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DIARY.1916

T.B.Barrett.

Port Dover, Ontario.

The Farm

From January 1st 1916 to September 29th 1916

Saturday January 1st 1916

They tolled the church bell three times and rang it to herald the New Year and after spending about another quarter of an hour in church we went over to the dance Dad. & Enah were in church and they came over to the dance This being Leap Year all boys caught asking a girl to dance were supposed to be fined a quarter but I don't think many spotted up. They had a square dance which Mr Cope and Enah took part in Mr Cope aparently enjoyed him self immensely We danced till nearly three o clock and every body agreed that it was the best dance this year so far. Enah and I spent the remainder of the night at Aunty Alices but Dad. & Frank who we discovered had been up {several faded words} dance went home. Aunty Alice sat up as the baby was asleep and she thought he might wake up. Aunty Alice didn't call me till nearly ten o clock and I wasnt very anxious to get up then. It was raining hard so after I had breakfast I sat around and read till noon. We just sat down to dinner when Dad. drove down after Enah so I went up with him and got the mail, and then walked home. We just did chores this after noon except Frank who cut a lot more of the chicken house flooring. It has rained nearly all day.

Sunday January 2nd

It poured rain during the night and has been very soft and mild all day but is colder to-night I arose fairly early this morning and got ready in time to go to church Enah and I walked down and were late. After church Aunty Alice and Aunt Ida were going up to Huby's for dinner as they had goose and as Aunty Maude had told Aunty Alice to bring Dad. up too should he happen to be in church and as he didn't happen to be in church and as I was in no mood to walk home in the slush to dinner and right back I thought it would be all right for me to go to Huby"s so I did and had a very enjoyable dinner. Uncle Ward was the only other guest. I spent the afternoon down at the Bagley's and had tea there. We all went to our various churches.

Monday January 3rd

I did chores most of the morning and husked a little corn Dad. and the baby went down to meet Aunty who came up on the morning train to vote. Dad. was very anxious to have her vote because Vyse was running again against old Walker. They saw Ed. up town and he said to vote for Walker Moon & Wilson so she did. Walker got in by a majority of 8 Ed. headed the polls for councillors then came Harry Smith, R.M. Taylor and Mat. Wilson and the bylaw which was to give a fixed rate of assessment to the canning factory who in return are going to put up another big building carried so Aunty didn't lose a vote. Dad. stayed down to dinner, while he was gone and while I was husking corn out in the barn, the fattening steer got lose and got out behind the calves and into the alley in front of the cows I heard a commotion but didn't pay much attention but when I went to go in I found the black calf had either been frightened or hooked into the manger He was on his side with his nigh fore & hind feet sticking over the edge but he was wedged in so tightly that I couldn't lift him so had to tear the whole manger out, and he felt pretty wobbly when he did get loose. This after noon Dad. and I went out to try and set up some of the down shocks of corn but they were frozen in to hard. The mice are eating it badly and we cant haul it in till we thrash out our clover seed. Mr. Flemming was over to get a hand to help him thrash to-morrow but I dont think the machine is there yet. It was A.Y.P.A. social evening to-night. Mrs Clare Deal Miss Marshall and I were put on the committee to run it but except for meeting Mrs Deal on the bridge last night on my way

home and telling her that what she had done couldn't have been improved on I haven't done a thing. However it came off all right only there were very few there Enah went down to tea at the James and she said Elva played a duet said Davis sang Aunty Maude gave us a little talk and we had refreshments. Frank and I went down to see Aunty on our way down as this is her birthday. Sunny, a little blizzardy but misty.

Tuesday January 4th

Dad. had to go over to Flemming's to thrash alsike this morning, they thrashed all day and got seven bags from eleven loads so it didn't turn out so well as the rest has this year. Dad. says Lloyd Crysler told them John Wess got eleven bushels to the acre. I was over for a few minutes this after noon and it looked terribly dusty {illegible} Dad. was nearly all in when he came home. Mr. Flemming never has enough men either. I didn't do much but chores to-day, and sorted out my chickens a little to-night. I got three more pullet's eggs to day. Much milder, south wind

Wednesday January 5th

It rained hard during the night and has poured rain most of the day but to-night it is freezing and the wind getting around to the north. Dad. and I did chores most of the morning and this after noon we got some more of the floor laid in the chicken shed.

Thursday January 6th

This morning Dad. and I got a little more floor laid in the chicken shed. Aunty Alice came over while we were working at it and stayed to dinner and walked back soon after via Mrs. Battersby's to see Miss Phipps who has been sick Dad. and I went down with the waggon to get a load of soft coal for the thrashers who may be here to-morrow. Alan was in to-night and said they would get moved down here to-morrow night maybe in time to thrash a little. To-night I went skating. Frank went down with me and spent the evening up at Huby's, he didn't get home till about twelve o'clock I was late enough as Essie & Marj. were down skating. I called for them but they had gone with Mr. Woodyer so I went up home with them and Marj. made some cocoa and we fed and sat around for about an hour, so it was pretty late. Dick was just getting ready for bed and said he had the grip. There is an awful lot of it in town. Much colder & freezing hard. Skating grand.

Friday January 7th

This was Dick's birthday, but as he has every thing he wants with in the limits of an ordinary man's fortune, we couldn't think of any thing to get him, but he happened to mention at breakfast that he broke his hockey stick yesterday so I got one for Frank and me to give him. Right after breakfast I went down to get Joe shod and took her up to Hallam's but as Bobbie McMullin seemed to be running things up there I made an excuse to see Hallam who was down at George Gambles and took Joe down to Joe Howell's, it was after twelve when I got home. This after noon we laid a little more of the chicken house floor. Frank stayed home and helped us. About four o'clock Sam & Alan came in with the clover mill & engine but it wasn't worthwhile thrashing any. To-night I went skating again Enah went down to choir practice with me. I went up to the Bagley's and Essie & Woodyer were just leaving but Marj. hadn't got back from a treat they were giving the Sunday school kids so I started off to get her but met her half way as Enah had told her there was skating on. We had a fine time as the ice is great but Essie had to leave at eight o'clock to go to choir practice. I could have had a ride home with Dick and Alan but thought I had better go down to Aunty's and see if Enah was there but she had just left before I got there. Dick & Frank both feel rather tough to-night. Nice day pretty frosty.

Saturday January 8th

We thrashed the clover this morning and finished it by a little after twelve and before dinner. We got over five bags of stuff from the six loads but it was more than half I think plantain seed. If we can ever get it separated though we will have enough red seed for our own use. Mr. Flemming and Tupper were the only ones extra we had. Aunty came over and helped Enah. This after noon Dad. and I went up to Ham Thompson's to see a sick cow, we were up there quite awhile looking at all the stock some of which is pretty nice. I drove down and got the mail when we got home. To-night I went skating again as it was a beautiful night and the ice was fine. There was a good bunch down there and we had a good time. I had a bath after I got home. Dick came home early and has not felt very well all day, his eyes are sore Frank has been in all day too with the grip. Still pretty cold and frosty.

Sunday January 9th