{FRONT COVER}

DIARY.1919

T.B.Barrett

Port Dover, Ontario

Knockfierna..............

From January 1st 1919 to December 31st 1919

Wednesday January 1st 1919.

I have had a feeling all day to-day as if I ought to have the blues, not exactly that I ought to have them but that it is queer that I haven't got them. That isn't the proper way to feel on New Year's day especially since every New Year's day for the last four years we have all thought that if the "damned" (thats what most of us thought allright even if we didn't say it) old war was over we would never feel blue again and neither we do at least I don't and don't intend to even although I have had to light the lamp this after noon to see to write, and though my gum boot which I wore a hole in the sole of on the hard frozen knobs of earth in the barn yard last week let in a pint of oozey mud and water around my foot so that it was just like an eel in a puddle all morning (I wore Dad's rubbers this after noon) and although that old brute of a Gladys acted just as stubborn as a pig can when we tried to load her into the crate this morning and I got mad enough to kill her and chased her around the yard till I was winded calling her names that wouldn't do for Sunday, and although I had to stand under the drip of the eave of the barn this after noon for about

ten minutes trying to unhook the chain which was just within an ace of unhooking but wouldn't come, and although instead of this being a nice, crisp, sunshiney, snowy sleigh bell jingling day, it has been a dark, muddy, drizzley, drippy, rainy rotten one with nothing more cheerful to look at than the mist and drizzle and nothing to hear but the darn ducks squawk and the dismal flapping of Enah's clothes which have been hanging on the line since Monday steadily getting wetter than when she put them there. Even in spite of all this, I haven't got the blues and upon a moment's thought realize that I would be a mighty ungrateful creature if I had, for in spite of all the weather there is an awful lot to be thankful for. The main part of the war is over and the boys are beginning to get back, some of them pretty badly shot up but others looking fine and all of them tickled pink to be home. Old Quint, who must have seen some hard fighting during the last summer and fall has got through without a scratch and writes most interesting letters from Belgium of the sights he sees there. Of course, Dad. had a letter from Dick to-day written on Christmas saying he was to sail for Siberia the next day so he is probably well out on the Pacific by this time and will maybe see action over there as the paper reports Canadian Artillery in the Arcangel region supporting Russian, American and Polish troops in attacks on the Bolsheviki, but then even though his future movements are in some ways so uncertain, it doesn't seem as if his stay in Russia will last as long as it might have if the Western Front was not peaceful and some reports say that men will not have to stay there more than a year unless they like, even although Canadian troops are still kept there, and even if he does see action over there after knowing of some of the marvelous escapes some of the boys in France have had, I can't help feeling that the same Power that pulled them through will also look after old Dick. These things as well as others keep my heart above my boot tops in spite of the depressing atmosphere. We did nothing in the way of celebration to-day. Frank and I had to take old Gladys down to Coleman's this morning and got pretty wet doing it. Dad. felt better this morning and went out and helped us load her but I'm afraid it didn't do him any good. To-night Frank and I went down town. Frank went up to Huby's. We intend to celebrate New Year's on Aunty's birthday.

Thursday January 2nd

After I got the morning chores done up I went down town to send a money order to "The Breeder's Gazette" for a renewal of my subscription and also for some books for the J.F.I.A. for which Frank gave me a cheque. I didn't get back till noon. This after noon Charlie Quanbury came after Frank to help him take his calves out to {Lish?} Farr. who seems to be making a business of wintering cattle for people on his thrashed alsike. I didn't do any thing in particular but chores all the afternoon. To night I felt as if I was getting quite a cold so soaked my feet in hot water and went to bed rather early having spent the fore part of the evening reading "The Prince and the Pauper" which Aunt Ida gave me on Christmas. It has been a beautiful winter day, dull, frozen & not cold.

Friday January 3rd

This being Aunty's birthday we celebrated it over here by having the goose which Frank slew yesterday for dinner and accordingly Aunty, Aunty Alice, Aunt Ida and Marj. all came over to partake of it. Frank and I didn't do any thing but chores and visit. Marj. stayed to tea and for the evening but the rest of them went down before tea. Frank went down to the dance given by the Women's Institute to-night and I walked home with Marj. later. Dad. hasn't felt much better to-day. It has been a very nice day. Freezing hard to-night.

Saturday January 4th

Last night was the coldest we have had yet this winter, the mercury being at zero this morning, but it has been a nice day with quite a strong west wind. Dad. Enah and the baby went down town before dinner and stayed down all the afternoon. Frank and I just did chores and bagged up what apples were left out in the barn some of which were frozen like bricks. Frank hitched Mexico to the cart and we hauled them over to the house in it and put them down cellar. We spent most of the after noon in the house reading the mail. Chuck Harn was in for a few minutes with a petition to have The Marburg Station moved from where it is up to the Cheese Factory, so Frank and I signed it as we didn't care a cent where it was and thought they must want it changed.

Saturday January 5th

Frank went down to Sunday school and church this morning but I didn't get down on account of the chores. None

of the rest of the family went down. I spent the after noon down at the Monteith's and came home to tea and to do chores. Lila was here to tea and She and I went down town right after tea as I wanted to get to church. We cut across the pond as there were a lot on it this after noon and I got my over coat full of pitch fork burrs getting up the hill. I went to church but was about half an hour late. I picked the burrs out of my over coat during the sermon. After church I went over and spent the evening with Marj. Tige McBride was down to-day to ask Frank and me to be bearers at Lee Boughner's funeral. He just home from France or England or where ever he was in the army the other day and died very suddenly yesterday. It hasn't been so cold to-day but freezing all day. Cloudy & breezy.

Monday January 6th

Frank and I spend most of our time these days just doing chores. I husked the rest of the corn we had up this morning and Frank and I got over some hay this afternoon. This was election day but Dad. didn't feel like going out to vote and I didn't want to take the time with the roads as rough as they are to drive way out to Wiggin's school house Jack Martin was in about four o'clock to get us to go out and vote for Hammond as he thought if he got in we might get the roads fixed up a little down in this end of the township. However we didn't go and Hammond got beaten by Gilbert by about 48 votes. In town R. M. Taylor beat Mat. Wilson for reeve and the council consists of Clare Deal, Jack Reynolds, Jim Bannister & Billy {Lamp?} I am afraid they are more inclined to be knockers than boosters but they may be all right. Enah and Tid went down to the Sunday school for tea to-night and for a concert afterwards in which all the kids took part. Frank went down after tea. Nice morning but rather blustery in after noon. Not cold.

Tuesday January 7th

We did all the chores up this morning so that we could go to Lee Boughner's funeral this after noon. Tom was over this morning greatly delighted at Hammond's defeat. Oscar Howden came in to drive him out to vote for Hammond but he walked out to Marburg so that he could vote as he pleased. We went up to the funeral this after noon and didn't put in such a bad time. Frank and I, Colin Lloyd, Tige and Lynn Waddle were bearers. Lynn would persist in expressing sentiments not suited to the

occasion which made it uncomfortable for the rest of us fellows during the service but we managed to pull through without disgracing ourselves and very unwillingly accepted the undertakers invitation to go in and have a look at Lee. Five returned soldiers came down from Simcoe to attend the funeral. They were a tough looking bunch. One had a glass eye and a stiff arm and another a game leg. They buried him in the Simcoe cemetry. I drove up with Lynn Waddle and Jack Maxwell. Lynn lit up his corn cob pipe just as we got started and and I don't think opened his mouth all the way up unless it was to make some coarse and ribald jest, one being that he thought Wess Boughner was damned stingy with his hard cider, as he hadn't offered us any. I came home with George Duncan as he was alone and could bring me closer to home. I transferred at his gate to Jack McBride's rig and when he turned in home I got in with Colin Ryerse & Frank and so got a ride home. To-night Frank and I went down to the J.F.I.A. and although we didn't have many out had a fairly good time. Everybody present performed in some way sang or read a poem out of my James Whitcomb Riley book it being Literary evening. We had some toast for refreshments. Very soft & mild. Snowing to-night.

Wednesday January 8th

Besides doing chores to-day Frank and I started to dig the straw out of the bottom of the west hay over in the old barn and put it up on the rails over head. Lorne Myers was in this morning to return Dad's probang. He borrowed it last night while we were down town to take a turnip out of his cow's throat. He wanted to know if we would like to try feeding some dried beet pulp as he was going to send for some so I told him to get us ten dollars's worth. To-night Frank and I went down town. I went over to the Monteith's for the evening. Frank intended to go to a soldier's concert which the I.O.D.E. were having but it was called off on account of the Holdin girls being sick, so he went up to Huby's and took Lila to the show. Aunty Alice sent to a Boston publishing Company for some plays for us to-night. A little colder to-day but nice.

Thursday January 9th

Frank and I finished covering the rails in the old barn with straw. We intended to get some more corn in and some hay over but the weather prevented us. It has been very blustery and blizzardy all day. It didn't snow any more but the high west wind kept what little had

fallen in the air all day. It was quite mild this morning but the mercury has been dropping all day and stands at zero to-night. This after noon the J.F.I.A. books came from "The Breeder's Gazette" Company so I spent this after noon looking through them. Charlie Shand was over and he and Frank went down to the dam to see if they were going to put the bridge back in place, but something went wrong with their plans so they didn't move it.

Friday January 10th

It has been still very windy all day, the wind was worse than yesterday but it has been much milder and was barely freezing this after-noon. Just did chores this morning and this after noon went up to Mat. Wilson's to pay him for the apple-barrels I got last fall. Sam Law had been thrashing there but had to stop as the wind was blowing their belt into the wheel and fraying it. I went over to Ham Thompson's for awhile to look at his calves. Frank went over to Quanbury's as he had promised to help them haul hay but as he thought they didn't go after any as the wind was too strong. I went down town to-night. They had a small fire at the dam last night.

Saturday January 11th

Frank and I fed up the stock this morning and then went out and got a small jag of corn shocks Tom and his grandson young Murrey Simpson came over and got a little jag of hay on his one horse waggon This after noon Frank went out with John Quanbury to Charlie's place and helped him put on a load of hay I did chores and husked enough corn stalks to feed the cows to-night. Aunty came over this after noon to see how Dad. was and he and Tid. walked back with her and stayed down to tea. Frank went down town to-night and I oiled the chicken's legs. Not so windy a little colder.

Saturday January 12th

Frank went down to Sunday school and church this morning but I was doing chores till noon. Dad., Enah & Tid went down to Aunty's for dinner and Enah went to church. Frank Awde & Earl came to see Dad. just as I was going to eat and I left them here with Frank and went down town. I was down with Marj. all the after noon but came home to tea and do chores. I went down after tea but was too late to go to church. It has been mild and sunny to-day. Not much wind.

Monday January 13th

Frank and I loaded up the oats we cleaned out of the little box-stall in the horse stable and took them down to be chopped. There were 17 bags but we thought we might as well take them down as empty part of them. The water was low down there so we had to leave the grist there. Dad. walked over to John Wess's this morning and stayed to dinner. He was pretty tired when he got back and he says John Wess is in pretty bad shape too. This after noon Frank finished mending the box stall door and I helped him hang it and then husked a little corn. About four o'clock we went down and got our chop. We traded some oats off for a bag of oil cake. To-night Frank went down town to ask Zeitha Barwell if she would go to Simcoe with him to-morrow night as the J.F.I.A. all intended going up to the Rink for a skate, but Tige and Albert were down to-night and thought we had better call it off as there would be no ice, so we are going to leave it till to-morrow and see if it gets colder. Very mild and soft all day.

Tuesday January 14th

Dad. Enah and Tid all went down to Aunty's for dinner to-day as it was Aunt Ida's birthday. Frank and I did chores all morning and I husked corn. Tige McBride came down after dinner to tell us that he called up Simcoe this morning and found out that there wouldn't be any ice so we went down to Lloyd's to tell him to arrange for some thing at the club. Tige let most of the fellows know by telephone that the meeting would be at the club. Frank and I did up the chores early and Dad. and Tid came home about half past four. Enah went up to St. John's with Aunty Maude to hear some W.A. workers from the West. She came back on the seven o'clock car. Marj. had promised to go to the rink with me so when I told her we were going to meet at the club she went over there. There were ten or a dozen of the boys out and about eight girls so we had a very good time playing games and a little dancing. Crosby and Alex England went down and borrowed a fiddle from the Slocomb's and Charlie Blake furnished the music. Soft all day, colder to-night.

Wednesday January 15th

Dad. felt much better to-day and helped us all day and we got in two loads of corn. The second one we

got were little ones with not much corn in it so we brought them in to feed to the cows without husking. We had a visit from a pail pedlar and got three pails from him. To-night I went down to see Marj. for awhile. Mild but frozen.

Thursday January 16th

John Quanbury came over this morning before we through breakfast to get Frank to go and help him saw up part of the spruce tree which he cut down at Mrs. Battersby's about a month ago. The butt of it is a big log and John can't saw it alone. We had figured on getting in some more corn but Dad. and I put off what we brought in last night but didn't go after any more. Frank came in at noon and he and I got in a load this after noon. Dad. was very much annoyed not to be able to help us but Jackie Pickford came over for a visit and Dad. couldn't shake him he was here all the after noon. We didn't bring in a big load of corn as we don't pile it up on the rack but try to keep each shock seperate so that we won't pull them to pieces when we unload. We didn't unload it to-night but emptied the chop we got the other day into Ed's big bin as we saw one of the cats with a big rat and were afraid to leave it in the bags any longer. Frank and I had hoped to go for a skate to-night but it has been very soft all day and is barely freezing to-night so we stayed home and read over the Shakespeare plays which Aunty Alice got for us for a J.F.I.A. performance.

Friday January 17th

Frank went over to help John Quanbury again this morning. Dad. and I did chores and unloaded the corn Frank and I brought in yesterday. Aunty Alice came over to dinner. This after noon Dad. Frank and I put on a jag of hay to haul over to the old barn, we would have hauled more but McEwen came down to look at the sheep. He said he wanted to get some ewes for some fellow and asked me if I would take $35.00 apiece for the ewes we culled out and marked for sale in the fall, so I told him we would as the market seems very uncertain and we need the money. I am to call him up to-morrow night to find out whether it is a sale or not. He also offered me $15.00 apiece for the old ewes we sold to Niel Elliott, so I will have to find out from Niel whether he will let me off the deal. I

tried to telephone him to-night but he wasn't home. Alan Law came in before McEwen left for Dad. to look at his mare. He is afraid she has an attack of asoturia. Enah went down town with Aunty Alice this after noon and had two teeth out. Frank went down to the Women's Institute dance to-night and I went skating on the pond I was surprised to find it so good as it has been very soft all day, but the ice was hard.

Saturday January 18th

Frank went over this morning and finished helping John Quanbury cut up the spruce tree. Dad. Tid and I drove down to Sam Law's and gave Alan's mare a ball, she didn't seem very sick. When we got back I went over to Martin's to see the bunch of chickens they had all ready to ship to Madison Square gardens this after noon. I also went down to Quanbury's to telephone Niel Elliott but he wasn't home. This after noon Dad. finished cleaning a couple of chickens he killed this morning and Frank finished making a crate to weigh sheep in. We then brought the scales over from the old barn and weighed the three ram lambs we sold to Niel. {Hray?} weighed 87 lbs and the other two 100 & 105. I went down town to-night and called up Niel and McEwen. Niel told me to go ahead and sell the old ewes if I could get any more out of them but when I got McEwen he told me he hadn't been able to see the man that he was buying for so said I hadn't better keep them on the chance of him taking them. I was in at Aunty's on my way home. Aunty is very grieved over the cutting down of the old poplar tree in front of the old Mrs. Bagley house. It was the largest tree of its kind I ever saw and one of the most beautiful trees in town. It is far older than any one living can remember and the trunk was sound as could be. The weather is still very mild and Spring like. Didn't freeze to-night.

Sunday January 19th

Frank went down to Sunday school and I went down to church this morning Dad. has fell well enough to do chores to-day. Enah was to have played the organ this morning but felt too sick. She has felt miserable since having her teeth out. Aunty came over to dinner with us. I went down town this after noon and Marj. and I went over to see Miss McQueen. Marj. &

Essie went to Hamilton yesterday to see Robert Mantell in "The Merchant of Venice" and Marj. said it was great. I stayed down at Aunty's to tea and went to church with Aunty Alice. Spent the evening with Marj. Very mild. Feels like April instead of January.

Monday January 20th

Dad. went over to Flemming's this morning to thrash while Frank and I took our sheep down to Niel's. He made the two old ewe's weigh 30 lbs more than we did so we didn't lose anything by not letting McEwen have them after all. The lambs lost 10 lbs according to Niel going down but the five head brought us $67.00. We brought home a load of coal with us as one had just come in. It was chestnut and pea coal mixed so was not nearly as good as the last stove coal we got. Dad. stayed down to Flemming's to dinner and Frank went down to change places with him after dinner. There was a letter in the mail addressed to Mr. Barratt and Rush on it. We expected Dad. home any minute so put it away for him. He was about half an hour getting home and when he opened it found it was from Lloyd-Jones letting me to meet him as he was coming down on the 3 o'clock car, consequently I had to step lively to make the car. Dad. went back over to Flemming's to let Frank come home and seperate some of the smallest ewe lambs in case Lloyd-Jones wanted to buy any. I took him up to Ham's before I brought him over here and Ham sold him his two best ram lambs and his five ewe lambs. He then came over to our place and bought the five ewes we had picked out and begged so hard for some more that we picked out Nos. 2 & 3 four year old ewes of old Splitears and sold him the seven for $225.00. The little yearling the "baby" we considered worth $15.00 and the others $35.00 apiece I took Lloyd-Jones back to catch the five o'clock car. Frank didn't think it worthwhile going back to Flemming's so Dad. has thrashed nearly all day and feels pretty tired to-night. It has been a beautiful, mild Spring like day.

Tuesday January 21st

Frank went over to thrash again this morning and has been away all day. They finished at Flemming's before dinner and moved to Martin's where they had a

very steady run all the after noon. Frank says they will finish there in a couple of hours. Dad. and I went down this morning and got a load of soft coal. Dad. walked down and I had the coal on when he got down as he stopped in at Aunty's for awhile. I saw the station agent who told me we could have a car to-morrow after noon to ship the sheep but when we found the thrashers would be here so early we thought we had better put off the shipping a day so I saw the agent again to-night and he said it would suit him better not to let us have the car till Thursday. Enah went down to the dentist this after noon so I sent down all the certificates to be transferred with her to post. Dad. and I did chores this after noon and I unloaded the soft coal some of it at the barn to thrash with us and the rest of it in the wood shed. Frank and I went to J.F.I.A. to-night. We had a pretty fair crowd out and spent the evening deciding on a play to get up. We at last picked on Julius Caesar. There was a grand dance on in the hall to-night for the employees of the Foundation Company. Ham and I went up after the club to find the station agent as he was one of the guests, they were all up in the Red Cross rooms having supper. {illegible} Spring

Wednesday January 22nd

Frank went over to Martin's for a little while this morning and came back while they were putting through the chaff to help us get ready for them. They got over here and set up and thrashed about an hour before dinner and ran steadily all the after noon finishing up soon after five. We got about ten bushels of nice looking seed two bushels of which were from the chaff and may not be quite so heavy as the other. I didn't do very much as Tom came over and we had lots of help. Tom gave me four dollars which he got for the old hens and two dollars for eggs and this after noon I got a letter from Neff with a cheque in it for ten dollars to pay my expenses at Guelph and also my score cards. I went down to see Marj. to-night.

Thursday January 23rd

It was very misty this morning and soon turned to rain which kept up all day some times raining quite hard. Frank went over to Pickford's to see if they would thrash but neither Sam nor Alan put in an appearance. I drove down town before dinner to see where our car was to ship the sheep in and thought I would get Joe shod. I didn't have

time to get her shod before dinner so thought as I had her down and she was badly in need of it I had better have her shod after so I stayed at Aunty's to dinner and by the time I got home it was half past three. We then had to hurry to get the sheep loaded {illegible words} there and as it was Frank and I {illegible words} after six. Dad. went down with us and {illegible words} home. The sheep go out on a night {illegible words} morning and appeared to be {illegible words}.

Friday January 24th

Frank went down to Pickford's to thrash this morning {illegible words} as they started up about the middle of {illegible words}. They finished there this after noon and then moved down to {illegible} and thrashed him out in an hour or two and Frank didn't get back till dark. Dad. and I did chores and and Dad. battoned up the north end of the calve's pen. I started to read after dinner and went to sleep for quite awhile {illegible words} for awhile this after noon to get the number of the old ram Enah and Frank went down to the Library dance to-night & I went down town and went up to Miss Martin's with Marj. I went down to Aunty's and found Roy there. He came in on the nine o'clock car. I went up to the hall to call for Enah about half past eleven as she didn't want to stay too late. There was certainly a jamboree up there in the hallway was packed so full a fellow could hardly move and couldn't see across the room for smoke. Colder & windy.

Saturday January 25th

Dad. Frank and I have been hauling in corn all day we got in six rack loads averaging about ten shocks to the load and put it up over the granary where the clover seed was. We got some of the best corn in the field and some of it was very goodlooking. Roy came over to tea to-night and Dad. walked back with him to-night {illegible words} saw several little door mice in the corn field to-day. They are very pretty and unlike the field mice which always make for another shock cross-country when the shock they have been inhabiting is lifted off them and are generally caught by the dogs, the door mice always try to climb out of harm's reach. One of them ran up one of the spokes in the front wheel and sat on the front bolster of the waggon for a long time and a couple ran up the horse's legs. Beautiful Spring day again. Muddy this afternoon.

Sunday January 26th

Frank went down to Sunday school this morning and Dad. Enah and Tid went down to church but I didn't go down as I didn't get the chores done in time. This after noon I went down town after Frank and I had our lunch, the rest of them stayed down at Aunty's for dinner. Marj. and I went down and called on the Bailies and then went over to the Paterson's but they weren't home so we walked up Main St. and met Miss Martin who was en route to the Sunday school to number some books in the library so we went down with her and helped her or at least Marj. did. We then went down to Aunty's to tea. Enah and Winnie were also there. They and Roy and Aunty went to church but Aunty Alice, Aunt Ida and Marj. & I didn't go. Beautiful day. West Wind.

Monday January 27th

We hauled in corn all day again to-day and got the field cleared this side of the potato ground. We also have the mow about full. Pickford came over this after noon and told us he had sold his best clover seed for twenty three dollars per bushel and his lower grade for twenty one. Edmonds bought it but didn't want to buy much. It is queer that it is so hard to sell and yet the price is so high. Another fine day. Muddy this after noon.

Tuesday January 28th

We hauled in another load of corn this morning from the north side of the potato patch but there was no room for it in the mow so we left it on the waggon. I went down to Aunty's for dinner and caught the one o'clock car for Simcoe to attend the annual meeting of the Norfolk Co-Operative Association. There was a good turnout and the report of the business done was very satisfactory for the first year. They had $1136.31 profit, $1000 of which they will divide among the members giving them 2 1/2% rebate on the business they did with the Association. Burnaby the President of the United Farmers of Ontario Co-Operative Co. was there and gave us a talk on organization I came home on the 7 o'clock car and had tea at Aunty's. Corby was at the station waiting around to go to the J.F.I.A. He had been in Simcoe but had driven his mother down to Dover and they had gone on home, so I invited him up to Aunty's for supper. He came. Frank came down and we

all went up to the club. There weren't many out but as our books came we went over the play and it sounded pretty fair. Dad. and Frank got another load of coal this after noon and hauled it over the new bridge, the first time any of us have driven over it. A little colder to-day. Cloudy.

Wednesday January 29th

Dad. and Frank went down to Sam Law's to thrash this morning and Frank was gone all day. Dad. got home soon after dinner. I first did chores this morning and husked some corn. This after noon I drove up to Ham Thompson's and got a Barred Rock cockrell to mate with my four pullets. I also stopped in at the mill and paid $25.00 on my account. I went down town to-night and Marj. and I went up to Miss Martin's. It has not been very cold to-day but a raw wind. March weather.

Thursday January 30th

I went over to Tupper's this morning to get him to come over and help us slay swine so he told Dad. he would come when we were ready to convert our two into pork. He was milking when I got there and I had to wait till he had breakfast so it was rather late when we got over here and got started and as a natural consequence long after noon when we finished. However we got the job done very well. Tupper brought over a little block and tackle outfit he had so that eliminated all heavy lifting to scald them or hang them up as we fixed up a scaffold and had a rail out of the upstairs door of the shop to hang them on and the barrel of water right under. They were a nice pair one dressed 232 lbs and the other 205 I think. Tupper had dinner here and we didn't do a thing till chore time but visit. He entertained us by relating anecdotes of folks up around the district between Simcoe and Waterford. He seems to know every one up there and has very funny stories to tell of all of them, and they lose nothing by him telling it either. Tom came in about half past four and got two or three bags of clover chaff for bedding. He also got my two cockrels which I sold him for a dollar apiece. I went down town to night and Frank and Enah and I went to hear Miss Wade at the Sunday school lecture on China. She was staying at Aunty's and we saw her afterwards down there. She was very interesting. Nice day. Freezing to-night.

Friday January 31st

Dad. spent all the morning and I think most of the after noon cutting up the pigs. Frank and I cut a piece off the straw stack and hauled it over to the horse stable. This after noon Frank went down to the Customs office to get his Roth Memory Course which he sent for the other day. I hooked up and went over to Lorne Myer's and to Lloyd Crysler's to get them to take part in Julius Caeser. I don't know whether they will or not as they both seemed loth to tackle it. I was at Lloyd's quite awhile visiting with him and Hannah and listening to their Pathé phonegraph. To-night Frank and I went down town. Frank went to the Women's Institute dance and I spent the evening at Monteith's. Ed. Moon was over here all the after noon. Windy and a little colder.

Saturday February 1st

Dad. put the pork in pickle this morning and was glad to find he could get it all in his barrel. Frank and I hauled a load of hay over to the old barn and put it off. This after noon we hauled in three more loads of corn and put two of them off over the west bay in the old barn on top of what we hauled first. The third load we left in the rack. Enah went down town this after noon and Dad. went down to-night to take Aunty a piece of pork. They had a letter from Quint saying that he hoped to be home by the end of March.

Sunday February 2nd

Frank went down to Sunday school this morning and Enah and I walked down to church. Aunty came over with Enah and Frank but I stayed down with Aunty Alice and Aunt Ida to dinner. This after noon Marj. and I went over to Miss McQueen's. I had tea at Aunty's and Aunty, Aunt Ida and I went to church. I spent the evening at the Monteith's. Lila was over here to tea with her eukalalie. Frank went down with her to-night and overtook me on my way home. Beautiful day, a little colder.

Monday February 3rd

We hauled in more corn to-day and got in the best of it. This after noon Dad. burned off the corner field as it burned so well while Frank and I were putting on the last load. We put on

a big load and left it on the waggon. Ham Thompson was down this morning to see if I was going to Brantford to-morrow. We decided to go on the nine o'clock car. Frank went down town to-night to stay {words illegible} as he is going to leave for Toronto in the morning {words illegible} in the Sheep Breeder's meeting. Beautiful day very mild.

Tuesday February 4th

Ham, Frank and I all went up on the nine o'clock car this morning. We left Frank at {illegible} and the went to Hamilton by radial. Ham and I {words illegible} for Brantford at 10.45. There was quite a {illegible} on the train bound for the Lloyd Jones sale and they all got off at Mt. Vernon so we {piled off too?} and had to walk over a mile to the farm. We had dinner at Lloyd Jone's as soon as we got there. Ham {words illegible} in with a Mr. Gould from the American Sheep {Association?} and after dinner we had a look at all the prize winners and cups before we went out. He had quite a {words illegible} of them. The sale lasted all the after noon as the bidding was rather slow. There were few buyers and they didn't run things up all high. Our old ewes brought $40.00 apiece and the others ${34.00?} and $39. Six of them were sold in pairs but the little one was sold singly and brought $20.00 so he didn't make a very big profit on any of our stuff but one of Ham's ram lambs brought $48.00. He sold all his at $50.00 apiece but some of the ewes lambs didn't bring that much and the other ram just brought {illegible}. We hung around and nearly froze all the after noon and about four o'clock Mr. Gould struck out for Mt. Vernon to catch the train for Brantford, but we wanted to get our checks if possible from Lloyd-Jones before we left {illegible} waited as he promised to get us to Brantford in time to catch the six car, so we waited. The sale lasted right up to the minute we had to leave so we couldn't get our money and he sent us in to Brantford in his Ford. A fellow came with us who was very anxious to get a six o'clock train for Toronto but just about two miles out of Brantford we had a blowout, so had to stop to put on a new tire. The Toronto man hailed another car going in with a load so may have caught his train but ours had gone when we got to town so we had to wait for the eight o'clock car. We had a good supper which we were might glad to get at the Royal Café and then played a couple of games of Pool before the car came in. I saw

Mrs Dell on the car. She had been down at Cobury to see Roy and says he his just about alright again. We went up to the J.F.I.A. social evening. I stopped in at Aunty's first. We put in the time in the usual manner up there and I got home at three o'clock. Rained this morning. Freezing to-night.

Wednesday February 5th

Dad. and I did chores this morning but not much else. This after noon I went over to Lorne Myer's and got the beet pulp he ordered for us. It is queer looking stuff and very bulky. A cwt. bag being about as big as a bluegrass sack. We put a little of it to soak to feed the cows to-morrow. To-night I went down town and Marj. and I went skating, we called in and got Zeitha to go with us. Ed. Turner, Woodger, Leggit, Mr. Bagley & Essie were down there and as the ice was pretty good we had a good skate. It has been colder to-day, but fair.

Thursday February 6th

Dad. went down to Alfred's this morning to borrow the screens of his fanning mill which he uses to clean clover seed as we want to get ours cleaned up. Ham was talking to a fellow at the sale on Tuesday and he said they had no clover seed to sow up there and the Woodstock seed merchants were asking $32.00 a bushel for it. Ham told him he could get 100 bushels down this way for $25.00 or less so he took Ham's name and said he would put it up to his club and try to get them to give us an order. This after noon I went down town as notice of a registered letter came and as I suspected it was the pedigree for the sheep and found I was correct. I posted them again to Lloyd-Jones before I came home. To-night Enah and I went down to the hall to see the boys that are home from the front get their five dollar gold pieces or whatever the town was giving them. Ron. Taylor was doing the presenting and Mr. Johnson calling out the names of the men. Most of them had got their souvenir when we got there but we heard Ed Moon and Ed Turner make little speeches. They had a dance afterwards and we stayed till about midnight.

Friday February 7th

We didn't do any thing much to-day but chores and sit around and read. We heard last night that the Sloan's had got a letter from Willie posted at Tokio

so Dad. has been looking for one from Dick as we thought they were on the same boat but have found out since that Willie Sloan sailed about a week earlier than Dick. I went skating to-night and had a fine time. Miss McQueen went down and afterwards Marj. Ed. Turner and I went in to her place and had coffee & cake. As I was going through Martin's to-night I was very surprised to meet Frank he had come home on the seven o'clock car. He went home and then came down to the pond. Still fine and mild.

Saturday February 8th

We cleaned off the barn floor this morning and put our clover seed through the mill. It didn't clean out much and what seed went behind we put through again and will keep it to sow as there are no very bad weed seeds in it. We will have about six bushels or more to sell and plenty to sow. We also put through a sample of oats to take to Simcoe as Neff is buying seed oats for the Government at 80 cts per bushel to send out West and Johnson is handling them for 5 cts per bushel. The market price is about sixty cts. Frank and I went skating again to-night. The pond is great now up above where it was frozen before as it has risen and made new ice. It is still beautiful weather may be a little colder but very little.

Sunday February 9th

I actually got ready in time for Sunday school this morning and went down. I stayed at Aunty's for dinner and this after noon went up to see Marj. We sat around the house all the after noon as it was snowing hard when I went up. We went down to Aunty's for tea and Aunty Alice, Marj. and I all went to church Huby and Aunty Maude came back to Aunty's with us and we spent the evening there. It didn't snow much. Colder.

Monday February 10th

We spent the day hauling out clover chaff on the wheat to-day. We hauled it out on the rack and Frank and I pitched it off and spread it as well as we could and Dad. followed us and shook it out more, as we didn't want to get it on too thick. We got it all out and it covered two bands the full length of the feild and a piece at

each end of the next two bands. We also got in another jag of corn. Charlie Munroe was in this morning and sold Dad. a piece of beef. Mr. & Mrs. Jim Waddle were in for a few minutes at noon. Dad. and Enah had intended to go out to see them to-night to ask them over to dinner on Thursday. They did go to-night any way. Frank went skating but I stayed home so that Tid wouldn't be alone he is asleep. Beautiful day. Mild. Frank told us when he got home about Toddy West, his little brother and Johnnie Miller being drowned in the lake this after noon. The little West fellow got in through the ice first and then Teddy tried to save him. He got in and Johnny tried to get him out. Young Gunton was with them and he yelled for help and Capt. McCauly & Ed Moon waded in and got them all out but although they worked on them for a couple of hours or more they couldn't save them.

Wednesday Tuesday February 11th

We got the spreader out this morning and have been hauling out manure from around the stack to too wheat all day and got out 12 loads. We were a little afraid to tackle it at first for fear the ground being so hard would do some damage to the spreader but it didn't seem to hurt it any. Mr. Nixon and Willie were in for a few minutes this after noon to look at the stack. Enah and Tid. drove Mexico down town after some coal-oil this after noon. To-night Frank and I went down to the J.F.I.A. but as usual there were very few there. Very mild all day looks like snow.

Wednesday February 12th

It snowed a little last night but soon melted off to-day as it has been very mild up around 40°. Frank and I hauled manure all day and got out 12 more loads. We started in on the pile at the horse stable this after noon. Dad. spent most of the day killing and picking the four ducks that were left to provide the dinner for Mr. & Mrs. Jim Waddle to-morrow night. To-night Enah, Frank and I went down to Aunty Alice's party. Lila, Winnie, Dess, Fraser, Marj. Zeitha, Bill {illegible} Tige McBride and Huby were all there, and Huby provided the principal entertainment naturally but Zeitha did some very nice singing for us and Bill performed on Lila's Ukalele. We also had various forms of guessing contests, the chief amusement derived from them were Huby's answers

Thursday February 13th

Frank and I got out six more loads of manure this morning but quit early to go to Simcoe this after noon. We both went up and I went to the Co-operative meeting and Frank did shopping. He got some rock-salt & gut and got the harness we left at Church's. He said he couldn't fix it so we left it at Herb. Woods. We had an interesting meeting although there were not many out. Mr. Gordon from the Livestock branch was there to talk about shipping Livestock co-operatively and Mr. Kerr from P.E. Island told about their successful co-operative egg-marketing business down there. Prof Graham was also there but I didn't have time to wait till the meeting was over as Frank and I had to leave at four o'clock to get home in good time for supper. Dad. had most of the chores done when we got home. Mr. & Mrs. Jim Waddle were here to tea and spent the evening. Frank went down to a birthday party at Myrtle Greenbury's Very mild, roads in beautiful shape. Raining to-night.

Friday February 14th

It rained hard during the night so that we couldn't go on with the manure hauling. I took Daisy May over to Tupper's and while I was gone Alan Law came after Frank and the clippers to clip his horse. He was down there to dinner. This after noon Dad. and I drove down to Wess & George Fields to see their Shorthorns and were very agreeably surprised at the bunch we saw. They have seven or eight cows of very uniform type and all thick smoothe and low down. They had two very fine yearling heifers all of Scotch breeding. Their $500.00 Imported two-year bull is very smoothe and stylish looking but doesn't look as if he would make a very big bull. We went from there down to Blake's and I left some "Breeder's Gazettes" for Charlie to get pointers for his debate from. The roads were awful and consequently we were late getting home. We came up the Plank and through town as it was better than the back way. Frank and I went down town to-night. Frank went to the W.I. dance. Still mild but drizzly.

Saturday February 15th

We didn't do much to-day but chores. Frank and I husked some corn this morning and this after noon bagged up all the barley and oats that were left (about 10 bags)

to take to the mill but as it was so wet we didn't go. Dad. went down to Aunty's for tea to-night. Marion McLaughlin was over all the after noon playing with Tid. It has been colder to-day and snowed a little this after noon.

Sunday February 16th

Frank went to Sunday school this morning and I left here with the intention of going but when I got within sight of the town clock and found it to be a quarter after ten I decided to wait till church time so went back to Aunty's and read for awhile and then went to church, sat in the back seat with Frank, Lloyd Ryerse and a stranger and disgraced myself by going to sleep during the Litany dreaming of something funny and waking up laughing. I partook of dinner at Aunty's and also tea, accompanied Aunty to church this evening and spent the after noon and evening with Marj. at the Monteiths. Soft during day. Colder to-night.

Monday February 17th

I have put in a pretty idle day. This morning Frank and I went down to the mill this morning with the grain we bagged up on Saturday and from there on down town to the Widespread where I got my trap nest which Emery made for me. We got our chop on our way home.This after noon I just sat around and read. Dad. and Frank put on a load of hay and hauled it over to the horse stable. Enah and Tid drove Miss Phipps over to McPherson's for her to see a dinner-waggon Emery is making for her. To-night I went down to Aunty's for tea as she invited me to go to the picture show with her. Marj. was there too and we three went to see Margurite Clark in "The Seven Swans". It was about the prettiest and all-round nicest show I ever saw. Aunty is very distressed about my ribs hurting so much and thinks I should go to the doctor. Colder but fine all day. Snowing quite hard to-night.

Tuesday February 18th

I haven't done any thing in the shape of work to-day but this after noon went down and had the doctor examine my ribs where I hurt them a couple of weeks ago as the last few days they have pained considerably when I tried to work. He said the bone was not hurt but put some adhesive tape banadages around me which promise to be very uncomfortable. I got my hair cut and stayed at Aunty's to tea. Huby was there too as he came to take

a couple of pictures out of a tube which Quint sent to Aunty. Enah & Tid. drove Mexico down this after noon and Enah went to help her mother tend store as her father went to Hamilton to a trade banquet this after noon. Dad. and Frank spent most of the day doing chores and getting over some straw for the horse stable. Dad had a long, interesting and as it is the first one we have got since New Year's, very welcome letter from Dick. It was posted at Vladivostock and tells mostly of his trip across the Pacific. He went as we supposed on the S.S. Protosilous (or some such name) {Protesilaus} and although he was luckier than most in escaping sea-sickness, they had some very bad storms, and it was in a typhoon that the ship lost one of her propellers. She was a twin screw however, so could make port on her own steam. He had not seen much of the city when he wrote as they were quartered two miles out in barracks built by the Russians in the Russian - Japanese war. Typhus was prevalent in town so he didn't intend going in much. He said there was nothing to go in for any way as he couldn't talk to the shop-keepers and although there was a picture-show, it seldom ran for when it did there was not enough power left to run the street cars. I went up to the J.F.I.A. to-night and althoug we had a fair crowd out most of them couldn't wait but hiked for the dance in the hall which Jack Riddel & Pete Holmes the station agent are putting on to-night. We had a sort of debate on the Horse vs. Tractor and Frank had the best prepared lot of points in favor of the Tractor, but was the only one evidently who had put any time on it. I went back down to Aunty's after the meeting and found Dad. and Tid. there. Dad. having come down to go with Enah and Tid. to see the "Seven Swans". Dad told me to stay all night so that I could hook Mexico up for Enah in the morning as she stayed all night with her mother. The flags are floating at half-mast to-day in memory of Sir Wilfred, whose death was reported in to-day's papers. We all realize that with him Canada has lost the greatest orator and statesman of the day and that it may be years before Parliament has another man his equal. There has been quite a change in the weather lately and we are now having quite seasonable weather but not much snow.

Wednesday February 19th

I was spending a very enjoyable hour in bed this morning awake but, knowing I didn't have to get up till Aunty & Aunty Alice did, when Aunty came in with the alarming anouncement that she thought I had better stay in bed all day or at least till she went up and got the doctor and threatened to bring me my breakfast in bed. She had heard me cough as I have quite a cold and was afraid that I might contract pleurisy where my ribs were sore and maybe the flu so was quite worried. I did my best to allay her fear and did persuade her to let me get up and eat breakfast like a Christain but she was bound to go and interview the doctor. He said there was no danger what ever so that relieved her. I sat around there and read till about eleven when Enah came down. I hooked Mexico up for her and she drove home but I walked having had all the ride I wanted behind Mexico in his cart coming around the block. I didn't do much this after noon but sit around and read. Dad. and Frank hauled over another load of straw and put it off in the horse stable. Geordie Boughner was in looking at Dad's steers this after noon but didn't buy. We also had a visit from old Broadley and the famous Rachel. He was collecting stallion fees and after looking at Bell decided we owed him seven and a half although Dad. doesn't think she is in foal. However I paid him. He allowed seventy five cents a trip for his meals last summer, otherwise the fees would have been fifteen dollars. I went down town to-night and Aunty Alice gave me a ticket to Miss Crydon's music pupils' recital as the I.O.D.E. were selling the tickets to raise funds to buy a flag for the school-house Aunty Alice had bought two. She went with Cousin Loll and I went up to Monteith's and found Marj. had bought a ticket also so we started off for the concert. I considering it a treat for me and a Dutch treat for Marj. On the way down we thought better of it as no-body seemed to anticipate much of a concert and went down and spent a very nice evening at Miss McQueen's. I called in at Aunty's on my way home and Aunty Alice informed me that the concert was the worst she had ever experienced. It consisted chiefly of violin selections by Miss Crydons pupils and the fiddles were not in tune and the fiddlers couldn't play anyway. One lady recited and she stuttered. The best performer was a little Mitchell but her unlady like posture and fondness for chewing gum distressed Aunty Alice terribly.

Thursday February 20th

Dad and Frank hauled over another load of straw to the horse stable this morning and I helped them mow it away. I didn't do much though as the adhesive tape on my back and ribs makes the skin irritable and rather sore when I work. Aunty Alice came over for a little while after dinner but didn't stay long. Enah & Tid drove down town as Enah had to go to the dentist and Dad. and Frank went back and cut a little bass wood along John Wess's line. I read all the after noon.