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Tuesday January 2nd

Just did chores this morning and Frank and Dad cleaned out the hog pen and I cleaned out the first pen in the chicken house. Enah went down town this after noon and we didn’t do any thing much outside. Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Shand came in for a few minutes to ask me about shipping some live chickens to Silverwoods. To night Frank and I went down town to get our hair cut but as there was skating on the pond Frank went there and I went down to the station on a chance of seeing Marj. and she came home. I went up with her for a few minutes and when I got down town the barber shops were closed. I found Joe up in the pool room and made further arrangements concerning the dance Thursday night but it is so much milder to-night I am afraid the sleighing will be spoiled, in which case we won’t go. He & I both went home with Bob. and then I went down to Aunty’s they were all up at the Hardings' but left a note saying they would be back at ten so I sat down and went to sleep till they came home. There is a report around that Herb. Brooks, Sam George and Charlie Cawley were all killed the same day and before they had been in the trenches {illegible} but most people think it is false as there has been no word officialy.

Wednesday January 3rd

We tied Bobbie up again this morning and Dad filed down his {this sentence is incomplete}

so to-night I went down to go although I know I was getting a cold but I saw Joe and he said the dance had been cancelled on account of the roads so I went down to Aunty's for a few minutes and then started to go to the club but changed my mind and went in to see Zeitha, she and I had a game of chess which she beat and I got home a little before twelve feeling rotten with a cold. Very mild & soft. Winnie was over all the after noon and Frank went down with her and went skating

Friday January 5th

I felt pretty bad with my cold to-day and didn't get up till about nine o'clock and didn't do any thing in particular all day but as it rained nearly all day there wasn't much to do any way. It cleared up to-night and I went down to see Marj. for a little while Mrs Moon and Mrs. Misner were there. Mrs. Moon had a letter from Laura reading it aloud. She is at Malta now. I came back to Auntys and stayed all night. Miss Harding is staying there for a few days now

Saturday January 6

I didn't get up till late this morning and had breakfast at Aunty's Dick and I went down and tried the creek after breakfast and it seemed pretty fair. I stopped in at Jack Martin's to see about getting some roosters and he said he would get some ready for Dad. & Frank to get as I expect to go to Guelph on Monday.

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{Toby's father picks up the diary writing}

Monday, January 8th

I was up at 4-45 this morning, and the others were up soon after to give Toby an early start for Guelph. Frank walked down with him and when he came home he told us that Tobe missed his car and went down to Aunties it was most provoking, however, I went down at noon to go to the station with {illegible?} and she told me that Tobe had gone on the 9 O'Clock car. Frank and I cut a little wood, (oak limbs) in the morning in the after noon we did little but chores. {Vie?} and Arthur were over this afternoon. Frank has gone skating tonight. Lovely day but windy.

Tuesday, January 9th

Frank and I put the partition in the old barn nothing of importance happened. Tom came for the cream. Frank has gone down to get his hair cut tonight. It has been mild and cloudy all day rained and snowed a little this morning

Friday, January 12th

Frank and I hoped to get the last of the old trees down home cut to-day but did not manage it. It was so late when we got all the chores done we thought we would have an early dinner and go immediately after, but Art Quanbury came after me to look at his heifer then when we got down town we could not get a ladder. While we were there John H. McBride came to see me and we came home with him. Just as we had finished tea Guy Tuple came for me. This has been the coldest day so far this Winter 20° below, not so cold tonight. We had a fine letter from Tobe to day and the card we should have received on Tuesday. Frank feels miserable tonight lower back.

Saturday, January 13th

Frank is about all in. He did go over to Bens and fed the chickens but he feels pretty tough. I was doing chores most of the day. Hubert come over this afternoon with old Nig. We put him to sleep Hubert stayed to tea and he and the baby had

Monday, January 15,

When I went out in the kitchen this morning I saw that the poor plants had caught it. They were frozen stiff. I went out as soon as I had the fires going well and fed everything. Frank said he thought he felt a little better and would get up as soon as it got a little warm. He has been better today walked over as far as Jack Martins to get the roosters but Jack did not have them ready and said to come at 3 O'Clock, so I went over and got a couple. It is not so cold tonight but cold enough.

Tuesday, January 16th

Nothing much to report today. Frank felt much better and did quite a lot of the chores. I went down home this morning for a few minutes. Mrs. Quanbury was over this after noon and Lloyd Ryerse was here this evening. It has been cold all day and is cold tonight. They are cutting ice we will have to get our ice house ready.

was too bad to attempt to go down to the Reids the crazy things were expecting to go. Frank has gone down town tonight to tell them we cant get out of our lane. Dick came over about 5 O'Clock he expects to go to New York on Saturday he only stayed a little while as he wanted to get the snow {shovel} for Auntie before dark. {Toby's stepmother picks up the diary writing} Heard from Toby today He is having a good time altho' kept pretty busy.

Friday, January 19th

We got up a little earlier this morning as Frank wanted to go after the buttermilk. He got started about 12.30 and went by way of town to see if the coal was in and it was not so went on to the factory. He had not been gone long when Tom came with the buttermilk so Frank had his trip for nothing. If he had only known, he could have taken a load of ice to Lea Marshal as they were drawing that day but Tom had forgotten to tell us. Very cold.

Saturday, Jan. 20th.

I started Friday's diary for today as we did not get up any earlier yesterday but did today so Frank got off this morning at 9:30 instead of yesterday.

this morning and Dad, Tim and I went to church. There was no fire on account of the shortage of gas so Mr. Johnson, very wisely, omitted the sermon so we got home fairly early. Dad and Frank spent most of the afternoon doing chores. Dad went down town about 4.30 to shovel the snow for Aunty Alice so stayed for tea and I guess went to church. Cold and stormy all day. Mrs. Nells died yesterday

{Toby's father picks up the diary writing}

Monday, January 22nd

I did not get up very early this morning as I did not sleep very well last night it blew so terribly that I could not sleep it rained very hard for a little while too then turned colder and put a crust of ice all over the snow. As soon as we had things fed Frank and I went down home in the sleighs, stopped at Jack Martins and got a crate to send some eggs in to Roy I cleaned the paths for the girls and then we came home as we could not get any ice as no one was there this forenoon it was too stormy I went down to the mail box as soon as Roy came and the first thing I saw was that Will Macdonald was

and a bag of shorts, then down after Hattie. and baby. Charlie Butler was in to ask me about a horse that had been kicked and I gave him the certificate for his ram and his ear label. It has been a beautiful day. Thawing in the sun.

Thursday, January 25th

Frank and I were going to kill the crate fed chickens today. We did kill 4 but it has been a very rough day a regular blizzard, so we got very little done but the chores. The wind has died down and it is cold tonight.

Friday, January 26th

Frank and I cleaned out the box stalls this forenoon, hauling the manure out on the old garden. Harry Ansley was over to see if we would take his cow and calf for a month while he is away. It has been a cold day with a high west wind, tonight is clear, calm, and cold. Frank has gone down to the dance in the hall. Tim's cold is pretty bad.

gave Loll a pair, sold one to cousin Clare a pair to Rev J.H. Johnson and the remaining 5 to Henderson. I gave the cows and calves a good oiling, after dinner Frank and I covered the ice with sawdust. It has been a very disagreeable day drizzling rain nearly all day and spoiling the sleighing.

Tuesday, January 30th

Did not get much done today but chores Hattie washed and baked bread, she and Frank went down town to see the Simcoe dramatic club perform. Tim and I kept house and went to bed early. It has been a beautiful day. Heard from Tobe.

Wednesday, January 31st

I drove down before breakfast, took Alice to the station and went around by Pickfords on my way home as Auntie told me he was very miserable. I asked Mrs Pickford if she would like me to take the doctor out and she seemed grateful for my offer

Friday, February 2nd

Frank took a couple of sacks of grain to the mill this morning to have it chopped but did not wait for it, after dinner I went down to see how poor old Dave is, they seem to have very little hope for his recovery. I think this has been the coldest day yet there has been and is such a wind. I went in to Clares for a few minutes the gas was very poor and there was quite a skimming of ice in the tank in her cellar and the water pipes were freezing.

Saturday, February 3rd

When I got up this morning I found things in the pantry frozen up tight. I was afraid they would be suffering down home so I walked down at noon but they were comfortable. Frank went down this after noon. The wind still blows a gale and it is colder than get out. We have been able to keep pretty comfortable in spite of weather except at breakfast this morning it was outrageous cold. 28 eggs today.

{Toby's stepmother takes up the diary writing}

Thursday February. 8th

Tobe did not arise very early this morning as he was very tired. He did not do much but rest all until about four o'clock. He then drove down town. It snowed pretty much all day but was not cold. Harry and Frank drove down after tea and brought Aunts Ida, Nese, and Alice over also {Mard?} Sovereign. The Shand family with Miss Grey arrived later and we spent the evening in music. Mr. Shand brought his violin and Charlie his mouth organ and an "Octo-something" I forget what he called it but it made sweet music all the same. It was about 1.30 a.m. when they left.

Friday February 9th

It was late when we got up this morning as none of us got to bed until after three o clock, so we did not have breakfast until 10 oclock. The boys went up to Mr. Cantelon’s and got a load of gravel then we had lunch. They have both gone down town to a dance in the town hall. It has been very cold all day today. Marjorie Clarke has the measles.

{Toby takes up the diary writing}

business from A. to Z. Mr. Marcellus, his assistant was a younger man I think a graduate of the College and also very good natured with a pleasant manner. Between them they made the course very interesting for us with their lectures and general discussions. The lectures lasted from about 9 to 4 and before and after them we had to tend to incubators feed {pens?} of laying hens and bunches of fattening cockrels. Our incubators, all hatched about the same about {0° 9 %?} and they told us we had set a record for Short Course students for hatching At the end of the course we all had to kill and pluck our fattened birds. There were several evening lectures at the College and various subjects pertaining to Agriculture and I attended most of them. Other evenings I spent in different ways going to the show once, skating twice, often spending the time at the boarding house singing with my room mate Charlie Gray while Edna the landlady's daughter played for us. The last week I was up there I visited several of the sons-in law of the family and one night went to a country dance in a sleigh load composed of the church club of which Edna was a member The people were all very kindhearted and it did me good to be amongst them. I went from Guelph to Toronto when the course was over and went down with Hunter & Fred {Presant?}. I saw Fred again in Toronto and spent the best part of a day with him but

season, and I told him I would see if I could get any one up here to handle him, as I would like very much to see one brought into this district. Aunty Alice and I got home on Wednesday night, after having a tedious journey and a long wait in Jarvis and I was very glad to get home. Frank and Dick met us at the station and Enah was down town and we drove home but upset in the lane, no one was hurt but Joe was frightened and broke the harness a little. The sky in the north-west was all aglow when we got in as that night the big Lithographing works in Simcoe burned down with a quarter of a million dollar loss Enah has written this up for the last few days since I got back as I have not got into the way of it yet, as she said we went to the old country dance in the town hall last night but I went first to see Marj. who has the measles - and then over to club. That was really enough for me as I have not been to bed before midnight for a week but I went on over to the dance and kept on my feet till about four o'clock then I sat down and began to feel sleepy so I came home and got to bed by five. Frank stayed till they wound up and got home about an hour later, consequently neither of us got up very early, however we managed to get another load of gravel hauled from Cantelon's and I took ten doz. eggs over to Jack Martin and he paid me 48. cts a dozen for them, three cts. over the market price. I went to bed early to-night.

till after three, the train was so late. When we did get out Frank & I went down and got some groceries and 20 bags of cement which we didn't pay for, but we thought we would soon need it if we got making posts and {Clare?} Deal said the next lot they got in would be dearer and he didn't know how soon they would be getting any more. About 18° below zero last night and very cold all day.

Tuesday February 13th

Right after breakfast this morning Dad. Frank and I went over to Ben Ivey's and got a pretty good big load of rails. After dinner Frank and I went up and got another load of gravel. There were four other teams up there but we managed to get a load in a new place after one of the teams pulled out. it is getting almost to dangerous up there to take chances as the bank is undermined all around and is liable to fall in any time. We were working Harry & Nellie all day so to-night Frank took Joe & Belle to take a load to Jarvis to a dance. It was a sort of rotten night but he promised to take them. It is not so cold to-day but raw & blustery

Wednesday February 14th

Frank got home a little after six this morning and just changed his clothes and went to work without a wink of sleep, but was pretty drowsy at teatime and went right to bed after tea

she would get him to call up the Quanbury's to-night. I was there quite awhile talking to Charlie who is home again in bed with the quinzy. They also got playing the new Victrola for me. Winnie was over to tea and she and Frank have just gone down town Frank is going to Club if there is any. Pommers got caught in the wire fence this morning and cut his hind leg pretty badly and is very sore on it. Another lovely day but not enough wind to {power?}

Friday Februrary 16th

We took another load of manure down to Aunty's this after-noon. We didn't get it loaded till noon. Frank's throat was sore so he didn't stay out long. Aunty and Aunty Alice rode over as far as Mrs. Battersby's with us they were going to see Miss Phipps. I went down there to tea to-night and after tea went up town to see Marj. and then up to Huby's didn't get home till quite late very nasty blustery morning with a lot of snow but quite a nice mild after noon and night.

Saturday February 17th

Les Dunkin telephoned the Quanbury's that if I wanted to buy seed corn I would have to get it either yesterday morning or this morning. I went up this morning. I got two bushels of

and Frank had quite a bad cold. Aunty and Dick came over to dinner. While we were at dinner John Wess came over to get Dad to look at one of his mares, Mildred I think as she had taken a chill so Dad. and Frank went over with him and were gone most of the after noon. Elva, Said. Davis, Pansy Fischer and Mr. Bloodsworth all came over this after noon. While they were here Aunty and I went down town. I stayed down there for tea. Aunty Maude and Lila came in on their way home from Aunt Lucy's and they stayed to tea. None of us went to church. I went up to see Marj. but found that she had gone up to Miss Martin's for tea so I went up there and came home with her. Fram. Walker drove Aunty and me over this morning and informed us that they had a baby boy, his wife being at Mrs. Lawson's. They are very much grieved down home at the loss of their big black cat. He has been missing for two days and Jim. Mummery told Aunty this morning there was a cat down by the engine bridge, ran over. So I went down before tea to-night and identified him it was Tom all right. He had been cut right in two. He always was terrified of the train. On my way back there were a lot of kids sleigh riding down the hill in front of Ed's barn and accross the creek and one of them lent me his sleigh and I had a ride down the first one I've had down that hill for a long time. Beautiful day but colder to-night

Wednesday February 21st

It is still to icy to take a team out so we have done nothing but chores all day and sit around the house a good part of the time. Lila came over this morning and was over most of the day as there is no school, they can't get any coal. Tom. was in this morning and took the butter milk can he also went up to the mill for us and got some chop and chicken feed. Will Wright was in this morning to see Dad. about a cow and came back after him to-night about six and Dad. went up with him. I cleaned the separator out this morning and we started separating the milk to-night as we get enough to make it worth while now that John's calf is gone. Enah and I went down to church to-night, it being Ash Wednesday After church I went with Marj. down to Bessie Patterson's and was there for the rest of the evening. Enah stayed to choir practice and then went down to Aunty's to wait for me. Sunny, freezing in shade.

Thursday February 22nd

Haven't done any thing much all day but choies and I cleaned out the chicken dropping boards this after noon. Took 8 doz. eggs over to Jack this morning. Alan Law and Tom brought the butter milk up and Alex Jameison was in for a long visit at noon. I sent in a list of sheep owners around here to the Live Stock Branch. Sunny and milder to-day.

Saturday February 24th

I went out this morning and pruned the Northern Spy tree but as the wind kept getting stronger I didn't tackle another tree as it wasn't warm enough out there although sunny I then started to help Dad. clean out the pen in the sheep barn where John and her calf were. While we were at it Frank who had gone down town after some groceries came back with Aunty Alice so we didn't do much else while she was here but she went back soon after dinner. Frank got a three cornered file down town and has been sharpening all the saws and making a pretty good job of it too. Enah expected Zeitha over this afternoon to practice a song she is going to sing in Church to-morrow but she didn't come. She expects to go to the other side next week. Nice day but cloudy this after noon and much colder to-night

Sunday February 25th

Frank and I were too late getting up to get to Sunday school this morning but we went to church. We all intended to go as we thought Zeitha was going to sing but Dad. and the baby were too late. Enah got in about 11.30. Dad. Enah and the baby stayed down at Aunty's for dinner. {Dick?} also stayed there. Frank and I came home to do chores and had dinner alone. Frank went skating this after noon

thinks it is high time Dick got a raise, as Dick himself is getting dissatisfied and would like to move some where else. Mr. Hobbes spoke as if he couldn't get along with out him and wouldn't hear of him being moved but said the financial condition of the bank was such that he couldn't expect more wages just now. He praised Dick up highly and said he had never had a bad report, but he doesn't seem to believe in telling Dick this. He, Dad, also got his hair cut and got home before me. I was talking to Ham. Thompson abput joining the Norfolk Fruitgrowers Association and he said if one of us came up and helped him spray he would lend us his spray outfitt. Zeitha was just leaving here when I got home so I said good bye to her. She is going on Wednesday to Philadelphia or near there. To-night I went down again and took Marj. to the picture show to se Mary {Pickford?}

Tuesday February 27th

I didn't do much this morning but wash out the incubators and get the lamps cleaned up. Dad. & Frank finished cleaning out the pen in the barn where John & her calf were. This after noon Dad. did up the chores while Frank and I got on a load of hay out of Preston's barn for Bob Ivey. Frank borrowed Art Quanbury's team to haul

went up to Cousin Clare's to tea. To-night Aunty and I went to church where Aunty Alice Joined. Enah was also down and stayed to choir practice and I met her at Aunty's. Huby and Aunty Maude were down there. A very nice sunny day but sharp.

Thursday March 1st

I spent most of the morning getting the incubators in shape to start. I lit the lamps in both of them. Dad. went down to Aunty's for dinner as Aunty left to-night for Toronto. She is going down for a couple of weeks to celebrate Rebecca's birthday. I didn't do much this after noon but went down and prowled around in Dicky Steven's orchard for awhile. To-night we all went over to the Quanbury's as they have been inviting us for quite awhile to come over and hear their new Victrola. Just as we were coming out the lane we heard voices down the road and waited to see who it was. It turned out to be Dick & Dess who had been out for a walk and were coming to the farm but they came over with us to the Quanbury's but Dick had to leave before us as he promised Aunty Alice to stay down there to-night. It has been a very nice sunny day but with a raw wind.

Friday March 2nd

We haven't done much but chores to-day. Frank and I

some provisions. I killed and picked a young cockrel that was out there for dinner. Tonight Frank has gone down to stay all night with Aunty Alice. Nice sunny day.

Sunday March 4th

I didn't get chores done in time to get down to Sunday school but drove Enah down to church. Aunty Maude was in church and asked me to drive her over to Aunt Lucy's so I did and then came back and drove Aunt Ida over here while Frank & Aunty Alice walked over. Dick was over to dinner too. About four I drove Aunt Ida back down town and Aunty Alice walked. She said she would rather walk than drive. She stopped in at Uncle Wards on her way down and Aunty Maude came down with her. I let Aunty Maude Ida out at Allan's corner and took Aunty Maude in and drove her home. I drove in the buggy the roads are mostly pretty bare but icy in spots which made it hard for Josie as her shoes are smooth. I walked down to tea and went to church alone to-night. After chuch I went for a very short walk with Marjorie and then went up to see Cousin Loll. I called in at Aunty Alice's on my way home. Winnie was going to stay there all night. It has been getting much colder all day to-day and is snowing quite hard to-night with a strong north east wind.

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Tuesday March 6th

We started to chop open the big barn doors going into the barnyard this morning so that we could get in with the sleigh to haul out the manure that was in Johns pen but when we got the doors opened we were interupted by Tommy Jackson who brought over his mare, the same one that Lorne had over last year, to have her teeth filed down. She was a very mean brute to handle and took all {illegible} of us She struck Dad. once in the head with her head and hurt his nose quite badly. Tommy thought our flock of sheep was improving in type. This after noon we loaded on the manure and Frank and I took it down to Aunty Alice's. When we got back Dad. & Frank put what little there was left in the pen on the sleigh and Dad. and I took it out to the old garden. We also hauled the hay for the horse stable and cows over with the Sleighs. Froze hard last night but sunny & mild to-day.

Wednesday March 7th

We cleaned out the sheep barn to-day. The first load we took down to Aunty Alice and the rest we put on the old garden. I think there were five loads altogether. We found the floor in very bad shape under it. In two or three places it went right through. Enah went down town

Friday March 9th

Dad's tooth ached badly last night so after we got the chores done this morning he went down to have it out, so I went down with him in the cutter and took Mr. Hobbes his three old hens. I went down to Aunty Alice's and waited there for Dad. He didn't come for about two hours and I had my dinner down there, he had to wait but got his tooth pulled. It is sore to-night more from the stuff Bill injected than anything. Lila came over with us as there is no High school this after noon Mr. Barron having gone away. This after noon Frank and I went down to the mill and as they had some {corn?} in I got four bags of it. To-night Frank has gone down to Club. Enah and "Aunt Annie" went over to Mrs. Battersby this after noon. Ada. told Dad. this morning that Alan tells in his last letter home that he saw fifteen dead children, killed from eating poisoned candies which were dropped from a German Zeppelin flying over one of the small French towns behind the trenches. I don't know whether that convinced Dad. that the Germans are any thing short of savages compared with the Allies in their tactics or not, as he always refuses to believe any such stories {unless?} hear of them through other sources. It has been fairly sunny to-day but a cold raw wind all day.

but we went to a recruiting meeting in the town hall after church. One returned soldier spoke and a chaplain and although there was nothing wrong with what they said, I think a good many people are getting sick of recruiting meetings as it seems as if the Government was wasting valuable time and money on them with very small results while if men are so urgently needed it would only take the scratch of a pen to enforce the Militia Act, and they would have all the men in the country to do as they needed with. Very mild and muddy.

Monday March 12th

Frank went over this morning to see Taylor and ask him about his bees. I tested out my eggs and only took 35 out of the big machine and 23 out of the other. The big one had 135 in it and the little one 63 so I thought that was pretty good. This after noon Dad. and Frank fixed up a pen for the lambing ewes in the barn. I didn't do anything in particular. Enah, "Aunt Annie" and the baby went calling To-night I went down to see Marj. for a little while and then down to Aunty Alice's where I ran into a small bridge party and incidentally a feast of cake and sandwiches. Cousin Clare. was going

Wednesday March 14th

It snowed, rained and froze during the night and has been a miserable rainy fore noon, and although it did not rain after dinner. It has been dull and very windy with the wind off the lake. We just did chores this morning but this after noon Frank and I went down town with Harry and Belle and the waggon and I got some lumber to make a couple of chicken coops to put old hens with chickens in. To-night Enah and I went down to church and I walked up with Marj. and Miss Martin afterwards.

Thursday March 15th

I have spent most of the day working on one of my hen coops but did not finish, Dad. and the baby went down to Aunty Alice's to dinner so Frank and I did up the cow stables this afternoon. Enah went down to see Mr. and Mrs Alfred Ryerse this after noon. Windy and cloudy all day.

Friday March 16th

After I did chores this morning I worked at my chicken coop. Dad. lit a fire in the smoke house. Tom came in walking, and said he had been sick all week and that the butter milk can was still at the factory, so

Sunday March 18th

I got ready to go to Sunday school this morning but as I saw I would be late I didn't go down but Enah and I walked down to church. Frank went down too but didn't go to Sunday school Dick came over with us to dinner but Aunty had a stiff neck so didn't come. I went down with Dick about four o'clock and went to Aunty's for tea. Cliff Lees was there all the after noon and they were all tired out listening to him. Aunty and I went to church to-night and after church Marj. and I walked up to Miss Martins. She lent me her "Mr. Britling see it through" which Aunty Alice has been going to get for me to read. Cloudy windy and raw.

Monday March 19th

Dad. and the baby went down to-day to help Aunty Alice clean up the garden. They were down there all day. Besides doing a few chores I took 10 doz. eggs over to Jack and worked a little more at my chicken coop. Frank had to go over to help Billy Mills put on and off a load of hay which Ben Ivey bought from Jack Martin. Ben sold all his own. Great war news to-day British and French have advanced on an 80 mile front to a distance in some places of 10 and 12 miles. I think though the Germans retired with out much fighting, but Bapaume is taken, and it must be a sign of the Germans weakening

to look at the wheat. It is very brown but it is not heavy and seems to be alive still. To-night Enah, Frank and I drove down to church and Frank went to the show afterwards. It has been a lovely day. We still have the sow that Colin Ryerse brought in here last night. It went past here in the after noon with a couple of fellows who were driving some stock down the road and we thought it belonged to them but Colin said it went into their place and the fellows didn't bother with it and as they were afraid it might hurt the sheep Colin chased it back up here, thinking may be it was old Gladys. She is a nice looking white sow & in good shape

Thursday March 22nd

This morning we did chores and I started to build another chicken coop. Frank is making a bird house to attract some blue martins to build as they are supposed to eat up house flys. We also took some pictures this morning one of the ram and one of Elgitha. This after noon Frank and Dad. went down home to cut the last of the locust trees in front of the house but I don't think they had much luck. I worked on my chicken coops and painted the one. Old Bill Roberts came in and claimed the lost sow. He said he would be after her to-morrow. It has been a beautiful, mild spring day.

and then Frank and I took Harry and Belle and went down and got some more. Frank got his flats which Emery cut out for him for making bee hive supers. This after noon we took the little chickens out of the incubator and put them up in the loft under the four hens, two of which acted as if they would be very good mothers and two were cross but we covered the latter up with horse blankets and are hoping they will be all right in the morning. We only got 60 chicks out of the incubator which was pretty poor but the hens only hatched four. We put the unhatched eggs from the hens in the incubator. After we got them tended to I took a walk down to Dicky Stevens orchard. Young Awde and Ferris were fishing on the point and had three little horned ace and the ice isn't out of the pond at all below Goosey. It has been a bright sunny day a little windy.

Sunday March 25th

On account of having the little chickens to tend to this morning I didn't get down to Sunday school but Drove Enah down to church. We took Belle as Joe had her eye all swelled up this morning. Frank went down to Sunday school and Dick and Aunty Alice were over to dinner. Dick went down town soon after dinner and Frank went with him Aunty Alice went down about four o'clock and

we put the bobsleighs away in the barn. I took six more chickens out of the incubator and as two more were dead this morning I think that makes sixty eight I have now They are all under three hens. I cleaned out the machine and set it again right away with 140 eggs. Old Bill Roberts came at last to-day noon after his sow. She seemed perfectly willing to follow him home behind the buggy This after noon Dad. and Frank fixed a fence accross the yard this side of the plum orchard so that he could put his two bee hives out with out the old ram bothering them. They were all flying to-day. We put them out to-night. I worked on my chicken coop. Beautiful day, fairly hot. Lila was over after school to say that a man would be down home to-morrow noon to cut the telegraph wires so that they could fell the locust tree across the track, so they will have to go down.

Tuesday March 27th

The weather turned up side down during the night and has been cloudy, rainy, snowy, windy, muddy and rottenly raw all day. Dad. Frank and the baby went down in the waggon this morning in the midst of one of the heaviest showers to lay low the last of the locusts down home, and in spite of the weather, the man was there to cut the wires and

Wednesday March 28th

Frank went down early this morning to take a file to Uncle Ward to point up the crosscut saw, they left it there yesterday but Uncle Ward told me last night he had no file. Dad. and I took Frank's heifer up to Ham. Thompson's Ham wasn't home but we had a look at all the stock being showed around by old {Name?}. He entertained us by accounts of his experiences on big estates where stock was kept in the Old Country, but owing to his dialect I don't know which part of England it belonged to, we could only understand about half of it. It was getting near noon when we got home but Dad. went right down to help Frank saw up the locust tree. They were down all the after noon and when Dad. came home he had an awful headache but it was better after tea. I just did chores this after noon. There was no service to-night as Mr. Johnson thinks he is getting the measles. Tim has been busy all day making Jennie Millers out of plasticene and shooting them with his pop gun. Cloudy with raw wind all day.

Thursday March 29th

The Ben Ivey family is in the throes of moving, Ben having bought (so rumour they says) Cliff McBain's house over on

and Sam. Butler's barn. Art Quanbury came through just before tea and said it had blown his barn about five feet back and racked it considerably, while his little 8 x 12 shack was turned completely over on its roof. To-day it has been sunny but raw and windy.

Friday March 30th

Frank has been helping Ben all day again and to-night I guess has him pretty well moved. Art Quanbury came in this morning before we had breakfast to see if he could get one of us to help him straighten his barn out so I told him I would go as soon as I could but as the first pair of lambs arrived this morning, and we had to trim the wool around the ewe's (Lop Ear's) bag it was pretty late when I got to Art's. However Tupper, {Trum?} Walker and John Quanbury were there and there wasn't much for me to do any way. I stood around and visited with them till noon and by that time they had the posts all jacked about plumb so we didn't have to go back this after noon I guess Art isn't going to try to move it back where it was This after noon Dad. and I took the black heifer up to Ham. Thompson's. Ham wasn't home. Winnie was over to tea and after tea Dad. and I walked down with her. Dad. {took?}

moved up to the farm but broke the doubletrees on the skid before we got it into place. Frank joined us about four o'clock and we got his pump up and broke the pipe off at the {sucker?} while we were at it. Charle Quanbury came home this morning Another lamb arrived late to-night No 4 ewe. Very mild to-night.

Sunday March April 1st

Frank and I went down to Sunday school this morning but as Mr. Johnson has the measles there was no church so Marjorie and I went for a walk up the beach.It was a lovely morning cloudy and foggy after the rain but very mild and spring like. Aunty and Frank went to the Presbyterian church. As Aunty was coming over to dinner I went down to the house and waited for her till church was out. It began to rain before she came and has kept it up steadily all the after noon and evening, but Aunty came over and went down just before tea. I went to sleep on the sofa for most of the after noon and read all evening. Enah was reading "Sudden Jim" out loud at the same time, so I got it and "Mr. Britling" a little mixed up. Another pair of lambs arrived about tea time to-night. One of the three year old ewes that has lost her tag. It has since transpired that she was No. 5.

well. She only had one. This after noon Dad. went down to Cooper's and I cleaned out the bay in the east end of the sheep barn while Frank fixed a place where we could let the ewes with the oldest lambs into it. Alan Law came in with the cream slip but didn't bring the cans back. As soon as Dad. got back I went down town to get my hair cut but as I didn't get down till nearly six I didn't go up town but had tea at Aunty's and went up right after tea, then I went up to see Marj. Dad. came down after tea to put their carpet down for them down home as they have started house cleaning. I took three more chicks out of the little machine to-day and set it again, one of the chicks died. Pickford was over this morning he wants Dad to go down and look at a lame horse he has down there. Mr. Duncan was also in this after noon and wants him to go up there to see a lame horse. It has been a very nice day and the mud is drying up fast.

Wednesday April 4th

Dad drove Enah and the baby down town this morning and went from there up to Duncan's. He got back about one o'clock and Enah and Tid were down all day. Frank and I pruned apple trees this morning. Dad. got a letter from Douglas to-day saying they were going to ship the heifer to-day, so Frank went right down after dinner to see if she came on the morning freight.

Thursday April 5th

Dad. and I went down as soon as we got up this morning to get the heifer. We picked Frank up at Aunty Alice's, he had been at the dance all night but had his clothes changed They were up down there had had toast and coffee ready for us Dad. had some but I didn't feel very well so didn't partake. We got the heifer with out help or trouble and she came home like a lamb. We didn't put her in the cow stable as it is so boggy at the door but tied her in the bay. It began to rain soon after we got home and has kept it up all day steadily, Gus. came over to renew the insurance application and Frank and I thought as we couldn't do any thing else we would go fishing as Frank has been at me for the last two weeks to go. We put on old clothes and went down to Pickford's to borrow his net. He went with us and we went all the way down to Art. Ryerse's and fished up to the culvert. They held the net and I "rallied" as Pickford calls it, but we never got a bite. We saw one. We got home about noon and changed all our clothes and I had all the fishing I wanted I felt rotten as my old rubbers leaked so and I had to wade through the creek occasionally and the water was sickeningly cold. This after noon we went to sleep after reading the paper and I slept all the after noon. I spent the evening drawing. It was snowing to-night.

and added his testimony to Dad's advice on the favorability of turning out foundered pigs. Ham had a look at all the stock and was showing us his predigrees for his sheep and asking about them. It was about noon when he left. This after noon I started to rake up the rubbish under the old willow tree. Dad. and Frank did chores. Frank walked down to the mill and got a little chop and went down early to tea at Aunty Alices. It froze hard last night and although sunny it has been a cold windy day.

Sunday April 8th

Frank and I got an early start and went down to Sunday school and then to church. It being Easter Sunday there was a pretty good-sized congregation and we were rather late getting out, Dad. came down as far as Aunty's with the baby I guess he was too late to come to church and he waited there and went home with Enah, Dick went over with Frank but I stayed down town to dinner. After dinner Aubrey and I had a game of chess and then after Frank had come down again, Gladys, Aubrey, Frank and I went for a walk up the beach. Frank and I came home to tea but went down afterwards. Enah went down to church but we were too late. I went for. a walk with Marj. after church and went down to Aunty's for awhile before I came home with Enah and Frank

Tuesday April 10th

I didnt get up till after seven this morning, and didn't do much all morning. Aunty was here for breakfast but went down right after. Uncle Ward walked over and was here for a good part of the morning, he wanted to know what time Colin McNeillige's sale started this after noon. Aubrey Billings came over to dinner and this after noon he, Frank and I walked over to the sale and were there all the after noon, we didn't get anything I bid on the heavy set of harness but Jack King got it for 31 dollars. I got a ride home with Sam Law and the boys walked down the track. Frank went down town to-night but the rest of us went to bed early. It froze harder than ever last night but has not been quite so cold to-day but the wind was very raw. The paper to-day says the Canadians and British captured the Vimy ridge and gathered in about 6000 prisoners in a big offensive where they advanced two or three miles on a front of twelve miles.

Wednesday April 11th

This morning we moved all the little chickens out into the run this side of the plum orchard and it has been a lovely day for them Sunny and very mild. Dad. Enah and the baby all went down to Aunty's

I went down to a party of Win's in Ada's ballroom. I was pretty late getting there and felt tired and sleepy when I left home, but got rather braced up down there. We had to say good bye to the Billing's to-night as they are going to-morrow morning, we were all very sorry to see them go. It looked very rainy early this morning but cleared off into a beautiful mild fore noon but this after noon it clouded up again and the wind veered to the north and got very cold and is freezing to-night.

Friday April 13th

Dad. got up early this morning and went down to see the Billings off. He had breakfast down there. We were rather late getting the chores done up but when we did we ear marked all the lambs and put the association number in the ears of last year's lambs. We were just going to mark the little lambs the way we did last year with lampblack and oil on their sides but Frank had been readin in Kleinheintz's book that they couldn't be too young to have the ear tags put in so we thought we would try it. It saves going over them twice and the lampblack and oil makes bad spots in the fleece but we hated to do it to the little fellows. We did the last five after dinner. About four o'clock

P.S. Mathew's came over this after noon and got Harry Ansley's cow and Mr. Bagley was over this morning and got a setting hen.

a complete surprise. They caught Mr. Shand out in the barn cleaning up seed, he hadn't heard the first few rigs come in and he told Dad. that he had no idea there was going to be a funeral there to-day, that if they had given him any idea of it, he would have tried to have the corpse ready. Flossie said she had an awful time yesterday keeping enough stuff in the house for the occasion as they were supposed to have been all moved down town to-day. There were about sixty people there and they had a very nice time. Dad. had to make an after dinner speech and to play a game of six handed pedro but otherwise spoke as if he enjoyed himself. Frank and I did up the cow stables when we got through reading the paper which wasn't very early and then Frank went over to ask Ben Ivey about some rails, he said he would be right back but stayed to help Ben load his hog pen on to his dray. I went up to Ham Thompsons to ask him about getting spray material as I had a card to day from the Norfolk Fruit Grower's Ass'n saying their warehouse in Simcoe would only be open on certain days. Ham wasnt home having gone down to Bruce Ball's sale. Frank went down town to-night. The wind got around a little more to the west to-day but it has been cloudy and raw and is snowing quite hard to-night.

sowing clover seed on the wheat and got over the twelve acres. The wheat certainly looks sick but it is still alive. In a few places it was heaved and a few small patches killed out. Frank took Alfred's spear back to him this morning and went by way of the creek. He went up along Robert John's creek and came back along Charlie McQueens and got three or four more pike and some suckers so he presented Alfred with some of them. This after noon he made a cold frame for Enah to put her cabbage plants in, we will use the storm windows for the top. After I did up the cow stables I walked up to Ham Thompson's again. He said I would need a barrel of Lime Sulphur but that I should have ordered it beforehand so I got Art Quanbury to telephone up to-night to see if I could get it. Art. Pickford, Tupper and Jack Martin were all on the land to-day. Jack's men were drillng this after noon on the side hills. Frank thinks we can start to-morrow. Wind still in the north but milder.

Tuesday April 17th

Frank got out at seven with the team this morning and has been disking all day on the west half of the field east of the orchard. Dad. relieved him this after noon while he came in and looked through

price it is. He got 12 1/2 cts for them, but I don't know what they weighed. This after noon I cleaned out the colony house and did a little clearing up around it. I want to put the last batch of chicks in it. Wind in south much milder.

Wednesday April 18th

Frank has worked on the land all day. He cross disking all morning and part of the after noon and then harrowed. About five Dad. took the drill out with Belle & Joe and drilled in all that was worked up. He sowed my three bushels of O.A.C. 72 oats on this side of the field and only sowed about two bushels of the others as he sowed mine thinly He sowed clover seed with the oats. This morning he and I treated 8 bushels of oats with formalin for smut, we spread it on the barn floor and sprinkled the grain. We also gave the sick lamb another dose of oil and some more injections but it was no good. She died this after noon. We also put three of the hens with chicks in the colony house. Huby was over for a few minutes this after noon. Very sunny and warm all day with a light thunder shower to-night which ought to do the wheat a lot of good if it doesn't get cold after it. Bill {George?} went past to-night just as the storm was coming up and as he said he could see "a bit at all" I lent him the lantern.

Friday April 20th

it rained another little shower this morning so we have done nothing on the land to-day. Frank went down to Aunty's again this morning and helped them down there in the garden nearly all day, he got home about four. Dad. and I did chores and Dad. finished the cold frame and this after noon he and Enah planted it out with tomato and cabbage plants. I spent most of the day raking up the lawn and looking after the little chickens. I went down town early this after noon to have Dr. Lemmon look at my tooth, the one he filled last has been aching a little the last few days, but he said there was nothing wrong with it unless I had caught a little cold in it. I had tea at Aunty's, Aunty Alice is tired out but delighted at the progress of her work in the garden. Tonight Marj. and I went to the picture show which was pretty poor, I thought. Tom brought back the lantern that Bill {Tearque?} borrowed the other night all shined up and a new globe in it. I guess it was never so clean before.Lila came over this after noon while I was down town to get a job for the summer and in that way earn her certificate at school. It is a rather poor idea I think but they are all going to try it and she of course was very excited with the expectation but I was very sorry to hear when I got home that Dad. had dashed cold water on her hopes and wouldn't give her

Dad. cultivated with the Spring-tooth and the big team on the other half of the field east of the orchard this after noon Cloudy and a coolvbreeze to-day with a little drizzle this after noon.

Sunday April 22nd

I didn't get up this morning till half past seven although I thought I was getting up at half past six so I coudn't get things done in time to get down to Sunday school. Frank went down and I drove Enah down to church. Aunty came over with us after church and Cousin Clare walked over to dinner Dick was over too. Soon after dinner I drove Dick down town and then took Marj. and Miss Acheson (Kaufman's milliner) for a drive We went down the Lake Shore and up Mud Street. The rest of the family all went back to the gully and got some wild flowers except Frank who went down to the Ryerse's. It was six o'clock before I got home so by the time I got chores done it was too late to go to church but I went down after church and Marj. and I went up to Miss Martin's and got my lettuce seed. We also stopped it at Miss McQueen's for a few minutes. I called in at Aunty's on my way home and gave Aunty Alice a pinch of my lettuce seed. It has been a beautiful day although a little windy. They have had the town flag up to-day to commemorate the second anniversary of St. Julien.

Wednesday April 25th

Dad. and Frank worked both teams all day and Dad. finished drilling the field this morning. They got it harrowed over after the drill and the ditches run out Frank got nearly all over the six acre field west of the old garden with the disks and Dad. got it partly harrowed. I took twenty one chicks out of the little incubator this morning and put them under one of the old hens that was brooding parts of the last batch and gave her bunch to the other three hens. I didn't have a fresh setting hen but that worked all right. I set both incubators again with 220 eggs. I did chores and painted my second chicken coop as it was to windy to do much else. Very windy and cloudy with an intermittent drizzle all after noon. Thunder to-night

Thursday April 26th

It has been too wet to work on the land to-day, there was a heavy thunder storm last night and it has been drizzling every now and then to-day. This morning Frank and I went down in the waggon and got fifty tile for the ditch. I have been digging to drain the border on the east side of the lawn where I want to set out a hedge. I put

Friday April 27th

Frank has been disking all day cross ways on the six acre field this side of the old garden and got nearly all over it. Dad. spent the morning working at the mud hole in the lane and got it pretty well filled up for the present He just used the wheelbarrow this morning and got all the earth he wanted right in the lane. I cleaned up some more of the lawn and burned the two big heaps of rubbish down on the road that were the accumulation of two years from down under the willow tree. This after noon I did chores and Dad. and I treated four more bags of oats, there is just one bag left untreated as we may not need to sow it and if it is treated we wouldn't want to feed it. I let the three hens loose that were in the colony house this after noon and chased all the chicks out doors but I am afraid it was too cold for them as I found two or three dead ones. I suppose they had got lost from the others. To-night I went down town to see Marj. She had just been down at Dr. Cooks and Mrs. Cook had told her that poor little Orin England was killed to-day out at Shand's school house when the old wall of the old school house fell on him. They were tearing it down and he was playing inside when it fell, they had left it to-day with just the two walls standing. I got my hair cut before I came home. Fine but a cold northwest wind.

over the report he had been able to make of the Easter vestry meeting which revealed an extraordinary improvement in the churches finances that he could not refrain from reading his report from the pulpit (I had been figuring on reading it during the sermon and for that reason had resisted the temptation to do so during the first lesson) and enlarging on every item. Aunty was very grieved that the subject should have been delivered from the pulpit as a sermon with a Biblical text as a title and so was I especially after the first half hour of it, for it seemed as if he couldn't come to a full stop. He commended the congregation for their loyalty to the church and their liberality in paying up. He held up John Walkers name as one worthy of the greatest honor and his generosity beyond words when he gave two nights proceeds at the picture show to the coffers of the church. Mrs. Jesse Thompson, we were led to believe, was a saint (I suppose in disguise) and I expect to see her next Sunday with a made-to-order halo from Eaton's, because she was the organizer and is the leader of that noble band of maidens the "Willing Workers" which provided the "caskets" for the choir. Dr. Cook and Mr. Hobbes deserved our deepest gratitude for the manner in which they had conducted themselves as wardens. Poor Mr. Hobbes hung his head in

Miss McQueen. It was drizzling when I started home so I went down and spent the night at Aunty's.

Monday April 30th

I got home this morning just as the family were at breakfast. Frank disked on the pea ground all morning and said it worked fine. Dad. trimmed up all the ewes and I spent the morning with him although I didn't do much to help. We also docked the two last lambs. This after noon Dad. and Frank went out to England's to Orin's funeral and Dad. took Enah and the baby down town and called for them on his way home. Enah wanted to practice a duet with Mr. Johnson. I sowed a few lbs of clover seed on the oats at the road end of the field as Dad. didn't have quite enough seed to go over it all when he drilled it. I also sowed about four lbs of rape seed on the plum orchard and I think I got it on a little too thick. Alan Law brought back the manure spreader. I gave Tom Abbot a setting of eggs to-night It is the only way I can pay him for hauling the butter milk. Art. Quanbury was in to-night to ask about his new lamb. Milder but cloudy

Tuesday April May 1st

Frank drove Dad. down to catch the nine o'clock car for Simcoe

{This is a repeat of the previous page}

Bluffs for shelter. They made Dover harbor some time this after noon. They had been telephoning from here all day but couldn't get any trace of them. I suppose they went around the Point before day light and the Lifesaving crew didn't see them. Frank and I didn't get home till noon as we stopped in at Aunty's for awhile. This after noon we didn't do any thing but chores and sit around. Frank fixed or tried to fix his wheel. To-night I went down to see Marj. it being one of Essie's nights at the show and as it was nasty walking stayed down at Aunty's all night.

Wednesday May 2nd

I got up this morning before Aunty & Aunty Alice not knowing that they weren't up and sat around for about half an hour reading Beltane the Smith which I borrowed from Marj. last night. Ont my way home I stopped in at the Quanburys and found Art. had fixed the post mould up yesterday afternoon and as he and Charlie were just ready to go up to Ben's to plow. (They are putting in stuff on shares) Charlie took the post mould home for me and gave me a ride with it. Bob Davis was in for a few minutes this morning, and said he hadn't sold his house so couldn't handle the Throughbred but if he was able to he would like to take him. Frank and I went over to John Wes's this morning to get a few final instructions

came back he made some more staples and straightened out a rod or two for the posts. Right after dinner Frank and I spread the manure on the old garden and Dad. came out and tried to plow it but he couldn't with the plow he had so he came up and tried to plow the headland of the pea ground along Ivey's fence but he couldn't work it either so he didn't get any plowed. Jim Bannister came in on his way home from his mail route to have Dad. look at his horse which had gone staggery this side of Art. Walker's and he had had to leave him at Bill Donald's and get Bill to drive him along the rest of the route. Fra k and I made another post this after noon. Sunny to-day but windy and cold.

Friday May 4th

Dad. plowed the headlands on the pea ground this morning Frank covered the garden back of the shop with manure out of the box stalls in the stable and I hammered out some more reinforcements and raked some of the earth into the trench where I dug the ditch. This after noon I harrowed the six acres north of the orchard where Dad sowed the oats last Saturday and which we never got harrowed again. It worked very nicely this after noon and I think most of the oats are covered now that the drill didn't cover. Frank finished disking the

stayed down there to tea but went for a walk before tea down to the lake and up to Huby's. I found Huby planting potatoes. Cousin Clare was at Aunty's to tea. Aunty and I went to church to-night. After church Marj. and I walked up with Miss Martin. George Duncan came after Dad. this after noon to go and take a calf from a heifer but he got back before six. I don't know where Frank went to but I suppose back in the gully. It has not been much milder to-day and cloudy with an occasional drizzle.

Monday May 7th

Frank went down to Aunty's right after breakfast and has been down all day helping in the garden. He didn't get home till quite awhile after dark. Dad. has been ditching most of the day in the different fields. I spent the morning filling in the border bed along the chicken run fence with compost and earth. This after noon I levelled off the heap of clay in the drive house and made another fence post in there and mixed the cement on the floor of Billy's box stall. That took me about all the after noon. To-night I put the saddle on Queen and took her around the block. She went fine. Frank was telling us that Dave Low got a letter from Billy to-day from the hospital where he says he will have to be for three months. He said that he and young

and ploughed a couple of furrows to plant potatoes. It is such a rich piece of ground that he thought it would be a great place for the Irish Cobblers he got from Art Quanbury. He also started to plow the garden back of the shop where we want to put mangels. He got it about half plowed. The manure on it makes it hard as he has to stop every round and rake it into the furrow, it is pretty wet too. I took Queen for another ride to-night. I started to go down the mill hill but she was afraid to go through the bad mud hole so I didn't make her but rode her down to Aunty's and back. We painted pictures to-night. It has been a nice day but looks rainy. Froze last night.

Wednesday May 9th

Frank and I among a few chores got another cement post made this morning and Dad. finished plowing the garden. This after noon Frank disked on the pea ground till about four o'clock and then the rain drove him in. I got the cutter out and started to clean it and Dad. went back to see Charlie Quanbury who was working back in Ben Ivey's orchard to see if he could borrow Ben's little disks and put Belle and Queen on them. Charlie told him to hook on to Ben's springtooth so we harnessed the team but Alan Law came in to have Dad. look at old Ned's mouth and before we recovered from his attack Bob. Law

Friday May 11th

Dad. harrowed and rolled the garden back of the shop this morning and this after noon went over my acre of alfalfa plot with the springtooth but he and Frank have worked the rest of the day on the pea ground and think it will be fit to drill to-morrow if all's well. Aunty and Aunty Alice came over about eleven o'clock and stayed to dinner and tea. Aunty Alice brought us over a pound of mangle seed half a pound each of red and yellow variety's so this after noon I went over and borrowed Quanburys seed drill and Aunty Alice and I sowed them all on the garden back of the shop we just had enough seed to go over it except for two rows of potatoes next the orchard fence which I planted this morning. They were Irish Cobblers. Aunty and Aunty Alice brought Frank and me each a dandy pair of gloves. Win. came over to tea to-night, she won a two dollar prize on her composition on "The High school boy & the labor shortage" that wasn't just the title but it was the subject. To-night Enah and Aunty and Aunty Alice went over to Mrs. Battersby's on their way home and Win and I went straight down town. I went in to see Marj. and as she had just got some trailing Arbutus from home we took a bunch of it down to Aunty. Billy Laings came into the Bagley's before we left with some chicken feed and we had to entertain him till Mrs. Bagley came home and relieved us. Billy was in a very {illegible}

Sunday May 13th

Frank and I didn't get ready int time to get to Sunday school this morning but we went down to church. Frank had to see Ben Ivey and as he was working over here we went around this way. Aunty came over with us for dinner. This after noon Dad. Dick and the baby went down to the gully. Frank went down to the Ryerse's and Enah, Aunty and I started down to look through the {Dicky?} Stevens orchard but we met Jim Waddle on the way out to the farm so Enah went back with him but Aunty and I went on and went all over the place. Jim Waddle and the girls were still here when we got back and when Aunty and I left for town. I went down with Aunty for tea and went to church with Aunty and Aunty Alice. Much warmer but breezy.

Monday May 14th

I was just getting ready to go to Ham's after the sprayer this morning when he and his man brought it down He said his trees were out too for now for the second spray so as he was coming down town any way he brought it down to us. We got the orchard and all the plum & cherry trees sprayed by about five o'clock this after noon. We used nearly two tanks of spray but didn't put the second on nearly as thick as the first. To-night my two year old heifer

think it will last now. Before it broke every time after it had been in about a month. Karl Coleman came in while we were at it and helped us. He wanted to ask Dad. about a bloated lamb. I went over this morning and got some bone meal at Jack Martin's and Quanbury's seed drill to sow my alfalfa. After I got it Cawley and Chris both told me that Jack wanted to use it this after noon to sow mangels but he hadn't said anything to Quanbury's about it. Frank gave the acre a final harrowing and rolled it while I was gone and I started in to sow it before dinner. It took me till about five o'clock to get it done I got the three pounds on the acre but had to open the drill up to a larger hole for the last nine rows and I am a little afraid it didn't sow evenly. Dad. finished plowing the garden to-day and worked it up and ran out the ditches in the last drilled oat field and the pea ground. Frank and Enah started to sow the garden this after noon. I set out some dahlia and gladiolus to-night. Much warmer and very smoky. It looks like rain.

Thursday May 17th

Dad. and I took the four old hens which we put eightysix chicks out of the incubator under last night and put them in three coops in this end of the old hen house and in the other new coop outdoors. As soon as we got that done I went

down town and Marj. and I went up to the Radial to meet Mrs. Bagley who has been at some missionary conference in St Cathrines for a week. Poor old Dr. Jolly died this morning. He had a stroke the night before last and got delirious and while trying to induce Mrs. Bell to let him go downstairs he fainted or had another stroke and fell backwards all the way downstairs.

Saturday May 19th

Frank went over to Evans this morning with the plow shear to have it sharpened and Dad. plowed while he was gone. When he came back he plowed and Dad. and I stretched the wire along the posts we put in yesterday. We just had John Wess little wire stretchers and had to pull to each post as we went along so didn't get it very tight. While we were at it a fellow came in and introduced himself as Mr. Ferguson and said he had our application for a drainage survey and had come to do it. So we went out with him before dinner. This after noon he and I did the job. We staked out the runways first and then he took the levels. He will send us a blueprint when he gets back to the O.A.C. The holes at the north end of the field will drain easily into the gully but we couldn't drain the ones this way without making an eight or ten feet

Monday May 21st

I was up at five o'clock this morning for a change but didn't get much done. About nine o'clock I drove Mr. Ferguson up to young Bobbie Leith's which was his next job and when I got home went over to Mrs. Battersbys and got some rhubarb and some flag roots, which I set out this after noon. I didn't do much but putter around this after noon one job being to get the hop poles put up. Dad. set out about a hundred cabbage plants this after noon and nearly froze as there was a cold rain. Frank set thirty three duck eggs in the little incubator to-day. I read "Beltane the Smith" till about one o'clock to-night. It has been cold with an east wind all day and steady rain all the after noon & to-night.

Tuesday May 22nd

Old Mr. Miller came after Dad. to-day before breakfast as his cow was sick so Dad. went up after breakfast. Just as he was going out of the lane George Duncan met him as he had a mare in trouble so Dad. was gone till noon. Frank and I made a cement post. Frank Ryerse was in to tell us the Government traction plow was at his place and to ask us if we wanted any plowing done but we are afraid our ground is too wet. This after noon we moved the three cement posts we had made out of the drive house and Frank and Dad. cut up some apple

town I ran across Harry Moon trying to put in a block of the pavement over his tile drain so I helped him till dark, then I met Bab. going up to Ben Ivey's with a telephone message so went up with her and then went down to Aunty's for awhile. It has been a miserable day. Cold, cloudy and drizzly also windy

Thursday May 24th {Sketch of a Union Jack flag}

It has been a rotten day. Cold windy and drizzling rain most of the time. We puttered around all morning. Frank started to clean out the shop and I took some eggs over to Jack Martin and he paid me Dad. has been digging ditches all day and feels about as blue as a sick fish over the weather. Right after dinner Frank and I made another cement post and then I went down to Miss Martin's to get my hollyhocks, she gave a baket full of stuff, besides hollyhocks were asters, snapdragons, nicotina and a few seedling dahlias. I set most of them out when I got home I stopped in at Aunty's for a few minutes on my way home. Although there were a few fishers went down the road to-day according to the annual custom, they were very few and the old creek was not bristling with fish poles from Art. Ryerse's to Coleman's point as it would have been if it had been a sunny day as it generally is. Hollie's ad. in the "Maple Leaf" is changed again. It is now "Wanted - Boys under 81 to make themselves generally useless about the fish house"

out to the plum orchard. Dad. then drove Enah and the baby down town and got back about six while Frank and I planted a few onion sets and a few potatoes in the old garden besides making afew observations on the actions of an old bee who appeared to be blind in one eye and to weak to fly and on a pair of humming birds out in the current bushes in the old garden. Frank went down town after tea. Winnie and Olive Ward were over this after noon to tell me that Mrs. Smythe had invited Aunty herself Winnie and me out there to dinner to-morrow but I said I couldn't go so maybe Frank will go instead. It has been sunny and warm all day but rained a little to-night.

Sunday May 27th

Frank and I went down for Sunday school this morning but as it was after ten when we got to Main St. we went down to the lake instead and circled around in time for church Dad. Enah and the baby came down to church. Dad. expected to hear Mr. Browne preach but Mr. Johnson announced that he would preach to-night. It was raining when we got out of church so Frank Aunty and Win didn't go to the Smythe's as they had intended (They were going up on the radial) but Frank and Win stayed down at Aunty's to dinner. Dick was over here when we got home. Dad had to go out to Charlie Teiple's to see a colt this after noon and

Tuesday May 29th

We started on the rest of the sheep this morning alone and the first one seemed too wet to shear. Dad let them all out for a few minutes last night and the first thing they did was to go across the ditch and it was too swollen for the planks to go over it so consequently a good many of them got in. However we caught a drier one and I had it nearly sheared when Art. came. I didn't make a very good job of it as I didn't have the knives tight enough. About eleven o'clock I went down town to get some coal oil and on up to the mill for flour and chicken feed. The hill down here at Preston's where they have put the big stones is so bad I had to go both ways by town and was so delayed that I didn't get home till after one. Billy Mills stopped me to ask about Ben Ivey's line fences as Jack is going to turn cattle back there in Ben's gully. Cawley stopped me to ask about the same thing Uncle Ward nailed me and I had to go down to Aunty's. Aunty Alice is going to Toronto in the morning. Art. left at eleven o'clock and we finished the sheep at four o'clock this after noon. I sheared the last one, so we all are pretty fair at the job now. Counting the tags we had 195 lbs of wool taking the aggregate of the individual fleece weighs according to the spring scales. To-night I went down to Aunty Alice's with some eggs and cream for Roy. Raining this morning but cleared off with fine day, warmer.

business and how Ansley through mismanagement was losing thousands of dollars, for Frank contended that it was just as easy to make money as it was to lose it. He also informed us that Ansley was the best man to work for that ever lived. To-night I went down to church and went up to Huby's for awhile. I telephoned Ham Thompson from there to see if the car for the wool was at the L.E. & N. siding and he said it was but that he hadn't been able to get Neff all day to find out for sure if we should ship to-morrow. Edmond England wants to ship with us but hasn't sheared yet and he thought it wouldn't matter for a day or two. I came home around by the L.E. & N. station but the agent had left so I didn't find out any more. It has been hot and sultry Looks very rainy

Thursday May 31st

Frank went down this morning to tell Art. Ryerse that the car was there to ship the wool and while he was gone Dad. and I sewed up the wool sack and put the tags on it. Young Jack Maxwell came over to get Dad. to go over to John Robert John's to look after a cow. He said he had been working over there all Spring and that poor old Robert John is just about dead. Art. & Lloyd came back with Frank with their wool and scales and they weighed our wool and took it down to the car. Frank and I

did not break under the jaw. Dad. calls it bastard strangles. We stayed long enough for him to have a good look at Queen as the object of our trip was partly to try to sell her. We went from there on down to Jimmy Horn's and took them the pedigree for the ram they got last fall. We were there about an hour as Dad. wanted to have a talk to the old man. While we were gone Frank went down to Art. Ryerse's and paid him for the freight on the wool as Art lent us the money yesterday. He also made a bee hive out of a nail keg to put up in the gully to see if he can catch another swarm and he put the supers on his two hives up here and got stung once.

This after noon we made another post but didn't get much else done Dad. did some plastering in the kitchen Enah is house cleaning. To-night I went down town to see Marj. for a little while. Roy came to-night on the seven o'clock car from Simcoe, he was up there on business and will stay here till Sunday night any way. Aunty Alice with Vernon and Rebecca came up on the early Grand Trunk train and got here soon after Roy. Warm & breezy.

Saturday June 2nd

Dad. and the baby drove down town this morning and were down all day. Dad. has been promising Aunty to go down for a long time to fix up her bay window bed and trim the walk

Dick and Dess came over to see the little pigs. Not long after that Dad. Enah and the baby drove home and Aunty and Roy came over to tea Rebecca having come with Dad. Dick and Dess didn't stay long. To-night I went down town but none of us went to church to-night. I went up to Miss. Martin's where I found Marj. & Mr. & Mrs. McQueen. They had been in Grimsby all day and had come back on the seven o'clock car. They had intended going down with Jack Walker but it was such a nasty morning Jack didn't go so they went by radial and had a fine after noon. They went down principally to see peach blossoms but they weren't out yet and the cherry & apples were gone but they had a good time. I stopped in at Auntys for an hour or so on my way home. Rainy & very windy this morning but lovely by evening.

Monday June 4th

After I did chores this morning I planted out some gladioli and some mignonette & Hollyhock seed. Aunty gave me the seeds and the hollyhocks were grown at Mt. Vernon and supposed to be some thing extra. Bert Thompson came over with a yearling heifer which he turned out here to pasture. I put in the rest of the day spudding thistles in the oats. Frank was down town getting Joe shod this morning and when he came back he cultivated mangels with the "Buko" as Aunty Alice calls the

much higher. Frank and I made a cement post this morning and Dad. did some more work at the culvert in the lane before the rain. This after noon Dad. and Frank fixed up the wire fence around the barnyard and put a barbed wire on the top of it and through the middle of it. I spent the after noon hunting up data in my diarys where with to make a herd record. About five I went back to the gully after the cows but I only got the three we milk and the calves. Daisy May was up having had a red bull calf this morning. They took Jack Martin's young stock back to Ben Ivey's gully this after noon and as they were right down with our cattle along the lane fence Dad. was afraid our cattle would break through our old barbed wire so I went back again to get the rest of them. I had an old rubber coat on but I got soaked as I was back in part of the heavy storm.

Thursday June 7th

Frank, Enah, the baby and I went down town this morning in the waggon this morning, we took our lumber for the harness cupboard doors back down to Emery to change it for stuff that would not waste but Emery told Frank that for making doors with matched lumber it didn't matter about short pieces being put in without any thing to nail to as long as they weren't

Saturday June 9th

Frank and I went down to Aunty's as soon as we could get started this morning and got the grass that old Reed cut out in front on the road and we cut a lot more and brought it home in the waggon box for the horses. It was after eleven when we got home so I started to cut the lawn and finished it after dinner Frank helped Dad. (who has been working at the mudhole in the lane all day) till I got through with the lawn and then he and I went back and stretched a barbed wire along John Wess' line from the wheat to within a panel and a half of the little block of woods. We then came up and went over to the stump for a swim. It was the first of the season for us and I found the water pretty cold, so didn't stay in long. Dad. had a bad headache and felt sick just before tea to-night. Frank went down town to-night. It has been a very hot and sultry day.

Sunday June 10th

Frank and I started out for Sunday school but Frank saw Ben Ivey and wanted to see him so by the time he left there we were too late. We picked Dick up at the bank and we all three went to church and got nicely settled in the back seat when Aunty Alice came in and made us go up to the front. After church Mrs. Johnson invited me over there to dinner with Marj. and some young Omstead who is a Hamilton

Alice and came back after dinner. Enah and the baby went down with him and he left them at Mrs. Woodson's on his way back as she arrived here Saturday. I spudded thistles in the peas this morning, there are not many of them but they are in one or two patches through the field. Dad. ditched and went back to see if Ivey's line fence in the gully was alright. He went out and gathered up the coils of barbed wire along the road and as Tom was just coming back with the cream can while he was out there he brought them up for him. Dad. and I had our lunch alone and after in we went back with a couple of coils of barbed wire and finished stretching it on John Wess' line, we also put in a post along the fence between the wheat and pasture field Dad. turned the cattle in on that field this morning. It was about half past four when we got back to the house but as Frank was home and had things ready he and I made another post. Ham Thompson was in to-night to get some lime sulphur and told me he wanted to spray to-morrow. Fine and hot to-day.

Tuesday June 12th

I went up to Ham's about half past seven this morning and was up there till the middle of the after noon and we got all over the orchard both sides The wind wasn't very strong but we didn't make

Wednesday June 13th

We sprayed what we could of the orchard this morning and as it was rather late when we got every thing ready we didn't finish till nearly noon. The wind was a little too strong to go all around the tree but we got most of the blossoms I think but if it changes in a day or two we will go over them again. This after noon Dad. had to go up to George Duncan's raising and he got back in as I was finishing milking. Frank and I spent most of the after noon fixing Jack Martin's and Ben Ivey's fence along the road so that the lambs couldn't get in. We fixed their's instead of our own so that the lambs can pasture on the road. We drove in a lot of stakes and stapled the bottom wire of the fence to the stakes and also banked sod up in several places so that the little fellows can't push under. When we got through we went through the mangels with Belle and the cultivator and also took it out to the old garden but there wasn't much stuff up enough out there to do anything. Jonas was in to-night and got a setting of eggs. Very hot day. Thunder storm to-night.

Thursday June 14th

Frank and I cut a bushel of seed potatoes this morning

didn't try to come up it but went home around by town and it was after twelve when we got home. We didn't do much else this after noon but set out 100 tomato plants which took just about all there were in the cold frame. I went down town to-night and after going up to see Marj. for a little while I went down to Aunty's where there was a little party going on in honor of Mr. & Mrs. Gordon who are here at Mrs. Skey's. It has been cold again to-day and cloudy this after noon. Looks rainy

Saturday June 16th

Frank has been over at Ben's all day helping him get his tomato plants out. He has had two or three men from the greenhouse and Bob. Leitch's team in the fore noon but didn't get them quite all out He had to work the land up as he went along. I drove Enah down town to get some provisions, right after breakfast and when we got back I went through the mangels with the Buko. up close to the row's. I got them all done by noon. This after noon I cut all the lawn and took some eggs over to Jack Dad. spent the day hoeing his potatoes and working in his garden back of the old barn. George Clark and Booze were over with Barwell's dog this after noon he got run over yesterday and is in pretty bad shape but Dad. told him he might pull through. Frank went down town to-night. It has been another cold day but a little more sun.

and although the storms all went over or around us we got just enough of them to drive us in but not to wet much We were entertained for about half an hour right after breakfast by Jack Robinson who came in to get a long tooth of his mare's filed down. He was giving us glowing accounts of the time he had in Saskatchewan last summer on "the boy's" ranch. When he left we all went out to the old garden to work at least all the rest but me and I started in to Bako the alfalfa but the rain drove us in and we didn't do much else but putter around before dinner. This after noon we tried it again but with the same results however we did get quite a little bit done. After tea Dad. and I hooked Queen up to the cart and I drove her down town and around the block, she went fine. While we were hooking her up she backed up and one wheel of the cart took the corner off our last cement post. It wasn't a very good one anyway and it was the thirteenth post made

Tuesday June 19th

I have been "Bukoing" alfalfa all day but am only about half way over the plot. The ground is pretty hard and the alfalfa very small so it is quite a job. Frank and Dad. finished hoeing the potatoes this morning and this after noon cultivated every thing they could with Belle. Frank half soled a pair of his boots before tea. It has been sunny and hot all day and a thunder storm to-night but not much rain

This after noon we started to haul manure on the corn ground but owing to delays only got out three loads. Frank did the driving and had Belle for third horse and as she hasn't been doing any thing lately was balky and caused a lot of trouble. Then Billy Mills was in for a long time. He brought our disks back and borrowed our corn marker. I didn't help Dad. and Frank much but hoed in my alfalfa most of the after noon. To-night Dad. & Enah went down to a party at Aunty Alice's and Frank and I watched Tid. They were very late getting started as they had to wait till he went to sleep and as he had slept all the after noon he was in no hurry about it. Frank went in and lay on the bed beside him and I read all I could find in the "Globe" on the conscription debate and then went to sleep in the chair. Sunny but cool breeze.

Thursday June 21st

Dad. and Frank have hauled manure all day and I have hoed alfalfa. The ground is very hard in spots which makes it a slow and tedious job but the hoe does much better work now that the Buko, in fact the latter wouldn't work at all in some of the hard spots. We let the sheep in for about an hour to-day at noon on the oats in the plum orchard. One of the old turkey hens has reappeared and has been wandering about the yard here for the last two days. We don't know

Saturday June 23rd

Dad. and Frank hauled manure this morning but didn't get so many out as they were cleaning out the box stall. The last load they put around the tomato plants in the old garden. I cut lawn till about eleven and then went and helped them get the hay out of the lane that Frank cut the other day. Just before dinner it commenced to rain and kept it up pretty much all the after noon. It was a nice gentle rain and will do a lot of good as the ground was getting pretty well baked after the heavy rains of a week ago. Frank and I made another post this after noon but didn't do much else and Dad. chored around. Frank and I went down town to-night and I got my hair cut. I took some eggs over to Jack.

Sunday June 24th

By the time Frank and I got chores done and got through monkeying around among other things looking at the marten's nests in the bird house, (there are three of them) it was too late to go to Sunday school but we went down to church. Dick and Aunty came over to dinner. Dick and Frank went down soon after dinner and Dad. drove Aunty down about four. Enah and I had a piano and horn concert and I went down to Aunty's to tea. Aunty Alice and I went to church to-night.

and then it was most decidely wet as we had a very heavy thunder storm and it was rainy and sunny by turns all day. Frank and I didn't know whether to go down and get a load of slabs an run chances of getting wet or whether to stay home and make a post so we wound up by doing neither. Charlie Shand was in to tell us they were going to do road work next week, he had to go on over to Martin's, Quanbury's and Fleming's so I rode around with him and asked Jack Martin if I could ship my eggs with his and he said I could. I went down town to-night and had some strawberries at Miss Martin's.

Wednesday June 27th

Frank and I hauled two loads of slabs to-day one this morning and one this after noon, they were really only half loads as Hawey was charging two dollars a load and we thought we couldn't haul a big enough load for a whole one. When we came back this after noon we made another post. Kathleen Millman and her two friends Eva Williams or {Tow?} and Miss Kirtland were over this morning, they are here for a week staying at the Moon's. Dad. was up at Ham. Thompson's all morning with Daisy May looking at Hams. crops and stock. Dad. says he thinks he has a good crop of peas but they are not a patch on our Market.

Friday June 29th

I woke up about four this morning and heard the water running in on the kitchen floor like the water out of a spout so got up and put a pan under it and banged my eye on the door while I was at it. About six Dad. came and called Frank to go after the cows, he had been back to the end of the lane but the gully was flooded so he didn't go down. Frank put on part of a bathing suit and got them he had to wade in water up to his waist. It must have been a terrific rain but it cleared up early and has been windy and sunny all day and by to-night is pretty well dried off. Dad. Enah and the baby went down town this morning and have been gone all day. Dad was going up to see Mrs. Miller to see if he could sell John, Old Miller was down to-night but didn't say what he thought about her. Frank and I made a post this morning and this after noon after spudding the thistles in the oats on the knoll by the old well, we went back to look at the ginseng and Golden Seal. The old ginseng root was dead but Frank located three seedlings. His Golden Seal looks fine. The wheat is just coming in head and looks pretty tough some of it is no good at all, but the hay has picked up quite a lot. I went down to tea at Aunty's to-night and went down to the station to help Marj. meet Glad Law, but she didn't come. We saw the three girls down there

Sunday July 1st

It rained very hard again during the night and has been raining pretty much all day but cleared up enough for us all to get to church. As this is Canada's fiftieth birthday Mr. Johnson had a sermon or at least a compilation of historical facts and statistical figures supposed to be suitable to the occasion but as some of them were incorrect and the rest uninteresting no one seemed to appreciate it as being the proper celebration of the jubilee Dominion day. Dad. Enah and Tim. stayed down at Aunty's to dinner and Frank, Dick and I had dinner alone. Frank and Dick drove down right after dinner but I stayed home all the after noon. Dad. drove home about five and about six Ade. brought Enah, Frank and the baby home in the car. Ade stayed here to tea and took Frank & me back down town in the car. The road was in pretty bad shape for it. I went for a little walk with Marj. & Glad Law and then went down to Auntys and talked to Mr. & Mrs. Millman till bedtime. Nita. and Gwen. Canfield came in for a few minutes but except for passing them on the pier I didn't see any of the rest of the bunch. Dick came down before I left for a few minutes & Frank was with the crowd all the evening & didn't get home till after twelve. Warm after the rain but clearer to-night.

hardly any live ticks. We caught the old ram and Dad while examining him found some puss on his bag and after working it awhile got about a 1/2 cup full of matter out of it. We are afraid he may not be any good another year. When we got through with the sheep we hooked Queen up and Frank and I drove her around the block I went down to the "sheep pasture" for awhile to-night. Fine day. Old Mr. & Mrs. Miller were in to-night to look at John. Mrs. Miller would have bought her but the old man wanted to come down again and try milking her. Tupper was in for a few minutes, he has Fred Misner's cattle shut up in his stable, they have been running on the road lately and getting into everyone's crops, they were in our oats to-day. Tupper took them to pound the other day up to Jim. Waddle's but Jim said he was never sworn in poundkeeper so wouldn't accept them

Tuesday July 3rd

We three and the team have been doing road work all day to-day. They are on the side road between the top of the hill and our corner cleaning and scraping the ditches and piling it in the centre of the road. They expect the road machine to finish the job. It is making an awful mess of the road at present but will probably be good for it in the end. I went down town to-night and went up to see Huby. Fine and cool.

manure on in with corn and the rest of the piece with buckwheat. We won't expect any corn off it of course but will get some good fodder if all's well. Dad. and I took John up to the Miller's this morning and then Dad. took Enah down town and I thinned a few mangles before dinner. This after noon Dad. and I cultivated the mangels and potatoes and hoed some more. Dick and Dess came over about five and were here all the evening. It has been fine, sunny & not too hot.

Friday July 6th

Frank has been plowing all day and Dad. and I have been hoeing potatoes. Aunty and Aunty Alice came over to-night for a little while with all tney could carry of the where with all to celebrate Dad's birthday to-morrow Dad. drove them home. Lila was over for a few minutes, the results of the H.S. exams were in the "Maple Leaf" to-day and her name headed the list and she took honors. Still fine and not hot.

Saturday July 7th

I went down to the mill first thing this morning and got a supply of chicken feed. I was staggered when Ross Smith told me my account down there was over $130. after all that I have paid them was taken off. When I got home I took a couple

I went to sleep on the sofa soon after tea and some time before midnight was sufficiently aroused byt a clap of thunder to stagger off to bed being aware at the time of a stream of water coming through the kitchen ceiling into a pan that had been put under it early in the evening. About two o'clock my dreams were again broken by hearing Dad. & Enah bailing out the kitchen. Dad. informed me that the storm was terrible and with that comforting knowledge I continued to slumber peacefully till about seven, when I got up donned a bathing suit and went after the cows. There was not as much water in the gully as I expected although it had been high but had run off. Frank got home just as I got out. We did up the chores and Frank and I went down to church Dad. drove us to the sidewalk. Dad and Enah & Tid drove down to Aunty Alice's for dinner, we went down there after church intending to take Joe home but as they didn't get down till just dinner time we stayed and went home after dinner and did up the chores. We were to have been down again at five but by the time we got thing's done it was six when we got down and Dad. Enah & Tim were having tea down there They went home as soon as they had tea and Frank and I had ours then went to church with Aunty & Aunty Alice. After church I went up to see Marj. I didn't know she was

Tuesday July 10th

Frank and I went down town this morning with Joe and Belle in the waggon I took the three crates of old hens over to Jack and got $32.86 for them not a dollar apiece. We went on down town as Frank had to take his bank book to the Post Office to be fixed up. Granddaddy sent it to him Monday and he found he had thirty dollars in the Post Office savings bank that he didn't know any thing about. Granddaddy had opened the account long ago and the other day had intended to draw it out and invest it in a war bond for Frank but found Frank had to draw it himself so sent the book to him and asked him to buy a war bond, so I guess he will. We got some grass when we got home that Dad. had cut. He told us some young Andrews from Renton had been in while we were gone to ask about a ram lamb. This after noon Dad. & Enah drove out to Trinder's to get a case of strawberries but they didn't get them. I went over to Jack's and settled up with him he gave me a check for $37.93 Then Frank and I made another post. To-night I went down to see Marj. Glad. Law and the two Walker girls were there. Marj. has been having an awful time with her throat but it is better to-night. Essie informed me the relapse was due to the talking she did Sunday night while I was there, but Marj. said it was from being out on Sunday. I went

Thursday July 12th

I hung around for about an hour this morning waiting for Enah to get ready to go down town then I drove her with the baby down and they have been down all day. I came home with some two inch nails to finish making the lamb creep. The town appeared to be full of Orangemen this morning and they were to say the least a "seedy" looking crowd. They didn't "walk" till this after noon but they were all bedecked with their gorgeous orange & blue collars and badges which did not accord well with the rest of their apparel which was in most cases faded, baggy and soiled. They all looked to be of the same tribe from the old men who shambled around the streets in bunches and looked as if they were regretting the days when the 12th of July was celebrated in a wet Ontario to the young bucks, who in the first flush of their pride in their membership of the Orange Lodge betrayed by their appearance that their idea of legitimate happiness was to prance around the streets on a gala day arrayed in their Sunday clothes and to smoke cigars or eat ice cream cones & popcorn with their best girls. Of course there were mothers & children intersperced through the crowd all no doubt imbued with the same spirit of patriotism and religion which inspired their fathers, husbands and elder brothers. Right after dinner

her. Lila was over for a few minutes but didn't stay long. To-night Frank and I walked down town. I met Marj. up town and she and I went down to Mrs. Perry's to say good-bye to her but she wasn't home so we went down to Aunty's. Aunty & Aunt Ida were over Brant Hill but Aunty Alice was home. Marj. says her throat is much better and intends to leave for Toronto in the morning

Friday July 13th

Frank went over to pick strawberries this morning but about ten o'clock Enah saw his bees swarming so I went over to tell him, he said first he would let them go till noon and then try to find the queen and kille her so that they would all go back to the hive but when I got home they had settled in two clusters and Dad. was very much afraid they would leave so I went back again to get Frank. Dad. thought he had better hive them as the season is late and they ought to do well from now on. However he hadn't any thing ready and at noon the Quanbury's came in after a piece of ice and Art told him to hive both bunches separately as there would be a queen in each, it was what he called a swarm and an afterswarm. He hadn't enough frames for both hives so he took some out of the super of the old hive. When he got things ready he put one of my chicken house cotton-frames down under the cluster and the hive on it and then cut the branch off that they were clustered

dinner. Dad. was out digging ditches around his potatoes to drain the water off and Frank had put a handle in the round point shovel. This after noon Frank went down town to get some supplies for his beehives, he came back about four and got dressed up and went down again till tea tea and was down all evening He wanted to get down before the Post Office closed so that he could get his check for the savings account and buy a $25.00 war bond. Dad. and I sat around reading for quite awhile after dinner and then took Joe and Belle & the waggon and went and got the grass that Dad. cut in the corner field the other day. When we came in I finished cutting the lawn. To-night Dad. Enah & the baby drove down town to get some supplies. Sunny & hot after noon

Sunday July 15th

Frank and I walked down to church this morning and Aunty & Dick came back with us to dinner. Lloyd Ryerse came in driving right after dinner and he and Frank drove out to the England's. Dick rode with them as far as the corner but was back in about five minutes in the Millman's car with Ade, Kathleen, Paddy, Skinny and {Gwen?} Canfield. The four of them came up from Toronto last night without sending any word and went to the dance. Ade evidently left early and went down to Aunty's intending to get lodging there for the night but they had gone to bed so he slept

in the latters car. They brought Boy over, stone dead and wanted Dad. to see if he could tell what killed him. Huby said he was with him down at Hobbe's boat about a quarter after seven and that was the last he saw him till about a quarter to eight where he found him dead, so he must have died quickly and there was no sign of struggle nor he was not stretched out with his head back like they are when they get strychine neither was there any indication of a blow or that he had been shot; so Dad. couldn't tell what he had got. Huby brought an old sandwich over which he found near him but Dad. didn't think that had anything to do with it. It is too bad as Huby just had him nicely trained and said he wouldn't take a hundred dollars for him. We did all we could in Simcoe (but couldn't get any rock salt nor queen excluders) and got back about two o'clock. We didn't do much after we had our dinner but I blocked up all the holes I could find in the old chicken yard and this after noon & to-night caught about two dozen of the biggest cockrels and shut them in there. Dad. says Hec. Henderson was over to-day as one of the committee they have in town to help the farmers out and urge them to grow more wheat next year Dad. told him we could get on all right and would put in (number obscured} acres of wheat if the weather would let us. Fine but looked rainy {word obscured}

Wednesday July 18th

Frank and I made the other door for the harness cupboard this morning but didn't get them put on. I then hooked up Belle and Queen to the waggon and Frank and I went down to the mill and got a bag of mixed chop to crate fatten chickens. We went out and got the waggon box full of grass when we got home. We got Ben Ivey's cultivator as we went past and this after noon Dad and I cultivated the mangels except the far edge where it was too wet and we also went through the potatoes in the old garden. We took Ben's cultivator as it is a straight toothed one and goes throw the earth with out throwing it at all as ours does. When we got through with that Frank and I hoed potatoes till six and Dad. paris-greened a lot of them. To-night Dad and Enah went down town to get some provisions and Lloyd Ryerse came up to see Frank so I went with them back to Ben's cherry orchard where we tested a good many of the trees but didn't find any real sweet cherries but a good many real sour ones. When we got back I picked out most of the biggest cockrels I could find and put 14 in the fattening crate. Fine & clear to-day.

Thursday July 19th

Frank has been plowing all day on the side hill next the woods. Dad. whent the first round with him and then came

Saturday July 21st

Dad. plowed all morning and Frank and I hoed and cultivated potatoes. Right after dinner Dad. went back to the gully to bring up Maple Hill Nellie as he noticed this morning that she was going to calve soon. He had hardly got back there when Whit Dixon came over after the steer, so I went back to get him and Dad. and I brought all the cattle up and left Maple Hill Nellie all alone as she was to far gone to move. We got the steer loaded with out much trouble and then went back to Nellie she had moved from up in the curve in the bottom of the hills opposite the mound to way down in the lower half of the gully and calved while we were back there with her. Dad. helped a little. It was a dandy big red and white heifer. We left it back there all night as Nellie is very nervous. Frank raked up the hay this after noon and then came up here to put some more frames in his beehives. Dad. and I when we got through admiring the calf cocked hay till six and then we all three came went after tea and finished cocking just as it got too dark to see. Frank and I went down town to-night and I got my hair cut and about eleven o'clock went down to the swimming hole at the dam with, Carl Coleman, {Kindree?}, Clare Deal, Woodyer and Frank and had a good swim. The I.O.D.E. had a masquerade dance in the pavilion to-night Frank went over to watch it for awhile. Fine and hot all day.

operate with them in taking off the pea crop. Charlie {put?} his team on our mower and mowed the piece east of the ditch while the other four of us followed the mower and kept the swath out of his way and bunched it. He got that piece down about nine o'clock and then we loaded up both our rack and theirs and Charlie & Frank took them down We hooked up Joe & Belle to the mower when they left and I started to cut the other side of the ditch while Dad. and Art. kept it out of my road.

I didn't finish till after dinner, Frank and Charlie took all that was left down in two more loads but Charlie had about two tons on, he put all he could on to draw out of the field and then finished the load with what he could draw in a couple of waggon loads. When they went down with the two last loads Dad. Art. and I hooked to the waggon and went out and started to cut Charlie's. I cut till about five when the boys came back with the waggons but Charlie said they were filling up down at the factory so they couldn't haul any down to-night. We put the big team on the mower and Dad. went home with the little team and the waggon. The rest of us stayed till nearly half past six but as there was about an hour's cutting yet, we quit and Frank Art and I went home. Charlie stayed to monkey with his bees

Wednesday July 25th

Dad. plowed all morning and I finished cutting the five-acre field east of the lane and went about two rounds on the ten-acre corner field. Frank turned out the cocks in the five acre field as they were pretty wet in the bottom. He then hoed till noon. This after noon the Quanbury's brought our rack back and took their own and Dad. and I hauled in a couple of small loads with Joe & Belle and put them off with the hay fork in the big barn. We couldn't haul big loads as it was too soft in front of the barn doors. Frank cut with the big team in the corner field but was bothered a lot with the mower. He will have to go to Simcoe and get a new boxing for the pitman rod as the old one has cut out so there is too much play. Art. & Charlie were in to-night to tell us Art's peas will be ready to cut to-morrow. Hot but breezy

Thursday July 26th

We put in a great night last night trying vainly to sleep. I didn't undress completely but just flopped on the bed and when Frank came home from town he woke me up. Dad was running around trying to get cool and I was about melted so went and lay on the front step for awhile. Frank tried the hammok and Dad. the sofa in the hall. They eventually did go to sleep but

chased his bees till they lit on the willow in Pickford's gully and then he came back and got his outfit and went out on his bicycle and hived them. To-night I went down to see Mr. Browne and it was twelve o'clock when I got home. Hot but nice breeze

Friday July 27th

Frank went to Simcoe this morning by the seven o'clock car and got a new boxing for the mower and came back at nine. Dad. and I were out at Art's all morning and we got the east side hill off. We took it in two loads by hauling small jags off the hills with the little rack and piling them on the big rack which was at the top of the west hill on the level and then evening up the loads afterwards. It was nearly one when we got home so we left the big rack in front of our lane till after dinner and Frank took it down to the factory. When he got back he cut a few more rounds with the mower which worked better but the first round the new boxing got very hot. Frank thinks the knives need sharpening. Dad. and I cocked up all the after noon and got all that was raked cocked up. Cooler to-day. Big rain out north yesterday

Saturday July 28th

Frank and I sharpened the mower knives this morning

We all lay around all the after noon out on the lawn and let out tongues {lap?} out as it was terribly hot in spite of the fact that there was a good breeze. About five o'clock Aunty, Walter, Elsie and Dick started to walk down town as they wanted to stop in at Mrs. Battersby's and Mrs. Woodson's on their way. We had tea as soon as they left and did chores. Enah put the baby to sleep and she and Dad drove down to church, Frank and I stayed home & slept.

Monday July 30th

Frank mowed in the corner field all morning and for an hour or two after dinner but his knives got so dull he had to stop so he went down town and got a carborundum stone as well as some other things and came back and sharpened up his knives and raked up all that was fit He went out after tea as it was moon light and finished cutting. Dad. cultivated his potatoes in the old garden and put paris green on them. He had to go back after dinner to finish the job. I cut lawn most of the morning. It was an awful job as it has got too long and it was suffocatingly hot I nearly got bushed two or three times, however I got all over it but in some places it looks more as if it had been chewed off by a horse with only two teeth than as if it

this after noon, as we expect to haul peas again to-morrow {Name?} was over to-night and says they are so rushed down there he would like us to just haul half of them to-morrow and the others the next day. Dad. and I mowed away a lot of the hay this morning while Frank was raking and Dad. dug some post holes along by his potatoes as we want to let the sheep in on the pea stubble as soon as we get the peas off so will have to fence in the potatoes. To-night Dad. and I drove Queen down town and she went fine, we passed and were passed by automobiles at which she never looked, we drove up to Huby's and down to Aunty's and Dad settled up with Mr. Bagley.

Wednesday August 1st

Charlie and Art came over this morning and we cut half of the Market Garden Peas and Charlie and Frank each took a load down about eleven o'clock we won't take the rest down till to-morrow morning. Before dinner Dad. and I got the wire over from the orchard to put up along the potatoes. This after noon we hauled three loads of hay off the corner field. To-night Dad Enah and Tim drove out to the Shands. Frank went down town to get some cow spray and I went to bed, being very tired. Hot but breezy. Another big British & French drive has begun in Flanders.

Friday August 3rd

Dad. and I hauled in all day but only got in five loads there is still half a load in the field. We didn't get out till rather late this morning as we had to bolt a piece on to the front ladder of the rack which is cracked. Frank cut till about four o'clock and then raked up what he cut this morning. He is cutting in the 8 acre feild between Ivey's line and the lane and just south of the gully. Quite cool all day nice to work

Saturday August 4th

Things have gone rather slowly to-day. We started put off the load that was on the barn floor this morning but the third lift one of the strands in the big rope cut right out and we had to quit. It is cutting on the spring in the car. Tom Cawley came over to borrow the binder as Jack's isn't working right and it was getting pretty late in the morning when he left. Dad. and I then went out and cocked up most of what Frank raked last night. After dinner we went out and Dad. got Art Quanbury to come over and see if he could fix our car for us so that it wouldn't cut and Art cut the end off the spring, we didn't want to put it up in the barn again as we want the next lot of hay to go in the horse stable. We pitched the last lift that was on the waggon off by hand and Frank and I went

{Pencil sketch of a woodland scene}

Drawn from Nature.

Monday August 6th

We all went out and cocked up this morning and finished the field by about eleven, we then came up and put the car up in the horse stable mow and Frank put a roller out of the old lawn mower on the outside of the barn just below the hole that the big rope goes out to keep it from scrubbing on the ends of the boards. This after noon we hauled in four loads but left the last one standing at the end of the horse stable. To-night Frank and I took Queen around the block past John Wess's. Rained a very small shower last night and looked rainy this morning, but cleared.

Tuesday August 7th

We just got in three loads of hay this morning as the mow is getting full now and it takes time to get up to mow it. This after noon we got a load and a half of good hay and put it in the horse stable but the last load we got composed mostly of couch grass, so we hauled it in to the barn and left it to put in the bottom of the bay and {over?} rails to put the wheat on. We got through early and Dad and I took Queen around the block, we took the {obscured word} with us. It has been cloudy and cool all day and this after noon there was too much wind to load hay

after noon. Dad. cut my four wheat plots and the barley this after noon with Alfred's cradle, the emmer plot is not ripe yet. He bound them and shocked them up to I guess the barley was to short and thin to bind. I cut hay with Frank most of the after noon Cool and cloudy all day looked very much like rain.

Thursday August 9th

Frank and I cut with two teams all day and got all the grass cut between the oats and the plowing along the side road and I took Jack's mower home. Dad. gathered up my barley to-day and hoed in the old garden besides doing some other chores. Lila was over this after noon. Quite cool all day, tried to rain a little {obscured word} after dinner. It is two or three days since I wrote this so I forget. Frank started to rake the hay he cut first right after dinner but the rain stopped him so he only got about two rounds cut and then helped me mow till we finished the piece. Dad. cocked up all the after noon.

Friday August 10th

Aunty came over before seven this morning with Mr. {name obscured} and was here all morning but walked back with the baby about three o'clock. I raked hay all morning and

stop to look for the cause of the pounding in the {obscured word} which Cawley said he noticed the last after noon {he?} used it. They couldn't find it so Dad. went all the way up to John Wes's barn to ask him about it and he said he thought they would find it was the spring that holds the trip that was broken as his did the same last week. Sure enough that was the trouble so they {took?} the spring out of John's binder and it went alright but it kept them from getting any cut to speak of all morning. It went pretty well all the after noon and the only reason Frank didn't get more cut was owing to lack of speed on old Nellie's part. Sunny and warm to-day

Saturday August 11th

I took Joe down to Joe Howel's first thing this morning and had her shod but as he couldn't go at her for an hour or so it was about eleven o'clock when I got home. I spent most of the time down at Aunty's. I took Joe & Nellie as soon as I got home and went out and started to rake up the rest of the hay. Frank had Harry & Belle all day on the binder and finished cutting the wheat about seven o'clock. I raked hay all the after noon and finished the field about six. Dad. cocked up till about five

got down to the house Mr. & Mrs. Passmore were there. Frank came in just after they left and drove home with me. Fine & warm

Monday August 13th

We all three got out pretty early and started to cock the hay. It was very dark and about ten o'clock started to rain. It didn't rain hard and we worked for another hour but then had to stop as it was getting too {obscured word} Frank and Dad. mowed away the hay in the horse stable and then took Mary away before dinner while I pained letters on my chicken box. Frank and Dad. went back at the hay soon after dinner and worked all the after noon but didn't quite finish. I slew my twelve milk fed chickens and Enah picked the pin feathers out of them. I tried to stick {obscured word} in the brain but don't believe I hit the right spot with any of them so I hit them all a clip in the head with a club and that seemed to work just about as well, some of them tore pretty badly so I suppose I will be docked on that. We worked quite late to-night getting them all trimmed and put on the shaping board to cool. Dick was over to tea, he just got notice to-day to report in Winnipeg as soon as possible so is leaving here on Thursday. We hope it will be a good thing for him but hate to see him go

getting so full. Frank went down to Sam's right after dinner and was down there all the after noon. Dad. & I got in two more jags and put them in the horse stable and Enah came out and told me when to trip. We threw one good big load and left it on the barn floor. To-night we all went down to Aunty's to seed Dick this being his last night here. Huby was there, raising cain and {making?}the baby wild. Win has gone into the bank to try it This was her first day. Frank and I rode down with Martin in his new car. Cloudy this morning but hot this {obscured word}

Thursday August 16th

Frank went over and borrowed Jack Martin's waggon this morning so that we could haul wheat with {obscured word} teams as it is so far back to go with one waggon. Dad. & I pitched of the load of hay by hand into the east end {obscured word} We thought we could do it quicker than changing the {obscured word}Enah and the baby went back with us and Enah picked berries while we were loading up. It was rather late when we got started so we just made one trip this morning and {we} couldn't take very big loads as the sheaves are pretty {obscured word} in the butts yet. Frank had the old team and Jack's {obscured word} wheeled waggon and when Dad. {illegible} the wheel before

We had to put very small ones on Pickford's waggon as the front axle was cracked and it is an old ramshackle affair anyway. Frank had to be very careful going downhill as there was a rivet in the bolster stake that caught under the rim of the front wheel. It was late when we got through and there are still three or four loads back there. Aunty was over this after noon for a few minutes with a card from Dick saying he had reached Roy's safely. Quite cold wind but fair to-day

Saturday August 18th

We pitched off the two loads of wheat that were on the barn floor first thing and Frank took Pickford's waggon home and Dad. and I hauled in with the big team and our own waggon. We thought there would only be two loads and that it would only take till about noon to get it but instead there were three big loads and seven shocks which we had to make another trip after all it was seven o'clock before we got them unloaded. Frank spent the day fixing the reel rods on the binder and mowing away the hay in the horse stable as we think we can get another load in there. Enah and Tid. were down town all the after noon and got home just as Dad. was about to start after them at dark. Not so cold to-day. Sunny

Tuesday August 21st

Frank cut oats all day and finished the last of them to-night soon after six. Dad. and I hauled a small load of hay and put it in the horse stable and then got a good sized load and hauled it in on the barn floor and changed the car from the horse stable to the barn. We started to put the load off after dinner but the latch in the gate at the peak of the barn wasn't properly caught and and when the first lift went up it came down and bent so that I had to go up and take the whole gate down and let Dad. straighten it before we could go on. It took most of the after noon and we only got in one more load Frank didn't have quite enough of our own binder twine to finish so Dad. went over to borrow some from Billy Mills but he was just out and said Cawley had gone to the barn to hook up and go down and get some, so Dad. chased after Cawley but he had gone so I went over to Pickford's and was lucky enough to get a ball, his last one. Enah and the baby were down town this after noon. Aunty got a telegram from Dick yesterday saying he had been shipped on out to Cadillac Sask. {Saskatchewan}. We sent away the application for the lamb's registration to-day. Cool breezy & cloudy.

but cooled off and there was more breeze this after noon I didn't do much this morning but clean out the colony house and trim and train up my Dorothy Perkins rose which is growing so fast I can't keep up with it. It nearly covers the east end of the house now. Dad. and Frank shocked up a few oats but got soaked and as the ground was dry under the sheaves they left them This after noon being the day set for Boughner Picnic Dad. the baby and I drove down town and Frank walked down after he had looked through his bees and found there was no honey. Dad. had promised Tid. to take him fishing and he had been making all sorts of plans and building on it, but when they got down to Aunty's, Dad. suggested they go down and see "The City of Dover" come in, so we went down to the dock. Aunty and Frank came too and Dad. Frank and the baby went in to the fish shanty where they saw a big snapping turtle so that seemed to take the place of going fishing. Frank and I got a canoe and went for an hour's paddle up creek and didn't upset as we rather expected as neither of us knew much about it, Frank never having been in one before. Dad. & the baby went home but Frank and I stayed down at Auntys for tea and all the evening. We spent most of the time looking at copys of Fa's old letters and trying to find Cadillac on the map

the temperature and it was very strong and from the west I worked with a coat on all day and was not too warm. This morning we shocked up the rest of the oats which were still pretty wet except where the wind & sun had hit them. It was nearly eleven when we got through with them but we put off the load of hay that was on the barn floor and got a load in before dinner which was about one o'clock. This after noon we finished hauling the hay in three pretty good sized loads. The baby came out and rode in on the last load, the promise of which has kept him out of the field for the past week or two. Frank went down town to-night

Sunday August 26th

Enah and I drove down to church this morning and Frank walked down. Aunty Alice came over with us to dinner. She walked back soon after dinner and Dad. Enah and the baby went for a drive down the lake shore and wound up at Aunty's where they stayed to tea. I read, slept and wrote to Dick this after noon and Frank fixed his wheel and visited with Lloyd Ryerse most of the after noon and then went back to Ben Ivey's gully prospecting for butter nuts and sent the cows up.

barn roof and make a couple of hog troughs. We wanted to get slabs but he couldn't let us have any. When we got home I went down to the mill and got some rolled oats for the sheep. This after noon Dad. and I put the doors on the harness cupboard but couldn't finish as we found we only had enough screws for three hinges instead of four. Frank put wire in his bee hive frames. About five o'clock Dad. went down to the mill and paid Charlie Ivey part of his account as Neil Elliott was in yesterday morning and gave him a check for Bobbie but said not to bring her down for two weeks. Enah and I printed pictures to-night

Wednesday August 29th

It rained most of the morning and I didn't do any thing much but read and try to trim a couple of the ram lambs Enah's friend Mr. Hall walked over in the pouring rain this morning and stayed to dinner. It cleared up about {obscured word} and Pickford came over to see if we would help him thrash this after noon as Sam couldn't do any thing with Al Boughner's alsike stack and said he would thresh Pickford out this after noon, however they didn't get moved down till about five o'clock so didn't thresh any to-day but Pickford was up to-night to see if two of us would go down in

Friday August 31st

Dad. plowed all day over on the side hill by the woods and got quite a bit turned over. After I did chores I unloaded the waggon load of wood that he brought up yesterday and then went up and set up the oats that had been laid down Some of them were very wet but none sprouted to speak of. When I got through I started to flail out my winter barley and finished cleaning it up after dinner. About three o'clock I hooked Joe & Belle to the disk and started on the pea ground. I think it will work up nicely. I quit early and Enah and I went down at seven o'clock and had a ride on the "City of Dover" as she ran out to-night instead of Tuesday night when it rained. It was a lovely night to-night and we had a very nice ride Lila and Dess were with us. Dad. was about half the night doing chores as Mr. & Mrs. Smythe came over to see the stock They have just got word within the last day or two that young Ernest Quanbury Chris's second son has been killed in action. It is just about a year ago now that Henry his brother died of his wounds. The Canadians are in heavy action these days around the coal pits of Lens and they are steadily pushing the German's out of the city. Conscription is now on the Canadian statute books having been passed by the Senate yesterday or to-day. Sunny & breezy & cool

I went down to Aunty's just at noon and stayed to dinner and after dinner pruned a few of the old branches out of the barbery bush for Aunty. I got home about three o'clock and got most of the lawn cut over here. Lila was over here to dinner. Dad. plowed all the after noon and Frank made a couple of hog troughs. Dad. plowed up a nest of rabbits this after noon. He killed two of them with the plow but brought two live ones home. They are only a few days old and I am afraid they won't live. Sunny but cool.

Sunday September 9th

Enah and I drove down to church this morning and Aunty came back with us to dinner. Frank spent the morning in trying out some new kind of solder he got at the exhibition which is applied like sealing wax and Dad. did chores and shocked up the twelve oat shocks. Aunty says he shocked more than the oats. I started to read after dinner but went to sleep almost immediately and slumbered peacefully till Aunty was ready to go down town and then I went down there to tea and to church with Aunty & Aunty Alice. After church I went home with Marj. who has changed her place of abode from the Bagley's to Miss Kerny's. I wrote Dick a short note when I got home. Frank and Enah walked down to church to-night. Fine, cloudy & cool. Feels like frost to-night

Monday September 10th

Frank and I took Bobbie down to the car this morning. Frank led her and I drove in the buggy. Neil wasn't around but we left Bobbie in the pen, one pig was the only other occupant of the pen. We went around by the station and got a poultry crate which Frank got from Silverwood's to ship his ducks in. We saw Huby and he said there was a heavy white frost down at the station but no sign of it at his place. When we got home Frank sorted out the ducks he wanted to keep and let them loose and I raked up the lawn. After dinner I took Belle & Queen and went back and disked on the back field where Dad. had been plowing all morning and Dad. finished plowing the field and started in to harrow it. It is going to work up fine. Mrs. Tupper came past this after noon and said Clem. wanted one of us to go and help thrash this after noon, as it was then about four o'clock and the machine wasn't there yet, we didn't think they would do much but I told her to go up and get Frank, so she did and Frank was over there helping Tupper till after tea. The machine just got there at dark. He wants two of us to help him to-morrow. According to today's paper the Russians are cutting up rusty again Korniloff is leading a revolt against Kerensky at the Provisional Government and marching with his troops away from the battle front. Cold wind all day & to-night.

Thursday September 6th

Dad. plowed all day to-day and got on well. This morning Frank & I hooked Queen up and drove down town to get his suitcase which he checked the other day and which didn't come and when we got back we drove down to Bruce's to get a set of double harness which Bruce told Dad. about a couple of months ago and which he said he wanted ten dollars for, we found Mr. Smith down there but Bruce had gone up to Hammond's to get some seed wheat. Mr. Smith gave us the harness however and it looks like a very strong one, there were no collars and only one crupper and one bridle check but the back bands and traces looke especially strong. Queen went fine but the roads were bad as it rained hard during the night and we didn't get back till about half past one. It was pretty well on in the after noon when we got through dinner and chores but I took Joe & Belle and disked on the pea stubble and by six got all over it. Frank patched at the barn roof which he started at yesterday. Aunty Alice came over to tea and I walked down with her to-night. Poor Art Quanbury is having a very bad attack of his old trouble this week he was taken sick Monday and Charlie said to-night he was no better. Fine and cool.

Friday September 7th

I disked with Queen and Belle all day on the pea stubble and got pretty well over it lengthways of the field I was going crossways before. Frank plowed all day and Dad. was down town all day working in the garden down home. Enah went down town this after noon but missed Dad. and he had to go back after her but met her before he got very far. It began to drizzle rain about four o'clock and was raining quite hard by six. We quit early. I was about frozen when I got in and spent the evening reading "Saturday Nights" which Enah brought home all except Frank who was figuring out how much more it cost to farm with horses instead of tractors. He & Dad. are in a cronic state of argument on the subject.

Saturday September 8th

It rained hard last night and Dad. thought it was too wet to work on the land this morning. We puttered around and did odd jobs among which were the lancing of an absess on the fat ewe's jaw and the filing of old Nellie's teeth. About eleven I shaved and went down town to to have Bill look at my tooth which has been bothering me a lot the last couple of days. He said there was nothing wrong with it that he could see but that I might have caught cold in it.

as before I got all the chores done and they take quite awhile to do alone. Ham Thompson came in to look at the stock and just as he left old Mrs. Davidson, Julien the Pole and some fair damsel unknown to me came over with a little two year old Percheron filly which they said Dad. had told Aunty they could turn out here to pasture so I put her in the stable till we could put her with our colts. After I did have my lunch and was in the house reading Mrs. Lawrie and Edith came over but when the found Enah wasn't home they didn't come in Dad. and the baby walked home about five and left Enah down town to have tea with Aunt Ida as Aunty and Aunt Alice drove up to St. John's with Harvey Skey and his mother to a memorial service for the two Quanbury boys. I helped do up the chores and drove down town about eight o'clock I went for a walk with Marj. Glad. & Miss Law from Ingersol who is a cousin of Glad's. Then I went down and drove Enah home.

Monday September 3rd Labor Day

Dad. plowed all day but as he thought it would be too wet after last nights heavy rain to disk I weeded out mangels all morning and disked this after noon with Belle and Queen. Enah went down town this after noon. Fine day

Tuesday September 4th

I disked this morning on the pea stubble with Belle and Queen and quit about half past eleven and went up to Ham. Thompson's. Dad. plowed all morning and at noon had to go over to Joe Long's to see a horse of George Thompson's that had been cut on barbed wire. It was rather late when we got started after dinner but we went out and turned out the shocks of oats that were left in the field east of the orchard and then hauled in a load but didn't quite clear the field. Enah helped us put off the load that was on the barn floor and we left the one we hauled unloaded. We got through fairly early, and I went down after tea and met Frank. His train was just on time so we got home quite early. He had a great time at the Fair and can think of nothing else but a rein drive tractor which he saw down there. Fine & cool

Wednesday September 5th

We hauled in oats to-day and got them all in but twelve shocks. They didn't bulk up much I think there were only four loads on the six acre field. Frank and I went out after the last load about seven o'clock and it was eight when we got in, pitch dark and raining quite hard. Dad. came to meet us with the lantern. He milked while we were out. Cool.

Friday August 31st

Dad. plowed all day over on the side hill by the woods and got quite a bit turned over. After I did chores I unloaded the waggon load of wood that he brought up yesterday and then went up and set up the oats that had been laid down Some of them were very wet but none sprouted to speak of. When I got through I started to flail out my winter barley and finished cleaning it up after dinner. About three o'clock I hooked Joe & Belle to the disk and started on the pea ground. I think it will work up nicely. I quit early and Enah and I went down at seven o'clock and had a ride on the "City of Dover" as she ran out to-night instead of Tuesday night when it rained. It was a lovely night to-night and we had a very nice ride Lila and Dess were with us. Dad. was about half the night doing chores as Mr. & Mrs. Smythe came over to see the stock They have just got word within the last day or two that young Ernest Quanbury Chris's second son has been killed in action. It is just about a year ago now that Henry his brother died of his wounds. The Canadians are in heavy action these days around the coal pits of Lens and they are steadily pushing the German's out of the city. Conscription is now on the Canadian statute books having been passed by the Senate yesterday or to-day. Sunny & breezy & cool.

Saturday September 1st

Dad. plowed all morning and I did chores and flailed out my emmer and sent off the report of it and the alfalfa experiment. This after noon I went down to Tom's and got the can of buttermilk, he had brought it as far as his place but his waggon broke down and he couldn't bring it any farther. Dad. turned out a few oat shocks while I was gone and when I got back we hauled in a good load, they might have been drier but weren't bad, we left the load on the barn floor. To-night I went down town and met Marj. & Glad. Law, they came up to-night. Bright, breezy and cool.

Sunday September 2nd

It began to rain early this morning and rained hard till church time and then cleared up and was sunny and hot this after noon but cold to-night. We all drove down to church this morning as Enah had to play. There were very few there and Dad. and I had to take up the collection. There was some blind man there and Mr. Browne got me to pilot him up to the communion rail. I went home to dinner to do chores and Dad. Enah and the baby stayed down at Aunty's. I didn't get in till nearly half past three to get my lunch.

down town to-night. Frank and I walked. Frank, Enah and the baby went up to the Sunday school but Dad. visited with Aunty Alice and Aunt Ida. Aunty was up at the Johnsons tending George who has the whooping cough while his father and mother were at the Sunday school. I went up to Andrew Innes's and got a pair of rubber boots and then took a little chicken up to Cousin Loll and by the time I had visited with her for half an hour it was too late to go to the {illegible}.

Thursday November 1st

I spent most of the morning doing chores and getting things ready for to-night as I expected to be up at Ham's this after noon with Frank helping him fill his silo. Dad. plowed all day. We went up right after dinner but Ham said it was too wet and didn't expect us up. It snowed quite a lot during the night and as his corn was all down in sheaf it would have been nasty handling. We came home and hooked Joe & Belle to the waggon and went down to Art Ryerse's where we borrowed their root pulper. Lloyd told Frank the other day we could have it for all winter as they have no roots this year. To-night I went down town and after coming over to Silverthorne's with Marj. went to the show.

Friday November 2nd

Dad. and Frank were in the back field all day plowing and shovelling out ditches. I did all the chores up this morning. Aunty came over at noon and this after noon I went back down town with her and got my bank order from Waller's cashed and got some groceries. My arm has been pretty sore today and I gave it a long soaking again to-night. It has broken out in little blisters around the original spot and is quite badly swollen. To-night Chris Quanbury came over and got twenty pullets for which he paid me $0.50 apiece and four smaller pullets and a cockrel which I got $1.00 apiece for. I have decided to sell off the whole bunch except maybe ten or a dozen and pay Charlie Ivey (or try to) last winter's feed bill with what I receive for them as if I keep them and buy feed again this winter as I would have to I would be farther in the hole than ever even if they laid exceedingly well. Frank and I helped Chris take the bunch down to his place on wheelbarrows. Sunny and snow nearly gone but freezing in shade.

Saturday November 3rd

My arm was very sore again this morning so I

dinner we sacked up nine bags of oats and Frank took them to the mill and got part of them chopped and part rolled. While he was gone Dad. and I cleaned out the stables which were not cleaned yesterday. The mud makes it an awful job. When he got back they hauled up the wood they cut from the oak and we took all the mangels that were up and in piles into the drive house where they can dry off and not be in such danger of freezing. Dad. went back early to-night after the cows and found the four turkey's which disappeared from their roosting place in the gully three or four weeks ago. He of course brought them up and they roosted to-night in the orchard. Enah had a queer visitor just before tea to-night. A young fellow who seemed too cold, sleepy or stupid to carry on much conversation came and asked for some thing to eat and sat for half an hour hovering over the stove. While there she managed to find out from him that he had tramped from Dunnville and was on his way to Simcoe to be examined. He dozed most of the time he was in here but between yawns he told Enah that he had been picking fruit most of the summer and that he didn't like the cold and wanted to go to Florida to pick oranges, but if he was fit for Military Service, would not be able to cross the line, hence his desire to be examined. He left here in time to catch the seven o'clock car and offered to pay for his supper. It has been cloudy, muddy and raw with spitting snow storms.

Wednesday October 31st

This has been a most miserable day. Raw and cloudy with quite a heavy snowfall which by to-night has covered every thing. It froze the ground quite hard last night so is very muddy. Dad. plowed all morning and I cleared up the shingles back of the woodshed and put the best of them in the woodshed. Frank chopped up the blocks they cut off the oak yesterday. Ham Thompson came down with his ten ewes to put with our ram and borrowed our waggon and rack to haul corn in to-morrow and he wants Frank and me to go up to-morrow after noon to help him fill his Silo. This after noon I just did up the chores and then walked back to where Frank was plowing and found Dad. over talking to John Wess. I went over there for a few minutes and then we came up early so that we could go down to the Hallowe'en party in the Sunday school. Just about tea time Bert Thompson came over and got his heifer. We all went

Saturday October 27th

Dad. and Frank were back over the gully all morning & most of the after noon one plowing and the other cleaning out ditches. I spent most of the morning fixing the fence around the old well as the sheep have taken to wandering around it and we were afraid one of them might get in. I did chores most of the after noon. It was a beautiful morning but it began to rain soon after dinner and it rained steadily but not hard till after tea and then it poured nearly all night. Dad. and Frank got soaked. Lila was over for awhile this morning.

Sunday October 28th

Frank went down to Sunday school this morning and I went down a little later but was too late to go to Sunday school so went up to the bank and woke Clark up and got him to go to church. Aunty walked over with us to dinner and we found Charlie & Flossie Shand here. They had started to church but they have the road past Penman's barricaded so were too late and came in here. This after noon I took Marj. for a drive up around by Lynn Valley. I went down town again to-night and went over to the Moore's. {Larry?} Skey preached in our church to-night but I was too late to go. Clark told me this morning that he has been moved to Ottawa and is leaving to-morrow so I went up to-night for a minute to say goodbye to him. Cool & cloudy to-day. Mild night.

Monday October 29th

It has rained nearly all day steadily, it began last night and is still at it to-night. I spent the day killing my crate fattened chickens and it took me just about all day. Enah picked the pin feathers out for me. I made a pretty good job of them, I stuck nearly all of them in the brain and tore them very little. Dad. did chores and read to the baby most of the day. This after noon Frank went over to Mrs. Robert John Watson's sale and got soaked to the hide.

Tuesday October 30th

I took my box of crate fed chickens down this morning and expressed them to Waller's. I didn't do much more this morning after I got home as it was nearly noon. Dad. and Frank cut blocks off the old oak all morning. After

Wednesday October 24th

It has rained steadily all day and all evening. I haven't done any thing to speak of but my arm has been a lot better I didn't soak it to-day but bathed it well a couple of times. Dad. and Frank put a great fix on the back of the stove with a piece of tin and some stove cement. It doesn't smoke now and the water in the reservoir warms up quickly. I pasted a few snapshots in my new album this after noon and also shaved and went down to Aunty's to tea. Marj. was there too so we had a very nice evening. They had a letter from Quint down there saying that straw mattresses & blankets had been issued so that he thinks he will be in England all winter.

Thursday October 25th

I came home as soon as I had breakfast this morning. I did a few chores this morning and then drove down town and got some groceries and went up around by Ham Thompson's to ask him about forming a Farmer's Club for co-operative marketing and buying. This after noon I cleaned out the colony house. Dad. did chores all morning and plowed this after noon. Mr. Flemming came in this morning to get one of us to help him thrash this after noon so Frank went down. Winnie came over to tea to-night and I walked down town with her and stopped in for awhile at Aunty's on my way home. I had a letter from Dick to-day saying he had registered at the Post Office for service. We don't just understand how he came to do it as he said before that he had sent his medical sheet to the Head Office where they would apply for exemption for him. It was cloudy and raw this morning but sunny this after noon & clear to-night.

Friday October 26th

Dad. and Frank went up on the nine o'clock car this morning to the Principal Plowing match at Oak Park Farm near Paris, they were up all day coming home at five but all the prizes had been awarded yesterday so Dad. didn't see what he most wanted to, the plowmen with their teams. The tractors were working to-day so Frank was satisfied but from what they say their work didn't show up very well beside the horses'. I went down to Flemming's and thrashed all morning and for half an hour after dinner and have been doing chores all after noon. My arm doesn't feel any the worse. I caught 38 chickens to-night in the outside little coop and put them in the colony house. Nice day. Rainy night.

streaks running up towards my elbow. He told me to go home and soak it for an hour in hot water and then put some lotion on it which he gave me, so I started for home but met Dad. Enah & the baby driving to church and Dad. told me to go to Aunty's and he came right down after leaving Enah at church and he got the water hot there on the gas much quicker than we could have at home. I soaked it for a good hour and it took the pain out a lot. I stayed there to dinner and tea. This after noon I went up to see Marj. but she had gone up to the Davises for dinner so I missed her. I knocked around with Charlie Quanbury all the after noon and to-night went to church with Aunty and then over with Marj. It was nearly twelve when I got home but I had to light a fire and soak my arm again as the Dr. told Aunty after church that I had better if the red streaks were still up the arm. Dad. & Enah both came out in their night apparel & hung around till I got through. Fine day but raw.

Monday October 22nd

I haven't done any thing in the way of work all day. I soaked my arm for an hour or more this morning and for a little while this after noon. This after noon I went down town and sent in my claim for exemption and then went down to show my arm to Dr. Cook. He said it was coming all right and opened it up more puting his probe down to the bone. I then went up and had my hair cut. Dad. plowed all day and Frank did chores Enah went down to Aunty's to tea and went up to Simcoe with the Hobbes to sing with the massed choirs of the deanery at the Deanery Meeting. Jack Martin brought her home.

Tuesday October 23rd

I haven't done much again to-day. I soaked my arm again this morning and this after noon drove down town to get some coal oil and came around by the mill and got a bag of bran. It rained all day so Dad. and Frank couldn't do much outside but Frank fixed the new trough in the pig pen and arranged the swinging door over it so that it would work easily and save him climbing over it every time he feeds the pigs. I stopped in at Aunty Alice's on my way down and she had just had a back tooth out. Dad. spent most of the day doing chores and ditching and this after noon he went over with me and took Jim Rosses chickens over to Jack Martin's and he shipped them for us

Thursday October 18th

I have planted ginseng all day and to-night counted the seeds I had left and just have 565 so I will soon be through the job. If the seeds all grow and the plants live and the Chinese keep on wanting ginseng roots I should make some money in six or seven years provided some one doesn't steal them. Frank and Dad. got started plowing to-day in the back field by the bush. Dad. ran out the ditches and struck out a couple of times and Frank threw out the sods and this after noon plowed. This was Frank's birthday. Rained a little.

Friday October 19th

It rained steadily all morning and has been raw cloudy and windy all the after noon. I spent the morning writing in this and to Douglas. Dad. read to the baby and Frank went back to the gully and caught a rabbit in one of his muskrat traps. He skinned it but found so many dubious looking spots on it that he decided to use it for bait instead of eating it. This after noon I went back and planted 328 more seeds and will plant the 239 I have left up here some place in a box. Dad. went over to Jack Martin's this after noon to see if he could get a box to ship 6 pullets to Jim Ross.

Saturday October 20th

I drove down town this morning to get some groceries and to see if McEwen came down on the nine car, but he didn't show up all day. Frank and I picked apples the rest of the day and Dad. plowed. We got just two trees stripped clean but they were the heaviest laden with fruit I think. Frank went down town to-night and heard that young Henry I forget his first name was killed the other day when he fell of some engine at the gas well where he was working. Charlie Quanbury was in to borrow the straw knife this morning. He was up to be examined yesterday and was classed A.2. which is very queer as he has a very bad throat but he went to Simcoe and said they marked him A2 before they had him half examined. Joe Thompson & George Clark are both A2 but Charlie Ferris was thrown out. Froze last night raw & windy all day.

Sunday October 21st

Frank went down to Sunday school this morning but I had to spend so much time bathing my arm that I didn't get down. I walked down in time for church but went around to see Dr. Cook first to show him my arm as it was badly swollen this morning and red

Tuesday October 16th

I have been planting ginseng all day again to day and am just nicely started. I had no idea it would be such a long job and I am very thankful that I only bought half a pound of seed instead of a pound as I at first intended and as the doctor wanted me to. I am planting every seed separately and about three or four inches apart in rows six or eight inches apart and as there are supposed to be four thousand of them in half a pound I can't expect to do it in no time. Dad. and Frank felled the big oak just at noon. It was a big job as its diameter was nearly equal to the length of the saw It will make a lot of fire wood but it was time it was cut as the heart of the trunk and the limbs was all punk, and it had got past being very pretty. Enah was down town all day and the baby was at Aunty's Enah was up helping at the banquet which the Board of Trade gave to a large deputation of businessmen representing all the towns and cities within reach of the L.E.& N. and {G.H.& P.?} railways. They had a very successful day and everybody spread themselves to entertain them and they donated $100.00 to be divided equally between the Red Cross & the I.O.D.E. McEwen sent our ram to-day and the Dominion Express Co. brought it right over to the farm. Enah and the baby stayed down to tea and Dad. & Frank & I droved down afterwards to go to the Jubilee Singers concert in the town hall. I hadn't intended going but Dad. wanted me to go down and telephone McEwen and tell him the ram came and ask him when he would be down to look at the ram's lambs so I did and found out he couldn't be down before Saturday. I stayed and talked to Bab. for awhile and then went down to the show, just as I got to the town hall corner Tip Varey came out and gave me a ticket, he said he was just looking for some one to give it to. The hall was packed. Nice day.

Wednesday October 17th

I have been planting ginseng all day. Dad. and Frank spent most of the morning cutting a block off the old oak and splitting it up. This after noon they trimmed up the ewes and would have started plowing but it rained so they didn't. Dave. Ward was in to look at the lambs to-day & Gid. McHoy & Everett were in yesterday but of course we can't sell them till McEwen sees them. I went down to-night to see Marj. The grass was wet but thanks to the new rubbers which Aunty Alice gave me I didn't get wet. It froze hard last night. Nice morning but wet this after noon.

south west wind and when Dad. got home at three o'clock he found one of Mrs. Jim. Low's apple trees blown down across Aunty's lane so he had to chop it up before he could get out with Joe & the buggy. They had a letter from Dick to-day and he said that Head Office had told him to be examined and send his papers to Winnipeg for them to apply for exemption for him. He was marked A2 which is the highest he could get without military training, but he thinks he will be exempted. He hadn't intended applying for himself.

Saturday October 13th

After I got home and got my clothes changed this morning Dad. & I picked up the apples in the orchard which yesterdays high wind blew down, while Frank went to the mill with some oats to chop. This after noon Dad. and I pulled a few rows of mangels while Frank went back after the chop and when He got back He and Dad. went over to Tupper's and got some mow {illegible} I pulled another row or two of mangels but Dad. thought I had better not pull many as we would not be able to cover them all to-night. I went back to the woods for a little while. Edmond England was in to-night to have Dad look at his horse which was lame. Fair to-day but rather cold.

Sunday October 14th

Enah Frank and I drove down to church this morning and I walked home with Aunty Alice who came over here to dinner. This after noon Aunty and I drove up to Vittoria and I got a half pound of ginseng seeds from Dr. McInnes for which I paid him five dollars. We got home about half past six and came around by Port Ryerse. To-night I went down town and met Marj. & Glad. coming out of church, we went up to the Law's for awhile. Young Ivan who enlisted about a couple of months ago is home on his last leave and expects to leave Hamilton for Halifax on Wednesday. It was raining quite hard when I started home so I stayed all night at Aunty's. Frank was down also as he is going to help them pack up a box of stuff for Walter in the morning.

Monday October 15th

Aunty got up early this morning and called me so that I got home before Dad. was up, as it was still wet I put on Roy's rubber boots and some old clothes but it turned out a nice day. I have been back in the woods all day planting ginseng seed. Dad. and Frank started to cut down the old oak at the south east corner of the lawn. It was dying anyway

apply for exemption from military service. I went right over to the Armouries from the car to get an early place in the line but we had to wait about an hour before the doctors began examining. When they did start they told us to be ready for them so as not to keep them waiting and accordingly we all stripped to a most distressing state of complete nakedness and lined up ready to go through the test. There were about twenty five of us when they started and more kept coming. Some of the boys were cold and put their coats on while they waited, when they came to me I first got on a set of scales and one doctor weighed and measured me in different ways & also tested my eyes, another fellow listened at my heart and lungs and asked me if I had ever had any trouble with my feet or legs so I told him about my knee. He pinched it and said it was a bog spavin and I had better blister it, he then sent me over to a third doctor and he said the same thing, that I had better fire it. I said I didn't think much of firing spavins but he told me he had a little mare once which sprung a couple of {jacks?} and he took them off where upon another doctor began inquiring of him as to the whereabouts of some "little sorrel". Eventually he let me go saying I would have to be put in Class E as my knee couldn't be depended on. I said I hated to be put down so low and he said he could put me in C which is for service in Canada but that E was where I should be so I said that if any trouble arose in Canada I would go anyway and so he said "That's the way to talk". It makes me feel rather down in the mouth to think I am physically unfit but I suppose oughtn't to as they said I was in good shape every other way. I believe I have been half hoping all along that there might be a chance of me becoming a soldier yet but now I know that there is nothing left but "The cool sequestered vale of life" for me and of course in a way it is a satisfaction to know just where I am and what I have to plan for. I was just too late when I got to the L.E.& N. station to catch the four o'clock car so I prowled around town till six and came down with Dr. Cook who had come as far as Brantford from Toronto in his Ford but had got so cold & wet that he left the car in a garage and took the radial. Aunty Alice was waiting for me at the station and said I was to stay there all night as it was such a rotten night. There was a strong

about all of Class A being called out before any were exempted. I also went around to Moore's studio while I was up there. We went back to the Fair Grounds about half past three and watched a couple of horse races and then went over to the sheep pen where we found Dad. waiting for us. He had intended going back on the car but thought he was too late so we loaded the sheep up and he and Frank drove home, and I started out to walk although I believe If I had gone a little earlier I could have caught the car as it was late, however I got a ride from just out of Simcoe nearly to the Half-Way-House with some old {Oaks?} and then I walked to about Duncan's orchard when Johnnie Walker picked me up. I got home about half past six and Dad. and Frank about an hour later. Cloudy & Raw.

Thursday October 11th

I went down this morning to dig Aunty Alice's potatoes for her but didn't quite finish the job. Dad. & Enah came down to Mrs. Dillon's funeral and Dad. had to be bearer. Frank came down a little later with Ben's rack and he and I went up and got a load of old shingles from Cousin Willie's barn. Enah's sister Mrs. Johnson came over to tea and to stay all night. Lovely day, rain to-night.

Friday October 12th

Dad. and I had planned to go up to McEwen's by the seven car this morning and from there to the Caledonia Fair via Brantford but when Dad. got up at five it was pouring rain and had been all night so we decided not to go to the Fair and as it rained steadily but not hard all day we were glad we did. We thought however we had better go to McEwen's, as he had four yearling rams which he said he might sell any day and we have come to the conclusion that we can't depend on our old fellow. We drove down and left Joe in the barn and took the nine o'clock car intending to get back home at one o'clock but when we got up there we got talking to McEwen and looking at the sheep and the car went back before we knew it so we had to wait there till two and have dinner there. We spoke for one of his yearling rams which he wants sixty five dollars for, but we thought he was a dandy except for some little stubs of horns and a rather big ear but he is big and low down. We left McEwen's at two o'clock and Dad. took the car home but I thought since I was so near I would go on into Brantford and be examined as I have to be anyway some time within the next month, before I

take all the prizes. The Shepherd invited Frank to sleep in his boxcar to-night so I guess he will. I just did up the horses when I got home and Dad. and I had tea alone and were just ready to start after Enah & the baby when they came along. Enah had come down on the seven o'clock car. Miss Morgan & Mrs. Brent were on the car and they told her that Mrs. Dillon died this morning in the Brantford hospital while undergoing an operation. I walked down town and went up to see Marj. for awhile and stayed all night at Aunty's. Nice day but raw.

Wednesday October 10th

I got of on the seven o'clock car this morning for Simcoe and found Frank prowling around the sheep pen at the Fair Grounds waiting for some place to open up so that he could get breakfast. Neither of us got very far away from the sheep till they were judged about ten o'clock. I tried to give them a little fixing up first but didn't make much difference in their looks. Lloyd-Jones man was trimming at his all the time and so were some fellows with Oxfords. Lloyd-Jones was the only other exhibitor of Shrops. Old Billy Beattie was the judge and we were

most agreeably surprised when he gave us three second prizes and two third. Lloyd-Jones got all the firsts but still we thought we did very well considering it was the first time we ever showed. Our little loose fleeced ram lamb took second prize from one of Lloyd-Jones, but he didn't bring out one of his ram lambs. Our ewe lamb didn't get a prize and neither did one of the yearling ewes on account of some dark wool on her head, all the others got something. After they were judged Frank and I took in a little of the Fair and also a little dinner which we took standing up. About two o'clock we went down town as I wanted to find out if I could be examined for Military Service in Simcoe, but no board has been appointed yet. The only man I could find (after going to the Armouries and the Court House) who kenw any thing about it was George McKie and he is on one of the exemption tribunal for the North Riding. He told me I would probably be exempted on account of being a farmer, as he thought the only farmers who would be taken were those who have started farming within the last two months and those on farms which are overmanned. From what he said I think Charlie Quanbury must have been mistaken

froze hard last night, so I went out and finished plowing the headland at the north end of the field while Dad. went over and doctored up the cow. I brought the team up when I finished plowing but didn't get any more done at the sheep before noon. This after noon Dad. worked on the land and Frank and I continued to trim sheep. I trimmed our loose fleeced ram lamb and made a wonderful difference in his looks but I am afraid his fleece is too poor. Cool.

Wednesday October 3rd

It has rained steadily all day and we were very glad to have it as the land is very hard and dry and lots of the wheat we sowed last week has not sprouted yet. Frank and I spent the whole day nearly with the sheep washing their necks & briskets where the oil was on the wool. Dad. fixed a pen over in the barn for the pure bred calf. This was the day of old Monteith's sale but we thought they would postpone it on account of the weather but we saw several buggies go past on the way home from it and Tom. told us to-morrow morning (I havent written this for some time) that there was a good crowd and the cattle in fact every thing sold very well.

Thursday October 4th

Frank and I washed up a few more sheep this morning and this after noon he and I fixed the wire across the gap going from the wheat field behind the barn into the hay stubble. Dad. cleaned out some of the ditches in the wheat. About four o'clock I took Joe down town and had her shoe put on as she broke one some way. I called for Aunty at Mrs. Battersby's on my way home and she came over here to tea. After tea it began to rain and was a nasty night so Dad. drove Aunty & me down as far as Mr. Fleming's and we walked the rest of the way. I went over to Miss McQueen's with Marj. and stayed all night at Aunty's. Cloudy & raw all day

Friday October 5th

Dad. worked on the wheat ground this after noon and thinks it will be ready to sow to morrow. He took down the stove pipe off the kitchen stove this morning and cleaned it out When I got home this morning Frank and I picked the King's and got about two bushels and then Frank went to the mill and got some of our oats rolled. This after noon we trimmed sheep and to-night I caught about 45 nice pulletts and shut them up in winter quarters.

Saturday October 6th

Dad. worked on the wheat ground all day and got it drilled this after noon, there is just about three acres of it Frank and I cleaned up seed for him this morning and were at that nearly all the fore noon. This after noon Marj. and I went to Vittoria after chestnuts but didn't get any as they were not ripe yet and do not seem to be very well filled anyway. We went up to Dunkin's and he filled out an application blank for me to get the yearling ewe registered. He showed me his stock while Marj. was in getting warm. I stayed to tea at the Moore's and didn't get home till long after nine. Roy & Rebecca came up to-day on the three o'clock car to stay over Monday it being Thanksgiving day. It has been cloudy with a raw north wind all day.

Sunday October 7th

I was the only one from this house to go to church this morning and I drove down and brought Rebecca home with me while Roy & Aunty walked over Aunty Alice didn't feel like coming. This after noon I went down to the Moore's and had tea at Aunty's. Aunty and I went to church to-night and I went up afterward's to see Huby. Frank walked down to church and he & I went home to-gether. Jack Martin started teaching Sunday school again.

Monday October 8th

Dad. went out first thing this morning to run some furrows in the wheat and then he, Enah and the baby went down to Aunty's for dinner and to spend the after noon. Frank and I spent most of the day putting what we considered the finishing touches on our sheep. Still pretty raw but rather sunny.

Tuesday October 9th

The Quanbury boys brought their waggon in this morning and left it for us to take the sheep to Simcoe and they took our old one with them. Just as they left Jack Highland drove in and left the sacks for the bluegrass and we bagged it up and Frank and I took it down this morning to the car. We took the baby with us and left him at Aunty's for the after noon as Enah went to the Simcoe Fair with the James'. Frank and I didn't get started for Simcoe till about half past two as we had to load the sheep after dinner and as we had to walk all the way it was nearly five when we got there. I left Frank and the sheep up there and left the Fair Grounds at a quarter past five and was home here at half past six. I had Joe & Belle. Lloyd Jones shepherd had quite a flock of Southdowns and Shrops up there and as they were trimmed up to the queen's taste and in good shape I suppose they will

Sunday September 30th

Enah and I drove down to church this morning and Frank walked down. Enah stayed down to dinner and to-night to tea as she had to go to Vittoria with the choir and to play in church to-night. The held Harvest thanksgiving services both here & in Vittoria to-day. Mr. Millman came up the other night and Ade. Orm. & Kathleen all came up in the car this morning to take Paw & Mrs. Millman home. This after noon Frank and I went down town. Kathleen and I went up to call on the Harry Moon's. Harry was lying on the sofa but the doctor told him he would have to stay in the house another week. His boils are pretty well healed but they have his lung straped in so that he can't breathe through it. Ade & Orm walked over here to the farm to see Dad. and Paw took all the rest for a ride in the car. I came home to tea but Frank stayed down Just before we had tea All the Millman's but Mrs. came over here in the car. I rode down with them about eight and after waiting for about enough half an hour for Mr. Farney to get through talking went up to Miss Martin's with Marj. and her. I called in at Aunty's on my way home but they had taken Enah and Frank home. It has been cloudy raw and windy all day and feels like frost to-night.

Monday October 1st

Dad. sowed my experimental plots of wheat this morning and I disked them in. We then hooked on the plow but before we got out all the Millman's came over to say good-bye to us and were here for half an hour or so. Dad. then went out to try plowing the rest of the strip along the side road that Frank started in the spring for corn. He plowed all the after noon and said it was very hard but could be plowed. This after noon Frank and I went down town and sold five baskets of tomatoes and got a load of shingles off Cousin Willie's barn roof. Windy & rather cool but sunny

Tuesday October 2nd

We got the ewes all over in the barn this morning and picked out seven that we thought were worthy of a place in the Simcoe show ring, two aged ewes three shearlings and two ewe lambs, we separated them and put the rest back in the orchard. Dad then went out to finish plowing and Frank and I started to trim the show sheep. Jack Martin's man came over to get Dad. to go and look at one of Jack's Jerseys which had got bloated up on the frozen clover as it

to meet Aunty & Mrs. Millman who came up from Toronto to-night. Dad. and I met them at the station. We saw the Quanbury boys on our way home out experimenting with Charlie's tractor which he has concocted out his gasoline engine and an old mower and scrap iron. It seemed to be running all right on the road. Fine and dry.

Wednesday September 26th

I spent most of the day cleaning out the chicken house and getting it ready to put in the pullets. Frank picked and sorted tomatoes and this after noon harrowed on the wheat ground after Dad. who was disking. He disked on the pea stubble all day. The Quanbury boys were over this after noon to clean up a load of oats. To-night Mr. & Mrs. Colin McNellige & Miss Shand were over to spend the evening. Fine day, the ground is very dry.

Thursday September 27th

Frank and I have been over at Jack Martin's thrashing wheat all day and are not half through yet. The stacks are tough and the separator was stopped a good part of the time. The tough sheaves were very hard on the cylinder teeth. Dad. worked on the pea stubble all day and got started to drill about five o'clock. Frank and I came home to tea as we thought he would want to drill late but he stopped at six thinking we would stay to tea. I went to the picture show to-night with Marj. Nice day. Elgitha calved back in the gully to-night and the calf died.

Friday September 28th

We have been thrashing all day to-day again and are still at it. It went slower to day than yesterday. We only thrashed 90 bushels this morning. We moved down to Cawley's barn to-day but the stacks down there seem to be in just as bad shape. Dad. finished drilling the field to-day and Frank went over to help him drill the grassy piece west of the ditch. Lea Marshall came after him - Dad - this afternoon to go down to Bruce Smith's to see a colt he has down there. Enah and the baby went down with them in the car. Cloudy all day, rained a little last night.

Saturday September 29th

We finished thrashing at Jack's about four o'clock to-day The oats and barley came through a little faster but the spring wheat was in bad shape. In the three days we thrashed 976 bushels of stuff. Dad. ran out the furrows in the wheat field to-day and did a few other chores. Looks rainy to-day.

At last I came to the conclusion that the thing must be decided in some way so I resolved to let the results of the battle of Verdeen which was then at its height be the judge. If the Germans broke through to Paris I would enlist. If the French were strong enough to hold them back I would stay home. Dad. said this was a fair proposition, as the Germans are still outside the defence of Verdeen I am still on the farm. Whether I did right or not I don't know, it is for those higher up in authority to judge but I do know that I have done what I thought was the best and have not suffered any uneasiness since I eliminated sentiment from the case. Now that conscription is coming in force all responsibility is lifted and if they tell me I am to stay on the farm it will be a satisfaction to know I have done right but if they tell me I must go to the front I will do it without any shame for having stayed away so long. I must say I do not feel the same eager desire to go that I once did and will not be sorry if I am exempted but at the same time want to go if I am really needed. The boys at the front have got to be reinforced no matter what else happens and we haven't the time to haggle over technicalities in our constitution to deside whether or not we have the right to enforce conscription. It may be bordering on Prussianism but we must have the men and as a last resort I think are justified in adopting some of the German methods in order to cope with them. All this is a little outside my usual diary writing but these are unusual times and in future years when time has harrowed over and smoothed our memories I want to remember how keenly we feel all these things now.

Tuesday September 25th

In some way or other I have missed one day altogether and wote under the heading of Monday all the doings of to-day so I will now write Monday's record under today's heading. Dad. and I finished hauling out manure this morning. We cleaned the shed and covered the field. Enah and Frank went out to the Shand's to take Flossie some tomatoes and then went down town. This after noon Dad. disked. I flailed out some of my wheat and Frank rode down to John Watt's to see if he could get some second cut clover that he is just putting up and then he and I went after it. We just got a little to feed the ram lambs and traded a bag of oats for it. To-night I went down town and got my hair cut and Dad. Enah & the baby and I went to Aunty Alices

and stoops to the barbarous position of a beligerent she is leaving nothing undone in the way of preparation for military efficiency. It is very inspiring to hear the Yankees talk of how they are "wielding the sword of liberty and democracy to annihilate a war-mad tyrant whose atrocious deeds of barbarism have shocked their refined natures and provoked their holy wrath It is a little hard for me to understand just why the sword of liberty and democracy was allowed to hang rusting over in Uncle Sam's chimbney corner for two years and a half before his refined nature was shocked or his holy wrath provoked, because to the rest of the world the deeds committed by the war mad-tyrant early in the war such as the violation of Belgian neutrality and the wholesale murder of non-combatants, American women and children included, were just as atrocious as the destruction of U.S. shipping, however Uncle Sam is into the scrap now and every one is glad of it because if he never fires a shot off he can be very useful to the Allies in other ways, not the least of which will be the rounding up of the hordes of German spies within his borders. It is rather out of place for me to be looking critically at the motives for other country's actions when our own government in all its branches seems to be so rotten with party politics. An election is in sight and both parties seem far more interested in it now than the outcome of the war. The Grits spend all their time hunting up mud to throw at the Government and the Tories are exerting all their energies making plots by which they can remain in power. Parliament had prorogued and Borden has gone fishing but they did pass the Military Service Act by which it looks as if conscription would soon be enforced. That to my mind was the proper thing to do, for the voluntary system is certainly dead even if the Government did kill it and it was inefficent any way. It was based too much on sentiment and not reason. I have found out from my own experience that in a case like this sentiment is no use. Before a year ago last spring I was so tossed by the crossing winds of sentiment on the sea of indecision as to my course of action that I came nearly being wrecked on the rocks of lunacy. The lightship of duty was only a spot light which added confusion to the scene for it would first throw its lustre on the military troopship with the recruiting officers calling for more soldiers and then on the harbor of Home with Dad's pleadings and the athorities calling for greater production.

down to the last notch; so although it is very dry it chewed it up considerably, Dad. spent most of the day flailing out my three varietys of wheat; and I helped him clean it. The Imperial Amber was the nicest and best sample with the Banatka next best. Frank did odd jobs and went down town. Sunny, no wind, no clouds and quite hot. Froze last night. Now that we are well started on the fourth year of the war, it is just as hard to say when it will end as ever. All the talk of Germany's degeneration and being at the end of her resources in men, money and food is beginning to be looked on as foolish gossip especially since the U.S. Ambassador has come home and told the public that Germany's total losses in men is only about 3 million out of the 12 she called out with 400 thousand coming of military age every year, and that there was no chance of starving her out as the non-combatant population is making the home country as well as the conquered territory produce more than ever before. On the other had there seems to be no fear of her being victorious for the Allies with their unlimited resources are becoming stronger every day. They are on the offensive on nearly every front and are able to hold most of the gains they make in their various drives, not only that but if there is only any truth whatever in the reports we get the Allies seem to be able through the efficiency of their artillery and aerial scouts to make important advances with the minimum of loss among their own men but at the same time inflict heavy losses on the enemy both in the first drive and in the repeated counter-attacks which invariably follow an Allied drive. Then too, the Germans although not demoralized do not seem to be able to put the same force into their offensives as they did in the early days of the war. A recent example of this was in Russia where conditions are bordering on civil war most of the time. The Germans were within reach of Riga and the Russian troops instead of offering resistance marched away from that part of the battle line in revolt under Korniloff against their own Government under Kerensky. If that had happened two years ago the Germans would have been in Petrograd now, but in some way Kerensky checked the revolt and the Russians went back to the front and the Germans are not yet in possession of Riga and it doesn't look as if they would be. It seems that by next year Germany must give up all hopes of victory, for now that the U.S. has come down off her lofty seat of super-civilization where she was "too proud to fight" as Wilson said

and did a few odd jobs and I disked on the pea stubble all morning. I would have gone thrashing instead of Dad. but I had promised to go up creek with Marj. this after noon and Dad. said as it was such a nice day I had better not postpone it so he went instead. They got through soon after dinner. I quit a little before noon so got down town fairly early but we had to go and hunt Jake Eyers up to get a boat as he was up digging potatoes and Marj. had to stop to express a basket of plums home which she picked at Miss McQueen's this morning, so it was about half past two when we left. We went up as far as we could row and had a dandy time getting back about half past five. I took a couple of pictures of Marj. It wasn't at all hot in fact some times when the sun went under a cloud or the breeze caught us it was rather chilly. I stayed to tea and all night at Aunty's Alice's. I was up town for a half an hour or so after tea and saw Brierly. Mrs. Barwell, Cousin Clair and Cousin Loll were down at Aunty Alice's for a rubber of bridge. Cold east wind this morning but sunny and warmer later.

Sunday September 23rd

I went home this morning right after breakfast and changed my clothes and then Dad. & Tid drove me down again to church. Dad. had to go over to Kolbes pig pens in the marsh to see a sick pig. He says the place over there is a fright. Ducks and chickens are so dirty they can't grow and the ducks won't go into the creek. The pigs with their mothers have had nothing to eat but fish and are not growing a bit. When I got home from church Frank informed me that all the rest of the family had gone to Caledonia with Ham Thompson to see Douglas. After dinner Frank went back to the gully and got some butter nuts, and I sat around and read and wrote in this. Mr. & Mrs. John Shand came to call but didn't stay when they found the folks away and Winnie was over for a little while, she wanted an impression of the crest to put on a signet ring. Frank and I did up all the chores and Frank went down to church I went down a little later and got home about eleven. Dad. Enah and Tid. got home about eight after having had a fine time down at Douglas's. I saw Hugh Bannister this morning for a few minutes, he has just got back from France having been on an American transport taking supplies to the U.S. troops. He has been pretty much all over the world since he left here 2 1/2 years ago. Lovely day.

Monday September 24th

I disked all day on the wheat ground to day and had the disks

manure all day but only got out eleven loads. It was an unlucky day from the start. The trouble began before. Dad. left when Frank started out with the first load some thing, we think it was the end of the whipple-tree caught one of the rods at the side of the spreader and bent it so that it threw the section of gear that lifts the tailboard up against the other gear and we had to take it out and straighten it. Then when he got out in the field with the load he offended Belle in some unknown way and she balked and after losing considerable time with her we had to take her off and put Joe in her place. This was before Dad. left but he didn't have time to monkey with her. This after noon Paton came in with a mare that he said had swallowed an apple and was choking and I had to lose another half hour with him. I never saw Dad. treat a choking animal so didn't know just what to do but I ramed the probang down her neck as far as I could and that seemed to ease her. He left her here till Dad. got home when she appeared to be all right. About this time Frank began to feel squeamish in his stomach and although he was able to haul out a few more loads he didn't feel much like pitching on so didn't. He must have had too much of his own cooking I guess for although he helped me do up all the chores he was quite sick this evening and again during the night. Dad. got home about five but didn't "peel off" his good clothes as I had a card from Enah to-day saying she would be home to-night so Dad. went down to meet her. It was after dark when I got everything done and I had to do some tall foraging to find sustenance enough in the house to keep the breath of life within me. I was very thankful Frank was sick and couldn't eat for our store of provisions had dwindled down to scant rashion fore one, however by rumaging around in the stale bread crock where I found two or three crusts that were not mouldy and cleaning up some left over apple sauce and nibbling a slice or two of old cheese I managed to collect enough nourishment to maintain existence till Enah got home when I was able to supplement my supper with some sandwichs from Enah's lunch box. They had tea down at Aunty Alice's. Dad. and Enah both report that nearly all the corn they saw in their travels a few miles north of here is ruined by frost.

Saturday September 22nd

Dad. went down to Sam's to thresh this morning and Art Quanbury drove down with him. Frank felt pretty sick but poked around

the couker, one of the ten looked very small an thin after he was plucked so I gave him to Aunty Alice and she said he was all right. Dad. and I were up till eleven o'clock picking out pin feathers while Frank write a letter to Enah

Wednesday September 19th

I packed up my nine chickens first thing this morning and took them down to the Dominion Express office and shipped them to Waller's, Toronto. I never shipped there before but he proved all right as I got my returns on Friday and he gave me 26 cts per lb which was a cent more than he quoted. They were a nicer looking lot than the ones I sent to Barron as I had stuck most of them in the brain, had torn them very little and only broke a couple of wings. I had larger sheets of parchment paper to wrap them in too and so made a much neater looking package. I stayed down long enough for Joe Howell to put a shoe on Josie. Dad. and Frank were hauling manure from the cow stable shed when I got back but they had cleaned up a lot of seed wheat for Mr. Flemming This after noon we hooked Joe and Queen to the disks and I went over the part of the pea stubble which Dad. has manured. I guess it was the first time we have ever had five of our own horses working at the same time. I quit early and went down to tea at Aunty Alice's and afterwards went to the picture show with Marj. and saw "Snow white" which was acted truer to the old story than any of them I have ever seen. I stayed all night with Aunty Alice. Another fine day.

Thursday September 20th

I cut the lawns down at Aunty Alice's before I came home this morning and Dad. and Frank were out at the manure. I saw Uncle Ward on my way home and he told me he was going to walk over here to find out whether or not Dad. could act as bearer at Mrs. Boughner's funeral to-morrow, she having died yesterday, so when I got home and told Dad. he despatched Frank on his wheel to find out the details and to save Uncle Ward the walk. We hauled out manure all day. Aunty Alice came over this after noon and did up the house chores and boiled us some potatoes and made a pudding.

Friday September 21st

Dad. and I helped us put on a couple of loads this morning and then had to go as he had to go down town this morning and get his hair cut and stayed at Aunty Alice's to dinner then went from there to the funeral. Frank and I hauled

of bachelor existance. Frank went down town to-night and stayed all night at Aunty Alice's. Lovely day.

Sunday September 16th

Dad. and I did did up the chores and partook of a cold and lonely breakfast after which I went down to church. Dad was home alone at dinner time and I don't believe he ate any as Frank and I stayed down at Aunty Alice's to dinner and had a good one. We came home right after and I hooked up Queen and took Marj. for a drive up into civilized borders of Charlotteville where we nearly got lost. Frank went down to Sam Law's and found that we could look for them to pull in here early to-morrow after noon. Dad. after entertaining Jim Waddle for an hour or so drove with him down town and stayed to tea at Aunty Alice's. Frank and I did chores after which I ate one hard biscuit and went down town and went up to Miss Martin's with Marj. after church and Frank went to bed. Fine and sunny day. Quite hot. Fly's bad.

Monday September 17th

Dad.and I hauled out what little manure we could this morning from around the old stack bottom, we got out I think nine loads. Frank cleaned up the barn and granarie's and just before noon went down and got Aunty Alice to come over and do things up in the house and prepare the supper for the threshers, they arrived about two o'clock and threshed all the oats out that were over the granary, there is my load of O.A.C. 72 to thresh yet. We got about 330 bushels which was not what we expected at harvest time but equal to any that has been threshed around here To-night I drove Aunty Alice down as far as the bridge. She simply would not allow me to drive her any farther for poor Joe might be frightened. Another fine day.

Tuesday September 18th

We threshed till noon and then finished with fifty bushels from my load of O.A.C. 72 and about 117 bushels of nice wheat from the 12 acres, to-gether with a pile of bluegrass which Jack Highland has since bought for 16 dollars. I went down about ten and got Aunty Alice who had to do some tall surrying to have dinner in time but she managed alright. After dinner Alfred Ryerse came up with his bags to get nine bushels of our Plymouth wheat for seed so he Dad. and Frank cleaned it up to-gether with our own seed and I spent the after noon killing my crate fattened chickens. I killed ten leaving the one with

We had to take it over to Clarence Welsh's to weigh it and left it in the field on our way home it was about two o'clock when we got to the house. Dad. went back with the big team and started drilling right after dinner and when I had my dinner I took Joe and Belle back and started harrowing but changed team's with Dad. later and he finished drilling the field about dark while I brought the old team up as old Nellie was so tired she could hardly walk. Fine day

Friday September 14th

Dad. took Belle & Queen back this morning and harrowed over the field that he drilled yesterday and I disked on the pea stubble with the big team. Frank had to go down town Enah's brother and all his family and Fred Johnson came down in their car from Courtright yesterday and came over here this morning. Jean & Adelina stayed here to dinner. This after noon Frank and I had to go over to Ben Ivey's to help thrash Quanbury's oat stack and were over there all the after noon having tea at the Quanbury's. Dad. ran out the furrows in the wheat this after noon. Enah is getting ready to-night to go to Courtright with her brother to-morrow, they were in again to-night for a while. Tid says he doesn't want to go away but he got resigned to his fate before they left. Another fine day.

Saturday September 15th

The principal event of to-day was the departure of Enah and the baby for Courtright with the James'. The baby seemed quite happy in the excitement of going in the car but it wouldn't have taken much coaxing to keep him home, however it has since transpired that he was quite contented and happy during his sojourn and the constant opportunity of access to new and wonderful sights and things of interest such as the big boats on the river and the magic performances of machinery in his uncle's tin-shop, afforded, - warded off any attacks of homesickness which under other circumstances he might have suffered from. I didn't do any thing much all day but wash the buggy and go down town with Frank to get a ton of soft coal for which we paid the exhorbitant price of ten dollars. Dad. finished cleaning out the ditches over in the back wheat field and he and Frank hauled up the planks and sleepers of Ivey's bridge which last spring's {illegible} deposited in our gully. The planks we want to have handy to support the thrashing engine on the barn floor and they will be ready for Ivey's any time they take the trouble to come and get them but the sleepers which were cedar railroad ties, they sawed and split up for use during our coming week

Tuesday September 11th

Charlie and Art Quanbury drove in this morning on their way out to Tupper's so I rode out with them. This is the first day Art. has been out of bed since he was taken sick a week or more ago, so I think he is plum crazy but maybe not. Frank rode down town on his wheel to tell Aunty Alice that we would likely not be able to attend her theatre party to-night if we had to thrash late and he rode on out to Tupper's on his wheel. I went over to Charlie's place with the boys and helped them put on a load of wheat out of Charlie's barn as they wanted to thrash a load for seed. They thrashed it first and then started at Tupper's out of the field. He hadn't a sheaf in the barn. I hauled in with Tupper's team and waggon all day, and we worked till after six. The wheat was in awful shape but the oats weren't so bad. He got 416 bushels alto-gether and 44 of them were wheat. Fairly cool but sunny all day.

Wednesday September 12th

Dad. and I worked both teams on the land this morning and Frank patched at the stable roof. Aunty came over at noon to tell us she was going to Toronto in the morning to help Vernon christen the baby. Bill. Philips came in just after dinner to get Dad. to go up and see Miss McCoy's cow and while Dad. was gone Bill helped Frank and me put off the load of oats that was on the rack and get the twelve shocks out in the field and the wheat of my plots. Dad. got back just as we got in and said he had told Miss McCoy to send to Simcoe for Bert or Anderson. It is now over a week since I have made an entry in this book so that the records for the week following this will be brief and their accuracy and completeness may suffer somewhat from the effacing effect that time has on my memory. To-night I went down town and spent an enjoyable evening at "Uncle" Hughie Moore's, where I have since learned that I revised Miss Kerney's former impression of my character as she had formed the opinion that I was a "solemn appearin' boy". I spent the night at Aunty's to help her get to the station in the morning.

Thursday September 13th

Aunty got off this morning and had Mrs. Gordon for company all the way to Toronto. I went to the station with her and carried her suitcases, she took one full of vegetables to Roy & Vernon. When I got home I hunted up some bags and Frank and I took Joe and Belle on the waggon out to Bob. Ross's and got 17 bus {bushels} of seed wheat. Bob. was hauling in oats but Frank {illegible} his hay but on a load and he and I cleaned up the wheat.

{This is a repeat of Index page 110}

soaked it for an hour or more. The original spot seems to be healing nicely but the numerous breakings out around it are getting very sore. Dad. and Frank dug potatoes all morning and I went out for about an hour before noon to help them. Two of Ham Thompsons kids were down this morning to say that Ham was going to fill his silo this morning after noon so Frank and I went up after dinner. We were up there till after dark and then had tea up there but didn't finish the job as the corn was so wet it kept plugging up the blower so that they had to take the curved pipe and the distributor off. I worked in the field for an hour or so loading {stacks?} but my arm got so sore I had to come up and trade jobs with Tige McBride who was tramping in the silo. Old Mr. Miller was in there too. I didn't mind that job at all. On our way home Frank & I stopped in at the mill and got a bag of crate fattening mixture for another bunch of cockrels which I shut up last night but Tom had been here and said he couldn't get me any buttermilk. Dad. and I went out to-night and caught all the pullets we could find as Chris told Dad. to-day that he would be over Monday to take all that were any good for Jack and that he would give me 25 cts per lb for them. Fine day.

Sunday November 4th

All the household but me went to church this morning and as I had to soak my arm again I didn't get down till half past eleven and then went down to the doctor's. He dressed it again and gave me a hyperdemic for some reason or other and told me the new breakings out were infections from the original sore. It was very painful this after noon but principally around the spot where he inserted the needle. I went down to Aunty's for dinner and stayed there all day and all night I went up to see Marj. this after noon but she was up at the Bagley's as old Mrs. Hall just died and they wanted her to be at the door. Marj. was home after tea so I spent the evening with her. A goodly portion of the Bawlby family came down to Aunty's this after noon for an hour or so. Aunty Alice was over here to dinner and Enah came down town with her this after noon and took the five o'clock car for Simcoe to sing with a few others in the Dover choir at Trinity church where the Bishop of {illegible} was preaching. There was no service in our church to-night on account of his being in Simcoe and Aunty, Aunty Alice and Winnie went up on the seven car to hear him

Monday November 5th

I had breakfast at Aunty's this morning and came home right after, but in accordance with the doctor's advice and the feeling of my arm have done no manual labor all day. I soaked my arm for an hour this morning and again to-night and Enah wrapped it up the way Dr. Cook did. This after noon I rode down to the mill with Tom. and paid Charlie Ivey 57 dollars on the account but was surprised to find that there is still over 73 dollars to pay. Chris came over this morning and picked out all the pullets and old hens that were any good and Jack paid me 17 dollars for them 18 pullets & 3 old hens. The government tractor a "Bull" is plowing over at Ben Ivey's to-day but is doing awful work. Frank plowed all morning and he and Dad. have been digging potatoes this after noon. They got them all in that they have dug to-night and were very agreeably surprised at the quantity as well as quality and size of the potatoes, very few were damaged with the frost. There are still four rows to be dug. To-night Dad. and Enah went down to Aunty's to celebrate Aunty Alice's birthday. Huby and Aunty Maude were there as well as the John Shand's. Froze hard. Lovely day.

Tuesday November 6th

I soaked my arm again this morning and then went down town to show it to the doctor. He didn't lance the sore's this time as I expected but sterilized each one of them by poking a wire with cotton balling soaked with full strength carbolic acid into the heads of them and working it around. It made me squirm somewhat as the carbolic burned. I stayed at Aunty's to dinner and left on the one o'clock car for Simcoe. I went up and collected our prize money, eight dollars, and took Frank's and my own shoes to be half soled. I then went over to the Court House to what was supposed to be a meeting of Unionists to select a Union Candidate for the Union Government but I found it composed pretty largely of good or at least dyed-in-the-wool tories with a sprinkling of Grits. About all they did and under the circumstances I guess it was the best they could do was to pass a resolution authorizing the executive of the Conservite party in Norfolk to select twelve men representing different parts of the county, to meet twelve men selected in the same way by the Liberal's and between them they are to arrange a convention of delegates representing each party equally and they are to select a Union candidate

All the party men wanted to pick out their man to-day or at least not accept H.P. Innes's resignation and got to the Grits and tell them to pick out their man or else consent to the Torie's man but the fellows who wanted to be square opposed that proposition as what they are afraid of is that we will have two Union candidates one Grit and one Tory opposing each other and then a Laurier Liberal will work in as a farmer's man or some thing else and win the election, which of course would not be what Norfolk wants as Laurier still stands by his referendum scheme and his first act should he be elected would be to stop the working of the Military Service Act. John Wess was over this morning to ask Dad. & Frank to help him thrash to-morrow as there is another machine on the back road and he can't get hands. Dad. & Frank finished harvesting the potato crop to-day and pulled a few more mangels. Lovely day.

Wednesday November 7th

I have done nothing in the shape of work all day. Dad. & Frank went over to John Wesses to help him thrash this morning and Frank has been over all day but Dad. came home right after dinner. He didn't feel very well for awhile after he got back but feels all right to-night. He did chores and pulled a couple of more rows of mangels. I went down town this after noon and showed the doctor my arm which he said was doing well. I stayed to tea and spent the evening at Aunty's. Dad. came down after tea with a basket of the biggest of our potatoes (and there are some huge ones) for Aunty Alice to take down to show Roy on Saturday. He also brought down their milk as we are letting them have milk now three times a week. There was considerable excitement created to-day but the appearance of an aeroplane, the first one I think ever seen in this neighbourhood. Dad. told us about him first at noon as they had seen him over at John Wesses flying quite low. Then I saw him again this after noon but a long way off flying north east evidently for Toronto. It seems the aviator was a French-Canadian from Camp Borden and had got lost in a fog up around Lake Simcoe coming down here instead of Toronto & mistaking Lake Erie for Ontario. He almost landed in the school yard at noon or near noon and they let all the kids out to see him. He couldn't land

in such a small space, however and went up to Holloway's place this side of Lynn Valley where he lit and went into Simcoe for gasoline They said he knew very little about his engine. A good proportion of the town saw him and heard him as he flew right down over the pond. It has been freezing hard the last few nights but the days have been mild and sunny, to-day especially nice.

Thursday November 8th

Although my arm has felt a good deal better to-day I have done nothing whatever to use it. Frank went back to John Wesses and thrashed till noon when they finished and he plowed all the after noon. Dad. did chores and sawed up some wood this morning and this after noon pulled up some more mangels besides doing chores. I helped Dad. saw up one limb of the old oak with one hand this morning and then went a walk back to the woods. I went to sleep before noon and was too lazy to get up to eat. This after noon I drove Enah & Tid down town and came home by the mill where I got a 40 lb. bag of oatmeal. To-night I went down town to see Marj. It has been a beautiful day and not freezing as hard to-night.

Friday November 9th

Frank went out with the Quanbury boy's early this morning and was out there till noon helping them thrash at Charlie's place. The job only lasted a couple of hours but I guess they didnt get started on time. Dad. plowed all morning and I didn't do any thing much but kill a couple of old hens for Enah and a cockrel for Aunty Alice to take to Roy to-morrow. This after noon Dad. and Frank got up the rest of the mangels except a few small ones and put them all in the drive house. I helped them a little, pulling. Pickford came in to ask Dad. to go over in the morning to operate on a couple of calves. He had been in Brantford to-day with Mrs. Pickford who has something wrong with her eye and has to go up every so often from now on to a specialist. Pickford was telling us that he has it figured out that it is going to cost him nearly fifty dollars, which fact I am afraid is causing him considerable distress. Art & John Quanbury came in with a load of oats to clean up and told Dad. that Jim Bannister had brought word at noon that Harry Ansley had had a stroke and was very low. Aunty came over just as they left and confirmed the news of

dangerous condition but said he had not had a stroke but sort of convulsions and they think the trouble was is from his spine. The latest news to-night is that he is resting quietly having had theree convulsions, the first one before noon and lasting nearly an hour, the other two being lighter. I went down town to-night with Aunty Alice's milk and Roy's chicken and stayed all night so that I could help Aunty Alice get to the train in the morning. The war news to-day is bad, another revolution is taking place in Petrograd. Kerensky has fled to regions unknown and the revolutionists are demanding a separate peace with Germany. Prospects on the Italian battle front are not showing brightening yet either. The Italian army is still retreating from the immense hordes of Astro-Germans who have crossed the Tagliamento river and claim the capture of 250'000 prisoners and 2300 guns. The Italians claim that Cadorna's main army retreated unmolested and taking up defensive positions along the Piave river where strong British & French reinforcements are now massing and where it is hoped a decided stand will be taken as Venice is only fifteen miles behind this line and it is feared a further advance by the enemy would be liable to cause panic among the people who are already shaken but who are cheered by the presence of British & French aid in great strength from the Western front. If the fighting spirit of the Italians is still strong it is thought by some that an allied victory here is possible, and would mean disaster for the Central Powers who it is believed made this big drive partly in the hopes of demanding peace. The British forces under General Allenby are making headway against the Turks in Palestine having taken Gaza and closing in on Jerusalem. The Canadians are also doing fine work in France.

Saturday November 10th

I went up to the Tibbets as soon as I had breakfast this morning and Cousin Willie told me that they had had no call during the night so thought Harry Ansley was about the same. It was just about seven when I got back but as Aunty Alice was already we went down to the station and when she got in the car I came back. I came home almost as soon as the train went out. Frank plowed all morning and helped Dad. saw off and up another

oak limb. This after noon Frank went to Simcoe to get the shoes I left up there to be fixed and to see Rus Lampkins about the windmill as some thing has gone wrong with it, I don't know just what. Dad. didn't get back to plow as there were so many chores to do and he helped me sort some of the potatoes. Frank came down to the five car and went down town again to-night. Another beautiful day.

Sunday November 11th

Enah and I drove down to church this morning leaving Dad. Frank and the baby to get dinner. Frank I think spent the morning fixing the windmill following the instructions he got from Rus Lampkins yesterday. Aunty & Aunt Ida came over here to dinner I went down town right after dinner and Marj. and I went for a walk. She has a bad cold so didn't go to church at all to-day, she had an awful time with her cold yesterday but feels better to-day. I stayed up there to tea and for the evening. Rus. Skey was over here to tea and Dad. has been giving me very amusing accounts of his future dreams of leaving the bank which he has always detested and finishing his medical course coming to Dover and fixing up the old home putting in the remainder of his life (he figures he would have at least fifteen years for it) in scientific research practising on the Turkey Point decendants, gratis. He was also reviewing with Dad. the pugilistic incidents of their school days dwelling with special pride and joy upon the day he licked Bev. Powell. It has been a beautiful day, very warm & not freezing to-night.

Monday November 12th

Dad. & Frank both went back this morning one to plow and one to ditch. I had to go over and chase the sheep out of Jack Martin's field as they have discovered the way over and are determined to go. About nine o'clock there was a great commotion caused by the blowing of the factory, Canning factory and other whistles We thought there must be a fire so I hurried down as far as Uncle Ward's but every thing was quiet and undisturbed by then down town. There was a flag up on the factory and Uncle Ward had no idea what had caused the row. Aunty Lucy suggested news of victory while we thought possibly the completion of the dam (which is not yet completed) was responsible but later in the day we found out that at nine o'

clock this morning the books are open for subscriptions to the new "Victory Loan" and all sorts of means are being resorted to to bring it to the attention of the public, this being one of them. I stayed talking to Uncle Ward till I nearly froze and when I came home found Frank sorting potatoes so helped him till noon. This after noon I intended going down to the doctor's again but Dad. wanted me to write to Dick so by the time I got that done it was pretty late and Enah said I might as well wait till after tea and then take Aunty's milk down so I did. I also took a basket of apples over to Marj. as she told me yesterday she had hardly tasted one all fall, she wasn't home to-night having taken Miss Kelly to the picture show. I went around to the doctors and got another bottle of dope and he burned out a couple more spots I stayed down all night at Aunty's. Dad. plowed this after noon and Frank pulled some more turnips. Raw East wind to-day & cloudy but clear to-night.

Tuesday November 13th

I came home about eight this morning and helped Frank bag up some oats to take down to be chopped. We took Belle and Queen and as they haven't been out for about a month were feeling pretty gay. Queen especially. It was about eleven when we started and they told us down there that we could get the grist in half an hour so we drove down town and got my box from Waller's and a bag of salts getting back about noon. Dad. plowed all morning. This after noon Frank went down back and plowed and Dad. and I spent most of the morning after noon cutting a block off the butt of the old oak. I went over to Ben's for a little while just before dark to see the tractor. It is plowing deeper than it did at first but has to make very wide {illegible} and leaves the ground very uneven. Cart. Bawlby was finishing up after it and had a big job as the pesky thing doesn't pretend to go straight. Cart. didn't think Ben was going to gain much in time or money by using it and then as he says it is only half plowed. Frank went down town to-night for a little while, there was a meeting in the town hall to-night to put the terms of the Victory Loan before the public. Froze hard last night but has been a nice day.

Wednesday November 14th

Enah, Tim and I went down town this morning and stayed at Aunty's to dinner. I went up again to the doctors and he punctured three more spots one a great big one like a blister and my hand is pretty sore to-night.

I got some carbolic acid to heal any spots that come myself from now on. I went up and got Aunty's mail right after dinner but and then came home but didn't do any work all the after noon. Enah and the baby stayed down till after dark. Dad. & Frank plowed and did chores all day and finished the back field to-night. They had a couple of rag-men for dinner to-day who presented them with a tin pail in payment. Word came on Saturday that poor old Skelly Long had been killed in action and to-day Enah heard that Fred George had got a bullet through the head.

Thursday November 15th

My arm has been pretty painful all day and I have been in the house nearly all day. Frank and Dad. spent the morning running out ditches in the fifty acre sod field east of the lane and Dad. just got started to plow it this after noon when Alan Law came to get him to cut the lump off old Ben's stifle. He was down there till nearly dark but they couldn't operate on Ben and will have to throw him. McEwen came in on the one o'clock car to look at the ram lambs but he said they were too small for him and advised us to keep four of them over, he bought the two best ones for twenty dollars apiece and we have to ship them to-morrow. Dad. took Aunty's milk down to her to-night. Cloudy, rainy & raw all day.

Friday November 16th

Dad. and Frank crated up the two ram lambs this morning and Frank and I took them down to the station and Dad. went out and plowed. When we got back I went over to John Wesse's to see how he was, he was plowing but his breath was pretty short. I then went over to Tupper's and bought a heifer from him. Frank said he would go in on the speculation with me. She is rather small but in good shape and due to calve in April. Tupper said he would take my note for 11 mos. at 5% and he taxed me sixty five dollars for her. I stayed there to dinner and went down to Frank Ryerse's with him after dinner. Sam had just pulled in there to thrash. I got a couple of boxes of Chamberlain salve from Mrs. Ryerse and then came over to Law's with Alan and he drove me home. He took Dad. back with him and they threw old Ben but didn't operate as Dad. said it would be a painful operation and they were not sure it would cure him so they thought as he was so old it wasn't worth it. Aunty and Aunt ida were over here to dinner and walked over and back. I went down to Aunty's for tea and went to the picture-show with Marj. but it was a miserable show. My arm is still pretty bad. I put Chamberlain salve on it this after noon. Fair day.

Saturday November 17th

I didn't get home very early this morning as I went up town first and got some long envelopes to send McEwen's pedigrees up in. Just as I climbed Martin's fence Dad. was starting out with Harry & Belle, he had been out and plowed eight rounds in an hour with Harry and Queen and was now going to shake the keen edge off Belle. This after noon he plowed with Belle & Queen to-gether and they did fine. Frank worked Harry & Nellie. I fixed up McEwen's pedigrees and made out a promisary note for $25 for him and also made application for the pedigree of the yearlin ewe that is not registered yet. When Jim came at noon with the mail I ordered a postal note from him to pay for the pedigree and was fool enough not to think what I was doing and gave him McEwen's address instead of the "Live Stock Records at Ottawa so had to hike down to the post office and tell Cousin Willie to fix it when Jim came in. When I got home I walked out to Wilbur Ryerse's where Sam & Alan are thrashing and told Alan that he was welcome to old Dave if he wanted to come and get him to plow with in place of old Ben. so he said he would come up and get him. He says he would buy a new horse if he was sure of not being called up for service but he thinks he will be when {illegible} is called. Lovely day.

Sunday November 18th

None of us went to church this morning, I would have gone but took so long to fix my arm. I went down to see Marj. this after noon and stayed at Aunty's for tea then went to church alone this evening. Aunty didn't go to church to-night as she didn't like to leave Aunt Ida alone. Marj. and I went over to the McQueen's after church. They were rather upset over at the Moore's this after noon by the news of the death of Mat. Hudson down the lake shore Miss Herny informerd uncle Hughie one day last week that there would be a death in the family as she heard the death bell ringing in her ears. Huby & Mr. Lawrie were over here this after noon. Cloudy and raw all day. Rained a little, milder to-night. Bill Law arrived home from the war last night with just one leg.

Monday November 19th

I got home about half past nine this morning and found Dad. and Frank cutting more off the old oak. I got my old clothes on and about eleven walked out to the Shand's and had dinner with Willie & Winnie and then walked down to the cheese factory & paid Lea Marshall $7.40 for a year's buttermilk. Dad. and Frank were over helping Art Quanbury thrash this after noon till about five. Enah and the baby were down town all day. Charlie Shand doesn't know yet whether he will get exemption or not. Cloudy & raw but fine.

Tuesday November 20th

I didn't do any thing all morning but sit around and read "Saturday Nights". This after noon I went down and got my hair cut. Enah went down as far as Uncle Ward's to find out the particulars of Mrs. Schofield's funeral, she having died suddenly yesterday. Dad. and Frank plowed with both teams to-day but took quite awhile doing chores. The nominations for the federal elections were yesterday and it looks as if there was going to be quite a fight. In Norfolk, however, Innes withdrew at the last minute so that leaves Charlton, Liberal Unionist against Wallace, Laurier man. Cloudy & damp. Charlie Quanbury got word to-day that his claim for exemption has been refused.

Wednesday November 21st

Dad. and Frank plowed this morning and Frank this after noon but Dad. had to act as bearer at Mrs. Scoffield's funeral if he had been home they would have finished the oat stubble I sat around the house all day as I have a new boil on my knee which makes it pretty sore. Bruce was around this after noon soliciting subscriptions to the Victory Loan but we were unable to invest. I went down town to-night to see Marj. and stayed at Aunty's all night. Cloudy & raw.

Thursday November 22nd

I went down to get a fish for Aunty before I came home this morning and got home about ten. Dad. and Frank were cutting a block off the oak tree, they didn't plow any to-day as it rained or drizzled all the time. It turned colder towards night & snowed. I sat around the house all day as my knee was very sore and swollen, the spot on it seems just like the ones on my arm. Charlie and Art Quanbury were cleaning up wheat most of the day with our mill. Charlie's throat is in bad shape, he announces his intention of starting revolution. He's peeved.

Friday November 23rd

I have sat around the house and read "The Illiad" and "Titus Andronicus" all day to-day. It was frozen too hard to plow and has been very cold and windy all day. There is a half covering of snow on everything. Dad. & the baby went down to Aunty's this morning to bank up the house and stayed down to dinner. Frank got the apples down cellar this morning. This after noon they did chores. Enah walked down town this after noon to get some provisions. War news lately might be worse. British made a big drive the other day and took about 9000 prisoners. It was a complete surprise as no artillery were used to open the way. The tanks went first and broke the barbed wire.

Saturday November 24th

It froze very hard last night and has not thawed at all to-day. The wind was from the north all day and it has been cold enough for mid-winter although sunny. I sat around the house most of the day although my knee was very much better. Dad. and Frank spent the day getting wood amd doing chores. Alfred was in this after noon for quite awhile and paid Dad. the balance on the seed wheat. Frank went down town to-night.

Sunday November 25th

Enah, Dad, Tid. and I walked to church this morning but found a notice on the door saying there would be no service owing to the lack of gas, so I went to the Catholick church and the others went to the Presbyterian. I came home to dinner and Frank and I had it alone as the rest stayed down at Aunty's. I went back down town right after dinner and spent the after noon with Marj. had tea at Aunty's and went up to Miss Martin's with Marj. after tea but found she had gone to a service they held in the Sunday school with Cousin Willie presiding as Mr. Johnson is in Stratford. Aunty & Aunt Ida went to service to-night and said cousin Willie gave a very nice address. I went down there early and stayed all night. Froze hard again last night.

Monday November 26th

I spent most of the day killing and fixing up my 12 crate fattened cockrels. I am afraid they will niot bring as much as I have had very little milk for them and have not looked after them as I should have. It is still frozen up tight so FDad and Frank have been doing chores all day and this after noon they put the mangels down the cellar. They have been in the drive house but were not frozen. Enah was over at the Quanbury's this after noon and said there was quite a crowd skating on the pond. Tom. was in this morning and said John Watt's little shack burned down last night and people were lblaming him for it as old Jim McQueen was going to move into it to-day. It has been sunny but frosty to-day.

Tuesday November 27th

Frank and I went down with my chickens this morning which I shipped to Waller's and got the cellar window which has been at Mr. Jame's all fall owing to our forgetfulness. When we got home we went over to Tupper's and got our heifer getting back about noon. I had a bad cold anyway and the morning's operations knocked me out. I huddled over the stove all after noon, didn't want any tea and went to bed about seven o'clock. Dad. went down to-night and got leave from Clayton Ansley to do as he liked with old Nellie & the heifer.

Wednesday November 28th

Dad. and Frank got some more wood from the old oak this morning and this after noon started to clean up the wheat. Lloyd Ryerse came up with his ferret this after noon and after helping awhile to clean up wheat he and Frank went after rabbits but didn't see any. Dad. went over to John Wess's to see how he was to-day. He feels pretty well as long as he keeps still but can't do any work. {Com.?} is home now. This after noon I wnt down town stayed at Aunty's to tea went up to see Marj.and stayed at Aunty's all night. Milder but still frozen up.

Thursday November 29th

I have been down at Aunty's all day. I went down to the station this morning to meet Aunty Alice who came home on the eleven o'clock train. This after noon I went up after Aunty's mail and then made three trips up to Col. Smith's after "Saturday Evening Posts" and "Country Gentleman's". He had a big pile of them and didn't want to destroy them so said we could have them. I left them at Aunty Alice's till we can get them in the buggy. Dad. and Frank finished cleaning up the wheat to-day. It held out pretty well with the machine. Dad. went down to see Aunty Alice to-night. Much softer. Freezing to-night.

Friday November 30th

Dad. and Frank hauled the wheat down to the mill this morning in two loads I went down with them on the second load. Dad. was well pleased with the way the wheat turned out. He didn't expect it would more than pay the bill at the mill but there were about 57 1/2 bushels and Charlie gave him $2.09 for it so there was about $44.00 coming to him after the account was paid. This after noon Dad. and the baby drove down to take Aunty Alice up to the cemetry but it rained so hard they didn't go. Frank went down to the mill again this after noon to get some feed. They took down some oats this morning and got part of them chopped and traded part off for shorts & feed flour. Rained most of the day.

Saturday November December 1st

Frank and I drove Belle and Queen to Simcoe this morning after the bbl. {barrel} of coal oil which Dad. ordered a week or so ago. We borrowed Mr. Flemming's democrat. Dad. only ordered 25 gallons but we had to take a 45 gal. bbl as there were no others. However it is two or three cents cheaper than we can get it here and is supposed to be better. Dad. Enah and the baby went down town this morning and did some shopping and Dad. drove Aunty Alice up to the cemetry. I didn't do any thing

in particular this after noon, and Dad. & Frank just did chores. I gave my arm a good soaking before tea to-night. It is pretty sore again but there is only one big spot left to break on it. It seems to take a very long time to come to a head. Cold wind with snow all day. Freezing hard again to-night.

Sunday December 2nd

I was the only one of this family who went to church this morning and I was very late as we were late getting up. I came home to dinner but went down town right after and this after noon walked round the hill with Marj. after which we paid Miss McQueen a short visit. I had tea at Aunty's and to-night we went to church to hear the Bishop and see the confirmation ceremony. The church was packed and we had to get a few more seats from the Sunday school. There were about 22 candidates for confirmation, five of them coming from Vittoria. I stayed at Aunty's all night. Nice day but freezing.

Monday December 3rd

I hung around down at Aunty's this morning till about ten o'clock expecting Dad. down to go and see Niel Elliott about buying Harry Ansley's heifer, but as he didnt come Aunty & Aunty Alice thought I had better go down and see Niel myself so I did. He was down at the coal office weighing hogs and asked me to take his horse up town to Hec's barn so I did and while I was gone Dad. came and went down also to see Niel and so I am afraid may have given him the impression that we had some thing here we were anxious to sell. Dad. went on up town and got his hair cut so I came home. This after noon I went down again to get an order from Waller's cashed and stayed to tea at Aunty's Mrs. Jackson from Port Rowan landed in there to stay all night having come in on the five o'clock car, and she made herself very entertaining by her enlivening conversation which during tea time consisted chiefly with of accounts of the Port Rowan Christian Scientists and their doings. it is quite evident that they hold a very low place in her estimation. After tea I went up to hear Charlton, Rowell and a Mr. Starr president of the Toronto Conservative Association speak on behalf of the Union Government. I have heard from several sources that Rowell was a very forceful speaker but I couldn't see anything much in what he said and I think if any one changed their views on the situation last to-night, their conversion would be credited to Mr. Starr, who I thought was good. Cloudy & cold.

Tuesday December 4th

I haven't done any thing in particular to-day, just sat around and read and husked a few hickory nuts. Dad. and Frank did chores and this after noon Frank went over to help Charlie Quanbury thrash seed. They didn't get started very early so didn't finish to-night. To-night Frank went down to a Red Cross dance in the town hall Dad. got the storm windows down and put some of them on. Raw.

Wednesday December 5th

Frank went out to help Charlie thrash first thing this morning and Dad. after he had done up the chores went over to help Pickford saw wood as he has Ot. Collins engine & saw there to-day. Dad. only stayed a few minutes as Frank got there soon after he did having finished thrashing at Charlie's. He stayed there the rest of the day and Dad. did chores. I didn't do much but my arm is I think "on the mend" as the big lump that has been so bad has at last broken and there are no signs of any more bad ones coming. I went down to tea at Aunty's to-night and afterwards up to see Marj. Frank & Enah came down after tea to attend one a Political meeting held by Wallace (Laurier man. or at least independant opposition) and the other choir practice. Roy came in on the seven o'clock car to stay for the night, going to Brantford in the morning.

Thursday December 6th

Frank has been over at Pickford's thrashing all day. Dad. went down right after breakfast to see Roy but just saw him for a minute. He found out that there was a car of coal in and that he could get some if he went down, so he came right home, harnessed the old team and got a ton. It began to look as if there wasn't going to be any for us this winter as very little came in and people who have had orders for a long time were served first, but now they expect there will be plenty in a week or so. Andrew Innes went over to Buffalo on behalf of the town and arranged for Kolbe to get it. I read most of the after noon but helped Dad. unload the coal and just as we got through Ham. Thompson came over after his ewes so it was nearly dark when we got them loaded. Enah went over to the McPherson's this after noon to teach Cecil a song for a Methodist concert. Dock Abbot got home from the front last night and there is great rejoicing down at Tom's Alan says he looks fine except for the deep cut in his face on account of which he is home and will have to go back for more treatment at the hospital, but all the grim yarns that were going around a few months ago about him being dumb and blind were false although for awhile he was in danger of losing one eye. Cloudy cold & raw.

Friday December 7th

Frank thrashed all morning at Pickford's and got home soon after dinner. Dad. did chores this morning and went down to the mill in the buggy after some feed flour. Aunty Alice walked over to dinner. This after noon Dad. and Frank went out to Bob. Ross's sale and didn't get back till dark. They left before it was over and didn't buy anything everything went high. Tid and I walked down as far as Mr. Battersby's with Aunty Alice and then went for a walk through the "Sheep Pasture". Freezing all day but sunny and nice.

Saturday December 8th

We took the four head of cattle which Dad. sold to Niel Elliottt on Monday down this morning with out any trouble. There was the three two year old heifer and the two black yearlings and Harry Ansley's black heifer which Dad. could only get $25.00 for. He got $165.00 for our three which he figured as $80.00 for the two year old $45.00 for the yearling steer and $40.00 for the yearling heifer. He and Frank went up town to get the money and pay up various debts and I waited for them at Aunty's They didn't get down there will about noon so I didn't go home with them but waited for dinner and went up town and got Aunty's mail this after noon. I came right home then but didn't do much this after noon but a few chores, my arm is very much better and I think I can work with it now as there is no sign of any more spots and the old ones are all healing Dad. got the colts up this after noon as there is a terrific blizzard raging. It was bad this morning but is much worse this after noon and every thing is full of snow. Enah was to have collected for the Navy this after noon but couldn't go out. Yesterday's and today's papers are full of the news of the awful explosion in Halifax caused by a munition ship blowing up. Nearly the whole city is wrecked and there are at least 2000 people killed, some put it at 3000 while about every second person in the city is injured. To make things worse to-day's papers say there is a fierce blizzard raging down there.

Sunday December 9th

It was very cold and windy this morning and the snow was drifting badly, it kept increasing till this after noon there was one of the worst snow storms and most blinding blizzards I every saw, at this time of year anyway. I was still at it to-night but I think had stopped snowing but was freezing very hard. I was the only one left the farm to-day. Dad. and Frank spent the day doing chores and making the animals

as comfortable as possible. I went down first thing this morning and shovelled Aunty's snow for them and had breakfast down there. By the time I got home and got dressed up it was too late to go to church but I went right down after dinner and took Aunty's & Elva's cream down. I went around to see Marj. but couldn't find her as she had gone down to Patterson's for dinner and from there over to Mrs. Perry's. I stayed to tea at Aunty's and went up after tea when I found Marj. home. I didn't go to church but I think they had service in the Sunday school.

Monday December 10th

I shovelled all the snow and opened the rain barrels down at Aunty's this morning and got home about ten o'clock Frank and I spent the rest of the morning putting the poles we got from Tupper accross the bent in the old barn and covering them with straw to make a warm pen for the ram lambs and the young calves when they come. This after noon Frank went down to fix Aunty's cellar windows and Enah went out collecting for the Navy. I read most of the after noon but helped do chores and dug a snow house in a snow drift for the baby It has been very cold and windy all day and the snow was drifting badly but it did not snow any more

Tuesday December 11th

Frank and I spent most of the morning digging out the lane, there never was more snow in it since we have been over here. Tom came up this morning with butter and Dad drove up as far as Duncan's with him to see a lame horse which Annie told him about yesterday. Dad. and I just did chores this after noon and I read the papers, the mail trains didn't get through yesterday so we had both papers to-day. The most important news is that Jerusalem has surrendered to the British. Frank went down town this after noon and took the crosscut saw down to Uncle Wards and learned how to sharpen it. Enah made butter to-day. I spent the evening drawing a picture of a {puppy?} from the cover of "The Country Gentleman". Sunny & cold.

Wednesday December 12th

Young Gamble from the Lower Hotel came over this morning to get Dad. to go down and look at their cow which had milk fever so he did after a good deal "cussin". Frank & I did chores till he got back and then we got the bob-sleigh out of the barn and went down to Coleman's after a hog crate. It was after noon when we got back. Right after dinner we loaded old Gladys in the hog crate

and took her to the slaughter house where Karl killed her for us. Frank stayed there the rest of the after noon to watch him. I took the hog crate back down town and then came home with the team. Dad. Enah & the baby drove down town in the cutter soon after I got back and brought Marj. back with them to tea. She was here all evening and I drove her home about half past ten. Nice winter day.

Thursday December 13th

Frank and I with the baby drove down to the slaughter house first thing this morning and got the remains of poor old Gladys and Dad. spent the rest of the morning cutting her up. Frank and I then went down town and around by the mill where we got a couple of bags of feed. It snowed hard all the after noon and we didn't do any thing much. Arthur Preston was over for quite a visit and told us that he had got a circular saying that there would be a meeting to-night to make more arrangement for Neff's Short Course this winter so Frank and I went down and Neff gave us each a route to canvass to create a little enthusiam over the course. Much milder to-night.

Friday December 14th

We have just done chores to-day and this after noon Dad. Tid and I drove Queen down town for exercise. Frank and I went down to a Union Government meeting to-night which was pretty good but late. Proff Law of Knox College & Frank Ried were the speakers. Cold and clear to-day, very frosty to-night.

Saturday December 15th

Did chores most of the day. Frank and I drove Queen down town this after noon and went down to Aunty's to tea to-night & spent the evening. Very cold.

Sunday December 16th

I went down alone to church this morning and just sat around the house all the after noon till it was time to do chores. Went down to-night and spent the evening with Marj.

Monday December 17th

Dad. and I drove out to Wiggin's this morning and Dad. voted for me as he said he wouldn't vote at all himself but as I was entitled to a vote but through neglect was not on the list he would mark the ballot the way I wanted it which was of course for Charlton & Union Government. Dad's finger is very painful and he can't do a thing with it. To-night Frank and I went down to hear the returns. Union Government is safe. Charlton got bigger majority than Wallace did

Monday December 31st

When two weeks ago I discovered that I had only three pages left in this book I decided to wait till now and make a summary of the principal events of the old year's last couple of weeks instead of making three line entries for each day. About a month ago I started to condense my entries to an average of half a page a day and if there had been as I counted on three hundred pages, I would have been alright but it was not till I got this near the end that I found it fell short. Frank and I have had the chores to do ever since I wrote last as Dad's finger is still very sore. For four nights it was so painful that he couldn't sleep a wink and on the 19th he went down to Dr. Cook who was out of town so he went over to the old Dr. Toole who has just come to town and he diagnosed it as a felon and lanced it. Since then he has not suffered such awful pain with it, but it has been very sore and has been discharging a little every day till yesterday. My arm is aparently alright again and except for a toothache which I had for a couple of days before Christmas the rest of us have been able to work & in fine shape. All our snow and good sleighing went off with a thaw we had about the 20th but it froze up right away again and the last week it has been very cold one night going down to 14° below zero. Before the sleighing went Frank and I got around on our two routes canvassing for the Short Course. I went down the third concession from our side road to the town line and back on the fourth and Frank had up the Gravel and Radical roads part way and in to the farms on the lake front. The day I we went on my beat it was a beautiful sunny day and the sleighing fine, we did up the morning chores before we left, stayed at Bruce's to dinner and got back in time to do the night chores. Dad. let the colts out and put the cows in at noon.We got one or two to promise they would come but the majority of them were too busy but said they would like to come in when they could. We went on Frank's beat the next fore noon and met with about the same success. That afternoon I drove Dad. Enah Aunty & the baby out to Mrs. Jim. Waddle's reception, in the bobsleighs. It was not such a nice day and the sleighing was going fast. Christmas day we all went down to church in the morning which was not the usual Christmas service The church was undecorated and the choir & congregation were small. Harry Moon seems to have dropped out

of church life since Mr. Johnson made his election remarks in the pulpit the day before election. Christmas night we had a great dinner & tree over here, fifteen of us partaking of it, all from Aunty's, all from Huby's and all from the James. The roads were bare and icy and our horses unshod or smooth shod so that Dad. had to get Faulkner to bring over the ones who couldnt walk over and young Geordie came after them very early so that the evening was too short. Aunty Alice not being content with receipting my note to her on my birthday last summer gave me the cash to pay Douglas's note which comes due on the sixth. Frank and I haven't got very much work other than chores done lately so we have not been getting up before seven or half past but we did get over one load of hay over to the old barn for the cows and got the bent in the west end of the barn covered over with rails and straw and a fairly warm pen made in there for Frank's heifer which is due to calve in a day or two. We went skating two nights last week down on the creek with the Ryerse's and England's and to-night Enah and I printed pictures. I was just undressing when the Old Year left.