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 gfot 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 thew 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 foeld but there weren't so I went on over to the woods but didn;t see one. It was nearly noon wen I got back but dad. & Tid weren't home yet so I walked over to see if tghey were waiting for me but just as I got there they had left but I ran accross Vyse and jhe kpt me in conversation for half an hour Aunty & Aunty Alice went over to Mrs. Battersby's fr dinner in honor of Mrs. Skey's birthday. This after noon Dad. & I toof=k a starand of barned wire and syretched 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 aplace for gates but only stretched a piece of wire by hand. I think old Dandy probably caught his foot in it. Dad. flet quite a bit better in his back to-day but felt a little sick. Nice day.