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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

Enah and I walked down to church this morning and I have been down all day I had dinner and tea at Aunty's Miss Phipps was there to dinner. I spent the after noon & evening up at the Bagley's, before tea I got Cousin Loll & Cousin Phoebe to go over to the Ansley's with me as they had the key to the house and get a Wandering Jew plant which Cousin Bessy left there to freeze unless Aunty took pity on in so I took it down to her. The Ansley's all left for Toronto yesterday. They expect Joe Syer's battery to be moved to France next month. Aunty Alice and I went to church to-night. We thought Dad. would have been down but I found out that he had had to go up to Bill Duncan's to see a sick horse. Dick and Frank have both been in the house all day to-day so Dick must be pretty bad. There were quite a few skating this after noon but I didn't go. It is getting milder to-night.

Monday January 10th

It rained during the night and has rained a lot during the day but is colder to-night. I went over to Quanbury's to see Charlie this morning, he is better and sitting up but has had a bad time with his throat.On my way home I stopped in and got a setting of eggs from Jack Martin as one of the old red hens has been sitting for quite awhile and Dad. was very anxious to put some eggs under I thought it would be too early to have them come out. Dad & I didn't do much but chores this after noon Aunty came over before tea to stay all night as Dad. Enah and I went down to A.Y.P.A. and the boys have been in the house all day. Dick was bound he was going to work yesterday but when this morning came he wasn't at all anxious to go Glad. Law and Marj. Clarke had a Dicken's evening at A.Y.P.A. to-night and Dad. & Enah sang "What are the Wild Waves Saying" Cousin Willie, Jack Martin and Aunty Maude also took part but there were very few there. Dad. had to be chairman.

Tuesday January 11th

It was frozen up this morning so after we got the chores done Dad. and I got in a load of corn and another one this after noon, we took two rows at a time so got quite a strip of land cleared, there are about two loads left out there yet, we put it up where the clover seed was cut left the last load on the waggon, we couldn't get it in before on account

of the clover seed taking up the room. To-night I went skating the ice was in beautiful shape. Dad has felt sick all day.

Wednesday January 12th

Dad. has been in bed all day and feels properly sick I guess he has the grip like all the rest of them althoug he hasn't a cold. It has kept me busy all day just doing the chores. Frank has felt a lot better but not well enough to be out. Dick still {feels his?} eyes pretty sore. Nicholson & Hazen came over to see him this evening. They told him not to try to come to work. Hazen told me last night they were getting along fine Mr. {Name?} has sold about fifteen dollars worth of chickens and only spends about ten minutes a day in the bank. It has rained most of the day but is colder to-night.

Tuesday January 13th

Dad. has been sitting up to-day but doesn't feel much better I think. Frank has been well enough to-day to help me do some of the chores but we didn't get anything else done. Mrs. Dyer came over to see Dick to-day He doesn't feel much better. It has been cold and stormy to-day

Friday January 14th

I saw they had steam up over at Sam's this morning and about nine o'clock Alan came in to see if one of us could go over. I was just going in to breakfast but he said he had to go down town so I didn't need to hurry, I went over and hung around for half an hour and we got started about half past ten, but as there were only two loads of alsike we got through before noon, it turned out pretty well as they got three bushels. I was the only extra hand there. Bert and I pitched out of the mow and Sam & Alan did the rest. I had dinner over there but when I got home found Frank had all the chores done so this after noon he and I took a small grist to the mill, small because we could only find about half a dozen empty bags. Tonight I went skating there was a little snow on the ice but it was pretty good. Dess & {Name?} Dyer came over to see Dick to-night so Frank had to see them home and didn't get back till long after I did. Dick has felt a great deal worse to-day about the sickest he has yet although his eyes are better. Dad. says he feels better to-night but he is pretty weak. It has been a nice day but pretty cold. This was Aunt Ida's birthday and I called in to wish her a happy one. Aunty & Aunty Alice were both at church but I saw them on my way home

Saturday January 15th

Frank and I have put in a busy day besides doing the chores we got in two loads of corn, we only took two rows in the two loads but in some places it was badly frozen in so we didn't have time to take full rows. Dad. has felt very miserable to day and has not been out of bed at all his eyes ache {illegible}. Aunty has been over all the after noon and I walked home with her after tea and got the mail. Dick is a little better. Very blustery day especially this after noon. Strong wind with snow and very cold.

Sunday January 16th

Frank went to church this morning and I did chores I got them pretty well done up before dinner and this after noon Dick and I went down town Dick wasn't much better but vowed he was coming down and stayed down all night. Essie, Marj. and I paid a visit to the Prestons this after noon every female member of that family are sick in bed and Arthur and Mr. P. are keeping house. I came home about half past five and did chores and went down again after tea I was too late for church so I went up to Huby's for about an hour. Aunty Maude was sick with neuraligia and had gone to bed & I met Essie & Marj. on their way from Methodist Church and went with them over to the Smith's, Harry & Fred were both home for Sunday. Mrs. Smith looked very badly. I came home fairly early. Elva & Mr. James were over here this after noon and Huby was here when I got home before tea but didn't stay to tea. Aunty Alice was over to dinner and part of the after noon. Very cold nor'west wind all day. Blizzardy

Monday January 17th

Frank went to school to-day but came home early this after noon he said they had to let a lot of them out as the school house was so cold. I haven't tried to do a thing but chores as it has been so cold. Dad. has felt better and was out at the barn for a little while to-day. To-night I went down to A.Y.P.A. but as there was no body there to conduct the meeting it adjourned and Marj. Glad. Law & I went to the picture show where we enjoyed ourselves much better. I looked in at Henry Buoy's pool room on my way home attracted by what sounded on the street like quite a racket but which proved to be only Al. Faulkner talking. I found Frank up there

watching a game between Bunyian and Fred Tuck. Bunyian was pretty well jagged and was shooting with the butt end of his cue. Frank and I stopped in at Aunty's on our way home and found Dick there for the night, he looks pretty rotten yet but says he feels all right. I tried on a couple of shirts which Aunty Alice made for Dad. but which were too small and which just about fit me so I inherited them. They're dandys too. I sat up till three o'clock after I got home and finished reading "Mr. {illegible} of {illegible}" It was pretty good but I thing I caught a bad cold over it. This I think has been the coldest day yet this winter frosty as well as windy.

Tuesday January 18th

Frank has been at school all day. I have just done chores and not tried to anything else, in fact the chores took up most of my time. Dad. went down town this morning and stayed at Aunty's to dinner and most of the after noon, he doesn't feel any worse for it what he suffers most from now is a peculiar, very disagreeable, undescribable and he says most rotten taste and sometimes smell that he gets on some of his food and most of all when he tries to smoke, he is longing for a smoke and hasn't had one for four days, he has filled and lit three different pipes but each one has the same taste and he just takes one draw then puts the pipe away with an exceedingly marked expression of utter disgust. Enah has caught the sore eye trouble in one eye and I have a peacherine of a cold in my head. Tid's eyes are both sore. It has been still cold & blizzardy all day but not so frosty as yesterday and I think is getting milder to-night.

Wednesday January 19th

It has been milder and sunny to-day and much milder to-night, but we haven't done anything but the chores.The little steer was off his feed this morning and I noticed he was badly bloated so Dad. has had a stick in his mouth most of the day to take the bloat down but it isn't all out to-night though better. Mr. Morgan was over here all the after noon and Dad. ordered six cherry trees from him and he is going to replace the two walnuts that died. To-night I went down to see if there was any skating but there was no one down. The ice is beautifully smooth where the wind has swept

it clear but there is too much snow to make skating. I took my skates up to the garage and left them to be sharpened and then went down to Aunty's for a little while. Aunty was just going to bed and was not {doing?} at all well all day. Dick was down there looking tough and hasn't been out of the house all day but says he feels better, over here Dad. & Enah both have very sore eyes and Enah feels pretty sick besides I think. Frank went down to-night with me and went up to Huby's.

Thursday January 20th

It has drizzled rain all day and every thing as slippery as grease or partly inundated, we have just done chores I cleaned out the chicken dropping boards this morning and this after noon I husked a little corn while Dad. cut some shelves to put up in the clothes room, Frank and I did up the night chores and Dad. went down to Aunty's for tea, he wanted to see how Aunty & Dick were, he hasn't seen Dick since Sunday. Frank saw him up town to-day at noon. To night I went down town and stumbled on the opening meeting of the "Never-ready Club" which consists of Marj. Glad. Law & Essie. They were all knitting or crocheting so I joined and just talked to them and held some yarn for Marj. to wind into balls. I got home about twelve after waiting for nearly two hours in at Hec's for Alan Law.

Wednesday Friday January 21st

Enah has at last got the grip she has felt very miserable all day and not been able to sit up or eat at all. The baby has a bad cough. This morning I got the chores pretty well done up and this after noon Dad. and I got some more of the chicken shed floor down, it wont take very much longer to finish it. To-night I walked down to Aunty Alice's with a couple of dozen eggs. Aunty feels better and Dick was up working. I stopped in at Quanbury's on my way home and gave Mr. Quanbury a dollar to join the Horticultural Society. Charlie & Art. were out at the farm for a load of straw. Very mild all day just like Spring, no colder to-night

Saturday January 22nd

Dad. has been in the house all day nearly again to-day with a headache. Enah was in bed all morning but felt better and was able to be up this afternoon while the poor baby is about half dead with the croup. He barks just

a little dog when he coughs and looks like the mischief and I guess feels as bad as he looks although he has been very good. Frank and I laid floor in the chicken house this morning and used up all the lumber we had, so this after noon we did up all the chores and drove down town in the waggon and got 20 {illegible} more, which we laid to-night after tea, we worked out there till nearly nine o'clock and only have it to finish up with a six inch board which has to be notched to fit the studding. Frank has developed a case of pink eye this after noon and has gone to bed to-night not being able to see out of his left eye. Dick came home to-night the first time since last Sunday. Very soft & mild. An April day.

Sunday January 23rd

Owing to the condition of the familys health this morning I had to most of the chores. Frank helped me clean out the cow stables after breakfast but he can't do much on account of his eye, he feels all right other ways and went back to the gully and set a rat trap this morning. Dad's head doesn't ache to-day and Enah says she feels a little better but the poor baby looks awful although his cough doesn't sound as bad. This after noon I went down town and also to-night. I came home at tea time to do chores, but Dad. & Frank had them all done. Aunty Alice has the doctor down to see Aunty this after noon, he says it is the regular grip she has It froze last night and has been colder to day but feels very like Spring.

Monday January 24th

Frank went to school this morning sore eyes and all. Dad. and I did up the necessary chores and then went out and got in the rest of the corn, there were three rows but we brought it all in one load and got it in about noon, this after noon Will Philips was in for quite awhile to ask Dad about a sick horse and then {Name?} McPherson came in to get us all to sign a petition to the Government to put through a total Prohibition Bill or submit it to the people, we all signed it. I would rather have waited to hear some more argument on the subject but as it stands it looks right enough to me. We then {cacked?} up a grist which I took down to the mill. To-night Frank and I went skating, the ice was great in spots but there were a lot of rough spots to skate into Dad has been out all day but feels too weak to work hard. Enah and Tid show very slight signs of improvement while Frank reports that Aunty though still in bed is a little better. Very mild all day & to-night. Spring.

Tuesday January 25th

This morning I went down to the mill and got the grist that I left there last night. I took the washing up to Mrs. McBride's as she was over this morning to say she could not come over to wash as Sam had to go out to Pow's and couldn't mind the kids, she gave me a whole pile of old cabbages which have been frozen two or three times for the chickens, soon after I got back Charlie Quanbury came over to get Dad. to look at old Corbett who Dad says is pretty sick, they drenched him the other night and Dad. thinks got some oil on his lungs. He didn't get back till noon as Jack Martin called him in there to show him a rooster with the chicken pox. I cleaned out the stables while he was gone.This after noon we were going to {polish?} the floor in the chicken house but just as we got the noon chores done Uncle Ward came over and visited all the after noon. About half past four we had to take Elgithe up to Ham Thompson's bull. She was very wild at first and we had a sling rope tied on to the end of her halter rope before we got out of the lane. I had caught my foot in the loop of the rope and had to let go and drop to get loose She dragged me a few feet before I got loose and then ran right down along the fence running into it and catchin in it every now and again, when she got to the corner she turned in Ivey's gate and ran for our line where we managed to head her off and catch her. Dad. took her on up and I went behind after she got a little cooled down she went as gentle as a lamb. To-night Frank and I went skating or at least down town to go skating but as there was no body on the pond we came to the conclusion that it was too soft so went down to see Aunty for awhile she is much better and came home. It has been very mild & muddy all day, looks very much like rain.

Wednesday January 26th

Dad and I have put in all our time to-day besides doing chores in putting down the last strip in the chicken house floor it only took one six inch board but Dad. had to cut it at each stud to make it fit right as the spaces between floor & wall were uneven between some of the streds, so it took a long time. Sam Law came in this morning to settle up accounts, we owe him six or seven dollars yet for thrashing. Alex Jamieson was in this afternoon to get some veterinary advice. To-night Dad. walked down

to see Aunty. Frank and I spent most of the evening catching pigeons. Hugh McQueen is buying them this time for a shooting match and paying thirty cents a pair for them. It has been too mild to day to wear a coat, but looks rainy.

Thursday January 27th

About the first thing this morning I went over to Mrs. McBride's and got the clothes. Aleta was there and Mrs. McBride away, they have all gone back to live with Sam and he has made all kinds of promises about acting like a good husband and father and they say he signed the total prohibition petition. Alan Law says it is all her fault anyway. He said this Christmas she asked him to go down to Jane's for dinner but Sam wanted to have their own Christmas at home and accordingly went down and bought a goose and presents for all the family when Christmas came he went home and as Alan says "No damned Susan there" so poor Sam had to eat alone, when she did come she "throwed" the presents and spoke very desparagingly of them. "Why" Alan says "How would you like it if you were a married man to go home there at night and have to get your own supper and have no woman to sit down and talk to and go to bed alone and have her come prowling in about midnight and then never get up in the morning to get your breakfast and the house all upset, its enough to make any man discouraged." He said " I've lived beside them a long time and know them both and there isn't a better man living than Sam McBride." "Yes" I said "I guess he's all right when he's sober" "Why" Alan said "I never found him out of the way when he was drunk, and if she was half the woman that he is a man there would be no drinking go on in that house." However they are a united family at present we'll see how long it will last. When I got home from there I took a chicken down to Aunty Alice and just got home by noon. Joe was feeling very much like what might be expected since she has done nothing whatever the last couple of weeks but stand in and eat oats and hay too of course, but the roads were so bad she couldn't do much, they say the frost is all out in some places, Alan says that Fred Rose down the Plank was digging post holes to-day. This after noon Dad. and I carried four big bundles of straw over to the the chicken's new floored scratchin shed. I think it is going to be a great improvement. To-night I

went down to the Red Cross supper in the Town Hall I was to have called for Aunty Alice at six o'clock but I was late so she had gone so I went alone but had my tea with Dick & Dess. There were some dandy cakes there but as usual in such cases my stomach became incapacitated long before my appetite was satiated. I went home with Marj. & Essie and later we went to the picture show, we had to use brute force to get Essie past the Methodist Church as there was a prayer meeting going on and she was supposed to be there to play and we literally dragged her away from it. It's a war prayer meeting and as I tell her the Germans are praying as hard as we are and I suppose there are lots of them just as good in God's sight as there are of us so in all probability God will wind it up in his own way in spite of all of us. I really think about like Aunty Alice that praying and fighting don't go very well to-gether that if we trust so much in our own strength we oughtn't to expect much help from Heaven or if we do want Divine help we should throw down our arms and pray for it, but of course that is out of the question as we are too human for that. I got a ride home with Dick & Alan. I don't know what has struck me to-night to write so much diary but it is half past twelve now so I am going to bed. Dad. has just been out for a while to smoke he got so hot in bed he couldn't go to sleep. This is really the most remarkable weather for January I ever heard of. It has rained a good part of to day and to-night was too mild to wear an overcoat. It is hard to believe that it is midwinter.

Friday January 28th

Dad. and I put off the load of corn which was on the waggon this morning and also nailed on the boards which block up the space over the south doors of the old barn We didn't do much this after noon but chores, we took the nests out of the rooster's pen and put them up in the pullets end of the scratching shed, the pile of straw we put in there has kept them busy most of the day, we also swept out the brooder and put it in the colony house. Tonight Dad. & Frank have gone down town Dick expects Ferdy to-night for a few days and as the roads are too bad to drive down Dad. took the lantern and is going to wait at Aunty's for them, they have to call on Dess & maybe take in the show before they come over. Colder to-day freezng to-night

Saturday January 29th

Ferdy arrived safely last night and aparently in good condition as whe Enah inquired after his health he expressed the fact "that he didn't have no kick coming." We haven't seen any thing of him since soon after breakfast as he has spent the day in town. Frank was down town most of the morning getting his teeth filled. I did a few chores but spent most of the day making a hopper in the chicken house and putting in a {illegible} and another couple of {illegible}. This evening I filled the two hoppers with a whole bag of rolled oats and also put in grit and dried meat scrap. Dad and Frank went down town and got a load of coal. To-night Frank has gone down again to get a link of stove pipe for the little {illegible} coal stove, it has to be made a {illegible} and {illegible} narrow {illegible} to put on the stove and be {illegible} six inch pipe. Dunn has sent over two {illegible} {Illegible} but none are big enough although Dad. took an exact impression of the hob on a piece of cardboard and sent it down but Dunn said he should have sent down the shape made of wire so he did this after noon. It froze fairly hard last night but except for a cold and raw east wind it has not been very wintry to-day. It is raining & freezing as it comes to-night.

Sunday January 30th

We all got up late this morning and none of us got ready in time to go to church. This after noon Dick, Ferdie & I walked down and I spent the afternoon and evening up at the Bagley's. I had tea at Aunty's and went to church with Aunty Alice. It has been a horrible day raining most of the time, to-night it was pouring rain and very dark when I went down to Aunty's after my overshoes so I stayed all night. Aunty feels quite a lot better to-day.

Monday January 31st

I got up fairly early this morning but it was still raining when I was ready to start for home so I thought I would wait and see if Dad. drove the boys down in which case I knew he would call for me. I finished reading "The Road Mender" by Michael Fairless which I started down there last fall when I was sick and have read part of since whenever I had time, then Aunty Alice and I had a game of chess I had nearly forgotten the game but she reminded me as we went along and we had quite a game. Neither one of us won because about ten o'clock we came to the conclusion that Dad. wasn't down

and that we shouldn't be wasting any more time in the middle of the morning, so we quit without either being checked. By the time I got home and got my clothes changed it was nearly noon. This after noon we didn't do much but chores and husk a little corn. Ferdie went down town. Frank and I went down to A.Y.P.A to-night but they didn't do anything down there much but adjourn. Mr. Johnson was not there as he was called away very suddenly this morning to Muskoka to the supposed death-bed of his uncle. Glad Law brought the minute book as Marj. has the grip. I went in with Glad. after the meeting to see her. She looks the picture of health and says she feels alright as long as she is sitting down but she got so sick and dizzy in school this morning that she had to let the kids all out and go home before recess. I went down to Aunty's on my way home Aunty Alice had gone up to Cousin Loll's to play bridge. Frank came in while I was there and we came home to-gether. The marble season has commenced already I suppose on account of the open weather. Frank has been playing all evening and has about thirty he had none when he went down I borrowed some from him and we played odd & even all the way home and I had the same old luck that I used to have when Egg. Thompson & I used to play all day in school, started with about a dozen and only had about five or six when we got home. Dick and Ferdie where here when we got home, they got a ride with Alan. It has been very mild all day but is colder to-night.

Tuesday February 1st

It froze a little last night but not much after I cleaned out the stables I took some manure around to put on the front beds and the frost was all out in the sod. I took another strip off by the rhubarb bed that I started last fall. Dad. cut a piece off the stack. This after noon Aunty Alice came over and we didn't do much. Alan came in towards dark with ten bushels of potatoes he got from {Name?] Waddle at $1.00 and we were going to take four bushels and he was to leave five of theirs in our cellar as they have no place to keep them and he took one bag home to use. To-night Frank and I went out to catch some more pigeons for Hugh McQueen's match but could only catch two. Ferdie has been down town all the after noon in fact went before dinner. Poor old Tige has been sick all day. I don't know what is the matter with her, she doesn't seem to want to move. I guess she has the grip. It has been colder this after noon and is freezing hard to-night with strong N.W wind.

Wednesday February 2nd

After breakfast this morning Dad. got started reading Happy Hawkins aloud so we didn't get out very early and didn't do any thing but chores. Enah went down town before dinner as Aunty Alice told her yesterday that her father was quite ill, she was down all the after noon, so Dad. Ferdie & I had dinner alone. This after noon we did chores and Dad. trimmed Queen's & Gingers hooves, he had a few chores to do around the house too. I went over to Jack Martin's to get a couple of roosters to mate up with my hens but they were too busy shipping birds to get them for me to-night. I went down to Quanburys with {illegible} nursery stock I {rest of sentence illegible} To-night Frank and I went down town. Frank took some eggs down to the store and his two pigeons which we caught last night. I went around to see Marj. she feels pretty wobbly yet but looks well (if looks were all that were concerned I wish she was {illegible} all the time allthough her every day looks are ok its been colder and cloudy to day Bear saw his shadow

Thursday February 3rd

This morning I went over to Martin's to get four roosters to mate my hens. I was over there quite a while and was just starting off with a couple intending to come back after the other two when Dad. came in he had helped Enah bring the baby through the field so he helped me take the four home. Enah spent the day down town again as her father is still very ill although a little better to-night. Ferdy went down with her and has been down town all day. The old hen hatched out four of the thirteen eggs I got from Jack but one of them got chilled to-day and died. Dad. brought her and the other three into the kitchen this after noon. I haven't done any thing but chores and read this after noon It has been cold and rather stormy so Dad went down to Aunty's about four o'clock to bring the baby home but Enah had taken him up to the Jame's and Dad. didn't go up there after him. Mrs. Hodge died to-day and the old man is just about all in. Bruce Dell was over before tea to get Dad. to go down and look at thier old cow which is bloated. Dad. gave Bruce a great raking over but has gone down to-night. I trimmed the tag locks off the hens to-night with the sheep shears. I got a fac-simile of the letter Dick got (the other day) from Pratt yesterday telling me it was my duty to join the 133rd Norfolk Battalion. Holly Bush got one but Holly says he won't answer the requirements as he

over the age limit (45 years) and under the minimum heighth which is 5 ft 2 but I am sure there are fellows down there shorter than Holly and he says he is only 5 ft 1 in. I think they are taking almost any body who will join. Old Bill George and two of his sons have enlisted. Old Bill will make a pretty figure in uniform. If they aim high enough he will make a good mark but they could shoot a good sized shell between his knees and him standing at attention. Hammy Innes joined yesterday too. Hammy joined on a bet. Hargreaves one of the boys in khaki bet Hammy he could spot him 25 playing pool and beat him. Hammy took him up. Hargreaves said if he did would he enlist and Hammy said he would so when he lost he kept his word. I thought he would some day anyway, he has been the butt of a good deal of sarcasm as there were a great many "patriotic" busy bodies who couldn't understand what their was to keep him home. They will have to turn all their attention to Cliff Lees now but I don't think it will affect him much. He is off to-day seeing L.G. Morgan & the Penman's Company for the pond or something or other. I think the lawsuit was to come off to day. If he beats them I guess he is smarter than most people took him for but he can't be any crookeder

Friday February 4th

We haven't done much all day but chores. Enah went over to the Martin's this morning and telephoned down to find out how her father was and found he had had a good night and was better. This after noon I got my duds picked out for the hard time ball and Enah cleaned them up. I got a long tailed coat of Dad's out in the wood shed and a light coloured vest and wore one of my new blue and white shirts that Aunty Alice made me with a little plaid bow tie after that I just sat around and listened to Dad. read Happy Hawkins. Enah, Dad. & the baby went down to Aunty's for tea so Frank and I had ours alone, Ferdy having gone down early in the afternoon to stay at the Dyer's or Henry's to tea and taken a suitcase full of clothes for himself and Dick. Frank and I went down as soon as I got togged up. I went into Aunty's for a minute or two and then went up to see how Marj. was, she has been at school the last two days and was waiting for Glad Law to go down and watch the dance for a little while I went down with them they all laughed heartily at my costume but when we got there we found very few dressed out of the ordinary

Hazen was the best he had the doggonedest outfit on I ever saw great big coloured patches sewed all over his clothes and an old bit of side line for a belt with an alarm clock hanging to it for a watch it would go off every time there was a lull in the dancing The girls went home early and didn't dance at all. I went up with them and went in to show my self to Essie who had been at choir practice. She didn't say much and appeared shocked, it's part of her Methodist tomfoolery to think dancing, wicked, though I don't suppose she could tell why to save her neck. There wasn't such a big crowd there but we certainly had a good time Dad. & Enah didn't get there till quite late. Enah had a tray there which she had carved and which she raffled off. Sam Morris drew the lucky ticket, we got home before three o'clock. Enah staying down at Aunty's where Tid was. It has got milder this after noon and was snowing when we came home

Saturday February 5th

I did a few chores to-day but spent most of the time just sitting around and going to sleep. I wrote to Quint this after noon and read a good deal of the newspaper as it is full of the accounts of the awful fire at Ottawa which destroyed the Parliament Buildings, they don't know yet whether the fire was caused by accident or whether it was the work of Germans but they have arrested one man on suspicion. It was an awful fire as seven people lost their lives two of them women and one a member and it destroyed what they say was the most beautiful public building in Canada North America. It has snowed most of the day and is very much milder. Enah walked home with the baby this morning Dad. killed and dressed three chickens but none of us have done much. Frank husked corn & copied notes.

Sunday February 6th

Frank, Enah and I went to church this morning and were quite late, Frank and I especially, I stayed down at Aunty's to dinner and spent most of the afternoon at the Bagley's I came back to Aunty's for tea and went to church this evening with Aunty Alice, she went around after church with the Tibbits and I went home with Marj. & Glad Law. We had a new preacher as Mr. Johnson is still up in Muskoka with his sick uncle, this man was a Mr. Low from Stratford and

seemed like a very nice man as well as a fairly good preacher. I went in to Aunty's on my way home to say good-bye to Ferdy as he is leaving in the morning and is going to stay there all night so as he will be handy to the train. It has been quite mild to-day and has snowed considerably.

Monday February 7th

This has been a regular winter day cold, some snow and very windy. We didn't do any thing but chores and Dad. put cotton on the last frame for the chicken house. This after noon I went down and got a tooth filled and stayed at Aunty Alice's to tea. Arthur Anderson walked over this morning to get Dad. to give him an order for some binder twine but Dad. didn't and afterwards he changed his mind so I gave them an order for fifty lbs this after noon. Mr. & Mrs. Johnson, some people Aunty Alice knew in Fort Saskatchewan came in to-night and I went with her to the station to meet them. She spoke to to drive them up and he did but Mrs. {Name?} came in from {illegible} out of the hospital so he took her home first and had to drive very slowly and then as he was so close, went up to Davie's with Ida so by the time we got down to the house we might far better have walked. I went right back up with Al. and went around to call at the Moon's to say good bye to Miss Misner (Minnie) who is leaving in the morning to go with the Queen's University Kingston Corps to be a military nurse at Cairo, Egypt. She & Mrs. Moon were just leaving when I got there to go to the Sunday school were the A.Y.P.A. and Willing Workers were entertaining the soldiers and sent Miss Misener an invitation so I went with them. Mrs. Skey & Mrs. Col. Smith were there representing the I.O.D.E. and presented Miss Misener with an adress & a purse. The orchestra was there and Cousin Willie was chairman, after quite a programe in which the soldiers "did their bit" we had refreshments and it was quite late when Frank and I got home.

Tuesday February 8th

Dad and I took our steer down to Bagley & Miller's slaughter house where Whit Dixon is going to kill him for us We stopped in at Aunty's on our way back. Mr. & Mrs. Johnson wanted to come over this after noon and see Jack Martin's chickens and as Mrs. Johnson is a little lame they wanted me to come down after dinner and drive

her over so I did and Mr. Johnson & Aunty Alice walked over. Dad. came over and met us there and after we had seen pretty well all the plant he & Mr. Johnson drove over to the farm. I walked over and Aunty Alice & Mrs. Johnson called on Mrs. Martin and walked home. About half past four Dad. Enah & Mr. Johnston & the baby went down to Aunty {illegible} Frank and I did chores and had our tea alone. The Johnsons are going in the morning. Mrs. McBride has been here {washing?} all day. I am {illegible} there are hot times going on between the Martin's & Quanbury's, the latter accused the former of listening to their telephone talk and old Mrs.Martin and Mrs. Charlie went over and called the Quanbury's down and John says Charlie called the boys all kind of names Jack is away but he isn't mixed up in it any way. It has not been so cold to-day and has snowed all the afternoon.

Wednesday February 9th

We did chores this morning and I put cotton on the window in the old hen's pen and blocked it up with boards where the glass had come out. Dad. had another fall after dinner and hurt his elbow quite badly. About four o'clock we hooked the big team to the waggon and went down to get our beef, we went right over to the slaughter house but Whit wasn't there so I had to walk back up town to get him and he drove me back. He had the beef killed and halved so it didn't take long to get him, we weighed one side and figured the whole carcass at 376 lbs, hindquarter 100 lbs and front 88 lbs, we got home about five thirty and I carried the meat down cellar Dad. isn't able to lift much after his fall. It has been mild but raw & cloudy to-day a little more snow but not enough for sleighing.

Thursday February 10th

This morning after doing chores I tacked cotton over the other window in the old hen's pen. I took the two frames out to put glass in where it had come out but didn't have any panes to fit it so just put the cotton in. Dad. gave Jim a dose of salts she hasn't been just right since he was sick. This after noon he and I went down and got a load of coal, we took the waggon although there are a lot of sleighs out but we didn't think we could have a load over the road from here to the corner and around the hill Alan Law was in and got a couple of sacks of oats which

we owed him, they haven't a place yet but are thinking of taking Charlie McQueen's if they can ever get Charlie to make any agreement. To-night I went down town and just sat around and talked to Marj. all evening, she and Essie have each knitted a Red Cross sock so I tried them both on. Cloudy and raw wind all day. Clear and frosty to-night.

Friday February 11th

We didn't do much but chores this morning and unloaded our load of coal. This after noon I copied out a long letter I wrote to Lt. Col. Pratt in answer to the one I got on the recruiting subject. I sat up till two o'clock last night to write it About four o'clock Dad. hooked up Joe & Ginger to the cutter and took Enah & the baby down to Aunty's for tea, after tea Dad. Frank and I walked down as Aunty Alice's party that she has been talking about for the last month in honor of Dick's birthday All the family where there but noone else except Marj. & Dess. We had a great time Huby keeping us laughing most of the time and the baby enjoying himself but not very bad. I showed Huby the letter I wrote to Pratt and he advised me not to send it. Dick and I got a ride home with Alan Law but had to wait till after twelve in at Hec's for him to start. Rather stormy but not very cold.

Saturday February 12th

Did chores all morning and Dad. drove down and brought Enah & the baby home as they stayed down at Aunty's all night. This after noon we hooked Joe & Queen up to the cutter and went down town. Queen went fine, she balked a little when we first started out at a snow drift and broke her martingale. Jim isn't any better to-day Dad. gave her another dose of salts but she won't eat or drink a thing. It has been very blustery to-day but not very cold.

Sunday February 13th

Frank and I went to church this morning and Frank went down to Sunday school. This after noon I took Joe & Ginger with the cutter and took Marj. & Glad. Law for a drive it was pretty cold up the gravel so we didn't go far. I brought the team home and then went down to Aunty Alice's to tea, there was no church in our church to-night. Cousin Willie conducted the service this morning. Mr. Johnson is still in Muskoka. Art. Quanbury told me this afternoon that they had telephoned over from the Jame's to get Enah to go down first thing in the morning so I went up to inquire into things to-night and found Mrs. James was in bed with a swelled neck and Elva wanted Enah to go down in the morning so she could go to work. I then went around and

helped Marj make valentines for her kids. It has been sunny to day but a very cold wind it is freezing hard to-night but a lovely night, moonlight and still.

Monday February 14th

Dad. took Enah down to the Jame's this morning and Dick & Frank went at the same time. Enah took the baby with her When Dad. got back we took a hindquarter of the beef down to Aunty Alice & Dad. cut it up partly for her. It was nearly noon when we got back. I went to sleep in the chair after dinner and didn't wake up till about two o'clock. Then Dad. and I went out and sacked up the wheat which was over in the big barn and hauled it over to the old barn we had to make two trips with it as we only had two bags but we filled the fifty bushel bin nearly, there was more here than we thought there was. To-night I went down to see "What {happened?} to Jones" which was put on by a bunch of Waterford amateurs and it was good and very comical. I was surprised to see Frank come in and sit down ahead of us with a nice looking little girl who Marj. told me was her cousin Olive Ward. He stayed down at Aunty's all night to get measured for a shirt. Enah and the baby also stayed down at the James. Poor Dad. had a very sad accident to-day as he killed his little canary, it flew out of its cage when he was giving it water as it often does and lit on the other cage which is suspended from the ceiling by a wire, he went to lift the cage up and instead of it coming off the wire the wire came off the ceiling and flopped over and broke the little fellow's back. It was a dandy singer and a great pet of Dad's. It is the last one, he has certainly had bad luck with them. Last night was the coldest night by a long way we have had this winter, the lowest reported temperature that I heard was 18° below zero and it has been very nipper all day but it is not so cold to-night.

Tuesday February 15th

Alan Law came in about half past nine this morning with his blue grass seed to take to sell so we threw on our (clover seed?) and he & I lit out for Simcoe. Frank & Aunty had just come over. We stopped in at Lynn Valley and Alan asked the fellow there what he would give him for his seed and the fellow told him just four dollars. Alan knew he had 210 lbs of it and Green had offered him 2 cts a lb the other night on a sample so Alan thought he might as well take it on to Simcoe, then it turned out that Green backed out and

wouldn't give him more than 1 1/2 cts a lb. making the excuse that he couldn't see the other night and didn't know there was so much wild flax in it, but Alan says he promised him the 2 cts for it. He then began to wish he had left it at Lynn Valley so he went and telephoned the fellow and found he was still willing to pay four dollars so on our way home we left it, although we hated to as of course the fellow rubbed it in about not talking a man's word. They were about all the after noon cleaning my seed, they put it through about three times and out of the five bags & a half of stuff I took up I got one bag of clean seed but they got it pretty clean and charged me $1.25 for cleaning it. We didn't know what to do with all the dirt they cleaned out most of it plantain which looked like onion seed, but we loaded it on and when we got to Lynn Valley the fellow there told us to take in through to the back of the mill and dump it through a hole in the floor into the creek where he says he throws tons of it every year so we did saving one bag to fool Dad. with. We got done just about six after a very enjoyable outing. Frank stayed home all day and he & Dad. got all the oats over in the big barn sacked up and half of them hauled over to the old barn. Aunty was over all day and just before we got back Dad. drove her down and brought Enah and the baby back. Frank told me that Val. Leany had quite a patch of ice cleared to cut ice and there were a few skating on it when he went down so to-night I went down, there wasn't a soul there but I went accross the pond there and thought it was pretty good so went up and got Marj. it took a lot of coaxing to get her to come alone but she did and we had a dandy skate for about an hour. We saw a couple on snow shoes go up the pond and we judged from their voices it was George Henderson & Nell Hussey. When we got back to the Bagleys we found Nell. Smith & Bill Marchington, he is supposed to be sick so came up here to recover. Raw wind but much milder.

Wednesday February 16th

This morning we did chores and hauled the oats which Frank and Dad. sacked up yesterday over to the old barn. This afternoon we bagged up about twelve bags of barley and oats and I took them down to be chopped, that grist took nearly all the pile. About six I took Dad. Enah & the baby down town. Tid. stayed down at the house and Dad. & Enah went to

the Methodist tea meeting. Frank and I had our tea alone. Frank has been in the house all day with a cold. It has been milder to-day and to-night there was a sort of sleet storm.

Thursday February 17th

First thing this morning I drove down in the bobsleighs after Enah and the baby as they stayed down all night. I took 3 1/2 doz. eggs down to Bagley & Miller's and got 27 cts for them. When I got back I went down to the mill and got the grist I took down last night. This after noon Dad. & I cleaned out all the chicken houses but not the scratching pens, that took us nearly all the after noon and haven't been able to clean off the dropping boards during the frozen weather and the floors were sadly in need of fresh sraw. Frank went to school to-day. It has been a beautiful spring day very soft and mild but misty and colder to-night.

Friday February 18th

This morning Dad. & I hauled the oats that he and Frank sacked up on Tuesday over to the old barn and took what few that were there cleaned up over to the horse stable. This after noon we sacked up what was left of the barley & oats but there wasn't much more than ten or twelve bushels. To-night Marj. and I went to the picture show but it wasn't much good. It has been pretty mild all day but blustery and cold to-night.

Saturday February 19th

Colin Ryerse came up before we had breakfast this morning to get Dad. to go down and tend to a cow which calved yesterday morning so he went down soon after breakfast. Frank and I did a few chores and then hauled the hay rack from the old barn over to the big one to put on a load of hay for the horse stable as we are just out there. We didn't get much on before dinner as I wanted to take it from the back of the mow and it was a long way to carry it. Then Charlie Quanbury came in with Dad's injecting pump which he had for Corbett and he delayed us quite awhile visiting and before he left Colin Ryerse brought Dad. back and he hung around and talked till about noon and then I took the car off the track over in the barn as Dad. thought we had better take it down while there was lots of hay under it This after noon Dad. & I soon put a load on and Frank loaded it and we got it hauled over and pitched off by soon after four. Bill Marchington came over and invited me to go with them to Simcoe to skate, he saw Dad. first and asked if Tobias

was in, so Dad. took him for a recruiting officer as that is the way Pratt's letters have been addressed to me. However when I identified him Dad. showed him the sheep & horses and was friendly enough. Bill had hired a team and two seater sleigh from Faulkner and six of us went up, Nellie, Essie & Marj. Bill, Roy Dell & myself. I was appointed driver and so was in the front seat with Bill & Nellie. The nigh mare, Maud (which I think is the same mare Al. got from Walt McCall and which is widely known to be a devil) got started to go in a canter as soon as we started out and before we got to the head of Main St. my arm was just about all in trying in vain to bring her down to a trot. Once we got on the Gravel she lengthened out into a full run and there seemed to be no way of holding her. I stood up and see-sawed and at last Bill took them till I got my gloves off to get a better grip but he couldn't hold them at all and then we each took a line, all this time poor Nellie was getting more frightened, this method of driving of canter had its disadvantages and Maude got into the ditch and nearly upset us once and Bill had to get over in the middle to rest his arm so I was sitting on the arm of the seat and came within an ace of falling out, however when we got up about to Barwell's place we struck some loose ground and then Maude came down to a walk perforce and used all her energy to draw and from Bill Robert's corner to the halfway house we went at a stately walk, as I didn't want to get them sarted again till we turned the corner anyway and the girls were very well satisfied with the gait. Nellie was very nervous and Essie was inclined to be although she was in the back seat but I don't think Marj. cared a cent. They went at a delightful trot all the way into Simcoe and we certainly had a very enjoyable time at the rink, the band was there and the ice in lovely shape, afterwards we all went into Leas and had oyster soup, Bill standing treat for everything Roy didn't come home with us as he being in the 133rd Batt. band is practised in Simcoe and has to be on hand in the morning for church parade I suppose. The team acted fine coming home and we had a fine drive back. We started off with the three girls in the back seat but when we got down on the Dover Gravel Bill got me to stop and he changed places with Marj. and he and Esse nearly froze poor Nellie with their actions, Essie pretended to resist strongly but she enjoyed herself just the same Nellie didn't like it so well. I took the team to the barn after letting them all out at the Bagley's corner and I was about half dead when I got home about one o'clock. Dick came in half an hour later. It has been cold all day but milder to-night.

Sunday February 20th

Frank went down to Sunday school and Enah and I went to church. Dad. drove Enah down but I walked. The soldiers were all in our church this morning and behaved themselves very well right from Bunyan & Hammy down to Bill George. Hammond went to sleep during the sermon but didn't cause any disturbance and woke up in time to lead the boys out. Aunty came over here to dinner with Enah and Frank but I had dinner at Aunty Alices I spent the after noon at the Bagley's and also the evening. Nellie & Bill were there to tea so I stayed too. Marj. & I went to church and the rest all went to Methodist church but we all met again afterwards and had some music. Mr. Bagley went to the recruiting meeting in the town hall. They say Kelly (Redmond Kinsular) has enlisted with the Haldimand batt. and old Rickford went down to Toronto to enlist but couldnt qualify I went in to see Aunty for a few minutes on my way home, it has been very mild all day but is colder to-night.

Monday February 21st

It froze hard last night and has been pretty cold all day. We didn't do much but chores all day. Just before dinner Dad & I went back across the gully to see if we could get the plow and bring it up but it was stuck to fast with the frost so we took the doubletrees and chain off of it and brought them up. This after noon I drove Enah down to the dentists' and she walked home. To-night I went down and saw Harry Moon about taking the orchestra up Vittoria to play at a dance they are having on Wednesday night. I am afraid I won't be able to take them unless the roads improve for sleighing, but I am to let him know on Wednesday morning I went over to make arrangements with Marj. to go to the carnival in Simcoe to-morrow night but she wasn't home and I couldn't find her. Essie went up this after noon to the Russian concert. Dad. and Enah drove down to-night to go to a party at Aunty Alices and I went down there and drove Joe home. I then crawled into bed beside the baby's cot and went to sleep he woke up as usual but I took him in beside me and just let him cry for awhile and he soon went to sleep.

Tuesday February 22nd

We did chores and husked a little corn this morning and this after noon cleaned out the ice house, at least Dad. did I helped him till about three o'clock and then went in and got

my clothes picked out for the carnival and got fixed up. I got an old evening dress coat and a vest that Dad. wore at the Jacobite show and Aunty Alice and Enah fixed some lace around the throat of it. Miss Phipps and Aunty Alice came over this after noon. Miss Phipps didn't stay long and wanted Dad to read a poem on Saturday night as they are giving the soldiers another feed it being the anniversary of Paardeburg.

Aunty Alice stayed to tea and later Miss Harding came down over and she stayed too I drove then both down when I went about six. I called for Marj. and found her all decked out in a suit covered with pennants of different towns and looked fine. We had a fine time, Essie went up yesterday and stayed all day to-day at the Hogg's so we stopped there on our way up but they weren't going in costume so we went on, we were surprised and rather disappointed at the very small crowd. There weren't more than a couple of dozen in costume I don't believe. However we had a good skate Essie Miss Hoag, Mr & Mrs Murray Hamilton and some Bob. Hunter a soldier and a cousin of Miss Hoag's came on after the judging was done and we were there till about ten o'clock, we then went down to the Hoags and had something to eat and drink altogether having a very nice time I think. Essie came home with us and we got in soon after one. We had to take the buggy as it has been very soft and sunny all day and the snow melted.

Wednesday February 23rd

Dad. and I went down first thing this morning and got a load of ice, there was a big crowd of teams around the platform and we had to wait quite awhile to get loaded. It snowed about an inch last night so we took the sleighs but the hill was about bare so I went over to the mill and told Harry Moon I wouldn't be able to take them up to night but when we got to the top of the hill with our load, we found they got up quite well so I went back and told Harry I would take them, he said they would much rather go in the sleighs than the automobile if it was possible. It was about noon when we got the load off. This after noon Dad. hauled two more loads and I did up the stables and chinked the ice we had in. To-night I took Harry & Joe and got down to Harry Moon's about seven or a little after. Besides the five members of the orchestra, there were five girls waiting to go. Winnie, Frances Slocombe, {Frances?} Dyer and the two Fisher girls. We got to Vittoria in about an hour, the roads were far better than I expected and we jogged along all the

way at a pretty good rate, old Harry got pretty well warmed up but I got them in a stable at the hotel so I guess it didn't hurt him any. We had a fine time up there in the old hall. I had about the best time I ever had and every one else said the same. Carl Coleman and Pat brought another load up and there were several others from Dover up. Mr & Mrs. Rev Johnson were there and Mr Johnson had a high time. We stopped dancing soon after three but it was quite awhile before we got started for home. The return ride was a delightful one as the moon was well up and the air clear and frosty. By the time I got home, the team put away and into bed it was about five o'clock. The orchestra paid me two dollars for taking them and it cost me one dollar and sixty cents. Harry said I neen't have paid the dollar to dance as their driver alwas got in free but the proceeds were for patriotic purposes and I had such a whale of a time I didn't begrudge it. The hotel fellows soaked me fifty cents for putting the team in and ten cents for checking the robes. The soldiers all went to a dance in Port Ryerse to-night, they went in three loads and one load upset and the team got away according to reports coming home Hammy Innes was driving and it was the same team that took us to Simcoe last Saturday night. Very soft but cloudy all day.

Thursday February 24th

I didn't get up till half past nine this morning and have just being doing chores and chinking ice all day. Dad. didn't haul a load this morning but hauled a couple this after noon. The sleighing on the hill was completely gone so he had to haul in the waggon, nothing of importance happened to day it has been mild but there is quite a snowstorm to night.

Friday February 25th

It snowed hard about all night so there was plenty of it this morning to make dandy sleighing. Dad took the boys down in the bob sleighs and intended to bring a load of ice back with him but the engine down there was broked down again so he couldnt get any, he went down to the house and shoveled all their paths for them I did chores and chinked the last load of ice we put in last night. Dad. thought one of us ought to attend the annual meeting of the patron's of the Black Creek Creamery in the town hall this after noon so said he would haul a load of ice and I could go although I wasn't very keen on it. The secretary and auditors made their reports which were satisfactory and Lea Marshall hit them up for a raise. He gave a statement

of his expenses and receipts at the request of George Hammond and explained that the factory was getting into a very bad state of repair while help was going to be scarcer an consequently much dearer next year so that he found he could not make butter for three cents a lb as he has beeng doing and asked for a raise of half a cent. After hearing this explanation and also that Lea had been offered good big wages to go and make butter for other fellows no one demurred in giving the three and a half cents so it was resolved to give it to him. There was another speaker there from Guelph or some place Mr Hearns I think his name was and I think represented the Dairyman's Association and he gave us a nice address on the care of cream and the production of it, I'd heard it or read it all before more than once but still it was interesting. After the meeting I went upstairs to see the soldiers' clubroom, it was very nicely furnished and decorated and looked very comfortable, most of the boys were out on their march but Hammond and three others were playing cards up there and another one over in the corner running a phonograph I then went up and got my hair cut and went over to the Post Office to see when May Perry would be ready to go to the dance to-night, she promised to go but when I went over backed out and said she was too tired so I didn't urge her very much but I heard afterwards that she went to Simcoe to-night with Elva so if that's the case I'm through with her. I stopped in at Aunty's on my way home and Mr. & Mrs. {Name?} Bowlby and Eva were just leaving. Just as I got home Dad. was coming out in the cutter to go down and bring Aunty over to stay all night with the baby, so I went down instead. To-night Dad. Enah and I went to the country dance in the town hall, it was got up by George Crosbie, Charlie Long and Sid. McBride and there was certainly a crowd there I didn't get there till about eleven as I went over to see Marj. for a little while, but as it didn't break up till about half past four I was in lots of time to have some fun. I didn't dance anything much but square dances but it was mostly square dances and I didn't miss many. There was such a crowd that they could hardly dance a round dance. There were a few townspeople there including Toty Smith, the R.M Taylor's, the Si. Butlers, the Carl Coleman's, Mrs {Name?}, Mrs. Sinclair and a few others and every body from the country. Kelly was there all dolled up in his uniform, he is still teaching school but starts to drill on the first of March. Dad. and Enah didnt stay as long as they might have but I was there as long as any and the town clock

struck five just as I was ploughing through the snow under the hickory nut tree over here in Martin's field and I didn't waste very much time in getting to bed. It has been a nice day

Saturday February 26th

I didn't get up till half past ten this morning as nobody woke me. I did wake up up when Frank got up at seven and thought of getting up then, but before I could get the proposition properly turned over in my mind, I had got myself comfortably turned over in bed and knew no more till ten thirty. Frank and Dad did chores and when I got out Frank and I chinked the load of ice Dad got yesterday and packed in sawdust while Dad. went down and got another load before dinner. This after noon Dad. took a load of ice down to the cheese factory as all the farmers are hauling one load for Lea Marshall. Frank and I did chores and Alan Law brought us over a load of ice. He said he wasn't going to be done out of hauling one load for us as it might be his last one if they move away. He was half way up the hill on his way home when he saw Dad. drive into the ice platform so he came back and offered to take a load over on his way home. Dad. didn't get home till late and was about frozen he brought a load of coal back with him, he said he had to break a track all the way down and it filled up as fast as he made it. Frank drove Enah down town this after noon to a supper and entertainment the ladies of the I.O.D.E. gave to the soldiers and cadets. I stayed in the house in case Tid. woke up and started to write this but went to sleep, however the baby didn't wake up till Dad. got home, we had tea with out Enah and about half past nine I drove down to Aunty Alices and got her. Cousin Clare came up up to-night from Hamilton very unexpectedly to stay for a week. The two latest recruits to sign up with the 133rd are to say the least a variety, they being Jonas Green and Ed. Moon. Neither have been examined yet so I don't think there is any chance of Jonas being accepted as he is terribly ruptured and it seems to be uncertain whether Ed is going in the ranks or is going to train for an officer. The war news for the week has not been very cheering. The big German offensive has become a terrific and desperate drive concentrated on the French line around Verdun. The French are falling back closer to the Verdun forts and will no doubt do every thing in their power to hold it as if it falls the road will be open for Paris, and those who should know say that if the Huns enter Paris, London will be in a very grave predicament. Very blizzardy day and snowing hard to-night.

Sunday February 27th

None of us went to church or Sunday school this morning as we didn't get up in time. I didn't do anything much all morning but got shaved and this after noon Dad. drove Dick and me down town. He had to drive through the lane a couple of times to break a track as it was filled right up. I took a couple of dozen eggs that were no good for Jack to Aunty Alice and two dozen and a half of Jack's eggs to Mr. Hobbes, he has been beggng and coaxing Dick to bring him some for the last week so I took them down and charged him a dollar for them and told him I couldn't possibly let him have any more, he gave me the dollar and thanked me very much for what I took. I spent the after noon with Marj. and had tea at Aunty's. I went alone to church to-night and they had a very slim crowd. Marj. was there and we went up and got Essie at the Methodist church and all went down to the town hall to hear Father {Nagel?} giveing a recruiting speech and he proved to be an exceptionally good speaker, he gave very strong reasons for those who could to enlist but didnt speak in a bullying or tantalizing style as most of them do. Mr. Johnson was chairman and Hammond gave a short appeal but both of them seemed very poor after hearing the priest. Poor old Lloyd I think was nervous and used fierce English, none of their eloquence brought forth any recruits there but for all I know some may have been hit as there was a good crowd there. Woodyer came home with Essie and we sat around for about an hour reading Burns and some gems of American humorists. I went into Hec's on my way home to see if I could get a ride home with Alan but he had ridden down as the roads were so bad, so I had to walk, I thought I was going to have a bad toothearache to-night as my left ear felt as if it was full of water but it didn't ammount to anything. Very blizzardy and rough all the afternoon although sunny. Clear and cold to-night.

Monday February 28th

I haven't done any thing all day but chores and sit around the house. I have felt rather lazy I suppose on account of my cold. Dad. drove Frank to school this morning. Dick didn't come home last night and he felt a little anxious about him as he said positively yesterday he would be home, however he changed his mind when the time came and stayed all night at the bank. This after noon Dad. stowed the load of ice Alan brought on Saturday and about five o'clock he and I unloaded

the load of coal, a little after six Alan came in and borrowed our sleigh to go to Simcoe to-night with a load and left his here. This after noon we saw what we think was Faulkner's roan mare going by here on the run hitched to a cutter with nobody in it. Presently Colin Ryerse came after it bareback on his black mare and soon after came back driving the roan and leading the black. I went down to interview him, he said a couple of girls had upset coming up their hill which was full and the horse had got away, he caught it down at the mill bridge where it had stopped. The dashboard of the cutter was broken and it was full of snow. It has been a fine day fairly sunny and cold.

Tuesday February 29th

This morning Dad. went over to Quanbury's to arrange to have their party for us on Wednesday postponed till next week, while he was over there Ham. Thompson came after him to go and tend to a cow which had aborted. Ham is having bad luck with his stock this year as a mare aborted the other day too. He went over and got Dad. and he was up there most of the fore noon. This after noon he stowed and chinked the ice and did chores I have been in the house all day as my cold has been pretty bad, my ear ached last night and my throat was pretty sore. This morning I pasted pictures in my snap shot album and slept most of the after noon. Bright and cold, quite a snow storm this after noon.

Wednesday March 1st

I have not been out of the house to day but have felt a lot better, Frank stayed home to help Dad. Floyd Crysler came after him first thing this morning to go and see a sick calf and old Billy Lewis followed him over there and took him on out to his place to tend to a cow that had aborted. It is beginning to look a little like contagious abortion as Fred Misner had a case too. Dad. says it is rich to hear old Billy curse Pratt, as young Billy has been the recipient of letters like mine from him and they evidently take more stock in them. Young Billy has been down in Hamilton working in a munitions factory but is home again now. This after noon Dad and Frank got another load of hay over to the old barn and enough ice to fill the ice house and then went down and borrowed Charlie Quanbury's flat rack as they expect to go to Port Rowan in the morning to get a load of Aunt Ida's furniture

Mrs. Tupper made a call on Enah this after noon. Mr. Henderson was over this after noon to see if he could buy a couple of pullets but I didn't want to sell any. He also wanted a setting of eggs later on. The two girls who upset on Ryerse's hill on Monday were {Name?} Turner and the nurse who is there. Lovely winter day. Cold and sunny.

Thursday March 2nd

Dad. and Frank got started for Port Rowan about nine o'clock this morning, and I have managed to get all the chores done up all right. I didn't feel very badly but a little weak and didn't try to do any more than the chores. I came in the house about two o'clock and started to read but went to sleep and slept till half past four, but I was all through in time to have tea about seven o clock which is as late as we often have it under normal conditions. I didn't go down town to-night but went to bed fairly early. Lovely day, sunny and fairly cold.

Fridnes Friday March 3rd

I have felt quite a lot better to-day but didn't do anything but chores, there wasn't much else I could do alone except chink the last load of ice and I didn't want to get into the ice house with my cold. This morning I took nine dozen eggs over to Jack Martin and this after noon when I got through I came in and shaved. Dad. & Frank didn't get home till about five o'clock, they had a lot of furniture on {illegible} Aunt Ida sent over here and they left most of their load down at Aunty's. Dad. says there is more stuff up there including a walnut bureau and wash stand that Aunt Ida said we could have and he is going to make a special trip for them. To-night Dad. went down to Aunty's and put a lot of the furniture to-gether that he had to take apart to bring down Frank went down to a social that the High School pupils had in the school house, Lloyd Ryerse called for him, it is evidently going to be a grand affair as Frank has been talking about it for a week. Lloyd said the trustees not only gave their consent that they should hold it in the school house, but had gas lights put in for them, he said all the trustees were invited and I asked both of them if the the public school teachers were invited and the both said none of them but Mr. Smith were, so I went down to see Marj. as I haven't been down since last Sunday, but she had gone to the social with Miss McQueen, so I was there about half an hour talking to

Mrs. Bagley and then went down to Aunty's and waited there till Dad. was ready to come home and came with him. Mrs. Willie Steele died to-night. Walt just went to Brantford the other day and got a job in a mill up there, he has been with this mill since he was thirteen years old. Poor old Bill Duncan died very suddenly on Wednesday. Dad. and Frank met his funeral on the Gravel to-day. Dick says there is trouble brewing between Lt. Col. Pratt and the other officers of the 133rd Batt. It seems Walt. McCall wasn't supposed to assume the duties of liutennant till they went to camp in the Spring but he and Pratt got into a poker game in which Walt skinned Pratt for about $200.00 and Pratt ordered him into his uniform and on duty so now Walt is going around with a petition to have Pratt deposed, so I don't know how it will come out. Cold and not so sunny but a nice day

Saturday March 4th

Frank and Dad. chinked the ice and put in the sawdust this morning but I don't think they got it all covered. This after noon they went down town to get a load of slabs but couldn't get any. Hawey is going to let them know when they can get them, some time next week. I just puttered around all day this morning I put a cage up in the old hen's pen so that I could shut one of the roosters up every other day as one is boss. This after noon I fixed a rigging out in the cow stable to facilitate the weighing of the milk in the hopes of getting Dad into the habit of it. To-night we printed a lot of the old pictures, when I was pasting them in my album the other day I found that I had given away all the best ones so I sorted out my films and picked out about twenty five and printed them to-night. There seemed to be something wrong with the developer as as it took about a minute or more for them each to develop, afterwards we noticed a lot of crystals in the bottom of the developer bottle that didnt mixup with the rest of the liquid. Pretty cold all day but nice.

Sunday March 5th

Frank went down to Sunday school and church this morning and I would have gone to church but Dad. was going to Aunty's for dinner and said he would go to church if I did up the chores, so I did but he didn't get off in time for church but went to Aunty's for dinner, this

after noon he went up to say good bye to Tiny as she is going to Toronto tomorrow night and sails for England on Saturday, he saw Harry Ansley and he took him up to the stable to show him a mare he bought in Toronto Dad. says he brought seven home. The mare is a Clyde about eight years old, has been working, is bred to a Percheron and due to foal the 2nd. of May, he wants Dad. to bring her over her and keep her till its time to wean the colt on any terms he likes, Dad didn't tell him he would but I said he might as well, as we can't lose much and might get quite a lot of use out of her this summer. Dad. also made a dicker with Al. Faulkner for a pair of geese for Frank, Al. has a pair he wanted to put out some place and said if Frank would take them he could have half the increase, so Dad. knowing Frank has been trying to get some geese thought that a pretty good proposition so Dad. did quite a stake of business if he didn't get to church. Dick and I drove down soon after dinner and Marj. and I went with for a a cutter ride and had a nice time although the roads were pretty drifted in spots, and a cold west wind but sunny and nice when the wind was in our back. To-night I walked down to church and after church Marj. and I went to hear Miss Templeton Armstrong from Port Rowan speak at the recruiting meeting. I didn't think much of her speech and much less of her looks, her hair was cut off short and she took her hat off to speak. Dad. says Uncle Massey used to call her the he-she and it certainly suited her. Frank came down to hear her and I went down to Aunty's on my way home and Frank was there so we came home to-gether.

Monday March 6th

I drove the boys down town this morning and took Frank around to Faulkner's to get his geese, he had quite a time finding him but did at last and I brought the geese home while he went on to school where he would be very late. When I got home I hooked Joe to the cutter and drove Enah down to see if Mrs. McBride would come over to-night and look after Tid if we all went to the concert. Mrs. McBride was at the Stamps, she could come and said she would while Enah was there and in seeing her mother for a few minutes I put Joe in the Methodist church shed and went over to see Harry Ansley about the Clydesdale mare. Tiny let me in and I talked to her for a quite awhile before I asked for her father and then I found he wasn't in so I went down to the fish shanties

and all over town but couldn't find him so got Joe and started for Enah when I saw him with Huby, he went up with me and showed me the mare and told me we could either buy her now for $120.00 which is the price he paid for her or we could bring her over and let her raise her colt and sell her in the fall and share the profits so I told him we would get her soon, I got Enah down at Aunty's and we got home about noon. Tupper came after Dad. right after dinner to see a cow so I did up the chores and about five o clock drove down and got Mrs. McBride. To-night Dad. Enah and I drove down to the concert given by Zeitha Barwell, Miss Prest and Miss Martin and it was certainly worth hearing rather high toned an classical maybe for most of us but enjoyable nevertheless. It has been a very stormy and disagreeable day Strong east wind and a blinding snow storm this morning afterwards turning to rain and freezing. It was still raining when we got home but had got much milder and the ice was dropping off the trees and making a great row. We saw several vivid flashes of lightening while the concert was in progress and Mrs. McBride said that they heard thunder plainly over here. She stayed all night but hadnt gone to bed when we got home.

Tuesday March 7th

We did chores up this morning and about eleven I went over to shovell out a track at the top of the hill at the cut on the side road, as Charlie Butler told me yesterday that it ought to be done, and it was too windy and drifting to do it yesterday but when I got over there this morning it was all done. Dad. husked a little corn while I was there. This after noon I cleaned out the dropping boards in the chicken house as they have not been cleaned out for quite awhile on account of the frost. Al. Faulkner came over this after noon and brought over another goose for Frank. To-night, Frank and I drove down town in the bobsleighs to take a load of schoolkids down to Dave Ward's, Olive Ward asked Frank if he could get me to take them down and said Marj. was going too but when we got there they said that they had seen Marj. a little while before going to the doctor's about her neck and couldn't go, so as I didn't know what could be the matter with her, I was a little anxious to know and as I wasn't very keen on going with the kids anyway I excused myself and went up and spent the evening with Marj. she wasn't in a very serious condition but had a stiff neck. Frank took charge of trhe load and got back between three

and four o'clock, he said they had a great time down there dancing till twelve o'clock but not later as it was then Lent. The sleighing was poor but they had no accidents I heard to-night that Jack Martin has bought Vyse out. Sunny, but windy to-day quite a snow storm to night about midnight, but Frank and his pals missed it.

Wednesday March 9th

This morning Dad. and I drove down town and took the baby and we got Joe shod in at Bert Greenbury's who has started up in Butler's old stand. Aunty and Aunty Alice were at church as this is Ash Wednesday, but weren't long and Dad. stayed there with the baby till they got back. I took the buggy {illegible} down and we looked at the arms of Harry Ansley's buggy which is out in the barn down there, it looks as if it had been painted twice but is in pretty good shape, I got Joe out of the shop at noon and Dad. and I went up town found Harry Ansley at the post office and took him up with us and got his mare and brought her over. We left the baby down there to dinner. This after noon we did chores and about four o'clock drove down after the baby He wasn't at all anxious to come home. Frank was down at Aunty's and he and I went up and got the posted a letter of Enah's. Frank got a sheet to night showing a system of keeping Farm accounts as arranged by a Mr. Stark District Representative for Peel Co. we saw an account of it in an old number of the Farmer's Advocate so Frank wrote to him the other day. It seems like a very simple yet efficient system and only single entry. I spent the evening pasting snapshots in my album. Sunny but quite cold all day and very blizzardy to-night.

Thursday March 10th

Frank stayed home from school to-day to help us move some hay from the big barn, we did chores this morning and got a pretty good sized load over to the horse stable before dinner, and this after noon got another over to the old barn for the cattle, we had to get the chores done early to-night as we all went over to Quanbury's to tea at six oclock we had a great tea, but Dad. had to leave right after to attend a meeting to arrange for a reunion of all Mr. Smith's old pupils on the first of July. Enah, Frank the baby and I stayed till about half past nine and then Art drove us home as it was a fierce night. Billy {Falcon?} was in to

see Dad this morning about a sick cow and Norman Holden came to get a dose for George's horse. To-night Charlie Butler tracked him over to Quanbury's to see about a sick cow, there is an awful lot of trouble among the cattle this year for some reason or other. This after noon Frank and I took Martin's sleighs back and got our own with Quanbury's rack on it as we had intended going to Port Rowan to-morrow but to-night it is the worst blizzard of the season, and a lot of snow fallen, so the drifts will be too bad to go through to-morrow and get back the same day as we want to. Dick walked home to-night and so did Dad. Dick said the drifts were as high as his waist down by Chris Quanbury's. Cold wind but sunny all day.

Friday March 11th

It was very evident this morning that we could not go to Port Rowan to-day so Frank went to school, he was going to stay home and do chores if we went. I spent most of the morning shovelling out paths through the drifts and cleaning out the stable. Dad. walked down town after he got the morning chores done and stayed at Aunty's for dinner, he shovelled all their snow for them. He wanted to find out more particulars about the financial state of the church. Jack Martin told him last night that they were about five hundred dollars in debt and that several members of the congregation had said they would not help to clear it unless there was a change made {illegible}. Dad. told Jack he didn't see how he could do much and didn't feel in duty bound to any way as he has kept up his share in the collection envelope. This after noon I cleaned out the incubator and got it in place ready to start down cellar. To-night I went down to see Marj. but found she had gone to Nanticoke to stay till Sunday night. I wasn't very surprised because I knew she had been intending to go these last two Friday nights. I went up to Huby's for most of the evening Aunty Maude and Lila were the only ones home, they didn't know where Huby was and Win was over the hill she came in before I left. They got cards from Quint yesterday saying he had left the mill and was now in New York and to expect him home soon. They are all very sorry he has left the mill especially now that Jack is not

at home. They can't think of any reason unless he has just got mad at some body. We thought {illegible} was coming home to enlist and Huby hopes that is the reason, he hinted at it in one of his cards. To-days war news is a little better. The French have checked the German advance in places and and made an advance themselves in one place but I think it is just about nip & tuck yet. Every one seems to think that this battle is going to be the turning point of the war for the victors. Nice day.

Saturday March 11th

Dad. and Frank shovelled out the lane this morning and I went over to Jack Martin's and got them to put my incubator thermometer in one of their machines to test it. Then I went down to the Quanbury's and got a bag of white carrots as Dad. wants to see if he can tempt Jim into eating one, but she just took a few bites and then wouldn't look at it. This after noon we hooked Queen and Harry up and went down town and got some oil and turpentine for Jim and also the mail. To-night I was out in the chicken house putting crude oil on the old hens legs for scaly leg when Colin Ryerse came past and called my attintion to a big fire in the west, we thought it looked about at Tom Myers or Wess Baughner's so started up to it, when we got to the mill it looked as if it was at Colin McNellige's so we started up the track, we soon could see it was still farther on but as it looked straight ahead on the track and we knew it wasn't over the top of the big hill we thought it must be some where in Doan's Hollow, but when we got there it looked just as far away as ever but we thought since we had tramped that far we would find out where the fire was if we had to go to Simcoe, so we did and reached our journey's end at Lynn Valley where we found Edmond's old mill burned to the ground, the walls had all fallen but there was a big blaze yet and quite a crowd around it. It seems they think it caught from overheated machinery as they had been working late chopping alfalfa meal, they had a carload of bluegrass all ready to ship so it was a big loss for Edmonds and they say the fellow that ran it, Graham, lost every thing he had. They say it wasnt discovered till the flames burst through the roof and when Graham pushed open the door down stairs the flames shot out in his face so it must have gone up like tinder. It made an awful blaze and could be

seen for miles, as far as Nanticoke, and it was in the hollow too, three Dover kids drove in with one of Faulkner's horses after we got there and were about frozen, they had driven all over the country trying to get to it and couldn't locate it from the roads, we hung around for half an hour and as we didn't see any chance of a ride back we hit the track again. Colin was invited to stay all night with his cousins but he didn't know what his folks would think so came back with us, we got home just about twelve and as it was a little after eight when we left home we didn't make bad time, we went up in about an hour and a half. They were up when we got home and Dick informed us that the fire was at Sutton's mill in Simcoe, but we enlightened them on that point. It has been sunny and soft all day but a raw wind. Clear, frosty and moon light to-night lovely for walking.

Sunday March12th

Frank went down to Sunday school this morning and Dad Enah and the baby went down to church, this was the first trip for the baby to church since he was christened and was just an experiment. I was sure they wouldn't be able to keep him quiet for ten minutes but Dad. said he couldn't have been better, the soldiers were in church and Mr. Herbert preached, he has enlisted as a chaplin and is going to speak at the recruiting meeting to-night. Aunty Alice came over to dinner with them and was here all the after noon. I didn't go down town this after noon, but Dick did and Frank went down to Ryerse's to see the ferret that Colin bought at Bill George's sale. We had an early tea and Frank drove Aunty Alice and me down and I went to church. I spent the evening up at the Bagley's. Marj's cousins the Doughty's brought her home before tea and they had all just got home from church when I got there. I stopped in at Aunty's on my way home and got three pieces of cake and Uncle Hal's big coon skin coat as we intend to go to Port Rowan in the morning. I wore it home over my other one and nearly cooked as it was a very warm night. It has been getting milder all day and was raining for awhile to-night.

Monday March 13th

We all got up fairly early this morning and Dad and I got started soon after seven for Port Rowan

with Harry and Joe. It froze a little during the night and there was a slight North west wind but the roads were grand, we couldn't have chosen a better day to go, the sun was hot and coming home the snow was pretty well off the roads in places, so we took longer to get back but went up in about three hours, we got our load on before noon and had our dinner over at Mr. Pete Backhouses Clara was sick in bed, we got a dandy great big walnut bureau and a heavy walnut washstand besides a smaller washstand also walnut but with two big holes cut in the top of it for basins, the first too Aunty Ida gave to Dad and also a bedstead supposed to be walnut. The bureau is the best of the lot hard built and built as solid as a house and walnut right through except the back, the only trouble is everything is varnished. We unloaded it after tea Art & Charlie Quanbury came in for awhile, they had been out to the farm with a load of manure. Frank went down to a travelling show that struck town called "The man from Canada". I went to bed fairly early as I was inclined to be tired.

Tuesday March 14th

Glen Ryerse came this morning about half past ten, we had begun to think he wasn't coming but he did and got the old shed all jacked up and in place by about four o'clock, it wasn't nearly the job to get the ends of the rafters on the purlin plate that we thought it would be when we raised the front posts Glen just pryed the ends of the rafters up and as the front raised the rafters slid in on the plate. The middle rafters didnt meet on the plate but Glen said if we raised the middle of the shed till they did meet there would be a hump in the shed roof the same as is in the barn roof and would look bad, the hump in the barn roof being caused by the corner posts rotting and settling. Frank stayed home from school and we could have got along without any extra help but I had told Art Quanbury to come over after dinner so he came, he had to tell Jack that Glen was going out to his own place to get off as he was very busy Jack Chris being sick. Art and I nailed pockets on the two rafters over the purlin plate so that they can't spread again so easily. Glen got through about four

and just charged two dollars. Cloudy & cold east wind.

Wednesday March 15th

This has been a very rough day high cold east wind and snow I drove the boys down this morning and went down and shovelled Aunty's snow, they were just getting up when I got there so I had some breakfast with them as I was cold. I didn't do much the rest of the day but sat around and read or sleep. I put a new wick in the incubator lamp and lit it but I wont put the eggs in till it gets going all right. Dad & Enah have been working most of the day and all evening at getting the names out of Mr. Smith's old registers that Huby sent over, they were at it last evening too. To-night I went down to see Marj. The wind had gone down and it was a lovely moonlight night but cold.

Thursday March 16th

This morning we took a load of Aunt Ida's stuff that we brought from Port Rowan down with us, down to her, and it was noon when we left there as we were late getting started, we stopped in at Quanbury's on our way home and took their rack off and put on our own waggon box which has been there since the first trip to Port Rowan. Just as we got through dinner who should come along but Mr. Blaikie so he was here all the after noon and part of the evening but wouldnt stay all night, he came up to Alfred's on Tuesday, he was more than loaded with conversation and entertained us with his experiences in the peach country. We just did chores and visited with him all day although we should have gone to the mill. Blaikie wants us to take some of his boxes down to the train to-morrow as he is going to take some to Hamilton He is tired of the city and knocking around and says he is going to have a little place of his own before next winter. Frank went down town to tea to-night at Aunty's. Dad. was to have gone and gone to a meeting of the Mr. Smith reunion committee but as Blaikie was here and he didn't have the names all out he didn't go. Quint was to have come home to-night but didn't arrive. Aunty Alice intends to go to Toronto on Saturday to stay with Roy for a week. Vernon has been up in Brantford with Miss. Very sunny but raw wind.

Friday March 17th {Wee sketch of 2 shamrocks}

It froze hard last night and has been very cold and raw all day though sunny. They say it was down to zero last night. We didn't do much this morning. I killed a chicken and Dad. plucked it for Aunty Alice to take to Roy if she goes to-morrow. I took four dozen eggs over to Jack Martin's. This after noon Dad. and I sacked up six bags of barley and oats and took them down to the mill and then went on down town and got a load of coal. We got back about four and I helped Dad. unload it and then got ready and went down to the St. Patrick's tea they had in the Methodist church, it was a dandy tea but the church was very cold so when we had tea I went home with Marj and waited for about an hour till the entertainment commenced and then we went back to the church. Marj. and Essie both took their knitting, but Essie had to accompany most of the performances. The church was cold as they can't get any gas the last few days but it didn't last long. I stayed down at Aunty Alice's to-night to help her get off in the morning. I wasn't very late going down but she and Aunt Ida had gone to bed but Aunty was sitting up.

Saturday March 18th

I went to the station this morning with Aunty Alice and she got off safely, we got nearly to the station when she remembered a box of eggs she was going to take to Roy so I had to hike back after them but I got them in time. I went right home and saw a poor little robin on the hill, it is the first one I have heard of this year and it looked about frozen, as it went down to ten below zero last night. Ever since that night on my way home I had been hatching a plot to go to Simcoe to skate to-night as the girls told me Bill Marchington was up and I thought it would be a g ood chance to get even on him for his trip, so I told Dad. and he suggested that I drive Dick down and then make arrangements for my load. I went to the Bagley's first and as Essie and Marj. seemed to favor the idea I was naturally very disappointed when I went over to the Smith's and Nellie told me that Bill had to go home to-night, and she wouldn't go if he didn't, he wasn't up yet. As I had got so far I thought I had better keep on with the load so Marj. suggested I ask May & Johnnie and three more boys. May & Johnnie jumped at the chance to go but I had an awful time finding any boys who were game

I thought I could get Clark in the bank easily but he said he had been out every night so far this week & didn't want to go, and Dick didn't and Hazen didn't. I got Dick to telephone Woodyer and he said he'd go and then I got Milton Cruise and let it go at that. I got a hundred of sugar and came home. I didn't do much this after noon Charlie Quanbury came over and said old Jonas had telephoned Jack Martin last night to have Dad. go up there and see Nellie & the colt, they are both down and he doesn't know what to do. Dad did intend to get some hay over, but thought he had better go up and see Jonas and then some thing happened that we didn't get started in time and it wound up with Dad. & Frank going down town in the bobsleighs with Harry & the new mare and getting the mail and hauling enough hay over on the waggon box for tonight. Norman Holden came over about five o'clock to get a boll for his horse. Frank & I got started a little late for Simcoe but didn't have to wait at all in town as the load was all ready at the Bagley's when we got there. It wasn't a very nice night going up as it was snowing but wasn't a bit cold. We got up about half past eight and had an hour and a half's good skating as the ice was in good shape and then had a little supper before we came home, we got home about half past twelve and they said they had a good time. Frank drove up and I drove home. Frank stayed down town all night at Aunty's as she promised Aunty Alice she would have one of us stay every night. Dick was at the bank when we drove past and came home with me. There was a mince pie on the table and some cocoa that Enah had fixed so I had a cup of cocoa and some pie and Dick half the pie.

Sunday March 19th

I would have gone to Sunday school this morning but didn't feel very well after breakfast and sat around till I was almost too late to get ready for church, however I did get ready. John Wess & Lloyd Crysler came in for a few minutes John Wess wants Dad. to go over and have a look at Mildred who has lymphangites again. They left in time for Dad. to drive Enah & me down, Dad. took the baby with us and they came back home. I stayed down at Aunty's to dinner and all the after noon and evening at the Bagley's. Mr. & Mrs. Bagley were out in Townsend visiting and hadn't got back at ten o'clock when I left. Essie & Marj. made

some candy this after noon to send to a friend of Essie's George Hunter who is in the trenches, that took a good part of the after noon as we had to crack nuts for it, but we went for a short walk. I stayed to tea and we all went to church or churches. Mr. Tarney brought in ours and was going to speak at the recruiting meeting afterwards we didn't go but went home and washed dishes instead. Quint came home yesterday noon he had been in Buffalo and Detroit; no-one seems to know why he left the mill unless it is that he just got tired of it. He and Huby went to Simcoe this after noon to see Alex McCall and interview him on the subject of enlisting. I guess Quint will enlist all right as Huby is very anxious to have him. Dad. was going up to old Jona's this after noon but Jim Waddle came over and he didn't get. He went over to John Wess' about five o'clock. Dick stayed with Aunty to-night.

Monday March 20th

Dad. went up to Jona's first thing this morning and left Frank and me to do chores, we hooked up old Harry & Nellie to the bobsleighs and cleaned out the box stall into the sleighs and hauled it out to the old garden we had about two loads in it and the stable and it took us till noon. When Dad. got home he said Jonas was going to lose Nellie and the colt he was sure as they were in awful shape, they were both down and Nellie had batted herself all to pieces trying to get up, nothing wrong with them but starvation, right after dinner Blaikie came along with his brother-in-law, Jim Andrews from Tyrell, he has been out there the last few days & thought it was too cold to monkey with his stuff but to-day they had the bobsleighs and he loaded it all on them and took it out there where he will sort it and leave it till he wants it. He had a good big sleigh load but it wasn't very heavy. Dad. & Frank and I had quite an argument about Blaikie's two chests, he had a big red one in behind the chimney with rope handle on it and a little green one that he had his tools in and which has allways been open and stood in front of the window and near the head of the stairs. He told us it was the chest his father had brought from Scotland in 1830 and they both say he said it was the other one. By the time tney got their load on and got started it was after three o'clock so we just had time to put on about

half a load of hay and haul it to the horse stable and a little jag for the cows. To-night Dad. went down to the Mr. Smith's reunion committee meeting and Frank was down and stayed all night at Aunty's. Dick came home to-night but will have to start sleeping at the bank now as Hazen is to leave for Ottawa to-morrow night. It has been much milder to-day.

Tuesday March 21st

Art Quanbury came after Dad. this morning first thing to go and help him and Glen get their Art's barn jacked up ready to move and Dad. has been over there all day and says they are not through yet. Tupper helped them this after noon. It's the old barn in the lane on Tupper's place and Art bought it and is going to have Glen move it over on to his place. Frank came home instead of going to school and he and I have hauled three loads of wood from Carpenter's to-day besides doing chores. Dad. spoke to Carpenter yesterday about getting this wood. It is mostly body wood cut two years ago and piled up near the house. It is 16 inches long and $1.75 a cord when we haul it. We had the big new mare who answers pretty well to Nellie and Harry and she goes fine, steps right along the road without urging and is as quiet and gentle as a kitten but we have almost come to the conclusion juging from her looks and to-day and yesterday from her actions that she is not in foal, but she may be. Frank set some rat traps up in the pig pen last night and this morning Dad. found poor old Tits {illegible} in two of them by a front leg and her tail, we don't know whether her leg is broken or not. Enah took the baby in his sleigh down town this after noon and got the mail. Sam Law was in and got a bag of potatoes, he thinks now they will go down on John Watt's place. Aleta McBride was over here all day working. Very soft and cloudy all day & to-night.

Wednesday March 22nd

We were rather surprised this morning after yesterday's nice day to find it winter again this morning, but it was snowing and blowing and pretty cold. Art. didn't call for Dad. and we didn't haul any wood. We just did chores and Frank and Dad took down our bed and put up the walnut one instead which we got in Port Rowan. I took some more

eggs over to Jack Martin's and asked Chris what was wrong with the incubator that I couldn't get it heating up and what made the flame go down Chris couldn't think of any thing but poor ventilation or poor oil and suggested that I clean the lamp out well and put fresh oil in, this I did when I got home and boiled the burner and put in fresh wick. This after noon Dad and Frank built a pen over in the barn for the ewes to lamb in and I put the saddle on Ginger and went down and got the mail, she went fine too. To-night Lloyd Ryerse brought over a note for me from Miss Walker inviting me down there to spend the evening so I went down early and went to church and then called for Essie & Marj. Nellie Smith went up with us, we had a very pleasant evening playing Pit and indulging in other forms of Methodist sport. Will {Currie?} was the only other one there and the three Walker girls. I stayd down at Aunty's to-night and it was about one o'clock when I got in. It had cleared off to night and was moonlight but very frosty.

Thursday March 23rd

Dick came down to Aunty's for breakfast this morning and she gave him his lunch. Hazen left on Tuesday for Ottawa where Nicholson is and so Dick has to sleep at the bank now. I came home right after breakfast but Dad. had gone with Art Quanbury. Frank and I went up after another load of wood, we are going to pile it home now and then measure it so as we can pile the box up with as much as it will hold and wont have to figure on each individual load. We got home in time to do most of the chores before dinner and got an early start after dinner, however we hauled all that was up there in one big load, there was a pile of apple wood freshly cut at one end, but we left it and and just took the two year old beech, it took us longer to get this load on as the bottom layer was frozen in and had to be knocked out with an axe, we didn't unload the load when we got home but piled a lot of what we had hauled. Enah and the baby went down town before we got back and were down all the after noon. Dad. got home about six and said they had got through or at least he had, he told Art. that we couldnt put a team on to help draw the building as we didn't have one that could draw, but he can get lots. Raw wind but sunny

Friday March 24th

Frank got started this morning about nine o'clock to the Street Fair in Simcoe, it is the second one they have had, he took up the young gobbler and a turkey hen, he didn't get back till after five to-night. He sold the turkeys but could only sell them by the pound and just got $5.45 for them but it was the best he could do, he said there was quite a little bit of stock there but none of it went very high; he said there weren't many buyers. Dad. and I just did chores and piled some more of the wood. This after noon Dad. cleaned out the hog pen, the little pigs root the boards in the floor of their upstairs sleeping apartmens up and drop through into Glady's pen and then she goes for them This morning Harry Ansley and {Name?} Brock came over with a couple of horses which Harry wanted to hook up, one was a little mare so stiff she could hardly go he hooked them up to the bobsleighs and drove around the block with them. Alan Law came after Dad. just before dinner to get him to look at old Ned. who Alan said was {illegible} to death but Dad. said he couldn't see any thing the matter with him. Mrs. James and & Mrs. McCarter drove Dave Waddle's horse over here this after noon. I set my incubator to-day it seems to be going all right now. To-night I went down and got my hair cut and went up to see Marj. Glen Ryerse was telling Dad. yesterday that Tommy Jackson had sold his farm to Frank Ryerse. Sunny & mild to-day.

Saturday March 25th

This morning Dad. & Frank went down and cut down the trunk of the old locust tree and logged it up. I did chores and about noon took Harry & Nellie and went down after them and the wood. This after noon Frank and I went over to Vyse's sale and were there all the after noon. There was a good crowd and things went pretty well. I was going to look at the harness but it sold for $35. which is about ten dollars more than he paid for it about ten years ago, the cows went about as reasonably as any thing and they each had a calf last night. Jack Martin bought the red & white one for $82 and I think it was Geordie Boughner paid $90 for the black and white one. George Crosbie paid $152 for the old mare and young Powell gave $104 for the four year old filly which was all she was worth. Eliner Atkinson got Stan. the five year old for $70.

He is the one Vyse was advertising in the Simcoe Reformer last year as a Sensation but they took care not to mention his breeding to-day as there were too many there that know he is out of the little Postmaster horse that Stan William's used to have. Tupper was there and we came home with him. To-night Dad. & I drove down to see Aunty Alice who came home to-night. Enah and the baby were down there so Dad. drove them home. The baby was invited to an "At Home" at John Harris Buck's this after noon. Quint was down there and I stood at Alan's corner for about an hour talking to him. He has signed up and is going on duty first has to go to Toronto for a day or so before before he goes on duty. Very soft, snow has gone off a lot.

Sunday March 26th

I got around in time to go to Sunday school with Frank this morning and so of course went to church. Quint & Dick were both in church and they came over to dinner I waited for them and we three came down town about three o'clock. Quint and I took a walk up Main St. and met Marj. & Glad Law so I went around to the house with Marj for a little while and then came home to tea. I had to come home to tend to my incubator, it doesn't seem to be running so evenly this time for some reason or other. I don't know what is the matter unless it is the oil. I went down town again after tea but wasn't in time for church. Marj. Glad Law & I went to the recruiting meeting after church. Dr. Jacques spoke and spoke well. I saw Sam Ja ques in uniform to-night This has been the first Spring day we have had and the snow is nearly all gone off the roads looks rainy to-night.

Monday March 27th

Spent most of the morning cleaning out the stable and the chicken house. I didn't work very fast nor do very much all day, I think owing to the fact that I have been suffering from a mild attack of Spring fever. This after noon I took a meander through Ivey's place and around the orchard on Frank Odd's place. When I got home I went down town and got some coal oil. Dad. piled the rest of the wood and threw some of the sawdust into the ice house. To-night we set three hens. Quint left for Toronto to-night, he has to go through an operation for rupture before he

can be enlisted. He never said any thing about it to any one of the family, he told me on Saturday but told me not to say any thing about it so when Art Quanbury told Dad. to-night that Quint had told Charlie about it he was very surprised. Every thing is flooded to-day a very great deal of snow has gone off and it has rained two or three times, the roads all fierce for either sleighs or wheels.

Tuesday March 28th

It rained most of the morning so we didn't do much but just the chores and just before dinner we husked a little corn, we sat around for quite awhile after dinner while Dad. was reading from James Whitcomb Riley. I drove Enah down to the annual meeting of the Women's Auxillary about three o'clock and had to turn around and go after her again almost as soon as I got home, the roads are so bad, Joe couldn't go off a walk. Dad. & I took the top of the buggy and it makes it look queer but it was in bad shape. The first lamb of the season arrived last night some time and was all right out there this morning, he is a ram and belongs to 117 I think. Very mild but not sunny snow going fast.

Wednesday March 29th

This has been a real Spring day. Sunny and very mild, too mild to wear a coat or sweater and mud & water every where you look, the snow is nearly all gone except where there are drifts. After I did chores I spent most of the morning wheeling my compost heap down south of the well where it is low. This after noon Dad and I husked some corn. Dad. also put the saddle on Queen and I roder her down the road a little way, just to give her a little exercise and to get her used to the bridle, she didn't do so badly at all. Frank Crysler was in for awhile to ask Dad. about a bad winded horse and Dad. told him he would go over to-morrow. To-night Frank & I walked down town and Marj. & I went to the soldier's concert. The hall was packed full and Jim Much and two McDonald girls had our seats and couldn't be induced to move. I stood there about five minutes trying to make {Sublimy?} Brock who was usher get me my proper seats and had a stream of humanity from the centre isle to the door blocked but as I saw they wouldnt move with out my creating conspicuous and unseemly disturbance

we took their seats at the other end of the row. The concert wasn't bad at all. It was mostly of a vaudeville minstrel show nature, which neither Marj. nor I are particularly fond of but still it was good for its class and fairly decent. Lieutennant Doughty & Shargeant Hawking were blacked up and did a good share of the entertaining. Jock Watt danced a Highland Reel accompanied by some other fellow and the music for them was furnished by Waddel with a Harmonica or what ever they call those things they pull in and out like bellows. Jock was dressed in kilts and looked very "cute" especially in some of the twirly whirl parts of his dance. In those actions it might have been deemed an improvement by a few folks if he had had a pair of some sort of pants on but I think it held the attention of the public better as it was as they didn't want to miss seeing everything The most remarkable performer of the evening was Pte. Glover, the Strong man, who I believe comes from Port Rowan and is a private in the 133rd. He would have done very well for a performance at Shea's and when one considers that he comes from so near home and it isn't his regular business, he was to say the least a surprise. First of all he took a quarter inch iron rod about eighteen inches long and took it in his teeth with a handkerchief around it and then pulled down on each end with each hand till it was bent to nearly a right angle, he then took similar rods and smote them on the muscles of his extended forearm till they burst at a slight angle. He next drove a five or an eight inch spike into a saw bench and got half a dozen of the boys to hold the bench while he wrapped a handkerchief around the head of it and took it in his front teeth and bent it back wards & fore wards till he broke it off, all these things he would throw into the audience to prove that they were genuine. He took Sid Stass and put him in a chair lifted him up and held Sid, chair, and all with his teeth by the back rung of the chair, the best part of that was to see poor Sid. turn pale green. He was so scared his knees shook and he certainly looked pleased to get safely down to land. His teeth and jaws weren't the only strong parts with him as he did all kinds of other stunts, such as lying down on his back and raising rising to his feet

with Billy Boughner standing in the palms of his hands and then getting down again and lying with his head on one chair and his feet on another and making his abdomen rigid enough for as many of the soldiers as there was room for from his head to his feet to stand on him. The last item on the programme and the one that proved about the most interesting was a recruiting rally. Mrs. Lamb a returned nurse gave us a good account of her experiences at the front and then made a very stirring appeal for more men using some extremely foolish arguments in favor of them leaving things here to go to a financial smash up and enlist to save Canada from the ravages of the Huns. Of course it sounds all right, but it would sound much better if they would mix up reason with sentiment. Major Innes from Simcoe then spoke and said he was going to ask Mrs. Lamb to get them twenty five men to-night, so she started by telling them she would knit a pair of socks for every man who enlisted to-night and said "Now who'll come up here." In a very short time there were about fifteen men on the stage but a strange feature of it was that with the exception of George Holden and {illegible} Paton fellow, no one seemed to know any of them so it looked as if there had been a little trouble taken beforehand to prepare the act. The soldiers went all through the hall trying to induce us, "safety first, home guard civilians." One fellow asked me if I wouldn't don a uniform and I told him I wanted to be sure there would be some fighting before I enlisted, as that is what they all say now that these fellows will never get over there before peace is made. Dick & Dess were up in the gallery and Frank said some drunken bum of a soldier was up there launching a terrible volley of abuse on poor old Dick, calling him a coward and saying he couldn't go because his girl wouldn't let him. Dick of course couldn't do any thing up there but I guess he felt like doing him up. Dick and I would both have gone two or three months ago and were eager to if Dad. had just said the word, but as he was so dead against it and as we were by no means a drag on the country and in fact were just a little in doubtfull whether we weren't doing as much good at home as in the trenches, we didn't feel it our duty to go, and now, when things are beginning to look as if the German's strength was failing and the end of the war in sight, the idea of weakening Canada's already sickly financial condition by enlisting and bum around for

about ten months and never get a poke at the Germans does not appeal to me in the least. If on the other hand the Kaiser should get a new lease of life by smashing the Verdun forts and breaking his way through to and entering Paris, then I will enlist right away, because I believe that in that case the British Empire will be nearer destruction than she has been for many years and it will be high time for every British subject to drop personal welfare and forget National finances and fight or help fight for all that is in them to save Britain from Germany and the devil. However I don't think Willie will ever see the inside of Paris with his army at his back because they have been hammering at Verdun now for over a month I believe and have had about 100,000 men slaughtered and are still on the outside looking in and Verdun is a long way from Paris and there are several fortified nuts to crack between the two.

Thursday March 30th

We hitched Queen and Joe up this morning and went out to Frank Crysler's. Queen went fine most of the way but got a little frightened going down the hill out here on the side road and nearly put us in the ditch, the roads were fierce and the frost is nearly out in places. Frank Crysler's mare was certainly in awful shape, she makes a terrible noise when she breathes hard and he let her out in the yard and chased her so that she would breathe hard just to show Dad. and it was awful the distress she showed and Dad. said she bled at the nose. Frank Crysler said Burt. told him that he thought there was a growth at the end of the windpipe, but Dad. looked at it with the speculum but he couldn't see any growth, what he thinks is the matter is caused by an incision they made in the windpipe last fall to put in a tracheaotmy tube when she had distemper healing and the edges of the cut turning in and blocking up the windpipe This after noon Dad. went out and opened up a ditch out of the barley stubble and I did chores. Vail the assesor was in this morning and raised the assessment about $100. Dad is pretty sore about it, but Vail said it was Hammond's fault, he was on the committe for putting a value on the land and he had charge of this part of Woodhouse and he valued all these farms at forty

dollars an acre. Dad. doesn't want to say that John Wess isn't assessed big enough but his land is certainly worth more to the acre than ours is as it is all cleared {illegible} hills. Vail made it thirty seven dollars an acre I think. It has been another lovely Spring day, with lots of mud but sunny.

Friday March 30th

This after noon morning after I got the chores done I started to paint my colony house. I got one end and most of the back done before dinner. Aunty Alice was over for a little while and to dinner. This after noon Dad. and I went down to John Watts sale we got a ride down and back with Charlie Quanbury, the roads were awful we all had to walk up Monteith's hill and Charlie had the team and little light democrat. There wasn't such an awful crowd there and things didn't go especially high. It was a nice day but the sale was over by about four o'clock. Johnny Loan has sold out and enlisted and Erny Hinds of Nanticoke has sold out and every body supposes he has enlisted. Young Lee Boughner has enlisted and left his Dad with two farms on his hands and no man. Lee said he couldn't stand it any longer he couldn't go to town without them getting after him. To-night I went down to see Marj. for a little while. Another beautiful Spring day.

Saturday April 1st

It has rained off and on all day and we haven't done much but chores. I went over to Jack Martin's and got an inside hover that he wasnt using. He thought it would work better than my outside brooder. I was over there quite awhile poking around. Charlie Quanbury is quitting to-day and Jack's new man came, he is gping to live in Brirely's house and Brirely is going to move into Vyse's house. While I was gone Dad. & Frank sacked up some barley and Frank and I took it down to the mill this afternoon, we went up to Bert Thompson's and got an incubator of Art Quanbury's which Bert had but wasn't using and while Art said I might use. It is an Essex 70 egg machine. Huby and Lila came over just as we were taking the team off and they stayed till it was time to do the night chores.

Huby said that Larry Skey had telephone up to say that Quint had gone through his operation all right and was doing fine, the doctors said he was one of the finest specimens they had operated on for some time, and they do a lot of them. There are two fellows from Simcoe right next to Quint going through the same thing, the Government pays all their expenses. To-night Sid Marsh came after Dad. to go and see a mare of Carpenter's which foaled this after noon, but something had gone wrong with her and she died while Dad. was up there. Rainy & raw.

Sunday April 2nd

I got ready to go to Sunday school this morning but found I was late so didn't go but went down to church We all went to church even the baby and he was very good. Aunty came back with us and Dick was here when we got home. He slept too late to get to church. It was the first time we had seen him since last Sunday. He and I went down town again soon after dinner. Marj., Glad Law and I went for a walk around the hill. I came home to tea and went down again afterwards but didn't go to church. They didn't have any recruiting meeting to-night. Marj. & I went up with Glad Law to her place for a little while. I went down to Aunty's for a little while and came home early. Aunty expects to go to London to-morrow to attend the annual meeting of the W.A. Mr. Carson the canning factory manager died this morning he was only sick about a week. They had high jinks down town last night old Bill Caley got on a tear and wanted to lick every body in town and they had to put him in the lockup after he had smashed Bobby Leany's window Mrs. Caley told them to run him in and Jimmy helped, it took four or five of them to handle him. When I went out this morning I found another buck lamb belonging to Dad's yearling ewe. Very nice day.

Monday April 3rd

Old Splitear presented us with a pair of twins this morning. She is the first ewe to have twin lambs We spent a good part of the morning choring around I painted some more of the colony house this afternoon morning and finished it this afternoon. I didn't use all the paint so I put the rest on the

end of the old chicken house, but didn't have quite enough to do it all so it didn't improve the look of it much. Enah went down town this after noon and Dad. stayed in with the baby all the after noon. To-night Frank and I tested rthe eggs and took out 68 unhatchables, most of them were clear. It has been very mild and sunny all day.

Tuesday April 4th

We spent most of the morning tending to lambs. When I went out this morning there was old Greynose and a yearling with the tag our of her ear on the barn floor each with a pair of twin lambs and later on in the morning another yearling lambed out in the field, she had twins too, we pruned two or three trees in the orchard this after noon. Wyatt Waddle and some other fellow were in this after noon trying to sell Dad a cultivator but they didn't manage to do it. I took 8 doz. eggs over to Martin's this morning. Alex James was in this morning to ask Dad. about a sick cow. Aleta McBride was here washing most of the day. Very mild and no wind, sunny & nice.

Wednesday April 5th

Did chores and pruned a little more in the orchard to-day. Dad. has just been tending to sheep and doing chores most of the day, he went down to the mill on foot and got a bag of bran. Lorne Jackson was in before dinner to get him to file his old mare's teeth. Sam Law came in this after noon and invited us all down there to-night. He said a few friends were coming out and they wanted to have all the neighbours, they will be moving down to John Watt's in a few days. Dad. was quite alarmed about old Splitear to day, soon after he gave her some oats and bran both this morning and to-night, she got down and rolled and kicked and was aparently in pain, but neither spasm lasted so very long. Mild but not so sunny to-day. To-night we all went down to Law's and had a great time dancing, there wasn't any crowd there, just about enough for two sets and give every one a chance to rest Cliff {Name?} was the fiddler and {Tat?} Robinson who got up the dance did most of the calling off, though Alan did some Alan and Sam both danced all evening in their shirt sleeves. Dad. and Enah brought the baby home soon after mid-night and Frank didn't stay till the end

but I did which wasn't very late abut three or half past, there were three or four other babies or very small children there and they all stayed till the last but all went to sleep. The bed was full of them after midnight. {Pete?} Furlong's baby which isn't a year old was there and never said a word all night. Alan had a graphaphone there which I think belonged to Ethel Leany. Every body had a good time.

Thursday April 6th

I didn't get up very early this morning and just did chores all morning. I went to sleep again after dinner on the sofa and was awakened by Dick and Dess coming in. They were here for about an hour and we went out and saw the sheep, they couldnt stay to tea as Dess had to go to work at six o'clock. While I was asleep another pair of lambs arrived from the wooly faced yearling I think No. 2. Dad spends most of his time with them. Bobbie presented us with a fine big red heifer calf to-night. It is the second heifer she has had, last year's being the first. It snowed this morning and has been cloudy windy and much colder all day.

Friday April 7th

The old white ewe had one ewe lamb this morning we were afraid at first she wasn't going to own it and then that she was sick as she seemed very stupid and wouldn't eat, but our fears on both points are by to-night aparently groundless. We watched her with more suspicious eyes anyway because she was the one that wouldn't own the little ram lamb last year, but last year she had three, and one died and she did own one. Besides doing chores and husking a couple of shocks of corn Dad. and I havent done anything but monkey with the sheep Dad. especially, I did work a little out in front this morning but this after noon we caught the lamb which has its eyelids turned under and Dad. put a stitch in each ey lid and each cheek and pulled them out and down and tied them there, according to instructions in an American sheep magazine which I got the other day as a sample copy. We had to do this to two and he put two stitches in one eyelid. It keeps the lids out all right but the look horrible and we had a hard time doing it as it hurt them to pierce the eyelid which was also tough.

We were afraid we were too late with one little fellow as his eyeball looks to have burst. To-night we all went down town. I went to Tips and got some samples for a new suit and then went up to see Marj. Dad. Enah and the baby went down to see Aunty Alice and to see Mrs. Johnson Enah's sister who just arrived from London where she has been attending the W.A. annual meeting. I think Frank was going to Huby's. I went down to Aunty's on my way home but the house was in darkness and I found the same conditions prevailing here when I arrived and see no sign of any one being home. It is now about eleven o'clock and still no one home and I'm going to bed. I am afraid they will ruin that child's health both physically and morally by permitting to be down town so late at night. Froze hard last night and has been cool all day but nice and sunny Cold east wind to-night.

Saturday April 8th

This morning Frank drove Enah and the baby down town in the waggon and they have been at the Jame's all day and walked home before dark. Enah brought back a bag of potatoes which Mrs. James sent to me and some turnips and parsnips she sent over. Dad. and I husked some corn while he was gone. This after noon Dad. cleaned out the hog pen and Frank and I worked in the shop. Frank at hanging an axe handle as he broke one the other day and I at making a frame to put cotton on for the front of the colony house. To-night I took some samples I got last night back to Tip Varey and ordered a suit. I then went down to Aunty Alice's and saw Aunty who just got home to-night from London. Aunty Maude and the two girls were down there. Raw cold day, Snowed all after noon and to-night.

Sunday April 9th

I didn't get to Sunday School this morning but Frank Enah and I went to church. I stayed down to Aunty's for dinner and spent the after noon with Marj. and Glad. Law but came home to tea and didn't go down again to night. Art. Quanbury came over to get Dad. to go and look at {Birson?} Ivey's horse which he had in his stable over here, before we went to church this morning and he was over again this

this after noon and again to-night. It got down some time during the night and got its neck twisted and jammed up in one corner of the stall and now it can't get up or straighten its neck. Dad. says it doesn"t matter about it not getting up but he is afraid its neck twisted beyond recovery and it was one of a new team he had just bought in Brantford. Lila was over here most of the afternoon and to tea and Mr. James and Mrs. Johnson were over this after noon. Dick was over to dinner but of course I didn't see him. The little yearling ewe that has been out of sorts all winter had a pair of nice lambs to-day, but doesn't seem to have much milk for them. It has been rather cold & raw though fairly sunny I took my eggs out of the incubator this morning to cool them and went to feed the chickens, forgot them and left them out an hour and a half, but I don't think it will hurt.

Monday April 10th

Lorne Jackson came after Dad. at a quarter to four this morning to go over and see Frank Crysler's mare which was suffering from an attack of acute indigestion owing to her eating corn cobs which had been shovelled out with the cleanings from the hog pen. Dad. had to send Lorne down after some medicine and didn't go till he got back. He walked out but got there the same time as Lorne who was on horseback. Tommy Jackson was over there and had been doctoring her for which he apologised to Dad. but Dad. said he had done all right for he likes old Tommy and realizes that he knows a lot more that the majority of these self taught quack-doctors, but Tommy had been handicapped he went to look through his medicine chest but found that his ether which he wanted had eaten the cork out of the bottle and evaporated, so he gave the horse some laudnum. Dad. told him if they had administered a little whiskey, it would have been a good thing Tommy said they had had some whiskey, but as he and Frank who had been sitting up all night had suffered considerably from the cold, they consumed most of it themselves so it naturally didn't have a very stimulating effect on the horse. Dad. was over there to breakfast and got back here about nine. When I went

out this morning Ben Ivey was prowling around looking for Dad. He and Art Quanbury had been up all night with his horse and he was very anxious to try and sling him up on his feet as he said he had been thrashing around all night and he was afraid he would knock his feet all to pieces or get his head under the hay and smother so the consequence was that except for doing a few chores here Dad. and I have been over there all day and Dad. is just about all in to-night. Art Quanbury Dad. and I went down to Aunty's before dinner to see if we could find Dad's. old set of slings but we couldn't any where. Art. & I went down to the Customs office to ask Huby but he didn't know where they were so they had to rig one up with a couple of little single trees and an old piece of carpet. We went back after dinner to help lift and Landon & Morg. Williams came over from the greenhouse. They were a long time getting things ready and when we did get him up the beam they had the pulleys fastened too was not high enough so we had to let him down and they made it higher, then we hauled him up again but it was just as Dad. expected he couldn't use his legs when we did get him up and just pawed around so we had to let him down and all we could do for him was to turn him over. Dad. feels sure that the injury in his neck is causing all the trouble, and says there is a possibility of it recovering with him lying down as he eats and drinks alright, but if the spinal column is hurt much there is little hope for him. It was about five o'clock when we got home so we just did up the chores. Nice day, rather raw

Tuesday April 11th

This morning we cut the tails of six of the biggest lambs Dad. cut the first one off with a jack knife but it didn't work very well so we did the rest with a butcher knife hammer and block the same as last year and it worked fine, they all lived through it all right although the first one seemed very sore for quite awhile but I think it was owing more to some of the turpentine he put on getting on to more tender parts than it was intended than to the cut itself. I walked Belle up and down the road for a while this moring at least I rode her, just to make her take a little

more exercise, as she is beginning to show signs of foaling soon, her time is up on the 25th of this month. When I put her in I started to rake up the annual crop of sticks and leaves under the old willow tree but only got it about half done before dinner and after dinner it was pouring rain and rained all the after noon we just did chores. Art Quanbury came over for most of the after noon, his last ewe had a pair of twins last night but he can't make one of them suck so he came over and borrowed our sucking bottle to give it a feed and sent it back with Frank. It thundered a little this after noon.

Wednesday April 12th

We havent done any thing much to-day I took Belle put for another little ride for exercise. Aunty Alice was over to dinner but didn't stay long after. The last ewe No. 67 lambed to-day, we watched her all morning as she seemed to be straining and Dad examined her but couldn't find any thing, but when we went out after dinner we found a dead lamb with her, it had come in a wrong position and was dead when it came, it was a fine big one too. About an hour later she had another dandy big ram lamb and it was all right and she seems to be all right to and has an enormous bag. To-night I went down to church, there were about a dozen or so there but there were no lights when we first got there I went up to see Marj. afterwards. I found her marking exam papers and suffering with an awfully sore throat. When I started for home it was pouring rain so I camped all night at Aunty's. It has been a very nice day.

Thursday April 13th

I just did chores after I got home this morning till dinner this after noon I took Belle out again, I saw Art. Quanbury he told me that Charlie and Ben Ivey had driven to Brantford yesterday morning to buy another horse and had not got home yet. He said he went up last night and turned Syd. (the one that's down) over and went up again this morning and found him dead. The little Ivey kid told me last night that his Daddy named his horses after the places he used to travel in Sydney & Halifax. I planted some old flower seeds in a box this after noon and put them in the kitchen window. I don't know that they

will grow as I think they are two or three years old. I also raked some more up under the old willow outside the fence, I finished inside yesterday. To-night I went down to a party of the Every-ready Club girls at Bessie Paterson's. We played Five-Hundred which I had never played before and which I didn't know any thing about so consequently didn't win one game. Colin Ryerse and I cut for booby prize and I got in a little tin watch and chain which proved a great source of amusement for the baby. Bill Davis & Johnnie I think got first prizes. We also had a hat trimming contest. Each boy had to trim a hat I did one for Hazel Silverthorne by just tying a couple of ribbons around it. I was quite tickled with the job I made. Sam Schram got first prize at that and George Henderson the booby. Marj. was there and said her sore throat was "all better". We all had a nice time and got away about half past one. It was pouring rain again to-night so I went down to Aunty's and stayed. They had half expected me as the bed was all ready to crawl into. It has been quite hot to-day and the fields are beginning to look quite green.

Friday April 14th

Aunty came over with me this morning and has stayed all day at least she went back about half past four. It has been cloudy, cold, windy and wet all day and we have just done a few chores, husk a little corn, keep our eyes on the incubator and sit around all day. Ham Thompson was in for a little while this morning to see the sheep. He has just invested in five Shropshires. He bought them at the Street Fair in Simcoe. They are supposed to be registered but he hasn't got the pedigree's and he says they have no tags in their ears. The chicks have been hatching all day but I am not looking for much of a hatch maybe twenty five or thirty.

Saturday April 15th

This morning Dad helped me take the chicks out of the incubator we took out twenty five but had to kill three which were crippled. I knocked their heads on a post and threw them over in the orchard, it was rather sickening but had to be done and I was sure I killed them but this after noon Dad. heard some cheeping and went out and found two of them had come to. I suppose I had only stunned

them. We put them under two of the setting hens and put the eggs which were under the hens in the incubator. They are due to hatch on Monday. This after noon Frank and I drove the team down town and got some groceries, we went up to Mrs. Leslie Battersby's and got a lot of plants for Aunty which Mrs. Battersby is giving her as she can't take them all to Brantford with her. I got a lot of stuff out of the garden down at Aunty's and brought it over. I got some tulip and daffodil bulbs some lily of the vallet roots, some clematis and Virginia creeper and a little syringa tree all of which I put out when I got home and didn't help do any chores. It took me till dark and the ground was really too wet. Lila was over all the after noon and got some may flowers back in the woods. Frank went down with her to-night. Dad. had to go down to Mr. Flemming's after tea as Chris Quanbury came after him. Flemming's mare had a colt when Dad. got there and it was all right so he didn't stay long. Old Dave Lampkins was in to-night, his new horse that he got at Watt's sale had some sort of fit and he wanted to ask Dad. about it. Tom. Abbot told Dad. he had them before, but they didn't tell poor old Davie that. Lovely day, sunny & mild

Sunday April 16th

Frank went down to Sunday School and Enah and I went down to church we took the baby down and left him with Aunty in the back of the church, and we three boys sat up in the front seat with Aunty Alice and Enah went in the choir. The baby was very good as usual. Dick came over here to dinner but I stayed down at Aunty's. I wernt up to the Bagley's after dinner to see Marj. I got up opposite Kev. Henderson's barn when it began to pour rain. I hiked across the road in there till the heaviest was over and then I got out and up as far as Alfy Dell's barn when it started again so I ran in the lane, over the manure heap and over a couple of bars which were nailed across the open door and waited there till it subsided alittle and sallied forth again, this time getting past the Methodist Church shed before it began to pelt so I just ran for all I was worth to the Bagley's veranda but got rather wet however Mrs. Bagley mopped me off with a duster and I didn't suffer much. After sitting around an hour or so Marj. and I went up and called for Glad Law and went for a walk up to the head of Main St. I went into Bert Thompson's and got the thermometer that belongs to Art Quanbury's incubator.

I came home to tea and didn't go down again. Aunty & Aunty Alice want me to go down there and give them a whole day in the garden to-morrow if it doesn't rain. This was a lovely Spring morning and warm but wet this after noon.

Monday April 17th

It rained hard during the night and was cold dark & windy this morning so I didn't go down to work in the garden, it has been a very nasty day, hasn't rained much but has looked like it and been cold and windy. Charlie Martin came over this morning and was here for an hour or so visiting, he had three hams he wanted smoked but we took the meat out of our smoke house two or three days ago. Enah and the baby went down town to dinner and were down most of the afternoon. Bill Phillips came after Dad. Soon after dinner to go down and tend to Alfy Dell's cow which calved yesterday, so Dad. went down and charged them two dollars; he and Frank got home to-gether a little before six. I didn't do much but put the cotton on the colony house frames and husk a little corn. Bruce Dell came over after Dad. again to-night, the cow is worse and Dad. has gone down with him

Tuesday April 18th

Dad. went down town again this morning to see the Dell's cow and was down most of the morning, he said she was better. I did chores most of the morning and just before dinner Dad. put the saddle on Queen and I rode her down nearly to the corner, she didn't do so very badly. Dad said she looked fine. We spent most of the after noon trimming her up, Dad. cut the long hair off her legs & fetlocks with the scissors and singed most of it off under her jaw. About half past four when Frank got home we undertook to drive the eight pigs from the hog pen over to the bay on the old barn where Dad. thinks they will do better, we got five of them in with out much trouble but three we had an awful time with and had to just tire them out and the last one we had to tire out and catch but we had Tige to help us with her and the others we did alone, it nearly killed us. Dad. is anxious to get them finished for fear the price drops they were up to $10.75 per cent yesterday. Frank has gone on a hunting, trapping and fishing expedition with the Ryersies to-night Mrs McBride was here all day washing. It has been sunny but a very high wind all day. Mud has dried up a lot.

Wednesday April 19th

This morning Dad. and I put the association ear tags in the old ewes and the two year olds' ears. Dad put the holes in their ears with the harness punch, we also marked all the lambs, their ears are too small to put tags in and we hate to punch the edges of them all up so we painted Roman numerals on their sides with lamp {black?} and oil, and then marked it down in a book which lambs belong to which ewes. This after noon we took the tails off eight more lambs, they are all done now except the two little ones. We then did chores and Dad. started to make a trough to feed the lambs. This after noon To-night Enah and I went down town, we weren't in time to go to church, but Enah was in time for choir practice. I went in to Tip's to see if my suit had come and he said he had got word from the firm that the stuff I ordered hadn't come yet from the mill and they didn't expect it for at least three weeks, so I told him to tell them to wait till the three weeks were up and then to make it up out of another choice if the first wasn't there as I didn't want to wait. I told him I would be down in the morning, I then went up to see Marj. She expects to go to London on Friday to spend her Easter holidays. I went down to Aunty's and called for Enah, Aunty Alice got home to-night from Ingersol, where she was spending a couple of days visiting Miss Parke, Uncle Hals sister. It has been a nice day but rainy to-night.

Thursday April 20th

Mr. Fleming came after Dad. this morning to go and see his colt, which Dad. is afraid has joint ill, which is almost impossible to cure. When he went down there I went down to Tip's and picked out another sample, the only one I liked much that wasn't on his list of "sold outs". I took a lot down to show Aunty and Cousin Clare, and they thought it would be nice too, so I stayed there to dinner and took them back after dinner, got the mail and came home. Dad. was here all alone as Enah and the baby had gone down to her mother's. Old Gladys made her nest this morning. Dad. put a lot of straw for her in the pen where the young pigs were but she carried it all out and put it in her own pen so has far too much, when Dad. went out

about twelve she was still making her nest and when he went out about an hour later she was covered with pigs and more coming, she had thirteen altogether but killed one to-night by lying on it, but she is very careful, and good to them. Soon after dinner or at least dinner time because Dad. hadn't bothered eating any dinner, Al. Faulkner came after him to go down and doctor Jimmy Leany's horse. He hated to go but did and got a dollar out of it, he has started charging folks in town as lately they have come after him from all directions. I spent most of the after noon cleaning out and heating up my two incubators. The little one was up to 103° before I went to bed to-night. About six o'clock we had one of the worst old thunder storms we have had since last summer. Frank Dad. & I were all besieged in different barns and couldn't get out till it was over. It seemed to come from the north and went right over us towards the lake There were a couple of cracks I though would hit the barn. Enah and the baby got home about eight and the baby seemed quite sick. Dad. and I greased the little chicken's heads to-night. It has been very warm all day

Friday April 21st (Good Friday)

I promised Aunty and Aunty Alice I would give them a day in the garden to-day but as it was so wet I didn't hurry down and put the eggs in the two incubators first, I put in 198. 135 in the big one and 63 in the other. I got a ride down as far as Fleming's with Sam Law who came in after a bag of his potatoes. I went in to tell Mr Fleming of an ant toxin for navel ill which Dad read of last night and which Dad. said he could telephone to Burt or Duncomb in Waterford for if he wanted to. When I got down to Aunty's they were just starting for church. Aunty Alice was terribly distressed that she wouldn't be there to work with me but I cleaned up a lot of old rubbish and boards that were in the road of where they want to have Val. Leany plan. This after noon they both got out and worked and I dug up a couple of patches and Aunty Alice put in some potatoes and multiplier onions. It started to rain about five o'clock so we had to stop I stayed to tea and came home about dark. Dick was down to dinner & tea, he has had a holiday this after noon to-day of course. I guess Dad. just did chores over here to-day. Frank was off hunting with the Ryerse's

Snowdrop had a big, black, bull calf, and Gladys killed anothe piglet. Ed. was over this after noon telling his adventures in the 133rd. He is Quartermaster Sergeant now. Nice day but rather cloudy and wet.

Saturday April 22nd

This morning we just did chores and Dad. had a bath and went down to Aunty's for dinner, he wanted to get his hair cut for Easter. He was gone all the after noon I cleaned out the horse stable and Frank started to house clean the shop, then we fooled around awhile and at last put the saddle on Queen and he got on and rode her down the road a little way. When Dad. came home he found he had missed bringing the paper so after we got the horses fed, Frank I put the saddle on Ginger and rode down to Aunty's and got it. Tonight Frank and I set two hens on thirty eggs. Fram Walker was in to-night to get a boll and to borrow the speculum for a lymphatic horse

Sunday April 23rd

This being Easter we all went to church Dad. took the baby who was pretty good but having Huby sit right across the isle didn't improve his behaviour any. Dick came over to dinner. This after noon Frank and I went over to John Wess' and Frank set some traps up in McQueens & Robert John's gully. We got home just in time to let Enah go to church. Dad. had to go down this after noon to see Dell's cow again, she isn't doing right. Charlie Quanbury came over twice since six o'clock to get Dad. to go and look at his colt. Dad. went back with him the last time and just got there in time to see it die, he is going back in the morning to hold a post mortem, it was the one he got in Brantford for fifty eight dollars. Lovely morning but cloudy & rainy later.

Monday April 24th

Dad. & Frank went over to Quanbury's this morning soon after breakfast Dad. to dissect the dead horse and Frank to skin it as Charlie told him he could have the hide if he would skin it. Dad. had to go down town to see Dell's cow, and so didn't finish his job before dinner and stayed at the Quanbury's to dinner, neither he nor Frank got home till nearly four o'clock, but he found out what was the matter with the colt. He had distemper last winter and

the absess did not form & break under the jaw as it should have done, and it seems when this does not happen, an absess is liable to form any place in the body, so in this case they found it in the bowells which had all grown to-gether around the growth which Dad said was as big as his head, so nothing could have saved him anyway I just did chores to-day and this after noon cleaned out the separator, we started separating again to-night. We got the chores done up fairly early and I went down to Aunty's to tea, to-night Aunty and I went to the picture show to see "Mistress Nell" with Mary Pickford. It was pretty good the play being in the time of Charles III. Harry Battersby and Dave Waddle were over this morning for a little while. Nice day but cloudy to-night.

Tuesday April 25th

Dad had to go down town again this morning to see Dell's cow and Frank went down to ship his horse hide to Hallam. Bob. Miller showed him how to fix it and ship it. I did chores all morning and this after noon husked a little corn. Art. Quanbury was over all the after noon and watched Dad. shear the two rams which he did in about four hours. The little fellow was very poor and alive with ticks. I rode down town to get the paper tonight. It has drizzled all the after noon and things are getting in awful shape.

Wednesday April 26th

Allan Law came up this morning with old Ned. the big bay, he was all humped up and the musles in his hip trembled. They had him hitched up coming up to Pickford's after their stove but when they got to Art Ryerse's they had to unhook and put one of Art's in. Alan said on Friday he gave his foot a bad cut when they were moving the big new engine for the factory from the car one of the skids ran up on ihs heel and cut a piece out and they haven't had him out of the stable since till to-day, but Dad didn't think that would affect him the way he was affected and didn't know what was the matter. This after noon Dad. caught old Splitear and sheared her they were all too wet from yesterday's rain to shear this morning, when he was about half done Alan came after him, he said old Ned had given up going down Art Ryerse's hill and Alan had managed to get him to the top of Monteith's but no

farther, so when Dad. finished the sheep he went down with him and didn't get back till after seven, they said they had got Ned home but he didn't understand the case He said he was down when he first got there but got up by himself afterwards. He read it up at tea time and came to the conclusion it was asoturia although it didn't show the regular symptoms, but after tea he walked down again to give it a boll, it must have been after midnight quite a bit when he got home I havent done much but chores all day cleared up a little around the back door. We moved the three hens and little chickens from the colony house outdoors to-day. Lila was over all day, she Quint and Win got back from Toronto last night. She and Frank went back to the gully this afternoon and Frank went down with her to-night. It has been much warmer to-day but didn't rain.

Thursday April 27th

Dad. went down to Sam's again right after breakfast and didn't get back till about two o'clock, he had dinner down there, he thought Ned was better. When he came home he and Frank sheared another sheep. I spent the day doing chores and clearing up Aunty came over this after noon and stayed to tea. I walked down with her after tea and went up to get my hair cut and went up to see Quint. I waited there till after ten and then found him down in Henry Biroy's pool room. I had quite a visit with him and didn't get home till about twelve o'clock. It has been fairly sunny to day and a strong east wind.

Friday April 28th

I haven't worked very hard to day as I had a sort of pain most of the time, this morning I made a sort of little desk and put it up in the cow stable to put our milk record book on. This after noon I took some eggs over to Jack Martin's, they seemed very busy over there shipping eggs. When I got back I cut a little strip of lawn but the old lawn mower is just about out of commission. Sam Law came up this morning and said old Ned was doing alright. Frank took a small grist to the mill this morning and got it this after noon. He went down the mill hill but it was so bad that he went around by town to get his stuff. He and Dad. burned some grass on the road this after noon. He got an express order

from John Hallam today for $5.15 for the horse hide he shipped them and they had deducted 35 cts for freight. He thought that was good as he wasn't looking for much more than three Dad. was very surprised this morning when he went out to find a newly born lamb belonging to the little yearling which we were sure wasn't in lamb. The lamb was in the pen and she was outside, he was afraid at first he was going to have trouble making her own it but she did alright. Enah and the baby were down town most of the day. Enah said Aunty Alice had expected [Darycote?} to come and work in the garden but he didn't so she was out digging herself, so Dad. told Frank to tell them to-night (he went down to cash his order) that I would go down tomorrow if all was well and help them We saw in yesterday's casuality list yesterday that Kieth Aylen of Ft. Saskatchewan was killed in action.There seems to be quite a mess over in poor old Ireland. They captured Sir Roger Casement the other day who was leading a ship laden with arms and ammunition unto Ireland for rebels and they also sunk the ship which was a disguised German one, and since there have been serious riots of the Sinn Fein party in Dublin but the Nationalists are helping the loyal troops quell it so they think the rioting is just being carried on by a bunch of fanatics, however the whole of Ireland is under martial law. Sir Roger they think was a little out of his head anyway and they say he had done before now some great things for the British. He is sure now they say of the gallows but hopes they will hang him with a silken cord as he thinks common rope would be too degrading to man of his position. It has been a lovely day foggy this morning but sunny after.

Saturday April 29th

As soon as Frank went out after breakfast this morning he noticed Belle was not right, so called Dad. After watching her for a few minutes Dad decided some thing was wrong so made an examination and found a colt coming with Its head bent back. He had quite a time straitening it but managed to get it away but it was dead. Dad. said the first strainter had probably broken its neck. Frank and I were just ready to go down town and as Belle seemed all right we left and it was not till I got home at night that I knew that another dead colt had come in exactly the same position only on its back, they were a beautiful pair of mare colts one a bay with black mane and black points and the other a sorel with sorel mane and white points and each

and each with a white strip in its face.Dad says he had done nothing else but grieve all day, not that in itself it is such a loss but they were such a pair of beauties and no reason in the world why they shouldn't have lived if they had come straight. I went down with Frank and helped him put on a load of wood which was about half of the cord that Dad bought from Cousin Phoebe. I then went down and gave Aunty Alice another day in the garden, they couldn't get a man to come so had started to dig it themselves. Frank got anothe load after dinner but got it alone. It was nice beech and maple wood and she gave him a lot of old boards too. Huby went to Simcoe this after noon and heard about our twin colts up there before I did. I got home about dark and set out some little daisys, violets and a pansy plant that Aunt Nancy gave me. Lovely sunny day and quite hot.

Sunday April 30th

I was the only member from this house at church this morning. Frank & Enah having decided to go to-night instead. Dad. and the baby were about to get ready to go down when Ham Thompson came in and Dad. had to go up there with him, to take a colt away from his mare, it was dead. Ham has had about the roughest streak of luck with his stock this year that a man could have. He has one or two calves but four of his cows aborted and now both his colts are gone, He has no young chickens either. I stayed down at Aunty's to dinner and Aunty Alice came over here, we didn't have any sermon this morning Mr. Johnson feels pretty badly over the news which came last week that his youngest brother was killed at the front. Quint and Bill Oakes went to Normandale early this morning so I didn't think Quint would be over to dinner but I saw him this after noon and he said they had got back earlier than they expected so was over to dinner, he said the trout didn't bite very well. This after noon Marj. Glad Law and I went up to Dixon's woods and got a few mayflowers. Tonight Enah and Frank went down to church and Dad. and I were rather late getting through with the chores. The Oddfellows were at our church to-night. George Duncan was in for quite awhile to see Dad. about a cow which has something wrong with it. I tested out my eggs to-night. I only took 48 out of the big machine but 38 out of the little one. I put all that were left into the big one. Nice day quite hot.

Monday May 1st

Frank took a walk over the back field yesterday after noon and reported that the side hill was fit to go on but the top was pretty wet, so this morning he took Harry and Nellie with the disks back and has been working back there all day. Dad. went back with him to get him started, he got the side hill all gone over and of course couldn't turn on it so had to go across the top but threw the disks out, however it scratched it up a little and will help it to dry. It will take a lot of work yet as the rain has packed it so hard and the grass is pretty well started. While Dad. was back there I buried the twins in the garden up by the windmill. Tom Abbot saw them this morning and said he would give five dollars if they had lived. Sam Law came in while I was at it with some of Dad's instruments he had left down there and said old Ned. was just about all right again. When Dad. came up he sheared a sheep before dinner and two after dinner, he thinks he is getting on to it now. The last one he did I thought he did in a little less than an hour. This after noon I cut most of the lawn I didn't make much of a job of it with the old lawn mower but managed to get it haggled a little.Alex Jamieson came in to see Dad. about a cow he has "that ain't doin right." He told me that "Wilful waste makes woeful want" and that I ought to let the grass grow for hay or turn the old mare in on it. It has been a nice day but looks rainy to-night.

Tuesday May 2nd

It rained hard enough during the night to put a stop for the present to agricultural operations, but has been a nice sunny day with rather a cold wind. Mr. Fleming came after Dad. this morning his colt is not so well again and Dad. is afraid he will lost it yet. It was a lot better. Tupper was in too for awhile to ask Dad. about his colt which is leaking a little at the navel. Just before dinner we put all the unsheared sheep in the barn and cut the tails off the two little ones there is just one more lamb now to dock, the one belonging to the little yearling ewe. Dad. sheared two more this after noon but had heartburn pretty badly I spent most of the after noon digging the corner bed I made by the rhubarb bed outside the clothes room window. Frank husked corn and went down and got the mail. He went down again to-night with a message to Mrs. Dell about her cow.

Wednesday May 3rd

It started to rain sometime during the night and has kept it up all morning most of the time quite heavily so that underfoot conditions are in about as bad a state as they everwere. It cleared up after dinner but was cold all the after noon but was a very nice night. This morning I spent most of the morning in the house grinding bread crumbs for the chickens and writing in this. Dad. helped me get the little chickens into the colony house this morning as we were afraid the wet would be bad for them. Two of them did die with the sore eye trouble that they had last year. This after noon Frank and I did chores and husked a little corn. Frank spent all the morning packing his muskrat skins and after dinner he took them down and shipped them to Hallam and got the mail. Dad. sheared one sheep this morning and two more this afternoon, he has just one more to shear. I went down town to-night. Tom Abbot and other soothsayers and astronomers were predicting cold weather as the new moon was exceptionaly far North and slap on its back.

Thursday May 4th

Dad. sheared the last sheep this morning and as soon as he got through we packed the wool up and Frank and I took it down. We stopped at the Quanbury's to get a shovel as I wanted to get a little sand to throw in the chicken yard and Charlie gave us Art's three fleeces. Art himself was down {bathing?} Vyse's horse. Henderson gave us 30 cts. a lb for it, which was the highest payed in yesterday's paper, and to-day it has dropped a cent or two, but the mail hadn't come in when we sold it. We had eight six lbs and got $25.80. Art had 18 lbs and got $5.40. By the time we got our sand and a few more things up town we didn't get home till about one o'clock. This after noon we all cleaned up oats. Aunty was over for a few minutes after tea and brought me a new pair of working pants and three tea-roses which Aunty Alice bought from Ivey's. I set them out before she left. It has been a nice day but windy.

Friday May 5th

This morning Dad. Frank and I went around the gully fence or at least this end and got it so we think it will hold the cattle, Dad. wants to turn them out on Monday. Dad. and I came up a little before

noon, but Frank stayed back there to set some traps for a coon he thought he saw tracks of the other day, he isn't sure whether it is a coon or a ground hog. This afternoon he went back and worked all after noon on the side hill, while Dad and I cleaned up more oats. Enah went down to choir practice to-night. Lovely day.

Saturday May 6th

Dad. got started down pretty early and worked all day in the garden down home fixing the paths all up the way they used to be. He had to cut the sod right off so it was a tedious job, but I went down to-night and they are all just tickled to death at the change in the looks of things He took the baby down with him. Frank worked all day on the land and says he got on fairly well. I worked around the garden all day and did chores. At noon while we were at dinner we head a cow bawl and on looking out saw they had knocked down the lane gate and were all back the lane. We tried to head them off but couldn't so let them go. Jim went back too although Dad wanted to put her in the orchard insted of back there as he was afraid she would not be able to navigate the hills but she managed pretty well Nice day rained a few times {illegible} I went down to-night and got my new suit.

Sunday May 7th

We all went down to church this morning. Dad. and the baby sat up in the front seat and the baby surpassed all past records for good behaviour. After church I walked down to the Customs office with Huby. and he was explaining the great ammount of complicated work he had to do and saying how much he liked it. He is just as interested down there as he used to be over here digging post holes or shovelling manure, he thinks his office is dandy with the view he gets from both windows of the lake and the marsh right outside full of all kinds of birds and he has every thing inside just as neat and slick as a button. We monkeyed around down there so long that I was afraid Aunty would have started dinner without me so I went up to dinner with Huby. Ada. was up there but Quint had come over here. This after noon Marj. and I started to walk around the hill but it was such a beautiful day and so hot that I with a little coaxing persuaded her to come out here till I hooked Joe up and we went for a drive. Dad. had just got through cleaning his probang and his hands were all dirty so he hooked up for us. The old

buggy was all mud and looked terribly shabby with the top off but Marj. said she didn't mind so we had a nice drive as the roads are fine now except on the hills. I got home soon after five. Enah went down to church to-night as they wanted her to play for some fellow to sing a solo, he came down from Brantford with Meesa Dyer. Frank was off all the after noon on his wheel. We let the sheep all out in the lane for a little while to-night. Beautiful day.

Monday May 8th

We were all up fairly early this morning and Frank got his team all harnessed to get out on the land right after breakfast but about breakfast time and old soaker of a thunderstorm rolled in and everlastingly soused things. It got so dark we had to light the lamp and there were two or three claps of thunder that made our teeth rattle. The storm itself didn't last long but of course we couldnt think of doing anything on the land although it has been sunny and a very high west wind which dried things up a lot. We chored around all day, carried the apples & vegetables all up out of the cellar put the rest of the sawdust back in the ice house and packed it in docked a couple of the calves horns and this morning. Dad. and Frank took up a board in the woodshed floor to see if they could discover the source of a very disagreeable odour which has been pervading that part of the house lately. They found it all right, it turned out to be the cat that died last fall. I got the old lawnmower going to-night so that it makes quite a respectable looking job by setting the blade up against the knives

Tuesday May 9th

This morning Dad. and I drove Belle up to Yeager's and bred her to King Chocolate again. There was some New Yorker there looking for saddle horses and Yeager was asking Dad. about Ginger so before we left they said they would be down to see her this after noon. We got home soon after twelve and right after dinner Frank went down and got the mail and then took the big team back to disk he had looked at it this morning and thought it was fit. Dad. & I did chores and cleaned up the horses. About three o'clock Rus. Lampkins came in to borrow the pump and sink he left here a year or so ago to put up, so Dad. told him to take it as he didn't know when we would get a chance to put it in. He was here quite awhile and bought a setting of eggs from me but didn't pay for them. He was just leaving

when Murray Hamilton came in with his car with Yeager Jack Davis and the New York saddle horse man, so then the horse show began, we brought out both Ginger and Queen, Yeager seemed to be trying to convince all the company that Ginger was in foal and she did look a little queer, Dad. just noticed it to-day but we knew by her actions she couldn't be so we attributed Yeager's talk to the whiskey that he was carrying but he told Dad. aside a little later that he knew she wasn't in foal he was just trying to make the fellow think he was working for him he asked me what I wanted for Queen and I said two hundred he laughed at me but later he told us to let Ginger go for what the fellow would pay and he would see that he bought Queen too after she has been handled a little more "but" he said "Remember the price of her is three hundred not two". so whether he meant all he said or not I don't know as he was pretty full. After I rode Ginger down the lane once or twice, Dad. sold her for one hundred and twenty five dollars and the fellow shelled out the hard cash and said he wanted her at Yeager's before six. As it was then nearly five we had to hurry but we left right away and were up to Charlie Bawlby's when they overtook us in the car, they had probably come around by town to get some more booze. We were there by six but both Joe and Ginger were about all in. We drove Joe to the buggy and led Ginger. The fellow seemed rather surprised that we made such good time. We left Ginger at Yeager's stable but he was going to ship her to New York to-night. Dad. hated to leave her but he told the man he was glad she was not going to the army. He said she would never see the army as he wants her in his riding school and if she doesn't stay there she will go to some rich man's stable for a lady's saddle horse. He said he would be back in a couple of weeks or so after Queen. We got home about seven and I dressed up right away and Marj. and I went to the picture show. It has been fair all day but a cold north wind. It was starting to sprinkle to-night when I got home.

Wednesday May 10th

It aparently rained all night and certainly rained most of the day, not very heavily except for a few showers but a lot of water fell. To-night it looked and felt like a big thunder storm but a very high wind got up and dispersed the clouds. We did chores and cleaned grain all day

We got all the oats cleaned and quite a lot of the barley. Charlie Butler was in tihs after noon for a minute or two, his mare Dad. thinks has an attack of lymphangitis. To-night I walked down to see if Marj. would like to go to Simcoe on Friday night to see the "Battle Cry of Peace" at the show. I guess she would have liked to go but thought she hadn't better. I stopped in for a few minutes to see Aunty & Aunty Alice.

Thursday May 11th

Dad. took a load of manure down this morning to Aunty Alice for the garden and Frank and I set out the two English walnuts and two of the cherry trees which we got from Mr. Morgan. This afternoon he went back and disked and Dad took Joe & Belle back and harrowed for awhile. I set out the other four cherry trees and just did chores. Very high strong west wind.

Friday May 12th

Mr. Carpenter came after Dad. this morning while we were milking to go and see his mare which was foaling, so Dad. had to go up there before breakfast, he went out and harrowed as soon as he got back and this after noon they took the drill back and six bags of barley & oats which we mixed on the barn floor at noon. He got it all sowed but didn't get over quite all the ground they had worked up. I just did chores. I took 45 chicks out of the incubator and put them under three hens but two died. Lila stayed here all night nice day.

Saturday May 13th

Frank has been back working on the land all day and Dad. was back this morning and finished drilling all that was in fit shape. I worked around here put the three hens with the chickens in the colony house and took five more out of the incubator but two of them were weak. I also cut some more of the lawn. This after noon Dad. and I hooked Joe & Queen to the waggon and went down town and took some furniture of Aunty's down to her as she had room for it now that Cousin Clare has moved into her new house. Just as we got opposite the "Titanic." Queen jumped at a rut in the road and piece broke of the end of the tongue causing the iron to bend and let the tongue down. Dad. tied it up with a strap which lasted

till we got our furniture unloaded and got around to the blacksmith shop where Bert Greenbury took the iron off and I took the tongue over to the planing mill and got George Nunn to put splice a new end on it then Greenbury put the iron back on. I had some cream for Elva and when I got to the shop Dad asked me what I did with it and I suddenly remembered I had left it on the bank by the "Titanic". I went back for it but and it was all right. We went on up town and got the mail and Enah's wallpaper but didn't have time to do anything more than chores when we got home. Queen behaved very nicely. To-night Frank went down with Lila. Beautiful day. I took four dozen eggs over to Martin's.

Sunday May 14th

Guy Tuple came after Dad. this morning about nine o'clock to go and see a sick colt. He had his car so Dad. got back just in time to hitch Joe up for Enah & I me to go to church. Frank had gone, so Dad. and Tid went back to the gully to let the fence down to let the cattle in the other end of the pasture field but it began to rain so came back. It was raining quite hard when we got to church and kept it up all the after noon. We got rather went coming home. Dick walked over with Frank to dinner. I didn't go down town this after noon but went down to church again to-night, and went for a short walk with Marj. afterwards, but went down early to see Aunty & Aunty Alice.

Monday May 15th

Frank went down first thing this morning and borrowed Mr. Fleming's hog rack and we loaded up our hogs, we were only going to take four which were in pretty good shape but they were such a nuisance to separate that we loaded them all in the waggon and then Dad. threw the two smallest ones out but that still left two medium sized ones but they took them down. Dad. wasn't very well satisfied with what the brought, he never is and thought Neil didn't give them all there was in them. The six of them at $10.75 per cwt came to $92.98. As soon as they left I hooked up Joe and went down to get my teeth filled as I thought there were some holes in them. Bill couldn't get at them for quite awhile

so by the time he got through it was about noon, he filled two. Right after dinner we mixed up a sheep dip of zenoleum in a tub and dipped all the lambs. We got them all covered but it was rather an unsatisfactory job as the tub gave them such a chance to kick and splatter. When we got through with that Frank & I went down in the waggon and got some sand & plaster for Dad. to do some patching and four cement tile to put accross the lane at the big mudhole as the cows got into awful shape wallowing through it every day. To-night Frank and I did chores and Dad. Enah & the baby went down to Aunty Alice's to tea and after wards to the picture show to see Cinderella. Aunty, Aunty Alice and Aunt Ida all went to. They said it was good but a lot different from the old story. Dad. said the baby wasn't nearly so interested as he expected. About half a dozen or more fellows spoke to Dad. this morning about getting some of the little pigs and Ham Thompson told me he would take the whole litter. Morley Buck was over right after dinner to borrow Dad's wig for the masquerade dance to-night that the I.O.D.E. are giving. Old Monteith was in too and brought a couple of bushels of potatoes which Dad. bought and got four bushels of seed barley. Wet to-day feels like more rain.

Tuesday May 16th

Trinder came in this morning with some trees that I ordered from the Horticultural Society and as part of them were for Aunty I took them down and helped them put them in. They hurried me off to get my own in but Uncle Ward called me in there to show me some peach trees and he talked for about an hour. Then I had to stop in to pay John Quanbury so by the time I got home it was getting late. I got my crimson rambler rose bush set out before dinner but it began to rain before I was through and it rained steadily all the after noon so we didn't do much. Dad. was working in the house anyway doing some patching for Enah on the walls. Frank also helped them in there. It cleared up about tea time and to-night Frank and I went down to see Mary Pickford in Cinderella. We went up to Huby's after wards for a little while. We saw Lewis Woodson yesterday, he is here getting things ready for the rest.

Wednesday May 17th

This has been a most horrible day, cold, windy, cloudy and a cold rain about every half hour. Mrs. McBride was here all day papering in the dining room and the two bedrooms off it and Dad. has been helping her

all day, she was here till eleven o'clock to-night and I had to drive her home or at least to the top of the hill where she cuts through Preston's orchard as the mill hill is about impassable I suppose. They got the dining room just about finished. I helped for awhile this after noon painting the wood work Frank and I set out the rest of the nursery stock we got yesterday. He got a Bartlett pear tree and I got a mulberry which I put in the chicken yard and a hydrangea. Art and Charlie Quanbury brought a young cow and a heifer over this after noon which they are going to pasture for the milk we can get from the cow which I guess won't be much. Ham Thompson was also in.

Thursday May 18th

Enah is the only one that is getting any work done these days, the rest of us don't seem to feel like it Dad. and I went back and fixed up the gully fence a little this morning and this after noon I drove down and got some groceries and paint for Enah. She is make the other part of the house look pretty nifty. I went down to see Aunty and Aunty Alice while I was down town and found Mrs. Jackson there from Port Rowan to see Aunt Ida. Dad. helped Enah this after noon I think, Frank has been gathering up old rags & junk for the rag man most of the after noon. Cloudy & cold

Friday May 19th

Dad. and Frank got started at grading the lane this morning and have been at it all day. They plowed as close to the fence on each side as they could and four or five furrows over and intend throwing the two outside furrows from each side into the middle so as to leave a ditch at each side and high in the center I just worked around here and planted some flower seeds. This after noon I took the wheel barrow and went over to Ivey's and Ben gave me a whole of flower roots of different kinds I didn't know the names of half of them but there were some larkspur chasta daisy's and a Dorothy Perkins rose bush. Dad. helped Enah paper this after noon for awhile. To night he had to go down to a meeting of the Mr. Smith's reunion so I went down with him to get my hair cut but the shop was closed. Enah paperd till twelve o'clock. Another heavy rain to-night.

Saturday May 20th

Dad. and Enah paperd nearly all morning and I think are just about through. Frank and I went out about ten o'clock to work at the lane and have been there all day, Dad. helping us this after noon I threw the sods from the side into the middle on the east side right back and they followed cleaning out the loose earth and culling the east edge of the ditch on a hebel so the cattle wouldn't tramp up and break it. We are only working north of the waterhole as they couldnt plow through that with the team. After we did chores to night and before tea we ran the buggy down the lawn to the ditch and washed it. After tea Frank and I went down town and I got my hair cut. Sunny & nice. But breezy.

Sunday May 21st

Frank and I went to church this morning. After church we picked Quint up and then Aunty Alice and they both came over to dinner, on the bridge we overtook Dess and Dick also on their way to the farm. Enah was rather surprised at the dinner party although she expected Aunty Alice, Dick thought I would be staying down to dinner when he asked Dess, however we got on all right. This after noon I went for a drive with Marjorie. We went out to England's first as Glad Law had gone out there with Bertha for dinner but they had gone off for a drive so we went on by ourselves. Dick, Dess, Frank & Quint all went back to the woods and Dad. took Queen out with just the surcingle on her, he said she went fine. Beautiful day.

Monday May 22nd

It began to rain before seven this morning and has kept it up steadily all day. About eleven it seemed to let up a little so Dad. and I took Daisy May up to Ham Thompson's, we were up there quite awhile as we had to have a look at all the stock some of which looks fine and so by leaving about twelve we got into an old soaker of a shower so got properly soused. We spent the after noon in the house. Dad. helped Enah put down carpets and Frank cleaned up over the woodshed. I sorted out all the Farmers' Advocate's. There were about seven years of them and we got them all sorted and tied in bundles and packed in a tea box. Frank has seventeen ducks out and has to feed them every two hours. He expects a lot more soon

Tuesday May 23rd

I didn't do anything much this morning but a few chores and go back to the gully to see if the cattle were all right as some of them didn't come up last night. I got a ride up with Jim Ryerse, he said they had twelve acres in but there were lots that had none. I saw the old turkey that hatched out on Sunday, she had lived through the storm and still had her six little ones and an egg that she left in the nest and which Art Quanbury gave me to put under a hen, hatched. This after noon I took 34 chicks out of the little incubator and cut some of the lawn. Frank and Enah went down town this morning in the waggon and got a lot of stuff. Frank went down to the mill this after noon and got different kinds of feed for his ducks. Dad. helped Enah put down the dining room. To-night I went down to see David Harum with Marj. at the picture show, it was pretty good. Very hot and sultry to-day feels like more rain.

Wednesday May 24th

Frank left about 9 o'clock this morning on his wheel for Port Ryerse to spend the holiday and left me in charge of his seventeen ducks which should be fed every two hours. He got back in the middle of the afternoon and hadn't been at Port Ryerse but went on up to Vittoria and saw Dr. McKinnes about some golden seal. He advised him not to get it till fall. Lila came over with him and he went back with her after tea. I spent most of the morning tending to chickens and trying to cut the lawn. I got all cut on the other side of the ditch but when I got into the tough thick grass near the house I couldn't make a go of it with the old lawn mower so came in and went to sleep for awhile. Then Dad. put Charlie Martins saddle on Queen and I rode her a little way down the road. She went a lot better but I couldn't get very used to the little saddle and the stirrups were too {illegible} for me and hurt my bad knee a little. I nearly went over her head once but didnt get quite that far. Aunty came over at noon and stayed most of the after noon. All day long there have been buggy and democrat loads of fishermen going both east to the creek and west to the pond or lake and I suppose that like other years Black Creek will be lined with them as it has a been a beautiful day to lie around in the shade

by the creek whether the fish bite or not. It has been swelteringly hot and yet a nice cool breeze. To-day is the proper day to plant corn around here but I doubt if there will be a grain dropped unless it is in some garden, there are dozen's who haven't a grain of any thing in the ground. Tom Abbot says he heard that Charlie Kinsular who has about four acres in is the only man between the Dog's Nest and the town line who has a seed in and their fields are all regular meadows and we're looking for more rain still.

Thursday May 25th

Dad. went back to see what the land looked like this morning and came back with the report that it was too wet to touch to-day, and a great big string of rock bass which were part of yesterday's catch. He had been over at John Wess's and said Cam. was cleaning a whole tub-full He, Dr. Bill, and Lloyd Crysler, were down at the creek all day and he said he thought they caught more fish than any one else on the creek and of course as usual it was lined from one end to the other. John Wess drove him and the lunch down as he can't walk very well on account of the veins in his legs, and had then come back and he & old Bill Wilkinson had put in the day target shooting. While Dad. was gone I worked a little trying to get some of the old cherry tree roots out of where I want to plant my hedge and when he came back we hooked Queen and Joe to the waggon and went up to McCoy's as Maria sent word down by her nephew the other night that Mike the old horse wasn't well and wanted Dad. to come up. There was aparently nothing the matter with Mike but the fellow gave him a bag of oats & hay for pay. Queen went fine. We hooked her up again this after noon with Joe and drove down to Ott. Collins with the lawn mower. We came back by the plank as this road was awful. (I have went to sleep.) Wyatt Waddle and Mr. Harris of the Massey. Harris firm were down for awhile to try and sell Dad. a corn cultivator but he didn't bite. He said Mr. Harris was the decentest agent he had seen for a long time as he didn't coax at all. Lovely day.

Friday May 26th

This morning Dad. and Frank did some ditching in the back field and Frank took his bee hive back to the woods to see if a stray swarm would take possession

of it. This after noon Frank took the team back and worked all the after noon but says it isn't any to dry yet. John Wess made a start to-day too, Art. Quanbury came over this after noon and he and Dad. put the picture moulding up in the dining room I helped them for a little while but I measured one piece 23 inches instead of 32 (the yardstick was upside down) and then went to sleep so I went out and continued the work I was at this morning viz. grubbing out the cherry tree roots an digging the strip for my hedge. I got it all dug down to the ditch by to-night. Very hot to-day.

Saturday May 27th

It rained first thing this morning so nothing more could be done on the land. I don't remember what we did this morning but I don't reckon it was anything very exciting. Come to think, I believe I read and cleaned off Queen and Joe, and Dad. did chores and cleaned out the cellar. Frank went back to the gully and fastened his bee hive up in a tree. This after noon I had quite a snooze out in the hay and about four o'clock Dad. & Frank went down town in the waggon to look at the refrigerator Emery is making and I went down to the corner with them to get some of the little spruce trees that are thick down on the side hill in Dicky Steven's orchard. I was about an hour hunting for Frank Awde as Dad. said I had better get his permission to take them and at last found him over at Jack Martin's, he told me to take all I wanted as they were a nuisance, so I went back and got quite an armful pulled before Dad. & Frank got back with the waggon and they took them home for me. I got a few of them set out to-night before dark and heeled the rest of them in. I got them planted down to about the brow of the hill and from there down to the ditch it is heavy clay and I will have to get some other earth to put in. Aunty sent me over a root of the blue lilly but I didn't get it set out to-night. It got very black this after noon and looked like a proper souser of a thunder storm but it didn't ammount to much sort of a drizzle all the after noon

Sunday May 28th

This morning after we did most of the chores and I set out the lilly and before we had breakfast Frank and I went for a swim down below Quanbury's. The water was pretty

cold and I only had about one duck when I stepped on something pretty sharp and got a chunk out of the bottom of my foot, so had to quit. Just as we were getting ready for church Billy Miller came after Dad. to go over to the slaughter house to see a sick pig so Enah and I went to church and Frank stayed home and minded Tid and got dinner. I went up to Huby's for dinner and this after noon Quint and I went down to Harry Ansley's with some merells he got, and Huby told him to take them down to Harry. Lewis Woodson was there so we three went for a walk down to the dock. The lake was a little choppy so Quint took a notion to get a canoe and see if he could ride it, so we went down to Juke's with him, and he jumped into one the same as he would a boat and the consequence was it turned half way over, filled with water and put Quint in the creek, but he didnt get wet much above the tops of his puttees, and he went on out. He said to-night he went up the beach as far as {Wed lake's.?} Lewis then went back up town and I went home and stopped in at Aunty's on my way. I helped Dad. milk so was too late for church to-night but went down and went for a little walk afterwards with Glad. & Marj. Sunny and sultry to-day.

Monday May 29th

Frank got a good start this morning and has been disking all day. Dad. did a little ditching in the lane this morning and to Joe & Belle and harrowed this after noon. I spent the day getting my hedge in. I had to dig a trench and fill it in partly with dried rotted manure and partly with soil from the top of the garden and this after noon I set out the rest of the little trees. I just had enough to go to the ditch. It was about half past four then and a big thunder storm was rolling up and Enah had all the stuff from the clothes room out on the line so I gathered them in and just got them in when it began to rain and it everlastingly poured for a few minutes. Dad. & Frank came up in the middle of it both soaked to the skin, Frank was so wet he couldn't get any wetter so went back and brought the cows up. Marie Ryerse and Maudie Pickford sought shelter under the willow tree so Enah called them in and Tid had a great time with them for awhile. Enah put him to bed this after noon but he heard me outside so got up and talked to me out the window for a long time and then came out so while he was eating his tea to-night he went sound asleep with his head about in his plate. Tom Abbott said Ott.

fixed the lawn mower all right and he was going to bring it back with him when he brought the can but he forgot. Frank went down town to night and got the mail. The rag man that interviewed Frank the other day came again and gave me 55 cents for all the stuff Frank had gathered up and borrowed my lead pencil which he has got, he gave a haf a cent back in cash for rags or a cent in trade he was very anxious to trade but the straight pails he had were worth 35 & 40 cts and Enah said she could get them for 15 down town. Nice enough day till it rained pretty hot.

Tuesday May 30th

It rained hard again during the night and every thing has been too wet outside to do any thing. Frank and Dad. went down this morning to get some sand but there was a nice ridge of gravel washed up so they got a load of it and took it up to Aunty's to put on the walk and after dinner went down and got another load, so didn't get any sand to put in the mud hole at all. Dad. nearly broke his neck this morning. He was up over the woodshed and when he started to come down his foot slipped on the top step and he fell from there to the landing or rather slid and hurt his back and then instead of stopping at the landing he peeled head first off it and lit square on his head between a couple of stoves. He felt as he said like Pete {illegible} "Considerately shook up" all day. I didn't do any thing much all day except prowl around in the mud. This morning I made a mitre box which I believe is fairly true. After dinner I went back to the gully to see if the bars and gate were still shut as in their hurried exit yesterday Dad. & Frank hadn't taken much pains but they were all right. The oats and barley back there are well up now and look fine as there is no grass in them at all it seems. I brought the cows up with me and it was early but we got through early and Frank and I both went to the picture show to see Margeurite Clark in "The Crucible". It wasn't a bad show Marjorie Clarke & Glad Law went with me. It rained again a little shower about four o'clock but has cleared off. Cold to-night.

Wednesday May 31st

First thing this morning that Dad noticed was that Elgeitha wanted to take another trip to the bull. We were

terribly disappointed as we thought she was safe in calf not having showed any signs for three months and she was so regular before. The only cause we could think of was abortion and Dad. was sure it wasn't that as we have been here nearly every night since we turned out, however he and I made a pretty thorough search of the gully this morning but couldn't find any signs of it. Dad. stood her in and was so undecided what to do with her between wondering if she had aborted and if Ham's bull was any good or if we should take her to John Wess' that we didn't do any thing with her and this evening when he let her out she made right straight for the gully all alone and was aparently all over her excitement. Aunty Alice came over a little before dinner and stayed till a little after. Harry Ansley and Billy Dixon were also in to look at Nellie but Billy didn't buy her, she wasn't what he wanted he said at all. I didn't do much this after noon but sit around, although I did haul enough rotted manure to mulch the hedge. Frank spent the after noon patching the wood shed roof. I guess he intends going over the whole house as it all needs it. Dad. didn't feel very well. Some fellow (a {...man?}, I think) with a couple of little kids came in to see if we had any rhubarb to sell and as we didn't he would like to get a setting hen or two so I sold him one for 75 cts. I spent the evening making a new milk record book for June.

Thursday June 1st

Tom brought the lawn mower back from Ott. Collin's this morning, so I have put in nearly the whole day working on the lawn. I started cut the longest of the grass with the scythe and didn't get it all done but this after noon I got all the shortest including all the other side of the ditch cut with the lawn mower, it looks nice and was no trouble to cut at all. Ott. seems to have made a good job. Frank spent most of the day patching the roof. About nine o'clock this morning Dad. took Aunty up to the cemetry, they took the baby too. When he got back from there he took the team and waggon and went down to the Widespread and got the new refrigerator. They had just finished it and as it smelled strongly of the alcohol in the shelack we had to leave it open and not use it to-day. It is a nice looking one and I think plenty big enough for us. This after noon Dad. was ditching in the back field he says it is very wet yet, but John Wess was out and calculated to sow a little to-night just to be able to say he had some in. "Very hot and sultry

Friday June 2nd

After the big rain on Sunday people seem to have been of the opinion that the weather had "took up" using Mr. Fleming's expression, I don't know why unless it was because it turned cold after it and the wind changed around but it does that lately without a minutes notice any way, then there was a new moon and a good many thought that would fix it, but yesterday after noon public opinion veered round again and the general belief was that we were about to have another little "spell of weather", and this morning's sultry air and cloudy sunrise and the lake's growling convinced us all of the fail. Despite all these omens we got up pretty early and Frank went back about half past seven. Dad. intended to take his team back after Frank got started but the sky soon began to darken and the rumbling and growling in the west began to get nearer so we didn't go I mowed the rest of the hay on the front lawn with the scythe but that didn't take long. About half past nine it began to rain and I had just time to get into the shop when it came down in sheets. The awful flashes of lightening seemed so close that thunder almost cracked while it was there. This storm lasted for ten or fifteen minutes then it settled down to a sensible rain and soon stopped altogether. Frank came up with the team during this interval, he had been under a beech tree in the woods and was aparently dry. It soon began again however and I went into the house to put a new cloth on my foot and it developed into a worse storm than the first one, not only in rain, thunder & lightening but hail which seemed worse than the storm of last fall which did so much damage. It battered against the south kitchen windows like bullets and I was sure they would break it but they didn't. They weren't like ordinary hailstones being quite flat and the edges jagged. It didn't last so very long but the rain kept up most of the morning. Frank went down town after the mail after dinner and had a great time getting accross the ditch the water was so high. We didn't do anything much this after noon but I monkeyd around in the shop with the old moulding planes. Old Monteith was past this after noon and told Dad. he had never seen the water in the creek so high it was the wind more than the rain that caused it. Art's flats where he had his oats were completely inundated Dad. went down to a Mr. Smith's Reunion meeting to-night and as the walking was so bad stayed down all night at Aunty's. Enah spent the after noon house cleaning the front bedroom.

Saturday June 3rd

Dad. got home about six or before this morning just as I was starting to milk and about ten o'clock, he, Enah & the baby started for Simcoe with Joe & the buggy to Simcoe see the circus which was to be there to-day. Frank went soon after on his wheel. They told me they would be sure to be back by the middle of the after noon I didn't do much till dinner time but chores. Mrs. Jack was in for a few minutes to see Enah about noon. She is here for a few days and is staying just now at the Pickford's. Frank was down to see her last night. She only stayed a few minutes. After I had partaken of my solitary lunch I sat around and read for awhile, then went out and cleaned Queen and then started to rake up the hay on the lawn, while I was at that Aunty Alice came over thinking I would be getting tired of my own company and brought me the mail. There was rather bad news in the paper as a British fleet was engaged in the Skagerrack on Wednesday & Wednesday night by the entire German High Seas fleet and received quite a mauling. That seriousness lay in the great loss of men and ships they sustained as the Germans didn't gain any particular advantage and were fighting with the odds greatly in their favor. As soon as the main British fleet the Globe says hurriedly steamed to the scene of the action the German's left off pounding the overmatched ships they had engaged and scuttled back to port. The British loss was three Dreadnoughts three cruisers and eight destroyers while the Germans admit the loss of one battleship and two cruisers but it is believed there was more on both sides. They don"t know how many men were lost but if none were saved from the sinking ships there would be about six thousand. The greatest loss outside of the men was that of the battleship "Queen Mary" which was about the last word in battleship construction both in speed and the mounting of big guns She was a sister ship to the "Queen Elizabeth." Aunty Alice didn't stay long as she thought they would soon be back. I worked a while longer at the lawn and got some of it cut but I didn't start very early to do chores as I expected them back any minute. However it was after six when I got the cows up and in and no sign of them and I was just about through milking when they came in quite a bit after seven. They said the performance didn't start till so late, but they had a good day, the circus was a small one and they didn't have many animals but they had them very well trained. Frank rode in soon

after they came in. He had come down from Simcoe with Bill Barwell and had had tea at the Barwells. He & the rest of the family hadn't seen each other all day as Frank had been taking in all the side shows and had dinner on the fairground where the circus was while Dad & Enah had fallen in with Jim Waddle & his sisters and had gone to Miss Waddle's for dinner. It has been cloudy and rather cool but fine, it looked rainy for awhile.

Sunday June 4th

Frank, Enah, and I went to church this morning while Dad. & the baby stayed home and got dinner Aunty came over to dinner, Dick didn't come as he & Dess. walked went to Simcoe last night to stay all night at "Grandpa Meads" and were going to walk back this after noon. Frank stayed down at Aunty's to dinner and went this after noon to Vittoria with Aunty Alice & Aunt Ida in Mr. Johnson's car. After Aunty went back about four o'clock Dad. & I drove out to the Shand's as Harvey Shand was past here yesterday and said they had a colt leaking at the navel which they would like Dad. to look at and I thought I ought to go and see Charlie who just got home from the West a couple of weeks ago. They don't seem to think he is much better. It began to rain before we got home but we didn't get wet. It rained quite a lot all the evening. To-night Frank and I tested the eggs in the little incubator. We only took twelve out of sixty seven.

Monday June 5th

I spent most of the day raking up and cutting the front lawn and got all the part I had to mow with the scythe cut by to-night. Enah & Tid were down town all day as she wanted to get some teeth fixed but Bill wasn't there. Dad. helped her take the baby over in the sidewalk and saw Brirely over there who gave him a full account of his row with Vyse. Brirely has moved into Vyse's house and he says it was in awful shape, then one day Helen came over after something and got on Brirely's garden, he asked her not to run over it and she got saucy so he ordered her off and told her not to come back so that is what started it. He saw Vyse later up at the Quanbury's and Vyse spoke to him about it and in the course of their conversation told Brirely that if he felt better he would mop the sidewalk with him where upon Brirely invited him out to do it but Vyse declined the

invitation and stayed on the other side of Quanbury's fence. While Dad. was over there Frank started down to Porter's with old Gladys who has been out since Saturday. He rode Joe down and drove Gladys; she knows the way pretty well anyway. He didn't get back till long after two and Dad. and I thought he was having dinner down there but he hadn't. Brirely came over after some little ducks Frank sold him. He took ten, six for himself and four for Gordon Dovecote, they were just hatched the other day so he borrowed the hen too, he gave ten cents apiece for them. Dad. spent the after noon putting up barricades behind the little cherry trees in the lane so as old Harry couldn't reach over the pasture field fence and nip the tops off them, Frank I think fixed his bicycle. About five o'clock, Mr. & Mrs Tupper & Clara drove in and brought Enah & Tid home. Nice day, but cool.

Tuesday June 6th

We spent quite a time this morning fixing Queen up Dad. powdered her cut and trimmed her hoofs a little besides giving her a general grooming. About ten o'clock he and I went back the lane to see if we could let some water off so that we could work at it. This after noon Enah went down to a reception at Mrs. Woodson's to meet Miss Glass, Carol's sister-in-law so Dad. had to stay in to watch the baby and I went out and dug around and tied a lot of the little poplars along the road, the mice have girdled & killed quite a lot of them. Martin's men were on the corner field disking & harrowing the oats in that had been sowed broad-cast. It looked to be pretty wet and seems rather foolish. Frank finished patching the roof this morning and has made a good job of it. This after noon he went down and got the mail and said there was a report came in after the mail that Kitchener & his staff were drowned, they were on their way to Russia when their ship struck a mine or was torpedoed. The Canadians have had stiff fighting too. Fine day.

Wednesday June 7th

It began to rain sometime in the night and with an east wind so we have had a steady downpour all day. Allan Law came in while we were at breakfast to have Dad. look at the sorel horse's mouth as he thought he wasn't doing right and he was here till about eleven. During the morning Mrs. McBride

waded in although they didn't look for her on account of the weather but she & Enah have been cleaning the parlor all day. Frank went out at eleven o'clock to feed his ducks this morning and found all but four of them in a heap out side the box dead, one wasn't quite dead but it soon died. He put the four live ones over in the barn as he thinks it was the rain killed them but they were all well at seven when he fed them before. We haven't done any thing but sit around all day I read "The Lay of the last Minstrel" This after noon Frank drove Mrs. McBride down town and got the paper which confirms the report of Kitchener's death. Mrs. McBride said that she was in Simcoe last night and and about eleven o'clock Bob Mead ran in and said the last report was that he was saved but the morning's paper had been issued since then. Kitchener was on his way to Petersgrad when the cruiser Hampshire which was carrying him & his staff struck a mine or was torpedoed off the Orkneys and they think no one has been saved. Sir Wm. Robertson it is thought will take his place in the War office. About five o'clock to-night Frank noticed a lot of our cattle down at Ben Ivey's corner at the end of the road so he and I went down to get them, they were all in Martins field. Ben Ivey told Frank that they had come up throug his place. There were only five of the cows and the three steers so I went back Ivey's lane to see if I could find the rest of them. I heard a young crow squawk back there in one of his pine trees and saw a little bedraggled looking fellow sitting on a limb so I threw two or three sticks at him and he at last flew down and lit in a mud-puddle where I easily caught him, so I brought him up in side my coat and put him in Dad's bird cage. I looked all through the gully for the cattle but as they had gone up or Dad. had brought them up I couldn't find them. I waded through the creek up to my knees more than once. Dad. said he had yelled at me when I was going down Ivey's lane but I hadn't seen him. It didn't matter much as I was soaked then.

Thursday June 8th

Charlie Quanbury was in here for quite awhile this morning and he traded collars as the one he had on Art's horse was too big for him. Frank & I took Daisy May up to Ham. Thompson's again and got back about twelve. Dad. beat

the parlor carpet while we were gone. This after noon Frank and I rode out to Tupper's with Charlie Quanbury who was going to help Tupper dip sheep, we fooled around there for awhile and helped him weigh a veal calf and then went over to John Wess' to see if he would make up a cement post mould like his. He was hewing a cedar stick for a brace. We were over there a long time poking around. He said he had more work to do now than he would ever get done but if we couldn't get any one else to make us one he would so we told him we would find out down at the Widespread and he said he would lend us his for a pattern. We didn't get home till after six. Dad. had spent the afternoon putting down the parlor carpet. I learned the last of the second canto of "The Lady of the Lake" to-day. I started it on the 25th April so didn't take so long as I did learning the first canto two years ago I tried a little different scheme of writing it out which works better. It has been fair all day but a big thunder storm went around us to-night.

Friday June 9th

Frank left soon after breakfast this morning to go down and clean out Aunty's eave-troughs for her, he said he would be back right after dinner but he didn't get back till after six, he said it was a worse job than he thought. I spent the biggest part of the day raking up and cutting the lawn, but got it all gone over in front of the house. The actual time I took cutting it wasn't very long but it took along time to rake up the debris on the other side of the ditch left by the hail storm, then I was a long time getting the lawn mower set right. I think Dad. ditched around the barnyard most of the day but had to keep his eye on the baby this after noon after he woke up as Enah went down to Bill's to get her teeth fixed. He intended to go down to-night to a meeting of the W.H. Smith reunion committee but about five o'clock Ashbaw the castrator from Caledonia came in and as Dad. couldn't go with him to-night asked him to stay here all night and he would go to Mr. Fleming's & Ham. Thompson's with him in the morning as they are the only two around here who have entire colts except our Billy, so he agreed to the proposition and accordingly put his horse in, then it started to rain and turned out such a nasty night that Dad. stayed home and entertained Mr. Ashbaw by listening to his adventures in his many fields of occupation, which though numerous are all of about the same standard and as one would expect a

man of his tastes would naturally devote his time to, as the work he is at now is what he enjoys above all things and his other vocations ranged from tending bars to travelling {illegible} and in the early spring grafting fruit trees which is about the most elevated sort of industry he indulges in. Dad. had to sit up till eleven o'clock with out his usual evening snooze and then suggest bed himself. It has been cloudy by spells. Bob. Davis was in this morning with Jaeger & Hamilton's big Percheron and tried Nellie and said he would be back next week as Harry Ansley told him to {breed her?}

Saturday June 10th

Dad. and Ashbaw left right after breakfast this morning for Mr. Fleming's and Ham Thompson's and Frank and I were to have gone back and brought our colts up but it began to rain and rained quite hard for awhile but we went back when it let up and didn't have much trouble in getting them up and Billy in the stable, a little while before they got back, and old Ashbaw fixed him up before dinner. This after noon we sat around for an hour or two till he left He invited Dad. & Enah & the baby to come down to see him Caledonia Fair, he said he would give them a bed three meals a day and treat them as mean as he knew how. He showed us how to graft trees as he is a professional grafter and told us what we never knew before and what has probably been the reason of our non-success that care must be taken to have the lowest bud on the scion just set level with the top of the branch. He also gave us a receipt for making grafting wax which was different and he says better than the old one, it was 4 lbs resin, 1 lb beeswax & 1 pint raw oil, melt & pour into cold water. After he left I don't think we did any thing very startling. It has been partly fair and partly rainy to-day. Frank went down to the mill and down town with the team and waggon this after noon, it rained while he was gone.

Sunday June 11th

Frank and I went down to church this morning and Dick and Aunty Alice came over with us to dinner This after noon we sat around till I thought it was too late to go out to Tommy Jackson's as Frank and I intended so he went alone down to the Ryerse's and they went over to Tommy's with him and looked over his museum as they call it. Frank

says he has sold over seven hundred dollars worth of stuff and a stranger wouldn't know there was any thing gone. They say he has all the buildings on the place including the house filled with old odds and ends which he has picked up at auction sales. Aunty Alice stayed till about half past four and then Enah and the baby who were going to have tea at the James's' and then go to church went down with her. Dick went down earlier. Art Quanbury came over just before they left to get Dad. to go down to Mr. Fleming's to see old Prince the big {Sensation?} as they were afraid his leg was broken. Dad. got back about half past six and said his leg had been broken off right below the stifle and they had to send for Dave Waddle to shoot him. He said Mr. Fleming felt very badly but was going to skin him. I got the cows up and helped Dad. milk and about eight o'clock went down town. I happened to meet Marj. & Glad Law on their way home from Lola McBride's and was with them for awhile and then went in to see Harry Moon for a little while. Mrs. Moon was in bed with grip. I then went down to Auntys and got some tea, they persisted in feeding me and got home soon after eleven. Cloudy morning but nice day

Monday June 12th

This morning Dad. & the baby and I drove Joe & Queen up to Barwell's and took his two pigs up. Barwell showed Dad. all his crops which Dad. says look fine, this year has just suited his sand farm. We didn't get home till after dinner noon and went around by town. Dick got us the paper and gave Dad. & me our invitations to Mr. Smiths reunion. Miss McQueen had brought them into the bank. We stopped into at the Quanbury's and borrowed their step ladder and paste board as they are going to paper the ceiling of the kitchen & bedroom to-morrow. This after noon I drove Enah down town as she had to get her teeth fixed and I left Joe & Quanbury's and had her shod, he soaked us $1.50 for putting on new shoes. I went up and got my hair cut while I was waiting and fooled around up town most of the after noon I waited till half past four at Aunty Alice's for Enah and then went home alone. She got home before six Dad. and Frank spent the after noon clearing everything out of the kitchen. It rained a little to-night but was a nice day. Zeitha Barwell invited me up there to tea to-morrow night to give her a riding lesson.

Tuesday June 13th

This morning I went down to Aunty's and took Tid with me to help work in the garden and incidentally to remove him from the impending operations to be carried on here as Mrs. McBride arrived just as we left and they have beend papering the kitchen ceiling all day and generally house-cleaning and they thought his presence would not be required. I spent the day digging the cellar banks and got them pretty well dug the houseside of the drain, but not the woodshed side, however they were well pleased they said with what I did and it certainly did make quite an improvement. I came home about four o'clock and did chores but didn't get through in time to get up to the Barwells for tea but left soon after to give Zeitha a riding lesson she got on fine. She had been reading up on it in the encyclopedia and tried to put the theory to practice and didn't lose her head or lose control of Joe so had a few good canters up and down the road. I didn't stay late. Winnie was over here to tea and Frank went down with her after tea and I guess they went to the picture show. Dad. says Ham Thompson was in to-night feeling pretty blue as another cow aborted just gone a few months and is afraid it is contagious abortion. Fine, hot & sultry.

Wednesday June 14th

Frank went over at seven this morning to help Jack Martin's gang set out strawberry plants and was there all day. Dad drove Enah down to the dentists' this morning and she was down all day too. Minnie Quanbury came over at noon to say Enah had telephoned over that she wouldn't be home. She got four teeth filled and one out so feels rather sore in the mouth. Dad. and I have not done any thing to speak of A few chores and I slept and read. Dad. of course had to watch the baby. He has been reading up on contagious abortion, and feels very worried for if Ham's bull is infected we have brought it into this herd by breeding Daisy May & Elgitha to him and we have to wait now anyway before we can find out as the only way to tell seems to be to see if other cows abort, so we won't dare breed Elgitha when she comes around again. Dad. had a letter from Douglas and he thought she must have aborted and said he would breed her at once but Tupper who has had experience of it says not to breed them till after the time they would have had their calf if they had not aborted. But any way we daren't breed her to another bull till we know for sure about Ham's or the thing will get spread all over. Very hot & sultry. Thundery.

Thursday June 15th

This morning Dad. & I did up the chores and then started to put a barbed wire on the top of the fence along the lane comin in from the road, we merely started there as we want to if we can stretch one all along every fence where the horses run as they will reach over and bend the top of the woven wire down. We got quite a long strand of wire from the fence down the road and tried to stretch it with the claw hammer but that didn't work well so I went over to John Wess' to borrow his wire stretchers. He was down fixing the well when I got there and when he came up it was beginning to rain and looked like a bad storm coming up. It was then just about noon so I stayed to dinner and there was a heavy rain for a while at noon After dinner Lloyd Crysler came over and wanted me to go fishing so we took a walk down to Frank Ryerse's where we found Wilbur and Lorne Jackson. We stopped in for {From?} Walker on our way down as Wilbur said he promised to go the next rainy day, but {From?} said he had to take his wife to town so Lloyd told him he would never ask him again. We got Lorne's nets but as Wilbur didnt want to get in the creek with the drag net we just used the gil net and strung it accross the creek and then I rowed Wilbur & Lorne up the creek a way and they whippet it down but we didn't get a fish Tige got in it once she and Lloyd's dog swam across about forty times. We fooled around for a little while before we came home and it was long after five when I came through John Wess' place to our gully Dad. came back after the cows he thought some thing must have happened to me he said but couldn't have done any thing on account of the wet and he had a very bad head-ache. Aunty was over to dinner and he drove her home this after noon, she is going to Brantford in the morning to pay a little visit to Miss & Mrs. Battersby. Frank didn't get a whole day in to-day on account of the rain but he only lost an hour or two I think they were still planting strawberries. He is having a great time over there with Joe Green.

Thursday Friday June 16th Friday

We chored around a little this morning and I got most of the lawn cut I was out there after dinner when a buggy came in and I was very surprised & pleased to see it was Ham. Thompson with Mr. Douglas of Caledonia. He had come up to Ham's to look at his bulls and then come over here. He was here till after four so we had a long visit with him. The

conversation dwelt mostly on contagious abortion as although Douglas has never had it, he seems to know pretty well about it. He says the only way to do if it gets in the herd is to live it down which takes in all about five years. He, unlike Tupper, says to breed the cows after they abort as soon as possible as they never abort more than twice and sometimes only once, but they can still carry the germ even if their own calves come all right and give it to others so that it could be stamped or worn out rather out of a herd of old cows in about three years but it would not be safe to breed any heifers for two more years. He said he was sure Ham didn't have it and he said he would certainly breed Elgitha the next time as if it was contagious she had it this time and if it wasn't we were only wasting time. To-night Dad. and I went down town, he went to a Mr. Smith's reunion committee meeting and I just took a little stroll around to see Marj. for a few minutes as she was all alone. I then went down to Aunty Alice's and stayed all night as Aunty went to Brantford this morning and she didn't like to be alone with Aunt Ida all night. It has been a nice day to-day. Frank put in another day.

Saturday June 17th

I got up in time to get home and help Dad. milk this morning. Frank went over to Jack Martin's and Dad. & I put the lambs all in and put the ear tags in their ears, we didn't have quite enough so didn't mark the two little ones nos. x. Douglas thought yesterday they were a "ripping" fine bunch of lambs, picked out two or three "right good ones" and said there wasn't a bad lamb in the bunch. We were nearly all morning at that job and this after noon we hooked up Joe & Queen to the waggon and drove down town to get some stuff, we just got back in time to do chores. Old Rollings stopped us down town and told Dad. he wanted to get a horse and hadn't seen any thing that suited him so well since he came to town as Queen, but it nearly flabergasted the old boy when Dad. told him the price was three hundred. To-night Frank went down town and I took a walk down to Odd's point and had a half a notion to go for a swim but didn't. Nice day but thundering.

Sunday June 18th

Frank and I went down to church this morning. Dick came over to dinner but went down soon after. This after noon I wrote and read till I went to sleep and about four o'clock started to do chores. Dad. drove Uncle Ward out to Colin Mc

Neiledge's as he fell the other day and paralyzed the nerve in his arm that is Colin did and Dad. thought Uncle Ward would like to go out and see him. He said he enjoyed the drive but the McNeiledge's were not at home. Frank spent the after noon back in the gully with the Ryerse's spearing frogs, he took them down to-night and sold them to Henry Buoy for ten cents a dozen. I got down in time for church to-night and had a little visit with Marj. Aunty Alice sent and invitation to her by me to come down to a tea party to-morrow night but she said she couldn't come as there was another one on at Mrs. McQueen's and she had to go. Aunty Alice told me this morning that Mrs. John Watts was dead but she didn't die till to-night, but old Mrs. Watson Robert John's mother died yesterday. Rained this morning. Cool & Cloudy to-day.

Monday June 19th

Dad. went over to John Wess' right after breakfast and took him over a bag of oats & barley in return for a bag of oats we got some time ago. John Wess told him was hoping he wouldn't bring them for awhile as he was afraid now that he would feed them up. The object of Dad's visit was to warn him not to breed any cows that had been to Ham Thompson's bull and to be very careful what cows he did breed. Dad. is afraid yet of contagious abortion. I don't think I did any thing much while he was gone. Frank took the team out and disked up the sand knoll by {Name?} and said he got the top of the grass pretty well cut up but it didn't affect the roots any. I weeded a little in the rose border Dad. got home just before a big rain started which lasted all noon hour. Frank went back to the gully this after noon Dad. helped Enah paper the pantry ceiling. I read "The Gentle Shephard till four o'clock when I started to do chores. Jonas came in and peddled some fish. To-night Frank and I went down to Aunty Alice's party. She was rather distressed and the majority of boys over the girls. Zeitha & Miss Tinny couldn't come but Mis Herring was there and Elva, Ada & Dess. and besides us four boys there was Lewis Woodson, George Clark & Douglas Skey but we had a good time Quint for whom the party was for especially seemed to enjoy himself in Miss Herrings company. Aunty got home from Brantford to-day.

Tuesday June 20th

Gordon {Darecote?} came over this morning to get Dad. to go over and see Jack Martin's horse, so Dad. went over

and Frank and I followed soon after. It was the bay pacer that Charlie bought from Beswitherock and evidently sold to Jack and Dad. & Anderson who was down from Simcoe agreed that he had tetanus, so Anderson gave him an injection of antitetnantic {antitetantic?} serum and left instructions for Dad. to give them every six hours. Dad. says he is sure the horse is too far gone to be helped and anyway there was no curative properties claimed for that stuff it being merely a preventative, however he has gone over three times and that is all he has to. This after noon Frank and I put through the few bushels of wheat in Ed's big bin which we were saving for chicken feed. Bruce Smith was in for quite awhile this after noon for a visit. Enah has been down all the after noon at the dentists' and felt pretty rotten over it to-night. It has been a nice day to-day.

Wednesday June 21st

It started to rain about six o'clock this morning and rained till about nine or ten o'clock. It wasn't a bad day after that sunny and cool. Dad. spent most of the morning over at Martin's the horse was so bad this morning that Joe Field's shot it. I didn't do anything much but help Enah tear the cover off the armchair as she wants to put a new one on. This after noon I read & slept most of the after noon but did go out and put the wheat back in the bun which Frank and I cleaned up yesterday. Just before tea Frank and I took Elgitha up to Ham Thompson's. Frank was down town this after noon.

Thursday June 22nd

This morning Dad. left for Charlie Dunkin's to see if he couldn't hurry him up to get the old ram registered and also to pay him the service fee of his ram. I would have gone but Dad. thought as Uncle Ward enjoyed his drive so much on Sunday he would ask him and I thought he would enjoy it more with Dad. than wth me so I persuade him to go. They left about ten o'clock and didn't get back till about five and I guess both of them had a great day of it. Dunkin wasn't home when they got there so they stayed to dinner. Uncle Ward knew him well, used to go to party's with him, and I suppose he had a great talk. Dad. says his crops and the crops of his near neighbors look immense but that is the only place they do. The rain has been just what they want up there. They saw Frank Marr on their way home and he told them that

Dr. Harrison of Selkirk says that it is recorded in his father's diary of one hundred years ago that we had just such a spring as this and that it rained all summer and nothing was saved of either hay or grain, all stock starving to death in consequence the following winter, so that sounds hopeful. Frank has been over at Jack Martin's all day picking strawberries, he made $1.01. I did chores, weeded out the rest of the rose border, sprinkled the roses with tobacco water which Aunty Alice fixed for me by steeping some of Frank's old homegrown leaves and put in the rest of the day doing nothing. Aunty Alice and Winnie were both over to dinner and Win stayed most of the after noon but Aunty Alice of course couldn't. Nice day.

Friday June 23rd

Frank disked up the sand knoll by the old well again this morning and after dinner Dad ran out eleven furrows and Frank and I planted potatoes. Then Dad. covered them and Frank harrowed them in. Dad. also made a start at plowing the old garden back of the shop. It was very waxy. He hauled out manure out of the two boxstalls and put on the west side of it. I cut the lawn to-day. To-night Dad. went down to a reunion meeting and Frank and I went down to the stump but didn't have much of a swim as the water was cold. Dad. stayed in town all night. It was fair all day but rained a little to-night.

Saturday June 24th

Frank has been picking strawberries over at Martin's all day and made another dollar. This morning Dad cut some of the long grass down by the ditch and in the lane and I puttered around. Alex Jamieson came in after dinner and was here most of the after noon. It was time to do chores when he left. Uncle Ward had to go down to Art. Ryerse's to collect for the reunion some time before next meeting and Dad. told him he would drive him down this after noon but he couldn't, it rained once or twice any way and looked very cloudy so not likley Uncle Ward. would expect him. To-night Dad. Enah and the baby drove down town and Dad. drove Aunty Alice up to the cemetry. As soon as they were gone Frank & I decided to go over to Tommy Jackson's to tell him Frank would take a couple of skips of bees. Frank thought they

were pretty cheap on Tommy's terms. He offered him two skips of bees in Langstroth hives with frames and foundation comb for seven dollars and he can get them and pay for them any time he likes. It was about dusk when we got over there and Tommy was just getting started to milk, he milked two cows and then showed us around the apairy and it was pitch dark before we left but he had started in on the other cow and had the lantern out with him. Frank and I had quite a time extricating ourselves from Frank Ryerse's gully's in the dark and then got our legs soaking wet on the grass on our way home. Dad. & Enah were home and Dad. was getting ready to worry about our absence as we forgot to leave any word.

Sunday June 25th

The whole family went down to church this morning as Mr. Rennaud preached. He is here for a short visit, he used to be the rector here 41 years ago and gave a very emotional reminescent sermon. Dad. Enah & the baby stayed down at Aunty's to dinner and Quint and Dick came over here with us. They went off right after dinner to see the Oddfellows march and Frank left soon after to go for a ride on his wheel with Harve Taylor. I waited till Joe had time to eat her noon feed then took her down for Dad. & Enah to drive home. I sat down at Aunty Alice's for about an hour and then started to walk home but got a ride over as far as Martin's with Charlie in his car. I helped Dad. milk then went down to church and then went around with Marjorie to the house. This was his most holy of holy the right reverent Mr. J. Culp's last Sunday in the Methodist church and I guess he gave them a long wind-up sermon anyway. I had a very pleasant visit and left before any of the Bagley family appeared on the scene. I wouldn't have left so soon but poor Marj. seemed to be rather uneasy for fear they would catch me there although she said she didn't care. I went down to Aunty's for a few minutes and found Douglas Skey there. I supposed he had walked down with Mrs. Baker, Mr. Rennaud's daughter, who is staying with Aunty Alice & Aunty. It has been fine and hot to-day, regular Oddfellows day.

Monday June 26th

Frank went over to pick strawberries and to-day made $1.21. I left about nine to take Uncle Ward on his

collecting circuit. I met Bob. just going into Woodson's and couldn't resist the temptation of driving her down town so Uncle Ward and I were a little late getting started, and then the shoulder strapring pulled out of the breast collar which caused a little more delay. We just called at Alfred's, Art's and Allan Law's, Uncle Ward hinted at getting a donation from Alfred for his daughters' but Alfred didn't bite, but they probably will. We only saw Mrs. Art. Ryerse as Art was way back and the kids all have the measles, she said she would tell Art. to call in some night and pay Uncle Ward. Alan Law was hauling gravel but Mrs. Law said he would drop in too. I gave him five dollars for Dad. and we three boys. We came up the Plank Road from the Dog's Nest and didn't get home till after one o'clock. This after noon Dad plowed some more of the garden but didn't quite finish as it is very tough and old Nellie started out a little balky after her holiday. I didn't do much but cut a few weeds and take some more eggs over to Jack Martin. After tea I rode Queen down to the corner and back, she hasn't been out lately and felt frolick. Mrs. McBride was here to-day and informed us that old Robert John was married, his mother died three or four days before. Fine & hot but looks rainy.

Tuesday June 27th

I spent most of my time to-day cutting weeds I finished cutting the dock in the raspberry patch first and then went back to cut thistles in the oats and barley. I didn't get on very fast as it is hard to tell where to go on the side hill Pickford and I think Clair Jackson were hauling Pickford's hay and their dog an Airdale pup started chasing Art. Quanbury's sheep. I didn't know it was Pickford's till I went up the road to tell Art and heard him call it off Art was working on his buckwheat ground and Tupper who had ploughed about four rounds as he said this morning was talking to old Evans who was disking right opposite. Tupper said he was very thirsty so we went down to Art's new well that he dug with the post auger but couldn't find anything but an old paint pail to dip the water with However that fitted in the well alright and we got enough to slake our thirsts, it was good cold water too. Dad. finished plowing the garden this morning and disked and rolled it. Frank went down to Porter's again with Gladys. He ploughed in the old garden this after noon. Enah was down town for tea. Frank and I had to take Daisy May up to Ham Thompson's to-night. Mrs. W.H. Smith died at five o'clock this morning. It has been a hot summer day. It really looks as if the weather had "took up"

Wednesday June 28th

Frank has been picking strawberries all day again and made $1.35, this has been his best day yet. Dad. plowed in the old garden all morning, he and the baby and he finished it and disked it this after noon. I raked up the grass he cut along the ditch this morning and went out and spread a few piles of manure which were in his road for plowing. This after noon I went down town to get some stuff. Huby saw me and wanted me to go up and look at Bill Slocomb's buggy, he wants fifty dollars for it. It looks like a good one. I went down to Aunty's to cut a ham in two for them and Aunty Alice was at a bridge up at Miss Buckwell's. This has been another beautiful day.

Thursday June 29th

I went over to Art Quanbury's this morning and got our post auger and Dad and I put in a post at the gap between the two fields across the gully and put up the bar and let the cattle into the west field, we then went along Ivey's line in the gully but couldn't do much to it John was over in Ivey's having walked under the fence along the creek bottom. We had dinner on time and got ready and both of us went down at half past one to Mrs. Smith's funeral. We went up to the cemetry and there was a big crowd there. We went from there over to Barwell's and got Zeitha and brought her down, she and I were to have gone for a ride to-night but Enah asked some more over to have some music so we postponed our ride. We saw Mrs. Bagley & Marj. up at the cemetry and they said Essie couldn't come over to-night as it was choir practice but Marj. would only she didn't like to come alone, so Dad. told her if she saw Winnie coming over to come with her and if not to wait till I called for her, so as Winnie came over to tea I went right after tea to get Marj. I picked her up at Silverthorne's, she had come over to pay her Dad's lodge dues. We drove down town to see if we could get Elva but she had too bad a cold to come. We had a very nice evening being entertained by Zeith's & Enah's music on one hand and the baby catching moths on the other; he stayed up till midnight and except for evincing a few cannibalistic passions early in the evening when he bit poor Marj; he was very good and well-behaved. Dad. gave him a heart to heart talk on the occasion of his one offence and I don't think Marj. suffered any permanent injury.

I was to have taken the bunch home in the lumber waggon but hi Frank who has worked all day in the old garden left the neck yoke & doubletrees out there I couldn't and as it was raining, it didn't promise to be very pleasant walking, however it didn't rain hard so the four boys, Dick, Quint, Douglas Skey & George Clark walked down and I drove Dess & Marj down in the buggy Zeitha & Winnie stayed all night. There was an accident in town to-night. It seems Earl Long was going home and being very drunk was yelling at the top of his voice and frightened Barwell's horse which was tethered in Barny McMinny's yard and it ran over the engine bridge with the train after it, it got past that safely but when it got down to the station the chain that was on it caught and threw it so that it broke its leg, and Dave Waddle shot it. It has been fine and hot to-day but rather cloudy,

Friday June 30th ) New moon is straight up and down so that the Indian can't hang his powder horn on it. Aunty Alice says it is a dry moon but Dad. scoffs at the idea.

Soon after breakfast this morning we saddled Joe & Belle and Zeith and I started off for our ride. We went down to the mill and out to Edmond Englands corner then up to Chris Quanbury's corner down the side road to the Gravel and then to Barwell's, and I led Belle home. We had a nice ride but not a good one as Joe wouldn't travel up abreast of Belle and Belle was inclined to be a little mean, however Zeitha said she enjoyed herself. I didn't get home till nearly noon. This after noon I planted eighteen rows of turnips with Art Quanbury's seed drill which he brought over this morning. Dad. sowed clover seed on the garden and harrowed it well. Frank spent the day picking strawberries but didn't have such a good day to-day. To-night I went down town to see Roy & Vernon. Roy came to-night and Vernon last night. It has been sunny and hot to-day.

Saturday July 1st

This has been a great day, the weather couldn't have been better, hot and fine just the kind to make people enjoy the lake, and Dover certainly celebrated, although I saw very little of it. Dad. and Enah & the baby went down this morning and stayed to dinner and Dad. had a great time visiting all the old boys and girls who came to Mr. Smith's reunion. Frank and I

didn't go down till noon, I started to cut the lawn but the mower broke so went out and helped Frank put in his school garden and I also sowed my Experimental Union plots of cabbage, kale & rape, and didn't get through till half past twelve, then we came in and got dressed up and intended to go for a swim at the stump but before we left we heard the school bell ringing so hurried down thinking we would be late, they didn't begin for quite awhile however and then all there was to it was a lot of speeches and we were up there till about four o'clock. I think every one got pretty tired of it. Jack Martin was chairman and made the presentation Mr. Smith didn't say much himself as he was in no mood for it but got Mr. Robertson to read a little that he had written for the occasion. After it was over Ray and I went right straight down to the house and I stayed there to tea. Dad. came down a little later, he had seen a good many old school pals and so had Ray. I saw Hubert Long and Egg Thompson and Fat Turner Col. A.C. Pratt got himself very much disliked by forbidding Mr. Smith's old boys in the 133rd coming down this after noon. He acted in a very small, sore headed way about it, and all Dover as well as a good part of Simcoe are pretty hot about it, he just did it for pure spite. Ed. Moon was down, he said he got leave by being on duty this morning at the picture show which the 133rd rented for the day to show the Willard Moran boxing contest but he said it wouldn't have made any difference he would have come just the same whether he got leave or not. Ray went over the hill to the Woodson's to get Vernon & Rebecca and I went for a swim in the creek, the water was fine. After tea I went up town and saw Fat. Turner and went over to the park with him to watch the fireworks, and I had a little visit with Marj. Her father is here and she is going home with him on Monday. Dad. and Frank who went home to do chores came down again after tea and I found the family up in the park and went home with them at a rather late hour.

Sunday July 2nd

Dad. Enah, the baby and I drove down to church this morning Frank didn't go. We were going to start early as Enah was going to practice with Zeitha who was to have sung a solo, but it began to rain so we had to wait till it was over, and we weren't there anymore

than just on time, but it didn't matter as Zeitha was not there anyway. Just as we got into church an old soaker of a storm broke over us and it hailed till I thought it would break the church windows. It stormed pretty much all through church but was clear enough when we came out. Dick didn't come over to dinner and this after noon this family spent in peaceful slumber. We got the chores done early and Dad. drove Enah down to church they took the baby but he and Dad. stayed down at Auntys. Enah said she was the only girls voice in the choir and poor Harry Moon was so disheartened as he had expected a lot for to-day that he resigned from the leadership. They didn't see Roy or Vernon they being over at the Woodson's. Frank spent the evening getting his accounts system into working order and taking an inventory of the stock & implements.

Monday July 3rd

Frank went over to pick strawberries again this morning and has been over there all day. We started to plow the barley stubble again for buckwheat. Dad. struck out once but found it would tramp the long grass at the north end so started plowing right around the field, after one round I took it and plowed till noon, and he cut grass at the lane gate at the head of the orchard to get into that field with the mower. The grass was very thick and long there. After dinner the Quanbury boys and Glen Ryerse came in and wanted me to help them, they are moving Art's barn or at least trying to. We were there all the after noon and just got it turned around. They just hooked a cable on one corner of it and wound it up on a "capsule" as they call it but their chain broke two or three times and things went pretty slowly. It has been fine and hot to-day. By to-days paper the big drive on the Western front has begun. I didn't have time to read it but they have taken eleven villages and a lot of prisoners. The British & French are both at it.

Tuesday July 4th

The boys came after me again as soon as I had my breakfast and I have been over there all day, they came home to dinner. We had a pretty slow day of it first one thing would break and then another and all on account of it pulling too hard. Glen had the big rollers and saddles under her and we have come to the conclusion they are not much

account unless maybe every thing is smooth and hard underneath. First we had a small new one under the hind corner and after breaking the chain two or three times trying to budge it, we decided it was too small and wasn't greased enough so we jacked it up and put an old big one under that was split and wired to-gether we moved a foot or two with it and then it broke, so we had to jack her up again and grease the small one and put it under and after pulling all the after noon and breaking chain & upsetting the capstan two or three times, we took it out and put under three or {four?} small rollers and no saddle. Mr. Evans was over helping us this afternoon, and so about five o'clock she started to go and from then till we quit we moved as far as we could without setting the capstan again so the boys went home in great spirits full of praisr for the small rollers. I nearly tore the clothes off me on their wire and nails and also hit my sore knee a lot with the end of the cable so I didn't feel so happy. Frank plowed all day and Dad. had to go up to George Duncan's this morning to look at a cow. Tupper. who was in Simcoe all day came over about five and killed the yearling buck. Fine & hot a shower at noon.

Wednesday July 5th

I have been out at the Quanbury's all day again and to-day we made a little better progress. We moved the barn more than the length of itself this forenoon but twisted the underpinning of Glen's capstan reel so at noon they went down and borrowed Kolbe's capstan and things went beautifuly we moved about seventy five paces. Over here they got a little more plowing done but nothing cut. Aunty, Vernon & Rebecca were over to dinner and to spend the after noon, Cousin Clare was over too. Frank and I had to take Daisy May up to Ham Thompson's again he was in bed when we got there but got up. Another beautiful day.

Thursday July 6th

The boys wouldn't have called for me this morning if we hadn't hailed them but I didn't want to see them stuck and we certainly needed all the men we have although Glen brought two with him but Evans didn't come back to-day. Glen had old Isaac Bush and Od. Frolic both venerable and hoaryheaded. Isaac is rheumatic and slightly palsied and told us he would much rather be doing what he was yesterday than

what he was to-day. We found by interrogation that yesterday's occupation consisted in riding from the Falls up here in Jim's car, as he hadn't been there since he was eleven years old, we didn't doubt his words in the least. He took my job of minding the capstan and once when they were unwinding it he got a bat in the leg with the lever that knocked him over. Old Od. is the same whom Dad. & I saw a year ago last winter down in Hammond's bush with Jack Richardson building a log hut for himself in which he still lives. That day his face was about completely covered with whiskers while now he is clean shaven down to the rim of his jaw and he has left border of grizzled hair right around, I suppose it is hard shaving around the corner. His hair is long and curls closely under an old reddish brown straw hat. His cheeks are just like a well smoked ham but his neck and nose are a lovely purple, his nose, hands & feet are enormous. I had a pretty good chance to study him to-day and he is an interesting looking old duck, he just kept plodding from one end of the barn to the other carrying plank and chewing to-bacco with his front teeth I guess he hasn't got any back ones. He didn't seem disposed to talk and didn't say half a dozen sentences all day not even when Glen would get mad and curse him into a heap, which he did occasionaly, it seemed rather hard lines to hear old fellows like Od. and old Bush just everlastingly damned up and down, but Glen doesn't care and shows respect to no-one, but he is good natured about it all and we take his blasphemous abuse as a matter of course. He was always alright with me and I found that even there a little blarney in small doses helped wonderfully to keep in Glen's good graces and also to get out of a lot of strenuous labor, which was my place or Charlies's to perform. I didn't feel any qualms of consience in laying my tasks on Charlie's shoulder's, because he really believes likes to work and I don't. We got on well with the barn to-day and to-night had it safely over the gully, I was to quit when we got that far but Glen coaxed me to come back to-morrow so I said I would. Dad. got a little more plowed to-day and Frank got started to cut the corner field. He & I had to go up to Ham Thompson's again to-night woth Quanbury's heifer. Nice Day

Friday July 7th

Art. & Charlie didn't call for me this morning and I didn't see them go past so I walked out as I promised Glen I would go back. We were at it all day and just about six to-night got it into its place so we are through with it. It will take a little longer to level and block it up. Old Isaac & Od. were on the job to-day and Od. was almost as silent as yesterday but to-wards evening I managed to get him talking (because I was curious to see what he would say and how he would say it.) by remarking on the size of his wrists and then he started to tell me of the weights in logs that he had carried and before we quit had told me several interesting stories of the early days and the scythe & cradle, when men were plentiful and every one of them strong, and each vied with the other in feats of strength and powers of endurance. Dad. plowed a little more to-day and Frank finished cutting the corner field. This was Dad's birthday and Dick and Winnie were over to tea, we were late getting through chores. Frank got some raked up and Dad. got a load cocked up. Hot & fine

Saturday July 8th

I got out first thing this morning and started to cock up and Dad. & Frank came out very soon after and we put on a load of what Dad. cocked yesterday and hauled it to the horse stable where we pitched it off by hand and packed it around the well so that the sling loads hitting it wouldn't loosen like they did last year. When we got it off we went and cocked up till noon. This after noon Frank brought the team out to rake but only went a couple of rounds and then as it looked so rainy in the north stopped and helped us cock up. It was looking very angry and a continual low roar of thunder, we saw one storm go to the north but another one came up and it caught us when we had just about one more windrow to cock. It rained pretty hard for half an hour or so but not hard enought to hurt anything and would do good. I went to sleep for awhile and then shaved. Whit Dixon came over before tea to look at the steers but said they weren't ready for a year month yet. To-night Frank and I went down town and went for a swim in the creek and I got my hair cut. Walter & Roy came up to-night and we saw them for a little while. We got home soon after twelve.

Sunday July 9th

Just as Dad. was getting ready for church this morning Alan Law came after him amd he had to go down there to administer unto a sick calf which died later in the day. I drove Enah and the baby down to church and as the baby didn't want to sit alone in church without some of the family, I had to sit with him in the front seat and hold him on my knee most of the time but he was very good. Enah. stayed down to dinner at Aunty's and Dad. came down after he got home from the Law's. Frank and I had dinner alone. About three o'clock I went down to Aunty's and left Frank asleep on the sofa. Huby was there and he Dad. Walter, Roy and I walked up to his place via the Dominion Hotel and Dave Waddle's in search of Dave but didn't find him, after inspecting Huby's garden and Bill Slocomb's buggy which Dad. thinks has been run considerably, we took a walk down to the Customs House stopping in to see Mr. Smith for a few minutes on our way down. While we were down there Dave Waddle came along with Geo. {Faulmsbe?} and Jack Davis. We went back to the house all of us but Huby. and I stayed