went down to the dance, we were just going to look on but Kathleen, Orm, Dick & I went in and I had about every dance. Enah, Nita & Billy watched from outside or rode around in the car. Dick & Orm saw girls home but I came home in the car with the rest and the other two with Alan Law. Frank was sound asleep in the hay when we got home so we joined him and sang ourselves to sleep. It has been cloudy & squawky all day rained to-night.

Sunday August 1st

This morning Orm, Dick, Frank and I went for a swim before we had our breakfast and didn't get back until ten o'clock, we just lay around under the willow tree with the rest of the family till dinner time. After dinner we had a little music and then Billy, Kathleen, Orm, Dick Frank and I went down to the lake for a swim. The rest went to Port Ryersie and took Harry Ansley, he & Mr. Millman went up to interview H.P. Innes on Huby's behalf. They said they had a satisfactory consultation. Nita drove the car and Dad. went up with them. Dick and Orm separated from us when we got down town and Frank went to some nouk of his own to undress when we first got there, we couldn't get an empty bathing house, there was such a crowd in but at last one was vacant in the men's section and we all three used it Kathleen undressed first and then Billy and I. Orm came down after awhile with Mildred Henry and used it too but managed to get another one for Mildred. Percy & his wife were down there and we were in a long time as the water was fine. We went up to Huby's to tea where Mr. & Mrs. Millman, Nita and Enah joined us. Dick and Frank went to Dyer's and home respectively. We sat around down at Huby's most of the evening. Some of them went out to the Ansley's and Tibbits for awhile. it has been hot and sunny all day.

Monday August 2nd

Dad. started to cut the wheat this morning and worked till after dark to-night but got it all the one 8 acre field down. We didn't get it nearly all set up but if it doesn't rain we want to haul it right in. The Millman's all left this after noon. They went down to the lake this morning and didnt get back till about one when the were supposed to have started but they all got off soon after dinner. We went out after tea to-night to run the binder in the barn and were about an hour at it. It was half past ten when we got back to the house. It has been a fine day to-day but looks black.

Tuesday August 3rd

We were preparing for a good day hauling in to-day but first thing before breakfast a heavy shower came up and dashed our plans to pieces. I drove Dick down to the bank and got some roofing paper for the new chicken house. Dad. and I worked at the hen house the rest of the day althou. About five o clock we went out to look at the wheat and shocked a little of it up. I went after the cows at half past five and just as I got to the gully it began to rain and kept it up for two or three hours of heavy pelting. I sought

shelter under some trees for awhile but soon found that I was getting very little and losing considerable time so I struck out into it. I couldn't see the cows so tramped all through the woods and back as far as John Wess' and then saw them all in behind a point of the hill on this side of the gully. By the time I got to the house I was soaked through and had to change all my clothes. Enah and Frank were down town so they got pretty wet too.

Wednesday August 4th

Dad. Frank and I went out this morning and started to set up the wheat. Dad. devised a new and under the circumstances improved method of putting up one sheaf at a time. We couldn't have done it if the sheaves hadn't been as heavy and big as they were, but by jabbing them down hard on the ground we managed to make them stand pretty well of course an occasional one would fall. It took longer than to shock but it certainly dried quicker. The heads would all separate with the jar and by noon the ones we set up first were perfectly dry in the heads but of course wet under the band. We didn't get through by noon so Dad. & I went out again but the wind kept getting stronger and the last ones I did I had to put up two at a time. We got it all up by to-night. Frank took Aunty down town this after noon. They heard from New Bedford to day and Quint's temperature is down nearly to normal. We saw by today's paper that yesterday's storm was far worse all around us than it was here. Toronto was the worst hit in Canada, trees and gardens being destroyed but in Erie there was a regular flood and twenty five people were killed, two thousand homeless and about three million dollars damage down.

Thursday August 5th

Morley Buck came over in his Ford this morning to get Dad. to go down and see their horse. When he came back we went out and shook out the hay again. What was in windrow was very wet and all except the pure bluegrass was spoiled but what had been shaken out was not in such bad shape. This after noon we worked at the hen house and got most of the roof on but it rained again towards evening.

Friday August 6th

We set up the wheat again this morning, there was quite a lot of it down and we had to put most of it two sheaves to-gether. This after noon Frank took Bluch over to Bob. Ross. He lost his old dog and wanted a new one and Tom said he was very good to his dogs so we thought as old Bluch was so

rough with the cattle and they were getting to be afraid he might hurt the baby who would persist in teasing him, that we thought we had better let him go. Frank said old Bob. was delighted to get him but Bluch coaxed to come home, however he will soon get used to it. I rode down town soon after dinner and got the mail. When I got back Dad. and I worked some more at the hen house. Very hot and rained again.

Saturday August 7th

This morning Aunty and I tied up the dahlias and worked a little at the flower beds. Then Dad. and I went and worked at the chicken house. Dad. made a door and I put in the dropping board. This after noon Dad. put a latch on the door and I cut the lawn. Frank pretty sick this after noon but he drove Aunty and Tid. down town. To-night he felt so miserable that I thought he would feel better sleeping alone so I went out and camped in the horse stable. Rained a little more.

Sunday August 8th

Dick and I went for our weekly swim this morning but Frank didn't feel like joining us. As soon as we got home Dick left with Joe & the buggy to take Dess. to Simcoe to spend the day with "Grandpa & Grandma" Mead. I started to get ready for church but just about time to leave an awful shower came up so I didn't go. Aunty had gone down to Sunday school and by after church it had cleared off so she came home to dinner. I was going down town this after noon to see if I could find the Millmans but it began to rain again and this time proved to be about the worst storm I ever saw, and it kept up for two or three hours, in the middle of it there was a hail storm with hail stones as big or bigger than marbles. When they rolled off the rooves they were inches thick and didn't all melt by to-night. There are huge lakes all around us and the ditch in front of the house is six feet wide and rushing about forty miles an hour. I don't know when we will be able to get on the ground to cut the rest of the crops. We didn't do any thing much this after noon but lie around. Dick got home about half past nine, he said it rained & hailed heavily in Simcoe but not as badly as it did here. He said some fields of Wess Buchner's and J.A. McBride were about two feet deep with water. He said he saw Vyse & Aiken's hauling in wheat this morning, they just got in one load before the rain.

Monday August 9th

When Quanbury's went past this morning they told Dad. that the hail storm yesterday had broken 10,000 panes of glass in Ivey's greenhouses. They had it far worse down town and up the gravel than we did, the stones were as big as walnuts down

town Alan Law said and they say it broke thirty panes of glass in Bill Duncan's house but down east at the Dog's Nest & on down they didn't get a hit nor they didn't get it at Shand's school house and very lightly at John Wess's. I drove Dick down town this morning and when I got back went out & helped Dad. & Frank set up the sheaves which were down. We got through about eleven and then went over to see the oats across the gully and wandered over to see John Wess's stuff. Blaikie was out turning shocks. It is in about the same shape as ours and beginning to show signs of sprouting. I took the camera with me and took a picture of our wheat field and of John Wess, Blaikie, Cam, Dad & Frank in the barn over there we didn't get back till about one. After dinner Dad. drove Enah & Tid down town and Aunty as far as Mrs. Battersby's Frank and I shelac'd the knots on the chicken house and worked at it full the after noon and got it all ready for the chickens. To-night Dad. Frank and I moved them over. We took two big boxes of them and had sixty one all to-gether. Alan Law was in to-night & says they want to thrash. It looks a little better to-day & clearer to-night.

Tuesday August 10th

Dad. Frank and I & Tid. drove Aunty down town this morning We were going around to get Kathleen and bring her over but we met her on the way, so I came back with her and when Dad. came home with Joe, Kathleen and I drove down to Tom Abbots to see his chickens he wants to sell, they are a nice looking lot if he doesn't want too much for them. Kathleen had to go back for dinner so I drove her down, she was greatly distressed because she got her nice clean middy blouse mud spattered. This after noon Dad. & Frank went over to Sam's to thrash. Frank said he would sooner go over there than go to the Sunday school picnic, so he did but I guess there wasn't much for him to do. Huby was over for a few minutes to get Aunty's suitcase which they forgot to take out of the buggy this morning but I was just going to drive Enah & the baby down to the picnic so I took it. After I took them down I came home and fixed a bed along the house under the kitchen windows. To-night Dad. & I did chores and Frank drove down after Enah & the baby Aunty came back with them because Landon Ivey brought over some raspberries and she wanted to do them up to-night. It looks fair to-night and has been all day

Wednesday August 11th

It was a very heavy dew last night so we couldn't start hauling in very early, but Dad. & I went out and turned out a few which we thought we could haul and they were in pretty fair shape except around the bands. Frank cleaned

up the barn floor and harnessed the team. Art Quanbury came in to see if he and Charlie couldn't help us haul in so they did and we hauled in with both teams, the consequence is that we have the field nearly cleaned, it certainly gave us a great lift. We could only haul small jags as the ground was so soft but we got in {blank} of them and there are three or four out there yet. Frank turned out nearly all the sheaves in the field and then turned them in the mow for us when we unloaded. It has been pretty hot & sultry all day and looks rainy to-night.

Thursday August 12th

It rained hard again last night and this morning so we have not been able to do anything much all day. Dad. has felt sick with a headache and sour stomach all day. I think brought on principally by worry and discouragement at the wet weather, it is really beginning to look very serious. Up around Port Rowan they say they have turned their hogs into lots of the uncut fields. This morning I drove Dick down and went around and got Kathleen and brought her over, we went down around by Hubys and got some poppy roots, which I set out when I got home, we didn't do anything all morning but this after noon I drove Enah, Tid & Kathleen down and we went for a short swim in the lake and dressed up at the James'. Enah was going to stay down there to tea but the baby was too cranky so she had to bring him home. Her sister, Mrs. Johnson was coming to-night so Frank drove her down after tea and he went to some rail road meeting. I let my chickens out of the colony house to-day and about a dozen of them came back to the brooder to roost to-night. It has been hot and muggy all day cloudy to-night.

Friday August 13th

It was very black this morning and rained several times during the fore noon but cleared off nicely this after noon. Dad. has felt pretty miserable all day, he drove Dick down town this morning and this after noon set up the little bit of wheat that was left out. I put the wire over the colony house windows this morning and Frank and I spent the rest of the morning digging in the ditch in the timothy sod, we were just levelling it to get the proper fall before we started digging deep enough for the tile. After dinner we went down to Tom Abbot's and I got thirteen of his chickens, we then went down for the mail and took the baby with us. It was time to do chores when we got home.

Saturday August 14th

This morning Frank and I hooked Joe & Belle to the waggon and took the harrows down to Hallam's the new black-

smith to be sharpened, we took Dick down with us. We then went down to the station and got a barrel of freight which came for Aunty Alice and took it up to the house, there was a whole bunch of girls there with Win. and they wanted to go over to Martin's to see the chickens so piled in the waggon and came over with us Aunty and Lila came over to the farm with us. This after noon we were going to haul in the rest of the wheat but right after dinner Archie & Clark Langs, his daughter and Mrs. Jack Foster came in and paid us quite a visit so it was late by the time we got out. We got in four more jags but there are still two or three left. About half past six the four Millmans and Aunty Alice arrived, we didn't expect them quite so soon but they said the roads were fine and they made very good time. Billy & Orm wanted to go for a swim to-night so Frank and I went down with them. We went down and got Percy at the Moon's and also Kathleen but she didn't go in, we all undressed down below the park in the car except Billy who undressed & put on his bathing suit right in the car in front of the Moons house with Kathleen standing on the running board beseeching him to behave himself. After we had a swim Billy went in with Percy and the rest of us came over here Orm. wanted to go down to the dance so we got Enah and came right back. Enah went into the store to see Mrs. Johnson and from there around to the house where Percy picked her up and took Billy & her home about ten and then left the car down at the Moon's for Orm. I didn't go into the dance but Orm went in and Kathleen went in once or twice with him. Frank went off some where and came back in time to get a ride home We started off for home as I thought right after the dance was over, and after Kathleen and gone home, and picked Dick up at the Methodist Church when Orm. said he would like to take Mildred Henry for a drive, so we went around there and as Donald Ingram & Stan Sutton were there she said to come back in about ten minutes so we went up and got Dess. I thought he was just going for a short spin up the Gravel but the first thing I knew we were well on the road for Simcoe and so went in and Orm got some sandwichs at the chink's before we came home. It was half past two before we got home, we had a good time but it was a crazy thing to do, we all went to bed in the barn as Orm was afraid to go in the house for fear of waking some body up. It has been a nice day but rained a little to-night. They brought news in to-night that J.G. {illegible} was killed by the train in Hamilton.

Sunday August 10th

I woke up about five this morning by hearing Orm & Dick crawling out, they said they hadn't slept a wink all night on

account of mosquitos, they had taken off most of their clothes so they were bothered worse than I was. Orm got down and dressed and then went to bed again and stayed there till after ten while Dick sought rest in the automobile and then went and curled up in the house for awhile. Billy said he had lain over on one side of the bed most of the night expecting someone to come & sleep with him and he didn't get much of a rest either. We sat around most of the morning but after they routed Orm out we went down to the lake for a swim. I didn't go in but sat around. They got Kathleen, Percy & family and took them down too. Boxer, Percy's dog got into a little scrap with another dog came along and started it and Boxer got his eyelid a little torn. Anybody would have thought there had been a baby murdered but the fuss the kicked up Mrs. Millman came with a club swearing vengeance on the dog and the owners while Percy who came in from the lake at his wife's shouts said he was going to kill it. It was nearly noon dinner time when we got home and we found Archie Lang and Uncle Roebuck here to dinner. He said Queen was a dandy but he had one a little better. They say he has the rails on the fence all worn smooth where he sits and watches it eat. They left soon after dinner and the Millmans left about four. Orm went down town first and got Kathleen and her impedimenta which included a mud turtle & Boxer. Billy was very annoyed at the idea of Boxer accompanying them and said it was a wonder Percy didn't have cheek enough to send his baby. We got the chores done early and this after noon evening Dad. Enah and I drove down to church. Mr. Leigh prought and I went sound asleep. I think more from the fact that I had only had three hours the night before than any soothing effects of the sermon. We went over to the Jame's after church and didn't get home till about ten. Earl Brown and Walter Fletcher came in in Brown's Ford. after we got home and were out there a long time getting Dad's advice about Fletcher's horse It has been a lovely day sunny and a cool breeze.

Monday August 16th

This morning I cut the grass around the back of the house and Dad. opened up a few ditches around the hog yard. This after noon we hauled in the rest of the wheat, there were three more jags of it. It began to rain before we got through and rained quite a shower. When we got through Dad. went over to the Quanbury's and had a hot bath as they have givent him several invitations to make use of their bathroom. To-night he & Enah went down to a musical at the Hobbes for the Red Cross Bandage club. Aunty & Aunty Alice were here to watch Tid if he woke up and he did. It has been very hot all day

Tuesday August 17th

This morning Dad. Frank & I all dug a little more at the tile ditch out in the old timothy sod and this afternoon got started to cut the barley, but only got a few rounds cut as it was in awful shape, all tangled up and in some spots as Colin Ryerse says, the big wheel "drug." I spent a long time to-night catching young chickens which came back from the colony house to roost around the brooder, there are a couple of dozen which persist in coming back to the yard everyday and then don't go back. I had quite a time catching them as I had shut them out of the brooder and they were roosting on a sheep's back and when I went out the sheep got frightened and ran away up the orchard with the chickens. It hasn't rained all day and looks like fair weather for awhile.

Wednesday August 18th

It took us the whole day to finish cutting the barley and then we didn't get much of it shocked up. It was in such a tangled mess and thislley that we didn't take our hands to it but Frank and I shocked it up with forks what little we got done. Dad. cut my O.A.C. 72 Oats the last thing and we got 37 nice straight sheaves out of them some of them about four feet long. I didn't feel very well to-day. Aunty & Aunty Alice went to Pt Rowan to-night.

Thursday August 19th

We decided to haul the barley right in to-day instead leaving it for although some of it was pretty green in the butts it would be in a hopeless mess if it ever got rained on so we hauled in all day but didn't finish, it was very slow as there was so much loose stuff and we hauled good big loads, we only got in four loads. Walt. McCall came over this after noon and got Dad. to go over to see Jack Martin to see if he would go to Simcoe in Huby's interests but Jack wasn't home. Huby came over to night at half past twelve and wandered all over the house before he could wake any of us up and he wanted Dad. to go with Harry Ansley & Cousin Willie in the morning to Delhi and Waterford to see executive of the Conservative committee to whom the appointment of customs officer is left. This was Dover's Boughner Picnic but I guess they didn't have much of a crowd as all the farmers were too busy to attend and besides they had one in Simcoe last Saturday, there has evidently been a split in the house of Broughner over the decision of a suitable place to hold their annual reunion. Aunty & Aunty Alice were home from Port Rowan to-night, they were in Simcoe all the after noon and had Lila go up and meet them to give her a treat in Simcoe but as it was Thursday after noon all the stores and restaurants were closed and no-one on the streets. Fine day

Friday August 20th

We had hoped to get a good early start this morning and get the barley all in by noon but Dad. had to be down town at eight o'clock so we didn't manage it. Frank drove him down and brought Aunty Alice back. He was supposed to be back by noon but he didn't get back till about six. Al. Faulkner took them, Cousin Willie & Harry Ansley went with him. They went to Waterford and Delhi to interview the fellows who are responsible for the Customs appointment, and Dad. thinks they had a pretty satisfactory time, he says Harry Ansley is certain of Huby's success but Dad. isn't so sure. They are supposed to decide to-morrow. Frank and I didn't get out till about nine o'clock and just got in two loads before dinner, we didn't know how we were going to manage to get the stuff mowed away at the back of the mow by the cow stal but Enah voulanteered her services and thanks to her timely assistance we got on fine. She helped us put off two loads by passing the sheaves from Frank to me. We got in another big load after dinner and so cleaned the field but left it on the barn floor. It was four o'clock when we got in. We thought we would have time to go and have a try at cutting the wheat, so we hooked on the waggon and I went out and loaded about half of my O.A.C. 72 Oats on it while Frank was oiling up and then we tackled the wheat. Frank drove and we got one round cut but about halfway around the twine got tangled in the twine box and it took us quite awhile to get it threaded and at the far end, the wheat was so heavy and a little down that it wouldnt elevate at all and Frank had to stop every few feet for me to rake it off the table so by the time we got back to where we started we thought we had better quit. I took the team and was hooking on the waggon while Frank was putting the canvass on the binder when old Wallace Brock who has been helping Vyse all day came over and said Vyse was stuck and wanted us to pull him out so I didn't put any more of my oats on but we went over. He had thrown most of his load off so Frank had no trouble in getting our team to lift it and when we got it out we helped him load it again and hauled it out on the road for him Dad. just got home at the same time we did. It has been fair but hot & sultry all day & looks rainy.

Saturday August 21st

It was raining when we got up this morning and has been at it pretty much ever since although the sun was out for a little while this morning. Dad. & I drove Dick down this morning and Dad. went down to see Huby for quite awhile. We didn't do much the rest of the day but sit around and I cleaned out the chicken house. Dad. & Frank drove down about five o'clock and got the mail, but Huby hadn't heard any thing yet. He and {Sam Fick?} have been working for the last few days building a retaining wall of plank in

front of the Johnston's house. He was working at it all the after noon in the rain. Yesterday's paper reported the sinking of a White Star liner westward bound and several lives were lost. The U.S. is mighty hot over it but Wilson is waiting to find out for certain if they had no excuse, they say if she was convoyed they had if not it was an unjustifiable act. It begins to look doubtful if Wilson's patience will last much longer.

Sunday August 22nd

Huby walked over this morning about seven to bring the tidings of his success. The committee was unanamous in his favor all but one man and he voted for Huby when he saw how he stood, the two Waddle men were not there, so Huby's recomendation has gone into Parliament already and of course he is nearly certain notw of getting the appointment especially as Mr. Millman has things shaped at the Ottawa end of it. Of course Dick enlightened Dad. with the cold facts this morning when he was half asleep but Huby embellished them with all the details. The news I think saved Dad. from considerable worrying as it has been raining all night and every thing is flooded. I went back after the cows and had to wade up to my knees across the creek channels and parts of the flats are flooded. All the family but Aunty Alice & Tid went down to church this morning. Frank drove Huby and me to the sidewalk and then came back after Dad. & Enah Huby and I went to-gether. After church Dad. & I went up to the Ansley's as Dad. wanted to congratulate Harry and also express his gratitude for the time & labor he has spent on Huby's behalf. We waited there till Frank came with the buggy & called for us after he had driven Enah & Aunty over home. This after noon I started to read but was soon overpowered by sleep and wasted nearly all the after noon under the influence of that great enemy of my leisure & willpower, when I woke up it was time to do chores and Aunty had gone down to church. She & Aunty Alice stayed down all night. Dad. drove Aunty Alice and the baby up to the cemetry this after noon. Tid. took the poor old German Roller canary up in a matchbox and buried him this after noon, the poor old fellow has been sick for a long time and died the other night. Fine day.

Monday August 23rd

I went out this morning about five and caught some of the young chickens and took them out to the wheat stubble in the hope that they would stay there all day and then go to roost in the colony house but they are bound to come back here. This morning Frank and I went down to Howe and got a load of slabs as it was too wet to do any thing

else and this after noon we got another load. I cut some of the lawn after I got back. This morning Frank drove Dick down and brought Aunty back and Dad. & I brought in the rest of my O.A.C. 72 oats and stacked them around in the barn Aunty Alice walked over this after noon and to-night she, Enah, Frank & I played pedro and Aunty Alice told our fortunes by our hands. It is a pity we couldn't bank on the prophecies because the future certainly looks brilliant for most of us. Fine day but sultry.

Tuesday August 24th

I spent most of the morning digging and weighing up my two plots of Guelph potatoes, they were a very slim crop and weren't ripe but I thought they were going to rot anyway so I dug them. There was only enough for two or three good square meals on both plots, but the Davies Warrior outclassed the Eureka in every respect. They were larger and more of them and not so many rotten ones Fred. Johnson came over this morning and he and Frank went out with the guns this morning to shoot a hawk but didn't get him. Huby came over about noon to tell us he thought things were nearly settled as Porter the head office man in Simcoe had been down to see him and get his age and suchlike. I drove him down before dinner and got the paper. It began to rain soon after dinner and poured most of the after noon, it was one of the worst we have had and to-night there were some pretty close claps of thunder. Mrs. McBride was here all the after noon. To-night Aunty, Aunty Alice, Fred, Frank & I had a game of rum under Fred's instructions. We didn't do any thing all the after noon but sit around the house

Wednesday August 25th

Frank drove Dick down this morning and Aunty went down with them to stay for awhile as she wants to fix things up a little down there. Frank brought Mrs. Johnson over with him and she has been here spending the day with Enah. Billy Louis was in for quite awhile this morning to see Dad. about a sick cow or some thing and they were bewailing our common sad plight but Billy has got past his streak of profanity and come to the conclusion that there are other poor devils worse off than we are. Frank, Fred & I pulled the weeds out in the raspberry patch but didn't do much else all morning This after noon I drove Aunty Alice down town and she is going to stay down with Aunty. We met Lila on the way down and she informed us with great glee that Huby had just been sworn in and passed his medical examination or

whatever they call it and is to start work to-morrow morning. We saw Huby later down town. I put Joe in at Hallam's and had her shod and went down town and got hair cut and a new felt hat. We also heard that the mill was going to open up again to-morrow and the full staff is going to work full-time on Monday, the paper also had very cheerful reports from the Dardenelles which they hope to have forced in a few weeks, to cap all this good news, we heard to-night that Quint was going to be home on Friday having recoverd enough since he left the hospital to travel. It has been cloudy but a cold north wind all day and doesn't feel rainy

Thursday August 26th

This morning we all went down town, Enah & the baby went up and spent the day at the James' and Dad. Frank & I started to cut down the old bad locust tree in front of Hubys. We were afraid to cut it at the roots as it was so tall we were afraid it would fall on the telegraph wires so we sawed it through about half way up and Frank climbed up as high as he could and tied a rope to it so we had a good purchase. We didn't get it sawed enough before dinner so stayed at Hubys for dinner. After dinner we went up two or three times and sawed it through as far as we thought we dared before we pulled it down. We also had it notched on the side we wanted it to fall on but the wood was so tough that we had to saw it nearly through or else we would have brokent it off at the roots. Sandy came over as Dad. had borrowed a rope from him and he spent a very enjoyable after noon advising & assisting us and also telling us a long story about a tree he cut down up in Colbourne. At last when the top did come over it crashed right down through the little maple tree and broke about half of it. Dad. told Sandy he could have the broken limbs off the maple which brought forth several grunts of satisfaction & gratitude. When all this was accomplished I went up town and took my pants up to Tip to see if he could match them with any of his samples as I want to get a coat if possible but Tip wasn't there. I fooled around with Hazen for awhile and then came home. I overtook Dad. Frank Win. & her friend Kitty Lyons in the bugggy heading for home talking to Huby. This has been his first day in office and he has been fairly busy. Win & Kitty got our tea for us and after tea Dad. drove down and got Enah & the baby, to-night. I printed a lot of pictures for Win, who with her friend stayed all night. They say poor old Ed. Turner (Dave's) is just about all in and they are going to bring him home to-morrow night to die. Quite cloudy and cold to-day but fair.

Friday August 27th

We went out this morning and tried the binder again both on the wheat and the barley & oats, we got once around but had to quit as it dragged in several places. Sid. McBride went past and said down there around Marburg they were putting chains on their binder wheels to make them pull through the mud. This after noon we hauled out manure and got out six loads, we put it on the clover sod east of the orchard which we hope to get in with wheat. We couldn't go through the lane on account of the mudhole at the gate so Dad. had to haul out by the road and around the barley stubble. I cut lawn between loads but had to use the scythe as it has got so long the lawnmower wont work. Dick went to Hagersville this morning and met Quint. who came in on a through Michigan Central sleeper from Boston to Chicago. Dad. Aunty Alice & I walked down to-night to see him and Frank rode his wheel down. He looks fine only a little thin. Aunty Alice stayed down Cloudy & cool all day.

Saturday August 28th

We hauled manure all day to-day and got out and got out thirteen loads. I worked on the lawn all the time between loads To-night I walked down town and got my pants back from Tip he couldn't match them with any of his samples. I fooled around up town for awhile and then went down to Hubys for awhile. Huby seemed very provoked because Quint had killed his pet snake. Huby says he has always killed every snake he saw as he thought it was good luck but has he never had any good luck he quit killing them about a month ago and his affairs have been in a blossoming condition ever since, and he had this special snake with its tail cut off which used to live some where in the garden. It has been a little warmer to-day but cloudy and is drizzling to-night.

Sunday August 29th

Dad. & I went back at half past five this morning and got Pommers out of John Wess' back field where I found him last night, we had to take the wire down off two of the posts to let him through. About eight before we had breakfast Frank and I went over to Quanbury's for a swim. Mrs. Quanbury saw us going down to the pond and got John to call us back and invite us to indulge in the luxury of their bathroom, as it was a rather raw morning we did and it certainly was lovely but it took much longer and by the time Frank had had his bath breakfast was plum ready and we had to stay and partake of it with them the consequence was we didn't get home till about ten

o'clock and it was too late to get ready for church & Dad. couldn't go either but took Enah down. Frank got dinner ready and Dad. drove down and brought Enah & Aunty Alice back from church.This after noon Colin Ryersie rode in but we didn't want to take either of the horses out as they are working so Colin, Frank & I went for a walk back as far as Charlie Quanbury's farm and as Charlie wasn't home we ate all the platable fruit there was on the place before we came home but didn't do very much damage any where in our travels. Dad. Enah & Tid were out at the Shand's when we got home, but Aunty & Aunty Alice were here. Frank and I did chores to-night and Dad. went to church with Aunty & Aunty Alice. It has been fair but cool to-day.

Monday August 30th

We at last got started to cut the barley & oats this morning the wheat ground was still too soft to get on with the binder, we didn't get much done as it was so close to the road, first old Ham. Butler came along and stopped and called us over to tell us that he had heard that by getting off the binder and walking it would go through the wet spots all right but also told us every thing else he knew about the weather and how he had never seen the ground so wet except once before and that was in the fall. Tupper came past about noon to get Art. Quanbury's gasolien engine. They are going to put it on the binder back of the table and put a pulley on the packers shaft and let the engin run the binder and the horses just pull the weight of the binder, they hope by that means to go through the soft place all right. Mr. Flemming was over this morning to get one of us to go over and help him thrash this after noon. Sam moved down there from Iveys. I cut lawn till they left Iveys and then went down. Dad. kept on cutting but quit early as the horses were tired and helped Frank shock up for awhile, still fair with cold breeze.

Tuesday August 31st

I went over to Flemmings to thrash about seven this morning and we got through in a couple of hours he only thrashed out part of his wheat and four loads of oats which came of six acres he only got 96 bushels off the six acres, the hail pounded the whole field flat he said and thrashed out way more than half of them, when I got home Frank & Dad. were still shocking up and hadn't got started to cut yet but Dad. got the team out when I got there. I went over to Tupper's for awhile to see how the gasoline engine was working but they had taken it off as it ran things too fast and they thought it wasn't worth while monkeying around getting a larger pulley

We didn't get through with the oats & barley till to-night and didn't have time to get started at the wheat. Old Joe Ivey, Charlie & Bruce Smith came along in the Ivey's car this after noon and old Ivey wanted to know if Dad. was like Woodrow Wilson and had some thing wrong with his eyes that he was cutting oats before he was wheat, he says Woodrow can't see that Germany is kicking the U.S. in the face. They quarrelled away for about half an hour. About four o'clock Dad. got so disgusted with the way things were going that he was mad enough to quit, the binder would drag in places and the green stuff wouldn't elevate so Frank volunteered to drive it. Dad. told him if he thought he could do it any better to go ahead but he knew he couldn't, however he did do it better I suppose because he is lighter so now he is established as binder driver and both he & Dad. are delighted with the change. Still fair & cool.

Wednesday September 1st

We got started getting the wheat as soon as it was dry enough this morning it took quite awhile to get around it as it is so thick and hard to elevate, but by cutting a narrow swath Frank managed fairly well, he had to cut through north of one of the water holes and he cut that piece of separately, and it took all day to cut it. It is slow work as he has to take such a narrow swath. Dad. & I shocked up, what bothered mostly was the wild buckwheat which has grown up fairly thickly in spots and it is twined around the wheat and pulls a lot of it off the table. We lost an hour or so at noon as one of the slats on the table canvas broke and poked a hole in the canvas so Dad. took it off and brought it up to the house and fixed it with a piece of hook iron and Aunty Alice patched it. Frank drove down and brought Mrs. Leigh & Herbert over to dinner Mr. Leigh walked over. Frank was showing Mr. Leigh the bees after dinner and one stung him (Frank) above the ear. Much warmer to-day but fair.

Thursday September 2nd

We finished cutting the wheat to-day, that is all we can cut with the binder, there is still some left around the water hole that we will have to get with the mower or scythe. It went better to-day as Dad. rigged a stick at the end of the table to catch & break the buckwheat stems. It would have been easily a forty or forty five bushel to the acre crop of beautiful wheat if we could have saved it but now it is all sprouted and an awful lot of it shells out on the ground. We ran out of binder twine so to-night Frank went down to Billy Langs and got some. He drove Aunty & Aunty Alice down to church and they going to stay down. Quint, Win & Hilda Leigh were over to dinner to-day. Mr. Smythe was down this morning and bought the one ram lamb that will register for ten dollars but didnt take him. Much warmer to-day.

{This a repeat of the previous page}.

Friday September 3rd

This morning Frank & Dad. went out and loaded the binder and took it over the gully, it took quite awhile and as they didn't go out very early on account of the dew they just got one round cut before noon. I guess it was a big job cutting it as they had to go around the side hills. I spent the morning taking the sod off a strip down along the fence extending from the south end of the rose bed to the ditch the same width as the rose bed and as soon as I get it fixed in shape I want to fill it in with roses from down home. This after noon it looked pretty rainy so Dad. thought we had better haul in what we could of the barley & oats, we had to pitch off the load of barley which was on the waggon and it took us quite awhile so we only got in two loads, we put them in the old barn on top of the barley & wheat, it was slow moving it away but to-morrow we hope to unload in the big barn with the slings. It has been very hot & sultry to-day Aunty was over to dinner.

Saturday September 4th

Dad. went out this morning and turned out nearly all the barley & oat shocks, while he was doing that Frank and I changed the car from the horse stable to the big barn and put the sling standards on the rack. When we got ready I took the team out and we put on a load but as we had to move the calf out of the barn to the orchard and spread out a pile of hay which was in the bay so it was twelve o'clock so before we unloaded but it only took us a very few minutes to take it off with he slings. This after noon we got five more loads and all there was on the field except a few shocks, we worked till about seven o'clock and it was dark before we got in. We got a letter & a telegram from Mr. Millman to-day one saying they would be up here to-night and the other saying they found they couldn't get away. It has been pretty hot to-day & looks rainy.

Sunday September 5th

Dad. & I got up & half past five this morning as the calves and young stock which were shut in the lane got through the bars at the end of the orchard and came around by the road in to the drive house, but they hadn't done any damage. Frank and I went for a swim before breakfast and got back in time to get ready for church Frank went down to Sunday school. Dad & Enah drove down to church & left Tid in Dick's care I walked down to Huby's and went up to church with Quint. This after noon Dick & I drove down town and I went around to see Marj. she has come back to teach in Miss Watt's place. To-night Dad. Aunty & I drove

down to church. It was Mr. Leigh's last Sunday so Dad. wanted to say good bye to him. It has been very cloudy and has rained several times during the day but not hard.

Monday September 6th

It was too wet to cut Dad. thought this morning so he drove Aunty, Aunty Alice & Tid. up to the cemetry. I cut lawn most of the morning but wasted a lot of time with Dick who as it was Labor day got a holiday. This after noon I got ready and went down about four o'clock to a picnic the Ever-ready club were having down the lake shore, we had a great time and nearly every body in town was down there. We had a lot of fun but it looked rainy so we got home early. Most of them went over to the pavillion to the last dance of the season but I went around home with Marj. for awhile and intended going to the dance but it was beginning to rain when I started for home and I was a little tired so I thought I wouldn't go and walked part way home with Charlie Quanbury and borrowed his umbraella as it was raining, but it didn't ammount to much.

Tuesday September 7th

Frank started back to school this morning in high spirits His passing Entrance must have created a high degree of intrest for study in him, because he didn't have to go back unless he wanted to. Lila McBride is assistant in the High School this year so likely she will make them toe the scratch. Dad. & I started to plow this morning Dad. plowed four or five rounds in the little gully in the clover sod next to the orchard & then I took it till noon, the north side of the hill is very hard & chunky and it is all most impossible for me to hold the plow in the ground but the south bank plows nicely. This after noon Frank didn't have to go back to school as we expected and so we went back over the gully and cut oats, we had to ride the table going around the side hill, we didn't get very many rounds cut as we broke the doubletrees when the big wheel dropped into a ditch on the side hill, they were Sam Law's too, we had broken a hook on one of ours & Dad. went over and took Sam's off his binder which was back in the field. Bert Munroe came over this morning and borrowed the disks for Sam. Mrs. Harding died last night. It has been fair & hot all day.

Tuesday September 14th

I have got so behind with this through neglecting to write that I cannot remember what we did day by day, but I know we got all the oats cut across the gully and left them as they dropped from the binder thinking they would dry out.

and Saturday we got in I think three loads of wheat and put it in the mow over the oats & barley, we got a little more plowing done but Saturday morning while Dad. was plowing old Harry walked through his harness breaking the strap which connects the tug with the harness. Dad. went down to Mrs. Harding's funeral on Thursday afternoon and I borrowed Joe Field's boat and went over to watch the steam shovel for a little while. Poor old Ed. Turner died on Wednesday. It rained a little shower on Friday night and rained hard on Sunday so Dad & I spent all day yesterday setting up the oats across the gully but didn't quite finish. The Millmans all came up again Friday night, but not here as they have taken a cottage for a month over Brant Hill. They were all down here Sunday night to tea. Nita came up with them but of course Orm. was the only one of the boys and he & Paw had to go back yesterday. Last night Marj. & her sister Dorrie & I went to the show which wasn't much good but it was the only time Dorrie could go as she & her father were here over Sunday and are going back to-day. I worked all day setting up oats across the gully and then didn't finish. It was slow work doing it alone and was very hot down around the side hill. Dad. plowed all day and finished the little side hill, it was very hard.To-night I went up the beach to a corn roast. There was a big bunch of girls up there but very few boys. I found Dorrie Clarke & her father had changed their plans and aren't going till to-morrow morning so she went with us. We had a good time eating sand & burned corn and weren't very late. Very hot all day & a nice breeze to-night.

Wednesday September 15th

I set up some more oats this morning and Dad. plowed. George Duncan came up after him to see a colt with a lame foot and he went up there right after dinner and took Enah & the baby with him. I shocked up till he got back and then we hauled in a load of wheat and found it in dandy shape. Colin Ryersie rode in to-night and after tea he, Frank & I went for a swim. I had a bad cold to-day so went right to bed as soon as I got home. It has been very hot all day

Thursday September 16th

Tid and I drove over to Tupper's this morning to get his man as he promised to lend him to us when we could use him most but he had gone over to help old Dave Lampkins haul in his oats but Tupper said he would send him over to-morrow. I have this all wrong as I haven't written it lately. It was Wednesday that John couldn't come and we hauled in our wheat alone. Thursday

(to-day) he did come and helped us in the mow hauling in oats I felt too sick to work after I had put on the first load after dinner so he went back and pitched on a load. I came in and had a rest and felt much better. Alan Law and Frank McBride came in after the roller while Dad. was back after the load. Enah & the baby went down town to see the flower show this after noon and stayed over at the Millman's cottage to tea. After tea Dad. drove down after them and I went down with him and went up to see the flower show. Charlie Quanbury & Fat Turner bought a dandy watermelon and invited me to help eat it. We went up to the Turner's & partook of it all by ourselves in the kitchen. I came home with Charlie about half past eleven. Aunty & Aunty Alice are staying down at the old house now and are awfully busy getting it cleaned up and ready for papering. Huby has got all moved and pretty well settled I guess up in Bill Slocomb's house next to Gus. Smith. Another pretty hot day.

Friday September 17th

Dad. & I went back after a load of oats first thing this morning and we rather expected John Robins back to help us as he said he would be but he didn't show up and when Dad. came down the hill with the load and went to back up for me to unlock the wheel the neck yoke snapped right in two so I ran over to Tupper's to borrow one and he said he had to keep John home to-day as he needed him, he kept talking to me so long that Dad. thought I wasn't coming we got that load off before dinner but didn't have time to get another. We got two loads in this after noon. To-night I went down town to see the Millman's. I stopped in to see Aunty & Aunty Alice and found Mrs. Millman in there waiting for Nita and Kathleen who were up town getting ice cream & the mail. Quint came in and after we had eaten the ice cream and visited for awhile Quint & I & Frank who had come down on his wheel went over to Brant Hill with the Millman's and visited for a long time. Not so hot.

Saturday September 18th

We all got up early this morning and got a good early start, we had to start our stack with the last load we hauled last night. We also hauled up a load of old hay last night and we used it for the bottom of the stack and to top it out with. There was a very dense fog till late on in the morning which made things almost as wet as a rain but we hauled in just the same and finished the oats to-night, we left the last load on the barn floor & kept

four loads in the stack, making altogether ten loads of oats off the back fields. John Wess came over and borrowed the manure spreader he has bought a new one but can't get it yet. Later in the day Lundon Ivey came over to borrow the drill. It has not been so hot to-day.

Sunday September 19th

It was too cold to go for a swim this morning but Frank went down to Sunday school and Dick & I went to church I drove Enah down and Dick walked. I got up fairly early this morning and washed & oiled the buggy. This after noon I took Marj. & Essie for a drive we had a dandy time and went up by Port Ryersie. The Millman's all came over here and got Enah & Frank to go for a swim. Ed. Moon was over here and they took him down town with them and told him that they were all going to stay over Brant Hill to tea, he met Mr. & Mrs. Bagley and told them that they were going to stay to tea so she Mrs. Bagley invited me to stay there and I did and as there wasn't any Methodist church we all went to ours. When I got home about eleven I found that they had changed their plans and had come back here to tea. It has been a very nice day, fair & cool

{The following entry has been written by Toby's father}.

Thursday September 30th

There has been an unavoidable lapse in the chronical of events, so I wont try to put down the doings of each day. I began ploughing the piece of sod East of the orchard on Monday Sep 20th and it was very hard. The weather was hot and dry all week and the flys bother the horses terribly. Toby went to help Vyse thrash on Thursday 23rd and got very sick. Old Felix was over that day fixing the pump at the windmill. Toby could not hold his head up Friday and Saturday. Sunday was a very wet day up till noon I drove Hattie down to church in a down pour. We were all to have gone over to have dinner with the Millmans and they all got there but Alice, Toby and me. Ormond brought {name?} and Hattie and the baby home about 4-30, it was getting much colder then and it has been cooler ever since freezing pretty hard every night since. I finished ploughing on Monday and as it was too wet to work I took the table down home and Toby went with me and stayed with the girls until today. Kathleen and Nila were over to tea last night and Frank went home with them, Toby

came home this morning and we got his plots of wheat sowed. Frank and I went down to Sam Law's and got eight bushels of wheat and I got nearly half of I sowed bought. I think this is a fair summing up of the doings of the last ten days.

{Toby now resumes his diary}

Friday October 1st

Dad. finished drilling the four acres this morning and harrowed it I had to go over to Sam's and get about a peck more seed to finish the headland. This after noon Dad. Enah & the baby got all ready to go down to the Rural School Fair but the weather got so bad they changed their minds. Dad. gave Queen a good cleaning instead, he is getting her looking & acting petty nicely I got my membership tickets for the fair this morning and expect to go up and enter Queen to-morrow Dad. didn't get the ditches run out in the wheat field yet. It is a pretty small field to put in but I guess to try to put in more now would be foolish I haven't done any thing much all day It drizzled all morning and rained hard all the afternoon and is still raining. East wind. Frank came home from school but went right off again in the rain to go to the Millman's for tea and stay all night with Quint.

Saturday October 2nd

It was too wet to furrow out the field this morning so we just did chores. I spent quite awhile cleaning out the chicken house dropping boards as they haven't been cleaned for a week. I then dressed a couple of posts which I want to put in for a grapevine trellis. Dad. cut the burs around the pasture as we want to turn the sheep in, he also killed and cleaned a couple of old hens. Frank stayed down town all night over at the Millman's but came home before breakfast. Mr. & Mrs. Millman & Orm. came up in the car last night they didn't get here till after ten and Frank said the car was in awful shape. He went back after breakfast to see if Orm would mind taking the car up to Simcoe this after noon but they said it was too wet and muddy so Dad. & I drove up. We went in to see Yeager and he advised us not to show Queen as he said there was no chance of her taking the money as there were two more that he knew of that had been training all summer and could step as high as a tree and then as he said it wasn't going to do her any good in fact she would be far better running out. He says to hang on to everything we have in the shape of horses as they are going to be worth all kinds of money soon. He says they have drained the U.S. of horses and have held the Canadian ones in reserve. We took his advice and didn't enter Queen as

we intended but went on into Simcoe and I got my watch fixed and the halter fixed. I drove Dad. down to Sam Law's corner when we got home and he went on down and opened Sam's pig which just lay down and died without any warning before dinner. Dad. says its lungs were full of froth and it has choked to death but from what cause he couldn't imagine. I went on down town while he was down there and got Enah & the baby who had walked down and brought them home. It has been cloudy & cool to-day.

Sunday October 3rd

Dick Enah & I drove down to church this morning and Frank rode his wheel down. The Millman's all went down to Aunty's & Aunty Alice's for dinner so they couldnt come over here. This after noon Marj. & I went for a drive. I got home about six o'clock and Mr. Millman was here waiting for Dad. to get through with the chores to go over to their place to tea. Orm. Paw & Quint were all back in the gully shooting crows so Dad. Enah, Frank & the baby all went over there but I had tea alone and walked down to church and spent the evening down town. Cool but Sunny.

Monday October 4th

This morning we didn't get up very early and I spent most of the morning putting patches of roofing paper on the chicken house roof. Dad. started to make a corn horse and as I was standing out there holding it for him I suddenly felt so sick and weak that I had to go in and lie down till noon Alfred came in to get one of us to go thrashing to-morrow morning he was here for about an hour and then Dad.went out and furrowed out the wheat ground and sowed the other plot of wheat for me and I raked it in and smothed the edges of the furrows he ploughed through the flats. I went down town to tea to-night and walked up with Aunty to a Sunday school meeting. It began to rain soon after tea and was such a bad night that I stayed down there all night. Quite warm all day.

Tuesday October 5th

I had breakfast down at Aunty's this morning but came home right after wards and got here about eight o'clock. Dad. & Frank were just leaving for Alfred's to go thrashing. I fed the chickens and found that the roof had leaked about as badly as ever so I went up and put some of the tar over the seams and I also put tar on the roof of the colony house which had never been done. Dad. & Frank got home about noon so Frank went to school but Dad. had a headache so didnt

do much this after noon. I made a couple of legs for the corn horse out of rails and put them in I then took it out to the field and went over to Sam Law's and got our sickle and cut five shocks of the smutnose corn. I started in on it because it looked a little the ripest but I don't know that it really is, up at that far end of the field the grass is nearly as long as the corn so it was a nasty job. I intended to go down to a dance to-night which the girls are getting up for Helen Anderson who is just home for three weeks but I thought maybe I hadn't better so stayed home. Much cooler & cloudy.

Wednesday October 6th

I have spent the day cutting corn and finished cutting the row across the end and one the length of the field over forty shocks. I started about half past eight and quit before five so I think I could cut about fifty a day Dad. cleaned out his ditches this morning and went back and put up the {illegible} from the gully into the back pasture field and went on over to see John Wess for a minute or two. He was cutting his corn, he has about given up the idea of getting his summer fall pea stubble in with wheat. This after noon among othe things he husked a bushel of corn for the pigs Win came over to tea to-night Cool & cloudy all day looks rainy

Thursday October 7th

I cut corn all day and got another long row & nine shocks cut forty six cut to-day. I quit cutting at half past four and husked four shocks of the smutnose up at the far end of the field we thought it was more mature than the Longfellow but although the stalks seem drier the corn itself I don't think is Dad. took the plow back over the gully this morning and has been plowing all day around the big hill. The war is getting more mixed up than ever, the British & French the latter especially have made considerable advances lately on the western front and taken a lot of the Germans elegant trenches which they thought were impregnable and the German drive in Russia has about petered out, but it is now certain that Bulgaria has cast in her lot with the central powers and has begun an invasion of Serbia, and in Greece they are fearing civil war as the premier has resigned, he and the people want to keep their treaty with Serbia and lend help in case of Bulgaria's invasion but the King will not fight with his brother-in-law the Kaiser. Frank and I drove down to Ot. Collins to-night as he wanted to get some ball bearings for his bicycle, warmer to-day

Friday October 8th

Dad. & I hauled manure all day to-day and got out twelve loads we want to get the yard cleaned up as soon as possible so that we can thrash when the machine comes down here again to thrash out Art. Ryersie. Between loads I got a couple of holes dug to set the posts for a grapevine trellis east of the house but I didn't feel very well after the first load or two so didn't do much. Mrs. Millman was over this after noon for a little while, she expected Paw. Orm, and a Mr. Brown some freind of Orm's up to-night. Aunty Alice was over to dinner and bought a couple of young cockrels from me I killed them to-night & Dad. plucked them but didn't clean them they weighed 8 1/2 lbs uncleaned and she gave me 18 cts a lb. which is the same price as at Coleman's. Colin Ryerse rode in for a little while too. Art & George have gone off to the Caledonia fair so Colin is taking things easy Mrs. Millman told us that Roy. Vernon & Rebecca landed in down at Aunty's for dinner, so to-night I took Enah down to choir practice and after making a few calls one of which was to get Roy's suitcases at the station I went down there and waited for Enah, all the Woodson family & Cousins Bessy & Harry Ansley were there Jean Marks came up with them this morning. There has been a cold wind all day and is cold to-night.

Saturday October 9th

Dad. got in a pretty good day's plowing to-day across the gully, this morning I sawed some wood oiled the buggy and did a few chores while Frank husked five shocks of corn and went down and got some flour. This afternoon I went nutting with Essie & Marj. We went way up the front road above Port Ryerse and got a few hickory nuts, a few chestnuts and quite a lot of wallnuts. The chestnuts are hardly ripe yet although some of the burrs are wide open. We would have got more on Farr's place but the trees were so close to the barns that we didn't dare make much noise clubbing and across the road on Smythe's place we thought we saw some of them coming after us so didn't take time to gather as many as we might have. However I think we all enjoyed ourselves and didn't get home till long after dark. Frank & I had to go down town again after tea as I forgot to call for some stuff @ Bagley & Miller's Frank went up the Radical Road with the Millman's and got a few chestnuts but their outing was spoiled by poor old Orm jumping over a fence and spraining his ankle. It was very painful and Nita had to drive the car home. To-night Dr. Jolley looked at it and said he had broken a bone & torn some ligaments, it is so swollen that he couldn't tell much about it. It has been rather cloudy & raw all day with occasional spits of rain.

Sunday October 10th

We didn't get up till after seven this morning but Frank Enah and I managed to get down to church. This afternoon I sat around the house for awhile and then Dad. drove down to see Huby so I went down with him as far as Aunty's and stopped in there. Roy & Vernon had gone up to Huby's so Aunty Alice & I walked over Brant Hill to see the Millman's. Orm's foot wasn't paining so much but looked very bad and he couldn't bear it to the ground. Quint had borrowed a pair of crutches for him from Mrs. Lawson. About five they all went down town to say goodbye to the Ansley's & Tibbet's so I rode down as far as Aunty's with them and then home with Dad. to do chores. They all but Mrs. Millman came over in the car a little later and Mr. Millman, Mr. Brown, Quint, Frank & Nita all went back to the woods to shoot crows. When I got dressed Kathleen and I walked back over to the cottage stopping in for a minute at Aunty's and the rest all came over in the car soon after. We were all over there to tea and all evening. Nita brought us home about ten o'clock. They all intend to go back in the morning so we bid them good-bye. Sunny but cold wind all day. I didn't see anything much of Roy or Vernon to-day as they went over to the Woodson's to tea.

Monday October 11th

We have been hauling out manure all day but only got out about {19?} loads as we didn't get started till late and quit early. Roy, Vernon, Rebecca & Aunty were all over to dinner and Aunty asked Dad. Enah and Tid down there to tea so Enah and the baby went down with them and called on Mrs. Battersby on their way down. Dad. did chores and then walked down. Frank and I had our tea alone and then drove down leaving Joe down at the house for Dad and Enah to drive home and we went to the picture show as they had Charlie Chaplin on to-night. I went around and got Marj. It was laughable but absolutely nonsensical. It was eleven o'clock when we got out and we went around to see how Mr. Smith was as he had an attack of colic or something to-night, he was still pretty sick and they were sitting up with him so Essie went over to stay all night with Nellie. I stopped in for a few minutes on my way home to say goodbye to Roy & Vernon they are going back in the morning. It was after twelve when I got to bed. I guess they had a great reunion out at Shand's schoolhouse to-day of all the scholars that went to school out there to Mrs. Dolly Smith who taught there for seventeen years. Mrs McBride has been talking about it for weeks, she's one of them It has been a lovely fall day sunny and mild.

Tuesday October 12th

We got on a little better to-day and got out 12 loads of manure. Dad. went down to Art. Ryerse's to see Sam Law as they are thrashing down there to see what his programme was He expected to be through at Art's to-night but said he didn't suppose anyone would want to thrash to-morrow or Thursday as the Simcoe show is on so he said if we could be ready he would pull in here Friday morning so Dad. said all right, we thought we could get enough manure out for the stack and we wont try to get the big barn ready to thrash out as we can do that when we thrash the clover seed. It has been a nice day but looks a little like rain.

Wednesday October 13th

We got out 9 loads to-day but quit soon after dinner as Alan & Bert came in with the thrashing outfit and we had to sped the rest of the day getting ready for them, we had to take the binder out of the other barn and put it in the wood shed. About five o'clock we went down to the fish shanty and got a load of soft coal for them We also took down the old kitchen cupboard a little stand and a rocking chair to Aunty. She was in Simcoe to meet Aunt Ida who came to-night and is going to stay a month with them and maybe longer. To-night Frank drove down town to get a load of groceries and I went down with him and went up to the Bagley's to print pictures, we didn't get as many done as we expected as Essie's weren't done yet and Marj. couldn't find a lot of hers, but we printed mine and they were pretty good. It rained most of the evening so I went down to Aunty's to sleep. It has been a very fine day.

Thursday October 14th

It was raining when I got up this morning and has been cloudy & wet all day. I had breakfast down town and got over here about eight o'clock, Enah was sick not having slept all night as She had a very lame back, but she said she felt better when she got up, Frank had intended going to Simcoe on his wheel to-day but changed his mind on account of the weather so I drove him & Dick down to school and the bank. I got some stuff at Bagley & Miller's and then went down to Aunty's to return some rain clothes I had borrowed and Aunty was just going up town so I drove her up, it was after ten when I got home. Sam Law had been over and told Dad. he could just as well thrash the other barn out as not so Dad. thought we had better and we have been busy all the after noon getting it cleaned up. Before tea I saddled Belle

and rode down to Mr. Flemming's and out to Tupper's to get their help thrashing. Tupper wasn't home yet from the Fair so I left a note for him. It has been a bad day for the fair and their aeroplane which was to have been the chief feature didn't arrive. Word just came the other day that Gordon McCall who enlisted with the second contingent has died of wounds

Friday October 15th

We have been thrashing all day and got on faster than we expected. We got the old barn all thrashed out before four o'clock and got moved over to the other barn and got most of the wheat over there thrashed out. We got 268 bushels of wheat at the other barn 200 of which is very little sprouted and 68 bushels not badly, but the worst sprouted is in the big barn and is not running out nearly so fast, There were 156 bushels of barley 45 of barley and oats and 80 of oats out of the stack, all the grain was in excellent shape except the oats and they were soaking wet as the stack was drenched. If we had got all the grain we would have had a bumper turn out. Aunty Alice has been over all day helping Enah and is staying all night, she sorted out her books to-day and gave me a lot of them, the old ones, there is nothing I would rather have. Cool & cloudy.

Saturday October 16th

We finished thrashing about noon and according to the tally got 896 bushels of grain altogether, but as I wasn't out there much I don't know how much of each there was, there was only about seventy five or eight bushels of the sprouted wheat I think but a nice pile of barley & oats and quite a few oats which are pretty good though badly discolored. My O.A.C. 72 Oats turned out four bushels. Just as I got the chores done this morning I got such a sick feeling that I had to go and lie down for an hour or so, but felt allright the rest of the day. I drove Aunty Alice down town this morning to get some more meat for dinner and when we got back I cleaned up part of the old barn floor and spread the wet oats out over it. This after noon Dad. helped us sack up a grist before he went down to help Flemming thrash and Frank and I took it down to the mill, we then came back and took one of the big bookcases down home and a load of books, we got the mail and came around by Vyses and got our fanning mill, we then went back to the mill and got our chop. It was time to do chores when we got home. We were pretty well through when Dad. got home, he said he had had a hard day of it down at Flemming's as he was shorthanded. Cloudy all morning but lovely after noon

Sunday October 17th

Frank rode his wheel down to Sunday school and church this morning and Dick, Enah and I drove down, it was Children's day in church so the service wasn't very long We sat in the back seat and were very amused all through proceeding's at the actions of a man across the isle who was aparently in a sleepy state of drunkenness He had a little girl with him who was just as lively as he was dull - and they made an interesting pair. When we got home we found Dad had the meat roasted as he had been pestered all morning with visitors. Val Leany came over and got old Dandy and took him home. Dick, Frank and I went out to the hickory nut tree and Dick climbed it and shook all the nuts he could off and Frank and I gathered up two basketfulls of shells and all. Frank spent the after noon picking up the rest and got a bag full of husks and all and a peach basket full of husked nuts. Marj. and I went for a drive down the Lake Shore and I came home at half past five and helped Frank do chores as Dad & Enah & the baby stayed down to tea at Aunty's they went down to see Aunt Ida When Frank and I had our tea we drove Joe down and left her for Dad. to drive home. I didn't go in down there but went on up town and met Aunty Alice & Dad. coming out of church and going up to Huby's so I went up with them for a little while Aunty Maude has to go to Brantford in the morning for an operation, none of us knew any thing about it till to-day. I left Dad. & Aunty Alice at the Bagley's Corner and although there was no one home there I soon found Essie & Marj. coming home from church so spent the remainder of the evening with them. It has been a lovely autumn day and a beautiful night.

Monday October 18th

Dad. has been down at Flemming's all day thrashing but they got through to-night. He said Mr. Flemming didn't thrash quite as much as we did. I did up the chores and then went back and plowed, I didn't get on very fast but still didn't do so badly going around the side hill. I got ten rounds ploughed all day about four o'clock the bolt came half way out of the drawchain and bent so I had to quit at noon. I thought it was going to rain so spent half an hour or so cleaning up the barn floor to run some stuff through the fanning mill but it didn't rain so I went back with the team instead. This is Frank's birthday. It has been dark and cloudy with little spits of rain all day and I went out and boxed up the cockrels in the colony house

Tuesday October 19th

First thing this morning I took the team around and got the cockrels in the colony house which Frank and I caught last night and brought them up and shut them in the yard here at the house with the others. Dad. went over to Quanbury's last night to have a bath and they wanted to get us to give them a lift with the team on Charlie's wood shed which he is moving to make into a hog pen so we went out this morning and took the baby, we got the thing moved and back home by noon. John presented us with a heifer calf yesterday. This after noon Dad. plowed and I cut corn, we both got on pretty well. Mrs. McBride was here washing to-day and gave us a great account of the reunion at Shand's schoolhouse, she evidently enjoyed it. To-night Dad. & Enah drove out to the Shand's as it was old Mrs. Nixon's birthday. She had gone to bed but they saw her. Charlie they told them went to the hospital in Brantford a week ago for the rest cure. They also were invited out there on Thursday night to a kitchen shower for Marnie who is to be married next Wednesday. Tid. didnt wake up all evening. Colin Ryerse was in for awhile on horseback as it was a beautiful moon light night. Rather cloudy all day

Wednesday October 20th

Dad. has been plowing all day and I cut corn I didn't get started very early and quit about four but got quite a lot cut and finished the fourth row. Frank came right home from school and he and I got the fanning mill set and a few of the wet oats run through. To-night I went down town and took Marj. for a drive. It was a lovely moon light night but very foggy, however I enjoyed it very much and I think she did. Doc. Hicks was down to-day and said Aunty Maude was getting on as well as possible. She had to go to Brantford on Monday for an operation. Cloudy & Rainy looking all day.

Thursday October 21st

I have been cutting corn all day and just got another row cut. Dad plowed all day and is getting the side hill across the gully nearly cornered. Pud. Smythe was in this morning to get their lamb and paid me ten dollars. To-night Dad & Enah drove out to the kitchen shower they are having for Marine. Aunty was over here to dinner and she and Enah walked down town this after noon. It has been a beautiful sunny & mild day and is a lovely night.

Friday October 22nd

Old Tid. woke up last night at twelve o'clock last night and when I woke up soon after he was howling like a savage. I managed to get him pacified but he refused to lie down again and sat bolt upright till two o'clock or after when they got home I managed to keep him in a cheerful mood but I was nearly frozen and asleep in my tracks. They had a grand time out at the Shand's, there were over fifty out there and the {John?} Shand's hadn't the slightest idea there was any thing up. This morning we didn't get up till late and Whit Dixon came after the steer they bought last summer before we had breakfast so we had to go back to the gully and bring them up We didnt' have much trouble loading him and he was much quieter than the last one was, but Whit thought it would be safer to take old Harry than his horse so Dad. had a little breakfast and went down with him I just did chores till they got back and then Dad & I went back and tried to catch Ginger to cut clover seed with Joe & her but she was full of mischief and we couldn't so we came up and trimmed up a couple of the ram lambs before dinner. After dinner we sharpened a mower knife and Dad. started to cut the clover seed with Belle & Harry. I started to cut corn but couldn't make much headway as the corn is light and dry now and it was very windy. Frank came home early and as he was stiff from his fall off his wheel yesterday he took the team and mowed till dark and Dad. & I came up and cleaned up the oats which were on the barn floor. Aunty Alice came over to tea to-night. Frank went down with her and is going to stay all night with Quint, they are going after nuts to-morrow with Bill Slocomb's horse & rig. Morley Buck drove Zeitha Barwell over to-night to say good bye to Enah she is going to Toronto in the morning. It has been sunny but a cold wind all day

Saturday October 23rd

We didn't get out very early again this morning and as Dad. discovered that the oats which we put in on top of the barley & oats was getting pretty hot so we ran it through the mill and spread them out on the floor That took nearly all the morning but I went out when we got through and cut four shocks of corn before noon and Dad. cleaned three old hens which we killed this morning. Henry Awde came over when we were at dinner and picked a couple of bags of Tolman Sweets for his wife

and as I had to go down right after dinner for some groceries & the mail I drove them down for him. I hurried back but it must have been after half past two when I got out to the corn field but by working till after sundown I managed to get the row cut through, it kept me busy as there must have been twenty five or six shocks. Dad. cut clover seed all the after noon and says it won't take long to finish, he caught a little rabbit out there and we brought it up to the house but it seemed so frightened that we let it go out on the lawn, we saw a black sqirrel go up the willow tree the other morning, they say they are thick this fall and grey too - as it has been close season for them for four or five years but I guess they are shooting lots of them now although the season isn't open except two weeks in November. Frank got home soon after tea he had his down at Auntys, he said the nuts were nearly all gone, he hiked back down town again as soon as he changed his clothes. It froze hard last night, beautiful day.

Sunday October 24th

Dad. Dick and I drove down to church this morning and after church Dad. drove Aunty Alice up to the cemetry All Huby's family were over to dinner, which was rather late. Quint, Dick, Frank and I went out and picked up a lot more hickory nuts before dinner. This after noon I drove Huby home and then took Marj. for a drive, she was keeping house all alone as Mr. & Mrs. Bagley had gone to Simcoe and Essie was out at Marburg, so we drove around by Marburg but didn't see her. I went down to church to-night and spent the evening up at the Bagley's. It froze very hard last night and has been sunny but cold all day.

Monday October 25th

Dad. plowed this morning as it was to wet to cut clover seed but he cut all the after noon but didn't quite finish I cut corn all day and got started on the eighth row Tom Abbot came in to-night and got a bag of wheat and a bag of barley & oats in part payment for the chickens I got from him, he is going to take it all in feed. I have to pluck a hen to-night for Aunty Alice. Frank is busy pasting weeds on a big piece of cardboard and Dad. is denouncing the Education Department for causing such a foolish waste of time. Milder to-night and looks like rain

Tuesday October 26th

I cut corn all morning and finished another row. This

afternoon I helped Dad. clean up some oats and barley and move the fanning mill and then I raked up clover seed till night. Dad. put Enah's shelves in the clothes room this morning and then finished cutting the clover seed This after noon he started to clean up the barn floor so we could haul in the clover seed. It was a big job as he had to carry most of the dirt out to the chicken yard or big yard and then dump the oats which were in the box on the floor with the other oats and fill the box with the barley & oats from the bin and then put the oats on the floor into the bin, so he didn't get nearly finished, he didn't feel very well and had Tid to help him. To-night I took Joe down town with the saddle on her and both Essie & Marj. got on her, neither of them could reach the stirrups so they couldn't ride far and I held Joe's head most of the time. I had the big saddle on so couldn't shorten the stirrups but I promised to bring her down again with the little saddle. I went down to Aunty's for awhile before I came home, they expected Aunty Maude to-night but she didn't come. Nice day, very windy

Wednesday October 27th

I cut corn all morning and got on fairly well, Dad. finished cleaning up the barn floor and this after noon we hauled in two loads of clover seed, out of the wind row, we left the last load on the barn floor. Charlie McBarty was in to-night and bought the biggest ram lamb for eight dollars. Enah and the baby were down town this after noon. We saw Mr. Robertson going out the side road this after noon so we supposed Maime Shand's wedding came off all right. Ray Hammond was to be married to-day too, to Miss Austin out on the town line. Enah said she saw another wedding party down town of which Miss Bloxom & Mr. Todd were the chief figures. Very cloudy & cool.

Thursday October 28th

I cut corn all morning and got about 24 shocks cut. Dad. chored around till the dew dried off about ten o'clock and then raked up the clover seed or part of it, he didn't quite finish by noon, he just raked one way of the field so that we didn't have so much turning. This after noon we hauled in a couple more loads, the first was rather a small one, and we left the last on the waggon. Dick came home about two o'clock and took Josie and went to Simcoe as Dess is up there visiting. Enah has been house cleaning the dining room all day. Alan Law told us that Pickford has bought their farm and they will have to get off, we were sorry to hear it. Cloudy mostly & windy

Friday October 29th

We put off the load we hauled last night first thing this morning and then Dad. went out and raked up the rest of the field. I mowed away what was up there and then dug the rest of my rose border before he came in, we then went out and loaded till twelve but didn't have much of a load. After dinner we put it off and hauled two more. Frank got home early and helped us mow away the first and the second we left on the barn floor, we got all the stuff in that had any seed in it but there is still a load of couch grass out there To-night I put the little saddle on Joe and took her down to give the girls another lesson. Essie had to go to choir practice but Marj. rode down to Perry's and we got Marj. to go for a little ride, the little saddle was a great improvement. I went down to Aunty's for awhile before I came home. It has been windy & cloudy all day quite cold

Saturday October 30th

I cut corn all day but didn't get on extra well as it was so windy. Frank and Dad. took a grist to the mill this morning and also took the other bookcase and a lot of books & the old sofa down to Aunty's, and brought back a little sofa that Elva gave Enah. This after noon they put off the load of clover seed and went out and got the load of couch grass, it took a long time to put it on as it was so light and the wind was so strong, Dad. fixed Enahs shelves in the pantry clothes closet. To-night Frank and I went down town and he took a basket of hickory nuts down for the ones at Aunty's, he went to the picture show and I got my hair cut, there were a lot in town and a lot of kids out as they are celebrating to-night as Hallowe'en. It has been a nice day but cloudy & windy.

Sunday October 31st

I walked down to church this morning and Dad. Enah & the baby drove down they left the baby with Aunty Alice and then went there for dinner. I brought Joe home and we three boys had dinner alone. After dinner I drove Dick down town and got Marj. & Glad. Law who is up here for a week convalescing and we drove out to Renton I wanted to get the number of the ram we sold to Nixon & Berger last fall and we had a great time finding the place as I took the wrong turn at Wiggins school house, we did find it at last but they didn't know the number but said they would find it and send it to me It was late when we got back but I stayed at the Bagley's.

to tea and put Joe in at Faulkner's. Glad also stayed and we then didn't go to church like the family but stayed home and washed the dishes and played with Charlie the kitten. I came home early and brought Dick with me. Just as I was about ready to get into bed to-night I heard the screen door open and then the kitchen door very quietly and I watched it open quietly and stealthily for it seemed like a long time and I didnt know what on earth was coming when Frank stuck his head in, he had been out somewhere and I didn't know it. It was rather dark in the bedroom and I was sure he was in bed, so I was getting ready for a scrap. It has been a lovely day but cloudy.

Monday November 1st

I cut corn all day and have about twelve shocks more to cut to finish the field I thought I would have finished but there are two more rows of corn in the last row of shocks and it makes a big difference, Dad. ploughed all day and finished the piece he was at. Edmond England was in with a Court of Revision notice that some body had complained that my name was wrongly ommeted from the voter's list, but I guess I don't have to go down. Another nice day but windy & cloudy.

Tuesday November 2nd

We were up fairly early this morning and Dad. got a good morning in ploughing. Frank found one of the ram lambs dead this morning so we concluded he had got too many apples so Frank and I got the roll of wire from behind the barn where it had been around the stack and put it up where it was before from the orchard fence over to the chicken yard and shut the other two rams in the plum orchard I then went out and finished cutting the corn it was an awful job as the wind was very strong, and it took me nearly till noon, when I got up Frank and Felix Perkins had a "hickey" on the pump and were fixing it, the rods had come disconnected as the collars where the lengths join had worn out agains the pipe. Aunty Alice came over to dinner, she was going to pick apples but it was too cold & windy, but she picked up a lot of hikory nuts. Mrs. McBride was here too so we had an exceedingly interesting dinner party especially when Dad. & Felix got arguing about the new school. I set out some rose bushes Aunty sent over after dinner & Dad. lost all the after noon working with Felix. Frank stayed home too. I drove Felix home about four o'clock and got Joe shod at Joe Howells. Very cold cloudy & windy

{This is a repeat of page 133}

{This is a repeat of page 133}

Wednesday November 3rd

I drove Dick down this morning and went on up to Dunkin's to see if I could get a ram, but he said he didn't know of one in the country, but he has Lloyd-Jones first prize Simcoe ram with his ewes and said I could bring my five yearlings up if I liked so I thought I would. I got home about noon and Dad. had to go over and give Charlie Quanbury two or three hours thrashing so I plowed till he got back and then I husked a little corn. I got ready and went down to Aunty's to tea. To-night Marj. & I went down to the show. It has been cloudy, cold, windy & damp.

Thursday November 4th

It rained quite hard early this morning so I drove Dick down again and found out that I could get Coleman's stock waggon to take the yearling ewes up to Dunkins I thought it was going to be rainy so Dad. couldn't plow and I could take te big team, so I went down to Coleman's before dinner and got it and we got all the sheep in the barn tagged then and let them all out except the five yearlings and the lamb which will register. I got started right after dinner for Dunkin's with the six ewes It was slow going up and I didn't get there till about four o'clock, but I didn't have any accidents or adventures, and got home by six o'clock. It turned out to be a beautiful after noon and every body along the road was plowing so it seemed a shame to have the team and keep Dad. from plowing. Dad. helped Enah house clean

Friday November 5th

I buried the dead ram this morning and picked a few of the spies when Gordon {Doracot?} came over to get me to go thrashing over at Jack Martin's. I went over but we only thrashed the buckwheat and there were only 121 bushels of it as the hail had ruined it. The spring on the governor broke and also a pipe running down into the boiler and as the engine had to cool off to fix it we couldn't thrash any more to-day and after we all had dinner over at Jack's we went home. I picked more apples this after noon. Bill Bush was cutting weeds over in his gully this after noon and cut the leg off one off our guinea's which was sitting I caught it and killed it. Dad. plowed all day, but will have to with me to thrash to-morrow. Enah went down town and stayed to tea at Aunty Alice's as it was her birthday. I walked down to-night to wish her a happy birthday. It has been a nice day but cloudy & cold.

Saturday November 6th

Dad. and I went over this morning to thrash and put in a strenuous fore noon of it. I carried away and it kept me very busy as the wheat rolld out faster than the oats and there were 210 bushels Dad. had the dirtiest job as he was in the straw and they put some of it in the barn, there were over 400 bushels altogether, we didn't get through till after dinner. I didn't do much after I got home as I felt a little tough but I picked a few apples Dad. tried to plow on the barley stubble as he thought it wasn't worth while to go back over the gully but it was too hard so he had to quit. Aunty Alice came over this after noon and she & Frank picked up a lot of hickory nuts. Frank walked down wth her to-night and was down till about midnight. I had a bath instead. Pretty cold wind to-day.

Sunday November 7th

Frank went down to Sunday school this morning and Dad. Dick & I drove down to church. Aunty Maude was in church this morning, it was the first walk she has taken since she came home, so Dad. drove her home after church. Quint drove over to dinner with us. This afternoon I went down town and got Essie & we drove down to Nanticoke and got Marj. who has been down at the Banfield's since Friday night, we didn't stay down there long although they wanted us to stay to tea but Essie had to get back to play the organ so we came back I put Joe in the church shed and stayed with them to tea and then took Joe home while they went to church I just got home as Dad. was about ready to start down town after Enah so I went back and got her, she had been down with the baby to a duck dinner at Huby's, when we got home I walked down again and spent the evening at the Bagley's. Ed & Marion were over there this after noon. Lovely day but cold wind.

Monday November 8th

Dad. got in a good day to-day plowing. Frank didn't go to school this morning but rode down to Geo. Miller's to see about getting a new dividing wall for the separator as the old one won't stay up in the hauls, Mrs. Miller told him it would be better to get a new one. He came around by Tommy Jackson's to see about getting some honey for his bees but Tommy hadn't extracted yet so he will have to use sugar. I drove Dick. down to the bank and around to see if Neil Elliott would give me $100.00 for Mully but he said he wouldn't but would come to look at her. Tid. went down with me and I took a bag of Tolman Sweets down to Aunty Alice. When I got back I went out &

burned the old hay we left out on the timothy sod. This after noon I picked apples and got pretty much all that were any good out there. Mrs McBride was here washing to day. Aunty came over to tea and to stay all night. Very much milder to-day but cloudy this after noon

Tuesday November 9th

Dad. got a good early start this morning but just nicely got hooked up when {Leo?} Horn got him to come up and look at his mare, so he was delayed for over an hour, the mare was up here in the stable, she was sweating terribly and seemed in awful pain so Dad. said he thought she had a touch of spasmodic colic he didn't have any thing to give her but she seemed to get better so he took her home. I spent the day cleaning up the garden and putting the vegetables & apples in the cellar. I also put off the load of couch grass which was on the waggon and Dad. took it over to the other barn at noon. This after noon I cleaned the barn floor and threw the oats out again out of the bin. To-night I took Joe down town again with the saddle on her and gave the girls another ride. Marj. is getting on fine but it was only the second time for Essie. I got home about half past ten. Very windy all day and freezing hard to-night.

Wednesday November 10th

Dad. got a good day in plowing to-day and only had one interruption when Will Philips came over to ask him about his sick cow. He got the east half finished and got quite a lot done on the west side. I hardly got anything done as I had so many visitors I got started twice to husk corn but I first old Felix came after some wheat that Dad. gave him for wages and then Neil Elliot came to look at Mully He said she was only worth $75. This afternoon I drove Enah and Tid down to the Jame's and then went over to the slaughter house to see Whit Dixon, he said if he were in my place he wouldn't sell Mully for less than $90.00 I was over there quite awhile and it was getting late when I got home and Huby had sent some historical man over here to look at the mound. I took him back to see it and he said he was sure it was a natural formation although a very peculiar one. He is here to see about putting up a little monument on the spot where a party of French explorers wintered about 200 years ago, he says they have located the spot where their hut stood from the rough map they drew and the description of the place and have found the place has never been disturbed. It is up Black Creek a little way in a little ravine about 200 feet in from the creek. Lovely day, sunny & not windy.

Thursday November 11th

It rained a little during the night so I thought it would be a little wet to husk corn so spent the morning working in front of the house I am going to take the sod all off in front of the dining room window where the rhubard bed was and put it down by the road where the grass doesn't grow, then I want to dig the other up and put some flowers in and train a grape vine across in front of it from the corner of the house to the plum orchard fence. Neil Elliot came in about ten o'clock and I went back with him to look at the steer and see Dad. about buying Dreadnaught, he said he would give $45 for him and Dad. said he'd take it. I asked him $125 for Mully & the steer but he said the steer was only worth forty and Mully seventy five, but he came up five dollars on Mully & then two & a half so I thought I wouldn't stick for two & a half and let them go, and to-night I wrote to two men who advertise dual purpose Shorthorns in the Farmer's Advocate. This after noon I went out to husk a little more corn but didn't get much done when it began to rain so I came in Mr. Waterbury the historical man was here, he wanted to know the way to get to Tommy Jackson's and I told him the shortest way was to go up the creek and he said as it was raining so he wouldnt go to-day, he wanted to see if Tommy would donate an old axe that old Stringer had of his to their museum, he brought over the book telling of the travels of the French exploring party and which was originally writen by one of two French priests who were with the party. It was written in French & English both and there was an old map which they had drawn of their voage, it was pretty crude but still wonderfully correct when they had only the shoreline to go by. It gave a great description of this country where they wintered and called it the "earthly paradise of Canada." There were also a couple of pictures in the book of Black Creek and the spot where their camp stood, it was al-to-gether a most interesting book but Frank has to take it back to Huby's office in the morning. I didn't do much this after noon but pain the names of my different plots of wheat on some stakes for labels. Enah started to read the history book to-night but we all went to sleep in spite of it being so interesting.

Friday November 12th

I spent all the morning working out in front and got nearly all the sod taken off and put down by the road. This after noon I went out and put the lable stakes in my wheat plots

and stretched the garden line around each of them and hoed around each one so that there would be more come up outside the line I then husked a little more corn. Dad. got in a good day plowing. It has been a beautiful day.

Saturday November 13th

We had to take our stock down to Neil Elliot to ship to day so I went back right after breakfast to bring up the steer, he seemed determined not to come up and I had to bring the whole bunch to get him. We left him in the yard with Mully while we tied the calf in the waggon box, we thought Mully would follow the calf and the steer go with her and Dad. lead the bull we got as far as the road when the calf got loose and while we were tying him up the steer got back in the lane and jumped into the field with the rest. After a lot of chasing we got him out as far as the road again, when Dreadnaught in some way twisted the snap on the stick out of his nose and got loose and he & the steer ran up into the wheat. Enah came out wielding a broom. However we got them in and at last got well started. They ran into Martin's but Art. Quanbury came down from there with us Dad. Frank & Art came right home when they were unloaded. Frank drove the lumber waggon with the calf in it down so they came around home by Aunty's and got Mis Buckwells sofa which they bought and brought it home. I went up town and got the honey and left it in the {illegible}. This after noon Frank and I took a grist to the mill and got a walnut table up at Mrs. McBrides we got Jack Martin's skids and took them over to the colony house which I want to move up as soon as possible Dad. & I then cleaned up some wheat to pay Sam Lees back and also some oats for Art Quanbury while Frank shot three guinea hens. Frank and I took the wheat back about dark. It has been a nice day but a cold wind.

Sunday November 14th

Frank rode his wheel down to church this morning and Dick, Enah & I drove down. Aunty Alice came over with us to dinner. This after noon Marj. & I went for a walk up the Radical Road and got full of burrs. I went down to Aunty's for tea and went up with Aunty & Aunt Ida to church Dick & I got home to-gether about half past ten. The Nixon's were here this after noon and left the number of the ram. Dad. had to go over to Frank Lemon's to see a horse and didn't get back till dark. Enah & the baby went down to the Jame's for tea and Elva

Said. Davis, May Perry & Gladys Fischer came over with her after church. It has been cloudy and cold all day.

Monday November 15th

Dad. got a good day in plowing to-day but didn't quite finish the oat stubble. I spent most of the morning tidying up the rubbish between the wood shed and the shop and cleaned the windows and swept down the cobwebs in the cow horse stable. This after noon I chopped down the rest of the cherry trees which were along the plum orchard fence and started to get a trench dug for my hedge. Holly Bush came in to-night to get a loaf of bread. He brought Enah over a sack of flour the other day to have her bake a loaf or two of bread a week. Very windy and cold all day. It snowed a little and is freezing hard to-night.

Tuesday November 16th

This morning as it was pretty cold I got Dad. to help me move the colony house It took quite awhile to get it on the skids but once it was loaded it slid along in fine shape. We put it in the yard where we set out the raspberries. Dad. went right back and plowed when we got it over and has plowed all after noon. He finished the oat stubble and got started to plow in the weeds. I separated the chickens put the pullets in where the cockrels were as that is to be their winter quarters, put the cockrels in where the old hens were and put the old hens in the colony house. I then ran the wagon out of the shed and started to pick up some apples off the ground in the orchard for cider. I picked all the after noon but didn't get the wagon box full. It was milder to-night but was snowing quite hard about dark.

Tuesday Wednesday November 17th

Quint came over with Dick last night to stay awhile so he Frank and I picked up a few more apples and took them up to Walker Waddle's for cider. Dad. drove down in the buggy and got two of the kegs from down at Aunty's for us to take up as he didn't want us to drive way down around that way. We didn't get back till after one o'clock. We didn't have quite enough apples we filled the two ten gallon kegs and put about thirty in the barrell, we came back by town and left a keg at Huby's and one at Aunty's. Dad. drove Aunty up to the cemetry this morning and had to go over to Tupper's to thrash this after noon. Aunty stayed here to dinner and I drove her back this after noon, when

I got back it was pretty late so I just took back Jack Martin's skids and Quanbury's chain and did chores. Quint and Frank husked a basketfull of corn and then set some traps back in the gully. There has been a cold wind to-day and it has been freezing in the shade all day.

Thursday November 18th

Dad. has been over at Tupper's all day thrashing. He says the stuff is in awful shape. It is full of thistles and weeds and is so tough they can hardly stick a fork in it. This morning I didn't do much but chores and clean up around the wood shed. Quint wanted to go for a ride so I put the little saddle on Joe and he took her down town and back. When he got back the saddle blanket was gone and he hadn't missed it. He said she nearly put him off once and just about got away from him. He and I walked back the road to look for the blanket and found it hanging on the sidewalk railing below Marshals place. After dinner Quint helped me stand all the rails up that were out in the pile in front of the shop and we got it slicked up nicely. Quint went down about three o'clock. I quit early to do chores and about half past five left for Woodhouse to a chicken pie social. I picked Marj up on the way and we had a hot time. When we got there the place was crowded and I couldn't get Joe in the sheds but got her in a sheltered spot. We had to get in line for supper and were nearly squashed flat, after about an hour's waiting we got in to the dining hall where we had a sumptuous repast of roast chicken and then had to wait another hour for the programme to commence, but we were lucky enough to get good seat so enjoyed ourselves, the entertainers were principally composed of Doverites, and all came up in a load Essie presided at the organ and the male quartette did most of the singing. Mrs. J.H. Butler also performed several times and Miss McGillvary from Simcoe also sang. Frank Reid was chairman and Mr. {Geoff?} and all the Methodist preachers in the country spoke, it was about twelve o'clock when we got out, and Joe didn't seem in a mood to travel very fast so it was after one when I got home. We came down the Radical as there was no other traffic on it. It has been a beautiful day and a very mild nigh. It started to rain a little about midnight and was raining quite hard when I got home.

Friday November 19th

I had to go over to Sam Law's to thrash this morning

and Dad. went over to Tupper's to finish up. We only thrashed for about half an hour and then as there was such a headwind we quit. The straw was blowing everywhere and the roof was covered. Sam. said if it was his he wouldn't care but he didn't want to do anything mean as he was leaving. I stood around over there about an hour talking to Sam and Art Ryersie and listening to their discussion of various farming problems. Soon after I got home Enah and Tid. wanted to go down town so I drove them down, on my way back I picked up Jack Martin and he came over and had a look at the cockrels, he said there would be some he could take. I had my dinner all alone but Dad. came home before I finished. He had had his and they had finished over at Tupper's. This afternoon it rained quite a lot. Dad. & I got the cider barrel in the wood shed and about half past three I drove down after Enah and the baby who were then at Aunty's. It rained heavily last night and has been raining a lot to-day. Raw west wind.

Saturday November 20th

It was still very windy this morning and has been all day so I knew there was no use going over to Sam's to thrash. This morning after we did up the chores rather late I stripped the north wall of the old barn next Dreadnaughts stall {illegible} of straw as we want to get the calves in now. Dad. killed and dressed a couple of chickens. After dinner {name?} came after Landon Ivey's calf so we went back with him and brought them all up and the horses too. I did chores then and Dad. built a manger over against the granary wall for the calves. Just before dark I put the bridle on Queen and got on her back. The other horses were all there so she trotted around the straw stack with them a few times and then they all cantered out of the yard into the field. Just as we got out the gate, she began to rear a little and I wasn't looking for it so after a few of them I found myself on my back on the ground with my feet in the air. Queen got away with the bridle on her and got back with the rest but luckily they didn't go into the gully and I chased them back to the barn where Dad. got the bridle off her, she hadn't got the reins down either. To-night we put Ginger & Billy in the box stall. Dad. got his steer in too that he is going to kill for home consumption. Whit Dixon was over this morning and got our veal calf. Tupper came

over last night to kill our ram but when he felt him he said it would be foolish as there wasn't much more than a good meal on him, so Whit looked at him this morning and said if we fed him awhile, he might be worth killing, so Dad. has him tied up in the stable now. To-night Dad. has gone down to see the folks. Frank has a bad cold and sore throat. He went over to Tupper's this morning to set some traps for a skunk. Cloudy, windy and a little rain to-day.

Sunday November 21st

Frank's cold was too bad to go out of the house to-day so Dad. & I drove down to church alone. Aunty came back with Dad. and I stayed down there to dinner and tea. This after noon I went visiting and also to-night after church. There was quite a commotion down town this after noon when Perce Ryerse's house, his new one caught on fire. I went up but they got it under control before it did any damage beyond smoking the house all up. It seems the kid set fire to a pile of rubbish down cellar. I went to church to-night and saw Dick to speak to for the first time to-day. Huby and Lila wemt down to Aunty's to-night and killed all his spring chickens, there were eight of them most of them cockrels. I went down about ten o'clock and got the old hen I lent him last summer to hatch them out. I don't know what the neighbors thought as she let out a series of the most unearthly squaks I ever hard as far as Allan's corner and then she wasn't so bad unless I {jabed?} her. Dick caught up to me at Uncle Wards. When we got home I put the old hen up to Frank's ear and pinched her and old Frank didn't know what was coming off. I had her in a bag and the next thing she did was to get loose in the kitchen and of course caused a terrible commotion while I was catching her. Very windy and blizzardy to-day.

Monday November 22nd

This morning I went over to Sam Law's to thrash. It was still windy but a little more from the West so didn't blow right in the barn, we were there till about eleven o'clock. I was on the blower most of the time but the stack got too high to put all the straw on so we had to let it go to one side. We had dinner over there and I got back before they had dinner here. This after noon I did up the chores and then put the little saddle on Ginger. I got on her in the drive house but she was

so nervous with the curb bit, saddle and being away from Billy that she wouldn't go out at last she got herself worked up into such a state that she started to back up, she backed up into a pile of rubbish and sat down. I got off her and took her outside and got on her, she still refused to go and went through the same performance again this time though when I went down I hit my head and my back and she came over pretty heavily on my leg. I tried her again without success so took her down to the road and then up to where Dad. was plowing in the barley stubble and he started her off and she came back all right. Frank who has been sick in the house all day wanted me to go out to Tupper's and look at some trap he set for some skunks so i put the big saddle on Joe and went out there. Dad. started to plow the barley stubble to-day as the creek was so high he didn't want to go back over the gully and he thought if it should freeze the stubble would freeze first. Enah went down town this after noon and Aunty Alice came back with her to tea. Dad. went down with her after tea. To-night all the Harvey Shand's but Willie came in. Charlie is going out West some time next week and came over to say good bye. Rather cold wind and cloudy to-day.

Tuesday November 23rd

This morning I did up the chores and put the big saddle on Ginger to give her another lesson, she behaved pretty well putting it on, but coming out of the door she gave a jump, caught the stirrup in the door and tore the strap right off at the saddle. I felt pretty sick about it and put her back in and went out and husked corn. I husked corn all the after noon and to-night I went down town and gave Marj. a carving lesson. It was raining when I got started for home but I got a ride out with Dick and Alan Law. Cloudy, but mild to-day.

Wednesday November 24th

We didn't get out very early this morning and I just did chores. This after noon I went to Simcoe and got the saddle mended and also a lot of other harness. I was up there for quite awhile and stopped in to see Louise at the Bowlby's for a few minutes on the way home so it was pretty late when I got home. Enah and the baby were waiting for me down town but I came home first. Dad. got in and drove me down and I stayed down at Aunty's all night as I want to leave for Caledonia in the morning. Dad. plowed on the barley stubble all day, he doesn't feel very well. Frank

is not very well either and has not been at school to-day. Aunty Alice & Dick left for Toronto to-night to see Billy Millman play, he is in Toronto all this week with Taversham in "The Hawk." Cloudy this morning but nice day.

Thursday November 25th

Aunty got up at six o'clock this morning and got my breakfast and I left for Caledonia. When I got there there was no sign of Douglas so the fellow at the station said I had better telephone him so I did and found that as I had said on my card I would D.V. be down Thursday morning he didn't quite understand and thought it meant to drive down, however he came right in after me in his Ford and we got out to his place about four miles out about ten o'clock, he showed me all through his cattle, he has over a hundred head and it was like going to a show, he has both Bates bred and Scotch bred Shorthorn's and some of the familys have been on the farm for sixty years. I wanted to get a cow with a record and giving milk now if I could but as he lets his calves suck all his cows so of course had no records and he advised me not to get a cow that has had a calf sucking her as he said they never let their milk down as well when milked by hand so I wound up by buying a two year old heifer from him which he said was from the best milking cow on the farm and of a good milking family, she was just bred yesterday and so I will have to run chances of having to breed her again to some bull around here. I gave $180.00 dollars for her $100 cash and my note for 12 mos @ 6% for the $80. He is to ship her up next Wednesday. I had dinner there and visited with Mr. Douglas for an hour or so after and then he took me down town where I waited for the 6.40 train for Dover. Mr. & Mrs. Brad. Bowlby were on the train coming up from Toronto. They had heard Billy Sunday give his temperance lecture. Mrs. Bowlby was terribly shocked and thought he was too wild all to-gether. I stopped in at Aunty's on my way home but had tea over here. It has been a beautiful day.

Friday November 26th

Dad. has plowed all day to-day and I did chores and set out my two grapevines or at least transplanted them. It took me the best part of the after noon as I took considerable pains about it and put some tile

in the bottom at the base and mixed the earth up with mould from around the big barn and some wood ashes. Art. Quanbury & Ive Fields were around Jack Martin's fence fixing it and I was over talking to them for awhile. It has been another most beautiful Indian Summer day.

Saturday November 27th

Dad. left here at sevenl o'clock this morning to get Huby and go down to Mr. {Faurey's?} funeral, he didn't get back till nearly ten, he got some lime down town and Frank whitewashed the cow stable. This after noon they got a grist ready for the mill and Frank took it down but it was too late to get it to-night. I did chores and went over to Martin's to find out how strong to make the solution of coal oil and carbolic acid for scaly leg. {Brilely?} said zenoleum would do as well as carbolic acid and and not to use more than a table spoon full in a cup of water so to-night Dad. and I went through them we got all the young pullets & cockrels done but not all the old yearling hens as they were so thick we couldn't tell which had been done and which hadn't. It has been a very disagreeable day. It rained this morning and has been cold and windy.

Sunday November 28th

Enah Frank and I went down to church this morning. Frank rode the wheel down and we drove. I was down town all the after noon and went up the beach for a walk and stayed down at Aunty's for tea. Dad. walked down and he Aunty and I went up to church to-night and I spent the evening up at the Bagley's. It has been a most beautiful and very mild day but it was a wild night when I started for home raining and a terrific wind so I went down and stayed all night at Aunty's. They had all gone to bed when I got there but I sneaked in and lit the light and then went up and told Aunty I was there, she was glad I came.

Monday November 29th

I had breakfast down at Aunty's this morning and got home about nine o'clock. I then went down to the mill and got the grist that Frank left there on Saturday. I took a bag of wheat down and Clarence said it ought to be worth about 90 cts but by today's paper Ottawa has comandeered a lot of Canadian wheat so whether that will affect prices here or not I don't know. This after noon I did

up the chores and then husked a basket of corn. Dad. plowed all the after noon. To-night Frank & I went down to the A.Y.P.A. and had a fairly good time. I got my hair cut and went down on my way home to see Aunty Alice she came home to-night. Frank met her at the train. It has been a raw windy day and is freezing hard to-night.

Tuesday November 30th

This morning being cold and blustery Dad. decided to put the calves in, it took quite awhile to finish the preparations for their reception and still longer to get them in and tied however we did by about ten o'clock and we think they will soon settle down in contentment. It wasn't worthwhile for Dad. to go out and plow before dinner so we went down and got the coal stove that Mrs. James gave Enah, it is a dandy, we had to get some groceries and by the time we got home and got the stove unloaded it was about two o'clock. Dad. plowed after dinner but didn't quite finish the barley stubble he is going to plow the old fence bottom in with it. I did up the chores, cut some wood and went out and opened up a ditch in the plowed field. Mrs. McBride was here this morning, washing. Cold raw & windy.

Wednesday December 1st

Frank stayed home from school this morning and he and I did chores while Dad. finished plowing the barley stubble. Then the whole family went down in the lumber waggon and Dad. & I put on a load of chestnut coal for the new stove, it just come in. Frank got some stuff up town and then took the coal home while Dad. and I got my heifer which came in on the noon freight, she was like a mad bull she was so wild in spite of the blind old Douglas had put over her head, we couldn't do anything with her at the station so they shunted her over to the yard by the brickyard much against one of the men's will who was very much put out at wasting so much time and kept up a running stream of oaths, however with two long ropes one of which was Ed's and one which Dad. got over at the slaughter house we got her out in a short time without hurting her. Ed. helped us bring her over and came all the way over with us but wouldn't stay to dinner. Enah & the baby walked home. Dad. is highly delighted wth the heifer and she certainly does look nice in the stable with the others and she is getting quieted down. This after noon I helped Frank and Dad. get the stove in place and then

I went up to the Bowlby's after Louise. Frank went to school till recess and then met Dad. down town and they got another load of coal. Louise and I got back about six. Cold all day snowed all after noon & evening Dick didn't quit work for yesterday till 3.30 this morning and then walked home. It was the end of the year & month.

Thursday December 2nd

Dad. & I did chores most of the morning and fixed up a corner out in the old barn to put the bull calf as he is too mean to leave with the heifer calve we also unloaded the load of coal he got yesterday afternoon into a bin he fixed up in the wood shed. We two had dinner by ourselves as Enah, Louise & the baby all went down to Aunty's to dinner and to spend the afternoon. This afternoon Dad. & I hauled in a load of corn stalks most of which were unhusked and put them in the bay of the old barn. To-night Dad. read "Going Some" out loud it is a funny story by Rex Beach. It has been cold & raw all day anbd is freezing hard to-night.

Friday December 3rd

Dad. has plowed across the gully all day and says it plows better than it hass all fall, he was surprised that it did as when he went back he was afraid he couldn't make it go it froze so hard last night, he got quite a lot done although he didn't get back there very early. I went over to see Charlie Shand this morning as I told him I would before he left; he is going West next Tuesday He showed me all over and we were up in the silo. Louise went down to Aunty's to dinner and Aunty came back with her to tea. I just did chores this after noon. To-night I went down town with Aunty and went to the picture show with Marj., this being her birthday. On my way home I looked in at the Commercial hotel and saw Alan Law and Dick sitting there waiting for Alan to finish his cigar to go home so I joined them. George Henderson was with them sitting with his feet up on a table, his cap down over his eyes and a smile on his face which showed he was just awake enough to enjoy his comfortable state. Presently a man evidently a traveller came in from the back room and expressed his intention of "going to roost" where at George stretched himself out of his chair and over to the register and the traveller registerd and went to bed. This sort of aroused the party and when Alan had bought another cigar we left for home. Alan was drawn from the

familiar channels of his conversation to-night by extolling the many virtues of a new nine dollar & a quarter corduroy coat with fur felt lining that his girl sent away and got for him for a Christmas present. When we got home the whole family was listening to Enah read "Going Some". Dad. had had his snooze on the sofa and had evidently brought down the house a few minutes before we came in by waking up with a wild burst of laughter caused by his dreaming of the story Enah was reading and exclaiming "I don't see how people can be so dam' funny", this being a quotation from the book He got up then so I occupied the sofa for the remainder of the evening, it then being close to midnight. Raw & cloudy, freezing to-night.

Saturday December 4th

Dad. has been plowing all day again to-day.This morning Frank did up most of the chores and I husked corn in the barn, he helped husk some too. This after noon he went back with Dad. to help him run out some cross furrows and I drove Louise back to the Bowlby's. I got home before tea. We have never let Alguitha out yet but she is beginning to show signs of getting tame but she won't let us take the halter off her head yet. They have according to the "Maple Leaf" got all the officers for the 133rd overseas regiment which they are going to try and recruit in Norfolk. A.C. Pratt the little shrimp is colonel an Murray Dillon one of the lieutenants neither one of them I suppose know any more about military matters than a young rabbit, but I suppose each is pulling down a nice fat salary from it. Murray is recruiting officer for these regions. Cold & cloudy to-day but not so windy. I guess Murry is only a provisional lieutenant and has to try his examinations yet.

Sunday December 5th

Enah and Frank were the only ones from here at church this morning. I drove Enah down but it was so late I didn't go in but waited down at Aunty's for them. Aunty Alice drove over with us to dinner. I spent the after noon down town and went for a walk up the beach. I had tea at Aunty's and Dad. came down with Aunty Alice to tea and he Aunty & I went to church. I spent the evening down town. Nice day but cloudy and cold.

Monday December 6th

I find I have only ten eleven pages left in this book so if I am going to get the rest of the year in I will

have to considerably boil down the news. Dad. has plowed all day but says the frost is beginning to make it stiff. Mrs. McBride was here all day. I did chores and went over to Martin's to hurry them up after my cockrel's. Enah went down to church this after noon. The Bishop was here and confirmed Mrs. Jack & Mrs Chas Martin, Mrs Cope, Bill Dunbar, Joe Thompson & Alf Powell. Frank & I went down to A.Y.P.A. to-night. Hazen read us a story. Cold & Cloudy to-day & freezing hard to-night.

Tuesday December 7th

Dad. didn't plow to-day but we hauled two loads of corn stalks instead one in the morning and one this afternoon, besides doing up all the chores. Jack Martin & Chris came over this morning and took eleven of my cockrels and left a few more here to grow awhile, they were not as fat as they should have been and we discovered the cause was mites. To-night Dad. & I leg banded all the pullets. Much milder to-day.

Wednesday December 8th

I went down to the mill this morning and borrowed fifteen bags to haul out our wheat, we just did chores this morning and Dad. killed and cleaned three cockrels and I painted the roosts in the old part of the hen house with crude oil for mites. This after noon we cleaned up about 35 bushels of wheat but didn't have time to haul any. Quite mild to day but very cloudy and a little snow which melted.

Thursday December 9th

Frank stayed home to help us to day. Dad. hauled the load down we cleaned up yesterday and we cleaned two more and hauled them to-day. We hauled 16 bags each trip and they averaged a few pounds over 34 bushels so it weighs pretty well and scarcely any cleans out but there isn't going to be as much by about 40 bushels in the granary as there was from the machine. We could have got more done but we had to quit early for chores It has been cloudy with a very cold north wind all day.

Friday December 10th

Dad. hauled two more loads to-day, we cleaned up all the wheat in the granary and took the last half load out of the big bin. It is sprouted worse but it cleans up to just about as good a sample. Dad. said he didn't think they made any difference down at the mill. Cold, cloudy and windy again to-day. Dick says Cecil Powell got back from the front to-night, there was a big crowd to meet them

Saturday December 11th

We cleaned up all the wheat left over in the barn this morning which was about 13 1/2 bags. Dad. hauled it down before dinner and I think it brought the total up to a little over 199 bushels, he didn't settle with Ivey this morning as they were so busy. This after noon I went down town to get some groceries. Art Quanbury paid me 21 dollars for the three ewe lambs. Frank went back to the gully and found a hole with three skunks in it but didn't get one - it got him properly - phew! He has gone down town to-night. They are going to present Cecil Powell with a watch but I am reading "The Amateur Gentleman" so can't go down. It has been cold again to day but it has also been sunny.

Sunday December 12th

Frank and I were the only ones that went to church from here this morning. I drove down and brought Aunty and Elva back with me. Jim Waddle & the two little girls also were here to dinner, Dad wanted to have them as we had roast duck. Dick and I didn't get down town very early this after noon as we both each smoked a cigar first, and Marj. had gone for an automobile ride to Waterford. I stayed down to tea at Aunty's and Mrs Smythe and Pud. were there I went to church and Marj. & I went up to Glad. Law's for awhile afterwards. Nice day snow to-night.

Monday December 13th

The ground was covered with snow this morning so we thought it was time we were getting the sheep home from Dunkin's. Dad. went down to the mill and settled up with Ivey paid him ${?} and got $130.00 back. This after noon we borrowed B & M's cattle waggon and went up and got our sheep. We took old Harry & got back about six. To night Frank and I went down to A.Y.P.A. Colder and pretty cloudy.

Tuesday December 14th

I took B & M's waggon back this morning and took Art Quanbury his three lambs. I hurt my thumb down town slapping my hands to get them warm and havent done anything much all day. Uncle Ward came over this after noon to see Algitha and was here most of the after noon. We let her out for the first time to day got her in without much trouble but are afraid she is not in calf. Colder & blizzardy

Wednesday December 15th

I have done very little all day my thumb is stiff and awkward I went down this morning and orderd some flooring at the Widespread for my chicken shed. Aunty Alice came back with me and stayed to dinner. Huby came over before tea and got Dad. to go down and cut up a pig for him. Dad. and Frank have gone down to-night. I sat up till 3 o'clock this morning to finish the "Amateur Gentleman" Nice day cold wind.

Thursday December 16th

We did chores all morning, my thumb was still stiff so I didnt do much. This after noon I took a grist to the mill and went on down to get my lumber but they hadn't it ready yet, I stopped in at Aunty's for a few minutes, and got my chop when I got home. To-night I went to the show with Marj. To-night Aunty Alice had a bridge party, Toby Smith and Miss Buckwell and I stopped in there on my way home and got some cake Very mild but cloudy. Booze Waddle was over saying his father would come to morrow to kill pigs

Friday December 17th

It began to rain about six this morning and has been a wet miserable day. I drove Dick down to the bank and saw Dave. he said he and Val Leany would be right over if we could work in the dry so we rigged up a place in the old barn, and so before two o'clock the four pigs were all dressed. We then had dinner but they wouldn't take anything for pay. Just {chore?} then.

Saturday December 18th

Frank and I went down with the team this morning and got my lumber for the chicken house floor. This after noon I unloaded it and we hauled the pigs (dead ones) over to the house and took one down to Sam's, it weighed 145 lbs by Alfred's scales. Dad. & Frank caught all the little ones and put them in the pen where the other four had been Dad. cleaned it all out this morning. Lila has been over all day. Cloudy and colder freezing.

Sunday December 19th

We got up late this morning and none of us but Frank went to church. I went down town this after noon and stayed at Aunty's to tea. Aunty and I went to church to-night, after church Marjorie and I walked down with her. I came home with Dick & Alan Law It has snowed hard most of the day but has not been cold.

Monday December 20th

This being Tid's birthday all the family celebrated at Aunty's but me. I drove them down in the bobsleigh but came back and had dinner with Mrs. McBride here. Dad. came back soon after dinner and helped me do the chores. To-night I drove Essie & Marj. down to Marburg Sunday school Christmas tree and we had a great time Wilson Porter drove Essie home. Frank went with the Ryerse's to the Lake Shore school concert, he walked It has been colder to day and our sleighing has frozen dry and blown off.

Tuesday December 21st

Besides doing chores I cleaned out chicken house and Dad. cut up a pig. Jack Martin paid me $20.93 for eggs & cockrels Dad. & I went to the Patriotic Rally to-night. Nice day.

Wednesday December 22nd

We hooked up Joe & Queen to the bobsleighs this morning and drove down town with Aunty Alice's cream and beets Queen went fine considering it was the first time she has been hooked up to anything. Frank got home at noon and his Christmas holidays have begun. He and I husked some corn this morning and about five o'clock Dad. & I & the baby drove Joe & Ginger down to the cutter. Tonight I went down town and stayed down at Aunty Alice's all night. Aunty left for Toronto this morning to stay with Roy for Christmas week. Walter & Elsie are coming there tomorrow but sleighing not good. Snowed most of day.

Thursday December 23rd

I went down to the train this morning to wish Marjorie a Merry Christmas before she left for home. Essie was down to see her off Aunty Alice got up and had breakfast ready for me when I got back. I walked home in time to drive Dick down as it was raining hard. It has rained most of the day and the snow is nearly all gone. I husked corn and did chores most of the day Dad. has cut up pigs and has them all cut up and Enah has most of the lard rendered out. Frank has been making a knife drawer for Enah. Last night Frank went down to the Mud Street school show (Bertha England's) with the Ryerse's, they went in bobs this time.

Friday December 24th

I spent most of the morning cleaning out the chicken houses and tacking cotton in the windows. Tom Abbot came in and got a rooster. This afternoon Dad. went down town to get his hair cut and Frank and I to do some Christmas shopping. Dad. and I came home to-gether. The town seems to have quite a few soldiers home for Christmas. I saw Billy Loan in uniform didn't know he had enlisted. Frank is going to try and catch some pigeons for Hec. Henderson's shooting match to night. Very mild but cloudy all day.

Christmas Day

I drove Enah and Frank down to church in the cutter this morning with Joe and Ginger but as all the chores had to be done up this morning and one of us had to look after the baby so I came back home again. Dad. and I then dressed up and drove Joe down in the buggy to the James where the whole family of us partook of Christmas dinner we took the baby down with us, the McPherson family were all there too. We had a dandy time especially Frank who had a cigar after dinner and spent the remainder of the after noon in the Catholic church shed. We came home about four and then I drove Harry & Belle down and got Aunty Alice and Aunty Ida and

all Huby's family except Aunty Maude who is at Uncle Wards look after Mrs. Scofield who got "took bad" the other day but is now better. We just had tea over here but had a Christmas tree for Tid. and Huby acted as Santa Claus. He nearly gave poor Aunt Ida a fit laughing at his actions and words, there was quite an array of dandy presents considering nobody was going to give any. I drove them all back in the sleigh quite early but had to leave Huby at the Sovereign's as Mrs. Scofield wouldn't mind them and he had to pretend he was the doctor, so Win & Lila stayed at Aunty Alices all night. It has been very soft and mild all day but is colder to-night.

Sunday December 26th

Dad. & Frank stayed home this morning and Enah and I walked down to church. The choir was out in its new "shrouds" as Whit Dixon called the surplices. This after noon Dad. & I walked over to Frank Crysler's to see his bull but weren't very stuck on him. To-night I went down to Aunty Alice's to tea and to church. Went up to Huby's after church and was there quite awhile as Win was there all alone. Lovely day bright and colder than yesterday.

Monday December 27th

Dad. and I went down to nomination this after noon but it was pretty slow reeve & counsillors went in by acclamation reeve is Gilbert and same old council except Nath. Butler who takes Gilbert's place. Frank and I went down to-night to our nomination and it was much more fun Billy Langs & Bill Coley nearly got into a scrap Vyse and old Walker are going to run again for reeve. Snowing to-night.

Tuesday December 28th

Dad. & I went over to John Wes's this morning to see his bull and stayed over there till one o'clock watching John Wess & Robert John Watson kill a pig. This after noon Dad. went up to see Ham Thompson's bull and Frank went skating. I did chores. To-night Dad. and I went down and stayed at Aunty Alice's. Nice day.

Wednesday December 29th

Dad. and I went down to Caledonia this morning to see Mr. Douglas. He came in for us in a cutter and we spent the whole day out there as it was a terrible day, a regular blizzard cold east wind and snow. While we were there two fellows Mr Brook & son drove down from Paris (24 miles) in the teeth of the gale, there were two other batches of visitors there relations of the Douglas' so there was a housefull, but we had a good look at the stock and a great visit with Douglas and Dad. was highly delighted with the cattle. Douglas drove us in after we had

tea in time to catch the train but we had to wait about an hour as the Hamilton train was held up at Caledonia by the storm, and the Dover train had to wait at Rymal to get through, we saw Win. and two of her friends at the station for a minute or two.

Thursday December 30th

We have put in all our spare tme to day putting the floor in the chicken shed and got all the joice in place and spliced and nearly a third of the floor laid. Frank was here to help us, no he wasn't either. I have got a little mixed up Dad. and I just got some of the joice in to-day Lovely day sunny and cold. Frank took the old sow down to Porter's.

Friday December 31st

To day after we did chores we worked at the hen house floor and Frank cut the boards for us and it was to-night when we quit that we had nearly a third of the floor down. Dad. drove Enah and the baby down to Aunty Alice's to tea. To night I went down to the dance the girls were having to raise funds for the Red Cross. I got there about nine but they hadn't started and there were not many there but they soon started to come and eventually there was a big crowd. At 11.30 I went over to the church with some more of them as they were having service and praying for victory. This has been a black year for the world. Very mild all day, raining