DIARY 1925

T.B. Barrett

Donnybrook. Port Dover Ontario

From January 1st 1925 to November 15th 1925

Thursday January 1st 1925

At the time of the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto last November Frank & Jonas sojourned for a few days in the city ostensibly to have a look at the fat cattle & high jumping hunters, but no doubt as far as Frank was concerned there was a fairer attraction than an attractive Fair. Whatever his prime motive was the point in this connection is that he brought home this book for me, and it resembles very closely the books that I was wont to keep diurnal records in prior to the War, but which up till now I have been unable to get. The possession of it inspires me to resume my old practice of diary writing and so I make a start with the New Year. We are still in the grip of a very cold snap which has lasted with scarcely a break now for about two weeks. The wind to-day was in the east but it has been fairly sunny. I have done very little all day but the chores, went over to Willie Shand's this morning to pay him for the sink we got from him last fall, and this after noon went over to the woods for awhile to find some fuel but didn’t have much luck. I started milking Mary to-day as Garnet Coleman came out yesterday & took the calf.

Friday January 2nd

We contemplated going to town to-day which would have necessitated my walking over home and getting Queen or the team, but the weather altered our plans. It was snowing hard when we got up this morning and had snowed hard during the night keeping it up till this after noon. It has been getting steadily milder all day and I think is almost thawing to-night. As we now have a nice lot of skim milk on hand I began feeding the cockrels out in the colony house their fattening mash and had to make a trough for them. They have just been getting grain and I am afraid lost flesh during the very cold weather of the last couple of weeks. I did some more fixing to my cow stable this afternoon, battoned up more of the cracks and put a window in. It was quite comfortable working bare handed which was a great relief. Mrs. Tupper and Clara were in to-night for a few minutes to return the little house scales which Mrs. Tupper borrowed a couple of weeks ago to weigh her geese. Must wash up the tea-dishes now and get after Rob. Roy. We are reading it aloud.

Saturday January 3rd

This has been a busy day for me. I did the morning chores as quickly as possible and started to walk over home but got a ride on a load of lumber from the Winding Hill. Dad. helped me harness & hook up the team (Queen and Joe) and we then loaded up my potatoes and buckwheat. Dad. & I both got potatoes from Jim Dixon and he left mine over there. It was noon when I got home and as Marj. was hoping to leave for town by one o'clock I fed the team and gobbled my dinner without much ceremony. Marj. fed the chickens while I unloaded the potatoes and emptied them into bushe {bushel} hampers down cellar. I unloaded the buckwheat before dinner. I then put the cows in and hooked up. It was nearly two by the time we started. We unloaded the kids at Aunty's by way of a birthday party for her and I drove Marj. up town, left Jim Dixon's bags at Walker Evans according to instructions and drove right back to Trum. Walker's where I loaded up five bags of wheat and took home. Neither Trum. nor the man were home but the boys were there and superintended the business. I unloaded the wheat and then hiked across to the woods where I found a little wood. Our nice little maple

stick, but I had quite a job getting it, as it was green & heavy. I fell down with it once and got covered with snow getting out from under it, by the time I got my wood home & unloaded and the chickens fed it was nearly five so I then returned to town for the family. Frank was there too so he came home with us and took the team back. Snowed most of the day and is still mild. The sleighing is good.

Sunday January 4th

The peaceful and quiet observance of the Sabbath at Donnybrook to-day was uninterrupted by any excursions abroad on our part or visits from others. I just did what was necessary outside and this morning helped Marj. wash the dishes as she didn't feel very well, and she beguiled the time and lightened the task by reading Rob. Roy to me while I worked. We had a late breakfast and an early tea and dispensed with a middle meal and gained whatever energy such meal would have afforded us by napping. Marj. insists on my writing my share of the Christmas letters of thanks a task which has formerly devolved entirely on her so I spent about two hours this evening writing a note to Grand Daddy. Southwest wind - cloudy now but quite mild.

Monday January 5th

School opened again this morning and as I had a lot of snow shovelling to do over there I got around pretty early and did most of my morning chores by lantern light. I saw Mabel to-night and she said every pupil was on hand and glad to get back after their long holiday, owing to the measles. I had intended going over home, getting the team and getting a load of coal this morning but put it off till after dinner. When I got there I found Frank going off with the Pickfords to help them load straw or some thing so Dad. advised me not to take the team to-day as it would be so late before I could get out with the coal and back with the team, and they want Joe to-night as they are taking in the evangelical meetings of Mr. Robinson a friend of Mr. Cornish's. I borrowed his cutter and drove down town, posted some letters got a can of coal oil and went to interview Mr. Carpenter & Al. Faulkner about cutters which they had advertised for sale. Mr. Carpenter was in Port Ryerse voting I suppose but Dr. Bicknell said he didn't think he wanted to dispose of the cutter without selling his horse buggy and harness. Al. has sold one of his cutters and is keeping the other but has a pair of light bobs for sale, they have no shafts on them

though so that I don't think they would be much advantage to me as I don't want to hook up a team every time I go to town. I left my coal oil at the farm and walked home from there getting a ride from the Winding Hill with Billy Watson. It was rather late when I got the chores all done and as I was tired I didn't do anything all evening but snooze. I didn't go out to vote to-day as I had no way of getting there except walking and I didn't consider the election important enough to warrant that much exercise. Kent & Roy Misener are the apirants for the reeve's chair and though I would have supported Reg Kent had I voted I don't think it makes much difference. Misener was in to see Dad. soliciting his vote and using the argument that if he stayed "to home" the whole council would be up around Port Ryerse. Dad. told him he didn't care if they were in Kalamazoo for all the good they ever did him or the road past him which has had no permanent improvement made to it since he has lived on it in spite of the fact that he has paid taxes enough himself during that time to gravel it. Pickford was telling of a great time they had the other night, New Year's eve a man knocked at the door and when they opened it they discovered Ellis Ryerse supporting his wife who was in great distress and wanting to borrow Pickford's horse & cutter as they had had a breakdown in their car while on their way to Mrs. Lawson's. Pickford got them the cutter as fast as possible and they got down town just in time as twenty minutes later they had a new daughter. A great pity was that after all their trouble they couldn't have postponed the event for a few hours as it seems the Simcoe merchants are offering prizes to the first three babies born in Norfolk in 1925. Very mild & cloudy.

Tuesday January 6th

Those men, beloved of the Muses, who are capable of expressing in cadenced words fitting appreciations of all things beautiful are wont to find themes for their songs in the weather that does or should prevail between the Venal equinox and the first killing frost of Autum. Seldom do we hear a voice from Parnassus eulogizing the breath of January unless it be to try to work up a little sympathy for whatever merits a rigourous climate may have to "Stir the Viking blood," but this meets with little response and I admit deserves little. There are days never the less even at this season when the pallid face of Nature suggests a

lethal slumber that have all the qualifications of the greener months besides a few peculiar to themselves to implant in a fellow that very happy sensation, the consious joy of being alive. Just such a day was this especially the fore noon of it. I was in an excellent position to enjoy it as I walked from here over home to meet Frank with my load of coal. There was not a breath of wind and the sun was not bright which would have been dazzling on that nights fresh snow, but diffused a genial comfort through the lightest of clouds & high floating wreaths of smoke. The northern part of the sky was blue, but not the steel blue of Winter but the soft hazy appearance of late Autum while the air might have been that of May except for a certain energizing zest to it not comparable to the chill of Spring nor its longrous warmth which has a tendency to promote lethargy. The roads are in excellint trim for sleighing and aparantly too deep for the pesky cars to spoil them. No mud of Spring, no bugs of Summer, no rush of work as in the Fall, if all Winter weather was like this, tourist resorts in the South would have to go out of business, but what makes this weather truly appreciated is that it is a very small nugget in a large rock of quartz and the realization that for all we know an 80 mile blizzard may be the programme for to-morrow. When I got to the Farm I found Frank had gone down for the coal and Dad. was preparing the scene for the execution of his pigs He was very distressed that I had walked over as he said Frank would go right out the side road with the coal and I would have to walk back. Frank however had forgotten to take a scoop shovel and remembering that I didn't have one came back by the farm with the coal so I rode out with him. He took the team right back so as to be on time to help with the pig killing this after noon. Pickford and Bob. are going to help. I spent the afternoon lining my chicken house with tar paper and at Marj’s suggestion shifting the roosts so that they are not in such a direct draft from the windows. Ina was here washing to-day and she walked home with Mabel who came over for awhile after school.

Wednesday January 7th

Another very mild day and so nice that Marj. wanted to go to town. I was anxious to finish fixing my chicken pen but as she was afraid we might not get another nice day this week, I told her that if she would go over and

borrow the Lampkin's cutter and Florie we would go right after dinner. Marj. went over and made the necessary arrangements and Mrs. Lampkin offered to keep the baby. I worked at the chicken pen till noon then right after dinner we loaded Gay into the hand sleigh and I hauled her over, left her with Mrs. Lampkin and came back with Florie & the cutter for Marj. & the Niblits. It was cloudy when we started with a raw wind but thawing more than it has any day yet. We left Harry B. at Aunty's and I drove Marj. up to see Glad. Law who has been very much worse since Christmas. I then came back, put Florie in the barn, and went in and had a visit with Lila who has not been out of bed for the last few days although she feels pretty well. She has become fasinated by the much talked of and ridiculed cross- word-puzzles. Aunty & Aunty Alice are greatly elated after the courage & skill they displayed this morning in tracking down & killing a rat. They have suspected his presence for some time in the little room off the kitchen so this morning organized a hunting party. They searched through various boxes, boles, baskets, bags trunks, etcetera and finally unearthed their quarry ina valise through which he had chewed himself an entrance and also helped himself to pieces of all the contents for the construction of his nest. The prize discovered was only half won as the real chase began, and was carried on, in, out, between, under, over, across, through and “apast” every object in the room until finally they brought him to bay and Aunty Alice, with certainly more courage than a great many women and some men posess attacked him with the hammer. Her onslaught though feirce was not sufficient to mortally wound him nor to quell his cries, but as she had him pinned down she feared to risk his escape by raising the hammer for another blow so she called to Aunty to come to her rescue with another weapon. She knew the sickle was in the kitchen and thought it would do the deed but in the tense excitement of the moment could think of no other name for it but cutlass, for which she called. Aunty was at a loss to know where in their peaceful surroundings she could lay hands on a cutlass or any other bucaneering accouterment so failed to render the assistance so sorely needed. The case become desperate for although the croaking cries of the enemy betrayed the flitting of the vital spark, the strength of the hand that held the hammer was also waning and who could tell what reserves of strength might he mustered

if that crushing weight were relaxed for a moment. Eventually Aunty came to the scene of action without arms or ammunition but relieved Aunty Alice of her hold on the prisoner while Aunty Alice went in search of the hatchet with which she presently returned and dealt the death blow almost severing the wicked head from the ugly body. No wonder they are exultant after having triumphed so gloriously over the forces of evil the perpetrator of nocturnal destruction and predatory invasion. They can now rest secure and happy in the memory of their hard fought but well won field. I walked over to Jim. Bannister to see a cutter which Mrs. Lampkin told me he had for sale but there was nobody home so we stopped on our way home and I asked Jim not to sell it until I had a look at it. Dad. drove Euah down and left her at Aunty’s while I was there. They are taking in the revival meetings regularly I think, Frank says they had a poor house the night of the hockey match but that was to be expected, the first intermediate O.H.A. game of the season. Dover beat Brantford. 6-5. It began to snow while we were away and kept it up all the after noon Big flakes of heavy snow coming straight down. We are certainly getting plenty of it this winter. It was dark by the time I got back to the Lampkin's with the horse and cutter after taking Marj. & the Niblits home and then I had to load Gay up and haul her home. It was still snowing hard but very mild and she seemed to thoroughly enjoy the trip I was afraid all the time she would pitch herself out and when we turned into our lane where the track was not beaten the fresh snow came to the top of her sleigh box, she gurgled with joy when she could stick her little mitts out and draw them through the soft snow until we got about half way up the lane either she gave a lurch or one runner went suddenly deeper but over the sleigh went and Gay went face down into a snow drift. I grabbed her up as fast as possible and tucked her under my arm, evidently none the worse, she seemed to take it as part of the fun. When we got to the house, she was as rosy, cosy and happy as any ten year old kid who has been jumping into snow banks. We put in an awful evening. Aunty Alice lent Marj. her new Sabitini book “The Gates of Doom" and we started to read it out loud but I couldn't keep awake so we both dozed for awhile and then Marj. went at her book alone and read the whole thing. We got to bed about half past two.

Thursday January 8th

I spent about two hours & a half in bed last night and consequently didn’t feel much like working to-day, so didn't do anything but the chores, it was a little too cold anyway to do Carpenter work in the chicken pen. It has been a beautiful sunny day but the wind was quite strong and sharp. I went over to the school house before we had breakfast and Willem Ryerse came back with me to look at the bull calf as he thought of buying him but he thinks he is too small for service now so I think he won’t take him. We were pretty late getting through breakfast and then we sat around the kitchen most of the fore noon while Marj. told me the story she read last night. This after noon I washed the dishes while she read a little more of Rob. Roy to me and to-night we went to bed right after tea, but by the time we got the kids settled it wasn't very early. Marj. got Gay a pair of stiff soled shoes yesterday & hopes she will soon walk alone with them.

Friday January 9th

It was a cold night and has been sharp to-day but a little wind and sunny so that it is ideal winter weather. I did chores most of the forenoon and this after noon walked down town to see Jim Bannister's cutter. I met John Patterson on the road with it and as he was driving out here partly to show me the cutter and partly to exercise his horse, he turned around and drove me into town. It is a shabby looking affair but seems perfectly sound and has new shoes on it which Jim says are worth four dollars so I don't think I lost anything by paying him ten dollars for it. I saw Dad. & Frank down town. Frank was all furred up in coon-skin ready to start for Selkirk with his theatrical troupe. I got my hair cut and walked back home getting here about seven. It was a beautiful night. Moonlight & snappy. I had tea which was all ready and did chores afterwards. Marj. has not felt well all day. The {Shaff?} boys brought down four loads (5 yards) of gravel for me to-day which I home to make a cow stable floor of when the frost goes out. Marj. says Gay is developing a temper like a yellow jacket with a sore corn. She let her feed herself pudding to-day and the performance was so comical Marj. couldnt refrain from laughing whereat, Miss Gay flew into a passion screamed & screeched and made a scene like a regular picture show lady.

Saturday January 10th

This has been another beautiful day but is frosty to-night I puttered around at the chores this morning and tore down a big corn shock and got all the inside of it into the barn and stacked the outside along the chicken house to melt the snow & ice off it. Harry B was out with me and we disturbed the cosy winter quarters of several mice which interested him greatly. It seems sort of hard lines to turn them out in the cold after they had got fixed up so comfortably for the winter. The cats got some of them later I went over and swept the school house after dinner and while I was there Dad. & Tim came out in the bob-sleighs to get Queen’s harness. They came over to the school and I went back with them and waited at the farm while Dad. drove Queen & my cutter down to get Aunty Alice and Miss Grulnest, (the pianist of the evangelical company), whom he brought over for tea and then I drove my cutter straight home. Dover intermediate O.H.A. team went to Simcoe last night & beat them 8-0

Sunday January 11th

We hurried around this morning doing the usual chores and getting dressed up leaving about noon to have dinner at the Bagley’s. It was very bright but a cold east wind. I left Marj. & the kids at the house, then drove down, and put Queen in Aunty’s barn. This after noon Mr. Bagley and I went to meeting Mr. Robinson was having in the town-hall for men only. I was averse to going but Mr. Bagley assured me we would be out early and so I couldn't very well get out of it. There was a good crowd there and Mr. Robinson spoke very well and as nicely as his subject permitted but as I heard it or read it all before and as far as I can see am in no position to either help or hinder his work, and as the hall was cold and as it was after five when we got out I was very sorry I went. I hurried back with Mr. Bagley and got my sweater and then hurried down to get Queen as it was getting very cold. Mrs. Bagley was going to get tea for us but I wouldn't wait but thought she would give Marj. a cup while I was gone but she didn't. We got home about six and I guess I was the coldest of the party but I got warmed up doing chores

Monday January 12th

It has been milder to-day but cloudy. I seem to have felt lazy and didn't do much but the chores, this

fore noon I cut down the mate to the pine tree that I cut last winter just behind the barn. I have about seven pines on the hill north west of the barn and they are all beginning to die at the top. This tree was leaning very much towards the barnyard fence but I got the big hay rope out of the barn and tied it as far up the trunk as I could safely reach with my 18 ft. ladder and snubbed the other end to a tree down the bank hoping to be able to pull the pine away from the fence, however I chopped till it began to crack and before I could get down to pull it fell and of course went right across the fence smashing two or three of the old wires and cutting one strand of the rope where it pulled taut across the branch of a little ash tree. I didn't do much this afternoon but kill a little rooster for Marj. She went over to the school house after four and mailed Mabel over for dinner to-morrow and also swept. Thawing to-night.

Tuesday January 13th

Wilbur Ryerse was in this morning to ask me if he could have the bull calf for the summer for his keep, leaving me the option of selling him if I got a chance so I agreed. He give me two dollars to pay for his registration and said he would get him to-morrow. I spent most of the day fixing a hopper for the chickens. Ina was here washing and Mabel came over for dinner I drove Ina home to-night and went on down town to a horticultural society meeting but as Uncle Ward was sick, there was none. Quite mild

Wednesday January 14th

Wilbur came in this morning with his stock rack and we loaded the calf. I did up all the chores this morning and we all went down to Aunty's for dinner. After dinner Harry B & I went over to the farm and I filled out the application for the registration of the calf. Marj. did her buying and I drove back to Aunty’s and got her and we called in at the farm and picked up Harry B. Beautiful day but cold wind.

Thursday January 15th

Didn't do any thing much to-day but chores. It was very cold early this morning about the coldest night yet but was a beautiful day and is milder to-night. I sat around and we finished reading Rob. Roy. I did things up early to-night and got ready to go

down to Mr. Robinson's {diocese? meeting. Dad. came over to stay with the kids. They were both in bed when he came and didn't wake up all evening. Marj. and I went down and had a very nice time. It was in the Presbyterian Church, we figured it was the first nocturnal sleigh ride we had ever had to-gether & it is the first time Marj. has been out at night since the Horticultural Show. I cut another small pine to-day

Friday January 16th

It has been thawing all day and snowed most of the day I did up the chores this morning and this after noon drove down to get some cow feed and rooster cheep at Billy Langs I found Billys shop full of customers but no Billy and as Andrew Low said he had been waiting for an hour for him I called up Tip Varey's to ask if they had seen him, they said there was a cemetry board meeting on so that accounted for his absence. Frank came along while I was waiting so I got him to help me bag up what I wanted and I then I drove him up town and home, we called in at Aunty's on our way. They are expecting Ray to-night. He is on his way to or from {a Con?}vention in Atlantic City and will be here till Sunday.

Saturday January 17th

Dad. & Enah drove over this morning and left Joe & their cutter and took Queen and my cutter as Dad. had arranged to take Miss Grunert for a drive this afternoon. We all got bundled up and drove down to Aunty's to see Ray We found Ray, Quint, Huby, Win & David all there when we arrived but we left the children and drove up town for a few provisions and Huby Win & David had left when we got back, but Frank was there. Presently Dad. drove up and then Frank who was with Bob. Pickford and his new old horse left. Dad. expected to find Enah but she wasn't there so he took Joe & his own cutter and went off to look for her. We left about five. Beautiful day

Sunday January 18th

Marj. didn't feel very well to-day and we were late getting around this morning, she wanted me to go to church but I couldn't get ready in time. I went over and swept out the school house and just as I got there Bill Donald & Lloyd Ryerse came to put a new elbow in the stove pipe and a new lock on the back door so I was over there quite awhile. I spent most of the after noon doing chores and washing dishes. Marj. read Jeffry Farnol books all day. Cloudy but not cold.

Monday January 19th

As soon as I did the chores this morning I {illegible} the {illegible} drain to see if I could discover the cause of the vile odour coming from the sink, and found that the end of the drain was frozen up. I worked at it for about an hour but without success as it was frozen well back into the tile and I couldn't get at it. The only way I could make any impression was with an old auger but it was a very slow job. I quit about eleven and started out to see about getting some wood out of {Pat?} Bowlby's bush which they are cutting off. It was such a lovely day that Marj. thought she would got too as she & the children needed fresh air. We drove around by the mill and as they were beginning to get cold, they got out at the Bagley's and waited there till I got back from the woods where I found they had plenty for sale. {It} was just about noon when we left town and we {dr}ove around by the farm as I wanted to see about {ge}tting the team and bob sleighs, so as they were just {rea}dy to sit down to dinner we stayed there. We came {ho}me soon after and I renewed my efforts to get the {illegible} open. I got the auger in as far as I could far {illegible} and then got Marj. to heat the poker and bring it to me as it would have cooled while I was getting over the fence. It was too small to do much good as it cooled before it melted much, but Marj. went out to the shed and found a big rod with a hook on the end of it and heated it. It worked. I melted in as far as it would while it was hot and then gave a few rams with it and burst through. The pent up water came out with a gush and I just had time to get to one side without getting wet. It ran for about ten minutes and I didn't wonder the sink smelled bad when I saw it. Marj. flushed it out with a zenoleum solution, and now the house reeks of that which is just about as disagreeable. Mabel came over to-night with a couple of arithmetic problems for Marj. to work out. Marj. was terribly distressed at first as she didn't see at a glance the solution and was afraid her mental foculties were deteriorating but she finally got them to her satisfaction.

Tuesday January 20th

First impressions of to-day were far from prepossessing as it looked as if we were booked for a north east blizzard. The wind was not high but it was snowing very vigourously if not furiously, the consequence

was that I didn't do chores before daylight as I had intended as I thought the day would be too rough to go after wood, later in the fore noon, however, it stopped snowing and was not such a bad day as it wasn't very cold, so I hooked up and drove over home after first going up to Shand's and speaking for their wood rack. It was after eleven when I got over to the farm so it was too late to go to the woods before dinner but we went up this after noon with George & Pommers. Frank saw Draper and borrowed his wood rack so we didn't have to go out to Shands, we all three went up to the bush and found a very busy place. There was a big gang up there and the mill was going so there were some at it sawing, some piling lumber some chopping & sawing in the bush and Bill McDonald was snaking logs to the saw. It seems a great pity to me to see that fine piece of bush on the lake bank being cleared right off. Dad. had quite a time getting into the place where the wood was as they had the main track blocked with logs and George & Pommers are not used to ploughing around through deep snow and brush but they got there and I got a cord of hard maple for five dollars but there was a great deal of small branch wood mixed with it. I didn't speak for any more because Charlie Shand hinted this morning that they might want me to help them get their wood out and I think if they do I can get some from them. The Snider's from down the lake were up there getting wood and we had to wait after we got loaded for a while till they got the logs cleared out of the track. It was after four when we got back to the farm so we left the wood there and Dad. said he would bring it out in the morning. I drove around by the Donald's on my way home and told Ina not to come over to-morrow as we expect to go to town, she too was scared out of coming to-day owing to the ominous looks of the morning. I found Marj. pretty well fagged out when I got home as she had had a busy day and when she came in from feeding the chickens found the two kids in the coal pail. Harry B. taking it out and handing it to Gay who was eating a little of each piece and then throwing it on the floor, they were both as black as niggers when Marj. found them. Gay was proud as Punch of herself and Harry B made his usual remark on such occasions "Gay doo'at" The last day she left them to feed the chickens, she came in to find the kitchen floor littered with hay which they were busy pulling out of the seat of the old armchair

Wednesday January 21st

Dad and Frank brought the wood out this morning just as we were about ready to start for town. We went down to Aunty's for dinner and this after noon I went to the postponed annual meeting of the Horticultural Society, there were just a few there but enough to elect officers for next year. We put Jack King in as president in place of Mr. Aldried We got home about dark. It was cold but a beautiful day.

Thursday January 22nd

As soon as I got the Chores done up this morning which was not very early owing firstly to my neglecting to set the alarm clock and secondly to my being delayed by a visit from Bill Donald while I was at the school house, I went over to the farm and Frank and I returned Proper's wood rack with the little team before dinner. This after noon we drove down town and got Oliver Mann and his radio outfit and brought him out here to give us a concert. It was very blustery when we came out and the side road was quite badly drifted. Frank had dug out the drift at the top of the hill this morning, where he said Roy Hammond nearly tipped over a load of hay. Frank, Charlie Dixon and Fred Misener rode rails to hold it in the road from the top of the hill to the corner. Fred Misener told Frank that Jim Birdsell had been in to see me last night to ask about digging out the cut at Linsay's hill but hadn't done it because I wasn't home so I let the boys out of the gate and drove on up to Shand's to telephone him. I couldn't get him but left word for Charlie to tell him to go at it in the morning as it was blowing to hard to-day I also invited Charlie & Flossie down to hear the radio. Oliver & Frank were not long getting the stage set. They nailed a scantling on the shed and ran the aerial from it to the east gable of the house, grounded to the pump and ran the wires through the key hole in the north door, they were then ready to pick up messages from any station that was broadcasting They got a few from Buffalo in the after noon but there wasn't much on till after six o'clock. I did the chores up fairly early, and Ina, who was here all day and stayed for the concert, and I sat through tea with the earphones on our heads, listening to music

weather reports and lectures from the U.S.A. Oliver's set is a small one, one tube, but he got messages from as far a way as Denver. There were just two pair of earphones so we took turns in listening and took them apart so that two could listen with one set by just using one ear. We clapped it on Harry B's ear once or twice and he seemed very much impressed. Charlie Shand came down for awhile and seemed to enjoy some candy that Marj. had made more than the radio which was not so new to him as it was to the rest of us, he having heard George Duncan's the other night. The music through it sounded very much like that of a phonograph to me and while the announcements were very distinct I couldn't understand any recitations I heard at all. I was glad to hear it for the novelty and marvel of it, for it truly is marvelous to have concrete proof that the voice of a man speaking a thousand miles away is carried here through the air and a simple little contrivance like this can pick it up. It makes a person realize that the laws of Nature are incomprehensible and unlimited and wonder what next the accumulating knowledge of man will reveal to his puny mind. The music seemed to get a little clearer as the evening went on and Oliver kept trying to get new stations, till I who had eaten too much candy was beginning to feel sick and Marj. and Ina were getting very tired. It was long after midnight when Oliver closed the thing up and disconected it and then I had to hook up and take Ina home. She was bound to walk but I wouldn't let her after keeping her here till that hour. We all drove to the Winding Hill and the boys walked on home from there. I got home and to bed somewhere about three o'clock feeling very sick and satisified to the satiation point with radio. Unlike Harvey Evans I don't feel that I would be any happier if I owned one I would much sooner save my money and buy a piano and give the kids music lessons, but I suppose they won't practice and will beg for a radio set.

Friday January 23rd

Last night was too much for me and I haven't done any thing all day but feel tough. I managed to get out this morning and feed the cows & horses and light the fire at the school house, but from then till noon I could

scarcely hold my head up I was so bilious. Marj. fed the chickens and got wood for the box stove and coal for the kitchen stove and by noon the nausea had left me so I went out and milked but I still felt very weak so I didn't do very much else and slept most of the after noon. Marj. made me some toast about five o'clock which was the first I had eaten all day and I felt a little better after that and did up the night chores. It has been a beautiful looking day but keen north wind

Saturday January 24th

This was the day when we were to have had presented to us the greatest and most talked of drama that can be normally produced on the celestial stage, - the total eclipse of the sun. The actors rehearsed their parts according to schedule, but alas, the producer, our old mother, drew a curtain on the first act and peevishly refused to raise it, until just as they made their farewell bow to the audience, so all we could do was imagine what was going on before our eyes but behind the scene. I don't now when I have been so disappointed as it has always been my desire to see a total eclipse and I have examined the patent medicine almanack when they first came for years to see if they promised one, until I had about come to the conclusion that one was never visible in this latitude, so that I was really about as excited when I read the announcement of this one as a kid is when he sees circus bills for his own town. The worst is, the astronomers tell us that the show won't be around here again for about 250 years and it seems very improbable that any of us will be here to see it then. There was a heavy bank of clouds across the eastern sky before daylight but they didn't reach to the horizon and I was in hopes that they would disperse as they sometimes do as the sun rose, but no such luck. The sun came up as bright and clear as it ever did but before I could detect a suspicion of a dint in its rim, it had slid behind the clouds and they were dense enough to completely hide it. Nothing happened till about nine o'clock when we could notice the darkness begin to grow denser. I got up to my picked observatory in the barn where there was a board off, thinking that there might be a slight exhibition of the terrifying and swift moving shadow, which I imagine would be like the childish nightmares I used to have of a

tiny thing like a grain of sand which would commence to grow with increasing speed unil it would engulf me and everything else, and I would wake up terrified. Another disappointing thing was the density of the darkness. I thought from what the papers said and from the stories I had heard of chickens going to roost that it became as dark as night and I thought when it was cloudy it would be pitch black, but it didn't get much darker if any than I have often seen it get in a summer thunder storm, and when it comes down to a show-down, for a magnificent & awe inspiring spectacle a real old-fashioned thunder-storm is pretty hard to beat. From my post in the barn I could see as far west as the old {Du Eau?} place which must me close to two miles away and I kept watching in that direction for the shadow bands Finally the western limit of my view grew dim and shortened and then the darkness settled on us in a jerky fashion, the pinky yellowish tinge which had been in the eastern sky ever since sunrise and which was not unnatural spread all around the horizon, but as I could see quite distinctly for at least a mile around me I kept expecting deeper shades to surround us until after the lapse of a few seconds I realized that it was getting lighter and that my last chance of seeing a total eclipse in this country was gone, so I got down disgustedly and went to the house for the milk pail, as I went past the chicken house I looked in and they were sitting around as they do any other day except a few that spend half their time on the roosts anyway. About ten o'clock I was plying the bucksaw on a stick of cord wood when out popped the sun bright as a dollar. I peered at it through the pin prick in my piece of card which I had prepared and could just see a tiny black arc in the gleaming circle which seemed to be laughing mockingly at my disgruntled looks and saying "Don't worry, you poor fish, it all happened, all right enough, but we weren't going to let a cheapskate like you see the show." I am anxious to see Monday's paper to see how Prof. Chant and his scientific associates down at "Long's Corner's" near Hamilton made out. They have been tramping around in the snow and half freezing to death in tents and shacks for a week or so preparing to take observations and photo-graphs of the thing so I hope they had better luck than we did or else had

an aeroplane handy, so that they could get above the clouds. Marj. hasn't felt very well to-day. I discovered that the chickens in both pens were eating eggs so this after noon we all drove down town and I got some oyster shell at Billy Langs. We drove around by the farm as Aunty told us that Dad. was quite sick with a cold. He was out but looked miserable. Brantford beat Dover here last night 7- 4. Milder

Sunday January 25th

We had a late breakfast and I spent most of the forenoon doing chores and helping Marj. This afternoon we all drove over to see Dad. for awhile, he feels pretty tough, we went on down town to post a letter and it was fairly late when we got home. Lovely day

Monday January 26th

It was raining first thing this morning amd had been thawing all night, the first thaw we have had since before Christmas, but it didn't last long. It began to snow before noon and has been snowing and getting colder all day. To-night the wind is from the north and it is very cold. I had to melt a hole in the mouth of the drain again this morning and I suppose it will freeze up again as the hole I melt is too small to stay open. I threw a wheel barrow load of manure on top of the hay that I covered over it the other day. This after noon I made a cut across my hay mow and pitched half of it over to get at more of my alfalfa for the cows. Mabel was in for a few minutes to-night. Marj. got very interested in a new word puzzle a series of which started in the Mail & Empire to-day.

Tuesday January 27th

Last night I am sure was the coldest night yet, the thermometer at the school house only went to zero when I put it outdoors this morning, but they told me down town that it was 10 below and didn't get up to zero all day. It was a bitter day as the wind was nor'east. I went over to the school house as early as I could see and put a fire on, and after doing what chores I had to I came in the house and put what quarter-round we had around the hose board in the kitchen, there wasnt enough of it to go all the way round. This after noon I had to go down to Billy Lang's for chop. It wasn't so bad going down but it was cold coming home. I took a

dozen eggs down and got 45 cts for them at Sam's. I also took a letter down to post to Davie and had to go to the train with it {some?} little girls piled in the cutter on their way home from school so I told them if they would hold Queen for me while I went to the train I would drive them home, and when I came to fill my contract I discovered they lived way over Brant Hill. Queen got cutting up on the way back and I had to hold her in tightly and my fingers nearly perised. I stopped in at the farm on my way down and found Dad. feeling a little better. Enah asked me to get some oatmeal so I stopped on my way home and she lent me a pair of knitted mitts which I put on under my leather ones and kept my hands quite comfortable. I called in at Aunty's and found Win with Lila. Aunty Alice was at Mrs. McLaughlin's playing bridge and Aunty was at an Auxillary meeting in the Sunday school. I suppose the enjoyment each of them was getting made up for discomforts but it must have been a bitterly cold walk over the hill and surley the old schoolroom would be as cold as a barn to-day. Lila has been having a temperature every day lately but she said it was too cold to-day to raise a fever although she could have enjoyed. The poor kid, she certainly puts on a brave face. Win. had a clipping from the Family Herald & Weekly Star which someone had sent to Huby with an advertisement under the "Unclaimed Moneys" section advising any male issue of Mary Dick wife of William Barrett of Ireland 1760 and of Hugh Massy Barrett who is believed to have lived in Montreal in 1846 to communicate with some party, I forget the name, in England. As there can be no doubt that the Hugh Massey Barrett is our great grand-father, he having lived in Sorel about that time, we are all quite excited about it and Huby and Dad. will have to write. I don't know who Mary Dick was and sincerely hope no male issue of hers is in existence but there was someone of that name connected with the family and Aunty says Fa. always thought that it was a lawyer of that name that cabbaged all the money of the family. If so, here's hoping he took good care of it. Marj. & I sat around and stoked the fires till midnight but we cant get the house really warm. Marj. set bread last night but it didnt rise an inch all day, she put it in the oven to-night but the oven was too cold to bake it as I put an overdose of salt it I am afraid it won't make very good eating.

Wednesday January 28th

Last night was the coldest yet some reports say it dropped to 14° below, and it has been cold all day although sunny The wind has been north east and east but to-night is swinging more to the south so I suppose will be warmer to-morrow. Marj. expected Ina to come to-day but she didn't show up. She was ready for her yesterday but wasn't surprised that she didn't come, but to-day was a {illegible} day except for the cold. I didn't do much all morning but chores but this after noon Marj. wanted some fresh air so we drove down town. The bread she made yesterday she decided wasn't fit to eat so we got a loaf down town and she set again to-night We left our {kids?} at the farm with Enah while we went down town. We called in at Aunty's for awhile and form {illegible}. She & Aunty Alice are quite confident that there will be something come of our fortune hopes. Aunty handed up a lot of papers and Aunty Alice drafted a couple of letters for Dad. & Huby to write giving a lot of information about the family and proof that they are the ones who are called for in the advertisement. Aunty Alice is going to help Quint write a letter to Archie Phipps asking him to make inquiries and give credentials for the family.

Thursday January 29th

We were late having breakfast to-day and I had to open the drain again so I didn't get much but chores done this fore noon.This afternoon I took my new hand saw and the old cross-cut over to Willie Shand's to have him sharpen them. Nobody was home over there so I left the saws and called in at Harvey's and told him I had left them. I then drove down to Wilbur's with the bull calf's registration certificate which came yesterday. Wilbur told me he would give me a load of straw if I would come and get it. On my way home I stopped in at {Trum's?} to settle up for the wheat I got from him but he wasn't home and the others didn't know how much it was. Ina was here to-day & Mabel came over after school to get a Sunday school paper and just as they were preparing to walk home Frank & Tim. came over to borrow Queen to haul ice to-morrow, so after partaking of cocoa & fresh currant bread they all drove off in the cutter. Frank says they heard from Dick to-day, who expects to be home for a few days before he leaves for Vancouver to take charge of the Foreign Exchange office there. That sounds like quite a raise. Marj. stuffed the old armchair full of hay this afternoon and recovered it. Much milder, wind stilll in the east, cloudy, snowing to-night.

Friday January 30th

Spent the fore-noon doing chores and got in a two or three day's supply of corn stalks. Marj. let Harry B out for awhile this morning just at recess so I took him over to where the boys & girls were sleigh riding down the little hill facing the school house. Stanton, Muriel and Clara and Helen Brown each gave him a ride down with them and he thought it was great sport although he wouldn't say a word over there. I went over to the farm this after noon to help them with the ice. Frank hauled five loads and was down after his sixth when I left and Alan Law brought a big load on his wide box that was half as big again as Frank's so that another half load to-morrow will finish. The ice is good but thin. What Frank hauled to-day was second cutting and he could put 19 cakes in the waggon box. I walked home about five, got a ride from the Winding Hill. Carl Lemmon picked me up at the gate going over and drove me right to Dad's corner. Much milder to-day but raw wind & blustery. Brantford beat Dover 10-3 the other night in Brantford so Dover is out of the running. Pickford is alone now as Bob left the other day and went to Detroit. Tupper has a new man.

Saturday January 31st

I did up all the chores this morning, Harry B came out and played for an hour or more with a gray squirrel skin that the cats had. I heard him laughing and chuckling to himself in the shed and I discovered he had this skin by the tail and was coaxing the kittens to grab at it and one of them was rolling on it which amused immensely. I was just getting ready to walk over home this after noon to get Queen & the cutter when the Lampkin's came in to invite us over there for dinner to-morrow. They were going to town but were pretty well loaded down so as our lane was badly drifted I walked down to the road where I got on Will {Name?} sleigh. He let me off at the Winding Hill as he was going after gravel and the Lampkin's picked me up on top of the hill. I rode with them to Dad's corner. It turned out a very rough after noon and the snow was drifting so badly in the cutter between Dad's & Pickford's that we couldn't see and there was a bad drift at the top of the hill and the road from there in was very heavy. I got Queen & drove on down town and took some cream & eggs to Aunty Alice and went on up town and got some meat. It seemed like a beautiful

day down town as it was quite mild & sunny & protected from the wind, but when I got out on the side road again it was a ripper, however I got home in good time and went over and swept out the school house before dark. Marj. made me have a bath to-night. Wind very strong but thawing to-night.

Sunday February 1st

We got things all done up this morning and drove over to the Lampkin's for dinner. As usual Mrs. Lampkin stuffed us with such rich food that we haven't felt the same since. I stalled on my piece of mince pie and didn't tackle a piece of her Christmas cake which looked to be the consistency of cheese, so of course was grieved but I told her I had been sick and didn't dare take chances. We sat around all the after noon talking about the neighbors. The activities of the kids fortunately side tracked Dave during the course of his usual discourse on his sojourn in Pilot Mound, "Manitoby" and he only got as far as the trip there & back, which is familiar enough now. Gay took two steps over there, Marj. says, I didn't see her. We got home about five o'clock and I did the chores before dark.

Monday February 2nd

I have fairly "waded through slaughter" to-day as I executed my 22 cockrels. I bled, stuck and picked 21 of them but the twenty second had his feet frozen and I thought he was sick so I just decapitated him and gave him to the cats. I am not as swift as some at the job as it kept me busy all day at least from about ten o'clock till six, and they are not all thoroughly picked yet as they nearly all have to be gone over for pin feathers. Marj. and I went over two or three to-night. Raw wind, cloudy

Tuesday February 3rd

I intended to pick at chickens all day to-day but didn't get many done. Ina was here washing and we had to open the drain again. This time after I got a hole poked through with the redhot iron I got some old pieces of pine root and built a fire over the mouth of the drain and that thawed it out pretty well. Marj. and Ina thought the house was on fire as the smoke drew all the way up through the drain and came up through the sink into the kitchen. The cellar was blue with smoke that proves that Rus Lampkins scheme for a trap doesn't work. I think the scheme is all right but he hasn't got bend enough in the

waste pipe. Fred Misener and Jim Birdsell were in for awhile to see about shovelling the snow on the road along by Fred's place and Lindsay's hill, so I told Jim to look after it and keep it open. It was nearly noon before I got at the chickens and I had to quit early this after noon to go over home and get my box to ship them in. I took one down to Aunty Alice as she had spoken for one. I found Frank down there trimming up the old horse chestnut tree which he & Dad. had felled this morning. I hate to see it go but it was getting to be too much shade for the garden and the roots were a nuisance. When I got home Marj. & Ina were having their tea so I had mine with them and then drove Ina home. I did the milking after I came home. Marj. and I picked chickens to-night till we were so tired we hated each other.

Wednesday February 4th

I got up at five this morning and went at the Chickens again and got them pretty well gone over before breakfast. Then we had to wash their feet and heads, weigh them and pack them. I was disappointed in the weights as there were only half a dozen went over five pounds. We packed them by themselves in a butterbox

and put twelve that weight between four & five pounds in the regular box. I am hoping to get 25 and 28 cts for them as that is the price quoted in the paper. They were all nice and plump but were too small. Aunty Alice invited us down there for dinner so we tried to get around early but it was twelve o'clock before we could get started. I couldn't take the chickens with us so after dinner I got some feed at Billy Langs and took it home and brought the chickens back. I was held up on the side road as Billy Watson & Sid McBride were hauling wood and both loads upset. The track is cutting away and is about two feet high. I helped Sid load up as much as he wanted to take. Billy had just got loaded up when I came along, so by the time I got back to town with the chickens it was too late for them to go out to-night. Aunty Alice seemed to be about all in to-day worried and tired out. Lila was very sick, she caught the grip in some way and of course it goes very hard with her. She has been in bed now for over a month and seems to be going downhill, so no wonder Aunty Alice is discouraged about her. It looks hard. Dick wrote Dad. that his his leaving for home right away and doesn't have to report in Vancouver till March 1st. Getting this year's holidays now. Very mild and a beautiful day.

Dover was greatly excited over the news in to-day's paper that the Union Bank in Hamilton where Ada Sovereign is teller was robbed and Ada with another clerk who were alone in the bank were ordered at the points of revolvers to lie on their faces and then were roughly put into the vault and locked in. They were not there long as the manager soon came back and released them. The robbers only got $8 00. The papers are full enough of such happenings but that is about the closest it has ever come to Dover. Another choice bit of news is the announcement of Zeitha Barwell's & Alan Tibbett's engagement ,with the promise of a swell June wedding with all the trimmings. The old "Maple Leaf will be full of stale news this week.

Thursday February 5th

We were late getting up this morning but as soon as I could get around to it I drove over home and we put the light rack on the sleighs and Frank and I took Joe & Queen over to Wilbur's to get the load of straw he offered me for nothing. We found Wilbur in the house playing solitaire, but he came out and we went over to Frank's where the big wheat stack is. We weren't long putting on a small load as we didn't want to take any chances of upsetting and we got home here with it about one o'clock. We had dinner and then pitched it off over the granary. We had to move some hay first. Marj. was baking to-day but about four when we were ready to go back she put her bread in the pans to rise, bundled the kids up and went with us. Over there we transferred to the cutter and got back home about six and found the bread in nice condition to bake. Dad. went down town to meet Dick to-day who arrived on the one o'clock car with a {grand club back?} which the bank staff presented him with on his departure. Very mild and cloudy.

Friday February 6th

As the very mild weather was still here to-day, Marj. decided that she must can her beef which has been hanging out on the porch and was well thawed by this morning. It is such a sickening sort of job that I cut it up for her this morning. She put it in the jars after dinner and boiled it for five hours, but when taking it out of the boiler to-night, she found that several of the jars leaked at the top which was so

discouraging for her that she went to bed. She was tired out any way. It looks to me as if the fat that is in the jars would hermetically seal them, so that I don't see why it should matter if a little {cordial?} got in at the top. She had 11 pints of it. This after noon I cleaned out the pullets pen and put some fresh straw in and I cleaned out the old hen's pen after tea. It is so beautifully moon light, that it is really the best time to do it as it doesn't disturb the hens. Now that I have such nice straw on hand I didn't want to lose any time cleaning them out as they needed it. Harry B. was out all the after noon helping me. Harry Blake was in this after noon and left our assessment at $1000. Beautiful day, sunny and very mild.

Saturday February 7th

This has been another beautiful day, so mild it was fairly warm. Trum. Walker came in this morning while I was sitting around after breakfast reading and we settled up for the wheat I got it came to $19.80 He let me have the first lot at $1.35 as that is what he got for what he sold at that time and the rest at $1.60. although it is now at $1.80 and going up and he is still holding his. I did up the chores this morning, got in a supply of corn stalks and cleaned all the old rotten mangels and pumpkins out of the cellar. As it was such a beautiful day, I thought I would go down this after noon and get my hair cut so we all went but didn't get started very early. Marj. & the children waited for me at Aunty's while I went up town. {Jnir?} Morris's shop was full of girls but Bob Loney's was not so bad so I got through by half past five, but it made us late getting home. Lila was being kept very quiet to-day so they had to keep the kids in the kitchen till Dick came home and wanted to have a bath and then he occupied the kitchen. He & Quint, Ada, Alan & Zeitha were going to a party at the Freeman's

Sunday February 8th

I have been lately getting up at five o'clock in order to see that the fire is all right and to get a chance to look at the paper and write this while the house is quiet and I can keep awake, a thing that seems impossible after tea. This morning I was tired and Marj. kindly shut off the alarm clock so that I stayed in bed till six when I had to get up and dress the Niblits. I

thought as it was Sunday and we had agreed to stay home I would do up the chores early and spend the rest of the day in peace. Marj. was very tired so she stayed in bed till about half past eight and we had a very late breakfast so decided not to eat again till late afternoon when we had a bang-up chicken dinner I went over to the school house to sweep as soon as I got the chores done and was delighted to find my new number of the International Book Review in the mailbox (we had evidently missed it yesterday) and had visions of a glorious read this after noon. The first thing necessary was to get the kids to sleep, with Gay this was soon accomplished by taking her out in the sleigh for a little while. I then took the Niblits out while I did up some outside work, and came in and rocked him for some time. He showed sign's of departing to the Land of Nod but although sleepy he wouldn't let himself go, so I had to give that up. About this time Gay woke up so she had to be brought in out of her sleigh. I put her in Harry B's bed to play but she roared till we put her on the floor where she still roared, so then we all three, she Harry B & I pushed a chair around the kitchen for awhile till she got tired of that. About this time I thought I had better help Marj. wash dishes, she had been washing at them off & on all morning but there was still about a two foot stack of dirty ones. This done Marj. tired herself out trying to rock Harry B to sleep and I held Gay on my lap to keep her quiet. Marj's efforts proved futile and Harry B. made an attempt to get into my lap which made Gay furious, and she kicked and screamed like a little savage. We then went into the nursery and I gave her a walking lesson by standing her against the door and trying to get her to walk to me. She can balance herself alone standing and she did take one or two steps but is a little afraid to trust herself yet. I then made an abortive attempt to sketch some of their positions but they wouldn't stay still long enough so about four I went out to do chores We had tea about five and I milked afterwards and Marj. got them to bed in fairly good time. I got one or two articles read in my new magazine after tea but not many as Marj. thought we had better go to bed early. It has been a beautiful sunny day although very wet underfoot. We had a real thunder storm this morning about six but it didn't last long. Quite warm to-day.

Monday February 9th

We had another thunder storm this morning and it has been raining a good part of the day but still very mild. It cleared off to-night but didn't freeze. I didn't do anything outside but chores but spent most of my time in the house painting some of the woodwork in the nursery that needed a second coat and I started to paint the woodwork in the dining room. I did the chores up early and to-night went down to accompany the band in serenading Jack Anderson. It was a beautiful night but the roads are bad. The snow is nearly all gone except in the track where it is deep and where the gravel is it is about bare. The water was beginning to come over the road in Dave's flats when I went down and seemed to be rising so I had apprehensions of having to swim home, however it had gone down again by that time. We had a great time down at Jack's. Mr. Bagley the Nestor of the band - made the presentation speech - as Ed. Steele placed before him a box that looked like a shoe box but had a label on it saying wedding cake. I didn't know what was coming as I hardly thought the boys would have chosen either footwear or eatables as a "token of their esteem" for Jack. but just as Mr. Bagley got out his jack-knife and cut the string, Bob. Smith apparently fearing that Bridgewater was going to get some credit which was due to himself, announced that Mr. Bagley had the wrong box. Jack & Mrs. Anderson were going to let him open it, but as he didn't I never found out what the box contained. Ed. Steele took it and made another search in the hall and brought forth a much larger box from which when after opening Mr. Bagley drew forth a little silver vessel with a wire netting top to it which was evidently meant for flowers. Mrs. Anderson exclaimed "How lovely, it will just match my candlesticks." Mr. Bagley rummaged some more amongst the tissue paper in the box and finaly produced a pair of candlesticks to match the other thing. Mrs. Anderson seemed very pleased and Jack made a thank-you speech and then passed around cigars and got out card tables. I don't know any more about playing cards than I do about playing golf, but as there were three of the boys wanting a game and needing a fourth I consented to take a hand at pedro if Mr. Bagley would coach me. He knows

how but it is against his principles (or else Essie won't let him) to play cards. However, it didn't seem to trouble his conscience any to play as long as I held the cards and threw them on the table, and finally I managed to get him to take them entirely and I left. We couldn't prevail on him though to partake of a little of the "Seagrams" coloured with sacramental wine which our hostess doled out to each of us, so Clare Deal and I drank his portion between us. We hadn't been playing long when there was a terriffic racket, guns & shouting with out and Jack's dog barking within. Jack went to the door and presently the kitchen was filled with about forty fishermen. They just stayed long enough to consume all the sandwichs that Jack had prepared for us. After I got tired of hearts & spades, I went out to see what was going on in the kitchen. I found Cecil (who has joined the band as a snare drummer) and Harry Moon replenishing the sandwich supply, Carl Coleman shaking hands with the dog's tail and George Hallam running around with a cup of hot water wanting to know where the cold water tap was, they were side by side but he had got the wrong one. Carl escorted me into the pantry where he assured me a "lady wanted to see me" and there I found the cause of all the merriment, the wine and whisky supply. As Carl introduced more of the boys to the "lady that wanted to see them", things became livelier and we certainly had a good time. No body got too hilarious Carl being the gayest of the bunch. He told me I could stay all night with him, if I couldn't get any farther and kept informing us of what a good-natured wife he had. We had refreshments and after playing a few more "noises" broke up the party some time after midnight. When I left, Hal. Steele and Carl were playing cornet & drum duets Hal. playing his favorite solos, My Task and My Rosary I don't know which one he was working at and I guess he didn't either. Mrs. Anderson was the only woman in the house, but she didn't seem to mind that. I went in to Aunty's to get my sweater and found Aunty Alice up. She was not going to bed on Lila's account. Poor Lila is very much worse. I got home with out any accidents and was rather surprised to find Marj. up. She had had a sleep and then spent the rest of the time sewing.

Tuesday February 10th

I spent most of my spare time to-day painting and got all the woodwork in the dining room

except the north door which was covered with moisture given one coat and also painted the panel of {paper?} in the nursery which had never been done. I went out to the gully for awhile and tried to roll some of my logs into the creek which was running full and I thought might float the logs down to the far end of the gully where they would be easily loaded. I couldn't do much at it alone so thought I would go over to-night when I took Ina home and get Frank to come out to-morrow and help me. However while I was out doing chores Ina walked home so I didn't bother hooking up as I was rather tired after last night's performance. Mild.

Wednesday February 11th

We had another thunder storm this morning early and heavy fusilade of hail with it. It has been cloudy and disagreeable all day with several showers and is colder to-night. I didn't do much inside or out except chores and write a letter to Miss Bain, as Marj. had a letter from Phyl. yesterday, describing Dorrie's thrilling adventure which Miss Bain told us in a card she had had but didnt tell us the nature of it. She was alone in the office sitting by the coal stove when she fainted, fell against the stove and didn't come too till she was very badly burned. Phyl said she was getting along nicely but would not be able to go back to the office for a couple of weeks yet. Phyl thinks her faint was due to hunger as she says she doesn't eat enough breakfast

Thursday February 12th

It has been a little colder to-day but brighter. I didn't do anything much but chores and put up the blinds in the nursery for Marj. The hens are beginning to do pretty well now. We got 19 eggs yesterday & 17 to-day.

Friday February 13th

Frank came over this morning just as we finished breakfast to get Queen to get a load of coal. I had intended going over to the farm to see about getting a load for ourselves so we both went back as soon as I could get ready. We went down before dinner and got Dad's load. He was down at Aunty's and he and I went down after the coal while Frank went up town to get some groceries and sell six dozen eggs for us. We were late having dinner as it was late when we

got back with our load. Frank and I went down this after noon to get my load, and as I wanted to get some feed at Billy Langs and as we were delayed a little by helping Marjorie Gamble at the coal office try to figure out a Cross-word puzzle, and Frank forgetting his coat and having to go back to the coal shed for it from Aunty's it was fairly late when we got home. We put on a few chunks of the old horse chestnut tree at Aunty's and I brought some of them over here. Down at Aunty's they are very tired and very troubled. Poor Lila is sinking rapidly. She was delirious last night. To-day she was resting comfortably and slept most of the time. Her temperature quickl fluctuates quickly & sharply rising to 102° and then dropping to below normal. Dr Cook says this is due to the disease attacking new spots. He says the tuberculosis is now all through her system. He asked Aunty Alice if they would like another doctor. She said she was satisfied with him but asked him if he would like another. He said "I think the poor child has suffered enough at the hands of doctors." It is true and we can't help thinking "If only she had never gone to that Hospital." It is hard not to think bitterly of an institution which professes to do so much for the relief of suffering humanity and support its plea for public support by giving free treatment to ailing paupers and all sorts of human scum and yet will take the finest type of girls like Lila in the best of health and with overwork and lack of proper food allow them to become the victims of a preventable disease then operate on them for an experiment and finally send them home to die. It's hard to believe but it's true. Quint has been in Vittoria for a few days this week as old Mr. Farrar is very sick, and Miss Farrar is up there Mrs. Dunkin came up from Toronto to see her father and while she was here Top. died. Dick has been close at home though so has been a great help to Aunty & Aunty Alice.

Saturday February 14th

This has been another beautiful day, bright & very mild I went over to Willie Shand's this morning and got my saws which he had doctored up for me. I tried the crosscut out on the way back on one of my pines. I got it notched and sawed pretty well through before dinner but it was leaning a little away from where I wanted to fall it so I left it till after dinner and then wedged it over with an old axe head. I then went over and swept the school house. Harry B. went with me and amused himself by eating paints or crayons.

Sunday February 15th