Theobald "Toby" Barrett Diary, 1920-1921
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DIARY. 1920-21.
T.B.Barrett,
Port Dover, Ontario.
Cnocfierna.
From January 1st 1920 to April 15th 1921
{Left page blank}
Thursday January 1st 1920
The New Year found me leaning over the balcony in the gallery of the town hall with Bub. and Dess watching the noisy crowd of dancers below us with a certain ammount of amusement but with no desire to join them. My feet were too sore with chilblains to dance anyway, but Bub's society was just as congenial if not more so than any one else's there, in fact there were very few of my freinds there and the great majority I didn't even know, and judging from appearances am not at all particular about making their acquaintance. We soon became tired of our show and went home early. It is a long time since I have had a visit with Bub and our conversation had been mainly reminisent of our high school days of ten years ago. It sounds a long time but looks only a matter of a few months when the happenings of the interval are not considered. Certainly, though, those happening's have meant a great deal to the poor old world and I wonder what effect they will have on the history of the decade we are now beginning. Although the war has been over now for more than a year, the spirit of strife is still rampant in all countries and manifests itself in the strikes, riots and general restlessness with which all people have been suffering from. Up till now conditions don't show much sign of improvement but it must come to an end eventually, and I suppose, when the old world does getting running smoothly again.
it will be a better place for all classes to live. New Year's day has been cold and blustery and we haven't done any thing but the necessary chores and sit around the fire and read. To-night we all went down to Aunty's for tea and spent the evening. All from Huby's were there as well as Cousin Clare & Phoebe. We spent the evening with music and playing Guessing games which we always have a lot of fun at.
Friday January 2nd
It has been bitterly cold to-day, below zero with a strong west wind and we have done nothing but a few chores keep the fires going and read. To-night Enah Frank and I went down to a party at Ada's and had a very nice time. We played cards most of the evening. Most of the party were playing bridge but, Winnie Lila, Frank a Mr. Moore who is a freind of Zeitha's and a cousin of Mrs. Freeman's, and I played rummy and seven-up, and the phonograph, then Zeitha and later Quint joined us and we danced. Frank & Lila lit out for the Rebecca's dance in the hall about twelve o'clock. I stayed at Ada's and came home with Enah and Mrs. Jack Martin about one o'clock.
Saturday, January 3rd
We were very late having breakfast this morning and before we got at it Phil Shaver came after Dad. to go and dose one of his horses, so Dad. was over there till noon. I chored around most of the morning and Frank slept most of the day as he didn't get home from his dance till about four o'clock this morning. Dad. and I did up the chores early (and we have quit milking at night) and we both went down to Aunty's for tea. Quint was there and so were the Miss Hardings so Aunty had quite a birthday party. I left right after tea and went down to meet the seven o'clock car, as Marj. came in on it, so I spent the rest of the evening with her, she had a nice holiday at home Su
Sunday, January 4th
Frank Tid and I went down to sunday school and church this morning. I stayed down at Aunty's for dinner. This afternoon Marj. and I went over to see Miss McQueen and then went down to Aunty's where we stayed to tea. Aunty Alice Marj. and I went to church to-night. I got home about twelve o'clock and found Frank was not in yet. He was down at the Ward's and got home soon after I did. It has been very cold all day, but very little wind.
Monday, January 5th
Frank and I went down right after breakfast to get our long looked for stove. It was ordered from Eaton's on the 15th of November and just arrived on Saturday. We also got Marj's suitcase which she checked by Grand Trunk and took it up for her, and as we had to get some things up town it was after eleven when we got home, but we went down to the mill for some bran & chicken feed before dinner.
We spent most of the after noon putting the new stove up and had a great fire until to-night. Bob. Dougherty was in just before two with some fellow called Slack to tell us he wanted the lambs on Saturday. He would have stayed to tea but Slack wouldn't wait for him and he was driving the car. Frank and I went down town to-night. Frank went to the dance and I went with the band to serenade the new council. Taylor beat poor old Walker badly so we went up to his place first and took him as well as all the rest of them by surprise. We went from there to John Harvey's where we got treated with wine and Lou's wedding cake. Then we went over to Perce Ryerse's but his wife informed us that he had gone down after some medicine for the baby. We played anyway and I don't know whether we killed the baby or not. Mr. Quinn's was our next stop and then we set out for Capt. P.C. Robinson's. We went to the house but Pauline said he had gone to lodge, so we started over there to "get his goat" but some body saw him headed down Main St. and at last "tried" him in his office at the Fish Shanty, so we gave him a couple of selections and then we dispersed. They all promised to give us all the financial assistance that was necessary next year and three of them gave us enough to buy some cigars with. Mid shoved the cash down and I don't know what became of it. Altogether we had a very nice time, but had to go in everywhere to thaw our horns out as it was a very frosty night & bright.
Tuesday, January 6th
Our windmill which has been the source of great tribulation to us all winter owing to its very unsatisfactory work refused to pump at all this morning, so Frank went down and got Felix to come over and he has been over all day. I should have said the pump was wrong instead of the windmill. We took the whole thing up and found that the bottom of the cylinder was a little loose which we supposed let air in and and caused the water to shoot out of the top of the pump the way it has been doing. The valves were also worn out so Felix put in new ones. We didn't finish till about five o'clock and then the wind had died down so that we couldn't get any water to-night and the cattle had to go without a drink all day. It was really not very cold to-day but felt raw especially working at the pump. It is a miserable job at any time but especially so at this time of year. Old Felix keeps at it though and he just celebrated his eightieth birthday on Saturday. To-night Enah and Tid went down to the Sunday school Christmas tree. I went down later but didn't go to the tree. I met Marj. after it was over and spent the evening with her.
Wednesday, January 7th
We put the doors on the barn this morning which blew off the night of the big wind. There were three off, the two in the peak and one little one down on the shed. This afternoon
Dad. trimmed Mexico's feet which were in very bad shape. I didn't do much but chores. Old Felix & Harvey Perkins were over this after noon to sell Frank some shares in Peace River Oil Wells. Harvey is selling them & old Felix thinks he is going to be a millionaire as soon as they get the well finished they are boring at now. Frank took fifty shares, I think. I went down to Aunty's to tea to-night and went up at seven o'clock with the band to play at the Simcoe rink for two hockey matches. There were two car loads went up from here so the Dover {illegible}played. The band & the hundred or so routers must have had a good effect on the Dover boys as they trimmed Simcoe 7-2, and it was a good fast game too. The first match was between the "War Vetrans" and the "Wanderers". The Vets won that with a score of 6-3 I think. Then our boys played the "Canners" and it was a much better game. Harvey Lany played very well and shot several goals. Jack McDonald is very good too and a clean player. Old {Name} was playing back and not many got past him, he works hard and dodges around like a swallow. Young Bill Miller was rather rough and was on the fence about half the time. {Name} McDonald tended goal and once got a little excited and went into the corner after the puck and they shot a goal while he was out. We had a fine time and the band got invited up again on Friday night to play at an O.H.A. game between Ingersol & Woodstock. Mild & inclined to rain or mist to-day.
Thursday January 8th
I spent the morning to-day doing chores and Dad. threw in some more sawdust on the ice. Frank went down to the dentist's but I don't think got any thing done and has to go back to-morrow. This after noon we cleaned out the box stall in the horse stable and took out two big loads and spread them on the root ground. Frank went back this after noon and sowed 100 lbs of his basic slag on the gully hills to see what effect it has on pasture. I went down town to-night. Mild this morning but colder & windy to-night.
Friday January 9th
It has been very stormy (wind and snow) but not very cold all day but cleared off and quieted down to-night. We got all the outside stock except the two colts in the barn this morning. Billy & Dave can run in the shed. Frank had to go down to the dentist's this morning and was down till after dinner. Dad. went over to Quanbury's to get some more instructions about his dry salted bacon and I just did chores worked at my show-card lessons which I find very interesting and dozed all day. We did things up early to-night and I went down to Aunty's for tea. It had stopped snowing when I got there so I shovelled their snow for them. Marj. was there too and she & Aunty went up to their Bible Class after tea. I went to Simcoe with the band and we had a very good time. It was an O.H.A game between
Simcoe and Woodstock, and the score was 8-5 in favor of Simcoe. The Woodstock boys put up a very good game and the score was 3-3 at the beginning of the last period when Simcoe got very energetic and Woodstocks best man who was playing back didn't seem to do as well and they lost 5 goals and only made 2. They have picked out three Dover men as spares on the Simcoe team and put Harvey Lany on to-night but whether from nervousness or not he didn't put up any thing like the game he did the other night so they soon took him off and didn't try {Name} or Joe.
Saturday January 10th
We were up early this morning and spent the whole fore-noon getting Dougherty's lambs off. We got the sleighs out and Frank started down to Pickford's after our stock rack but met him coming back with it. We then weighed the lambs up by pairs on our own scales and when we weighed them down at the car they came to exactly the same and Dougherty gave us 15 cts for the ewe lambs. We had to go to the planing mill and get him some shavings to bed the car with and had to go up town for some coal oil and then we got some shavings to bring home with us to put on the ice so it was about noon when we got here, our lambs came to about $177.00. We haven't done much all the after noon but chores. Frank went down town to-night and I worked at my show card work. Snowed more this morning, not cold.
Sunday January 11th
Dad. drove Tid, Frank and me down to Sunday school this morning and then came down after church and drove Aunty Marj. and Tid over here for dinner. Frank and I walked home. Frank walked out to Sidway's this after noon but I stayed home. Dad. drove Aunty home about four o'clock while I fed the cows. Marj. stayed to tea and I drove her home this evening. The cutter slides along but the road is bare in spots. W.F. Cockshutt M.P. gave an address on the Forward Movement in church this morning which was very good.
Monday January 12th
Frank left for Guelph to-day. He expects to be up there about a month taking short courses in Hock & Seed Judging and Tractors & machinery. He spent most of the morning getting packed up and I drove him down in the bob-sleigh to Aunty's where he stayed to dinner intending to leave on the one o'clock car, but it was so late that they cancelled it, and he and young Downs who is going to Guelph too, left on the three o'clock car, but he thought he could get over to Guelph from Galt some time to-night. Dad. and I hauled out manure to day from the Bull's pens. We got out three loads but didn't quite finish the pens. I went over to John Wess's this afternoon. Mrs McBride is very low. I saw Cam. and spoke to him about the place and he promised that if it was to be sold he would see that I got a chance at it. I went down town to-night. Milder
Tuesday January 13th
It has been very stormy most of to-day and we didn't do anything outside but chores. I spent most of the forenoon getting my incubator ready to start and it has been heating up all day. I worked at my show card work for quite awhile this after noon. I went down to-night to a meeting in the Rectory to organize a canvassing campaign for the Forward Movement, but as Mr. Freeman was the only other one there we couldn't do much. Marj. had been there to tea so I went home with her. It has not been very cold but very blustery.
Wednesday January 14th
Dad. and I had to shovel out the lane this morning as yesterday's storm drifted it full. It was after eleven when we got finished and then I started out with Joe & Queen on the bob-sleighs to get Aunty Alice as we expected her over to dinner but I met her just outside the lane. This after noon Dad. drove Enah & Aunty Alice over to Mrs. McLaughlin's to play bridge and I did up the chores. I had a card from Mid. at noon saying the band was going to play at Simcoe to-night so I went down to Aunty's for tea. The cars were running an hour late so that it was after eight when we got to Simcoe. The Dover team played the Vetrans and they both put up a very good game. Dover winning score 4-3. We didn't leave Simcoe till 12 o'clock and the car was crowded as a great many had come up at five o'clock. Blustery day.
Thursday January 15th
It has been cold and stormy all day so we just did chores this morning. Dad. has been reading "Courtin' Christina" and "Wee McGreggor Enlists" and finished them to-day they are certainly very good. This after noon Dad. drove Enah & Tid down to the Pickford's and the Ryerse's to distribute some Forward Movement literature. I went down to a meeting in the Sunday school to-night Mr. Manning was there and a few boys but they didn't do much. I then went over to see Marj. for awhile and stayed all night at Aunty's in order to help Aunty Alice get started for Toronto in the morning as she is going down for a few days
Friday January 16th
Aunty Alice got off on the 7.20 G.T.R. this morning and I went to the station with her and then came home. We did up the chores and then Dad. and I went down and cut down a tree at Preston's. This after noon I took some oats to the mill and left them for chop and took Enah and Tid down to go to "Mickey" at the picture show. I then came home and did up a few chores and went down to Aunty's for tea and Marj. and I went to see "Mickey" to-night. after which we went into Miss McQueen's for a cup of tea. It was very stormy all after noon and evening but the picture show was packed for all three shows. People have certainly gone crazy over "Mickey". What there is in it, I don't know.
Saturday January 17th
Dad. went down to Aunty's this morning to shovel their snow but John Shand had it done when he got down. I did chores and painted a little. Com & Billy McBride were in at noon to say that Mrs. John Wess died yesterday and to ask Dad. to be a bearer. This after noon I drove Enah down town and she got some flowers and we came home by the mill where I got the grist and some rolled oats. It has been sunny but very blustery & cold all day
Sunday January 18th
It was very cold and windy this morning and we were late getting through chores and I didn't get up very early. I was too late for Sunday school but went down to church. I was a little early and was sitting in the church when I heard the fire bell ring so ran out and saw them getting the engines out of the old jail. I followed the crowd up to L.G. Morgan's house where the smoke was pouring out all the windows. After considerable confusion in trying to find the fire they got the engines going at the north side of the house. I went inside but the smoke was almost suffocating. I ran across Harry Moon in there who told me that Mr. Morgan was dead and in the middle of a knot of men I saw his body His clothes were burned off down to his waist. His back was badly burned and his head all charred. It was a horrible sight but I don't believe he could have suffered very long. The fire was caused by him knocking over a coal oil stove in his room, an of course in the shape he was in he couldn't get out. He called Miss Morgan but she couldn't do any thing for the smoke. Val. Leaney saw the fire from his place and was there at once but L.G. was too far gone to be saved. Miss Newell is in a semi consious condition but very low having been badly suffocated. They managed to get the fire out without it spreading beyond the one room and every thing in it was burned. I went back to the church expecting to meet Aunty but the door was locked and I found they hadn't held service. I stayed at Aunty's to dinner and spent the after noon up at the Monteiths. I came home about five and helped do chores and then went down again & spent the evening with Marj. Very cold but not stormy to-night. Dad. went over to John Wess's this morning with the flowers.
Monday January 19th
Dad. and I spent the morning doing chores and shovelling out the lane which was drifted full. Just before dinner Dad. took Tid down to Aunty's where he stayed for the after noon while Dad. Enah and I went to Mrs. McBride's funeral. Dad. was one of the bearers and I drove him up to the cemetry. We let Enah out at the head of Main St. and got Tid & her on our way home. My feet got very cold so I walked home from town. Dess. was over.
just before tea on her snowshoes, with a message for Dad. asking him to be bearer at Mr. Morgan's funeral to-morrow. There was another funeral to-day from down east some place. The two hearses went into the cemetry about the same time. I stayed home to-night and worked at my show card practice.
Tuesday January 20th
We did the chores up pretty well this morning and right after dinner Dad. Enah & Tid. drove down town. They put Queen in at Hec's. and left Tid with Aunty and Dad. went to Mr. Morgan's funeral. It was private so Enah didn't go. He was buried up at St. John's. I walked down town after dinner and went to the bank to deposit some money as I promised Boyd. I would send him a cheque when the brooder came. I then went to the station but it hasn't come yet. I was in the Custom House for awhile talking to Huby. He was giving me a long dissertation on the tribulations of his office owing to the constant revision of the ever-changing tariff, when a very seedy looking chap came in and rather sheepishly asked what was the duty on any thing imported from the States. Huby told him it made a great deal of difference what he was importing and when he aparently unwillingly confessed that it was an automobile Huby started in & told him first 30% then 7 1/2% then 10% of the duty paid value. The fellow looked rather dazed and reasoned that "they sure go for a feller". Huby figured it up to be well over $500.00 on $1000.00 so at last the fellow left after asking very particularly whether the Government got all that money or the fellow he bought his car from. He left rather crestfallen and I think was undecided whether to buy a car in Canada or not at all or wait till the War Debt was paid off or appeal to the A.F.O. of which organization I have no doubt he was a member. I got home before five and Dad. soon after me. Enah & Tid stayed down to tea. Dad. and I did chores and had a bite to eat & then walked down to see the Girl Guides concert which they put on for the relief of the Armenians. It was "Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party." Harry Moon coached them and they did very well. Ed. Gray & Hazel Ward. did especially well. The concert was over by half past nine and I spent the rest of the evening with Marj. Dad and Enah & Tid got a ride home with Pickford in his bob-sleigh. A very little milder with a sleet storm this after noon.
Wednesday January 21st
We were late getting out this morning and spent most of the morning doing chores I went down to the mill about noon to see if I could get some corn chop & bran but they haven't had enough water to run either chopper or mill so had nothing. I spent the whole after noon practising at my show card lessons and worked all evening at it too. Dad. went down to Aunty's for tea and spent the evening down there. Dover was to play the "Wanderers" in Simcoe to-night but as I didn't get any notice of the band going up I decided not to go as I wanted to work although I would have liked to have seen the game.
Thursday January 22nd
Dad. Enah and Tid. drove down this morning to see if they wanted Enah to sit up with Miss Newell to-night but they asked her to stay this after noon so Dad. left her at the Johnston's and Tid at Aunty's and came home. This after noon he and I read the mail for quite awhile and then went over to John Wess's to see how he felt. He looks pretty tough. Dad. and I did the chores and then drove down to Aunty's where we all had tea and Dad. drove Enah and Tid home right after. Aunty heard from Aunty Alice to-day saying she was coming home to-night so I went to the station and met her. Huby was there too. I went up to see Marj. for a little while first, her throat has been very sore and she has not been at school all the after noon. Dover got trimmed last night by the "Wanderer's" 6-5. They say that the Dover boys got sore because Simcoe put on a professional and played a dirty game.
Friday January 23rd
Dad. and I drove down town this morning and got my stove brooder which came in by freight yesterday. We stopped for a minute at Aunty's to see Aunty Alice. We overtook Miss Phipps on her way down and took her down to the Johnston's to see Miss Newell. This after noon it became very stormy with an east wind. Dad. and I got hay enough over for night and then I did my show card lesson so that I could post it to-night. Dad. & Enah drove down town to bring Miss Phipps home as it had become so stormy, but they couldn't find her. Dad. did up the chores and I went down town before dark & had tea at Aunty's. I went up to see Marj. to-night, her throat was better. I stayed at Aunty's all night as the walking was a fright, drifts up to my knees but not very cold.
Saturday January 24th
I didn't get up very early this morning and after I breakfast I shovelled the snow and then went up town to inquire after Miss Newell, she is just about the same as nearly as I could make out from Mrs. Johnson. I also went up to Hugh McQueen's to get him to make me a chimbney for my brooder. It was after tea when I got home and didn't do much but shovell the snow out of the chicken houses before dinner. This after noon we sat around and read the mail for an hour or so and then Dad. and I got over enough hay to last us over Sunday and shovelled out the lane. Not quite so windy to-day but pretty cold.
Sunday January 25th
I walked down to Sunday school this morning and Dad. drove Enah down to church and then went home and drove back after her. We had a short service this morning as the church was cold and Mr. Johnston didn't preach a sermon but although the church wasn't much warmer to-night I thought he would never stop preaching about the Forward Movement and other
money they wanted to raise. I stayed at Aunty's for dinner and spent the after noon and evening with Marj. who is feeling much better. I came home to tea and walked down again in time for church. Alan Law gave me a ride out to the side road corner. 20° below last night.
Monday January 26th
I tested my eggs out this morning. It was too cold down cellar so I darkened the dining room and brought them up. I only got 28 fertile ones out of 155. I guess they must have been chilled. I unpacked my brooder but can't put it to-gether till I get my stove pipe from Hugh. I also put on a couple of panes of glass and puttyed up several others in a sash I want to use for my brooder house. Late this after noon Dad. and I & Tid. drove down town and got some coal oil. Dad. has had heartburn badly all day and has had to carry a lot of water to the stock as there was not wind enough to pump. It has been very mild barely freezing in the shade. To night I went down to the Sunday school where Mr. Manning and the officers of the Methodist "Square" put our boys through the first {legue?} of the initiation ceremony for Tuxis boys I then went over to Epworth League with Manning for awhile.
Tuesday January 27th
I spent most of the morning fitting the windows in the colony house besides doing a few odd jobs. This after noon Dad. Tid. and I drove down to Pickford's to invite them over here to-night to spend the evening. We then drove out to the Shands to inquire after Flossie who has had pleurisy. She is still in bed but a little better. To-night the whole Pickford family came over. Tom Butler was in Simcoe when they left but they put a note out for him telling him to follow them so he came down later. We had quite a time doing various tricks, had a little music and Tid. put on a magic lantern show. Much milder to-day, colder to-night.
Wednesday January 28th
Dad. went down to the Pickford's this morning to see if he could get Jackie to come up and have a look at the ram we want to kill. He is very thin but Pickford says they are deceiving and don't need to be very fat. He and Tom had gone down to get some stuff Tom bought at Porter's sale in Walpole, but Mrs. Pickford said she would send him up after dinner. He and Tom both came up and killed and dressed the sheep, but he was very thin. I don't know why he didn't get fatter as he has been getting grain but has been running out. I did a show card lesson this morning and this after noon drove Enah down town to go to the bridge-gang meet. I saw Quint down there and took him for a little spin around town. Mr. & Mrs. Jim Waddle were in and invited us all out there for dinner Friday night. I went down town to-night. Very frosty.
Thursday January 28th
Bob. Dougherty came in here last night and stayed all night with us and most of the morning. He was highly entertaining
but we didn't get much done while he was here. When he left John Quanbury came over to get Dad. to go and see his cow which is pretty sick. Dad. cut up the mutton before dinner. This after noon Dad. Enah & Tid drove down town and took Huby a piece of mutton as this was his birthday. I did another show card lesson and went down to Aunty's for tea. Huby & Aunty Maude were there. Winnie came over here for tea with Dad. & Enah. To-night Marj. & I went up to Miss. Martin's and I got my hair cut on my way home. Mild.
Friday January 30th
Dad. and I went down this morning and got a load of coal as there was a new car in and the coal looked and has proved to be of much better quality than any we have got so far. On our way home we met Jim. Waddle on his way over to tell us not to come out to-night as Mrs. Waddle was sick but to come Sunday night. This after noon we sat around and read quite awhile and then Dad. and Enah & Tid. drove down town to post a letter and I went over to Jack Martin's to ask them about buying baby chicks for broilers. I got a price list from a fellow in Toronto and the cheapest were $30.00 per 100 which Jack thought was pretty high for broiler chicks, but Chris offered to let me raise all of his Leghorns and to pay me broiler prices for them when they are ready to go so I think I will take his offer. He told me that band was going to Simcoe to-night to play at the rink so I went down to Aunty's for tea. Only a few of the band boys went up and it was very cold up in the rink, but it was a good game. Simcoe beat Paris 5-2 O.H.A.
Saturday January 31st
It was 20 below zero this morning and a strong east wind blowing which made it almost unbearable to be out. We just fed up the stock and haven't done a thing else all day but sit around the stove and read. We were greatly surprized to have Aunty Alice come over for dinner. She said yesterday she would come over if it was a nice day but we never expected her when it was so cold. She walked back this after noon as she wanted to stop it at Mrs. Battersby's for awhile. I went down town to-night to see how Marj's throat was, but she wasn't home so I suppose it must be better. The wind died down a little to-night but it is still very cold. I took a walk down to Pete Holmes' rink where they were staging a hockey match between Penman's & Knox Church but there were very few spectators and I thought it was too cold to watch them so I went down to Aunty's for awhile and then home.
Sunday February 1st
It was still cold this morning but has been a beautiful day and getting milder all day. I went down to Sunday school and church and stayed to dinner at Aunty's. Marj. and I went up to Miss Martin's for a little while this after noon and then I came home early. I stopped in at Newman Silverthorne's for awhile to pay Mr. Clarke's lodge dues. Marj. started over with them on Saturday but the weather stopped her when she got as far as Miss. McQueen's. Dad. Enah & Tid drove out to Jim Waddle's for dinner to-night and I went down to Aunty's for tea and
went to church with Aunty to-night then spent the evening with Marj.
Monday February 2nd
The old bear could have seen his shadow all day to-day if he came out of his log, he would also have got his feet wet as it has been a beautiful sunny, warm, spring-like day and thawing in the shade. I took a walk over to John Wess's this morning. Cam. was there and told me that he was coming back here to live as his father couldn't bear the thought of going to live in the city nor of selling the furniture and household effects that Mrs. McBride had bought when the first started. This after noon I went down to the mill and got some rolled oats and Dad. & Tid. went down to Preston's orchard for awhile.They found old Henry Misener in there cutting too so Arthur has evidently thought we weren't going to get all the trees cut but he didn't say anything about it. Enah took Mexico & the cutter and drove Mrs. Skey up to Miss. McCoy's this afternoon. Dad. took the pork out of the pickle to-day. This evening I went down as I thought the Tuxis boys were going to meet but they didn't as there was some arrangement about them going to Simcoe to play hockey.
Tuesday February 3rd
Dad. & I went down to Preston's this morning and got another tree down and partly brushed up. This after noon Dad. went down and finished trimming the tree and I drove down town in the cutter and got the chimney for my brooder that Hugh McQueen has been making for me. I did up the chores after I got home. I worked at my show card work to-night. Cloudy and colder
Wednesday February 4th
Dad. and I went down to the orchard again this morning and have been down there most of the day so got quite a lot done. Tupper was in at noon to ask me to be clerk at his sale which is due to come off on the 17th. Dad. commisioned him to get him a plug of tobacco which he was to leave in the mail box on but he never came back and caused Dad. several fruitless trips to the mail box. I went down town to-night. It has not been frosty to day but a raw east wind.
Thursday February 5th
Dad. and I went over to the orchard this morning and got a big tree next the hedge down. Old Harry Misener was there and he and I took our saw over to his place and he sharpened it up a little. He got word from some where that the Dover team beat the Vet's. last night 11-2. We didn't go back this after noon but Dad. helped me with my brooder house and put on the chimney. Billy Miller was over to-night and said Chris wasn't going to let me have any baby chicks now as he was getting orders for them. Tupper was in too and brought Dad's tobacco. Snowed a little.
Friday February 6th
This has been a beautiful day. Sunny & mild. Dad. and I
went down to the orchard and worked there all day. Old Henry Misener had Arnold Myers helping him and we gave them a hand to shove a tree over. It slipped on the stump and fell the opposite direction to the one they intended and Dad. & I had to step lively to get out of its road. Enah & Tid drove Mexico down with the cutter to-day, took Aunt Ida for a drive and brought Aunty over here to tea. She and I walked down to-night and I spent the evening with Marj. who had quite a bad fall yesterday.
Saturday February 7th
Dad. and I bagged up some oats this morning and I took them to the mill while he trimmed up some of the trees we had down. I left the grist and went back to the orchard and took a big load of blocks home, then went back and got the chopper This after noon we went back to the orchard and on our return found Frank here. He came in on the three o'clock car.
Sunday February 8th
Frank and I went down to Sunday school. There was no service in our church this morning but we all went to the Presbyterian were Jack Martin & some student held forth at great length on the Forward Movement. Mr. Robertson & Mr. Johnson are both sick.To-night there was a Unnion Service English & Presbyterian in our church and Cousin Willie gave a very nice address & the same Presbyterian studen spoke for a very long time but didn't say much The church was packed. They are about to launch the Forward Movement financial drive and that is the cause of all their activity. While they very emphatically testify that the financial drive is a very insignificant part of the Forward Movement in comparison to the spiritual impetus which they hope to wake up religion, it seems to me rather unfortunate that the financial should be the first to be brought to the notice of the general run of people, as it will give Skeptics plenty of grounds for their contention that it is merely a "money making game." I don't altogether sympathize with the business end of the affair for while I feel that money should be given with out stint to feed & clothe the starving people of Europe and to minister to the physical needs of all people in heathen lands. I can't feel that the real Spirit of Christianity is going to strengthened or increased by simply raising funds as Jack Martin said for such purposes as to increase the salaries of our ministers & missionarys in order that more young men will be attracted to the profession. I'm not a business man and may be that is the reason that but I don't like to hear people talk about putting the work of our church on a "business basis," but as that seems to be what they intend to do I hope I am wrong. Quint. Marj. & I had dinner at Aunty's. Marj. & I spent the after noon there but Quint went for a drive with Bill Oakes so he said, but I think if his statement were to be analyzed it would be found that he was speaking figuratively and Bill would be passed in
in the feminine gender. Dad. brought Enah & Tid. down to stay to tea about five o'clock and he drove Marj. home & then he and I came home helped Frank do up the chores and we all went down to church to-night. I spent the evening with Marj. Dad. & Enah & Tid. went out to the Shand's this afternoon to see how Flossie was, she is better, but Dad. was very surprised to hear that Fred Doane died very suddenly last night.
Monday February 9th
Dad. and Frank have been down in Preston's orchard all morning. I went down to Uncle Ward's this morning to ask him if he would like to go with Dad. out to Fred Doanes funeral. He hadn't heard that he was dead and was very surprised. He called up town and found that the funeral was to be at half-past two. I came home and practised a little at my show cards before dinner. This after noon Dad. & Uncle Ward went out to the funeral and Frank and I spent the after noon doing chores. We did things up early and went down to the men's banquet in the Sunday school. Dad. drove Enah down about four and then came home & stayed with Tid. We had a very nice time. Mr. Bose the Presbyterian student of yesterday, Dr. Maguire & Mr. Muir manager of the Roal Bank in Simcoe gave very nice addresses and as the men from Simcoe had to leave in time to catch the nine o'clock car, we were home early. Enah & I came home but Frank went to the U.F.O. & W.F.N.I. dance in the town hall. Rather cloudy but mild. I just took four chicks from the incubator, so I killed them, they were crippled.
Tuesday February 10th
Dad. & Frank were in the orchard all day to-day. I did chores & started a fire in my brooder just to see how it worked. It certainly warmed things up in the colony house. I spent quite a lot of the day working at my show-card lessons I went down town to-night and took Aunty Alice some eggs I went up to see Cousin Loll for awhile and then met Marj. & Miss Martin coming away from the Girl's auxillary meeting so I suggested that we go up to Miss Martin's and eat dough-nuts as she told us Sunday she had made some. We did and were up there till quite late and consumed large quantitys, at least I did. Aunty told me that Jack Martin had given $500.00 to the Forward Movement.
Wednesday February 11th
Dad. and Frank were down at Preston's all day. Frank took the saw down to Uncle Ward's this morning and got it set. I cleaned out the colony house this morning. This after noon George Fields was in for awhile to look at the cattle and seemed to take quite a fancy to Maple Hill Nellie. I think though that he was predjuiced in her favor because I told him she was a Pansy which is the cow his {trace} to but I remembered afterwards that I was mistaken as she {traces} to Louisa. I did some show card practising. Enah went to play bridge at Mrs. Battersby's. Jack Martin was in about six o'clock canvassing for the Forward Movement. Frank & I went down town to-night and Frank went to a U.F.O. meeting which he says is worse than the J.F.I.A. They
wrangled all night trying to decide whether they wanted a car of wire or not and hadn't decided when they broke up. Harry Smith & Steve Powell who have been the hog-buyers are going to quit as the brethren are accusing them of making $50.00 on a car, so if things continue much longer in that direction, I imagine this U.F.O. club will find itself "on the rocks". I didn't go to Simcoe to-night although this was to be the final game of the series and the Dover team played the "Wanderers". I heard the last car come in and a great deal of cheering & racket going on with it but didn't see a soul to find out the result. I have since heard that Dover trimmed the Wanderers 13-6 and so have won the series. They say the Simcoe fellows played a very rough game and Harve Leany got knocked out.
Thursday February 12th
Frank promised the "Women's Institute" the other night to haul them a load of gravel to-day as they were having a bee hauling gravel to build a monument to the boys up near the grove of elms they planted. As Jack Martin had our sleighs hauling part of his chicken house up here from Fisherville, Frank went down and borrowed Mr. Flemmings. I went down to the orchard with Dad. This after noon Dad. & Frank went down there but it came up a very heavy & wet snowstorm so they didn't stay long. Frank & Tid. went down to Mrs. Freeman's & Molly's party and I worked at my show card lessons most of the after noon and evening. Very soft & cloudy. Mild all week.
Friday February 13th
Frank went down this morning and got another load of saw-dust to put on the ice and then came over to the orchard and got a big load of wood. Dad. & I trimmed up the tree they felled yesterday. This after noon Dad. & Frank worked in the orchard all the after noon and I went to the mill and got some rolled oats and got a small load of wood on the way home. Frank drove me down town to-night and he went down to Nanticoke I got my skates at Aunty's and went to hunt up some skating but couldn't find any so I ran across a bunch of fellows going to the Women's Institute masquerade dance so I went too and had a great time. Sunny & mild.
Saturday February 14th
Dad. & Frank worked in the orchard all morning. I went down to the mill and got a bag of bran and stopped in at the orchard and brought a load of wood home, unloaded it and got another load, but it was snowing hard and very soft. This after noon it was snowing so much that they didn't go back to the orchard but Dad. went down town and got his hair cut. I didn't do any thing much till about four o'clock when I started in at the chores but there had been no wind all day to pump so I waited till then in hopes that it would pump a little to let
the cattle out but it didn't so they had to go thirsty. It began to blow about six o'clock and has turned out quite blustery and much colder to-night. Dad. brought Marj. home with him to tea and Lila came over. Enah had asked Zeitha & Mr. Moore to come over but they didn't show up, we suppose the storm was too bad for Zeitha who has had a bad cold to be out. We spent the evening listening to Marj. & Enah play duets and then I drove the girls home. Aunty Maude asked Quint to go up town and get some meat this morning so Quint by way of celebrating St. Valentine's day brought home a couple of hearts. Then as he was to be alone for tea to-night Aunty Maude & Huby having been invited out and Winnie gone to Brantford Aunty Maude put a heart in the oven for him to keep warm but Quint came home and couldn't find it so didn't have any.
Sunday February 15th
It was very cold again this morning and a strong west wind which has kept up all day and night. No-body seems to relish this return of severe cold after the lovely winter weather we have been enjoying for the last couple of weeks. Frank & I went down to Sunday school & church but none of the rest came down. I had dinner and tea at Aunty's. I spent the after noon at the Monteiths. Quint was at Aunty's for tea and none of us went to church to-night, but I spent the evening with Marj. and then as the walking & weather was so disagreeable I stayed all night at Aunty's.
Monday February 16th
I shovelled Aunty's snow this morning and as they insisted on getting up and getting my breakfast I didn't get home very early. It didn't matter though as we have not tried to do any thing outside but chores. Dad. went down before dinner and stayed till about five o'clock to-night and went with Aunty Alice up to Cousin Loll's and over to Col. Smith's with Aunty Alice this after noon. Frank and I just sat around this after noon but Frank shovelled out the lane this morning but it will drift full again to-night. It was very cold last night and froze every thing in the kitchen and pantry. It is a little milder to-night but a regular blizzard is raging. The roads are blocked and there have been no {mails?} in all day. Jim came out with a magazine that evidently came Saturday but as he soon went back I suppose he couldn't get through the side road.
Tuesday February 17th
Blizzard still on and worse than ever but not very cold. Dad. went down town this morning to see how they all were but came home to dinner. I sat around and read or slept most of the day but this morning went over to Pickford's to see if they knew what Tupper was going to do about his sale. They didn't know so I went on over to Tupper's to make sure because as I promised him I would act as clerk I wanted to be certain. The walking was a fright and I was sure he wouldn't try to have it and I was right, so I spent the rest of the day painting and listening to Dad read "Huckleberry Finn".
Wednesday February 18th
The storm abated during the night and to-day has been sunny, still and cold. Dad. went down to Aunty's right after breakfast this morning and Frank and I dug the lane out and about eleven o'clock Frank drove Enah & Tid. down in the bobsleighs. They all stayed down to dinner. We just did chores Jim Bannister walked out with our mail this after noon, the first we have had this week. Tom. Butler & Arthur Pickford were in for a few minutes with the team Tom bought in Toronto. About half past four Frank drove down town and brought the family home. Frank and I went down town to-night. The hockey team was to have gone to Simcoe to play the Vetrans to-night but as no radials are running yet the game is postponed till Friday night. The first victim of the Flu around here for this year was young Billy Butler, Charlie's brother, who died the other day. Another rather surprising piece of news for the community was the wedding of Charlie Innes and Nellie Barber. Aparently they got into a great hurry at the last and as Mr. Johnson is sick drove up to St. John's on Tuesday during all the storm to have Mr. Ward perform the ceremony. Later - I have heard that, that last statement is incorrect. Charlie & Nellie had intended going to Mr. Ward to be married, he being an old freind of Nellie's but as it was so stormy they got Mr. Johnson out of bed to do the job. Miss Newell was telling Aunty about it and said they came up in {Name} Johnsons old covered bus and she thought it was the hearse coming.
Thursday February 19th
Dad. and Frank went down to the orchard to-day and to-night reported that they have just one more tree to cut. It was down to about 12° below zero this morning and has been cold but still & sunny all day. I didn't do any thing outside but chores. I read most of the morning and worked at my show card work this after noon. Tid was very busy all morning digging a snow house in a big drift out by the barn and I took some pictures of him at noon. To-night I went down to the Sunday school and we had a meeting of the Tuxis boys which was fairly successful.
Friday February 20th
Dad. and Frank went down to the orchard this morning and cut their last tree down and got it trimmed up this after noon. Dad. had to go down to Alfred's right after dinner to look at one of his cows' mouths as she can't eat properly. I did chores, read and worked at my show card lessons a little. Frank left here about five o'clock and took Hazel Ward home and spent the evening down there. I went down town to-night. I got word that the band was going to Simcoe with the hockey team but I didn't go with them although I would have liked to see the game. I think judging from the racket coming from the direction of the station that about half the town went up. I heard the car come in on my way home and heard a little cheering so imagined that the Dover boys had been victorious again, but Frank
informed me when he got home that he had just met Colin Ryerse who had told him that the Vetrans had won 6-4. I was very much surprised on my way down town to meet George who had come in at five o'clock and had tea at Aunty's. We expected him to-morrow night. Dad. had a letter from Dick to-day which has created a little excitement in the family circle as he told Dad. that he had run across a William Barrett out there who he thinks is the son of Fa's brother who left home at the time of the North & South war and was never heard of afterwards, and who has always supposed to have enlisted and been killed with out ever being married. This fellow told Dick that he had brothers by the names of Hugh, an old family name, and George Robert which was the name of the missing brother, also another named Charlie, one of these has recently died. Dick said this was a rather tough- ooking fellow owing to his need of a barber's service but that he had the large Barrett nose. If Dick has made no mistake it is quite a discovery, but it seems almost incredible that so large a branch of the family could have become so seperated for so many years, especially as there have been several attempts from this side to find traces of the lost brother and as Hugh & Fred Barrett (Aunt Ella's sons) have lived out in that vicinity for so many years. Way below zero this morning but lovely day.
Saturday February 21st
We haven't done very much to-day except chores. Dad. and I to George (Broadly) out on the halter for awhile this morning and gave him a good dusting with louse killer. Frank George (Pelly) and Tid shot and dressed a couple of rabbits this morning. I practised a little at my show cards lessons. This after noon all but Dad. and me went in the bobsleighs down town and got Ada Dess and Winnie and took them for a sleigh drive down to the butter factory where Enah got some butter. I was busy doing the chores so didn't go but read and slept for awhile. To-night Frank and George went down to Aunty's for tea and from there they intended going up to Ada's to spend the evening. I read "Much Ado about Nothing." Froze hard last night. Sunny day. Cold wind to-night.
Sunday February 22nd
Frank, George, Tid and I all went down to Sunday school this morning and much to my disgust they rung me in for opening the thing as Mr. Johnson is away. Morton {Brown?} took the service in church. Marj. came over here to dinner but through some misunderstanding George & Frank didn't come home but went with Ada to dinner and George brought Ada out here to tea to-night. Marj. and I went for a cutter ride this after noon and took Miss Martin. It was a beautiful after noon and we had a fine drive and nearly upset trying to pass Frank Ryerse on the side road back of Fleming's place. We lost one of Marj's new Christmas kid gloves but went back and found it where we met Frank Ryerse. I went to a meeting to-night that Frank Smith had to make plans for a big meeting Thursday. Went up to see Marj. for awhile afterwards.
Monday February 23rd
Dad. and I got some hay over this morning to do to feed up to-night and Frank drove George down to catch the eleven o'clock car. We had an early dinner and I went over to Tupper's quite early but his sale didn't commence till long after the appointed time. There was quite a crowd but the bidding wasn't very keen but some of the stock sold very well. Jim Hodge was auctioneer and I was clerk. We got through with out being caught at making any mistakes and Tupper gave me two dollars for my services. Dad. & Frank were both over but went home before I did. To-night I went down town and had a meeting with the Tuxis boys and we initiated Bill Barwell. I then went over to the Monteith's and found Marj. all dressed up ready to go to the Library dance so we went over there and had a wild time till 1.30. It snowed all morning and has been cloudy but mild all day.
Tuesday February 24th
Frank and I went to Simcoe this morning and got four cwt of corn chop at the Co-Operative Store. We took Joe & Queen and didn't lose much time on the road. We also got our clover seed which has been at Edmond's since they cleaned it last fall. We saw Neff and Manning amd I took Neff up to the Air Line station to catch a train for Courtland. We got home about half past one and this after noon I took a sample of very nice white corn over to Jack Martin, Johnson just got it in and thought Jack would like to get some as he doesn't like to feed yellow corn to his exhibition stock, claiming it makes their plumage brassy. Jack thought it was fine looking corn. He asked me what I thought of the Forward Movement Campaign. The Bishop he said was highly delighted with Norfolk County as it was the first in the dioses to reach its objective. He said that the reports we heard were true concerning the Bishop offering Mr. Johnson two other churches and he wouldn't accept them. He is very annoyed at Mr. Johnson and Jack says the next one he refuses there is going to be trouble. I worked at show card lessons all evening. Fine, Cold.
Wednesday February 25th
We all three went down to Preston's orchard this morning and hauled three loads of wood. It was quite a job breaking a trail and digging out the piles of limbs as they were well covered with snow. This after noon Frank went down town to get his note to Massey Harris renewed or else to borrow some money to pay it and Dad. and I got over hay for to-night and did up the chores. To-night Dad. Enah & Tid went down to the Pork & Bean supper in the Methodist church and I went down to Aunty's for tea Marj. & Win were there to tea and this evening Marj. & Aunty bound a lot of old books. Frank stayed home alone. Fair day but very cold to-night.
Thursday February 26th
Dad. and Frank have been hauling wood all day although there was a biting north wind and Dad. froze his finger
I carried over hay for the cattle this morning and this after noon went down to the Boy's Work conference in the Sunday school. Mr. Manning & a Mr. McLaren were down and we had a good turnout of boys. Mr. McLaren made things very interesting. We went over for supper at 6.15 to the Methodist Sunday school and after supper had some very rollicking songs and toasts. I had to respond to a toast on Boy's Work but Manning fixed me up a little speech which I got off fairly well. Marj. was there helping with the supper so I went home with her and stayed there for the rest of the evening. Dad. & Enah went over to a party at Jack Martin's. Freezing very hard to-night.
Friday February 27th
It was still very cold this morning and we decided it was much too cold to haul wood as Dad. & Frank nearly froze at the job yesterday. We sat around the house all morning and I did another show card lesson and also wrote down to Toronto to register as a C.S.E.I. Mentor. This after noon Frank and I got some hay over and went down to Aunty's for tea so that we could go to see the protested hockey match played off between Dover & the Vets. I hadn't had any intention of going but when the time came I couldn't resist the temptation, although I was too hard up to afford it. It was a fine game in every way. The referee saw every thing that happened and was absolutely impartial and both sides played for all they were worth but Dover just played in hard luck and got badly beaten 10-3. They made any amount of the prettiest shots at the Simcoe goal but the puck just simply wouldn't go in. They started off by scoring two goals in the first period. Then Joe Thompson made three or four very slick rushes and shots in the second period but couldn't score and in the last period they got one goal but Simcoe got five. However it was a fine game and nobody's fault. The Simcoe fellows put up the best game I have seen them play yet. There was an awful crowd went up from Dover, two cars packed, and they made racket enough to wake the dead. Three or four Doc. McQueen, Al. Faulkner, Hontzburger & Jim Brennen got very tight and when we arrived home went up the middle of Main St. Arm in arm advising the Doverites who had followed the team to Simcoe to "pack all their troubles in their old kit bag" and then challenging them with the question "Are we downhearted" whereat Dover would reply with one voice "NO!" I came with Karl Coleman who was very amused at the condition of Huntzberger and Harbach who have to take the L.E.& N. car out in the morning The former was just in good shape to put in a glorious night of it, but Harbach got so tight this after noon in anticipation of the game that Garnet his brother-in-law had to put him to bed and he couldn't go up. Karl didn't see Garnet on the car which caused him some concern as Garnet had some work to do in the morning Karl said he saw Garnet and two others lined up in the station but some body nudged one of them and they all stalked out, which is a sign these days that there is a battle some place accessible. Lloyd Wooley and old Broadley were in this after noon collecting
fees for old Jason and Broadley informed us that he has gone on a big 200 acre farm at Wycome and won't be down through here with Jason any more. The Tupper family were all here to tea and to spend the evening but I didn't see them.
Saturday February 28th
It snowed all day to-day but has been much milder till to-night when the wind started to get around to the north west again and it is freezing pretty hard. We didn't do any thing much but chores and sit around the house. I worked at my show card lessons & read.
Sunday February 29th
Frank and I went down to Sunday school and Church this morning but none of the rest came down. I stayed in town all day. Quint and I had dinner at Aunty's and I spent the after noon up at the Monteiths. Marj. and I went for a walk this after noon and called on the Patterson's. We then went down to Aunty's for tea and spent the evening there. Aunty & Aunty Alice went to church to-night and we stayed with Aunt Ida. Dad. & Enah drove up to see how Miss McCoy was this afternoon as she has had shingles badly Frank went out to Sidway's. Cold all day but sunny
Monday February March 1st
I had an argument with Quint yesterday about warm water freezing quicker than cold. I claimed that it wouldn't so this morning I tried it out. I took two pans the same size and put a pint of water in each, the temperature of the one was about 120° and the other about 30°. I put them both out in the woodshed and the cold water froze long before the other It had a good skimming of ice on it when the other was about 48 We haven't done anything much to-day. It has been a nice day and we would have hauled wood but Tom Butler wanted to borrow the sleighs to get some hay. Frank went over with him and helped put Pickford's rack on our sleighs. This after noon I walked down town and got my hair cut. I went around by the mill and put up a notice Neff sent of a Farmer's Institute meeting on Thursday. It has been a very nice day, not too cold.
Tuesday March 2nd
My throat has been very sore all day and I haven't done much outside. Frank went down to the sawmill this morning and got a load of sawdust to use for bedding in the horse stable. He also took a grist to the mill. He and Dad. hauled up a load of wood this after noon and Frank got his stuff at the mill. Dad. went down to Cousin Clare's to tea to-night and spent the evening. Enah and Tid drove Mexico down in the after noon and put him in John Shand's barn and they were at Cousin Clare's too. Frank and I kept house by ourselves. Edmond England left his horse in here while he went to help Dick Waddle drive a cow up from Pickford's which he bought at {Kinsula's?} sale to-day.
Wednesday March 3rd
My throat has been pretty sore all day and I haven't done much except a few chores and work at my show-cards. Dad. & Frank hauled wood all day and now have it all up but one load. To-night Frank and I went down to church and I went home with Marj afterwards I didn't intend to stay but she wanted me to help her fill out her report cards and then she made me let her swab my throat with some dope. Mild all day but freezing to-night.
Thursday March 4th
Dad. and Frank hauled up their last load of wood this morning there will be a little more from the dead limbs that have yet to be cut out. When that was unloaded we put a load of manure on the sleighs from the box stalls in the horse stable and after dinner Dad. & Frank took it down to Aunty's. Aunty Alice walked over here before dinner. She went over to Mrs. Battersby's from here. She knew I was going down to the boys' meeting to-night so asked me down to tea but I read for quite awhile after dinner so didn't get the chores done in time. Frank and I went down to-night and Frank went to a Agricultural meeting of Neff's in the hall. I went to the boys' meeting and then down to Auntys. Marj. was there and had been there to tea. Mr. & Mrs. Will Holden & Miss Buckwell were there playing bridge. I went up with Marj. and then as it was raining stayed at Auntys all night. Frank came home. Very soft & slushy. Raining to-night.
Friday March 5th
I woke up about half past three this morning and saw through Aunty's back hall window an awful fire so I got into my clothes as quickly as possible to go up to see it. I called Aunty & Aunty Alice and Aunty Alice thought at once that it was the Post Office block & found out that she was right. When I got up town the whole building was gone & just the flaming brick walls standing. They told me that not a thing was saved. I didn't stay up town long but went back to Aunty's and we had breakfast. Then Aunty Alice wanted to go up and see how Cousin Loll was so I walked up with her. We thought they would have taken her to Cousin Clare's but her house was dark so we went into the Freeman's which was lit up and found Cousin Loll & Willie & Dick & Mollie all in there. Cousin Loll was wrapped up in a quilt and said she had lost all her clothes but one stocking. Dick said the smoke was so bad he couldn't save a thing except a few clothes which he grabbed out of the bureau drawer and the hall rack. He tried to get the safe open to save what was in it but couldn't see to do it in the dark and there was no one to help him move it. The fire started in the back of Patterson's shed nobody knows how and young Johnnie Innes who is the night telephone operator gave the alarm but it was too far on when any one got there to stop it. I came home about six o'clock and found Dad. & Frank up. Dad. was terribly shocked at the news of the fire and went down town as soon as he got the chores done
Frank also went down after dinner to hear a trial between Lloyd Crysler and Earl Long over some hay deal. Lloyd was the defendant and won the case. I did up the chores after dinner but felt pretty tough and when I got through I was afraid I was going to have an ear-ache so I curled up on the sofa for the rest of the day and Enah kept hot salt bags on my ear which staved off the pain pretty well and I went to bed soon after tea. Dad. came home early and he and Frank did all the chores. Dad. says they have opened the Post Office down in Harold Sloan's old ice cream parlor and Patterson is opening an store and telephone & telegraph office up in Coleman's little shack where Huby used to be. It was raining when I went up to the fire this morning but about five o'clock the wind switched around to the north-west and it got very cold and still is.
Saturday March 6th
I stayed in bed till noon to-day and have not been outside all day but to-night I feel better. It has been bitterly cold all day and windy. Dad. and Frank have down all the chores and Frank took Joe down town this after noon and had her shod. He also took down the bag of good clover seed to Harry Misener and he gave him $67.00 for it but didn't weigh it up then. Dad. went to the doctor yesterday to ask him about his arm as it has been paining him a lot lately. The doctor didn't know what it was but gave him some pills to take.
Sunday March 7th
Frank went down to Sunday school and church this morning but I have not been out of the house all day although I feel better. Aunty came over with Frank to dinner and was here all the after noon. Dad. went back with her to tea and I think he went up to see Cousin Loll to-night. Lloyd Ryerse came up just after dinner and he & Frank went over and spent the after noon at the England's. Still very cold.
Monday March 8th
I have been in the house all day again to-day but would have gone out if the weather had been decent but it has been very windy and blustery although not very cold. Dad. and Frank just did chores. I still have quite a cold in my head but my throat is much better. I spent the day reading "Troilus & Cressida" which I didn't care much for. It's representation of the Trojan war and the Grecian heroes was rather tame after the "Illiad". I went out this after noon to gather the eggs and found the two white roosters had got together and had a battle royal and were both about all in. The one that was with the pullets has died and the other one will come around I think. He is the one I was most particular about as his mother is 74 last year's best layer. He is the only rooster I have now as Dad. killed my Rock one the other day, he was sick.
Tuesday March 9th
This has been a beautiful Springlike day and sunny
A great deal of snow has gone off and water is standing around everywhere. It grew very cloudy and looked like rain towards evening but the rain didn't come. I have been out a lot to-day and feel fine but as it is so wet there is nothing much but chores to do, they will begin to increase from now on however as when Frank went out this morning he found that two ewes had lambed one of Dad's ewes had two lambs and No 55 had one. It was a mild night and they are all right. The lambs are we suppose sired by the yearling that got in with the ewes two or three times last fall as old Archie was not put in till after the 1st of November. George Ryersie was in to-night to say the boys were having a meeting to-night but I didn't go down. Frank went down town with him.
Wednesday March 10th
It didn't freeze last night and has been very soft all day. We just did chores this morning and I painted a little. I got my lesson back to-day which I supposed was burned up with the Post Office. I had another one all ready to post. Tom. Butler was in and borrowed the sleighs to haul some oats. This after noon Frank went out to Lige Farr's sale. Farr was selling a lot of sheep and some stuff he didn't want. Frank said things went pretty well as they were not in very good shape. Dad. has felt very miserable all the after noon he thinks due to the pills Dr. Cook gave him. Enah has not been well either. Miss Phipps was over for awhile this after-noon. To-night Frank and I went down to church and I spent the evening with Marj. It was freezing slightly when I came home.
Thursday March 11th
There was another big ewe lamb belonging to No 15 when Frank went out this morning, they are all doing well. We did chores and I painted a little this morning. I also cleaned off the dropping boards in the hen houses as the frost was all out and they hadn't been cleaned all winter. I went down town this after noon and took 9 doz. eggs down, sold 4 doz to Aunty Alice and 5 doz to {Name?}. I stayed at Aunty's for tea and to-night went up to the Tuxis {boys'} social evening in the Sunday school and the Methodist boys were there and a lot of girls There must have been abut {40?}. They had quite an hilarious time and seemed to enjoy themselves. Marj. & Mrs. Cook were there and they engineered the eating part of the affair.
Friday March 12th
It rained during the night and every thing was flooded to-day but by opening up a few ditches a great deal was run off. Frank fixed up a pen for the ewes with lambs over in the barn. He cut through the hay on the east side of the floor and threw half of it up on the other half and made a nice light pen for the lambs we moved them in and they got very playful. Mrs. Tupper came after Frank this morning to get him to go out to
Villa Nova with Tupper to help him move his cattle. Tom Butler and his partner were in this after noon with the sleighs and said Tupper and Frank didn't get started till two o'clock so it would be late when they got out there. Frank didn't come back to-night. They say the water down along Shand's flat was up to a horse's belly on the road so they will have had a nice trip. Dad. and I cleaned out Moonshine's box-stall. I went down town to-night. Manning came down and we had a meeting with some of the boys from both squares to arrange about athletic activities for the summer. I spent the rest of the evening with Marj. and went over to call for Aunty Alice at Col. Smith's at eleven o'clock.
Saturday March 13th
It has been very windy and cold all day to-day and Dad. and I haven't done any thing but chores and sit around the house. Enah felt very miserable this after noon and had an earache. About six o'clock she and Tid got quite a scare as the chimbney or at least the soot in the stove pipe in the kitchen caught fire and filled the room with smoke. They called Dad. & me in from the barns but we couldn't find any trace of fire up in the garret or near the chimney so nothing serious happened. I didn't go down town to-night as it was a rotten cold night. Enah had hoped to take some things down to Cousin Loll's shower which they had for her but she couldn't go. Frank got home about eleven. He came down from Waterford on the car. He had a bad trip.
Sunday March 14th
Frank and I went down to Sunday school and church this morning and Aunty Alice came over here with Frank to dinner but I stayed down at Aunty's for both dinner and tea. Quint came down at noon and he and I went down to the creek for a little while after dinner to look at muskrat holes and then we went up town. He to Joe Thompson's and I spent the after noon with Marj. who was suffering from toothache. I went around before tea to ask after poor old Tom Abbott. Huby found him yesterday on the doorstep of the cobbler shop and he couldn't move or speak and is still only semiconscious. Huby & someone else got him up to Alex Simpson's They say there will not be much change till a day or two. Aunty and I went to church to-night. Mr. Base preached. Cold wind but feels like spring.
Monday March 15th
Frank and I went down to Preston's this morning and cut the dead wood out of about six or seven trees as it was part of our contract to cut the dead wood out of the tree next to the one we cut down. Dad. Enah & Tid went down town this morning and were down to dinner and all the after noon, and went to see Cousin Loll. Frank and I just did chores this after noon. Very mild and showery to-night.
Tuesday March 16th
Dad. noticed yesterday that Cnocfierna was not eating
properly, so he and I tried to examine her mouth. We couldn't see much but he poked around with his float and knocked the cap off one of her teeth. He said he had never heard of a cow having capped teeth like colts but didn't see why they shouldn't have. To-night he found another one so we think that from now on she will be able to eat properly. Alan Law came in while we were out there and took Dad. down to look at a caulked hock on a new horse he bought last fall and which caulked itself running through a snow bank. Dad. was down there till noon. He has not felt very well this after noon. After I did up the after dinner chores I took a walk back to the woods and across Ivey's gully into Preston's woods. The snow is about all off the level now and just in the cuts and on the north side of hills are there banks left of honey combed dirty snow. I saw Old Walker and Benny & Charlie & Guy Tuple working up the big trees in Preston's which the big wind storm took down. Sunny & spring like but cold wind.
Wednesday March 17th
I haven't done much to-day but chores. Frank has been fixing up some old doubletree getting them ready for seeding. Dad. went over to Quanbury's this morning to see Charlie's cow which got into the chop the other day and has been bloated up ever since. He found Karl Coleman there skinning her. Poor Charlie does have tough luck. Dad. hasn't felt at all well all day to-day and his arm is paining him to-night again. Enah is feeling miserable too Frank and I did up the chores early to-night and Frank went down to Aunty's for tea. I went down right after tea and went with Aunty Alice to church to-night. After church Marj. and I went over to the entertainment put on by J.W. Bengough for the local post of the Grand Army of Canada. He was certainly amusing both as a cartoonist and talker. He drew a picture of old Fred over at the Dominion Hotel which was a very good likeness of him and which tickled the boys in the gallery immensley, he also made a {illegible} Irish {mug?} out of a potato and and English one out of a plum pudding and also a Scotch one out of a thistle. There was a dance after the show but we didn't stay.
Thursday March 18th
Dad. went over to see John Wess this morning and didn't get back till about two o'clock and hadn't had any dinner. Joh is over there all alone now as Cam. & his wife have gone back home to settle up their affairs before coming back here to look after John. Frank went down to the butter factory this morning to get some butter as no one has called since poor old Tom had the stroke. Cliff Loan told Frank they had no one yet to take Tom's place. This after noon Sam Law was in for quite awhile, he brought some puss he got out of his horse's back to show it to Dad. and ask him if it was joint water. Frank said
Alan was going to Simcoe this after noon to hear Roy Haven tried for stealing oats from the Norfolk Milling Co. Frank & Tid spent most of the after noon clearing up the rubbish on the lawn under the old willow tree. I didn't do much but chores all day and painted a little. I went down to the Tuxis boys meeting to-night and was there till about 10.45 practising charting on {Hermon?} Cook and then only got him about half charted. I went from there down to Aunty's and stayed till about mid-night telling them about the Bengough concert. It has been sunny but rather raw to day.
Friday March 19th
Frank and I started to clean out the box stall where the steers have been all winter. We intended to haul it out to the field but it started to rain and by noon was raining quite hard so we just threw it in a pile outside the door. It turned colder about noon and to-night the ground is covered with snow again. I did chores and we cleaned out a little more this after noon but didn't finish. Frank notified all the J.F.I.A. members of the annual meeting. Dad hasn't done much all day and I think the rest his arm is getting is doing it good. I went down to band practise to-night. There were about 18 out including some new ones. Jim. Ryerse. Karl Lemmons and Joey Smith. We had a good practise and stayed there till half past ten. It is freezing quite hard to night.
Saturday March 20th
Frank and I finished clearing out the stall where the steers were this morning and hauled it out to the potato ground on the sleighs. There was just enough snow to make the first load slip but it was about gone when we took the last one out. Aunty was over here to dinner and she Enah and Tid. drove down town with Mexico this after-noon. Alan Law was up this morning to see Dad. again about his horse, so Dad. drove down this after noon. Frank and I just did chores. I painted to-night. Fine day, sunny
Sunday March 21st
Frank Tid. and I went down to Sunday school and Enah came down to church. Enah Tid. and I stayed at Aunty's for dinner and this after noon Enah went to choir practise and to after noon tea at the Barwell's. Marj. & I went for a walk this after noon and saw a robin & some red-winged black-birds. I have heard that robins have been around for some time but to-day was the first I saw one. Marj. and I went to Aunty's for tea and this evening entertained (?) Aunt Ida by singing hymns while Aunty and Aunty Alice went to church. Tid. stayed at Aunty's for tea but drove home with Enah right after. Mexico was in John Shand's barn. It has been fine and Springlike but with a raw west wind. Frank went over to see Tom. Butler and his pal this after noon
Monday March 22nd
Frank has been down at Preston's all day trimming up the dead limbs. He also went over to Henry Miseners to see when they wanted to cut wood but Henry wasn't home. Dad. and I moved the bulls into the place where the steers were, where we can keep them clean. We took down the calf stancions and cleaned out the calves boxstall. To-night Frank and I went down to the annual meeting of the J.F.I.A. and there were just enough boys to form a quorum. Clarence Finch suggested that we dissolve the thing and use what money we had about $25.00 to buy some good agricultural book to put in the Library. Every one agreed to the proposal except Charlie Blake who didn't want to dissolve, however the motion carried. We were all surprised to-day by Frank and me receiving forty dollars apiece from Grand daddy from the sale of some property out there. It came just in time for me to get a new suit. The Northern Lights were wonderful to-night. Beautiful day.
Tuesday March 23rd
Frank gathered up all the saws he could find this morning and took them down to Dave Waddle's to sharpen them. Dave saw him the other night and invited him down so he was there to dinner. I went over to Preston's and took the dead wood out of the two trees that were left. This afternoon I drove out to Shand's and bargained for a couple of loads of hay, which we are to get as soon as we can manage it. I went from there down to the cheese factory and got some butter as no one is hauling yet in Tom's place The roads are very heavy although not deep and in some places quite dry, it was after six when I got home. I brought Cliff Lown up from the factory with me. I went down town to-night and spent the evening with Marj. Fine day.
Wednesday March 24th
I went down town first thing this morning and went to Tip's and tried on some ready-made suits. I picked on one $42.00 Navy Blue that suited me pretty well, but I told Harry I wouldn't decide till I went to Simcoe. I went up on the eleven o'clock car and went to see Neff about the books the J.F.I.A. want to donate to the Library. I then went over to Inscombe & Vance and they showed me a piece of Navy Blue Irish serge they call it which the fellow said they had cut a great many suits of and he said he would guarantee it to be fast dye and all wool so I ordered a suit of it at $55.00. It seemed pretty steep but I thought the guarantee was worth something. I came home on the express car and went up to tell Col. Smith who is Chairman of the Library Board about the books and so it was about five o'clock when I got home I found Frank was away as Edmond England had sent for him to help cut wood just after I left. To-night he &
I went down town he went to church and I went to band practice. Aunty Alice went to Hamilton this morning to have her glasses changed and as Aunt Ida has been quite sick all day with a pain in her side I stayed down all night to-night. Another beautiful day, mild
Thursday March 25th
Frank and I went over to Henry Misener's this morning to help cut wood and were there till about four o'clock. We didn't get started very early as the cylinder of Edmond's gasoline engine was leaking and they had to take the head off and repack it, but we cut up a pile of wood when we did start. We had lots of help as besides ourselves and Henry & Edmond, there was Charlie McQueen, Guy Tuple, Dick Waddle & Tom Stone. They moved over and got set up at our place and we cut a little but Edmond & Henry wanted to get home so we quit early. I went down to the Tuxis boys meeting to-night and stopped in on my way down to ask Jack Martin to send over a man to help us in the morning. Frank went over to {Tom Butler's?} and one of them promised to come over and help. Quite hot to-day
Friday March 26th
It was colder and windy this morning and looked like rain but it didn't come and we got started before nine at our wood and finished the pile just at noon. Tom Butler and a man came over from Jack's which besides Henry & Edmond was all the help we had. After dinner we loaded up & moved over to Arthur Prestons. Frank and I went down there & helped but it didn't take much more than half an hour to saw Arthur's little pile up. Frank and I stayed down there for awhile talking to Arthur and then came home and did chores and I went down town to-night and about eleven went over to Col. Smith's and called for Aunty Alice. Trying hard to rain.
Saturday March 27th
We haven't done much all day but chores. Frank found two more lambs when he went out this morning one of them isn't much bigger than a red squirrel and is very weak but Dad. has it in the house feeding it from a spoon. Another ewe lambed a little later. This after noon Dad. went down to ask after old Tom, and said he was very low, and to-night when I went down I heard he was dead. Poor old Tom. we certainly are going to miss his visits and his wit, but maybe for him it would have been much harder to live and see the old lady suffer the way she is or to live with out her as she can't last much longer. I went down to Col. Smiths for tea to-night, Mrs Smith had her boys there and invited Marj. & me. Mr. & Mrs. Johnston were also there and we had a great time. I started for home quite early but stopped in at Frank Smiths and talked to him till near 12 o'clock Roy, Vernon & the children all came up to-day to stay till after Easter.
Sunday March 28th
Frank Tid. and I went down to Sunday school and church this morning and Tid. and I stayed down to dinner. Enah has a bad cold and sore throat so didn't go down to church but went down this after noon to choir practice. Marj. & I went for a walk up the beach this after noon. The lake is lower than I ever saw it, the beach being from 40 to 70 ft wide in places. We also went around to Miss McQueen's for awhile and she gave us tea and cookies. Miss Martin was there, this being her birthday. Aunty Alice, Vernon and I went to church to-night and I spent the evening with Marj. Mr. Johnston announced a meeting to-morrow night to consider the question of whether to take the steeple down or not as since the sheeting blew off it last fall some of them have got it into their heads that it is unsafe. Col. Smith & Jack Martin seem to think that it will have to come down and as the idea of that church without the steeple seemed like a crime to me I climbed up this after noon and as far as I could see only the sills around the posts and the sheeting are a little rotten but perfectly solid and as far as I can see it would cost much less to repair it than to take it down. To remove that steeple would not only destroy the beauty of the church which really is pretty but it would take away the most outstanding and picturesque feature of the town. Roy & Jack Walker looked at it too and came to the same conclusion as I did.
Monday March 29th
Dad. had to be a bearer at Mrs. Chapman's funeral to-day and as they brought her here he had to go down to meet the morning train at eleven. Frank drove him down and he stayed down to dinner. I didn't do much but a few chores and painted this after noon. Frank has been pretty busy with the sheep as several more ewes lambed to-day. To-night he went down to Aunty's for tea as they had invited him & Jennie Ward down there. Marj. came over here for tea. Fine day colder to-night.
Tuesday March 30th
We spent the morning doing up the chores. The lambs are coming thick and fast now and require considerable attention. This after noon Dad. and I went to old Tom's funeral. We took Tid. down and left him at Aunty's to visit with Rebecca while we drove up to the cemetry. Dad. went to the service at the house but I stayed out and held Joe. and talked to Alan Law. Alan misses Tom about as much as anyone but like old Tom himself he takes good care not to betray his feelings by his line of talk. To-night Frank and I went down town and I went around with Marj. but soon after we went in she was seized with a terrible toothache or neuralgia so I didn't stay long. Thank's to Roy's energy the result of last night's meeting was that Huby, Cousin Willie and Barwell were appointed as a committee to have Bill Rankin, Percy Ryerse & Jack Spain to look at the old steeple this morning which they did and
came to the conclusion that it will not be necessary to tear it down. These three were all very anxious to have it left but Roy feels certain that if he had not urged them to go and had not examined the steeple himself that the outcome would have been that Jack Martin and a few others who don't care much would have just had it torn down to be done with it. Very mild, rained a little.
Wednesday March 31st
Frank and I have been down at Preston's all day burning brush and got the brush from 8 or 9 trees burned just by starting a fire over the stump and carrying to it. In this way we could burn the brush from several trees at once. Roy, Vernon, Aunty and the two children were over here to dinner. Aunty & Roy walked back early and wheeled Walter in a go-cart they had borrowed and Enah drove Vernon and Rebecca down about five o'clock. Frank had to go over to Jack Martin's to night to get instructions in doing the chores Billy Mills is sick with flu and Hanselman is leaving to day and going up to Jack Paine's place so they stuck for help and Frank is going over to help old Bill George out. Frank and I went down town to-night and I went to band practice.
Thursday April 1st
Frank was over at Jack's all morning. Dad. and I went down to Preston's this morning and burned some more brush. This after noon Frank and I went up to Ham Thompsons and got a small load of hay, as we are not going to have enough of our own to get us through. Frank got off on our way home to do up the chores at Jack's. I went down to the Tuxis boys meeting to-night. I expected Manning to be there but he had been down earlier and sent Neff down. Neff gave the boys a little talk. When it was over I went around to see Marj. her toothache was better. She intends leaving for home to-morrow for the holidays. It has been a beautiful day to-day. Bobbie calved to-day a red & white bull. Moonshine's first.
Friday April 2nd Good Friday
Dad. & I didn't go down to the orchard this morning as we had several jobs around here to do. We moved Bobbie and ear-marked a couple of the lambs. The old big bagged ewe had two lambs to-day but evidently has very little milk for them so Dad. brought one of them in the house and has been feeding from a bottle. Enah went down to church this morning and I painted a little. It rained quite hard about noon but soon cleared off and Dad. and I went down to the orchard and burned some more brush. It went all right once we got it started. Frank and Tid. went down to Alfreds and borrowed his fish spear and went back to spear pike but had no luck, although we have heard wonderful stories of the fish being caught in our gully this spring. Very mild all day but it has turned colder and windy to-night.
Saturday April 3rd
Dad. and I went down to the orchard this morning to burn brush but it was so windy Dad. and Arthur decided it would be dangerous to start a fire, so we came home and I walked down to the creamery to get some butter as we were right out. I went down to Ryerse's and then walked up along the creek to the second bridge. I saw several of the fellows back there working on the land either on the side hills or on the flats which dry out quickly on account of the gravel bottom. Roy Hammond was at the factory and he gave me a ride as far as his place on my way home. I came through Tom Butler's place and stopped to talk to them for awhile so it was after one o'clock when I got home. We didn't do any thing much this after noon as it was very cold and windy. Freezing to-night.
Sunday April 4th Easter.
(Martha's calf (bull) came to-day) I went down to Sunday school this morning and the rest went down to church except Frank who had to help old Bill George do chores over at Jack Martin's. Vernon came over here to dinner with Enah and Roy and I walked over after having dinner at Aunty Alice's. We didn't do any thing extraordinary for the rest of the day. Roy and Vernon left early in the after noon to go to Huby's for tea. Frank went down to the Ryerse's this after noon Lloyd & George have been sick and are not much better yet. Miserable cold raw day
Monday April 5th
Dad. & Tid went down first thing this morning to see Roy, Vernon & Aunty off as they thought they were going at nine o'clock, they didn't get away till eleven though Aunty went back with them to spend a week. It has been a miserable day with ice over every thing from last night's ice storm. To-night I went down to the Vestry meeting as I promised Mr. Johnston I would. He asked me to act as secretary for the meeting so I had to go over to the Rectory afterwards to copy in the minutes. I had intended getting my hair cut but Mrs. Johnston invited me to crackers, cheese & wine, and Mr. Johnston gave me a cigar so I sat there till too late to go to the barbers. They have had quite a day of it down there as Percy Dunkin & Miss Baugley were married to-day and they entertained the party at the Rectory. It was wine that Percy brought down that we were making merry with to-night. I stayed all night at Aunty Alice's as Aunty is away although Aunty Alice said she intended to stay alone, however she had the bed ready for me if I intended to stay. Cold.
Tuesday April 6th
Dad. and I did chores this morning and this after noon Frank and I went up to Ham Thompson's and got the rest of the hay that he said we could have
Frank stopped off at Jack's to do chores and Dad. and I put part of the load off in the horse stable, just as we were getting through the chores which was rather late George & Marion came in. They had come on the five o'clock car and had had tea with Aunty Alice. We were expecting them some time to-night as George sent a telegram. Miserable weather, snowing to-night.
Wednesday April 7th
We haven't done much but chores to-day and I have been working on the last lesson of my show card course. It is quite a long one and I want to finish it up this week if possible. Enah drove George & Marion down town with Mexico this afternoon and they got a suitcase which they had left down town. I went down to band practise to-night. I went around to Harry Dyer's first and got my hair cut. We hadn't a big crowd out as it was a rotten night freezing hard and {Grint?}, Mid. and Erney West are up the lake fishing. Bill Lemmons was in a exceptionally good humor though They say he is going to be married soon to Lou. Dixon but she hasn't got him yet. Cold and extremely rotten.
Thursday April 8th
Dad. George and I went down to Preston's this morning and burned some more brush. Henry was there burning his to-day. This after noon Dad. & I went down alone and finished burning ours. I went down to the Tuxis boy's meeting to-night we didn't have a regular meeting but the boys were making plans for their father & son banquet next Tuesday, we had a very short session and I got home early. It has been a nasty day. Sunny by "spells" and a snow storm every half hour.
Friday April 9th
Dad. George. Tid and I went down to the orchard this morning and helped Henry burn the rest of his brush. We got it all slicked up in fine shape before noon and Arthur complimented us on the thoroughness with which we did the job. George and I went over to see the old McQueen cemetry. I worked at my show card lessons this after noon. George went down town while Marion was asleep after dinner and invited Ada to go to the dance with him to-night. Marion went down town after him as soon as she woke up and brought him back for tea. After tea George left early to get Ada. and Frank, Enah and Marion went down later to a concert and dance put on by the Rebecca Lodge from Delhi. They said the dance was good but the concert was rotten. Dad. Tid and I stayed home and I worked at my show card lesson. A little milder but raw.
Saturday April 10th
Frank and I went out to the Shands this morning to
get a load of hay which they promised us. We had to go over to Willie's place to get it and as we were going under their telephone wire which crossed the lane the back ladder of the rack caught it and broke off clean both legs. Frank and Charlie fixed it up but it took quite awhile and it was nearly noon by the time we left with our load, we took it down to Kolbe's to weigh it and as it was after twelve when we arrived there, the office was locked up and we had to wait for our weight till one o'clock, when Kolbe came along. I went over to Huby's for awhile as he stays at the office till one o'clock on Saturdays. It was pretty late when we got home with our load and didn't do much but chores after dinner after we had put off the load most of it in the horse stable. Dad. went over to Jack's in Frank's place this morning. Frank will be through over there to-morrow as Billy is feeling well enough to get out. I went down to the station to-night and met Marj. she came back on the Grand Trunk. Milder to-day.
Sunday April 11th
I went down to Sunday school this morning and Enah went down to church but none of the rest went down. I stayed at Aunty's for dinner and spent the after noon with Marj. part of it delivering maple sugar, she brought back a load of it from home and had to divide it up and give it away. We both came over here for tea and I helped Dad. milk, all the family except Dad. and Frank were out for a joy-ride in Joe Thompson's car, Quint came over here to dinner with Enah and Joe came over after dinner to get him so took them all for a drive up around by Simcoe. We all spent the evening here and Enah and Marion played duets. Tid went to bed early and was very quiet and seems to realize that to-night sees the close of the first epoch of his career, his childhood days are over, and to-morrow he will be a school-boy.
Monday April 12th
Dad. and Enah took Tid. down to school this morning and left him quite happy with Miss McQueen, who he fell in love with at first sight. Frank and I spent most of the morning clipping Mexico. It rained most of the after noon. Jim. Bannister came in right after dinner with the lower half of the circle of his buggy broken and had to borrow ours to go around the mail route. We didn't do any thing much this after noon but chores. Dad. drove after Tid. at four o'clock with Mexico and the cart. We were all home to-night. George & Marion intend to leave to-morrow and George is going West right away.
Tuesday April 13th
Dad. drove Tid down to school first thing this morning and as soon as he got back I drove George down
as he wanted to go and say good bye to the Harding's and Ada. Enah drove Marion down a little later with Mexico and they got off on the eleven car. I went down to Frank Smith's to ask him how the Father & Son banquet was progressing and he said all arrangements had been completed. This after noon Frank and I put the ear labels in the rest of the lambs. We both went down soon after six to the Father & Son banquet in the Methodist church and had a rattling good supper and as I had to leave at 8.20 to meet Aunty I got out of listening to most of the speeches. Bill Barwell & Joe Smith proposed toasts and were answered by Mr. Brand and a Mr. Neil who came with Manning, then a Mr. Dollar who I think is liable to succeed Mr. Brand in the Methodist pulpit this year. They were all pretty poor, but but Frank said that Taylor Statten who spoke for about an hour after I left was very good. The train got in about nine o'clock and I went up to the house with Aunty and then went up and spent the rest of the evening with Marj. Sunny and a little milder to-day.
Wednesday April 14th
Frank and I went to Simcoe this morning to get some feed at Johnson's. We borrowed Art. Quanbury's waggon as ours had the rack on it and as we went over there after it, we didn't get started till about ten o'clock. It was nearly noon when we got there so Frank took his wheel around to Ford's to be fixed and we took some bags up to Johnson's and then put the team in at Burt's and went and had dinner at Shaw's. It was four o'clock before we left Simcoe. I got my new suit and went to Slaght who didn't know any more about the Dickey Stevens place than he did last fall We couldn't get any bran or shorts anywhere up there but got our seed potatoes and some seed corn. It was nearly six when we got home. Dad. said Roy Hammond had been in to invite us all down to a U.F.O. social meeting to-night and hear a debate on the subject of an 8 hour day on the farm. I went down to band practise to-night and went to the U.F.O. meeting after it. The debate was just about over but we heard the a quartette composed of Frank Lemons, Fram. Walker, Mrs. Welch & Mrs. Roy Hammond sing and a violin duet. Then some old Frank Ryerson from Teeterville or some place made a long rambling agitating speech in which he made several comparisons between the poor down trodden farmer and the wealthy autocratic city-man all of which was bunk. He is a witty and comical old coon but a {rube?} in manners, looks and speech, but evidently a high man in U.F.O. circles. After this we had refreshments, which were good, and plentiful.
Thursday April 15th
Dad went out to the corner field and tried to plow this morning but it was too wet and he had to come up. Frank and I cut the tails off 14 more lambs and then Frank drove Tid. down to school. I braided up the corn we got in Simcoe yesterday and hund it up in the drive house. It started to rain before noon and rained all the afternoon and night. Dad. went over to John Wesses this after noon and was there till after five. We did chores and puttered around. I went down town to-night to see if the Tuxis boys were going to meet but they didn't. I had on Frank's rubber boots so thought I would go home but I took a walk up to the Monteith's and saw Marj. near the door so knocked and she let me in. She got me old Monteith's slippers which nearly pinched my feet off and caused the old man considerable concern when he went to look for them later. Frank went down to a minstrel show composed of Simcoe Methodists in the town hall.
Friday April 16th
We started to fix up the lane a little this morning Dad. & Frank plowed three furrows on each side of it and I threw the sods out in the middle. A little before noon Tom. Butler came over after Dad. to go and see a ewe that was lambing so Dad. went over and didn't get back till after three and didn't have any dinner Frank worked a little more at the lane this after noon and fixed up a lamb creep. I spent most of the after noon doing chores. Wore my new suit down town to-night and they all said it looked fine. Nice day
Saturday April 17th
Dad. and I have spent most of the day piling wood and didn't quite finish but made things look quite a bit better than they did. Frank went down town this morning and up to Miss McCoy's where he found we could get two tons of hay for $25.00 a ton. He went out to Evans and got the wheel of the old waggon which he took out there the other day. Evans had put in a piece of a rim and two new spokes and only charged $2.50. Frank put it on the old waggon this after noon and went down town and got a load of sawdust to use in the horse stable for bedding. Dad. went down to see Aunty to-night. Very windy, mild.
Sunday April 18th
Tid and I went down to Sunday school this morning and Frank came down but was too late for sunday school and too early for church so went up the beach. I stayed at Aunty's for dinner and this after noon Marj. and I went over to Prestons & Ivey's woods and
gathered a big bunch of may flowers. We came up through the gully to the house and found Aunty Alice here She went home before tea, but Marj. stayed here for the evening. Frank was over at the Sidway's and didn't get home till nearly seven but as I was home I helped Dad. do the chores. It has been a beautiful day, east breeze.
Monday April 19th
Frank and I went out to the Shand's first thing this morning and got another load of hay. They told us we could have enough to make up a ton but we put on as much if not more than we had last time and the last load weighed 1580, but Willie said they would call the two loads 3000 and only charged us $18.00 a ton for it. It was easily worth $25.00 according to what we would have to pay anywhere else. We put it all off in the horse stable and right after dinner we went up to Miss McCoy's and got a load. It took us quite awhile to put it on and coming out of the barn we had to make a very short turn and broke a trace but were able to shorten it and go on. We took it down and weighed it and it was 1910 but heavier hay. Fine day
Tuesday April 20th
We started work on the land to-day. I went out first thing and sowed the rest of the clover seed on the wheat and Frank went out and started disking along the side road. Dad. took Tid down to school and then went out with Belle & Queen with the harrows. Frank had Harry & Pommers and Pommers went off without a particle of trouble. They worked till about four o'clock when Frank came up to get the drill and seed as it looked so rainy we thought we had better put in what was worked up although Dad. didn't want to put it in without more work and without treating the seed. Just as Frank came up it started to rain and rained till five o'clock so nothing more could be done. I dug around some of the little trees in the orchard this morning and this after noon did chores and mixed barley & oats for seed. Frank and I went down town to-night. I met Marj. after their auxillary meeting was over and we went to the picture show.
Wednesday April 21st
Frank and I spent the day shearing sheep but only got six done. We were quite awhile getting the machine in order and haven't got our hand in very well yet. We couldn't find our wool box so couldn't tie up the fleeces Dad. went down to the butter factory this after noon to get some butter and didn't get back till after six He said the roads were a fright. They just scraped them before the rain. I went down to band practise to-night. Cnocfierna had a heifer calf to-night. Fine & warm.
Thursday April 22nd
Frank took Tid. down to school this morning and went on down town to get some oil for the sheep clippers and to get me some developing supplies. He also went up to Ham Thompson's and found our wool box. Ham had borrowed it last year and had forgotten about it till he found it the other day cleaning out the drive house. I raked the lawn for awhile and then Dad. helped me shear a couple of sheep, but it hurt his arm to turn the machine. We sheared this after noon and got seven more done. Alan Law was in this morning and took the knives of the horse clippers up to be sharpened in Simcoe. Elva came over to dinner and Aunty Alice right after dinner and all the bridge club later in the after noon. Aunty Alice & Elva stayed to tea and I walked down with them after tea and went to the Tuxis boys meeting. It began to rain just after we left and we had a great old thunder storm. It was still raining a little when I started for home so I went in to Aunty Alice's for the night. Saw a pair of big blue martin's on the bird house to-day.
Friday April 23rd
This has been a miserable day, rained or drizzled nearly all the time with little patches of sunshine and rather chilly. Frank and I sheared seven more sheep. Dad. went up to see Ham Thompson's cattle this morning. I went down town to-night.
Saturday April 24th
Frank and I docked the rest of the lambs this morning and then sheared three more sheep before dinner. Aunty came over to dinner and this afternoon she Enah and Tid went back to the woods and got a lot of may flowers. Frank went to Simcoe this after noon and got his wheel and rode it home. It was rather late when we got through the noon chores so instead of shearing any more sheep, Dad. went out to clean out some ditches and I went down to "Bronzie" and got some cedar trees to set out for a hedge Enah. Tid. and Aunty drove down town and I went down and got some more little cedars and left them by Mrs. Battersby's mail box and Enah brought them home in the cart. I set some of them out to-night and heeled the rest of them in. Sunny but cold north wind
Sunday April 25th
Frank and I went down to sunday school this morning I was purposely late as I had a premonition that I might be requested to open Sunday school but when I got there I found that they had not yet started so sure enough Aunty Alice pounced on me and asked me to do the job. I thought there was only one effective way of getting out of it and convincing them that I absolutely and unconditionally refused to be let in
for it so I made for the door and went down to the pier for half and hour. There were several fishing down there and they were hauling out perch at a great rate. I didn't have quite time enough after I got back to get all the books distributed. Mr. Johnson had a very bad cold and there was some talk of not having church so Marj. and I thought we would go up the beach, there was church however but we walked right past much to Aunty Alice's surprise, we thinking that the fewer Mr. Johnston had to speak to the easier it would be on his voice. I left Marj. at the Bagleys where she had dinner and spent the afternoon celebrating Mr. Bagley's birthday. I came home to dinner and this after noon went over to Tom Butler's with some tobacco Frank got for him. I also took a knife over to dock his lambs, but Art Quanbury had been over this morning and done that. I found Tom & Stevens in the house entertaining Bill Donald, Frank Lemons and Jack & Arthur Pickford, so I stayed for about an hour and imbibed cider with the company On my way home I came through the woods and dug up some may-flower roots to send to Dorrie. I helped Dad. do chores and went down town by after church. They had a long service. The oddfellows were all there and Mr. Farney preached to them. Frank has been down at the Ward's all after noon & evening. Fine day, cool
Monday April 26th
I went out first thing this morning to measure of a space in the field along the side road to put the Experimental Union plots. Then I came up and helped Frank bring out the old drill which he had rigged up as a broadcast seeder with Harry & Pommer while Dad. drove Tid to school. They had broken a cog in the feed drive gear of the drill so when we got out with it we found it wouldn't run as it would stop feeding when it came to the broken cog. We came up and put Queen with the team and hooked on to the big drill and Dad. & Frank went a few rounds with it but found the ground was too wet for it to work in the mud clogged up in the disks and half the seed didnt sow and it wouldn't cover well either. I opened up some ditches in the corner field This after noon Frank took the broken gear wheel to Simcoe but they were all too busy up there to fix it and the implement man didn't have one in stock but sent for one. Dad. and I took Pommers & Harry out to plow in the corner field and I went a few rounds with him but it was too wet to work well and the plow not being scoured pulled very hard, but Dad. kept at it till night and finished a land. I came up and set out the rest of my cedar hedge down to the ditch. I have some left though. Cold east wind and cloudy. Rain to-night.
Tuesday April 27th
It drizzled rain all morning so that we couldn't do anything outside. I worked in the shop making stakes for the experimental plots and fixing the milk stools. Frank went down to Alfred's and cleaned up some oats as we have to buy some for feed. This after noon it cleared off, the wind went from the east to west by the south and it got quite warm. We went back to the gully and fixed a little of the fence as there is enough pasture back there now to turn the steers back. I went down to-night.
Wednesday April 28th
We spent the day fixing fence back in the gully and think we have the old barricade patched up enough to hold the steers as we want to turn them out to-morrow. We pput most of the morning on the fence this side of the creek on Ivey's line. It was in awful shape so we took it all down, put in a couple more posts and stretched the barbed wire over again. It doesn't look very artistic but it is in a perpendicular position anyway, I went down to band practice to-night. Rotten day. Cloudy, windy, very cold & rainy. Tom Butler & his pal spent the evening over here to-night. They are getting tired of batching and have a chance to engage a young widow from near Simcoe as housekeeper, but don't know whether it would be strictly in accordance with the rules of society or not.
Thursday April 29th
Frank went out and harrowed this morning along the side road and Dad. plowed in the corner field. Frank thought the land worked pretty well so Dad. went on this after noon and sowed the rest of the barley & oats we had mixed up. He went over what he sowed the other day again. He couldn't start sowing till quite late as Jim who brought the spare part to the broadcast seeder couldn't find it when he brought the mail and so went all around his route and found it in the bottom of his box so then brought it out, he was in his car so went around fairly quickly. I measured out 250 lbs of manure this morning to put on one of my experimental plots and then went out and staked them out. I came up at four o'clock and did up the chores as Dad. worked pretty late. I went down to the Tuxis boys' meeting to-night after which I ran across Hazen and walked up to the radical track and back with him. We turned the steers out to-day.
Friday April 30th
Dad. worked on the land all day and got in four or five acres more. Frank and I treated what oats he sowed for smut this morning. We tried the dry treatment this time which is to spray the formalin on instead of sprinkling it. We use a much stronger solution, half in half and just use one
pint of the mixture to 25 bushels of grain. We did it in the granary instead of on the barn floor where there would have been a breeze and it nearly suffocated us. The fumes got in our eyes and noses even after we tied handkerchiefs over our mouths, but little by little we got the job done. We then took the sheep out to the corner field and Frank went on the land and worked. I sowed three of my experimental plots but will have to wait till I get the manure on the other one to sow it. I spent the after noon doing chores. We were very much surprised this morning when we went out to the cow stable to find a roan heifer calf behind Elgitha. She wasn't due till the 12th of May so we hadn't noticed her at all and she calved in the stanchions. We put her and the calf out back of the barn for to day and shut her in a box stall at night, she looks to have a good bag. We let the cows back to the gully for awhile this after noon. I went down town to-night. Fine but quite cool.
Saturday May 1st
It froze hard last night and has been cold quite uncomfortably so with a north west wind all day but it has been fine and Dad. and Frank have managed to finish that field out there, we think there must be about 14 acres in it. There are one or two holes with water in them that they had to leave, but Dad can sow a little closer to them by hand and Frank will cross harrow it Monday if it stays fine. We put it in in pretty rough shape just disked and harrowed it ahead of the drill seeder with out crossing. Dad. hates to put it in that way, but with the weather we have it seems like taking chances on not getting it in at all if we do it "a la" John Wess. This is the way Art Ryerse & Alf. Pow do it every year and they thrash some great crops. I have chored around all day cleaning out the calf pens and mulching the raspberries. Enah and Tid went down to John Watts' sale this after noon. Enah said there were very few there and things went for very little. She bought some chairs and rag mats, for a little over a dollar. John Watts is leaving as Sam & Alan have bought the farm.
Sunday May 2nd
Frank and I went down to Sunday school and Enah went down to church as she had to play the organ. Dad. went down to Aunty's for dinner. I came home for dinner and tea and spent the after noon and evening down town. I took 16 chick out from two hens to-day and put them in a little coop under one hen. Frank & Lloyd Ryerse went down the lake shore to-night to invite folks to the Butler's Stevens party to-morrow night. Fine day but cold wind.
Monday May 3rd
Frank and I went up to Miss McCoy's this morning and got another load of hay. It was after noon by the time we got it home and off. Dad. harrowed crossways on what we sowed this morning and Frank finished harrowing it this after noon and started in disking the corner field. Dad. and I hauled out the manure I had weighed up for my plot and some more which we mulched some of the little poplars along the side road with. We then brought the plow out of the corner field and ran the ditches in the sowed piece and Dad. started to plow the head land in the corner field. Winnie came over to tea to go with me to the party to-night. Frank had arranged to take Kathleen Kinsular and Jennie Ward so he had to take them out first then come back and get Win & me. We had a very good time out there. Bobbie Mc.Milland was the orchestra and Fred Krill the master of ceremonies, there was a good crowd out there and lots to eat. Frank drove Win & me home about one o'clock and then went back after the other girl
Thursday May 4th
Frank and I had to go back to the back field first thing this morning to get the cattle out of the woods as they had knocked down and broken a bar. I then drove Win. down to the bank and when I got home Frank and I put on a load of manure and took it down to Aunty Alice. We brought home some posts from Jack Reynolds to put along the road for a fence. Dad. plowed the head land in the corner field this morning and he and Frank worked on it this after noon. We are going to work up just half of it for oats and put corn on the rest of it. I did chores and sowed my last experimental plot with oats. I went down town to-night.
Wednesday May 5th
Dad. & Frank worked on the corner field all day and hope to have it ready to drill by to-morrow after noon. I went out and burned some old rubbish in the corner field that had been along the old fence bottom, then I cleaned out some ditches in the sowed field. Frank and I treated some more oats this after noon and a little barley which Frank went down to the mill for. Remembering our last experience we were determined not to do the job in the granary again so we cleaned off the barn floor but that took a long time so that by the time we got done, there was no time to do any thing else much. Frank went out and sowed two kinds of Spring Wheat on the plots. I went down to band practice to-night. Aunty Alice was over here to tea. Fine & warm all day but it freezes every night.
Thursday May 6th
Dad. & Frank worked all morning on the corner field and drilled it in this after noon with the big drill.
Frank didn't finish till nearly dark. I sowed all the clover seed we had left on the side road field this morning, it went over about to the first water hole. I had dinner about ten o'clock and then went up to Charlie Trinders to see the Shorthorn sale of his & Ham Thompson's. I did think of going up on the eleven o'clock car but changed my mind and walked up through the Cedar Swamp and Dean's Hollow. It was a beautiful day for a walk and I just poked along and enjoyed myself. I got a ride home with Lloyd Crysler who had taken John Wess. Charlie Butler & Wilbur Ryerse up. The sale was very poor. Trinder's stuff was in poor shape and small and although Hams looked pretty nice the bidding was very slow and every thing went for grade prices or less. Lloyd Crysler & John Wess each bought a bull. I went down town to-night and ran races and jumped with the boys. Came home early & went to bed.
Friday May 7th
Frank had a couple of bags of seed left over last night when he got the piece sowed that was worked up so as it was treated we thought we had better sow it. Dad. has been working up five more lands all morning Frank drilled it in this after noon and then disked over the plowing that was left to keep it from getting too hard. We went down to Alfred's first thing this morning and got six more bags of oats for feed, we then went down to the mill and got four bags of some new feed mixture to feed the bulls. Then as the cattle were all in the back field again, we went back and put them out and stretched some more barbed wire. Frank came up and harrowed and I went over to ask Cam. McBride if he would like us to give him a day to-morrow he seemed very pleased at the prospect. He was just finishing up his field plowing and is afraid he won't get any more in. I went from there over to Charlie McQueen's to ask him if there would be any chance of renting his place this fall but he said he guessed not. This after noon I cleaned out a few ditches did chores and went over to ask Art Quanbury if he would rent Charlies place but he said not. I went down town to-night. Fine & warm.
Saturday May 8th
I went over to Cam McBride's first thing this morning with the harrows and was over there till nearly six harrowing. Cam. got his field in to-night with the broadcast seeder. I harrowed ahead of him and then went over it after him so harrowed the field nearly over twice. Charlie Munroe came over and harrowed too all the after-noon. I came home before tea much against Cam's & John Wess's wishes and forgot the halters and left them in the barn where the horses had been tied at noon.
so Frank rode over on his wheel to get them but found Charlie Munroe had put them on his horses so he had to wait till Charlie got through tea and had his there too. He worked up the garden to-day and his alfalfa plot. He & Dad. ran out the ditches in the corner field this morning but Dad. has felt so tough with a cold that he didn't do any thing this after noon. We were till after dark getting the chores all done, then Frank and I went down town. I got my hair cut and as I was so sleepy I went down to Aunty Alices and spent the night. Very hot this morning looked rainy
Sunday May 9th
Aunty Alice called me at five o'clock this morning and I went to sleep again but got away before half past five. Dad. was milking when I got home. Frank, Tid and I went down to Sunday school. Enah drove down to church. I stayed at Aunty Alices to dinner and this after noon Marj. & I walked over to Preston's woods and then over here to tea. Frank was down at the Ward's and Dad. was to sick with his cold and an awful headache to get up at all so I had all the chores to do. I drove Marj. down to-night. Fine day
Monday May 10th
Frank and I finished cleaning out the ditches in the corner field this morning and this after noon sheared four more sheep. Dad. has felt very little better and hardly went out of the house all day Tid's cold is worse too and he didn't go to school. It has been cloudy all day and rained a little this after noon. We need it badly. Frank found a lamb this morning with a big lump on its shoulder and Dad. lanced it, and got a lot of stuff out of it. I afterwards pulled a long piece of straw out of the wound which looked like a timothy head with all the seed hulls off it.
Tuesday May 11th
It rained most of the morning and must have rained a lot during the night. We needed it badly and it was a nice gentle rain. The sheep got wet during the night so we couldn't shear to-day. Frank went down town this morning to see about borrowing some money, he stayed at Aunty's to dinner and went to Simcoe this after noon to see about several items of business. He is full of business ideas these days and says he is going to make the farm hum and double production, so I tell him to "go to it". I spent the morning trying out different letterings on a memorial honor-roll for Mr. Johnson. It cleared off this after noon and I did chores and worked around out in front of the house. Alan Tibbets, Zeitha and little Helen were over this after noon and went back to the woods after flowers. Tom Butler & Stevens were in for awhile too. Frank and I went down town to-night. Dad. helped me do the night chores. Tid. feels rotten
Wednesday May 12th
Frank and I sheared the rest of the sheep to-day. We got five done this fore noon and the other two after dinner. Alex Jamieson was in and wanted us to go down and shear his but Frank told him we didn't have time but that he could borrow the machine if he wanted it. Dad. felt quite a lot better to-day and went down to Aunty's for dinner and was down town all the after noon. Tid has been in bed all day and to-night they have decided that he has the measles. I went down to band practice to-night. Fine but cold wind. Frosty.
Thursday May 13th
I spent the day putting in posts along the road so that we could stretch the fence along the front of field east of the orchard. The sheep are on it and with no fence up they wander up the road and pasture on Pickford's wheat, which hasn't grown any since last fall so doesn't need pasturing. Frank harrowed over the garden this morning and this after noon he and Dad. hauled manure out on it. Dad. was quite worried over Jessie all day as she wasn't progressing with calving very fast. He examined her to-night and as the calf's head was back he was afraid we were going to lose one or both but he managed to straighten it out and it came fine a big red heifer. I went down to a Tuxis boys' meeting and a {sidesmen's?} meeting afterwards. Very cold all day and cloudy. It can't aparently warm up.
Friday May 14th
It took me nearly all day to put in the two posts in the gully I dug long holes for them and nailed cross pieces on the bottom's and put stones on top of them so I don't think the wire will lift them. Frank and I strung the wire up to them to-night so that the sheep can't get out. They have taken to going up to Pickford's wheat so we have to keep them in as Pickford's wheat makes very poor pasture. Dad. and Frank hauled some more manure on the garden this morning and they disked it and spring toothed it this after noon. Frank also went over his alfalfa plot and Dad. plowed a little more of the corn ground in the corner field. I went down town to-night and met Marj. going to Aunty's with a basket which she had taken a kitten up home in so we spent the evening there. Huby Aunty Maude, Cousin Clare & Col. Smith were there playing bridge. Cloudy and very cold wind all day. Freezing hard to-night.
Saturday May 15th
Dad. and Frank and I worked all morning in the garden I cut up some of the small Irish Cobbler potatoes that were in the cellar and we planted four rows of them. Dad. and Frank planted a lot of small seeds. This after noon Frank and I took the little pigs down town and delivered them to their various purchasers. Bronzie Brock got one Art Webster one, Geordie Long two & Geordie Innes two.
We also took the wool down and put it on a freight car and got two bags of fertilizer that Frank got from Johnson to try out on Corn & potatoes. He wanted to go up to Miss McCoy's and get some hay this after noon but we didn't have time. We got some plank from Jack Reynold's to fix Joe's stall with. Dad. intended working in the garden this after noon but Lea Marshall came after him and he had to go down town to see a sick horse of Jack Richardson's. Frank went down town to-night and I started to do some show card work but went to sleep. Nice day.
Sunday May 16th
It froze a little last night again but has been a very nice day no wind and quite mild. Frank and I went down to Sunday school and church. This after noon Frank went over to Tom. Butler's and took Crusoe with him and left him there as Tom wanted a dog and we didn't want him. Jack Richardson came after Dad. to go down to Henderson's and give his horse some more attention and Dad. went from there down to Aunty's. I did chores and took some little chickens out this after noon. I only got two good ones out of the incubator and I think they will die but the old hen hatched eight. Lloyd Ryerse was in for quite awhile. I went down town to-night and met Marj. who has been in Waterford all day with Mrs. Wood and they came in on the nine car. Tid. feels quite a bit better to-day, but is well spotted up yet.
Monday May 17th
Frank and I went up to Miss McCoy's this morning and got another load of hay. Dad. spent most of the morning attending to Nellie who presented us with a big red bull calf this morning. This after noon Dad. finished plowing the corner field for corn and I cleaned up around the back yard. Frank hauled two loads of coal and a load of sawdust for bedding in the horse stable. There was a car of coal in and we thought we had better get some of it now and be sure of having it especially as the price is going up. To-night Frank & I went down to Mr. Freeman's to get lists of names to canvass for the steeple fund. It has been very warm all day and looks like rain.
Tuesday May 18th
Dad. went down to Aunty's this morning and was down all day trimming up the walks and fixing the fences. I spent the morning raking up the lawn but didn't quite finish. This afternoon I went out to the garden and sowed some more seeds. Frank worked on the corn ground all day. Alan Law was in at noon and borrowed the manure spreader. I went down town fairly early and got part of my canvassing done. Mrs. Martin was the only one I approached who refused to give at all and several gave me $5.00 I spent the evening with Marj. Very warm & cloudy.
Wednesday May 19th
Dad. went back to the gully after the cows this morning and found Mary with a big roan bull calf, we left her back there all day. Frank went over to Tom Butler's and sheared his sheep for him this morning. I planted some more seeds in the garden and Dad. worked on the corn ground. This after noon Frank and I hauled out some manure to put on a patch which Dad. wants to work up for strawberries. Bruce came after Dad. about three o'clock to go down to Bob. Dougherty's with him to see a mare so Frank and I worked on the corn ground I worked till Frank got the strawberry patch covered and then he took the team and I planted some more corn & my oats in the garden. I went down to band practice to-night. Fair and mild all day, sprinkled a little to-night.
Thursday May 20th
Dad. and I went back after Mary's calf this morning We had quite a time finding him as Mary had hidden him in the little gully running up into the field, and he lay there perfectly still with his head down as low as he could get it till I was just about on him. After quite a lot of trouble we got him up to the barn and I spent the rest of the day raking & cutting the lawns and got them all looking pretty nice. Dad. worked on the corner ground and Frank spring toothed the back field as we thought it would be a good idea to keep it loosened up till we get a chance to plow it for summer fallow. I went down to the Tuxis boys' meeting to-night and finished my collecting for the steeple, and got $46.00 promised Huby gave me five dollars. I went there last and stayed most of the evening, but called in at Aunty's on my way home where I found Cal. Smith, Cousin Loll & Mrs. Barwell playing bridge. Quint was there too. Very warm, shower to-night.
Friday May 21st
Dad. had to go down to Mr. Fleming's this morning as he had a new colt which he was afraid was not going to be able to suck but when Dad. got there it was all right. On his way home he saw Billy Mills who was very anxious to get Jack's sheep sheared so Dad. told him I would go over this afternoon. I spent the morning digging around my hedge. Dad. came home and plowed the strawberry patch and Frank went down to Sam Law's and got a few plants but not enough to fill the patch. I went over to Jack's with the clippers this after noon and sheared six of his sheep.They are much easier to shear than ours as there is no wool on their faces or the inside of their legs. Frank set out the strawberries this after noon and Dad. worked on the corn ground. I went down town to-night. Very warm. I saw kids in at the stump this after noon.
Saturday May 22nd
I went over to Martin's first thing this morning and finished shearing the sheep. I got home about eleven and wheeled out a barrow load or two of manure to put around my hedge but as Frank had the seed potatoes all treated for scab and ready to cut, I cut them till noon. Dad. plowed the potato ground this morning and Frank treated the seed and helped Dad. fork the manure out of the road of the shear. This after noon Frank and I cut seed. It took us till after four as we cut it all. Dad. worked down the land and furrowed it out but we didn't get it all planted. We planted four rows and Frank put fertilizer on three of them and Dad. covered them. Fine and warm to-day
Sunday May 23rd
I went down to Sunday school this morning and Dad. Enah and Tid to church. Mr. Johnson dedicated the new memorial font this morning which Miss Buckwell put in the church in memory of her father & mother, and we had a baptismal service when five children were christened. This afternoon Mr. Johnson invited Marj. & me to go to Vittoria with him. He told Marj. to invite two more to make up a car load so she asked Miss McQueen and her mother. We had a very nice after noon and went to the woods up there while Mr. Johnson was at church. I came home and did chores and went down again to-night.
Monday May 24th
Dad. Frank and I finished planting the potatoes this morning and got in ten rows altogether running from the lane to Ivey's line. We finished about eleven and then Frank went over to Martin's and got some strawberry plants. I took the buggy down to the mill and washed the mud off it. This after noon Dad. & Frank set out the strawberry plants and put a ring in Moonshine's nose but I took a holiday to celebrate the Queen's birthday and Marj. and I went up the Radical road to look for Dogwood. We didn't find any but we dug up a lot of other roots and got some lovely violets. We also saw a scarlet tanager and an indigo bird neither of which had we ever seen before. We gave a lot of our roots to Miss McQueen on our way home and she gave me some out of her garden to set out over here. I brought Marj. over here to tea. Billy Mills was over after the corn-marker this morning and said the creek was lined with fishermen. It was cloudy all morning but a beautiful day.
Tuesday May 25th
Frank and I hauled manure all day to-day and got out 19 loads on the corn ground. I put in the time between loads mulching around the hedge and cherry trees in the lane. Dad. cleaned out the cellar and had a hard job. Neff and Manning were in this after noon. Neff is making arrangements for an
automobile trip down into New York State some time next month and wants to have a meeting in Simcoe to-morrow night to arrange the details. Frank said he would try to go up. I went down town to-night and Marj. and I went over to Miss McQueen's and I got some larkspur plants that they had got for me from Miss Martin's hot bed.
Wednesday May 26th
Frank and I hauled manure all day and finished covering the corn ground. I cut the lawn in between loads and got it all looking slick. Dad. did odd jobs and hoed over in the garden. Frank went to Neff's meeting to-night. He said they had about fifteen out representative of the different J.F.I.A's throughout the county and formed a sort of County association with a Vittoria boy as president and Bill Nixon as secretary. I went down to band practice to-night. Very hot to-day.
Thursday May 27th
Dad. worked on the corn ground all day. Frank went down town this morning and got some seed corn and this after noon he harrowed on the corn ground. I just did odd jobs and took my harness to pieces and rubbed it up a little. I took the back strap out of the saddle and couldn't get it back in again. I went down town to-night but none of the boys showed up. I did a show card lesson after I got home. Very hot, warm night.
Friday May 28th
Dad. worked on the corn ground all day. Frank worked most of the day but went up to Ham. Thompson's to see if he could come down and plant corn for us to-morrow but he said he couldn't come till next week so we will if all's well mark it and plant it by hand to-morrow. Tid and I drove Mexico down town this morning and I dug a patch for Aunty Alice to plant potatoes and some holes for squash and then went up to Mr. Johnson's and he gave me a lot of perenniels. We stayed at Aunty Alice's for dinner and came home right after and spent the rest of the afternoon setting out the things I got from Mr. Johnson. I went down town to-night and went to an athletic meeting in the town hall but as Ernie West Jackson, Frank Smith and Manning were the only ones there we didn't do any thing. I left at nine and went down to Aunty's for the rest of the evening. Marj. was there having had tea there. Turned cold during the night. Cold wind all day.
Saturday May 29th
Dad. marked the corn ground this morning and I went with him to pick up the ends of the marker on the turns. Frank rolled the field down ahead of us and then went around to Pickford's & Mr. Flemming's and borrowed their corn planters. Billy Mills came over after dinner and he Frank and I planted this after noon. We ran out of
about five rows from the end so will have to leave that much till Monday. Dad. took Billy out this after noon with the bridle & surcingle on and did odd jobs. Aunty came over to tea and Dad. drove her home to-night. I read & painted a show card lesson. Quite cold this morning.
Sunday May 30th
Frank Tid and I went down to Sunday school and Enah drove down to church. She stayed down to dinner but the rest of us came home. Olive Ward saw Marj. yesterday and invited her, with Frank and me, down to their place this after noon. Frank had made arrangements to go some place with Lloyd Ryerse so he didn't go down but helped Dad. as much as he could with the chores and Marj. and I drove down after dinner and spent the after noon and evening there and had a very nice time {Leggit?} was down to tea too. We got home about 11.30 Beautiful day, nice breeze.
Monday May 31st
Dad. spent the day plowing and working up the patch back of the shop where we are going to try and raise some fodder corn this year. Frank went down town and got some more seed corn and planted it this afternoon I put up my wren house and watched a pair of orioles for awhile that are building out on the lawn. Henry Misener came over with some stumping powder to blast out the big rock out in the field by the side road as Frank had made arrangements with him Saturday night to do it. I went out with him and Frank came out when he got back from town. He put three sticks under the rock and cracked it up and heaved it up out of the ground pretty well. He made two more blasts or mud caps as he called them by just putting the dynamite on top of the rock and covering it over well with mud. He split up some of the big chunks that way but there are still some big pieces to handle. There will be about half a day's work hauling the chunks away and filling up the hole. Frank had him go down to the corner field and put a stick under the old stump. He split a piece off the side of it and loosened it up. I dug around the little apple trees this afternoon Tid went back to school to-day. Very hot.
Tuesday June 1st
Frank discovered Belle with a colt this morning When Dad. went out first he looked over in the field with at her, and she was standing in the corner aparently the same as yesterday, but Frank came out a few minutes later and saw a colt up with her. Dad. went over and found a fine bay filly which had evidently arrived in this country early in the night and every thing was all right. He calls it Rachel after Mrs. Broadley. We
spent the fore noon hauling out manure on the mangel ground. We got it covered by noon, and took the pile away from back of the barn and cleaned out the pen in the barn where we had the bulls all winter. This after noon Dad. plowed the mangel ground this after noon but didn't quite finish Frank went down town on some of his business projects and I cut the lawn. Olive & Jonnie Ward were over here to tea. I went down town and spent the evening over at the Monteiths. I went down to the beach on my way home and it looked so nice I went for a swim. It has been very sultry and rather cloudy to-day but it won't rain.
Wednesday June 2nd
Clarence Finch and Dr. Duncombe from Waterford were in first thing this morning and castrated George for us. Just as they left Alex. Jamieson & his son came in, in a car to get Dad. to go down to see a sick ewe or an injured one. They took Tid down to school and the boy brought Dad. back. Rus. Lampkins & George Kirkwood came in just as Dad. got home to get some more of the boiler tubes. Rus. looked at the windmill and said the boxing would have to be re-bobbited again right away. Dad. went out and finished plowing the mangel ground. He didn't quite finish by noon and was most of the noon working it up. Frank harrowed the corn ground over with the little team and this after noon he went to the mill and got a couple of bags of chop for the bulls and went over to Quanbury's and got the little seed drill and then rolled down the mangel ground. I did a few odd jobs this morning and about eleven o'clock rode Frank's wheel down town and gave Aunty Alice an hour or two in the garden. She told me last night that Mr. Johnson had lent her a wheeled hoe but it was too hard for her work so I wheel-hoed every thing I could and made quite a showing. I came home about three o'clock and cut some more lawn. Pickford came over with some pumpkin seed and delayed me quite a lot. I went down to Band practice to-night and went down to Wood's to get some shoe polish and found Marj. there so Mrs. Wood told me to come back after practice I did and went home with Marj. Two of the three boats comprising Capt. Robinson's "navy" are in the harbor now. He is admiral and Captains, Bailie, McDonald and Cousins each have command of one boat. Fine and hot.
Thursday June 3rd
I spent the fore noon sowing mangel and turnip seed. I got in 10 1/2 rows of mangels and about 11 rows of turnips, running from the lane to Ivey's line. Frank took the spring tooth out and went over his alfalfa ground and helped Dad. saw up the old willow tree
out in the wheat which blew down last fall and has been holding Ivey's fence down ever since. This morning Ivey's young cattle were in the wheat and got over the fence there so Dad. thought it had better be straightened up. He spent the fore noon and he and Frank all the after noon fixing Ivey's line fence in the gully from the south creek to the big elm by the mound. It was in very bad shape so they took it all down and put in a few posts and stretched it over again. I hoed the potatoes in the garden this after noon. They are just nicely up. Tid was home from school to-day as this is the King's birthday. He was back with Dad. and Frank this after noon and they discovered a crow's nest so Frank went up and took the four young ones which were just about big enough to fly and Dad. brought them all up to the house in his shirt and put them in his big bird cage. Tid is highly delighted of course. Enah wasn't home for tea as she went down to the deanery meeting. Quite cool.
Friday June 4th
We have spent the day weeding and hoeing in the garden. Most of the stuff is pretty well up now and needs cleaning out. This after noon Frank went out to Edmond England's to see a sheep dipping and castrating demonstration which Neff was putting on. I went down town to-night and called for Aunty Alice at Col. Smith's a little after eleven. They were having a little bridge party over there and I got there in time for the cake and wine. Quite a cold wind & cloudy
Saturday June 5th
Dad. Frank and I went out again to the garden this morning. Frank planted some beans and Dad. set out tomatoes while I hoed and weeded. We hadn't been there long when it commenced to sprinkle and it gradually increased in intensity until finally it was raining quite hard. Dad. and I stayed out till we got pretty wet setting out tomatoes, we then came up and Dad. and Frank spent the remainder of the fore noon putting a floor in Joe's stall and I painted a show card lesson. The rain kept up pretty well all day and night. I went to sleep this after noon and the others sat around the house. I painted some more to-night. Fine rain
Sunday June 6th
Frank Tid and I went to Sunday school this morning and Dad and Enah went down to church. Marj. and I stayed at Aunty's to dinner. Winnie was there too. Marj. Aunty Alice and I came over here to the farm this after noon and Winnie came over later for tea. We all went down town before dark as Aunty Alice wanted to get some cauliflower plants at the Quanbury's.
Monday June 7th
I drove down to Aunty's this morning and got the scythe as we have to start cutting grass for the stock, we are completely out of hay. I drove around by the school house and took Tid. down. Aunty gave me some forget me nots and peppers to set out so I set them out when I got home. Frank had to go with Sam Law this morning to help him take a couple of heifer's to Jarvis so he didn't get back till after dinner. He said they got down all right but when they got there the cattle ran through every back yard in Jarvis. Dad. worked up the strip we plowed for rape last year and this after noon he drilled it in with oats and vetch for sheep pasture. He also worked up and drilled the piece back of the shop with fodder corn. I cut a little grass this after nooon and just puttered around.
Tuesday June 8th
I went to Simcoe this morning on the nine o'clock car and went to see Slaght as Enah and Aunty noticed in the Maple Leaf that Kelly was asking for notification of claims against the estate of Susan Stevens and as they were all sure that was Dicky Stevens mother we thought that possibly the "sheep pasture" might be involved. However Slaght said it had nothing to do with it and that Thompson so far had done nothing. I came home at eleven and went up to Jim Moris's and had my hair cut. This after noon Frank and I hauled out manure, he and Dad. hauled out in the morning We didn't get very much done. There was a heavy thunder shower just after dinner but it only lasted a few minutes. When I got home from Simcoe I found Douglas here. He was in Jarvis so thought he would run up to look at the bulls. He stayed to dinner he thought the bulls were nice ones but at present he says there is no market for them whatever. I went down town to-night and on my way home had a wild goose chase up to the switch at Iveys being attracted by the bell on the car which Pete Furlong had in some way started going and couldn't stop till she rain out of air. Three or four other fellows ran down, their "missus" had waked them up and told them there was a fire. Hot after the rain.
Wednesday June 9th
I rode Belle up to Jim Waddle's this morning at seven o'clock and bred her to {Culver's?} horse. I was there for half an hour and Jim. was showing me Clara Belle and her colt from Hal. He It is a beauty. Frank had to go down to the mill for some feed and when he got back, we hauled out manure. It was
slow work hauling it out of the shed and as we were late getting started we didn't get much done. I went down to band practice to-night and we had a good one
Thursday June 10th
We were late getting started at the manure this morning as it takes a long time to cut grass for the bulls and do odd jobs. Frank gave us a demonstration of the English method of castrating lambs with his teeth this morning and that look a little time. We finished hauling out of the shed though and hauled a few loads from the yard. Dad. finished hoeing in the garden and hooked Joe up to the cultivator and went through it. When they came up they both had "tummy-aches" Enah got me some poppy and daisy roots at Miss Martin's this morning when she took Tid. to school and I set them out but I am afraid the poppy won't stand it. I went down to-night to see the Tuxis boys but they didn't show up. I went down to Aunty's and they were up at Miss Martin's with the Sunday school staff presenting her with a prayer book. They came home soon and said Aunty Maude was having a great deal of pain so I took up a bottle of stuff for her from Aunty. Huby had his two customs inspectors there entertaining them so I stayed till pretty late. Hot day
Friday June 11th
We decided to dip the sheep to-day so Frank spent most of the morning getting the tank ready the way they did over at the Englands. He sank it in the ground just inside the barn doors and rigged the waggon box with the sides on it for a draining pent. He had Joe Howell make him a dipping hook. We got started to dip after eleven and were through by about half past twelve. We left them in the barn for an hour or so as they told Frank over there that turning them out in the sun immediately after dipping would blister them so I suppose that was the cause of our trouble last year. This after noon Frank and I hauled out a little more manure and Dad. went over to let the cattle into the back field and went on over to John Wess's. He and Cam were both at Turkey Point fixing up the House Boat which a bunch of those old sports back there have bought. Went down town to-night. Hot.
Saturday June 12th
Frank and I hauled out manure all morning but quit at noon as Dad. thought we had better start plowing the field on Monday and get in what we have manured. This after noon Dad. Frank & Tid went down town and cut the grass in front of Aunty's place and brought it over here. There was enough of it to last over Tuesday
I slept for about an hour after dinner and then started to cut lawn but as I had to file down one of the knives on the lawn mower I didn't finish. Dad's last crow died last night. He left the four of them out of the cage the other night and three of them left in the night This one was sick so couldn't go with the others. Hot, looks rainy.
Sunday June 13th
Frank Tid and I drove down to Sunday school & Dad. & Enah went down at church time. Enah went to church and Dad. went to see Aunty Maude, who is feeling quite a bit better. After church Marj. and I drove out to the Smythe's where we had dinner and spent a very nice after noon. We started for home about four o'clock but I just got Joe hooked up when a very heavy thunder storm came up and it just poured rain for about half an hour so I had to tie poor Joe to a tree and go in the house. It cleared up beautifully and we got home about half past five. Mr. Wilson (president of Mexico) was here when we got home so I drove him down to the side walk. I helped Dad. do up the chores after tea and Marj. and I drove down town about half past nine. We took some strawberries down to Aunty which Mrs. Smythe sent her. Frank has been making arrangements to go to New York State with Neff's party to-morrow in Irvin Pow's car
Monday June 14th
Frank left early this morning to go on Neff's trip through New York State. He was to meet Irvin Pow at the Winding Hill at a quarter to seven and as he hasn't been back all day I guess they got away. Lloyd Ryerse & Alex England were going in the same car and they were to meet the rest of the party at Renton or Jarvis. I spent most of the day filling in the missed hills of corn in the field and Dad. took up the dining room carpet for Enah who has the house all ripped up for house cleaning and spent the rest of the day cultivating. He took Mexico out this morning and cultivated what he could in the garden and a little of the corn with him but he was very ignorant and very slow so this after noon he took Belle, she resented leaving Rachel and so wasn't very interested in her work all the after noon but Dad. thinks she will be all right later on. I got through planting corn about four o'clock and then hoed a little in the garden. I went down to band practice to-night. When it was over I fell in with a bunch of the boys who were going down to Chiravaree Alan Law so I left my horn at Karl Colman's and went with them I went in Lloyd Crysler's car and so got a ride all the way home. We gave Alan a grand old serenade with bells, revolvers and an old steel saw which is kept for such occasions. Alan was prepared for us and treated us to wine, cider, beer and cigars. Every body was there.
Tuesday June 15th
Dad. put down the dining room carpet for Enah first thing this morning and then took Belle out and cultivated corn till noon. It looked so dark and rainy that we didn't get the team in to plow corn ground as we had intended. I hoed potatoes in the garden till nearly noon and then had to go back to put the cattle out of the back field. It sprinkled two or three times but didn't ammount to much. Dad. and I cultivated and hoed after dinner till about three o'clock when we saw a terrible storm coming up from the north so we went to the house. The storm rolled up pretty quickly and when it broke it was a fierce one and lasted till nearly six o'clock. It let up at intervals and in one of these Dad Dad. went after Tid. I painted a show card lesson. I went down town to-night with Cliff Lown who came in after tea with the cream can. It was raining again when I started for home so I stayed at Aunty's
Wednesday June 16th
I got home soon after 5.30 this morning and went back after the cows. After breakfast I felt rather tired from tramping around in the mud with Frank's rubber boots on. About ten o'clock I went down to have Dr. Lemmon look at my tooth which the filling came out of. He couldn't look at it till about noon and said he wouldn't have time to fix it till to-morrow after noon. I stayed at Aunty's to dinner and didn't go home till after two as it looked so rainy. I didn't do much all the after noon except try to put a handle on an umbrella of Marj's. To-night I went down to band practice. We had it over Ted. Nicol's new garage and it was fine. It certainly is an enormous place. Every one seems to be of the opinion that Ted will never get his money back. Rainy all day.
Thursday June 17th
It rained or drizzled nearly all day so we didn't do any thing outside. Dad. & Enah have been very busy house cleaning, papering & painting. I "messed about" and did a little printing. I went down town right after dinner and took my horn down to Ed's as he has some fine polish down there I made it look quite a lot better but it needs a lot more yet. I went up at three o'clock to Dr. Lemon's but he couldn't fix my tooth for another hour so I went down to the lake where I found Quint and Joe fixing up their bathing houses. I took the contract to paint some signs for them. I went over to Bill's about half past four and he filled my tooth. I then came home and did chores and after tea went down town again as I wanted to see the Tuxis boys about some skin game
that Mr. Johnson wants them to run at the strawberry social. I was late getting down so missed them but met a couple of them later on the street. I went down to Aunty's where I found Marj. so walked home with her. Frank got home to-day noon from his trip & had a fine time.
Friday June 18th
Frank and I went down in the waggon this morning and I got the old Northern Crown Bank signs which Quint wanted me to paint over for them to put down at the beach. Frank had some other things to get and we came home by the mill and got some feed so it was nearly noon when we got home. It drizzled rain for quite awhile after dinner and was too wet to do any thing outside. I did some lettering. Frank cleaned up in the shop and Dad's time was taken up with Julien {Neins's} horse which had got something in it's foot and was quite lame. He went after him at four o'clock. It cleared off to-night and Marj. and I went up the Radical Road tacking up posters for the strawberry festival. I felt ashamed of myself all the time for helping to advertise the darned thing, but there is no use bucking it when the majority seem to think it is the proper thing. We went up to Port Ryerse and put up about fifteen posters on gates and posts and two on a water tank. We came home around by the Smythe's and returned some {ropes?} they lent us last week.
Saturday June 19th
It looked cleared off to-day and has been sunny and breezy Dad. & Frank started to plow the field east of the new meadow this morning for corn and Dad. has been at it all day but says it is pretty wet yet. I spent most of the morning cleaning out the bull's pen and doing odd chores and got started to cut the lawn. I finished it this after noon. Frank did odd jobs and mulched the little trees in the orchard. He and Tid. went fishing for a little while after dinner and Tid was in the seventh heaven over catching two carp. He brought them home and cleaned them all by himself and we all had to have a taste at tea time. Enah went down town.
Sunday June 20th
We all went down to church or sunday school this morning. Marj. Quint and I had dinner at Aunty's I went up town this after noon and the band played out in the park. We had a good concert and a full band. I came home soon after four and helped Dad. do chores It began to rain about five and kept it up all evening I went down town after tea and found Marj. in at the Wood's, we went up to the Monteith's and spent the evening. Frank went down to the Ward's on his wheel and I guess is stalled down there I stayed all night at Aunty's. Very windy & rather cold & a drizzly rain.
Monday June 21st
It rained or threatened rain nearly all day so we didn't do very much Frank got home a little before noon He came up to town with the Ward girls when they came to school and Tom Butler brought him over here. Dad. and I did odd jobs and I worked at my show cards a little This after noon Frank painted the bob-sleighs and tidied up in the shop. I went down to band practice to-night.
Tuesday June 22nd
I went down when Dad. drove Tid. to school this morning and went down to the beach to paint the letters Quint wanted on their bathing houses, but when I got there George Holden told me he had just left so I went over to the pier and saw old Quint just out of earshot beyond the end of the pier in his little boat heading for Wooley's point or beyond up the lake. I went up to the Thompson's to see if I could get the key from Joe but he said the paint was all locked up in Quint's shack and he had the key. Joe seemed rather provoked at him for leaving as he said they expected a big picnic in on Saturday and didn't have any thing ready for it. I went up to Aunty's and cut their lawn and stayed to dinner. On my way home Mrs. Quanbury gave me a lot of aster plants so I spent most of the after noon setting them out. Dad. and Frank spent their day putting up the fence between the lane and the barn-yard and made a fine job of it. I stayed home to-night and painted show card lessons. Dad. took some milk down to Aunty's but they were all away. Fine, cool and windy
Wednesday June 23rd
I spent about an hour this morning cutting grass for the bulls and wheeling it up to the barn I got enough cut to last them all day. Dad. drove Tid. to school and then went out to the garden to hoe. It was dry enough only up on top of the knoll. I started to put in some temporary posts to divide the sheep pasture as we want to give the east side of it which has a lot of young clover on it a chance to grow up I just got started when a big rain storm came up and I had to quit. It poured rain for a couple of hours and there were two or three very sharp lightening flashes one of which killed a horse of Mr. Fleming's It cleared off this after noon but was too wet to do anything. I started to paint Quint's signboard but got the letters too big so will have to paint them out. Frank helped Enah house clean our room. I spent the evening with Marj.
Thursday June 24th
I spent quite awhile cutting grass for the bulls and Dad. and I took a look at our own and Ivey's wheat The Hessian Fly is working in ours a little and
more still in Ivey's and they say some fields are nearly cut to pieces with it. Cruickshanks and a Massey Harris man came down this morning and Frank helped them fix the drill up in good running order. Hermon Cook & Gordon Zealand came over this morning to ask me about the peanut grab which they are to have charge of at the strawberry festival to-night and I gave Hermon a lot of my bird's eggs. He wanted to buy the whole bunch and offered me a dollar for them. This after noon Frank and I put up the fence through the field east of the orchard to keep the sheep off the east side of it and give it a chance to grow. Frank took it off the posts at the north end to run down through the centre. We made a rather sloppy job of it as the posts weren't in solid and we didn't half stretch it but it was the best we could do under the circumstances and I think it will hold the sheep Enah went down this after noon to the strawberry social and Tid went down there from school. We did the chores all up early and Dad. Frank and I drove down about seven. I went up to the band room but found no one there so thought they had gone over but they didn't start to gather till nearly eight, so we were rather late getting there. However we gave them quite a concert and they gave us a very good feed and treated us to cigars. Fine day but looked rainy.
Friday June 25th
We penned all the sheep this morning and went over them and took out the ones that looked unthrifty and shut them up in the box stall to starve before treating them for tapeworm. Frank then hooked to the mower and cut a strip of grass along each side of the road. Dad. helped him. Tom Butler was in for quite awhile. I worked for about half an hour more on Quint's sign before dinner. I spent about an hour after dinner getting hay for the bulls along the road where Frank cut it this morning. Frank put some more stakes in the sheep pasture fence and Dad. hoed in the garden which is still pretty wet. I went out to help him but Joe Thompson came over and wanted me to go down right away and paint some of the letters on the bathing house. He was very provoked at Quint who left last Tuesday for the Point and has not come back yet they still have quite a lot to do to get ready for business and expect picnics right along now. I went down and got New Bath Houses painted in big letters 18 inches high which could be seen from Main St. and promised Joe I would try to finish it to-morrow. I didn't get through till after five so I had to hurry as Aunty Alice had invited Marj. & me to tea I went home milked one cow and changed my clothes and got back down town in an hour but got a ride down with Jack Martin. Fine day and quite hot.
Saturday June 26th
I went down to the beach right after breakfast this morning and was down all day painting the letters on the bathing houses. I finished to-night and the boys seemed satisfied. Quint got back last night. His Yankee friends took their speedboat over to Erie and had her measured up for some race which they may enter later on. That was what kept them so long but Quint wasn't saying anything about it. Dad. has felt rather sick all day and didn't go out at all this afternoon till chore time. I got home in time to help do chores and then went down again after tea and spent the evening with Marj. Fine and hot.
Sunday June 27th
Frank Tid. and I went to Sunday school and I gave Frank instructions about running the library as Marj. is bound I am to take her class when she goes. I stayed for dinner at Aunty's and this after noon Marj. and I took a walk up the beach. We came over here for tea about five o'clock and I drove Marj. home to-night Frank went down to the Ward's with Charlie Blake and brought his wheel home which has been down there since last Sunday. Alex England rode in to-night. He was supposed to take Frank down to the Ward's this after noon but didn't show up.
Monday June 28th
Dad. and I took Belle out and cultivated the turnips and mangels this morning and then Dad. cultivated the potatoes alone while I came up to paint my sign I found Mexico caught in the orchard fence and had quite a time to get him out but with Enah's help managed to extricate him without much injury to him or the fence. I was all the after noon painting at Quint's sign and didn't quite finish Frank set his cultivator up this morning but thought there was a brace missing so couldn't try it out. Dad. plowed a little more out where we want to put corn. He said it was pretty wet still. Frank hoed for awhile in the garden this after noon. I went down town to-night to see Marj. I went down to "Porky" Marshall's to see about painting some letters for him on his shop but George Zealand had got the job. I was glad he had as I haven't got the time. Very hot to-day & to-night.
Tuesday June 29th
Dad. plowed all morning and intended to cultivate corn this after noon but just after dinner a terrific thunder storm broke loose which stopped him. It rained several short but very hard showers all the after noon and a terrible wind, so we didn't do any thing all the after noon but sit around. Dad. went out with
the cultivator but got caught in the rain. I finished painting the sign this morning and spent quite awhile talking to a representative of the Basic Slag people who came to look at the wheat. He admitted there wasn't any noticable change in the appearance of the fertilized & unfertilized and thought it must have been due to the dry weather. I cleaned out a row of mangels when he left. Frank has felt rather tough all day owing to an overdose of green peas he had last night over at Jack Martin's field where he picked some for Enah. I went down town to-night to see if by any chance Wednes the band was going to the Woodhouse social but just as I got to Aunty's it began to rain again and Marj. was there so I never went up town. On my way home to-night I fell in with the chiravaree brigade on their way to honor Dock McQueen who married Lilly Greenbury the other day. I went over with them but didn't go in. They didn't make any racket as Mrs. Alex Spain is about at death's door They told me the band stayed home.
Wednesday June 30th
Frank and I took Quints sign down to him this morning and then went up and got some things (a desk & some books) of Marj's. which she wanted stored at Aunty's for the summer. Frank took the team home and got some stuff at the mill and I went down to the beach to paint some more letters for Quint & Joe but they didn't have things ready so I couldn't. I stayed art Aunty's to dinner and went home right after. She gave me some pansy plants which I set out and I spent the rest of the after noon raking up the lawn which was very littered after yesterday's storm. Dad. worked in the garden all day and Frank fixed the bracing at the windmill and cut the grass around the little trees in the orchard this after noon. Marj. came over to tea. She has been very busy calling on all the folks in town and saying goodbye. She is leaving to-morrow and not coming back till I go and bring her I hope in October.
Thursday July 1st
I spent most of the morning doing chores and cutting the lawn but didn't finish. I went down a little before noon and had dinner at Aunty's. Right after dinner I went down to the lake and painted a direction sign for Quint and Joe and spent the remainder of the afternoon with the band. We played in Powel park till about four o'clock and then went over to Jimmy's where we were treated to ice-cream and from there we went down and had a trip out on the "City of Dover". We went home for supper after that and Bill said we were through as the committee told him we didn't need to play after five o'clock. Mr. Bagley however was
greatly incensed at the idea of not playing after tea on the 1st of July as he had never known of such a thing before so we came back for an hour and gave quite a little concert. {Doct.?} didn't show up though as he had a date with Lou. Dixon. Mid. & Harry Moon ran the thing. I didn't see much of what went on all day but they had a big baby show and Dover won first money in the baseball tournament and I guess the other sports were good. It was a fine day not to hot and yet warm enough for the boys at the beach to be pretty well patronized. Dad. didn't come down town all day but came down at night. I didn't go to see Marj. off to-night but the rest did
Friday July 2nd
Rus. Lampkins came down this morning and put a new top on the windmill as the boxings were getting badly worn on the old one. Dad plowed up the old strawberry patch in the garden and worked it down and this after noon cultivated corn. I raked up the hay Frank cut in the orchard and cocked it up this morning and cut a little more lawn. This after noon I cleaned out another row of mangels. Frank has felt pretty tough all day but tried his new cultivator out It doesn't go just right yet. Mr. & Mrs James, Elva and Brant were all over here for tea. Cloudy all day, warm.
Saturday July 3rd
I finished cutting the lawn this morning and spent the rest of the day thinning mangels. I just got two more rows done. Dad. set out cabbage plants all day so we should have a good supply of them. Frank still feels pretty tough and hasn't done any thing much all day. I did another show card lesson to-night but made a bad job of it. Hot this morning but very windy this after noon
Sunday July 4th
Frank Tid and I went down to Sunday school. Frank ran the library and I took Marj's class, but didn't feel as if I made much of a job of it. Dad. went down early this morning and drove Aunty & Aunty Alice up to the cemetry. I had dinner at Aunty's and this after noon went with the band up to the cemetry as this was the Oddfellow's decoration day. We went up on the three o'clock car and came back on the five. Dad. Enah and Tid drove down to-night and took Aunty Alice for milk. Frank and I went to bed early. Very cool. Ade & Percy Millman were over this morning for awhile.
Monday July 5th
I hoed mangels all day and just got two more rows done. Dad. and Frank spent the day cultivating corn Frank has had quite a time adjusting his two row cultivator. It seemed to pull very heavy and not dig in
much but he put the big team on this after noon and I think got it working fairly well. They have got as far as our corner with Harry Misener's house. They have been over a week getting this far - from Renton.They can walk right along on the level but it took them all day to get up through our cut. It is a big frame two-story house and every one seems to think it will bother them getting it over the bridge. I went down to band practice to-night. We got paid two dollars apiece for playing on the 1st of July and the Council promised us 25 dollars a night for the summer playing Thursdays They wanted to go up to serenade Bill Wamsley but Mr. Bagley thought it would be a mistake for the band to go up and play good music as every body that got married in future would expect us out, so we didn't go Aunty told us to-night that Jack Martin has bought Mrs Battersbys place.
Tuesday July 6th
I thinned mangels all morning and most of the after noon but right after dinner Frank and I hauled in the hay that was cut in the orchard. We hauled it on the waggon and put one jag in for the bulls and one for the horses. Dad finished cultivating the corn and what stuff he could in the garden Frank disked up the strip Dad. plowed for corn and his alfalfa plot and sprayed the potatoes in the field. Dad. & I worked for awhile in the garden to-night. Cloudy and raining to-night.
Wednesday July 7th
It rained hard during the night but didn't flood things at all and there has been a gentle drizzle all morning clearing off at noon and coming out sunny & windy this after noon. Dad. and I spent the fore noon setting out cabbage plants. We put out about 300. We expected them all over from home to dinner as it was Dad's birthday They were going to have Mrs. John Walker bring them over in the car but as it rained she didn't come for them. Aunty Alice walked over and said Aunty & Aunt Ida couldn't come but I drove down and brought them over in the buggy and Enah took them back in the cart this after noon We just visited this after noon except Frank he fixed a piece of fence back in the gully and took some plank from back there and brought them up to floor Moonshine's stall which he cleared all out this morning. Arthur Preston was over for most of the after noon. To-night Tid and I went down to the "sheep pasture" for a walk and to see if Frank Awde's sweet cherries were ripe but there weren't any.
Thursday July 8th
Still thinning mangels. I got about two more rows done I think I made a little better time by hoeing them all out first and then weeding around each plant afterwards. Dad. & Enah worked in the garden all day & Frank harrowed and rolled the plowed strip for corn. We all went down to band concert to-night.
Friday July 9th
I hoed mangels and turnips most of the day. I have all the mangels hoed now but have to thin the last row yet. The turnips are much bigger and are a nuisance to hoe out but I can make fairly good time at it if I dont stop to thin. I took about an hour off this morning and went over and hoed down three or four patches of perennill saw thistle in Ivey's meadow to keep them from going to seed and blowing on to our place. I went down to Bronzie for a little while from Ivey's. This after noon it started to rain about half past three and as it looked as if it was going to keep it up I came up to the house and painted a show card lesson. The rain didn't ammount to much but we had quite a heavy little shower about five. Frank planted the strip we had plowed with corn this morning and has been cutting thistles in the back field the rest of the day. There was an awful crop of them. Dad. & Enah worked all day till it commenced to rain in the garden. Elva & Brant came in about four o'clock on their way out to see {Vance?} Walker and took Enah and Tid out with them.
Saturday July 10th
I have still been pegging away at the turnips and mangels. I have the mangels all thinned now and have most of the turnips hoed but only a row and a half thinned. Dad. has been working all day in the garden pulling weeds. Frank finished cutting the thistles in the back field and started to cut the side hill which is mostly thistles and daisys but there is some blue grass on top. Tid went to a birthday party at Gertrude Silverthorne's this afternoon. He got an invitation the other day and has been worrying about it more or less ever since. He wanted to go but was scared to. However Enah managed to get him packed off hoping that Miss McQueen and John Harris Buck would be there. They weren't but he knew the ones that were there so had a good time. Fine day and not hot.
Sunday July 11th
We all went down to church and Tid. Frank and I went to Sunday school. I took the class but don't think I taught it any thing. I didn't feel as if I was. We all stayed at Aunty's for dinner and I came home right after to do chores. Mr. Zealand took me in to show me his garden so I didn't get home till nearly three. Dad. Enah and Tid came home about five. Frank rode his wheel down to the Wards and as it rained hard for about an hour at six o'clock, he evidently got stalled down there as he didn't show up all night. Cool.
Monday July 12th
Dad. started to plow the back field for summer
fallow this morning and has been at it all day. I went back with him and helped him get started and from there walked over to Tom Butler's to try to induce him to buy Oliver at beef price but he said they only had two cows so didn't think they could afford to. I got talking and Mark put on some phonograph record so I didn't get back till dinner time. Frank rode his wheel home sometime during the forenoon. This after noon He finished cutting the side hill field and cut two rounds on the five acres next the lane. I hoed a couple more rows of turnips. Tid is having a great time trying to snare a ground hog back on the mound. He and Hubert Zealand seem to be in partnership on the business. I went down to band practice to-night. Fine day but cloudy.
Tuesday July 13th
Dad. cut thistles in the corn field this morning and plowed this after noon. Frank cut hay north of the orchard till ten o'clock, then went back and raked up the back field by noon I cut some of the lawn and did a few odd jobs this morning and then went out and finished hoeing the turnips and started to thin them. I intended to go back right after dinner and cock up the hay that Frank raked but a little shower came up and I couldn't do it till four o'clock and so didn't finish. I thinned turnips while I was waiting for it to dry. Frank went over to Lloyd Crysler's raising this after noon. It proved a sad affair for this community. Mr. Flemming was killed at it.They were rising the end bent of the barn and he was shoving on one post when the frame over-balanced and the end of the post on the sill slipped and fell back and either the girt or the brace caught him across the back and killed him almost instantly. Frank was in the same position at the other post but he realized the danger of the place and got to the outside of the post a little while before the frame fell. Mr. Flemming was such a rattling good man in every way that it seems mighty hard to lose him like that, but in reality it was a great way to go as they all say he never knew what hit him. Tom & Mark were over to-night and we had a little music. Cool & nice.
Wednesday July 14th
It rained this morning and I spent an hour or so working at my show card lessons which I finished to-night. Dad. did odd jobs around and Frank cleaned up the upstairs of the woodshed. Tom Butler was in for awhile to have Dad look at one of his horses which has a sore eye. It cleared up after dinner and Dad cultivated the garden and the potatoes & roots in the field. Tid. & I cut the lawn or part of it and Frank finished mowing the meadow north of the orchard. Karl bought the 5 steers to-night for $550.00.
Thursday July 15th
Frank cultivated the corn this morning and Dad hoed in the garden and I finished raking the lawn and hoed two rows and a half of potatoes in the field. Tid. went down to Aunty's for dinner and the rest of us all went to Mr. Flemming's funeral. There was about the biggest crowd there I ever saw at a funeral nearly everyone from around here and a great many from down east. Dad. was one of the bearers so went up with them. I drove up and took old Maneer up with me. We missed the procession as they went through town and we went by the mill. After the funeral Dad. and I drove home around by Jim Waddle's as Dad. wanted to see the {Hal.?} H. Colt but Jim had shipped the mare to Toronto to be bred. He was hauling in hay. It was after five when we got home. Frank had come home and raked up the first cut hay and was cocking up. Jack Ivey was over and wanted him to rake theirs up to-morrow. I went down to band concert to-night. Fine day but cold to-night.
Friday July 16th
Frank went to the mill before breakfast this morning and got some chop for the hogs & bulls. He and I dosed the lambs for tape-worm after breakfast and then he went over and raked up Ivey's hay for him. Dad. and I cocked up what was raked in the field north of the orchard and started in to cock up what was left in windrow across the gully Frank came back a little before noon and finished raking this field and we spent the after noon finishing across the gully and cocking up in this field. We went out after tea and cocked up some but didn't quite finish. Old Moonshine broke out of his pen this morning so Frank had to fix it up after dinner. He upset things in the barn and got into a bag of chop but I think spilled more than he ate. Cool wind all day & quite cold to-night.
Saturday July 17th
We hauled hay to-day from the field north of the orchard and would have cleared it if we had not had to put poles across in the big barn to build a mow, so that we could have the clover hay where we could get at it. We put one load in the horse stable and then had to change the car so that altogether we were delayed about two hours or more and only got in two loads this morning. We got in five this after noon. Mr. & Mrs. Millman, Percy & Kathleen all came up from Toronto to-day. Paw & Mrs Millman are staying at Aunty's They were over here for awhile after tea with Aunty Alice, Percy's wife, children & mother-in-law. Cool but fine.
Sunday July 18th
It rained during the night and rained hard several times during the day and evening. It was so muddy and wet at Sunday school time that Frank Tid and I drove down and Dad. and Enah didn't go down to church. I walked down with Mr. Herring after church went in for a minute to see Cousin Clare. They have rented Mrs. {Lig?} Anderson's house for the summer and she busy as a nailer getting things settled I came home for dinner with Frank & Tid. as the walking was so bad. I spent the rest of the day reading and writing. Dad. went to sleep. Frank went back to the woods.
Monday July 19th
It was too wet to do any thing with the hay this morning and it was cloudy and drizzly till noon but came out clear & breezy after dinner. Dad. and Tid went down to Aunty's this morning and Dad. trimmed up the paths and cleared away a big limb which broke off the Newton pippin tree. They came back soon after dinner and Dad. worked in the garden this after noon. Frank and I changed the fence in the sheep pasture this morning and rolled it back from where we had it dividing the field to the original place for it from the orchard to the corner field. After that I set out some more cabbage plants in the garden & Frank helped Enah pick the cherries, there won't be so many of them as usual as the robins have taken a lot. This after noon Frank cut down the piece of grass between the old garden and where he drilled in the strip of corn. We had intended putting corn on it but it got too wet to plough it. It is mostly couch grass. I spent the after noon thinning turnips. Went to band practice to-night.
Tuesday July 20th
Frank worked most of the fore noon on his alfalfa plot and Dad. and I turned out the hay. It wasn't wet much except around the edges, the bluegrass across the gully we didn't have to turn out at all. Enah and Tid. went back to the woods to pick berries but didn't get very many. We saw Mark Stephens going to town after one of his applicants for housekeeper. They put an ad in the Globe. about a week ago and Mark says they have been reading applications for the job ever since, so he says there is going to be a steady procession of them now to look over the situation. We hauled in the rest of the hay north of the orchard in about three loads and left the last load on the waggon Then Frank raked up the other piece he cut while Dad. and I were doing the chores. Herb Gurr came over to play with Tid. this after noon and told us that Jane
Zealand died about noon, Ada told me last night that she was threatened with diphtheria but I didn't know it was so serious. Cool and windy all day.
Wednesday July 21st
Dad. and I cocked up hay all morning while Frank cultivated the corn. We didn't quite finish by noon as it is mostly bluegrass and slow to handle. Jack Ivey was over and wanted Frank to go over and rake up some hay for them, so he went over after dinner. Neff was in with a Mr. Frances on their way down to Charlie Blake's to a poultry culling demonstration and wanted me to go but I didn't. They gave me a few pointers though on picking out the poor-laying old hens. Dad. and I finished cocking our field about four o'clock and Frank got home about the same time. We started to put off the load of hay that was on the barn floor but when we got three lifts off a heavy thunder shower came up and as Dad. didn't want to get the rope wet we didn't unload the last lift. I took Aunty's milk down to her to-night and got a few pointers on the Sunday school lesson got home about ten o'clock and culled out my hens before I went to bed.
Thursday July 22nd
It was too wet to do any haying to day so Dad. plowed all day and got quite a nice strip turned over. I thinned turnips and made Tid a milk stool this morning as he is learning to milk now. Frank took Joe down town and had her shod. He brought Mrs. Johnson from Courtright over to dinner and she was here all the after noon and to tea. This after noon I didn't do much went back with Frank to fix up the fence in the gully along the road but as we took Joe & Queen back with us I had to stay with them and let Frank do the fencing. He took one of the old snow barricades and put it up instead of the old gate which is pretty well broken to pieces. We all went down to-night and I went to band concert.
Friday July 23rd
Frank started to cultivate corn this morning and Dad. cut weeds along the fences and in the orchard I started cutting the lawn. Art Quanbury went by going to haul hay all alone. Dad. thought it would be too wet here to haul till noon so I rode Frank's wheel over to give Art a hand. We got part of a load on - all he could haul through his gully - when it started to rain He rough-locked the waggon going down the hill but it went a little too fast for the horses and they couldn't stop till the hind wheels were square in the ditch. They couldn't pull it out so Art had to go and get a spade and dig it out. By this time it was pouring rain and
we both got soaked to the hide before we got to the barn. We lay in the straw for about an hour and when it stopped raining came home. It was cold after the rain but this after noon came out sunny and warm. Dad. plowed. I finished cutting the lawn and Frank cleared things up over in the barn. Looks clear to-night.
Saturday July 24th
Frank finished cultivating the corn this morning and Dad. hoed thistles out in the corn field while I thinned some more turnips. Aunty was over for dinner by way of celebrating my birthday. After dinner Frank went and got some lime and bluestone to mix up a Bordeaux spray for the potatoes and Dad. and I hauled out a barrel of water to the potato patch for him. We then put on a load of hay and as Dad didn't want to climb way up into the peak of the barn without any hay in to change the pulley we tried putting it off with just the two pulleys and then with the peak pulley hooked on at the gable, the first scheme wouldn't work and the second time the hook pulled out so Frank climbed up to the peak and put the pulley up. Aunty went home before tea. Fine and quite cool.
Sunday July 25th
Frank Tid and I went to Sunday school and Dad. & Enah went down to church I stayed at Aunty's for dinner and most of the after noon and on my way home stopped at the Woodson's for about an hour. Several of them and two or three Zealand's were down at the pond fishing I just got home in time to help Dad. do chores. Enah stayed down at her father's all the after noon and Dad. and Tid. went after her this evening. Frank and Lloyd Ryerse went for a drive down to the Ward's. Poor Tom. Butler was over to-night in a bad state of blues He has got into a row with Pickford over something he told Pickford's sisters about Pickford's actions out here and which Mrs. Tuck who has just been over there evidently denied and told Pickford about it. Tom feels badly that Mrs. Pickford is down on him as he seems to think a lot of her and she has been very good to him. To add to his troubles Mark is getting sick of the job and wants to pull out and leave things.
Monday July 26th
We finished hauling what hay was cocked on this side of the gully this morning and there were only three more loads of it. At noon Frank changed the car to the horse stable and we hauled one load from across the gully. We didn't go back again as Harry Misener was moving the school-house in and we were afraid he would block the road between us and the barn, so Frank went to the mill and got some chop for the pigs and bulls and I went over to
Jack's to borrow a crate to ship some old hens. Frank called and got it on his way home. Dad. hoed thistles in the corn. Later Frank drove down to get some gasoline for Gundry who has been working all day out here grading our road. Enah and Tid were down at Aunty's picking berries this morning. I went down to band practice to-night, very few out. Karl got the first of our steers this morning.
Tuesday July 27th
Frank and I took my old hens over to Jack Martin's this morning. There were just 16 of them and he gave me $23.00 for them after he weighed them up. He had promised some fellow a couple of dozen culls but hadn't culled his out so he said these would do as well. We hauled two more loads in this morning taking all the hay there was out. This after noon Dad. cultivated and hoed the potatoes and mangels and in the garden. I helped Frank grind a mower knife and then thinned some more turnips. Frank started to cut the rest of the hay on this sideoff the gully. Frank killed an old hen for Aunty Alice this morning evening and he took it down to her.
Wednesday July 28th
Frank cut hay all day. He finished all there was on this side of the gully before noon and after dinner I helped him grind a mower knife and he cut all the after noon on the 12 acre piece across the gully. Dad. hoed potatoes all morning and I hung around here till Karl Coleman came about ten o'clock and got Frank's steer which we shut in for him. I then went out and thinned turnips till noon. I finished there soon after dinner and then took the little team and raked up what Frank cut yesterday while Dad. cocked up. He and Frank cocked up some more after tea as it looks like rain to-night. I went down town with Aunty Alice's cream. Enah went over to call on Tom & Mark's house keeper and Mrs. Harvey Evans also Mrs. Cam McBride and Mrs. Ivey. Fine & warmer.
Thursday July 29th
Frank finished raking on this side of the gully this morning and then went over and raked up Ivey's and raked theirs up as Landon was over this morning to ask him. After dinner he went back and raked what was cut across the gully and then helped Dad. & me cock up. We cocked up all day and got nearly finished. It was quite windy this morning and very hard to cock as the bluegrass is so short and heavy. About five o'clock it began to rain and we had quite a sharp thunder storm. I went down to band concert to-night.
Friday July 30th
It was too wet early to haul hay or work at it so Dad.
and I weeded at the potatoes one hoed while the other pulled weeds. We only had two rows to do by noon so this after noon we finished the job although it has been a good drying day and John Wess was hauling in this after noon, but Dad. thought our bluegrass would be all the better to cure a little longer in cock. Frank worked on his alfalfa ground and the strip of corn ground that the crows demolished the corn from all morning and this after noon got Art Quanbury's seed drill and sowed his alfalfa. Winnie was over to tea and I drove her home to-night.
Saturday July 31st
It rained quite hard again last night but Dad thought the hay was dry enough to haul before noon although it has been cloudy and trying to rain all day till about five o'clock when it cleared off and got quite cool. Dad. worked in the garden & cut thistles this morning and Frank sowed some buckwheat on the corn patch that the crows ate up and I cultivated my flower bed. About eleven we went out and put on a load of hay and this after noon Dad & I got in three more - Frank felt sick all the after noon but was able to stay up in the mow and tell us where to dump the hay. Aunty was over to tea to-night and Enah & Tid drove her home with Mexico. The end of July without one really hot day.
Sunday August 1st
Frank Tid. and I went down to Sunday school and Dad. and Enah went down to church and then out to the Smythe's for dinner and to spend the after noon. We three stayed at Aunty's for dinner. Tid stayed there all the after noon till Dad and Enah called for him. Frank rode his wheel down to the Ward's with Gilly and I came home to do the noon chores and stayed home the rest of the day. I had several callers, two with indisposed dogs requiring veterinary treatment and later Mrs. Brent & Eric came over. They never seem to strike here when Enah is home. I finished reading a book of E. Philips, Oppenheim's to-night, "The Great Impersonation". It was a good one. Cloudy and quite cold to-day.
Monday August 2nd
It rained again this morning so that we couldn't work at the hay all day. Dad. ploughed and this morning Frank and I hoed the strawberries and cabbages. Karl came over and got Charlie. I didn't do much this after noon but cut a little lawn and sit around Harry Misener was over and sold Dad. another ton of Bosie Hay although he admitted there was no difference to be seen the the fertilized & unfertilized wheat or potatoes nor pasture so far. Frank cultivated the little patch of corn and went down and got a load of sawdust. I went down to band practice to-night. Still very cool.
Tuesday August 3rd
Frank and I went down this morning and got a load of soft coal to thrash with as Clare Deal told me last night that they had a load in and it seems to be rather scarce these days. We heard that Barwell had to buy the saw mill in order to get slabs to use on the tugs in place of coal. It is $15.00 per ton. We called at Mrs. Battersby's on our way down and took some books from there down to Aunty's which Miss Phipps wanted to send to the Sunday school library. We also took the cart wheels down and sent them to Brantford to be re-rubber-tired. Dad. cultivated with Belle while we were gone. We hauled in one load of hay before dinner and this after noon finished hauling all the hay this side of the gully in one load and a few cocks which we left on the waggon in the old barn to feed to the bulls. Frank went over and raked up Ivey's hay for them and Dad. and I went back and cocked up what there was on the other side of the gully. Beautiful day. Fine but not hot.
Wednesday August 4th
We started to cut the wheat to-day and were all day gering this side of the potatoes cut. It took most of the morning to get the binder out and oiled and in working order, then the horses were a terrible nuisance. We had Pommers, Joe & old Harry on before dinner but old Harry would not act his part at all. Frank didn't have a whip and Harry knew it. He would stand perfectly still every few minutes and nod his head. We took him off after dinner and put Queen in but going across the ditches made her mad and Frank had a hard time persuading her to go across the ends every time. Pommers worked fine. Aunty Maude went to Brantford yesterday and was operated on to-day for appendicitis. Dad. Enah and Tid went down to-night and Lila had had a telephone message from Dr. Hicks saying everything was satisfactory.
Thursday August 5th
We finished cutting & shocking up the wheat this morning. There wasn't much on the north side of the field but couch grass. We put the binder back in the woodshed after dinner Landon Ivey was in for quite awhile just after dinner. He wants a team to help thrash to-morrow whenever Sam gets there. He went up to Sid. Marsh's this after noon about four o'clock so won't be down here very early, likely. This after noon Dad. disked what he had plowed across the gully and Frank cut some more hay over there. I didn't do much but weed out some parsnips in the garden. I went down to band concert to-night. Stopped in at the Zealand's on my way down, they have offered me the use of their house for the winter. No more news of Aunty Maude. A red-haired heir to the house of Dillon arrived last night. Hot to-day & a hot night, the first.
Friday August 6th
Dad. plowed this morning and Frank finished cutting the hay across the gully. He expected to have to go and help thrash at Ivey's this after noon but as the machine didn't pull in there till to-night. He raked the hay across the gully and Dad. and I cocked up what we could. I didn't do much this morning but a little hoeing in the garden. To-night we persuaded Dad & Enah to go up to the {Chataugay?} at Simcoe. There was a comedy "Nothing but the Truth" on and Dad. laughed so hard he was nearly sick. Frank Tid and I did up the chores and Frank took Aunty Alice's milk down and brought home an ice cream brick which we three demolished. Young Larry Skey came over this morning and borrowed Mexico for his father to go trout fishing. His father brought him back to-night after dark and I guess didn't have much of a day. He went to Port Ryerse in an hour and a quarter and caught about half a dozen trout. He said he didn't send Larry after Mexico but when he went to the trouble of getting him, he didn't like to disappoint him. Alan Law came in after dark and was so tired he could hardly stand up so borrowed the waggon with the rack on to ride home in. The other waggon still has the coal on it. Hot and Lazy all day. Looks rainy or else very dry
Saturday August 7th
Frank has been over at Ivey's with the team all day helping thrash, they didn't quite finish but could have easily if they had worked after six. Dad. and I cocked up hay in the back field all day and finished a little after five. We thought after dinner when we went back that we only had about a couple of hours work but there was more than we thought and as we didn't take any water back and it was very hot we were pretty dry when we came up. Enah & Tid went down to the lake this after noon and I was to meet Enah at the seven o'clock car and go to Simcoe to the musical {Chautaugua?} I went down but met Enah coming home as she decided not to go. I went on down town for the rest of the evening and got my hair cut. The Lavaltre came in to-night with a lot of Yankee nets and W. J. Thompson gave me a lot of herring that they took with the nets.
Sunday August 8th
Frank Tim and I went down to Sunday school and church. We had Mr. McDonald here in Mr. Johnson's place I stayed at Aunty's to dinner, Huby, Win. & Lila were also there. Win. went to Brantford this after noon to see Aunty Maude, who seems to be doing as well as can be expected after her operation. About three o'clock I went up to the stump and had a swim and then walked around the pond and lay around on Frank Awde's point till five o'clock. It was nice and cool there but
very hot every where else. We had tea before we milked and Enah went down to church and Dad. & Tid walked down to meet her when we got the chores done. Frank went over to call on Tom & Mark's housekeeper. Very hot.
Monday August 9th
It was raining this morning when we got up so as we couldn't do any thing outside I went to Simcoe to pay Cruickshanks my insurance and see Neff about selling the bulls, as I knew he would be connected with the campain on to do away with scrub sires, but when I got there I found it was Simcoe's civic holiday, Cruickshanks was at the {Point?}. Neff wasn't at the office but Manning was and said he would tell Neff. It poured rain while I was there so I stayed in the office with Manning till it was too late to catch the 11 o'clock car. I went up to Slaght's house and saw him for awhile but he didn't know any more. I came home at one o'clock and had a little dinner at Aunty's and then went up town to put some money in the bank. I didn't do much this after noon but work at my show-card lessons and to-night I went down to band practice. Frank and Dad. fixed the barn up ready to haul in. Frank went down town this morning and got some binder twine from Billy Lang and this afternoon Dad ploughed. Cloudy & rainy all day. Very sultry.
Tuesday August 10th
Dad. has ploughed all day and got a nice strip done. Frank and I went back this morning to straighten up the wheat shocks, but there weren't many down and the ones that were standing didn't seem very wet so we left them alone. We then went back to the gully and intended cutting across to Jack Paine's bridge for a swim but we saw Harvey Evans out all alone shocking up wheat which was all lyind down and soaking wet so we helped him till noon. This after noon I did a little more show card work then went out and hoed onions. Frank tried to drill in some rape between the corn rows but the little seeder wouldn't work, it was too wet, so then he took the roller back and rolled down what Dad has ploughed. Rus. Lampkins was in and got the rest of his boiler flues and a fellow who Rus. told me was Frank Schugler was in looking at the sheep. Hot.
Wednesday August 11th
Dad. ploughed all morning. Frank and I moved Moonshine over to the box stall in the horse-stable and cleaned out the place where he was so that we could haul wheat. About half past ten we went over to Mrs. Battersbys to help them move the big square piano but they weren't quite ready so I went down to the mill to pay up. Karl came and got my steer this morning and gave me
$110.00 which I thought would square up but I was grieved to learn that I owed him $136.00. Frank went back home and turned out a load of wheat. We then went back to move the piano. We got Goodwin, Frank Awde & a new man from Jack Martin's and Mr. Bagley was there taking some wardrobes apart so we had lots of men but it was quite a lift. We couldn't get the legs off it so had to worm it through the doors. They are getting things ready for the sale over there. We didn't get back much before noon. After dinner we hauled in four jags of wheat. It was damp but we thought it would do. Landon Ivey wanted Frank to go over and rake the wheat stubble and we let him have the rake and Joe Long raked it. They finished thrashing to-day. Jack Martin is over at Syracuse with some chickens. They tell me he took one or two of my old hens over there to the show. Hot.
Thursday August 12th
We went out this morning and turned out all the wheat. We then went back across the gully and put on a load of the poorest hay which we spread on the rails over the bulls and over the granary. As there was a heavy fog and wet this morning, we didn't get started very early, so it was noon by the time we got our load off. This after noon we hauled in the wheat which was in fairly good shape to go in, we figured there were about seven decent sized loads although we made more trips to the field than that. There will be a lot of rakings. I went down to band concert to-night and the rest all went down to hear it. Roy & Vernon and the children are at Aunty's so we stayed there for quite awhile. Enah was over at Mrs. Battersby's sale all the after noon. It was a big sale and a big crowd. Tid. was down playing with Rebecca all the after noon and stayed down to tea. Very hot and muggy.
Friday August 13th
Frank went out and raked the wheat stubble this morning and we got a good sized load of rakings off it. It took longer to rake it than Dad had figured on so that we didn't have time to go back and get any hay before dinner but we got the wheat rakings in before noon. While Frank was at that Dad. and I put off the load of wheat that was in the barn and then as I had a pain in my tummy I lay down till we hauled in the rakings. We went back after dinner to haul hay. We got one load up and another half on when it began to rain. We came up with our half load but got drenched doing it. I spent the rest of the after noon painting show card practice and Frank washed out our wet clothes. Very warm to-day before and after the rain.
Saturday August 14th
Dad. has plowed all day in the back field and has got past the niche in the fence so is on the short rounds. I didn't do much all day but cut a few thistles in the orchard and mow part of the lawn this after noon. Frank did a few odd jobs among which was patching the rooves of the old barn and horse stable. Tid. & Enah went down town. The Millman's arrived about eight o'clock having run into some bad roads. Mr. & Mrs. Millman Kathleen & {Tow?}. After they had tea, they all went down in the car and Enah & Frank went with them. I changed my clothes and walked down later and met the girls over at Pete Holmes' casino. We had a few dances but had more fun watching the antics of the others. The girls are staying at Percy's so Frank and I went around there with them and sat on the beach till about one o'clock. Mr. & Mrs. Millman are staying over here. Very hot. We thought we were going to get a real thunder storm to-day but didn't.
Sunday August 15th
Frank Tid and I went down to Sunday school and church and after church we found Dad. & Mr. Millman down at Aunty's with the car to take the whole family over here to dinner I walked as far as the bridge on my way home and then Charlie Shand picked me up and brought me all the way home. We had a great old dinner party. After dinner Roy, Rebecca and I went out and gathered some mushrooms which Roy said were good but which I always thought were toadstools. We sat around on the lawn trying without much success to be cool and about four o'clock Mr. Millman drove all but Dad. Tid & me down town. Frank had left before on his wheel to go down the Lake shore with the Ward's, he got back about dark. Mr. & Mrs. Millman & Enah came back for tea and we all spent the evening here. Very hot.
Monday August 16th
We were up early this morning and Mr. Millman went down about six o'clock to go over to Turkey Point with Roy & Percy to fish. He was gone all day and got about four or five bass and a pike or so. It rained again quite a little shower and was cloudy all morning so we couldn't do any thing with the crops. Dad. ploughed all day and Frank cleaned out the shop. I dug up some paeony roots over at Ivey's this morning and packed a box of them to send to Daerie. This after noon some Mr. Brooks from Brantford was down to look at the sheep, he may buy a few later on. Enah & Mrs. Millman went down town this after noon. Kathleen & Tow were over for a little while this morning and I drove them down town in the midst of a heavy shower. I went down to band practice to-night but there were very few out.
Tuesday August 17th
The Millman's left for home this morning about 9 o'clock and took Enah with them to Brantford where she spent the after noon with Aunty Maude coming down on the five o'clock car, she said Aunty Maude was looking fine and expected to come home this week. Dad. Frank and I spent the remainder of the fore noon separating the ewes & lambs and marking the ewes we wanted to keep We picked out 13 of the ones we considered the best & the three best looking lambs, and we put the lambs and rams over in the front pasture west of the house and left the ewes in the orchard. This after noon we got the binder out and started to cut the barley in the corner field it is crinkled down and there is a lot of green stuff in it so it looks miserable, we didn't cut it out separately from the oats in the other end of the field but cut straight through. We didn't get much more than well started to-day as it was late when we got out. I went down town to-night with some cream for Aunty and spent most of the evening with Roy & Quint who were fitting a pipe in Quint's new launch. Cooler looks rainy.
Wednesday August 18th
We cut oats all day, finished the strip in the corner field and started in on the barley and oats along the side road, but still have the five or six loads in the corner field that were latest sowed to cut yet. Billy Mills came over after dinner and borrowed the rack to haul alsike. He delayed me quite a bit as I had to help him put off the hay that was on it. Roy was over for awhile this evening and spent the whole time trying to prove to Frank something about a kite he is making for Tid. but I guess he failed in the attempt. Cooler but looks rainy.
Thursday August 19th
Still cutting oats, got on fairly well to-day but have quite a strip to cut yet, nothing out of the ordinary happened. I went down to band concert to-night. Cool.
Friday August 20th
We finished cutting the oats to-day. It took longer to cut the piece with the water holes in it than it did the others as Frank had to cut around them so that by the time we got the five lands in the corner field cut and the binder loaded and put away it was about quitting time. Dad. and I kept them shocked up as they were cut. Fine day
Saturday August 21st
Dad. & Frank went after after a load of hay this morning while I killed a couple of chickens one for Mrs Bowlby
and one for Aunty Alice. I also got some ice and put the car out of the horse stable. We hauled two loads this morning and one load of barley as we didn't have time to go after a load of hay before noon. This after noon we hauled two more loads of hay, there are still four or five loads back there I think. I went down to the dam at the grist mill to-night and had a good bath. It rained quite a shower. Hot but nice breeze to-day.
Sunday August 22nd
Frank, Tid. and I went down to Sunday school this morning and Dad. & Enah went to church. I was home all the after noon. Gordon Zealand, Oliver Mann, George Ryerse & young Aubrey Wilson came over to see my birds' eggs. Enah and Tid went for a drive and Frank went over to Tom Butler's. He & Mark went down to church to-night. Dad. Enah & Tid drove down to-night to see Roy as this was his birthday. Huby & Lila went to Brantford this after noon and brought Aunty Maude home, she is going to stay at Aunt Lucy's for awhile till she gets stronger, she has got on very well so far. Or, & his girl, Carlotta Turk, and Kathleen, Tow and two boys came in at noon for awhile. Very cool all day
Monday August 23rd
We finished hauling the hay from the back field to-day. We got two loads this morning and as we didn't have time before dinner to go back for another we penned the ewes and milked them all out. Then we hauled the remaining two this afternoon. Tupper was in for a few minutes this morning. I went down to band practice to-night. We have three engagements booked. Boughner picnic Thursday afternoon Simcoe Oddfellow's decoration Sunday and a garden party or some thing out at Jim Ross's Tuesday night. Roy went over to the Point to-day with Quint, Dad. {Name?} and Jack Ivey and just got back about ten o'clock
Tuesday August 24th
Dad. and I hauled in six bags of oats to-day from the corner field. Frank had to go down to Sam Law's to thrash and it made it very awkward pitching up into the mow and mowing away for just the two of us, so that we didn't get as much in as we otherwise would have. I took some milk down to Aunty's to-night and stayed most of the evening. Kathleen & Tow were there. I rode or tried to ride Frank's wheel but made a bad job of it. He took Queen and went for a drive to-night. Fair and not too hot.
Wednesday August 25th
We finished hauling in off the corner field first thing this morning. The barley that was left out there made
a big load and took a long time to pitch on and off. We got two loads of barley & oats off the long field before dinner and put them in the barn. Frank had to go over to Pickford's to thrash this afternoon so Dad and I hauled two loads of oats and started a stack as two can't unload now in the barn. It was slow work making the stack with just two. To-night Dad. Enah & Tid drove down with Aunty's milk and just as they got home Mr. Cantelon the artist rode in, he was here for a long time making a copy of a sketch Clarence did of the old Dog's Nest. He is very interested in anything pertaining to the early history of the country. Hot & looks dry
Thursday August 26th
Frank was over at Pickford's thrashing all day morning. Dad. and I hauled in three loads of oats and pitched two off on the stack and left one till after dinner. This after noon I went down to play in the band for Boughner picnic and Dad. & Frank hauled in two more loads of barley and oats. The Boughner picnic has degenerated in late years. There was not such a big crowd as usual in spite of the fact that it was a beautiful day. In olden days we used to see all roads into Dover lined with buggys and democrats at five a.m. but now every one comes in cars and they don't start till after dinner. We played to a rather small audience over in Bucks park till half past five. I stayed at Aunty's for tea and then went with Quint, Roy & Vernon out in the new boat. We picked Kathleen, Tow, Enah and Tid. up down at Barwell's fish shanty and we had a fine ride out in the lake, it was the fastest boat I was ever in. It was after eight when we got in but I got up to the bandstand before they started to play. This was I suppose our last concert for the season. I went over to Pete Holme's after band concert and from there went with Kathleen, Tow & Quint over to their cottage where we had some ice cream which Quint brought from his shack and cake & lemonade. Frank joined us later and we fooled around there half the night then I went for a dip in the lake and walked home in my bare feet. I changed my clothes went I got home as I didn't think it was worthwhile undressing. It was after three when I went to bed.
Friday August 27th
Dad. called me before daylight this morning and I went and helped him put the sheep out of the garden. They had gone through a hole in the fence that Belle had broken. They had got well filled up on clover but hadn't done much damage in the garden We finished hauling the oats to-day. It took us all
day as finishing the stack took a lot of time. Kathleen and Tow were over to dinner to-day and Enah drove them down this after noon. Mr. & Mrs. Millman came up in the car to-night. They are all going home on Sunday Orm & Carlotta Turk came up too. Fine day pretty hot.
Saturday August 28th
I spent most of the fore noon cleaning out the flower border and setting out a little plant of bleeding heart and some iris which Mrs. Millman brought me. This afternoon I went over to Ivey's and dug up some more paeony roots and took a stroll over to Bronzie where I poked around for an hour or more. Dad. ploughed all day. Frank went down to Sam Law's this after noon and borrowed 30 bushels of oats which he took down to the mill and had chopped. Fine day not hot.
Sunday August 29th
Frank Tid and I went down to Sunday school & Dad and Enah drove down to church but Dad. couldn't go as he had forgotten the tie strap and couldn't tie Queen up. I had a very hurried lunch at Aunty's and went to Simcoe on the one o'clock car with the band as we were engaged to play for the Oddfellow's decoration day up there. We had to wait till three o'clock for the {Coutons?} the highest order of the Oddfellow's to come down from Brantford and then we marched out to the cemetry and were out there an hour or so. By the time we got through it was too late to catch the five o'clock car so we were treated to supper at the Battersby house and got home at seven. Beautiful day
Monday August 30th
Dad. ploughed all day but didn't quite finish the field. Frank patched the roof of the old barn this morning and I went up on the inside and shoved straws through to show him where the holes were. I went down town before dinner to see about getting some clothes. I wanted to get a second best suit and a light overcoat. Moses Fischer showed me some brown sample of a suit which he said would be $48.00. I went down to Tip's and bought a ready made for $25..00 It won't look as well as the other but seemed pretty good and I didn't feel as if I could afford to spend $22.00 on mere appearance. I also got Tip to send for some samples of tweed raincoats which he says are taking the place of fall overcoats. He had some there but they were all too short in the sleeves. I got a pair of shoes at Frank Smith's for $7.50. I had dinner at Aunty's and came home soon after and hoed a few strawberries. I stopped in for a few minutes to see Aunty Maude on my way home. Frank sowed some rape seed in the corn this afternoon but I am afraid it is too late for it to ammount to anything. I went down to band practice to-night. Fine & cool
Tuesday August 31st
Frank was down at Dave Ward's last night and as Dave has his oats all out yet Frank promised to go down and help him get them in, so off he went this morning and I don't know when he will be back. Dad. ploughed this morning and I cut lawn and after dinner Dad. & I went out to the side road and got the snow fence that the township council or road officials put out there and brought it up and put it around the stack as the calves and sheep were rubbing and pulling at it. Dad. then went back to plough for a while and I wired the snow fence to-gether and didn't do any thing else much till chore time. To-night I went down and joined the band and we all went out to Jim Ross's to a Women's Auxillary garden party. It was very cold down there but we had a pretty good time. Their programme was so rotten it was funny. Tom Butcher of Nanticoke was the principal entertainer and he appears to be batty. Mrs. Hank Sinclair told fortunes and I think it was young Mason who had an old stove out under an apple tree frying hot dogs. He also sold ice cream but most people were too frozen to want to buy it.
Wednesday September 1st
Dad. finished ploughing and rolling the field this morning and I puttered around and hoed a little in the strawberries. This after noon we got the spreader out and hauled out three loads as it took a long time to get it oiled up and started and then some thing went wrong with the worm gear that turns the apron and it lifted itself out of the gear and didn't turn. Dad. tightened up a nut which we couldn't see would help it any but it worked all right afterwards. Jack Martin was in to-night to tell us that he was going to thrash to-morrow and wanted two men. Fine day & cool
Thursday September 2nd
Dad. and I hauled out three or four seven loads this morning but as the machine moved in to Jack's place before dinner we put the spreader in the shed at noon and went over there at one o'clock. They were thrashing oats out of the stack down at the {illegible} barn and had a good run but didn't quite finish. I stayed over there to tea but Dad. came home. It was pretty late when we got the chores done. Winnie was over here to tea. Fine
Friday September 3rd
We thrashed all day at Jack's to-day and are not quite through yet. We finished the oats and then moved up to the Mills barn and started thrashing wheat before dinner. Benny Walker and I carried away. Benny would carry away three bushels and then I'd carry three so we had a pretty fair time. I came home at noon to do chores and Dad. stayed over to dinner. Still a fine day.
Saturday September 4th
We finished thrashing at Martin's this morning about half past eight having about 400 bushels of wheat and 623 of oats. Dad and I came home by way of Jack Martin's to get his measuring chain but we couldn't find it. Sid. Goodwin showed his string of chickens that he is getting ready for the Syracuse Show. This after noon we hauled out a few more loads of manure. I went down town to-night and got my suit which they all thought looked all right. Frank came home some time during the night.
Sunday September 5th
Frank Tid and I went down to Sunday school and Enah came down to church. She and Tid. stayed all the after noon at her mothers as Elva & Brant were down for Labor Day to-morrow. I stayed for dinner at Aunty's and was down there all the after noon, went home about five and helped Dad. do chores. Frank seems pretty well tuckerd out. Dave must have worked him pretty hard and then he wound up by going to the dance. Mark. Stephens was in for awhile on his way down to church and he stopped in on his way back and we ate part of a water-melon that Enah got this afternoon up at Cantelon's.
Monday September 6th
This being Labor Day we didn't do any thing but chores this morning but as the water has had a very disagreeable taste and odour lately Dad. thought he would make an examination and much to our disgust discovered a rabbit floating in the water in an advanced stage of decomposition, with considerable manoevering he managed to dip it up with a pail. We imagine it must have fallen through the hole we left for ventilation although there has been a box over it. Enah and Tid. drove out to the school house to the Dolly Smith reunion and about noon Dad. and I walked out. Frank still feels tough so didn't go. We weren't there long before the bell rang for dinner and we went down into the basement and had a grand feed. After dinner we played baseball and had a very good time. Girls against the boys. I don't know who won but I think it was a large score in favour of neither. We played till about four o'clock when Mr. Bagley went inside to call the roll of "Aunt Dolly's" old pupils. Dad. and I walked home through John Wess's and found Mr. Lawrie and Hubert there trap shooting. It looked rainy this morning but was a fine day.
Tuesday September 7th
Dad. and I hauled out manure all day and got the yard nearly cleaned up. Frank hoed the strawberries and the weeds out of his alfalfa. He went down to see Colin Ryerse's new tractor this after noon. Colin has left his fifty dollars a week job in Chicago to come home and run a tractor. Aunty Alice was over to-day.
Wednesday September 8th
Dad. and I finished hauling out the manure to-day, we got all we could pitch out before dinner and after dinner we scraped up the stack bottom and in little piles and hauled it out it took a long time but made a good clean job. Dad. took the big team back and disked when we got through with that. I didn't do any thing but chores and a little painting for the rest of the after noon. Frank went to Simcoe this morning to order some photo-graphs of Dick from Moore as Dick wrote and asked for some. This after noon he took Queen & Joe and mowed the big weeds around the water holes that were left in the oat stubble. Old Jonas Green was here to tea to-night. He is thinking of coming back to Dover to work in the greenhouse but as usual doesn't know what to do with the old cow, the horse and the chickens and Sairy. I went down town to-night and got my hair cut. Fine day not hot.
Thursday September 9th
Dad. went down to Aunty's this morning to help them in the garden for a day. He trimmed the paths and dug some early Rose potatoes, Aunty Alice got five pounds of seed from Bruce's last Spring and to-day they dug seven baskets or two bushels and a third by measure. Frank disked on the back field this morning but it rained more or less all the after noon so he didn't go back after dinner. It was raining hard about four o'clock so I drove down after Tid. Enah had intended going down after him and staying for tea at Aunty's with Dad. but as it was such a wet night she didn't go down and I drove down and got Dad. After tea he and Enah drove down and Enah went to a Horticultural meeting with Aunty Alice. I spent the day doing chores clearing up the lawn and painting at show cards.
Friday September 10th
Dad. went down to Aunty's again to-day and put in another day in the garden. He weighed up the yield of Early Rose potatoes, the weighed 136 1/2 lbs. Frank worked on the land all day. I took Alfred's cradle back to him this morning and then went over and saw Colin Ryerse's tractor working, from there I went over to Frank Ryerse's to see if they wanted to buy one of the bulls. I came home along by the creek and roved down as far as Flemming's woods with young Philips. This after noon I didn't do any thing much but pick a basket of plums. Ethel Phipps was over here all the after noon. Tom Butler was over here all the evening I painted a show card lesson. Sultry.
Saturday September 11th
Dad. worked on the back field all day. Frank and
I went down this morning and got the basic slag Dad. ordered from Harry Misener. Chris Quanbury had found the surveyor's chain and gave it to us so when we got home we started to measure up the farm. We spent the whole after noon at the job and got all the fields this side of the gully measured. Fine day but cool and windy
Sunday September 12th
My day commenced at two o'clock this morning when I was awakened by a fierce thunder storm raging I got up and looked around to see if any thing was hit by the lightning but couldn't see any thing so went back to bed. There were several thunder claps and flashes then that shook the house and not long after I heard a dog bark and a man whistle. I then got up and saw a big blaze over at Jack Martin's I called Dad. and Frank and we hurried over and found the implement shed just about gone. They had saved one or two pieces of machinery but Billy Mill's two pigs were burned. Luckily the wind kept the sparks away from the straw stack which was only a few yards away or the whole thing would have gone barn & all. Dad. and I. Art Quanbury & Sid Goodwin sat there with Billy till morning to watch it. About six o'clock we came home and I went back to get the cows but Dad. called to me when I got back there that the cows were all in the stable, we shut them in last night to feed them some corn and had forgotten to let them out again. Frank Tid and I went down to Sunday school and church. Mr. James came over here for dinner and this after noon the Jim Waddle's and Uncle Ward came in. Uncle Ward & Mr. James stayed to tea and Enah drove them down to-night with Mexico. Frank took Queen & the buggy and drove down to the Ward's. Billy Dixon's shed was burned last night too.
Monday September 13th
Frank and I finished measuring up the back fields this morning and this after noon Frank went up to Will. Wright's to help Alan & Sam with the engine. Dad. worked on the land all day and I went back this after noon and dug out a big stone that Dad. had run into with the plow I loosened it up and it was all Dad. and I could do to get it out of the hole. Mr. James was over again to dinner and Enah drove him down this after noon. I went down to band practice to-night. Mark came over to-night & borrowed the spreader.
Tuesday September 14th
I drove Tid down to school this morning as he was late getting up when I got home I did a few chores and went out to the garden to dig potatoes. I dug potatoes most of the day and got four bushels and haven't got half of the two outside rows dug yet. I have been
digging the two outside rows to see if there is any difference between the fertilized and unfertilized but I can't see a particle, they are all beauties and a lot of them. Dad. worked on the land all day and Frank has been off thrashing with Alan & Sam, he is having a beautiful time as Alan lets him run the engine I went down town to-night with Aunty Alice's milk.
Wednesday September 15th
It was very foggy this mornng and I didn't go out very early to dig potatoes but got four more bushels dug. I went back at noon and helped Dad. take the harrows back. Dad. worked on the land all day and Frank has been helping Alan & Sam. Fine day. Aunty Alice was over to tea to-night.
Thursday September 16th
Dad. finished fitting the wheat ground to-day and has it in fine shape. I finished digging the potatoes in the garden at noon and got 11 bushels. This after noon I went over to the Preston's and helped old Walker clean up 18 bushels of seed wheat for ourselves. Enah was down all day judging at the flower show. There was very little there considering the good year it was for every thing. I went down to-night and found the band playing up there so went back to Aunty's and got my horn. Fine & cold wind.
Friday September 17th
Dad. and Frank have been all day and part of the night putting in the wheat. They had to haul the Basic Slag back first thing this morning, then go over to Preston's and get the wheat, chain the drill to the back of the waggon and haul it around to the gully gate on the side road, take the wheat up and unload it and then go back after the drill so it was about eleven o'clock or after when they started to drill. It took two of them as the Slag is too heavy for one to handle alone and watch the team too. They kept at it till eight o'clock to-night but finished the field. I did a few odd jobs this morning and went back as soon as I had my dinner to watch the cattle out of the field while Dad. went up to get his and then I stayed back there with Frank when he came back till Dad. arrived. When I got up to the house I found two roots of Bleeding Heart that Marj. had sent me so I put them in and then hurried over to tell Arthur Pickford that the boys were going to leave Frank Smith's store at 5:30 to go for a camp fire trip but he had decided not to go. I also cut some corn for the cows and then got ready and went down town. I picked up Gordon Zealand on the way down, he had just come on the five o'clock car from Hamilton. He was the only one of our bunch that showed up and only four of the Methodists. Manning took us down the Lake Shore in his car and we built a big
fire in a ravine on the shore in front of Hurl. Powell's place. He came down and was for putting us out as he was afraid of the fire running up the gully, but we promised to watch it and put it out before we left so he let us stay. The boys visited a corn field on the way down and Manning brought a water melon and I had some sandwiches so we made out a pretty fair meal. Manning gave us a little talk on the stars and we got home about ten o'clock. Fine day fairly hot and windy
Saturday September 18th
Frank and I had to go over to Ern. Flemming's to thrash to-day and were over there all day, at least Frank was. I came home a little early as I was helping Wilbur Ryerse carry away oats and when the wheat commenced to come Ern could handle it alone so Ern. told me I could come home & get ready for the machine as they moved in here to-night. Dad. was running out land furrows in the back field all day. Ham Thompson was in and borrowed the drill. Fine day
Sunday September 19th
We all went to church this morning and Frank Tid and I went to Sunday school. Miss {Treneman?} sang a solo. Enah had to play as Mrs. Andrews is away so she stayed down all day. Dad. stayed down to dinner at Auntys, but Frank and I came home. I was home all the after noon but went down to-night with some eggs for Aunty Alice. We were much surprised this after noon when Mr. & Mrs. Millman drove in. They went on down to Aunty's and are staying there for a day or two. Mr. Millman is going to buy apples for his evapourator at Vittoria.
Monday September 20th
We thrashed all day to-day and got out about 830 bushels 100 of wheat 40 of barley and the rest oats and mixed grain. It wasn't as big a yield as I had looked for but the oats rolled out of the spout about 3 bushels per minute. It was very cloudy cold and drizzly all day and just as we finished began to rain so hard it threw the belt off. We only had five more sheaves to thrash, but they put it on again and we thrashed them.
Tuesday September 21st
We caught the lambs this morning and trimmed the wool out of their eyes as some of them couldn't see at all. This after noon Dad. and I went back and ran out the cross ditches in the back field. Frank had to go down to Art Ryerse's with Alan & Sam when they took the engine but they didn't thrash any to-day as they wanted to go to the school fair. I started to get ready to go down to that but about four o'clock Bob. Doherty and Webb. came in and stayed for an hour or so. Frank came home while they were here and we sold him all the lambs but four and the three old ewes, 13 cts for the good lambs 9 cts. for culls and 4 cts for the old ewes. Mr. Millman was in for a minute to-night with Aunty Maude & Aunt Ida. Fine day
Wednesday September 22nd
Frank has been away with Sam & Alan all day down at Art Ryerse's. Dad. and I took Sam's oats home first thing this morning and when we got back Rus. Lampkins was here to fix the pump so we worked with him till noon. He had to go home at noon to take his wife to Simcoe and he didn't get back till half past three. Dad. and I bagged up a grist and I took it down this after noon and when I got back Dad. & Rus had the pump back in the well. Rus. put in a new valve and sucker and now it works better than it ever did. Lovely day. It has been very dry now for a long time in spite of the fact that the New Moon has been perpendicular now for several months. This moth it was south of the line. {Wee sketch of the moon shape}.
Thursday September 23rd
Dad. & I spent the fore noon cleaning up around the stack. We put all the loose straw from the south side of the stack on the rack and hauled it in on the barn floor and carried it in from the north side. Then Dad. got up and put a better top on the stack as the wind was too strong the day we thrashed to make a neat job of it. This after noon we went back and cleaned some of the ditches in the wheat field but quit early and to-night I had a meeting with the boys. Hermon & Jonas were the only ones there, we figured on a programme for next month. Fine & hot.
Friday September 24th
I spent most of the morning doing chores but went back about eleven and cleaned some more ditches in the back field. Dad. took Tid to school and picked some tomatoes for Mrs. Law. This after noon he and I finished cleaning the ditches. Frank was with the thrashers all day. I did a couple of show card lessons to-night and Dad. Enah & Tid drove down with Aunty's milk. Very warm, tried to rain.
Saturday September 25th
Frank told us that Dougherty called him up yesterday and wanted to ship the lambs this morning so we had to get the waggon unloaded, it had some coal on it and get the sheep in and loaded. We took down about 16 of the best lambs the first load and when we got there found Dougherty wasn't there yet, but we unloaded them and Frank went back for another load. He put them all on but had to take four off at Martin's as they nearly smothered, so by the time they were all down there it was noon and about one when we got home. The lambs the good ones just averaged about 68 lbs apiece and the whole bunch came to about $242.00. This after noon Frank had to go and help Sam and Tid and I dug some paeony roots and took them down to Miss McQueen and Miss Monteith. To-night I went to town and charted Hermon Cook. I found Mark Stephens and his sister here when I got home. Fine day. Very hot.
Sunday September 26th
This has been one of the hottest days we have had this year. Frank Tid and I went down to Sunday school and Dad. and Enah went to church. This was {Harvest?} Home service and they had the church looking very nice. Zeitha sang a solo. Doc. Lemmons & Lou. Dixon were supposed to sing a duet but Bill didn't show up. Aunty came. This after noon I went down to Bronzie as it was the only cool spot I could find. It was lovely down there on the point. I came home early and we did up the chores in good time. Mark and his sister and Winnie were here for tea and we all except Frank and Tid. went down to church to-night. Mr. Ward from St John's preached. After church we all went down to Aunty's and spent the evening Aunty Alice gave Mark a kitten which Miss Stephens took home in a basket and which howled terribly.
Monday September 27th
I fixed up the old corn house this morning and this after noon Dad. and I started to cut corn and got 28 shocks cut. Frank was away all day with Sam. and Alan. I went to band practice to-night.
Tuesday September 28th
Dad. and I cut corn all day and are nearly halfway across the field there are just ten rows of shocks in the field. Fine day, sunny with cool wind.
Wednesday September 29th
We cut corn all day. Jack Highland was past to-night about five o'clock and while Dad. was talking to him he heard a cow bawl so we went back to the gully and found Nancy calving. We gave her a little assistance and now have another red and white bull calf known as Bill Sykes Dad. and I drove down with milk for Aunty to-night and up around by Ham Thompson's as I wanted to see if he was going to Courtland to-morrow. Fine & cold.
Thursday September 30th
I caught the nine o'clock car this morning and went with Ham Thompson to Simcoe where Manning picked us up and drove us to Courtland. The had the township fair and school fair combined. I didn't do much but help Ham judge the school kid's chickens. We had a very nice time though. The fair didn't ammount to much as there was very little stock there and not much of anything else Dean Taylor and a couple of pals were there having a great time Manning drove Ham and me back. We had supper at his place and he drove us on down to Dover, as he was coming down to a meeting. Cloudy and cold all day. Raining to-night.
Friday October 1st
It has rained steadily all day and has been very raw and cold. Tom. Butler came in on his way down town and he and Frank went over to look at the stuff Flemming has for sale and then he came back here and had dinner. I didn't do any thing much but a few chores. Frank went home with Tom this after noon and stayed there for tea and all night so that he could put a fire on in the engine in the morning to finish thrashing at Art Quanbury's. Miserable day but good for the wheat.
Saturday October 2nd
Dad. and Frank went over and finished thrashng at Art Quanbury's this morning. Dad. got home before dinner and Frank went on to Charlie Munroe's with the machine. I took Aunty's milk down this morning and on my way back stopped in at the Zealand's He showed me various things about the place and told me I could have the house any time I wanted it, so I told him that would be in about three weeks I hoped. Dad. and I dug a couple of rows of potatoes this after noon. I went down to meet the Tuxis boys to-night but Jonas was the only one out.
Sunday October 3rd
Frank, Tid and I went down to Sunday school and church and Enah came down to church. Aunty came back over here to dinner. It rained this morning a little and has been cloudy and cool all day.
Tuesday October 12th
I have some way got far behind in writing this and can't remember precisely what happened from day to day so will have to make a summary of last weeks events. I think we finished cutting the field corn Tuesday the fifth working at it Monday after noon & Tuesday. We cut the fodder corn Wednesday after noon and Thursday morning. There will be quite a lot of feed on it considering how late it was put in. We spent the rest of the time up till Wednesday noon digging potatoes. We just finished that job yesterday after noon and got nearly fifty bushels out of the patch in the field. We have them piled out in the field. Thursday after noon Dad. had to go to be bearer ar Mrs. Tommy Jackson's funeral and I went over to Ern. Flemming's sale. Friday Dad. and I were over at Tom & Mark's all day thrashing and finished up there Saturday fore noon, from there I went with Art Quanbury down to {Ausen?} Abbot's to look at an old house which Art wants to buy to tear down and use the stuff to build his new one. Dad. went over to John Wess's for a visit and stayed there to dinner. Frank thrashed with Sam Monday morning and then they quit till after Simcoe fair but Frank
stayed with Sam till Tuesday night helping him shock up his corn. He went to the fair on Wednesday and has been sick ever since, he is just beginning to get around now. I stayed down at Aunty's for dinner on Sunday and Sunday afternoon Aunty Alice came over here with me and stayed to tea. Aunty went to Scotland this morning with Dick Tibbits to see Uncle Robuck. They had to come back on the L.E.&N. as Dick's car played out. The Bawlby's came down in the after noon and took Aunt Ida up with them for tea. Jack Martin was over here after tea to ask Dad. to go with him on Tuesday to a political meeting near Aylmer. Yesterday Frank took Joe down to be shod and brought Aunt Ida back with him to spend the day. It began to rain this after noon and we had quite a heavy thunder storm but it stopped before night. Dad. drove Aunt Ida home after tea. To-day I went over to the Zealand's to help him put on the storm window but he thought it was too warm yet, so I helped them make some cider Enah went over to get the curtains and wash them but as Mr. Zealand was away when she got there she didn't take them. Dad. went with Jack Martin to Straffordville and heard Mr. Meighen, but said they had a very tiresome day as they had to wait so long. I got some flower roots over at Mrs. Battersby's this after noon. Frank felt better and picked the King's. To-night I went down town to get my hair cut but couldn't get into any of the barber shops so went down to see Aunty Maude. It has been a very nice day.
Wednesday October 13th
Dad. and I walked back to the gully this morning to get a long pole that was back there for firewood and while we were back took a walk over to look at the wheat which is coming nicely since the rain and as we saw Cam McBride back plowing pea stubble went over and talked to him for awhile. Frank drove Tid. down to school. It was pretty late when we got back but Dad. castrated the four calves before dinner. The big roan bled quite a lot and to-night Dad. went to look at him but thought it had stopped pretty well, however he started up again during the night and bled to death. This after noon I went down town and got my hair cut and made the final preparations or purchases as to-morrow Aunty Alice and I leave D.O. for Haliburton where on Saturday Marj. and I are to be married.
Wednesday November 8th
There must of necessity be a considerable gap left in these records caused by the event predicted in the last entry. I was away in Haliburton
and Bobcayceon for nearly two weeks and since coming back with Marj. have been so unsettled and having so much {illegible} getting our new nest feathered that I havent been able to get into my old habit of writing in my diary. There is not much use trying to record the events of the past few weeks as I don't know what has happened, all I know is that Marj. and I are married and have had a most happy time and that we are the luckiest pair alive as we are in our own house by ourselves for the winter and with the many things Marj. has had given to her and the things by the Zealand's which we may use, we seem to have every thing we want, we don't even have to pay rent for the place, which is very fortunate as being as poor as ever as far as cold cash is concerned. Mr. Zealand is still here during the day packing up fruit and making cider but he stays at night with Mr. Johnson and has his men at the Quanburys. He went to Hamilton last weekend and spent Saturday after noon giving away the fruit he had sent down. Besides the many things Marj. has had given to her privately we have had several more or less public donations. The second night we were back in Dover The band came over to the farm 17 strong with an extra to carry Karl's big drum, Karl himself being burdened with a dandy big leather rocking chair to present to us. We had a fine musical evening On Thursday November 4th we were invited to a meeting of the County J.F.I.A. at Mr. Neff's in Simcoe where we were presented with a beautiful table-cloth. Marj. says it is one of the finest she ever saw and that the like can't be bought new, this one being made before the war. The next night we were invited to the Sunday school where they had "kitchen shower" for Marj. and stocked her up with a fine lot of aluminum and pirex ware and rumors have reached us that the object of a combined visit of teachers on Tuesday night November 16th is to present Marj. with some forks. This is Monday the 15th and I have not had time to make an entry in this for about a week. This house keeping is very unsettling but it is a lot of fun. I am waiting now for Marj. to get dinner. I have just got of 12 bbl {barrels} of apples to Mr. Clarke which I spent considerable time last week and the week before getting ready for him. Frank and I got in the mangels and Dad. has got some plowing done. Our turnips are out yet and as we had a very cold snap (about 12° of frost) they are
frozen stiff but it is beautiful again today so will be all right I think. We got in one load of corn stalks on Saturday and they are in good shape and there is some fine corn in them. I went up to a meeting of mentors which Manning called in Simcoe to-night and left Marj. here alone to go to bed early as she has a bad cold.
Tuesday November 16th
Just a month ago to-day that we were married and I am just beginning to get squared away to regular habits but we have had a good time. Marj's cold is very bad to-night, she feels quite sick I think. She got up early and has worked hard all day as she expected a joint attack from the school teacher's but Miss McQueen telephoned at the last minute that they couldn't come. Frank and I put off the load of corn stalks that we hauled in yesterday and then went down after a load of freight which just came in for Marj. It was all her things from home which her Dad. had packed and shipped to her. It made about a waggon load. I opened them for her at noon and she unpacked them and it was a very tiresome job but she was glad to get a lot of the things. This after noon Frank and I took some oats to the mill to be rolled. Dad. ploughed all day. Frank went down to stay at Aunty's to-night and is going with Neff on a judging trip to-morrow D.O. Still cold and east snow storm to-night.
Wednesday November 17th
I was up at 6.30 this morning and found a fierce east wind and snow storm raging but not very cold. We expected Frank who stayed at Aunty's all night back but he didn't come so we suppose he must have gone with Neff although we didn't think they could get through on account of the snow. I drove Tid. down to school and went on down town and got some meat and bread for Marj. Dad. and I threw the hay that was on the floor of the big barn up in the mow and let the calves in there for shelter. I didn't go over to the farm very early after dinner as I shovelled all the snow as Marj. was "receiving" Aunty Alice came over early and Enah was here. I husked some corn this after noon. Mark. came over for awhile and Dad. drove him down town with Queen and then he came back and stayed at his farm for tea. Aunty Alice had tea at our place, she being the first one to break bread with us in our own home. Much milder to-night.
Thursday November 18th
Frank didn't turn up all day but came home to-night and said they did go to London in Neff's car and saw the stock at Wildwood and Col. McEwen's. Dad. and I have just done chores all day. The snow and the frost make it impossible so far to do any thing with the turnips although it has thawed a great deal to-day and is not freezing as hard to-night. Enah had a tea party for Marj this afternoon
and Dad. drove down and got Aunt Ida and brought her over. She stayed to tea. To-night Enah had to go down to practice with the "Sunny France" opera as Zeith got her to be their pianist so Marj. and I stayed with Tid till sh and Dad. got home about eleven
Friday November 19th
We haven't done much to-day but chores. Frank husked a nice lot of corn. This morning he and I took some barley down to the mill for chop but their chopper is out of order so we couldn't have it done. We got the rolled oats we left the other day and brought some potatoes down here for Marj. This was her day for receiving again and Aunty, Aunty Alice and Aunt Ida came over to help her. She had a host of callers too. Aunty stayed with us for tea. To-night we went to the Wilson McDonald concert "In Sunny France" on some complimentary tickets that Enah got. We all enjoyed it very much especially the dances by the little girls. Of course it was especially interesting to Dover folk as it was entirely written and composed by Wilson McDonald a brother of Daisys who had the honor of going to school here. He is very clever not only a poet and composer but an artist in certain lines. There were about fifty in the cast mostly Dover girls though some came down from Brantford.
Saturday November 20th
The frost being pretty well out of things we made a start at getting up the turnips. It was very muddy but we got about three loads pulled before dinner and this after noon we hauled them in and piled them in the barn to feed up right away To-night the four Tuxis boys came over and we had a very fair meeting. Cloudy and raw all day.
Sunday November 21st
Marj. and I went to Sunday school and church this morning. We have become established there as teachers I guess. She has Mrs. Smith's class and I have the Tuxis boys. We stayed to dinner at Aunty's and this after noon went up to see Miss Monteith and stopped in for a few minutes at the McQueen's. Cold wind.
Monday November 22nd
It was raining when we first went out this morning but it stopped early in the fore noon and has been cloudy and misty all day turning milder to-night. We got about three or four more loads of turnips up and started to pit them out in the field. Wilbur Ryerse was in this morning and got the ten little pigs for fifty dollars He liked the looks of Wilkins very much. Marj. wrote the greatest letter to Dorrie to-day, told her all the news in rhyme.
Tuesday November 23rd
It has been a very dull damp dismal day sputting rain quite a lot, but we went out and pulled the rest of the turnips this forenoon and this after noon put them all in the pit and Dad. covered it, they appear to be all right in spite of their freezing but we don't know how they will keep. Oliver Mann came over to-night and I charted him. He charted up very well.
Wednesday November 24th
We put in the whole fore-noon just doing chores and puttering around. It was a very wet gloomy day. This after noon I stayed home and put on all the storm windows and it was quite a job to make them all fit. Marj. had a worse job as she was bound to wash them all thoroughly before I put them on, so was tired out to-night.
Thursday November 25th
Dad. ploughed all morning and got about half drowned wading through the mud-holes so this after noon Frank went out. This morning Frank went down to the mill to get the barley chop we took down on Friday but it wasn't done they not having got their chopper working right yet. He and I then went over to Jack Martin's and got his corn stalk chopping box and brought it over to chop stalks for the bulls as they don't eat them very well the other way. I spent the rest of the day doing chores and husking a little corn Winnie came over and spent the after noon sewing wth Marj. and stayed to tea. Still cloudy but not cold.
Friday November 26th
Marj. went over to the farm with me this morning & Dad. drove her down with Tid. to school and she invited Miss McQueen over here to tea. Old Gladys was on one of her periodical rampages and followed the buggy all the way to the corner and I suppose would have gone all the way to school with them if I had not cut across Ivey's and headed her off. She went down to Quanbury's and then home. I did chores all day & Frank ploughed. After dinner Marj. and I gathered up some russets and made a gallon or so of cider. Miss McQueen came over for tea and Dad. Enah and Tid came over and spent the evening. Frank had to go out to the school house.
Saturday November 27th
I just did chores to-day and Frank ploughed and Dad. cleaned some ditches. Lila was over here all the afternoon and to tea. The Tuxis boys were over to-night, after they left I rowed Lila across the pond, it was a lovely night. We haven't seen the sun all this week.
Sunday November 28th
Marj. and I went to Sunday school and church and had dinner at Aunty's. Winnie was there to dinner and we stayed most of the after noon. We left our cat outdoors this morning and when we came home it was nowhere to be found. Mr & Mrs Jas. Smythe were at the farm when I went over and as Enah asked them for tea she sent Tid over to bring Marj. over so we were there all the evening. Mark Stepens and his brother who is going to technical school in Toronto were at the farm for dinner and To-night Tom came over. Sun out but cold
Monday November 29th
Frank ploughed all day and finished up out east of the old garden. Dad. went down this morning expecting that the body of Will McQuade would be in on the morning train but it wasn't and he waited till after dinner and Geo Thompson had no word of it, so Dad. went down and visited all the scenes of public improvement viz: the dock and the swing bridge. I did chores most of the day but this after noon took a walk back to look at the wheat which is doing fine and on over to see Art. Quanbury's new house, he was pulling up the studding. Marj. went down to sit with Aunt Ida this after noon. I had dinner at the farm
Tuesday November 30th
It froze hard last night but has been a beautiful day. Frank and Dad. started ploughing in the field north of the barn. I did chores and helped them run throw out some ditches. We each made one strike out. {Nancy?} was an awful mess. This after noon I husked some corn. Geo Thompson telephoned over to say Will McQuade's funeral would be to-morrow at one o'clock. To-night I went to a meeting in Simcoe of the County J.F.I.A. where we chewed the rag about a ploughing match next year and winter entertainment. I wouldn't have gone if it hadn't been for the table-cloth they gave us but that is the admiration of all who see it so I felt in duty bound. Marj. went down to Aunty's and waited till I got home. Some one went in to Val. Leany's house to-night between six & seven o'clock and robbed him of $800.00 cash and $500.00 in Victory Bonds. Val. was at the Point and Mrs. Leany had gone up street to get Mrs. Henry to come and stay with her all night. Jack Martin got home from the {illegible} Stole Fair to-night where he scooped everything in prizes.
Wednesday December 1st
It has been very dark and rained quite hard all day. Dad. went down this morning to attend Will McQuade's funeral but the body didn't come till one o'clock. Mary.
and Annie Blaikie and Mary's husband were there. They took him to {illegible phrase} didn't get home till after four. Frank {illegible phrase} this morning but it rained too hard this after noon so he helped me husk corn. I just {illegible} and husked corn all day. Marj. was to have gone down to tea at Aunty's to-night and then go to a {illegible} meeting but she didn't feel very well & the weather was so bad, we stayed home.
Thursday December 2nd
Dad. ploughed all day and Frank threw out ditch this morning and this after noon he and I hauled in a load of cabbages from the garden, they don't seem to be hurt a bit with the frost. I took a crate over from Martin's this morning and put my 14 cockrels in it and took them over to Jack. He said he would look them over and settle up with me later. I took a little prowl along the pond and through Bronzie. Marj. has scurried around at a great rate this after-noon getting things slicked up for the teachers as Miss {Jonson} telephoned her the other day that they were coming over to-night but at the last minute she telephoned again that they were not coming. Marj. disgusted
Friday December 3rd
This was Marj's birthday and a beautiful day. Sunny and mild. I spent most of the morning doing chores and Frank and I unloaded the cabbages we hauled up yesterday. This after noon Frank and I hauled in the rest of the cabbages without trimming them. About four Frank took Mexico down to Marj. and she went on down town and got Miss McQueen and Tim and they all went over to the farm to tea, where we had a birthday party and some music this evening. Marj's Dad. sent her a brace of partridge and a piece of venison and she got a good many other things as well.
Saturday December 4th
It has been cloudy and rainy all day again but quite mild. I spent the whole fore noon doing chores. I cleaned out the calf pen which took quite awhile Dad. ploughed all day although it was pretty wet and Frank threw out ditches this morning and did odd jobs this after noon. He emptied the cider barrel into another one so that we can get it filled again. Old Gladys has been making raids on the shop where I have my chicken feed and has gained an entrance several times and torn two or three bags of feed all to pieces. I stayed home for awhile after dinner to paint a show card lesson but spoiled it. The boys three of them came over to-night but it was a very bad night some didn't expect the others out.
Sunday December 5th
I got up at 9.30 this morning and went over to the farm before breakfast and then Marj. and I went down to Sunday school and Church. We came back for dinner which we had rather late and then we sat around for about an hour and read some of Wilson MacDonald's poems which I enjoyed very much. I went over to the farm about four to help do chores but as they were not expecting me there was nothing to do so back I came and Marj. and I went down to the Will Wood's for tea and spent the evening. We stopped in at Auntys for a few minutes on our way home. Dull cold, drizzly and windy to-day.
Monday December 6th
Dad. ploughed all day and {Frank?} rolled over. He was up early as the top {illegible phrase} off during the night and he got up before daylight to see if anything was hurt. Luckily nothing was. I spent the whole day doing chores and husking corn. Frank helped me husk corn and I helped him put the cabbages out of the waggon down cellar and we ran the waggon into the orchard. He wants to fill it and get another barrel of cider. Marj. & Enah went to a bridge party at the Harding's this afternoon I painted a lesson to-night. Dull and drizzly
Tuesday December 7th
Dad. ploughed all day. I did the chores up and then Frank and I picked up enough apples to make a barrel of cider. This after noon we husked corn. To-night they all came over here to tea from the farm and we had Marj's birthday present of partridge and venison which was delicious. Frank left right after tea to go out to a practice at Shands. Bright to-day but quite a cold wind. Auntie Alice came over at noon and brought Marj. some forks and spoons that Luby Williams sent her and this after noon the whole staff of teachers came over and presented her with half a dozen sterling forks dandies. Yesterday she got a very pretty {illegible} brass kettle on a stand & burner from Elsie & Walter.
Wednesday December 8th
It froze hard last night and has been freezing a little all day. Dad. finished the land he was ploughing but as the crust was so hard to turn he didn't strike out again. This after noon he covered the turnip pits more. Frank took the cider apples down this after noon and got the barrel and a 5 gal keg for Aunty filled. Marj. and I went down town to-night. She went to a Girl's Branch Meeting and I went to the to a meeting of the census committee but they didn't have it
Thursday 9th December
Dad. went down to Aunty's this morning and banked the house for them. After Frank and I got the chores done we went down to Uncle Ward's and hauled in his corn stalks for him and put them in the loft. This after noon Dad. Frank and I put some straw on the strawberries and and got in a few of our own corn stalks. To-night I started on another show card lesson and Marj. & I tried Zealand's mangle on some towels and things but it didn't work just right. At noon Marj. undertook to mend my pants and in order to accomplish her purpose with greater despatch and efficiency had me remove the torn garment and cover up on the lounge, all went lovely till in the midst of the performance in bounced the gas-man - much to the amusement of all present. We are being haunted by a black cat. He followed us home from the bridge last night, camped on our doorstep (metaphorically speaking) all night walked in this morning and made himself very much at home all day and in spite of being most inhospitably treated and spoken to by our cat curled himself up in the oven and went to sleep, he overstepped the line of newiness though and stole some thing so he has been ejected but is still clamouring at the windows and the {illegible} for admittance. Froze hard last night but has been a beautiful day.
Friday December 10th
I aroze at five this morning and finished the show card lesson I started last night and just as I finished I dropped a big blot of paint on it whereat I swore. It has snowed all day and has been very mild & wet so we couldn't do much outside. We spent the fore noon gathering up the corn that was husked over in the barn and carried it over and spread it out above the hog pen, there were about 30 bushel crates of it and we must have fed up about ten bushels. We also bagged up a grist before dinner and this afternoon Frank took it to the mill. He took some corn down too and had it chopped. Pickford was over this afternoon and Dad. and I didn't do much but chores. Marj. was down town this after noon. I started another lesson to-night.
Saturday December 11th
I spent nearly all day doing chores and husking corn. Frank and Tid shot rabbits off and on all day. Tid shot one himself and was tickled to death. I think they bagged seven all day. Tom Butler was over at noon and they put three wire rings in old Glady's snout and twisted them up as Gladys has been getting much too independent lately. Tom. stayed to dinner. Six of the boys came over to-night and we had a debate. Very mild and sunny
Sunday December 12th
Marj. and I went to church and Sunday school this morning and stayed at Aunty's for dinner. We came home fairly early after dinner and as it was such a beautiful day we just poked around the place. I in my shirt sleeves and bare headed as the weather was like April. I went over to the farm and helped do the chores and we stayed home all evening. Frank and Marj. were going down to Aunty's for tea to-night.
Monday December 13th
I got up about 4.30 this morning to work at my show cards but was rather late getting to the farm I did chores and put tar paper around most of my little apple trees. Dad. ploughed all day except for a while after dinner when Frank relieved him and he went down to Pickford's with a confirmation cup for Irene. Frank dug ditches and husked a little corn. I just did chores and husked corn this after noon and to-night I finished making a hopper for Zealand's chickens and helped Marj. make some Christmas candy It has been very mild but cloudy rained this after noon & to-night.
Tuesday December 14th
Dad. and Frank finished ploughing the field back of the barn to-day. Frank stayed all night over with Tom & Mark as it was pouring home when he started home. It has been very windy and cloudy all day and is getting colder to-night. I just did chores and husked a little corn. Marj. went down to a tea party at Aunty's this after noon and stayed there for tea to go to a Sunday school meeting afterwards so I stayed at the farm and went down to-night and met Marj. at Huby's. Enah stayed down too so Dad. went down and met her at Aunty's. Aunty Maude looks badly.
Wednesday December 15th
Marj. went over with me to the farm this morning to practice with Enah for a duet they are going to play at the concert out at the school house next week and we stayed there for dinner. The wind is still very high and it is colder and blizzardy so that we didn't try to do any thing but chores. Frank went down to Pickfords and helped them kill Pickfords old sow. Marj. was to have gone down to a Girls meeting to-night but decided not to go and Frank Smith telephoned over for me to go down to a meeting but I said I was too busy so stayed home and slept all evening.
Thursday December 16th
Dad. went down town this morning with Aunty's
milk and took Tid. to school and when he came back we got in a small jag of corn stalks. Frank and I husked corn & did chores while he was away. Frank & Dad. have spent most of the after noon getting a place ready to kill a pig to-morrow. I just did chores which consisted principally of currying off the cows. To-night Allan {Wicher?} and his fond ma came over and I charted him for the Tuxis boys. Marj. went down to the Guild's bazaar this after noon. Froze quite hard last night. Not so windy to-day.
Friday December 17th
We killed a pig this morning at least Dad. killed it and Frank dressed it and I helped scald & scrape it. I spent most of the remainder of the day doing chores and husking corn. Dad. & Frank put some more covering on the turnip pit this after noon. To-night Marj. and I went down town and I got my hair cut and Marj. went to see Miss McQueen and waited for me at Aunty's. Froze all day to-day and there is a cold west breeze
Saturday December 18th
Froze hard last night and froze our outside cistern pump and drain pipe up. I did chores this morning and helped Frank husk some corn. I spent quite awhile after dinner trying to thaw out the pipes but without success. I met Dad. Enah and Tid. when I was on my way to the farm, they were going down town. Just did chores this after noon. The boys all came over to-night snd Marj. popped corn for them and we had some games
Sunday December 19th
Marj. and I went down to Sunday school and church and stayed at Aunty's for dinner. Quint was there and gave Marj. half a dozen lovely desert forks which he had got over in Erie. We came back early after dinner and Aunty Alice came over with us then she and I went right on over to the farm where she stayed to tea and I did chores. To-night we all went down to church as the Bishop was here holding confirmation service. I think there were eight confirmed.
Monday December 20th
I spent the morning and most of the afternoon doing chores and brushing off the cows. This after noon Dad. and Frank got in a fair sized jag of corn stalks. I helped them put the last of it on. This was Tid's birthday and he had quite a stack of presents. Billy Mills came over at noon and killed four of Mr. Zealand's ducks for me as he wrote up last week and asked me to have them sent down for Christmas. Marj. washed to-day
Tuesday December 21st
Did chores this morning and we went out and got in another load of corn stalks. Marj. went over to the farm with me this after noon and intended to practice her duet with Enah to play at the Shand's school concert to-morrow night but they decided that as Dad. was going to be chairman, they would get him to strike the duet off the programme. We stayed at the farm for tea. Tid. has a bad cold and cough so didn't go to school to-day.
Wednesday December 22nd
I spent most of the day just doing chores. Dad. went down town this morning and stayed to dinner and he and Aunty went up to Miss McQueen's closing concert at the school house this after noon. Marj. went up too. I walked down town with her at noon and helped her carry some parcels down that she was sending by post They said the concert was very funny but were very disappointed that Tid was too sick to go as he was on the programme for a mouth-organ solo, but his cold was too bad so he and Enah stayed home. I got a card from Mid. Thompson saying there was to be a band meeting to-night but Marj. telephoned him and told him I was going out to Shand's. Aunty & Marj. came over to the farm for tea and Aunty stayed all night to look after Tim while the rest of us went to the concert. Enah and Marj. drove Mexico out but Dad. Frank and I walked. It drizzled rain most of the day so the walking was fierce. We went straight back through John Wess's. The concert was fine. Frank was one of the main actors in the dialogue they had and did very well, but what was most comical was a frog song by a chorus of the school kids and they hopped up and off the stage dressed to represent frogs with green paper wrapped around them. There was a big crowd there considering the night, The weather doesn't seem to make much difference to our section.
Thursday December 23rd
We were very late getting up this morning as we were so sleepy after last nights performance. I didn't get over to the farm till about ten o'clock but didn't do much but chores and husk a little corn. Marj. went to Marion McLaughlin's birthday party this after noon and got home about seven o'clock with the greatest pailful of supper for me. A little bit of every thing they had at the party. She said there were twenty young ones there. Poor Tid was not able to go on account of his cold. Colder to-day
Friday December 24th
I spent the day doing chores and husking corn. Dad. went down town this morning and took a ham down for tomorrow's dinner and fixed up the big turkey that Huby provided for the feast. Frank took a pie over to Tom Butler and got a Christmas tree over there which he and Dave McBride took down this afternoon Marj. has been tearing around all day cleaning up the house and making preparations for Christmas Miss McQueen & her mother and Miss McNelly were over to-night just before tea and brought us a mince pie. To-night Marj. and I went down and played Santa Claus we called at the Bagleys's the Monteith's and the McQueen's where Marj. delivered home made Candy for Christmas - and we did some shopping and called at Aunty's for awhile.
Christmas Day.
I went over rather late this morning and did a few chores and then we all went down to church. Marj. and I came home and had a picnic lunch and spent a very happy after noon celebrating our first Christmas in our own home and packing up things to put on the tree. I went over and helped do chores and at six we all congregated at Auntys for Christmas dinner. Mr. Johnson brought Aunty Maude down in his car and she lay on the sofa and said she had a good time. Cousin Clare & Phoebe came down after dinner while we unloade the tree Marj. and I fared scrumptiously at the Christmas tree and we all had a lovely time Marj. gave me her present last night which was a pair of house shoes Beautiful day, cold & snowing to-night.
Sunday December 26th
Marj. and I were very late getting down to Sunday school this morning as we slept in. We went to church and came home for dinner. Aunty Maude & Huby were staying at Aunty's. We chored around all the after noon and I lit a fire in the grate. Glad Law came over for tea. I went over and helped do chores as Frank went down to the Ward's. We had a nice evening with Glad around our fireside and Marj. and I both walked home with her. The walking was fierce as it has snowed hard all the after noon. Very mild.
Monday December 27th
I arose and shovelled considerable snow before breakfast this morning. It had snowed a lot during the night and was very mild. The trees were all laden with heavy snow and this place in the grey light of early morning looked
as much like Fairyland as any poet ever dreamed, but it didn't last long as it thawed enough for the snow to drop from the branches. Dad. drove down town in the cutter this morning and shovelled Aunty's snow for them, he said the sleighing would have been good if there had not been some wheels out which spoiled it. He and Frank got the bob-sleighs out this after noon but didn't hook up to them. I did chores all day and wrapped tar paper around the rest of my little apple trees and laid down the Dorothy Perkins rose bush and covered it up. Marj. and I had a lovely evening at home to-night, she darning my socks and I reading to her from Jeffrey Farnol's "My Lady Caprice". She got a parcel from home to-day containing a pair of towells for her and two pair of Miss Bain knit socks for me and two soft collars from Dorrie. Dorrie sent her a cup and saucer a few days ago and with it a little bell from Miss Dover.
Tuesday December 28th
Frank and I went down town this morning in the bob-sleighs and got part of a load of soft coal and a barrel of salt. It was nearly noon when we came back so I stayed at home and put the storm window on the kitchen. It was a "heck" of a job and I just about froze at it. It is a very hard place to work being on the side of the kitchen facing the main part of the house which is barely two feet from it and in order to get in there I had to climb over the {illegible}-pipes which converge there before they enter the cistern. Then the window is so high that I had to stand on a rickety box to reach it. The storm sash that Mr. Zealand used was not meant for the window and had to be fitted in with other boards and as I didn't know the combination I made a queer looking job of it. Gordon Zealand & Aubrey Wilson came over at noon to get Gordon's gun, he is up for a day visiting Aubrey Frank drove down town this after noon to make some arrangements about an oyster supper that the Shand's school entertainers are holding to-night at Clarence Welsh's. He brought Aunty back to the farm with him to stay with Tim while they all went and Marj. and I went over and had tea and spent the evening with Aunty. Cold wind & freezing.
Wednesday December 29th
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- Theobald Toby Barrett 1920 Diary 1.pdf
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- Theobald Toby Barrett Jan-Apr 1921 Diary 1.pdf
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