2 10 553 https://ruraldiaries.lib.uoguelph.ca/transcribe/files/original/226e3617cae87ed046f1946e83e4a549.pdf 4992667315a558d663bd98e91c72d661 PDF Text Text Irene Dixon Bamford parts of 1908, 1910, & 1919, Diary Transcription 5034_4-2-10 �Metadata FromThePage export of 5034_4-2-10 from Irene Dixon Bamford made on 2026-02-11 14:35:23 UTC. itemTitle: 1908 (a few entries from 1910 and May/June 1919) date: 1908-1919 Title: 5034_4-2-10 Description: Item is a diary. Created On: 2024-01-11 17:51:21 UTC In Scope: true Uploaded Filename: 5034_4-2-10 �1 IRENE DIXON BAMFORD DIARY 1908 + (a few entries from January 1910 and May/June 1919) 1908 - 1919 QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES LOCATOR 5034.4 BOX 2 FILE 10 �2 R. 1908 + (a few entries from January 1910 and May/June 1919) �3 Re-read ’76-’84 Interesting! [various addition scribblings in pencil Miss Madeline Bamford �4 Mrs Irene Bamford Mrs Irene Bamford W Island Mrs Irene Bamford Ontario St Laurence WI Ontario St Lawrence PO Mrs Irene Bamford Wolfe Island St Lawrence PO Ontario Canada Wolfe Miss Mrs Irene Bamford Wofe Island Irene Bamford Ontario Canada �5 Diary A New years gift from Voltie to his mother. 1908 Saturday 31st May 1919 A fine warm day. I don’t know what is being done this day, painting kitchen, skimming, Ells washing, dishes, turning eggs in incubator, standing around talking. Voltie and Bert went spearing fish last night. My got 3 ells letter. Isabel Rattray here all day yesterday. Edith went up for her. Bert & Maud came here Thursday 29 May 1919 walked over from dock. Roy & Willie went to corners in Jack Niles skiff. Edith went to stay with Maggie till Roy’s return, came home in the night sometime but wouldn’t get out of bed in the morning. �6 Leap year Wednesday 1 Jan 1908 A very pleasant day and the first of the year 1908. Wells has a lame back. I guess and done some grilling to day. Rachel came over to help me about quilting. Done some washing. Thursday 2nd January 1908 Wells goes to Kingston this morning. Voltie drives over to the dock with his father. Wells has a very lame back and is going for a plaster and other medicine. V draws manure. 5 Oclock pm. A phone from Rob’t saying Sr has got left in Town and will stay all night with them so we dont look for him home tonight. Maud washing all day. �7 2. Friday 3rd January 1908 Awoke this morning to find Sr gone from home for the first time since last June when he went to Watertown to visit Welly and was gone a whole week and when returned, found the hens had scratched his corn all up. Voltie drawing manure all day. Wells Sr rode down with the mail and seems much pleased to get home. He bought a clothes basket but could not bring it down with Woodman and left it at McClarens. Says he staid with Grace & Bob all night. A letter from Muriel. Sunday 1st June 1919 A beautiful day. We are alone all day till sunset. Of course Maud, Hubert are here. Then came Alden, Madaline, Eddie, & Ogle all adjourned to the parlor and then the noise began. They call it music and piano and mouth organ. They of voice stay �8 3. Saturday 4th January 1908 A storm of wind, snow, and rain from south. After breakfast before V had gone to the barn we received a message over the telephone that Grace is sick. Bob says the doctor has been there all night and asking if Maud can come up for a week or two. Voltie answers yes, I’ll bring her to day. Tis a bad day to drive from here to the villiage but Maude packs her valise and away they drive through the storm which is increasing every minute. Sr has a terrible lame back but the chores must be done and water must be got from the river some how. R & I watch him as he labors to the river and after a long time succeeds in getting two pails of water though the spray clashing high on shore. We can get no water to clean floors to day. Rachel fries cakes. No snow, no ice in the river. Well we waited up for Voltie till 11 pm. Any way I did, then went to bed. �9 4. Sunday 5 January 1908 A quiet day, no one here except ourselves. Voltie came home at 12.30 am. A quiet peaceful day. The most the family does is to eat and read. Rachel made pea soup for dinner which was delicious, so good that I had another bowl of soup for supper. Voltie bought a new book "Two years before the mast by Dana" also this diary and an account book for me and one for himself. He came over at 5 Oclock pm, ate supper at Mr James Davis; Walked the horses all the way home, the roads are mudy [sic]. I hear the clothes flapping on the line all night as the wind goes roaring among the clothes line. Towards noon V brought the cloths [sic] from the line some of them torn badly. The wind hushed for awhile �10 5. Monday January 6th 1908 A very chilly day wind South, river rough, cloudy and threatening storm. Sr got a lame back and dont like to stir around very much and has a very sore foot - a bunion. Rachel cleaned dining room, pantry & kitchen floors, worked the butter, made prints 5 oz to muck in each lb 21 oz. Scales out of balance. Voltie fixed scales all right now and butter to be made over again. Irene cooked meals, baked beans &c. A telephone from Bob that all is well and said Maud went to church last evening. A phone from Annie Woodman inviting Maud to a party at Horn’s but Maud is in Kingston, therefore cant attend the party. A phone from Belles family and Voltie told them over the wire about the new baby at Bobs which was something they had not heard about before. V shod C Woodmans horse 15 Oh i’m so sleepy. �11 6. Tuesday 7 Jan 1908 Rachel and I done the work all right. We were glad to see Beatrice dining in bringing her mother and Henry. I was so glad to see Belle. She going to stay till Sunday. Bee staid till towards night before she drove home again. Befor [sic] Bee went home Ray McIntyre came over, rowed across in skiff, went back and brought back Rachels corn potatoes and beans and stays over to help V chop wood over on the Daily place. V goes to the post office and brings the herald, a letter from Grace and 2 letters for Maud and an invitation to the masked ball at Depanville. We sit up till 11 pm visiting. R received a card, invitation to visit Alice Gloyd. Monday 2nd June 1919 another fine day; I’m watching out to see if any house cleaning or pantry done this day. V planting potatoes again this day. �12 7. Wednesday 8 January 1908 Awoke this morning to find the ground white with snow. After dinner Ray and Voltie went to Dailys woods, came home at dark, hungry tired and happy. Belle cleaned the pantry by putting newpapers [sic] on shelves and aranging [sic] every thing in order. Rachel baked pies (mince), fried cakes, made cookies, baked bread, baked apples, and beans, boiled pork. We sat up again till 10 pm. I write a letter to Lillian Quinn McDonald. Wells got a very lame back. It dont seem to get much better. V and R much pleased aobut something that occured over at Dailys. Thursday 9 January 1908. Arose at 6 am. V got the breakfast going. Rachel fried buckwheat cakes. Boys went over to the woods to chop wood carrying their dinner. �13 8. Friday 10th January 1908 A beautiful day rather cold. River lightly frozen over last night. Voltie and Ray went early to the woods after mailing 4 letters, 2 for Mrs Daily, and two for me: one of them I sent to Lillian Macdonald, and one to Grace. Rachel and Belle churned and made pea shop, baked sweet apples, and stewed snow apples whole. William G Woodman phoned wanting Wells Junor’s address and wants to buy beans of [sic] Voltie. I dont do much work these days, dont have to. Rachel and Belle does all the work. Quite a lot of mail, forgot what it was. 2 letters for Maud I know, a card from Nellie Brooks. Saturday 11 January 1908 A terrible storm from the North of rain and A beautiful day, warm very best day of all so far this months. A general day of baking and cleaning up. Ray & Voltie worked in woods all day and at evening V came for the team and drove back for a load of wood. Sr complains all day [margin] Will Dixon 49 years old 11 Jan 1908. �14 9. Sunday 12th January 1908 A terrible storm of rain and ice from the North. Trees dropping low under the weight of ice. Didn’t think Charley would come for Belle But he came through rain and ice driving in buggy, the top and sides sheathed in ice with icicles for ornament fringing the front of the top covering. Beatrice came with him enveloped in Vanhorns heavy fur coat, enroute for Art Vincents. They report telephone wires down and broken all along the roads, so there is no communication by telephone till the lines are raised. A short while after dinner Charley, Belle & Henry take their leave & depart for home. Belle wearing Vanhorn’s big fur coat. Well after they are gone dinner dishes washed and put away, we employ our time reading till tea time which Rachel and Beatrice puts on the table then after dishes again washed, read again till 1/2 past 10 pm when we all go to bed and sleep, the sleep of the good conscience. I lent Belle a book "The First Violin". The book Nellie Brooks sent me for Christmas. �15 10. Monday 13th January 1908 Cloudy all day. We dont hurt ourselves with work to day only knit, get the meals. The river like a mirror. V draws more straw to the barn. Ray helps him. Sr sits around the house most of the day and knows how much butter Beatrice eats on her potato. Towards night Beatrice and Ray go over the river, we watch them and the old black sail till they are across; lonesome now Belle and Beatrice are both gone. Maud in Kingston with Grace. We dont hear the cheerful ring of the telephone any more, wire lying on the ground coated thickly with ice. In the evening after tea & dishes washed we read as usual till 10 pm. I finish reading the minister wooing by Harriet Beatrice Stowe. Lent Ray a book "Coral island" by R.M. Balantyne �16 Tuesday 14th 1908. A beautiful day, though rather cold, ice melting on the house roof and running from the eves [sic]. Rachel set out all the pans and basins to catch the soft rain water, caught enough to fill the tank. The trees sparkle in the sunlight as if covered with millions of diamonds. We just get the meals and wash dishes. I finish the lace for wee Margarit’s pethcote [sic]. Wells mending old harness in kitchen. Rachel finished knitting Volties mittens. I sent Mauds letters by mail to her crowding them all 4 into one envelope and Voltie kindly took them to post. Will Michea came here for cow medicine. Rachel set up a mitten for me to knit. Voltie went for the mail - a letter from Jen, H paper "Human life" from Will, a Strawberry annual from R.M. Kellogg, 3 rivers, M and the willow clothes basket that Sr bought and left at McLarens. So we pass the evening reading as usual, a clear moonlight night retired at 10.30 pm. �17 12. Wednesday 15 Jan 1908 A cloudy dismal sort of a day. The said clothes basket must not be used to pick up chips in, carry fowls to market, nor used to pick up potatoes, nor carry corn nor any other truck. so the man says that bought it. Well as tis the first household article that he has bought and paid for in years, he feels very important and consequential over it, and therefore considers it the accomplishment of a great affair. Hopeful he will not buy any thing again. V working in shop. We did intend dressing fowl for market but heard that the passage from the villiage to the city is not good. The ferry Boat comes only part way from the city to Garden island. Kent drove in here to grind his axe - reported school commenced to day at afternoon. Henry Halliday and Geo W Woodman drove in here at twilight pm bringing a box of trinkets from Grandma Halliday for Marjorie and plunker brought a newspaper with the details of Capt H Borgarts demise and burial: 8 pm and Sr gone to be. Rachel & Voltie reading. Wind South and chilly. V made out his strawbery [sic] order. I made out the bulb order and wrote to Luplon for Nellie Brooks. �18 13. Thursday 16 Jan 1908 A cloudy morning and raining, wind South. J Kehoe drove in here to invite to Robert Horn’s reception. Maud yet in Kingston. River clear of ice on this shore and channel. I tried to cleans black molasses in order to make cookies, couldn’t do it nothing but froth and foam. Set the pail of skimmings on the bracket (stove). R accidentaly [sic] knocked it of over behind the stove and the whole contents went over, every thing; a basket of corn, pop corn, a bag of feathers, and other articles. V & R cleaning out the corner. Voltie ate lunch then took axe and went to daily’s woods to split wood: Says we burn to much wood. Rachels moping [sic] floors. 10 minutes to eleven am. Weather clearing up. Voltie selecting strawbery plants from R.M. Kellogg’s Annal [sic] catalog. I write to Geo Park. La Park Pa for bulbs 150 for $1,50 a great bargain in bulbs I think. Belle is sending with me �19 14. Friday 17 Decem Jan 1908 Wind South weather looks very threatening for a storm. Voltie selects more plants from the strawbery catalogue 9 varieties of plants & 900 plants and I make out my order for bulbs. I hope the season will be favorable for a garden next summer. Later we will send for vegetable seeds. We only do the house work after picking 20 fowl for market. Afternoon I write for the Family Herald & Weekly Star. Voltie sets down a list of things he wants to get; he is going to the city tomorrow, Evening mail, Herald and a letter from Grace Which I answer and put all the letters and corresponence on the table for Voltie in the morning. First a letter to L.M. Lupton for Nellie Brooks to have her paper Good Litterature changed from Milan to Spokane. An order for Park, a letter to Grace, Order for Herald and a memorandum of articles from Kingston. Rachel got a stiff neck which I doctor with horse linament. �20 15. Saturday 18 January 1908 Voltie set the alarm and it rang at 10 minutes to 4 a.m. V and get up, get breakfast and tie every chicken’s neck. So I send 20 fowl and 14 lbs butter to market. Rachel not very well got a stiff neck. I did not sleep much last night. Wind changed from North to South and blows. Sr has hard work to get water from the river. The wind increasing, 3 pm. Whew! how the wind blows from South and V in Kingston and also Maud. We are looking for both home to night, will they come? Rachel moped all the floors, stewed currants and made currant pies and baked bread. The river with white caps and dashing spray is a sight to behold. Bakes beans, bread, made pies. Rachel’s neck better. Sat up till 9.30 pm when V came alone still leaving Maud in Kingston. When he came in I ask, where is your companion? He answered "I left her at Glo Ranous’ and a little further explanation showed that he had brought the teacher for the lower school, Miss Humeford from Hamilton to teach the lower school, so drove past here, stopping at A Joslin’s no they wont board, leachery then drove to Will Gillespies. No they wont board Leacher �21 16. Then he drove back to Geo Ranous’ before the poor girl could find a place to rest the sole of her foot. Bob met him at the boat this am and bought 6 chickens. Sold the remaing 14 at the fish market for 10 per lb, sold the butter for 26 cts per lb. Went home with Bob to see the baby, had lunch there. Voltie subscribed for Herald. [margin] Forgot to say the Islander, had to break ice nearly all the way from K to Ferguson point. Sunday 19th Jan 1908 A clear sunbright day, wind North and cold, river open and sparkling in the sunlight. Didn’t get up very early this morning; had breakfast between 8 & 9 am. Forget to give V the order for express for Park. Ill send it tomorrow if V goes up. Made this a day of rest. Thought I would write to Muriel but kept on reading. We retired a little earlier than usual. Voltie going to Kingston again. He is going to carry up a barrel of Haas apples for Mrs Davis �22 17. Monday 20th Voltie and I arise early 4 am. he get his breakfast himself. Sr helped V load the apples, after V pushed the sleigh to the door. I send the order to Park for bulbs this time sure. A fine day only the wind is blowing hard from South and driving great fields of ice on shore all day. Dont know where the ice all comes from. Well we dont do much to day, only cook and eat, wash dishes etc. I bake beans, write a letter to Muriel, clean stove, fill lamp and polish lamp chimneys, scour all the "Knives, forks and spoons, scrub the stove. Rachel & her cat goes home, weather quite warm not freezing. I get supper and wash all the dishes & sat up till 11 O’clock pm for V & M but they didn’t come. The evening was beautifuly warm for Jan. The moon at full and shining brightly. I pass the whole evening reading "Two year Before The mast by R.M.D and wish I knew if it is true or not �23 18. Tuesday 21st Jan 1908 Voltie not home this morning. Rachel not here. Only Sr and I. The day proves to be fine and warm, set the north door and window open well [sic] I finish writing to Muriel and dad takes it to post. Uncle Sam told Sr that the boat didn’t cross to the city yesterday. Flynn’s told some of the Woodman family that the islander didn’t go to town yesterday on account of ice. So V staid somewhere. I work around, clear up the pantry, cook, sweep &c. Look at the old St Lawrence as it floats the great body of ice slowly floating along down with the currant [sic]. Sometimes it gets lodged between Canada and the United States but only for a short time, then slowly pushes its way down stream, miles upon miles of ice comes from above Carlton. Towards night it becomes cloudy and dark and begins to rain. Wells takes the lanter any [sic] goes across the field to the post office. The bright glimmer of the lantern relecting �24 19. the icy surface of the snow which looks strangely weird and fantastic and I see his old big boats go chumping along all the way across the field. Mail a postal from Nellie Brooks, a card from Grace, a card for Maude. C.W. said Voltie ought soon to be home for the boat came in while He was there for the mail. O yes forgot to say received another New Thought. Voltie comes at 9 p.m. brought kippered herring, a we washtub, a thermometer, a new tin, dipper &c but he didn’t bring Maude. Wells gone to bed. V & I sat a by the coal fire awhile & talked. Said the boat could get no farther than Garden island yesterday morning and there she stuck in the ice till 4 pm. then she returned to the villiage wharf and, after V had hitched up, he drove to C Halliday’s and staid all night, had his supper and breakfast then. He had bought his �25 20. at the boarding house, Garden Island. Tuesday. Wednesday 22 Jan 1908. Wind South shifting to Westward and blowing heavily, carrying the ice down stream by millions and the river rough and rolling. Sr says "This is what you may call a pretty windy day" "Yes Sir a windy day". "A pretty windy day". Sam Snub came to get some shop work done. Voltie working in shop all day. Sr looks after the fires - reading almanacks [sic] most of the time, feeds the pigs, 4 p.m. Ice all gone excep [sic] one long narrow streak which moves rapidly down the channel invisible at either extremity. Voltie helps get supper and wash dishes. I cleaned cupboard doors scrubed water bench, swept my bedroom, picked up all dirty clothes. [margin] Sunday 10 Jan 1909 A cloudy rainy nasty day. Rachel made pea soup for dinner. We arose late this morning, ate breakfast at 9 am. Samy Snub went home. V went down to Franks, V & M returned at 8.30 pm, cold hungry and somewhat devilish. Then V and Sam sat up till 1 am doctoring the bay horse, got gripes. Towards night R went home & Maud went with her then V went over there to get �R boiler. Maud came home first. I guess V went by way of F. W. �26 21. Thursday 23rd Jan 1908 A great change in the weather from yesterday, blowing great guns from the North. Tis nearly time to get dinner but we didn’t get out of bed till 7 pm. V helps get breakfast. V carries water to the horses and put a knob on the porch door, was going to wash but the day is so cold and stormy I will put clothes soak but no water to do it with. Cook, wash dishes, write letters, one to Grace, one to Gladys, write in diary. S. Snub came to get C Woodmans horse shod. Tis a blizzard of a day and cold. After supper and V & I wash dishes, sweep and snug up everything, brighten the coal fire, we are entitled to the evenings peacefulness and rest so we read till half past to [sic] then go to bed with the wind howling around the house from the North and bitter cold. [margin] Monday January 11th 1909 A cloudy day, ground bare no snow, river rolling free of ice. Voltie gone to Sullivans marsh to cut marsh hay to come strawberry vines. Wells gone over to paper R’s stable. Wind has changed to West. V had lunch before he went to the marsh. I got breakfast washed all the dishes & separator. V took all the pork from the barrel and made a new brine pickle of salt sugar & saltpetre. �27 22. Friday 24 January 1909 Clear bright day, cold. Thermometer at zero, river frozen over. V lights the kerosense stove to warm my bedroom. V & I get breakfast and after breakfast we prepare the mail, a letter for Grace, a letter for Gladys, a book for Nellie Brooks, a letter to Park for bulbs with post office order of $1,50. V goes to post office, came back and carries water to Rachel, finds her all right. Says she burnt up a weeks supply of coal yesterday to keep herself warm. V goes to post office, Herald, New Thought, a card from Helen B, a card from Jennie Dunlop and for Maud from Nellie O’Neal. �28 23. Saturday 25 January 1908 A sort of a half cloudy, half sunshiny day. V helps do the house work till 10 am then goes to Dailys to plaster up their holes in parlor and bedroom. I just do general house work, sweep, cook, wash dishes, make pie, cake, bread, bake apples, put 4 gallons of salt pickles to soak in the big dish pan. I thought I could mop floors, but didn’t get time. I never was more tired in all my life. I thought sometimes I’d fall down. V carried Rachel some milk, found her well and all right. Oh I was happy to see Voltie come home. He was tired only he wouldn’t say he was tired, he finished setting table, cut bread and poured tea, and helped wash dishes. Wells Sr done the chores and read "Two years before the mast" by R.M. Dana. After dishes washed and every thing snug for evening, V and sat up and read till 1 Oclock though I fall asleep every few minutes. Sr went to bed at 8 pm as he does every night. I slept and dreamed Wellie came and I was so glad to see him and then I awake and it was only a dream. �29 24. Sunday 26 January 1908 A long quiet Sabath day. No one here in all the day only Voltie and his father and I. I thought Rachel would come over. Dont understand how she can stay alone so much. A dark and cloudy am. It began to snow about 1 Oclock p.m. and I never saw the snow fall faster and heavier without much wind and wind there is, is from the N.E. Thermometer 16 deg above zero. We had bean soup for dinner currant pie, boiled potatoes, bread, butter, cookies &c. Not much of anything eaten but soup. Forgot to feed the dog his dinner. Sr reading "Two Years Before the Mast". V reading one of Blackmore’s yarns. I dont read much of anything only look through McLeans Magazine and wish I had some one to help me about the work. The river ice is covered deep with snow. How many, many winters I’ve seen the snow cover the river. Devolson brought in too new laid eggs today, which was about eight. �30 25. Monday 27 January 1908. I was the first one up and dressed this morning. Called Voltie to make a fire in kitchen stove. A soft morning, wind South and blowing some. After bringing potatoes, apples & eggs from cellar, V gets ready to go to Dailys to finish plastering. Sews a button on his coat first. While sewing on button, Tomy Dignum drove in here, looking for masquerade suit. Voltie is glad to get the oppertunity [sic] to ride in Tomy’s sleigh to Dailys 9 Oclock a.m. Wind changed to West and much colder. Thick frost on North window of kitchen, clears up, sun shining. Well I suppose I have go to get dinner. Sr pulled one of our calves out of water hole, says we have got to many calves. 4 is enough instead of 7. Voltie came home 6.30 Oclock p.m. he was on the ice helping to pull Dignums horses out the ice. They got the horses out, but one is dead. 7 men altogether and except Voltie not one had ever seen a horse in the river through the ice. I’m very tired again to night. 2 deg above zero. �31 26. Tuesday 28 January 1908 Wind South and blowing some. A heavy snow storm. Voltie has a cold and is sore & lame after pulling Dignums horses out of the ice hole. Kent drove in here to get Voltie to draw a load of wood from the villiage for the school house and see if he wanted go to Watertown with him when the crossing is safe. Geo Niles drove in here to borrow a saw. Said he has shipped Geo Snub to go on Bob Gaskins boat. Towards evening snowing and blowing. Voltie went through the storm, over to Rachels’ to carry her soda, milk &c found her all right, only she has burnt up all the coal she had at the house and is now going to the stable for coal. Voltie came back after going to the post office. A letter from Grace, an extra copy of the Herald, some business postals. I sent to post this morning a letter in answer to a card from Geo F. Breck, No 625 E tenth Avenue Tarentum Pa [margin] Grace wrote a beautiful letter about Bob, herself & Maud and the children. Said Bob had received his appointment as Capt of the steamer Pontiac at $1800 dollars per annum 3 eggs to day �32 27. Wednesday 29 Jan 1809 [sic] A very fine day. V had a mind to go to Kingston this morning for Maud but I persuaded him to wait till tomorrow. So after dressing 6 chickens and eating dinner and looking 40 times across the ice to see if he could make a discovery of some one coming across, he said he would go himself over the river and get Ray McIntyre to help him saw wood over on Dailys chopping. He started out with club in hand trying the ice every step, and I, with marine glass in hand watch him every step, till he is near the other shore, when I saw 2 men come out and met him, then V turned back and the other 2 men came over with him. They were Ray and Mr James Smith. Well they all got talking about strawbery culture and different varieties, cream separators, and they drank some cider or a lot of cider and their tongues wagged tremendous - all talking at once. I dont do all the work I intended to do today. I asked V aside what Smith came for. V said Smith had come visiting. He is an [margin] awful loud visitor, but a very good looking man. �33 28. Thursday 29 January 1908 A very cold morning but clear, thermometer registers 22 deg below zero. Voltie and I up at half past 4. V & I get breakfast and wait till day light for starting for Town. Cold increasing 24 below at sunrise. Wells Sr got a bad cough sent for cherry pectoral - little later 25 deg below zero. Got lots of work to do dont know as I can do it all. After dinner looking away across the river, saw a single rig coming on the ice; Ray went to meet them. When they came it was Bob Reid. Frank Woodman, Arthur Vincent, Beatrice & Kathleen. I gave them a lunch they had had no dinner. I was glad to see them. Kathleen is enroute for home. After a while Art and Bee walks back over the ice. Frank came over to exchange horses with Charley, for a horse trot at Depanville is coming off next week. Weather little more moderate but cold enough. Kathleen sleeps on the lounge [margin] by the warm coal fire Beatrice phoned to her mother found them all right. �34 29. Friday 31 Jan 1908 Thermometer at zero this morning. Well Voltie didn’t come home last night. I waited till 11 Oclock though I didn’t think he would come. At noon, thermometer at 14 deg above zero. Weather bright and warm for the last day of Jan. I work steady all day, on my feet from morning till night and so tired, couldn’t finish getting supper. Sr finished setting table. My feet swelled so by long standing and walking that they completely fill my loose shoes, till they crowd my left foot till is very painful. V and Maud come home at night about 7 Oclock cold and hungry. Tis a great relief to only look at them and know they are here, and as supper is ready we all sit down to a sociable pleasant meal. Kathleen rode home with the mail. Ray went to Woodmans with Kathleen & carried her valise and the little dear has gone home happy. [margin] Maud & I sit up and talk till 10 Oclock pm. �35 30. Saturday 1 February 1908 This is the last day of the week and the first of the month, and a perfect day of snow with no wind, snowing this morning when we arose and continually falling all day as fast as the clouds can sift it down. Two feet in depth or more at noon. Ray and Voltie hitched up and drove over to Rachels carrying her mop wringer and some flour, buttermilk, eggs, sweet milk. Then they played checkers till Maud and I put the dinner on the table and now they are gone to the shop to work. Sr sitting around the stove all day we baked bread. too stormy to mop floors. Evening we sit up and read till 10.30 pm. Wind commencing to blow which soon will heap the snow in huge drifts �36 31. Sunday 2nd February 1908 Awoke this morning to find the snow piled in great drifts every where; have to shovel roads to barn and river to feed and water cattle and horses. A world of snow and drifts. On North window by the coal stove, half covered by snow drift, a fine place to get snow to melt for washing and other purposes. We watch Voltie and Ray as they work their way to the river, and by wallowing, treading, and shoveling, for half and hour they manage to bring two pails of water. Excepting getting the meals, washing a few dishes, we pass the day reading. Tomato soup for dinner. A phone from Uncle Sam. W asking about the crossing for the "carrier" and his son are away over to Depanville to a horse trot. Dont think horses can trot much over this snow. And there is such a depth of snow on the St Lawrence. Dont think there will be any crossing in a long time. 2 deg above zero this morning. �37 32. Monday 3rd February1908. A fine day. Snow & deep, deep and drifted. but the sun is shining brightly. After dinner, Voltie and Ray brake and shoveled road from here to the main road and and drove down to their hay stack by Geo Niles and drew two loads of hay. It was surpirsing to see The Woodmans driving across from over the river trunching on the ice is both hard and dangerous at present. Charlie Dixon came with them & passed by with them to Uncle Samuel’s, ate dinner there. Then Charlie and noisy Frank came back down there for an hour or two till V and Ray return from drawing hay then after visits with them awhile, Frank goes home & Chas goes over to Rachels where he stays over night except he goes to a surprise party at Snubs. V and Ray and M are invited over the phone but they didn’t attend but play checkers. V & R till midnight till I was thoroughly disgusted. �38 33. Tuesday 4 February A clear cold morning 24 deg below zero. Voltie and Ray drawing straw from Geo Niles place. Charley came over from Aunt R’s; we cooked a very good dinner for him and kippered herring &c. He went back with Voltie and Ray down to Geo Niles, when after dinner they drove back again for straw, and shipped with Geo Niles to go on the Pontiac with Capt Gaskin. I dont think Charlie’s dad will not be willing for him to go. After ringing the phone several times for Frank to come and go home, get across the ice before dark. At last he comes and away they drive over the ice without any trouble, growing colder as it goes on towards night. Voltie and Ray play checkers again this eve till 10 pm. Didn’t go for the mail tis so cold and snow so deep. This is cold winter weather indeed. James OBrien here to request us to board the school teacher. We wont board her. Phoned to Barry’s they wont board her. Then drove to Niles to see if they will take her in to board. They wont board her, Then comes back and tries to persuade Voltie but no good. Then goes to Sniders but no board there, and I guess he will have to board her himself. �39 34. Wednesday 5 Feb 1908 The coldest morning yet, 28 deg below zero. After breakfast sent Ray for mail which didn’t amount to much. "American Woman" and an answer to the 25 cts I sent a week ago which proved to be a fake, whithout I should prove to be as dishonest as the advertiser. But, 25 cts is not much to throw away, and as tis about as I expected it would turn out to be, I am not disapointed [sic]. The day continues cold and dreary but we live through it all right. V filed Niles crosscut saw then after dinner, V & C Woodman strated to break a road up the shore on the ice that they might draw school wood from the villiage when the weather moderates, didn’t get any farther than Niles point on account of coldness. Ray went over to Rachels & carried potatoes, milk and apples and brought coal into the house for her. The roads are so bad the mail did not get down last night till 10 pm. Snowing hard again to night. V & Ray playing checkers this evening. [margin] I knit a mitten for Sr. Maud baked bread and reads the American Woman. �40 35. Thursday 6th February 1908 A change in weather, warmer 6 deg above freezing; arose at 7 am ate breakfast at 8 am. Snowing, blowing and drifting all night. We do about as we have a mind to these days. That is we dont do much of any thing except get the meals and wash dishes. Snowing and drifting all day. The drifts are in various fantastic shapes in hills, vales, curved and twisted, plain and undulating. The wind has swirled around the trees till each one stands in a cup of snow. I wrote for a subscription to the "American Woman" & "Good Stories" will send tomorrow by mail. I knit on second mitten but but dont finish it. Voltie working in shop and teaching Ray to make axe handles. He made two. Father dont do anything only milks two cows, feeds the pigs and sits by the fire all day! Evening time, V and Ray play checkers till bed time. �41 36. Friday 7 Feb 1908. The roads are so badly drifted there is no going for the mail to day which is a disapointment as the mail seldom or never fails to go and come but the phones are rining constantly or therebouts. I write to Sears & Roebuck for wallpaper catalog, and V writes to Babson Chicago for a phonograph. I finish one pair of mittens and set up another. Rachels cat came over here. Ray went over to see how she gets along. She said the cat had bitten her on the hand, and now she wants Ray to kill the cat. Ray told her he would kill the cat, she is afraid of blood poisoning. V & Ray working in shop. We lost a calf that had got in the water hole. Tho it lived three or four days, it died Evening. Voltie trying to teach Maud the science of checkers playing. She not a very apt pupil. �42 38. Saturday 8 February 1908 A clear cold morning. Thermometer registers 14 deg below zero. The mail leaves eary this morning. Voltie carries our letters to post office, stamps them, and sees them safely deposited in the mail bag. No roads broken out yet. The mail goes up on the ice. Voltie and Ray breaking roads to the river and over as far as Rachels. Cutter driving up and down the shore to day for the first time this winter but we dont see any driving across the river. C Woodman drives up the ice this morning with the mail. V and Ray draw out 7 loads of manure The mail comes early this morning p.m. V drives over for R and then goes for the mail. 2 Heralds, a post card for Maud, an Almanac, a letter from Grace. Baked beans, stewed currants for pie. V and Ray played checkers in the evening. Oh yes an invitation to the c m b a for Devolson. Heard of Mrs John Hamer’s death in Spokane. Sat up late, till 11 Oclock reading. Terrible tragedy the murdering of the King of Portugal and the Crown Prince recorded in Herald. �43 38. Sunday 9th February 1908. A bright morning but cold. Thermometer registers 15 deg below zero. Looking out window we see the Woodman’s with Len Patterson and wife driving down the ice in cutter enroute for W.H. Woodmans for a Sunday visit. Well after shaving and cleaning their clothes, Voltie and Ray walked across the river to Arthur Vincent carrying Kerosine can. They came back at sundown bringing the bulbs and letters from Marjorie and Beatrice leaving their oil can over there for Arthur to get filled tomorrow at the corners. Three square meals to day but I ate only two. Breakfasat and dinner. I cant understand how humanity can fork in so much and so many varieties of food, pork & beans, potatoes, catsup, bread & butter, cheese, bakes apples, cake and all the condiments, pepper, salt, pickles, tea, Milk &c. ’Tis no wonder their stomachs are all out of order. Sat up till 1/2 past 10 reading: boys tired after the long hard walk over the river and go to bed early. �44 39 Monday 10th February 1908 Somewhat cloudy when we first arise but soon clears away. Voltie and Ray with saw and axe go through the deep snow to Dailys woods to cut and saw wood. Examined the bulbs and found them badly and sadly frozen, dont think the hyacinths are good for any thing. I put 4 hyacinths in a glass dish of water. Rachel making rag rug. Woodmans telephone for cedar bushes to bush a road across river. Sr goes with them to get the cedar and they bush a road across the ice. Nothing much being done here to day, but a lot of nonsensical talk and foolish laughing which takes up most of the time except washing a few towels. The boys (V & Ray) come home at dark, tired and hungry, found the snow deep and tiresome to wallow through, had to rest an hour before beginning to saw down the big basswood which was tougher than cork to saw. Ray had a narrow escape from being killed when the tree fell. OBriens boys here in evening, Geo O’B wants a plug of chewing. V has none for him. Rachel and Maud plays checkers in dining room. [margin] Butcher been gone a week with Merrill Daily’s horse and Merrill wants the horse to use. Butcher went to Mells a week ago. �45 40. Tuesday 11 February 1908. A fine morning, much warmer; 20 deg above zero. V and Ray hitched up and drove to Daily’s chopping. Breakfast dishes washed and talking began and laughing too. Not much work done this day. Rachel finished her rag rug. Maud prepared the meals. I knit on mitten, crochet 5 scolops [sic] of new kind of lace while up up and down the river the rigs are going at full speed. Sr sits by the fire most of the time. He’s has got asthma or something - dont breathe freely. Maud set a dish of greese [sic] on stove which run over, burnt and smoked, affecting Wells throat, causing him to choke or cough. P.M. Arthur, Vincent and Bee came over. Be phoned to her mother telling her she is coming home tomorrow with her financee [sic] Frank S. They went home before dark. V and Ray came home at sundown tired and hungry. Toughest basswood tree that ever grew with a rotten centre. Mail good Litterature, a letter form Nellie Brooks, a letter from W.F. Watson, a card from F Gowen. Boys tired and went to bed early. Butcher brought Merills horse home. �46 41. Wednesday 12 February 1908 A beautiful day; trees and every thing covered wtih a dainty white frost which is beautiful. The boys again gone to Daily’s woods carrying their dinner, they steep tea on "Janes" stove. V carried Mrs "Jane" a pail full of sweet apples and a jug of vinegar. Maud is mopping floors floors. Rachel is making pies (apple). I write in this diary. Tom Chatterton called here on his way to set Vincents. Belle married 24 years ago this day which was another beautiful frost covered morning. Wells Sr says Ray is the biggest liar he ever saw. I am glad to say Sr appetite for eating is remarkably good tho he complains of being sick. We were expecting Bee and Schrum over to dinner but they didnot come. Belle telephoned to ask if they were come. Frank Woodman began moving back on the island to day brought over 3 loads. Merril & Jane have gone visiting to day across the river to John Carpenters. 22 deg above zero, cloudy and looks like a storm. Wind North this evening. V & Ray playing checkers. Rachel made fried cakes. [margin] Ed Bates phoned to V. Maud washed some clothes from Geo Gillespie wanting oak stick. �47 42. Thursday 13 February 1908 Rainy morning, snow settling snow on ice like slush and turning black. Frank will have a bad time to move. Grandad has at last turned against poor Ray, for he is not only a "liar" but he "washes himself in warm water" What next? When Ray first came he was a smart boy "and he leans on the stove too". 40 deg above zero. I finished a mitten, knit 2 points on crocket lace, began another mitten. C Woodman drove over and back with double. Phoned that he had brought Rays fur coat and suitcase over. Voltie and Ray sawing & chopping in Dailys woods. They went over with a team this morning and when they came home drew a cord of stove wood at same time. Rachel wants pea soup so Grandpa went to the grainery a brought half grain bag or a grain bag half full of peas. He not well pleased because she insists so strenuously in hurry pea soup. �48 43. Friday 14th February 1908 A cloudy rainy day not cold, not freezing thermometer registers 42 deg, snow disapearing [sic]. Put up the boy’s dinner while they hitch up. They are going to break road across Woodmans field to Dailys woods. Rachel picks up, packs up, cat and all, and climbs aboard the sleigh, and goes home. I send a letter to F.M. Lupton. Maud sends 3 letters. Rinah, Ethel & Gowan. The boys home to dinner this day. As we were sitting down to dinner, Edy Bates came in and had dinner with us, and talked! Well of any one ever was gifted with gab Edy Bates is, Voltie invited him down cellar to cider. After dinner, V and Ray went over to Dailys for a new log. Edy staid and visited till 3,30 p.m. when he phoned to Dora telling her he is going across the river and is not coming back to day; and not to worry. We watch him till he reaches the other shore. Evening V and Ray play checkers awhile and then V goes for the for the [sic] mail. Herald, a letter from Grace, a letter from Mauds Bean, W.S. A Valentine from Chicago, a card from Rinah James. We sit up awhile and read till 10 pm & retire. [margin] Sent a letter to Nellie and a note to Marjorie by Edy �49 44. Saturday 15 February 1908 Rained all night and raining hard this morning, the river covered with water. Flat covered with water, ground getting bare. I helped get breakfast & washed all the breakfast dishes. Maud making bread and washing. A bad time for drying clothes. V shoeing his own horses. I dont think Edy can come home to day. Maude cleaned all the floors, dining room, pantry, kitchen, cooked dried corn for dinner. V and Ray for noon pastime played checkers. V winning the games I think by the haw hawing. Why does humanity laugh? No other created animal ever laughs except but men, women & children laugh from the good broad happy haw haw haw to childish giggles and girls te he he. Snow falling thick and fast. Evening, talking, reading and a game or two of checkers as usual. V pointing out and explaining the situation of the different countrys on the Atlas to Ray, retire at 11 pm �50 45. Sunday 16 February 1908 A cloudy morning. Thermometer 14 deg below freezing. After breakfast V reading "The Escapade". Ray looking over the atlas. Sr smoking in by the kitchen stove. Maud out-door examining the clothes on the line, to see if they were dry. The cat eating from a dish on the floor and old Prince impatiently watching the cat to see if anything will be left for him. The monatony [sic] of winter in the country leaves but little to record in a a [sic] diary but we have health and quiet peacefulness, plenty of unread books, papers and Magazines, warm fires and enough for the table. Clears up, sun shines out bright and warm. No one here, we are alone all day reading and studying atlas. Uncles Sams folks have a hired woman. �51 46. Monday 17th February 1908 Awoke this morning to find snow falling. V and Ray cleaning seed oats, going to butcher a pig this pm. Maud is washing breakfast dishes and I make out a memorandum of articles for tomorrow from Kingston. Ed Bates just phoned from Geo Gillespies saying that he came back from over the ice Saturday night and it snowed so hard he couldn’t see the [sic] our house when he drove past. It clears away, sun shining clear. Edy here fixing his old cutter. Grandpa reports a new calf at the barn. The boys skinned the calf. Edy ate dinner and supper with us and in the evening played checkers with Voltie. Ray sewing button on his coat. Sr smoking his pipe in kitchen. Tis colder, freezing tonight. Well Edy has gone home at last. I dont think those Bates boys are turning out very well as men. Ed thinks to much of our cider barrel. I’m looking on to see how this [margin] Bates and cider business works along together. �52 47. Tuesday 18 February 1908 A fine clear moonlight morning at 4 am. Voltie rises by the alarm at 4 am., starts getting breakfast by putting the potatoes to boil, filling tea kettle, freshening pork &c. Maud came down stairs this morning before I came from my room. After breakfast Voltie & Ray load the grist for provender in the sleigh, drive to the door for the pork which altogether fills the sleighbox and with letters and grocers memerandum [sic] mount the load of boys and drive away up the ice, not forgetting to water the horses at the the [sic] river as they drive on the ice. After breakfast and dishes washed, Maud reads "Without a Home". I think she had better adjourn the reading till evening for there is always lots of work to be done. 11 am Arthur and Beatrice walked over on ice and back. She came over to phone to her sister Irene about waist making - going to visit her intended ma in law she went back satisfied. Merril and Jane drove back home to day, they stayed at ant V’s last night. We were surprised and pleased to see Will driving in here. Tom Chatterton was with him. Tom went up with the mail and is going to the C m b ball to night. [margin] I’ll not record all that transpired before bed time, though I’d like to. Any way it was Flanagans night off till 1/2 past 3 am. in the kitchen. When V & Ray & Will had the kitchen to themselves with a dancing and singing concert. Rachel too was here. �53 48. Wednesday Woke up this morning to find the snow falling thick and furious and also found Tom Chatterton here, just arrived from the ball and who is going home with Will having hired to Will for 2 months to help Will move. Before and after breakfast they visited the cider barrel frequently. Tom hitched up Wills horse and drove home with her, came back and Will and Tom drive away across the river to Depanville. Voltie and Ray drive away up the ice looking for a lost robe that they had lost by our own water hole and drove away to the villiage looking for it. Frank W phoned that he had found it by the water hole, and Ray came home at 4. When V went to Woodman for his Robe found F had gone to foot with it. We didn’t get our mail till this morning when Tom brought it. Mail new thought letter for Maude from S, alot of advertisement from phonogrpah company. V phoned to William Gillespie about the steam launch he is building or going to build. I heard to night that Belle Sandy McDonald dead �54 49. Thursday Snowed a little this morning but sun shining clear at 10 am, a fine winter day. V filled the blank and selected a list of records and sent to the phonograph company and has now gone to Kingston with a load of saw logs to be sawed into lumber for his boat. Maud put oil cloth covers on the pantry shelves and held a conversation with Irene over the telephone Irene said her mother was warming her feet and reading the last "New Thought" which makes me think I’ll just take a peep into mine. After dinner, Ray McIntyre goes across to St. Vincents. Maud think it would be a good oppertunity [sic] to go in company with Ray over to see Marjorie and Beatrice and away they go. Beatrice not at home, coming back they were past on road by Fossetts and Mongomery driving very comfortably and leisurely but they did not speak nor ask Maud to ride home with them. Maud said she was not tired and so finished the supper. Voltie came home in time to eat his supper with us. He bought a stereoscope, a new book called Bueull by Mrs Evans. I dont like her stories. V brought a load of school wood from the villiage and a half doz lace trimed [sic] hankerchiefs for Ethel [margin] After supper and dishes washed we look at the stereoscope pictures (a few of them) and go to bed. �55 50. Friday 21st Feruary The clock stoped [sic] consequently we didn’t arise till till [sic] quite light, 1/2 past 6, wind blowing from South, cloudy and storm threatening. V intended going to Kingston again this morning with saw log, but goes to the shcool house with the load of wood. It has stormed all day not very cold, 28 deg above zero. V didn’t draw the wood to the school house after all but instead drew two loads of hay from R’s place. Then after dinner Maude & Votlie taged [sic] out, and went to the dance to Depanville. Forgot to say he went back and brought R over to stay till they return from Depanville. He phoned to Will Gillespie for his cutter tongue. Will brought it up as far as R’s where he found V and Ray loading hay. Well they are going now. I watched them drive them away across the river, speeding away contented and happy though I’m lonesome when they are gone [margin] I forgot to say Ed Bates came after Voltie went away, didn’t stay, didn’t even come in when he found V had gone, he said he came up to have a game of checkers but he was thinking of a cider all the same. It snowed and drifted nearly all day though not cold. �56 57. Saturday 22nd February 1908. A beautiful day, warm where the sun shines directly. I cant say I’m very happy to day but the day passes away some how, and V and M don’t. I scarcely expected them as tomorrow is Sunday they have staid to make a visit; perhaps they have gone to Johny’s; hope they have not much house work done to day, only getting meals & washing dishes. Sr mending old harness in Kitchen. Ray sits by the coal stove all day (or nearly all day). Rachel knitting a rag rug. Ray very impatient for their return going several times to the window to look across the river. I said Ray they will not come to day, he said they would come about 5 p.m. but I was quite sure they would not return to day as they seldom go across the river to visit any one. Our hens dont lay any eggs just now, hope they will break loose pretty soon. I’m saving cream from our one cow now to make butter. Jack Niles called for his cross cut saw that Voltie had set and filed. �57 52. Sunday 23rd February Another Sunday has come around, cloudy looks very much like another storm. Ray has dressed himself very nicely and gone over the river to Arthur’s and from there is going to see his mother and little brothers who live at the Cape. We saw a cutter coming across & thought it might be Van and Lib, it proved to be Beatrice & Scrahm enroute for Belles. Beatrice called here a few minutes. Scrahm didnt get out the buggy cutter. Van and Lib drove in after them. Ed Bates came, Arthur drove over for Rachel to stay with Marjorie while Beatrice goes home to stay till Tueasday [sic]. Rachel went home for her clothes. Art drove over with her, she brought over a cake for our dinner & said I must be sure and pay it for she surely must have the cake again. She will get it. Van & Lib went home early at 5 pm. We didnt expect V [margin] and Maud but they came about 7 pm. M had staid at Wills while V went to Watertown & Wellies. Ray came just after Lib and Van went home. Ed Bates looks miserable and poor. Lib brought me a pickle dish. When Ray came he brought the books from Lupton �58 53. Monday 24th February 1908. A very good day nothing extra fine. Church service this am. Voltie & Ray drew one load of hay, cleaned up gust, put up 4 barrels of apples. Van came over for Lib’s glasses I was surpirsed but glad. I didn’t know I had her glasses, thought something was wrong with my eyes; couldn’t see clearly, thought I was losing my eyesight by looking at the stereoscopic views. James OBrien drove in here for ice saw. Ought to have sent/written a letter to Grace but dont do much of any thing, only cook and wash dishes. �59 54. Tuesday 25 February 1908 A windy half sunshiny day. Wind blowing from Southward. Voltie gone to Kingston with saw log. Sr gone to Clayton for - I dont know, perhaps to deposit his money in bank. Maud phoned to Irene to learn when Beatrice and Schram are coming down. Maud cleans floors, puts oiled cloth on shelves. I make pea soup for Voltie that he may have soup for his supper when he returns from town. Irene phoned that Beatrice has left home enroute for this house so we hustle around to make preparation for company. Wells Sr drove in- came home. Bee and Schram drove in at same time. Wells brought tobaco, syrup, and a pair of pants. He gave me a tobaco chest for a letter box. Beatrice & I had tea with us before they went. Grandpa done the entertaining at table by declaring that Mrs Daily shouldn’t sleeping his bed if she came visiting. Of course the young folks didnt want to laugh but had to in spite of themselves. Poor Bee [margin] couldnt keep from being convulsed with smothered laughter. I was angry. Voltie came about 8 pm bringing a load of boat lumber hungry and glad to eat the soup. �60 55. Wednesday 26 Feb 1908 A cloudy morning, gently raining. V & Ray going to Dailys Woods to split wood, dont start very soon. It began to rain steadily and plentifuly and they didn’t go but worked in shop all day. Sr fixing suspenders. I set log cabin quilt together. Maud working on rug, and sweeping, getting meals, helping wash dishes &c. C Woodman phoned to Voltie about drawing the school wood from the villiage. Allison wants the remainder taken away from his wood yard. Evening V & Ray play a wee game of checkers. They dont appear to have such an intense interest in the game as formerly. Before night the rain turned to snow. Rather difficult to keep the cats out the house. I cant say I’m very fond of cats, they are around the floor mewing even after they have had saucers full of bread and milk and the old dog is fat and lazy and hes around in midle [sic] of the floor most of the time. Our hens broke loose again, got one egg. �61 56. Thursday 27 February 1908 Somewhat cloudy light flakes of snow falling, very still, no rain. The boys - V & Ray go to Daily’s woods to split wood. Maud put up their dinner in the big basket. They also carried our tea pot but they will steep the tea in the woods for since the catastrophy at Marjy’s, Ray wont eat their lunch in the house nor steep the tea in their stove. Well tis 11 am and Maud is doctoring her toe corns and I will begin to look after the dinner. Edy phoned to inquire for V, and says he is coming up this evening. Maud worked on rug. I pieced 4 cabin blocks. Boys came when supper was ready said Mrs Daily is sick. Dont have any doctor. Merrit says if he employed a Dr it would cost $50.00 and then, if she died, it would cost him $50.00 for funeral expenses which would make a round hundred and he might as well save $50.00. Said he has been sick many times and never yet had a doctor in all his life. Kent came to see about drawing the school wood from the villiage and wants [margin] Voltie to go to Watertown with him as he never was in Watertown but V cant leave work to go to Watertown again. Ed Bates did not come up this evening. Boys split and put up 4 cords of wood to day �62 57. Friday 28 Feb. 1908 A fine clear cold day, Wind West. V and Ray took their dinner basket and gone to Dailys woods. Piece one block and cut a lot of strips for log cabin. Grandad choring around and reading all day. Frank has got every thing moved except 5 calves. He is going over to the McCombs settlement to play for dance at Miron Lingenfeldters. Will Dixon is going to help him. Nothing particular occured to day. Maud made two pies (apple) and a cake, baked bread, and beans. Another egg. Boys came home early - about 5 pm, we had supper nearly ready. They report Mrs Daily better. They sort and clean every apple that were in the barrels in kitchen, put them back again and head the barrels, 4 of them in all. After making out the memorandum for groceries, I write a letter to Grace. V and R retire earlier than usual, tired and have to rise early. V phoned to Frank. W to borrow his big sleigh to carry his apples to market. Frank said yes certainly. Maud phoned to Mrs Pimyer and Irene [margin] Evening mail; a letter from Bobson saying he has shipped the Phonograph, a card from Grace, and the Herald, also a letter from some woman purposing to cure me of some female complaint which I have not got. I burn the papers all, just sickening such things �63 58. Leap year Saturday 29 Feb 1908 A beautiful morning. V after going to Franks for sleigh, loaded the apples and drives away. Before he went he brought the churn down stairs. It dry and leaks like a seive. Maud hustled around helped wash dishes, cleaned floors, then went across with Ray to Margys to spend the day carrying her a book and a few apples. After dinner dishes washed churning done, churn washed, Our first churning is about 3 lbs or more. V brought the churn down stairs this morning. Seeded a pound of raisons for fruit cake. I have not seen any one to day, no traveling on land or ice and such a beautiful day. Prince and the cats sunning themselves on the verandah. The last day of Frebruary is the most beautiful day of all the winter. V came about 8 pm bringing groceries galor but left his sugar in Kingston - 100 lbs. Ray & Maude came just before sundown in time for Maud to set the supper table. We pass a chatty merry evening till nearly 12 pm. �64 59. Sunday 1st March 1908. A still, quiet day. No one came. The family pass the time reading. I read a book. Lib sent me a book called "Under the Shadow of The Black Pine". A story of ye olden times of the settlement of the Puritans on the shore of Massachusetts Bay, a severity of their religious code & creed which amounted to tyrany. They carried their religious fanatascism [sic] to a terrible extreme. Maud gets the dinner and after dishes washed takes a nap of forty winks on the lounge while I get the supper and then I arouse Maud to set the table. V reads most all day. Ray studying geography. Sr reading all day in the kitchen. Along about 4 pm becomes cloudy and snow beginning to fall. �65 60. Monday 2nd March 1908. A very bad day for weather; raining and blowing & freezing. After breakfast I wash dishes, take care of the milk, Maud makes beds, sweeps and tidies up everything. V and Ray cleans up seed oats. Grandpa milks, feed pigs, then sits by the kitchen stove and reads. I piece a couple block for quilt work and laze around; experiment on a new kind of cake. Dont suppose it will be good for any thing. Maud trying to ring up central but a failure. Guess something is wrong with the copper line. �66 61 Tuesday 3rd March 1908 20 above zero this morning. V going to villiage with two teams. R is going draw school wood. Ray drives one and V the other. V is going across to the city to pay his buggy note, had to search for his mittens; at last found them on the shelf behind the kitchen stove. Went out turned the horses loose to water; the horses taking advantage of their freedom ran away down the road, while V was chasing his team down the road, Ray hitched up and drove up the ice, but Voltie at last got under way. No central again to day so far. Frank Woodman getting up a dance. I, like Mrs Soloman Smith, am looking on to watch the result the ending up of said party. If they have a dance at Woodmans without whiskey, it will be a remarkable affair. Sun shining out clear, nothing remarkable being done. F.W. phoned to borrow a butcher knife but failed to come fore [sic] it. Maude experimenting in the cake business jumble making very good. My cake experiment not so successful. German cake yeast to old. V and Ray came about 1/2 past 7 p.m. driving around by school house where they unloaded the wood [margin] V brought a new record for the Phonograph, 2 lamp chimneys, two lantern globes, etc. �67 60 Ash Wednesday 4th March 1908 A fine day, not cold. Voltie gone to the Cape for his Phonograph; drove in cutter, Ray went too across to Arthur’s to get Art’s rig, from there he goes to corners and drives back to the Cape, taking his aunt Alice with him, who is living at James Gloyds. Maude making doughnuts & lemon pie. Sr reading Novelettes in Kitchen. I washed aprons underwaist & washed all breakfast dishes. Mooney up the island trying to straighten Telephone wires. Maude not only makes doughnuts but cream cake & lemon pies. Voltie came at 2 O’clock bringing the phonograph. He set it up and then set it singing till Maud set the table for him. Then after his dinner played the phonograph once the telephone wires for Irene Halliday. In evening played over the telephone for Frank Woodman and Will Gillespie. After supper and playing the records again he dressed and went to Frank Woodmans party and staid till one Oclock am. came home at 4 am. Ray came later and went to the party later & �68 61. Thursday 5th March 1908 A beautiful day, 2 deg below freezing. Voltie hitched up and drove to Clayton driving down the ice to Will Gillespies. Will will show him the way down by Grindstone island to Clayton. He said he would be back in time to draw a load of hay from Rachels for the stock but tis 20 minutes of 5 Oclock pm and he is not here yet. Sylvia Woodman & Samy, Cassie, Clifford and Ethel Woodman here to hear the phonograph also Arthur and Beatrice drove over & B phoned to her mother. Maude washed the lines full. 5 Oclock pm. V has this minute came back from Clayton. He bought two new records. Looking this way and the banjo Sunflower dance. Played by request for the Woodmans. Uncle Sam’s family and George Snub. V saw Delavan in Clayton �69 62 Friday 6th March 1909 A snowy day but not cold. V and Ray drew two loads of hay from R’s and after dinner go to Merritts Daily woods to chop and split. Sr in Kitchen reading nearly all the time, Noveletts. Maude finished washing and hung the clothes on the line. The boys after dinner went to the woods for a load of wood. Storm increasing wind and rain. Clothes snapping in the wind. I churned, washed breakfast & dinner dishes. Maude phoned to Mrs Dignum and Laura. Mrs Daily no better; so Mrs Dignum says over the phone. V and Ray didn’t go to the woods after all tis such a storm, so I think the clothes will have to be brought in. 5 pm storm yet growing worse, increasing to a high old gale. Grandpa and Voltie gathered in the clothes. We have our evening meal earlier than usual. V & Ray working in shop all evening. V began building the launch. I made 7 butter prints for market. Didn’t go for mail this eve on account of wind. Maud played phonograph over the telephone for Laura & Harold Dignum. �70 63 Saturday 7th March 1908. A cloudy morning. Wind blowing strong from the South. Snow settling, can see some bare ground. V didn’t go to Kingston to day for wind blows so. V and Ray have gone to Dailys, clears up beautifully at 11 a.m. Maud straightens things up and cleans all the floors before dinner. I wash breakfast & dinner dishes. About 3 pm Arthur and Beatrice comes bringing Rachel with them bag & baggage. �71 64 Sunday 8th March 1908 Two degrees below freezing; cloudy, no wind. After breakfast, Voltie went over to R’s with sleigh and rick with R and her traps and cat. Grandad hitched up and drove over to Winmills. Bill and Mary are sick. He met Van, Lib, Ben Percy, and Della Lee coming here, enroute for Rachels. Ben phoned to C Woodmans, saying he has got 4 gal of cider inside of him now. Van came from R’s and went to Sam’s, came back again and ate dinner, drank quarts of cider. Talked catholism and religion, drank more cider, face awful red & looks foolish. Then hitched up and drove over to Rachels for Lib and Della found that Lib had walked from R’s to her uncle Sams, so had only Della to bring. Then he drove to Sams for Lib, found her not ready to come, so drove here with Della. Put his horses in stable again, drank more cider, talked more catholicism and then Edy Bates came. Poor Ed looks poor and miserable. After while Lib and Ben walked down from [margin] Sam’s. Last thing Van done before leaving for home was to drink a dipper of cider while the others were waiting out on the sleigh for him. Well at last they are all gone and I consider the peaceful, quiet enjoyment of the Sabath [sic] for me is gone which I regret. �72 65 Monday 9th March 1908 Voltie and his father gone to Kingston. V drove double, carrying a barrel of Tallman sweets to Mrs Hegan at the villiage to exchange for a barrel of salt and a gallon of molasses. Wells Sr drove up in his cutter carrying the clock to be cleaned. I sent 7 lbs new butter. Ray went over and plastered Rachels chimney. A fine day Maude sweeps chamber, etc., mops chamber floor. Ray cleans ice house. Wells Sr came early brings the butter basket, three records and some things for himself. While setting table for supper Irene phones that Voltie is there & going to stay all night and return to the city in morning for his lumber, sugar and other groceries; he couldn’t get the lumber to day for not sawed. A telephone from Harold Dignum saying The doctor attended Mrs Daily to day and thinks they have called him to late. Tis pneumonia. Ecepting Harold the Dignums are all with Mrs Daily. Excepting Harold. �73 66 Tuesday 10th, 1908 March A fine, clear, cold day 4 deg below zero. Ray going over to Dailys to chop wood, fires in both stoves very low. Maude phoned to Mrs Dignum asking how is Mrs Daily. She is no better, they think she cant live, and Mrs Dignum is at home long enough to telephone to Mrs Dailys children to come. Beatrice and Arthur’s cousin drove here and after putting his horse in stable (though they drive to R’s for canned fruit) stayed to dinner. Maude foolish enough to go over to Marjories with them; going to skate back. Lonesome when Maud is gone. I wash the dinner dishes, sponge bread, wash and cook currants for pies etc. After Ray came from splitting wood, Grandpa hitched up and drove for Maud , met her and Arts coming across. Sr took Maud in cutter and brought her home and Long Shanks turned back. He is a good fellow enough though I guess if he is tall. �74 67 Wednesday 11th March 1908 Somewhat cloudy and windy this morning. Maud and I work and hustle around all the morning. Charley came about 11 am bringing Belle and Henry. After dinner Charley drove home. Voltie and Ray splitting wood in Daily’s Woods. Mrs Daily no better. Voltie carried her some honey, but she cant eat it. Mrs Dignum and her family are coming to night. Mrs Creamer is taking care of Mrs Daily. Evening - Mrs Dignum, Tom, Harold, Laura and our teacher Miss Taggart come and went home at midnight. V plays the phonograph for them and we enjoy a very sociable evening. �75 67. Thursday 12 March 1908 A fine day. Maud makes cakes and Belle made currant pies. Voltie, Ray & Harold Dignum Drive to Clayton on the ice and come back by the road. Arthur and Beatrice drive over a little while they stay. Mrs Dailys son and daughter come to day but she is no better. The Doctor came to see her. The boys didn’t come till dark. Then Harold went to Flynns to see the teacher instead of going home. Laura phoned for him here, to come home and didn’t seem well pleased to find him gone to Flynns for his father and Tom are gone to Howe island and my one to do the chores. V stoped at Crouses and Crouse gave him some Photos of his son 4 of them. Belle and I divide the bulbs find the hyacinths all frozen. �76 68. Friday 13 March 1908 A sort of a miserable windy cloudy day. Voltie intended drawing hay to day but Merritt Daily Drove in here to get V to go to Kingston with him. He went and Belle and Henry went with him home. Oh I’m lonesome without Belle and she went so unexpectedly. We churn. I piece a few blocks for a quilt. A new calf at the barn which makes two this spring. Tom Chatterton walked across from Arthur Vincents found lots of slush, ground getting bare. Raining hard at 4pm. Irene phoned that Voltie and Bob Gaskin are sleeping at their house to night. So Voltie has got along so far on his way home with his load of coal for Rachel. Not much mail to night only three old business cards for Voltie. No Herald. We have not received good literature for nearly two months. Played phonograph for Laura Dignum and Mrs Prinner. Heard by way of Tom Chattterton that Wills family are all well, and have moved, and are milking 16 cows. They going to milk thirty five the coming summer. Chas Woodman gone back to the villiage to a show this evening. Tom went with him. �77 69 Saturday 14th March 1908 Snow rapidly disapearing [sic], cloudy looks like rain. Voltie works in shop all day, began raining towards night. Maude cleaned floors, baked bread, cookies, Telephoned, Phonographed. Robert and Voltie came about 11 a.m. V drove immediately to R’s with her load of coal. Cant tell much what transpired the remainder of the day only cook, eat, visit, attend to the Telephone, Play the phonograph for the neighbors over the wires. Robert says we give free concerts and Wells Sr says we need a Parrot to complete the chain of business. Evening Bob and Voltie play checkers. Maud sleeps on the lounge with all her clothes on to her shoes. If she is so foolish why I dont care but she ought to know better. Rachel told V to drive over for her to come and stay all night but I have no place for her to sleep. �78 70 Sunday 15 March A cloudy dismal morning. After breakfast V drives over for R, she comes over bringing a bag of buckwheat flour to exchange for wheat flour, she stays till nearly dark. The rain pouring down in torrents, slacks up and V drives over with R. Sends R back with team and V stays to put the bricks in front of her stove. �79 71 Monday 16 March 1897 1908 Cloudy and snows all fore noon. V goes to Morgans for ice saw. Then he and Ray saw ice to fill our ice house which they sawed enough to fill it and drew 29 blocks and put in ice house. After dinner Robert walked down on the ice to Geo Niles and stayed to tea. Merritt’s Dailys soninlaw [sic] and his wife are gone home this morning, discouraged about Mrs Daily; he dont think she can ever recover on account of mismanagement by old Meritt. He says old Merritt is an old fool. Dora Bates phoned to inquire for Jen Dixon’s address and also says Edy is sick in bed and is so weak he can scarcely walk across the floor. Clears up this pm and sun shines out clearly. V and Robt playing checkers this evening. I ought to write to Wellies family. Wills family and Grace, also Johns family. �80 72 Tuesday 17 March A frozen morning. 10 deg above zero. A clear bright morning, after breakfast Robert walks over to Sams to make him a call. Sam asks him if he has not got the big head because he is in command of one of those large iron steamers, came back and walked across to Marjories, ate dinner there, found them flourishing, came back early before sun set. V and Ray finished filling ice house, skined [sic] a calf, put up two barrels of apples for market, and worked around bringing water, chores &c. Evening Robert and V play checkers, get considerably excited over it and make a lot of noise but all in pleasantry and good nature. Ray walked across the river to Marjories, came back about 9 Oclock p.m. Wells Sr attends to the coal store and reads novels. Snowing hard all day, our beautiful morning sunlight went out. I write a long letter to Will in the evening. I wrote one to Grace. �81 73 Wednesday 18 March 1908 A cloudy dismal morning but it neither rains nor snows. After breakfast V phones to Hiram to learn which road he traveled yesterday in going to Kingston, could get no answer from Hiram. Isabelle said H is at the barn choring. Any way Ray and V loads the apples on sleigh and after leaving taking with Robert. V and Robert drive away up the ice - enroute for the city. I make pea soup; Maud cooks beans, Ray shovels saw dust on the ice in ice house. We learn that the sick rested better last night. Voltie came early bringing the clock which had been carried up to be cleaned. Sold the apples for three dollars, bought paint and crocus’s, flour for R, there was two barrels of apples, he sold them to a jew. �82 74 Thursday 19 March 1908 The most dreary dismal day I ever saw; dark, cloudy, raining, snowing and freezing all things covered with ice like a sheet of iron, trees, fences, house, telephone wires. Maud ransacking among the old books and literature up stairs and brought down one of my old scrap books, an old diary, a cyclopedia [sic] and several other books and papers which I have been wanting for a long itme. V and Ray drawing wood from Dailys woods. Mrs Daily no better. Voltie went this Evening to see Edy, found him unconcious, does not know any one not even Dorch, carried R’s flour to her, her cat came over here day before yesterday and she wont go home. �83 75 Friday 20 March 1908 One beautiful day at last. Maud washing and I doing house work getting meals and washing dishes. Dr Spankie gone down the island probably to see Edy Bates. �84 76 Saturday 21 March 1908 Driving on ice still continues good. Voltie drove to the villiage, met Frank Woodman going to Kingston. Voltie drove up for, and brought home his new seed drill; ate dinner with Geo Rattray. Came early at three O’clock p.m. F said Robert was looking for V. Maud brought in the clothes, made ginger cake, molasses cookies, doughnuts. I cooked, washed dishes, V brought Kerosine oil for Rachel and groceries. H bought and brought for this family a beef shank for soup. �85 77 Sunday 22 March 1908 South Wind, breezy, chilly, sun shining. A mimicry of certain individual walkers by Bamford & McIntyre. Edy Bates died this morning 9 Oclock. Voltie and Ray walked across the ice to Arthur Vincents, came back at 5 p.m. acompanied by Arthur Terrel who stayed about an hour and they went back home again across the ice. The crossing is poor, water and slush. The boys have wet feet. I sorry for Terrel for his walk both ways with wet feet, he had much better staid home. Grows cloudy and looks like rain. Evening V & Ray walk over to Rachels carrying her Kerosine and groceries, cat and a small pail of milk. We go bed at 9.30 p.m. �86 78 Monday 23rd March 1908 Maud done a big washing and hung them all on the lines. Rachel came over this p.m. to stay till after the funeral. Dont like to see the procession pass her house. Tuesday 24 March 1908 A beautiful day sun shining brightly, warm and clear. I wish I couldnt write Edy Bates laid in the vault to day that dear good boy gone from earth forever, sad sad. Rev Mr Lancaster officiated. Service held at the House of Geo Gillespie where Edy died. We saw a man walking across this way which we were so happy and joyous to know was Wellie, our dear Wells Junior. Oh we are so glad to see him, but he has come not only to see us but go to Edy’s funeral. Wellie stays all night with us and in evening goes with Voltie when he goes for the mail to see his old neighbour Uncle Sam Woodman. Reserved New Thought for March. �87 79 Wednesday 25 March 1908 Wellie went home to day, walked across the ice. Voltie going over with him to see him safely over taking a hand sled with him to bring across some oak lunber toward building his boat. V ate dinner at Arthur and came home at 2 pm. Rachel went home this afternoon. Thursday 26 March 1908 Maud ironed all the colored clothes, 2 more new milkers at the barn which means butter for market and now we will soon be milking five. �88 80 Friday 27th March A cloudy, mudy [sic] rain threatening day. No crossing St Lawrence now by footman nor boatman nor any other way except by ballon [sic] or flying machine. V dispatched a a letter to Babson Co (Phonograph Co) Chicago. I sent letters one to Muriel, one to "New Thought" and cooked, washed dishes while Maud ironed the clothes. V after going to post office, worked on his boat. I pieced on quilt. Maud took up carpet in V’s bed room and hung it on the line. Sr out looking for his drawers whitch [sic] must have blown away for he cant find them. A new pair and lost since last Dec. V & Ray in Evening played checkers after a new arrangement illustrated in the "Herald". It was eleven Oclock before I went to bed. Evening mail Herald & Daily Whigs from Grace with the illustrated photo of late Capt John Gaskin together with a sketch of his life death and funeral, a post card for Maud, 2 letters for Rachel �89 81 Saturday 28 March 1908 Thunder and lightning at 1 O’clock am. The lightning so vivid and brilliant it awoke me from a sound sleep. Another thunder shower this morning. The ice on the river looks spoted [sic], streaky, shaky and dark. Maud cleaning and straighting up every thing polishing stoves. V drove R’s cow over to her place. Ray managed to get the calf along too. V over there painting his buggy box that he took there a week ago in order to keep it in an unused room free from dust while painting it. Sr reading British Whigs that Grace sent me last night sitting by the kitchen fire reading and smoking his pipe of briar wood. V and M cleared the dining room from chairs, table sewing machine and flower stand. Then Ray with brush and paint pot in hand painted the dining room floor. Voltie brought in boards to walk on foolish thing but I managed to get there. We ate super in the little sitting room. I go to bed at 11 pm. �90 82 Sunday 29th March 1908 A cloudy day not cold. No work, no visitors, some reading, some sleeping, vegetable soup for dinner & some telephoning over the lines to Laura Dignum and Irene Halliday and playing the phonograph and so the day passes, ground bare, snow is no more. No opening in the river, still continues ice locked - go to bed at 10 p.m. Monday 30th March 1908 8 O’clock am, dishes and separator washed. Maud preparing to wash clothes. Ray painting dining room second time. V working on the launch in shop. A clear bright day, 8 deg below freezing. Coal stove rather low and outside door wide open that Ray may see clearly to paint the floor. Crows flying around and I am going to write to Grace. Ray scrubing and scouring pantry preparitory [sic] to painting. V working on the launch all a.m. I get dinner but cant set table for I cant walk the plank. Ray painted pantry �91 83 Tuesday 31st March 1908 Cloudy all day looks like rain. V working in shop on the boat. Ray drawing out fertilizer 10 loads this am. Sent Sr to post office with letters one for Grace, one for Watson and for Helen Watson! I churned. Maud made strawbery short cake for dinner which was good. Maud cooked beans made two kinds of cake, and ginger cookies, baked apples, stewed apple sauce, cleaned potatoes, washed the churn, sweeping, cleaned stores and had tooth ache all day. Went to bed at 10 pm. [margin] from Gertie an advertisement for Magazines and D Pierce memorandum book evening mail. Good Stores, a postal. Wednesday 1st April 1908 A bleak dreary first of April. Mass and confession at James O’Briens. Frank Wooman [sic] came to get a horse shod & ate dinner with us. Ray drew fertilizer and painted pantry celing second time. Bob phoned to Voltie on a little matter of business. Said the family are fine, happy and well. Maud held �92 84 A long animated conversation over the lines with Mr Prinyer. Maud cleared and cleaned the wee sitting room preparitory for painting. I cooked and washed dishes all day and finished piecing the log cabin quilt 80 blocks. V working in shop on boat, after shoeing Franks horse. V performed a surgical opperaiton [sic] on my left foot and now I can wear a shoe. I think I done pretty well. I broke two lamp chimneys. Maud and sat up reading till 11 pm. V worked in the shop awhile in the evening, played a game of checkers in kitchen and then went to bed. Forgot to say V phoned to Bob Horn to borrow his pug stove for some kind of shop use. Then drove down for it. Maud got tooth ache. by request V gave Tom Dignum a free concert over the wires. Thursday 2nd April 1908 A windy chilly cloudy day. Strong wind from S.W. blowing half gale since midnight. River open. Ice floating with tossing white caps. V working in shop on boat, Ray painting small sitting room, Sr patching old harness in Kitchen. Maud read story in good stories. Well pretty near time to get dinner. �93 85 Wind blows so hard it drove the ice in tremendous force against the boat house breaking it in splinters. Never a loss without a small gain for now we have plenty of kindling wood for a while. Mrs Daily no better. Voltie and Ray working in shop. Friday 3rd April 1908 Maud cleaned all the pantry shelves. I washed dishes nearly all day except getting meals. Ray painted the second time the sitting room floor, and doors, and window frames, base boards &c - poor dear. Maud got tooth ache yet. Voltie works on boat nearly all day. River free of ice from shore to shore freezing every night. Sat up reading till late. Saturday 4th April 1908 A cold raw day, quite breezy. Wind North, two sick yearlings at the barn still continue to arrange furniture and clean things. Maud got tooth ache. V & R drawing hay from Rachels place. I made pumkin [sic] pies. Maud mops kitchen floor, sat up late reading. �94 86 Sunday morning 5 April 1908 Found two dead yearlings this morning, both bulls, dont know what ailed them. Another new bull calf at the barn this morning which means another new milker. A chilly morning, dear Maud got tooth ache pretty bad. After supper and dishes washed I selct a book for evening reading "Byrons poems" 1st volume and read till eleven pm., his poetry can never harm me. Tom Dignum here in evening: V played phonograph for Tomy and treated him to apples. Lent the lantern to Tom and he went home in the rain at 1/2 past 9 pm. Monday 6th April 1908 Arose at 5 am. Mauds tooth better. V and Ray shingling Rachels house. A very fine spring day. V and Ray ate dinner at Rachels. We didnt wash but churned. Tuesday 7th April 1908 Voltie went to Geo Niles bee putting an old house roof on Geo new bar. Ray didnt go to the bee. A letter and some Daily Whigs from Grace. Maud cleaned all the floors. �95 87 and made things shine. I knit on rag rug. In the evening Anna Hazel Wooman [sic] came and visited till 1/2 past 10 pm and went home by moonlight. A very bright fine warm day but begins to look hazy toward sunset. Wednesday 8th 1908 A very stormy day, wind, rain and some snow; freezing as it falls, every thing enveloped in a thick sheet of ice, telephone wires broken so no more communication between Maud and Mrs Prinyer, but for all the storm, we have visitors from the villiage to dinner, Malcom McDonel and Will Ranons. Voltie working on his boat when he can. Thursday 9 April 1908 No visitors to day. V worked on boat all day. The trees glittering and sparkling with millions of points. �96 88 of diamonds, emeralds, rubies, amethyst, the most beautiful loveliest sight I ever saw but poor dear Maud got the tooth ache. We read till late. I write to Grace. Friday 10 April 1908 A very fine morning freezing last night. Maud done big washing. Ray moved the clothes line. Maud hang the long lines full of clothes. Inez came down for a visit but went home to get her fathers supper, begins to rain before she gets home. A letter from Grace, Floral magazine, Good Litterature, a letter from Babson phonograph Co & Herald. Sat up late reading but I get drowsy while reading Byron. Saturday 11 April 1908 An awful day for wind and squaly [sic] weather. Ray, Voltie and Sr had a time or two to keep the boat house from being wrecked and washed away by waves roll in and dash high on shore. Hard work to get water to cook potatos, all dirt, grit and sand have to wait for it �97 89 to settle. Maud made cookies and cakes. V worked on boat all p.m. Sat up late reading. Sunday 12 April 1908 Bright clear and cold, froze last night. The telephone men repairing the wires all day and the neighbors are beginning to gossip. A long lazy day getting meals, washing dishes & separator and reading. Maud goes over to Rachels all pm. comes home at 7 pm Monday 13th April 1908 A medium sort of a day, breezy, sun clear. Our men folks moved and braced the boat house. Then after dinner Ray drew the dirt from the new cellar way on stone boat. Irene, Maud & centre talking over the wire. I forget what V done. Sr read newspaper. I sewed buttons on V’s pants and washed V’s sweater, knit on rug and read Byron. V and Ray play checkers till they both were sick of it and then went to bed. �98 90 Tuesday 14th April 1908 A fine day, quiet, no wind, river scaled over with ice. Voltie this morning rowed over the river through the new ice going to Wills to get Holstien [sic] calves. I took the oppertunity [sic] to write to Marjorie and send her a can of strawberries. I printed 29 butter prints. The Islander wanderer just gone up, wind rising. I dont think V can come home to day. Ray diging [sic] cellar all day stopping long enough to go to Sam’s for a wheelbarrow which is very much dilapidated. Grandad Sr put a new bottom in it. This is a pen to throw in the fire; and where can I get another one better? I’ll look for one. This is better though not the very best, had a telephone message from Geo Rattray to say "tell V that he and another man are coming down to set up the new seed drill". Told him V not at home. Towards evening wind rises. V dont come home tonight but Geo R and another man come after dark. Geo goes to Niles with his team where he stays all night. The man stays here. Ray and M go to Rachels to carry her scales. �99 91 Wednesday 15 April 1908 Arose at almost 4 O’clock so the drill man the drill [sic] man can catch the 9 O’clock boat at the ferry. Geo came down from Niles both here to breakfast. V wind bound over the river, wind blowing half a gale. The man and Geo went away at 9 am. V phones from Roy Dodges that Marjorie has another little son (Ross) a ten pounder this time, the hand of providence sent V over and none to soon, poor dear. Marjorie had suffered long enough when Doctor Buchanan came; he said another 12 hours and it would have been to late. This was Tuesday when he came the first time and to day Arthur Terril went for him and the baby was born & V went for his Aunt Lib Bamford too and he paid for Art’s message to his mother, and for telephoning to Belle, both which cost 65 cts. "All is well that ends well" Shakespeare. V went over to R’s and brought home his new double buggy which is a beauty with paint and varnish. �100 92 Thursday 16 April 1908 Arose early this morning. Voltie drives over to our dock with Maud, 33 lbs butter & 10 doz eggs, came back in time for breakfast. After breakfast and chores done V and Ray went over to Rachels and made a days work of ditching till time to drive over to the boat for Maud and Rachel for she went too. Of course V and Ray came home to dinner. The boat came early and this is her first trip to our landing this spring. Maud sold the eggs for 16 per doz, butter for 24 cts per lb. She brought most of the money home - stood on the market so long went to Grace’s a little while, couldn’t get her teeth attended to till three Oclock & at that hour the boat left for home and of course Maud had to come too and now she has tooth ache worse than ever. I made pea soup for dinner and save some for Maud. Wal N came down home on the boat. He been sick in hospital Hotel Dieu for 6 weeks with pneumonia. No wall paper but some sugar, ginger, starch &c and $8,47 for butter and eggs. [margin] Aunt R bought a new washing machine & wringer. A cold day after the wind storm of yesterday. Wind North. �101 93 Good Friday 17 April 1908 Rather chilly, froze again last night. Maud sick abed with tooth ache nearly all day. I didn’t call her this morning but kept her in bed, poor Maudie. I made a mistake, it was this am that V and Ray ditched over on R’s place & yesterday V set shoes on horses and Ray dug in cellar and wheeled the dirt out in wheelbarrow. V sent $6,50 to Babson phone Co. I sent Willie & Lena Dixon, each, an Easter card. Voltie went for mail. Received Herald, card from Kellog, Letter and post card from Gladys card from Lottie. Notice from Review of Reviews. Maud received card from Lottie. Voltie & Ray went over river after dark, carried over two calves and brought two holsteins [margin] V found Arthurs family doing very well, got a hired girl, Susie Brewee at $3,50 per week. Raising babies is expensive. �102 94 Saturday 18 April 1908 A cloudy morning sprinkling rain. V gone to the villiage and city. V told me that Ray had broke a bridle and whip this morning very carelessly. Maud appears to be better. She is washing the separator. 9 am. Mauds toothache worse than ever just tearing and raging. Poor Maud is crying. I send Grandpa to Rachels for hops &c which he brought together with the news that Rachel has fell down again and bruised her knee and arm so she can scarcely crawl around. When Wells returned he thought he had some pain relief up stairs in his room and went and brought it down which proved a relief indeed at it is the first remedy that has helped Maud. Ray cultivating potato ground. V returned at 7 pm. We didn’t mop the floor this day. Sat up late reading. Easter Sunday 19 April 1908 A very fine day. I cook 2 doz eggs for breakfast. I ate two after breakfast. V & Ray go over to St Vincents. North Wind blowing some. I sent Sr over to see him. R gets along, she came home with him lame & all [margin] bruised up. She stayed to dinner and chore time the boys came at three pm., report Marjorie and the baby doing well. �103 95 Monday 20 April 1908 A nasty day, cold, windy, sqully [sic] snowing hard and furiously. We churned, cleaned all the painted floors, made vegetable soup for dinner. Hand made cookies (molasses). Voltie planted potatoes in the house in a box behind the kitchen stove. V & Ray grubbed and old pine root out of the old strawberry bed and snagged out an old dead apple tree and drew them both to the wood pile. Sr boring post holes. Ray plowing up the orchard for strawberry plants. Voltie says he has got to buy hay to carry the cattle and horses through on. But Where! Ray & Voltie wheeled more dirt from the new cellar, 20 loads. V went to bed a little earlier than usual. Tuesday April 21st 1908 Froze so hard last night cant plow this morning. Sort of a half cloudy, half sunlit day. A bee over at the steam boat landing repairing the dock. Voltie has gone there but is coming home to dinner. Ray in granery [sic] cleaning seed oats. Maud going �104 96 iron and starch and iron. A raw backwood spring so far; feed for cattle and horses very scarce every where. Voltie and Ray goes over to John McDonel for hay had to buy a tun [sic] or more. Drew it home in the rain. V has hurt his back pitching hay. A postal from John & Flora, letter from Grace. Wednesday 22nd April 1908 A very pleasant day. We churned & made 14 prints. Keep one at home. Voltie’s back a little better this morning, he massaged it with linament and applied hops, salt & vinegar. Voltie sent Ray over to Arthurs for strawberry plants for Art said he would go to Cape for them yesterday when he goes for his plank. When Ray returned without the plants for Art hath not gone to the Cape at all. [margin] We set the incubator 22nd April Thursdy 23rd April 1908 Ray drove to the dock with Maud this �105 97 morning. I send Grace a little note. Rachel came over and staid till near chore time and carried home two quarts of water. Sent for a plaster for Voltie’s back. Voltie works in the field but his back is very lame. V drives to the dock for Maud and her groceries. Wallace Niles came down for a little visit, poor dear Wallace looks thin and white. Maud came home bringing wall paper and the picture called the tug of war which I sent to have framed. Evening and after work is done, Voltie, Ray and Maud go in skiff over the river to A Vincents and return at 1/2 past 11 pm. I set the lamp in the window for them for the night is dark and still, no moon, no stars, no wind, only dark and cloudy. They brough see dwheat from Tom Dodges - they brought the baby calendar and Womans companion. [margin] Maude bought two new records. �106 98 Friday 24th April 1908 A fine warm day. Working in field. V sowing wheat. Ray cultivating. Sr fixing Sam W’s old harness so that we can use it. V borrowed it so he can use two teams in the field. Set going to Cape today for strawberry plants. Maud phoned to Belle, all well, told her Marjorie is well and the babies and every one. Well the new seed potatoes came to day. Received the flower seeds from Park to day. Saturday 28 April 1908 Wind this morning changed from North to South and blowing "great guns". Tis going to rain sure. V and Ray working in field. The assesor here, we churned again this morning. Going to rain Sure. I think I must have been nearly asleep when I wrote the above Saturday’s diary. I know �107 99 cleaned all the floors and made cookies while I. done my share of cooking and washing dishes and separataor. Ray intended to go over the river but wind and Rain prevented Sat up reading till late. Voltie’s back is very lame. Churn again to day. Sunday 26th April A breezy day. Charley Jr and his sister Irene drove down for spelty 2 bushels After dinner Ray and Charley go across to Arthur Vincents for a few hours and when they return they have brought the strawberry plants all right. Maud and Irene has a fine visiting time. The parties and dresses and beaux are manipulated and all their good and indiferent [sic] qualities aired. Well I greatly enoy their visit any way. I send Belle a few flower seed and lend Irene three magazines, 2 "McLures" and "Womans home companion �108 100 Monday 27th April 1908 Showery with thunder and lightning. Maud washes a big lot of clothes. I cook and wash dishes as usual. Ray and Voltie work over on Rachels place breaking up a new piece of ground for sawing grain. Mrs Daily still living but very low. Sr planting potatoes by the consession [sic]. Tuesday 28th April 1908 Another breezy day but not so much but that Arthur Terrill came over bringing Beatrice enroute for home to prepare for her Wedding which is to be the 10 of June. Terril staid to dinner. A kind of a nice sort of a chap, pleasant and mannerly. V and R and Sr all working over to Rachels place brushing and stumping. Evening mail New thought, receipt card from Review of Reviews, aknowledgment [sic] of money from Babson. V tested eggs this eve 7 bad ones. [margin] A letter for Maud from Blanche Vincent and a lot of daily Whigs from Grace. �109 101 Wednesday 29th April 1908 A breezy day, chilly wind S.W. The boys working over on Rachels place again to day or Ray is working there. V, at home filling the ground for Strawberries. Rachel came over with her butter for Maud to carry to market tomorrow. Mr Lancaster here making visits. Gertie Crawford and Ezra Pixley were married to day at her home in Kingston. Thursday 30 April 1908 Send Maud to Market with butter, eggs and honey 15 cents card for honey 22 cards, 11 lbs butter, 23 cts per lb, eggs 15 cts per doz. She ate dinner at Graces & walked over to Crawfords to see Gerties wedding presents. Mrs Daily died to day at 1/2 past 11 a.m. �110 102 Friday 1st May 1908 V and Ray plastered the sitting room. A miserable indiferent [sic] kind of day. Every thing moved around botom [sic] side up and every other may, like this writing. Mail; A letter from Muriel, Herald, etc. Saturday 2nd May 1908 This is an awful day for rain, pouring down steady all pm. Mrs Dailys funeral to day. Rev Craig preached the sermon. Wells and Voltie went to the funeral. Rachel came over to stay till after the funeral. V and Ray paper the sitting room, ceiling and wall and put on the bordering �111 103 Sunday 3rd May 1908 A very good day. Ray dressed himself up and went over the river while Spoopendike (A Terril) took Art Vincents old skiff and came over here. I wish he had staid home. I dont like him, long shanked, thick tongued, homely, black, ill mannered fool. He brought over McChires Magazine and St Nicholas, he wants to court, didn’t want to go to bed, but went. Monday 4 May 1908 Not a very bad day, river quiet this morning. Spoopendike stuck up a sail and went across the river. Ray came in time for his breakfast, boys set strawberry plants all fore noon. Maud done some washing of curtains &c. I cut and made an under waist. Sr planted potatoes �112 104 Tuesday 5 May 1908 A beautiful bright warm day. Boys working on R place, dad planting potatoes. Maud washed window curtains and other things. Geo Rattray and another man here to dinner. Man’s name is Sherk. He is a machine agent, he is fixing the seed drill. Mail; A Watertown paper from John also one from Wellie relating to the Brownville murder, Seeds from Bark, a letter from Will, cards for Maud, a card and letter for Rachel [margin] Ray & V finished setting strawberrie plants, 2000 of them then worked in shop on boat. In evening Maud played on phonograph over the wires for Mrs Premier V and Ve went over river with stock. [/margin] Wednesday 6 May 1908 The sun shining but not very clear, a little chillines [sic] yet in the air. The boys working over on Rachels place. Sr cutting and planting potatoes by the consession [sic]. He says he planted 12 long rows yesterday. V run the net and got only three perch which I clean for the boys & Sr dinner. Maud is making a raspberry short cake for dinner. We churn and the churning is heavy. I work and salt the butter. P.M. R started to bring her butter and eggs for Maud to Market tomorrow but Maude not going. She met V & Ray, sent the b & e. [margin] back to her house but came over herself, beginning to rain again, dad in cellar cutting potatoes. R gone home. Fire coal stove gone out. �113 105 Thursday 7 May 1908 Awoke this morning to find another wet nasty day; boys cant work in field. Maud cant go to market. V and Ray tore the old paper from the ceiling and wall, plastered where the plastering was off and loose, then papered the ceiling and wall. They worked till Bed time. Raining all day and all night. Friday 8 May 1908 Raining again this morning and continues through the day a steady downpour. The flat covered with water and the river very high. Grass is growing but no sign of tree leaves. Wallace made us a call. He is much improved in health and looking fine. Evening mail; Herald, 2 Utica Globes from Will relating to that terrible murder in Brownsville, and a history of the Jay Gould family. Will is a dear good brother. We received Parks Floral Guide together with 5 packets of flower seeds. Am not sure I’ll ever get them [margin] sowed but will try. I sent Belle a letter and a lot of flower seeds. Arthur, V and James Smith came over and staid to dinner. They started to come yesterday but turned back on account of wind. V and Ray fnished papering this morn �114 106 Saturday 9th May 1908 A wet rainy nasty day. V working in shop. Ray working cellar. Sr sat in his corner and read the Utica Globe till a little while ago, now he is gone to the barn, guess he is not doing any thing but he discovered Maud going to mop. Irene washed breakfast dishes, milk pails, separator, cooked beans, worked over butter &c. V built a new fire in the coal stove for it is so damp and chilly with all this rain. The fire has been out a week. Maud puts up the sitting room and dining room curtains and cleaned the floors. Evening rains yet Sunday 10 A very good day. Wind south. After dinner, Ray acompanied by Maud went over to Marjories, came back at sun set. Henry Holliday came around here with his power boat, a new one he has bought for $300 dollars. Voltie and Walace [sic] Niles went with henry around foot of Island to Dignum’s bay and walked home from there. Wind South, water drying and running off. Frank kids made a call, Cassie, Clifford & Ethel �115 107 Monday 11 May 1908 Arose at four Oclock a.m. V going to Kingston. Wind South. Got lots of work to do but dont feel like work, work, work all the time; got butter to work, dishes and separator to wash (work) but now I’ll get up and with cane in hand, I’ll go out in kitchen to work. Rain, Rain all day mud, mud. Abgina McDonald went to villiage, going to the hospital to see to see [sic] Bessie who is going to have an opperation [sic]. Burried [sic] Jane Daily to day. Ray helped dig the grave. Tuesday 12 May 1908 A cloudy morning, looks like rain and wind blowing hard from the South. V pushed the skiff off and sailed across through a heavy storm of wind, waves rolling high, current with spray and such beautiful white caps. His father, Maude & Ray watched him go across. He has gone to Wills for holstein calves. He phoned to us that he wouldn’t come back to night. Begins to rain. Charley & Belle [margin] came about 10.30 am, came for strawberry plants. Belle brought me some cookies and sage seed, had a good visit only she didn’t stay nearly long enough. My dear Belle. Voltie brought the news that Bob fell from their upper window and broke his wrist and both ancles [sic]. �116 108 Wednesday 18th May 1908 A cloudy day, churned and made butter prints 23 lbs going to send Grace a basket. I write Grace a letter. Geo Woodman & Card here to see V’s boat. Maud cleaned the floors. Received another ring rep from Voltie’s, he is in Carthage, and will not come home till Friday. Raining all night. Thursday 14th May 1908 Looks like rain. Grandpa drove to the dock with Maude. So I do the house work alone. It turns to be a very fair day. Ray plowing corn ground. Grandad drives to dock for Maude boat - comes in early. Maud bought triming for her hat, and a new summer coat for herself, gloves etc; flour, tea, rice, yeast cakes, and other butter 25 cents per lb; chickens hatched in incubator. I am tired to night. �117 109 Friday 15 May 1908 A beautiful warm day. We took the chickens from the incubator 37 in all, fed them hard boiled eggs cut fine. V came home bringing 4 holstein calves beauties. He brought two first time, ate dinner then V and Ray rowed across for the other two. Will brought him to the river, he carried Will some fish the second trip from his net before he went across the second time. V warmed the brooder but we put this chicks back in the incubator to stay all night for the lamp went out in brooder. Evening mail Herald, News papers fro Wellie relating to the awful murder in Brownsville where James Turner and wife murdered Mrs Berman. The mail brought us Good Stories. I went out and tried to make a papy bed. Saturday 16th May This is a real work day for Maud and I. We cooked the meals as usual, wash dishes, separator, clean 5 lamps, clean all the floors, [margn] Saturday Wll Niles here for strawberry plants. �118 110 A white frost this morning. do a big ironing, churn, stew raisons, and bake pies, cakes and molasses cookies. Boys sowing grain over on R’s place. We put the chickens in the brooder to day. I sit up reading till eleven pm. A beautiful thunder storm with vivid lightning about 9 Oclock in the evening. Sunday 17th May 1908 A medium fair day, air some what chilly. We didn’t get up till 6 O’clock am, got breakfast. Sr pared potatoes for breakfast, and fixed separator while V and Ray milked the cows and fed the calves. Maud and I got breakfast while V separated the milk, after breakfast. M & I hustled around and done all the work. When Rachel came bringing a big market basket full of dandelion greens while Voltie run the net, got 10 fish, 1 pike, 2 black bass and 7 perch which he dressed at the river so for dinner we had greens, fried fish, mashed potatoes, raison pie & ginger cookies &c �119 111 Tuesday 19th May 1908 A beautiful warm day 73 deg in the shade. Maude cleaned the kitchen walls and doors & wainscoting so it can be painted. I done house work as usual, men are working in field. Grandad brought in the clothes from the line after sundown. Mail; a post card from Grace and an experimental form book. May Ranons & Anna Gillespie here for Maud to go to Smith to the Bible class. Lancaster sent me some book. Wednesday May 20th 1908 A very warm day can scarcely get the butter ready for market tis so soft tho I set it on ice. Rachel came over and brought dandelion greens and pie plant. V carried a pail of ice over to her house for her butter. Maud ironed and cleaned the floors. I washed dishes, separator and cooked the meals & made the butter prints. I guess I am tired. Voltie set the apple trees and black berry bushes, 12 of each. [margin] Monday 18 May 1908. I forgot to write about this day Monday. A very fine day. Maud done big washing. I done general house work; boys went over the river with calves holstein. �120 112 Thursday 21st May 1908 Another half rainy day. Voltie drove to the dock with Maude carrying 16 lbs butter, 4 doz eggs & 24 cards of honey. I sent a small basket to Grace, 2 pike, some greens and pie plant and dandelion greens. V set a hen this morning and now V and Ray are cleaning the cellar. Rachel too went to Kingston with butter she makes from her one cow. Got now to get dinner. I am awfully tired. V goes for Maude before supper. Ray milks and separates. Maud came gay and happy, well satisfied with her marketing. Friday 22nd May 1908 A very fine day. Rachel came over awhile. Voltie and Ray worked in field. Maud baked cakes. Voltie carried Ray across the river and went to the corners for overalls, shirts. Art Vincent got measles. Calf inspector here from Otawa [sic]. Meritt Daily came here for Voltie to cut his hair. Merritt crying about Jane and relating all his troubles, has to eat. �121 113 and milk 12 cows night and morning. Merrit went to river brought R a pail of water. R rode home with Merritt in buggy, carry the water when got home had no water, all slopped out along the road. V staid nearly all night with Art Vincent till 1 O’clock a.m. He bought peanuts, overalls, 1 pair of shirt. Saturday 23rd May 1908 A fine day, wind blowing some. V and dad building fence around the Garden. V leaves the fence building to churn in cellar and he takes the butter out the churn and washes & salts it. Inez here for two lbs at 25 per lb. Hand cleaned floors and made cookies. We are expecting visitors tomorrow. I am sleepy. R came over and brought dandelions greens, R and I clean them all. [margin] Sr goes for the mail and Rachel waits till his return. A letter for her from Jen, Herald, Wellie sent papers from Watertown. Sunday 24th May 1908 A beautiful day. Scrham and Terrill come over and Beatrice and [illegible] �122 114 They come in buggy and stay all day. Bee and Schram going to be married the 16 June if the wind dont blow so little. Schram cant get here. Poor dear little Bee. What a mistake you are making! They play the phonograph and Lerrell sing "Away down on the Swanee River" & Rachel comes over and Maud and Irene go home with her, also terrel. At last they all go home. Schram & Lerrell go one way and and Irene another way and we are left alone once more. Monday 25 May 1908 A beautiful day. Wind South. V & his father building woven wire fence around the yard & they turned the calves out to pasture on the dandelion covered point. Maud washing. She cant get to clothes line to hang the clothes on line for the line is fenced out. After dinner grandad moves the clothes line this side the fence. Old Prince sleeps in sun on Veranda. I’m sleeping. After dinner and dishes washed, I took hoe in hand and went making [margin] an onion bed and set 9 rows and levered a few hills of strawberries. The weather very warm, river still, not a ripple on the water. V and his father building fence around the potatoe ground. �123 115 Tuesday 26 May 1908 Wednesday 27 May 1908 Most forget what was done this day. Rachel came over. �124 116 Thursday 28 May 1908 A very warm day. Wind South. Voltie drove to the dock with Maude, 18 lbs butter. Weather very warm. Wells Sr hoeing strawberry vines all day. V finnished [sic] plowing corn ground then cultivated it. 3 p.m. V is now hoeing strawberry vines. Old Daily over to Rachels nearly all day. Rachel is patching his shirt. All Joslin gone to town to get the certificate for the Holstein calves for Voltie. Maud bought Wall paper for V’s bedroom. and mine also. Friday 29 May 1908 A very fine warm day. Thermometer 83 in shade. Al Joslin here to sign the papers for V’s bringing over the holsteins. I found the dandelion recipie for dandelion wine after a long, long search and was nearly all day brewing the wine, made 8 gallons. V telephoned to Mrs Pringer for a doz more oranges. Went for the mail and forgot to ask for thtem (the oranges) �125 117 Saturday 30 May 1908 A cloudy windy unpleasant day, hoed vines (strawberry), heavy thunder in North, old Prince afraid trotting around from room to afraid of thunder. Towards night we get a heavy shower which enlivens every thing. Wells hoing strawberry plants, takes shelter in the barn. Not so Voltie, he caught in the shower over on R’s place and came home as wet as if he had been in river, but soon changes his clothes throughout. Maud cleaned all the floors. Ray McIntyre came over with Bob Reid. [margin] V phoned Frank for the oranges. Sylvia said they were there. V went for them. The dear little children had been into the bag. V gave them some. Sunday 31st May 1908 A long quiet Sabath day; alone all day no visitors. I write a letter to Helen Watson in answer to her letter of inquiry about Robert being hurt, no work done only cook the meals, wash dishes and separator. I read a few pages in the "Dissenters" in opposition to the English church. R dont come over. The ground is to wet since the rain of yesterday. Maude went to call on Sanders; found no one at home. �126 118 Monday 1st June 1908 A fine day but cool. Maud cleaned and papered V’s bedroom. V working in corn field all day. Sr weeding Strawberry vines all day. Rachel came over and brought rhubarb and helped me in garden sowed summer savory, sage, salsify and batchelor buttons. Busby came and made us a call. H is going to take pictures of Wolfe Island scenery. Tuesday 2nd June 1908 A clear cool day, wind N.W. and blowing fresh all day. V, after going to post office for me, running the fish net and several other chores; works in the cornfield. Sr working in strawberry field all day. Maud churned and after dinner dishes washed, we work among the flower beds and I hoe some strawbery vines and I am very tired. I made pie plant jelly. Maud made chocolate cake and custard for supper. V painted his bedroom floor. R didn’t come over to day. I sent a letter to Grace, a letter to Helen Watson, a letter with 50 cts to the Review of Reviews, a postal [margin] to Helen Watson. Also a card Maud sent to Earl Redmond. �127 119 Wednesday 3rd June 1908 Thursday 4th Jun 1st 1908 �128 120 Friday 5th Saturday 6th June 1908 Another busy day working indoors and out no rain. �129 121 Sunday 7th June 1908 A warm day. Schram came over. Ray McIntyre rowed him across. Then they went for a sail in skiff on the river and kept on sailing till they landed on the other shore at Art Vincents where they stoped till after the noon day meal. Then they returned and drove up the island stopping at WG Woodmans for Irene where they were inviting Lillie Woodman to play the wedding march in church next week from Tuesday the 15th June. Monday 8 No rain. Beatrice’s man Frank Schram came across this day No! I make a mistake. It was yesterday. I suppose their in town to day buying the marriage lisence [sic]. V planting corn all day and punkins [sic], squash, set tomato plants, planted cucumber, melons, musk melon, watermelon, citrone. Grandpa hoeing Strawberries. Awful dry weather. V talking about Windmills and force pumps. Maud done big washing, lines full. I done house work and cooked meals & washed dishes. �130 122 Tuesday 9th June 1908 No rain. Beatrice brought Frankie down, and his hired man young Johnson came over for him in Arthur’s skiff. Poor little Bee going to marry him one week from this day. They went yesterday to Kingston to buy the marriage licence. She seems happy over the affair. I hope she always will be. I cant keep track of all our men folks do. I guess hoeing and planting. I sent third payment to Review of reviews Company 50 cts for June. Wednesday 9th 10 June 1908 Another warm dry day. Maud and I work hard all day preparing for Grace and the children and Mrs Grant. Voltie drives to the dock for them. They come here about 1/2 past 8 pm. Grace brings Margaret, Robert and the baby, little Isabelle. This is the first time I have seen her. She was 5 month old 4th of his month (June). Poor dear. Bob couldnt come. He and Reggie had to stay at their mothers and grandmothers. The baby is very pretty and best of all good and dont cry as much as most of babies. V painted the kitchen ceiling and a little of the wall �131 123 Thursday 11th June 1908 A fine morning. Grace and the children enjoy this morning in their old country home down on the foot of Wolfe Island. Maud got a sore toe all day, a corn on it of course. Grace & Mrs Grant down looking at stra[wberries] well I guess!! I was going to write strawberries but went fast asleep. I dont know why I get so sleepy all the time. Think because the weather is so dry = no rain. Friday 12th June 1908 A hot dry day. Sr hoeing. V making garden and plowing out potatoes. Rachel and Mrs Dignum here visiting with Grace and Mrs Grant. Mrs D brought me a pint of maple syrup. Wind North and cool. I hold the darling little Isabelle while Grace goes to post office for me. I send a letter to new thought and Louis Rice of New York. Going to tell my fortune. What folly. I have only written for fun. She going to tell by my hand writing. �132 124 Saturday 13th June 1908 A clear, hot, brazen day. Thermometer 83 in shade. Voltie gone to the Villiage to go across to Kinston [sic] for piping for the force pump to water the strawberry crop. Grace & the baby, Mrs Grant, Margaret & Robert are gone up with Voltie to go home on The Wolfe Islander. Irene told Maud over the wire that they called there ony a few minutes and that her father and mother are gone too. They went on the first boat. Wind S.E. and hot; C Woodman here for cider to carry down to the ball play on Snub’s. I’m sleepy. Sr been hoeing all fore noon (potatoes) up by Consession. I paid 15 cts for cider. Wish it would rain. Maud cleaned floors & is now ironing. She intends going to the excusion this evening to Clayton. She went walked over to Dignums. Sr milked all the cows, separated the cream from the milk and through a mistake poured the separated cream into the swill barrel - about 12 quarts. V came home at 10 pm, stayed to get his horses shod. came late. �133 125 Sunday 14th June 1908. A cloudy day looks like rain, wish it would. Every thing suffers for rain. V, yesterday, tried to get a force pump to water the strawverries but could find none in Kingston. Didn’t hear from Bob for he is at his fathers, brought Maude a pair of slippers and left them in Kingston. Rachel ae over to day. Charley Dixon, Ada Hart came over to bring Ethel. She is going to McLarens. Ada is Charlies sweetheart so they say. Charlie not being accustomed to water, ie. boat rowing got so warm that the blood cuased a something to affect his face and eyes. They didn’t stay to dinner on accunt of wind and rain but went back over the water. It began raining before they reached the other shore. Rachel went home. Ethel didn’t go. All evening it rained and everything growing nicely. �134 126 Monday 15th June 1908. Raining steadily all night "Rain, Rain the loving gentle rain" which is a [sic] the greatest blessing which can be given at the present time. The strawberries will grow and ripen now. Voltie will went to the factory this morning which he he [sic] always does when it rains. Received our small cheese check this morning $7,38 cts. Didn’t do much house work this day only wash breakfast dishes. V worked on the launch all day. Sr sat around all day reading. Sun set clear after a day of dark heavy clouds. Schram came over enroute to C Hallidays to marry Beatrice. Ray McIntyre and Johnson brought him over. Maude & Ethel didn’t go to the wedding, which was all right. F Woodman drove up to Belles with her intended soninlaw. Tuesday 16th June 1908 A clear cold cool morning wind, North. V went fishing down on shore, caught 16 which I dressed for dinner. Ethel went over to Rachels & staid till time to start for McLarens. Rachel came over with Ethel. Ethel went up with the mail. V, after dinner, carried her traveling suit case to Sam’s, she going up with Frank Woodman and the mail. Johny McDonald phoned for O’Briens roller. V and his Dad are pulling mustard in the field. The old Black cow got a white calf. [margin] Beatrice Halliday Married this day June 16th 1908 to Frank Schram. �135 Wednesday 17th June 1908 A beautiful day every thing growing finely. Voltie hoeing early potatoes stoped long enough to pick a basket of strawberries for Bob, going to send them up by Maud Thursday (tomorrow). Received a telephone message from Bob that he is coming down to night and for Voltie to meet him. Voltie drove to the dock for him, sat up till 1/2 past 11 p.m. Gave the berries to Bob for his supper. A methodist picnic on Snubs Grove Henry Halliday drove in here. Maud went with him to the picnic and Charles Junior ate dinner here and went with them. Irene & Ruby Cummings drove in here for Maud but she had gone with Henry. Thursday 18th June 1908. Sr went to Kingston. V drove to dock with him. V hitched up old Ben and drove across the field with Bob down on shore below the cedars for Bob to fish. Rachel and W Niles went down too to keep Bob company. V drove again for Bob and then to the dock for his father and Bob went with V and home on the boat. �136 132 Sunday 21st June 1908 A beautiful day. Every thing fresh and growing. Hiram Joslin & George Niles here for strawberries. 8 baskets for them. Arthur, V, Schram, & his hired man Johnson, came over for Bee’s trunk and the little table (a weding gift from Wm Cummings). Rachel came over to go fishing. Next came Bill Hollenbeck an accquaintance [sic] of olden days, a former pupil of mine, while teaching at Cape Vincent. That was in the long long ago 1854. He and his clothes looks rusty. I dont think he amounts to much though he seems a man of common good intelect, and is a very good talker. When at home, he lives in Poa. He is a widower and calls me Irene wants I should call him Bill as in days of yore but I cant do it. I call him Mr Hollenbeck. "Now I dont want you should call me Mr Hollenbeck, I want you should call me Billy, as you used to when I was a boy". Lordy! he has got a stomach on him like an city alderman. Mrs Harris & Emma Woodman rings for berries. Mary Berrie here selling picnic tickets for the English church. Ray & Marjorie and Arthur came over and brought both babies. This is the first time Marjorie has been here since the baby was born. Maud slept on couch last night; had to �137 133 Monday 22 June 1908 A very fine warm day. Ray, Voltie, and Wells Sr hoeing potatoes at consession finish at dinner time then hoe and cultivate strawberries. Sniders heifer got in here. Snider had tremendous time getting her out, chased her all over the pasture with all the cattle in tow. He opened the gate to drive her out, she wouldn’t go, but Dirk horse got out. V left his hoeing to bring him back. Then Snide went home and brought a rope lassoed her, then she wouln’t go any way, but he pulled tugged and draged her to the road and through the gate and the last I saw of Snide he was squatting on the grass outside the gate holding on to the rope. Mary Barrie and her brother Geo drove in here to sell picknic tickets. Maud bought one 25 cts. Maud slept on the couch agin last night. �138 134 Tuesday 23 June 1908 A fine day after the greatest grandest thunder and lightning storms of the seasons. It rained thundered & lightened all night. Sent Mrs Harris 10 boxes of berries by mail. Ray painted the kitchen. Wednesday 24 June 1908 Old Hollenbeck fishing wish he’d clear out. Rachel came over not been here before since Sunday. �139 135 Thursday 25 June 1908 A fine morning clouds up and rains soon after Maud went to Kingston but soon clears up and turns to be a beautiful day. I on my feet nearly all day. V picks strawberrys for dinner. Hollenbeck went up on the boat. I am glad he is gone the old "pukeanastic" around sponging his living. Friday 26 June 1908 A beautiful day. Moodey here looking at the telephone; he drives a sorry looking old horse. V says tis a livery horse. I suppose this one of Cards. V and Ray picked 110 boxes of strawberries. I wandered off down among the strawberry vines & picked a basket & 72 which we had for the table. Rachel came over and went fishing and ate dinner with us, picked a basket of berries for Rachel. We had greens for dinner. Mail Herald, letters Louise Rice Card from Laneta, Torrel &c a letter from Mrs Gaskin for Berries. Maud and Ethel talking over the lines, �140 136 Saturday 27 June 1908 A fine day wind South. V preparing to go up the island selling strawberries, Dignem’s just now rung for berries 12 or 15 baskets. R came over looking for letters. V gone up the island. Maud gone over the river with McIntyre to Marjories and from there to a ball play at Sand Bay. Didn’t come home, but stayd all night at Marjories. V came home in time to pick more berries after selling 110 baskets. Saturday 28th June 1908 A fine day. Maude and Ray came across at 11 a.m., at same Mr B, Mrs Wilber (&) three kids. Reba, Vera & Richard all from Clayton. They are taking their Sunday outing and ran up here in their [illegible] launch then Rachel came over, so the day passes away. �141 137 Monday 29th June 1908 A fine day. Alice Michea and her son Wesley came to see us, drove 22 miles—5 miles from above the villiage. V gone up the island selling strawberries. Wells Sr hoeing. Heard that Charley Halliday had sold his farm for $4300. Rachel came over Tuesday 30 June 1908 A beautiful day a picnic and ball game in Snubs grove. Irene & Miss Ruby Cummings drove in here for Maud. Ball game and English picnic in Montgomerys woods. Terrel came over to take Maud to the picnic. She wouldn’t go with Terrel though she had sold him a ticket and he had come over to get the worth of it in the picnic dinner. Darly drove in here for Berries and I asked him to drive up to the English picnic with Maud and he done so while Terrel trotted on behind. �142 138 Wednesday 1 July 1908 Strawberries & Maxwell. V picked strawberries all day. Maud answered telephone rings for berries. Rachel here to supper when Maxwell a dapper little man, came swiftly in mopping his red face with his handkerchief having walked 2/3rds of the way from the villiage. "Have some supper Mr Maxwell?" and he getting himself a chair, came quickly to the table helping himself freely to strawberries and cream &c. Stays all night which puts us to great inconvenience. This is a free "Travelers Inn". Maud sleeps on the couch again. Thursday 2nd July 1908 A fine day. Maud gone to Town for groceries. Van came over accompanied by Nat Carver whom we have not seen for more years than I can well calculate. A young man when he went away 21 or 22 now 66 years, a fine looking man enough to be U.S.A. president. he is going to take his notary in Massachusetts. Grace and Bob, Reginald, Robbie and baby Isabella came down of the boat Maud went to Kingston and carried strawberries to Mrs Gaskin 24 bas—and 12 bas to Grace. old Max went up on the steamer this morn �143 139 Friday 3rd July 1908 Mr Lancaster came this p.m. We all sat out on veranda except Bob and Rachel are fishing. L was caught in a heavy shower of rain while driving through our big gate by the road. Saturday 4 July 1908 A ball game at State Park. Wind blowing quite hard but Bob and Wallace Niles go across to the ball play Troll but got no fish. �144 140 Sunday 5th July 1908 A beautiful warm day. Belle and June drive down for strawberries. Monday 6 July 1908 A fine day an excursion & moon light on the Wolfe Islander to Clayton this evening. Wall Niles drives over with Maud to the dock leaving the rig at dignems. �145 141 Tuesday 7 July 1908 The hottest day of all the season so far. Maud came at 4 am. coming up from Clayton, the boat through the ignorance of the Capt ran boat ashore by the stone quarry. A fight abord too. Capt drew his revolver on Duncan Jimmie A 4 of July card from Jen a card from Beatrice. Wednesday 5th July 1908 A very cool morning after the hottest Tuesday of yesterday I ever can remember, 90 deg in shade. Geo Niles working here to day hoeing and V just came in inquiring what I can knock up for dinner; wind blowing strong from the West. didn’t want to cook my eggs for dinner but just had too. for no meat nor fish for dinner. V, after dinner rung up Geo Whitmarsh for beef. Bob went up the island with Wal Niles. Wallace went to hire out to Byron Irvine at $40 per month for two months. Wallace and Bob ate dinner with W.G. Woodman & family. �146 142 Thursday 9th July 1908 A fine day. Geo Niles working here The day is sultry with heat, 90 deg in the shade. We looked for Mary but she didn’t come so hot and their bees were swarming, 7 swarms out at once. Maud gone to Kingston for flour and groceries. Van came over accompanied by Mr Nathaniel Carver from Bayfield Wisconsin an old friend we have not seen in many long years, a large fine looking man 66 years looks like a U.S.A. president. Mrs Wm McFaden died to day. Friday 10th July 1908 A very fine day. Geo Niles working here. Rachel came over and she and Bob went fishing. We had company Mary and Lillie Woodman and Florence Dixon. and a rollicking time they had singing, playing, laughter, yaking, hilarious Edith Montgomery and Mary Barrie here collecting money by subscription for a present of a communion service for Rev Mr Lancaster. Mrs. McFaden laid in the vault to day, 10 July. �147 148 Saturday 11 July 1908 A beautiful day. Geo Niles helping V in the hay field. Wind blowing fresh all day, goes down at sunset. Then the boys V, Geo & Bob hoist sail and go over to Arthur’s. Arthur came over for Belle and was disapointed in not finding her here. Said Marjorie had been 4 days preparing for her mother. The boys came back at midnight. Sunday 12 July 1908. A very fine day but hurly burly all the time not much Sunday rest. 3 square meals as usual. Bob, V and the kids anchored off shore to fish, caught enough for dinner. Ray McIntyre and Johnson came across. Ray is working for F. Schram. Mrs Niles and Inez here in evening. �148 144 Monday 18 July 1908 A fine morning. Geo Niles came up bringing his horse for Bob, Grace & the children to drive up to William G Woodman’s visiting. Afer a deal of washing and scrubbing and dressing all around they got started. Reggie prefered staying home. They drove up in V’s old buggy and got wet coming home for there was a sharp shower and no side curtains up They returned at sunset and enjoyed a delightful visit. Geo working here in field drawing and stacking hay. Maud and Inez go over to Dignums for an evening visit. tried to persuade them not to go for it looks like rain but no use talking. They would go. They got there before the rain. Came home at 11 p.m. Tuesday 14 July 1908 A fine morning, last night’s shower didn’t wet the Earth much. All dry by 10, and as hot as ever. Geo Niles worked for Snider to day for $2,00 if he pitches both ways. Mrs Niles sent me some cucumbers by Inez and in return I sent her a pail full of new potatoes. Bob and Rachel fishing on the shore. They fish most of the time when they dont break fish hooks lines and poles. V and his dad hoeing strawberry plants all day. �149 145 Wednesday 15 July 1908 A cool day wind changeable from every quarter of the compass. Light wind clouds. Oh I cant write must tend the baby now Graces kid. Bobs looking after her so I wont have to. Howard & Robbie both got stung just now. H said "he only sat down on a little box (hive) out there. Howard was stung in 5 times, he only squalled a few minutes. Grace washed a lot of things for the children and Maud and Grace picked raspberries. Thursday 16th July 1908 A fine cool day. Grace, this a.m. picked raspberries enough for two cans and canned them says there is a lot more on the bushes. Bob slept till nearly dinner time. Maud baked a pan full of custard for dinner. Rachel brought her cow, calf, hens, chickens & chicks over here and all her little house hold groceries. She dare not leave them home for she has already had stolen butter and all her sugar. After dinner Grace picks up all her duds and gets ready to return to Kingston once more leaving dear little Reggie here. V dries over to the dock with them. �150 146 Friday 17 July 1908 A storm of wind and heavy rain from the south. The rain much needed has come. The whole country for miles and miles around suffering from a drought but now tis one steady down pour of rain from south all day long from 9 Oclock a.m. V was going to work for himself in shop this rainy day but F Woodman came here to get V to make a new tongue for his old farm waggon. He brought his hopeful son Clifford with him and the young kid and Reginald are in the shop with F. W. and V. Rachel came over to breakfast. Merrott Daily is going to drive to Belles with her. I sent Rev Lancaster’s book up by her to Belles. 3 p.m. Got to bake bread and wood is scarce for every out door thing is wet. Sr has laid down "The Buffalo Courier" to get some wood. V received a cheese check this morning $31.59. Now he has two cheese checks the other is $29.05. I guess M Daily will get wet coming home. Maud is taking an afternoon nap. I bake bread. V shoeing a horse for Frank Woodman. A grand storm of wind and rain; barrel running over. Rachels calf is a bawler. Didn’t go for the mail, rain so hard, neither could nor did dig "praties" for breakfast. �151 147 Saturday 18th July 1908 A cloudy warm morning. Rachels calf bawled all night, her hens & chickens have found the way into the garden and eat up our few currants, her ducks are free and independent & go where they will. Our 25 incubators live in the door yard and garden; destroy the onions and trample the beets and carrots into the ground, roost on the flower boxes, and mash them into the ground, destroy the poppies and walk in the house whenever they like to; they invade kitchen pantry, dining room and sitting room. And cats!! 5 cats racing around the rooms most of the time. The old mother cat and her 4 young half grown kittens. No use driving them to the barn for they come back again. And the old dog is another pretty old pet, either sitting on his haunches looking for his meals, lying stretched out full length directly in the way and I cant kick or I’d hoist him. Raining again. F Woodman phoned for sweet spirits of nitre—didnt have any. Sam wants the nitre so they told V when he went for the mail. A letter for Maud from Flora, Herald and a postal from Grace. Clears up at 10 and the sun shines out again. Sam got inflammation of bladder so Frank says. Frank answers their telephone rings by our telephone rings in answer to Mabel Woodmans inquiry about his fathers health. �152 148 Sunday 19th July 1908 A cool cloudy day rains a little in the morning. Reginald went to bed with tooth ache. V doctored him for tooth ache with carbolic acid. Tooth dont ache this morning but face badly swollen. Arthur and wee Charley and Mr Smith came over. Ray McIntyre & Jim Johnson came over. Belle and young Henry, Kathleen and Charles Junior came driving down in buggy. Belle brought records which the played on phonograph. Then Bell and Henry went across to Marjories in skiff with Arthur Vincent, wee Charley and Mr Smith. Grandpa picks raspberries and currants, Maud goes to church with the Ranous family. Rev Lancaster preaches his last sermon here for a long time if ever again. He going to Denver Colorado for his health. Charles Jr drives home alone and Kathleen stays with me. Clifford and Sylvia gathering juniper for their grandpa. Samy came for castor oil. Lent Grace HallidayLena Rivers �153 149 Monday 20 July 1908 A fine cool morning. Thermometer registers 70 deg in shade at 8 Oclock a.m. V weeds out the carrots & beets, parsly before breakfast. Reginald gone with his grandad to the cheese factory and I must wash breakfast dishes while Maud & Kathleen go pick raspberries. Sr weeding turnips Voltie mowing hay over on R’s place. Maud canned 4 cans of raspberries. I made a can of pie pland jelly and one of currants. Kathleen and I gathered the carroway seed and I went down cellar from the outside and looked over all the canned fruit, strawberries, jellys and raspberries and came out again all right. Voltie and Sr are building hay cocks over there. Maud took an afternoon nap. I made red currant jelly. Young Dr Spankie down to see uncle Sam who is no better. �154 150 Tuesday 21st July 1908 A warm cloudy morning. Geo Niles here helping draw and stack hay. Sprinkles rain. Voltie shot and killed a rooster for dinner. V & Geo finished the stack by the grainery then it began to rain and no more haying done to day. Raining steady all day. our boat house surrounded by water. Geo staid till after dinner. P.M. V working on launch, grandad reading Herald in kitchen. Maud up stairs asleep. Kathleen & Reginald playing at checkers and quarreling. They know no more about the game of checkers than our old rooster. I darn socks and repair stockings till tis time to get supper then I apply myself to that business with great success, and also bake 5 loaves of bread. Heard uncle Sam is much better. �155 156 Wednesday 22nd July 1908 A fine day succeeding the rain. Maud washed some towels, I wash breakfast dishes and milk pails. V and Reginald picks the cherries. Maud made cakes and cookies & pies. Kathleen and I wash all the breakfast dinner dishes. I write two long letters to Grace and one to Gladys. Grandpa chops wood and pulls weeds. After dinner, V & dad go over there to look after the hay. Maud cleans the floors. Kathleen is the most active little girl and such a help to me. �156 157 Thursday 23rd July 1908 Oh how the time hastens on. The summer is fleeting, almost August again, and time will soon roll around and winter will be here all to soon with cold winds, frost and snow. It stands every one in hand to "Make hay while the sun shines". Maude has gone to Kingston to meet her father, and buy groceries, went up to see Grace; tis after dinner and I am sleepy. Went to sleep while writing. Geo Niles helping Voltie draw and stack hay. Kathleen and I wash breakfast dishes, get dinner then Belle, Henry and Arthur V came. Kathleen and Reginald ran to the concession to meet them. Ten of us for dinner, after dinner the men and Boys go over to draw and stack. Ethel Reid came for watermelon seeds but we have none; gave her squash seeds instead. Uncle Sam no better has Doctor twice per day. Belle picks raspberries for supper. I try to get water from the river to get supper, as I was going to dip it up, Belle came running, and took the pail dipped the water carried it to house and helped me get supper. After supper V drives to dock for Maud after she phoned for V. He had already gone. Reggie and Henry played, quarreled and yelled. Reggie lost his balance & fell in the washtub. He fished himself out and changed his wet clothes for dry ones. Kathleen goes home with Arthur V. Grace sent me a lot of magazines. �157 158 Friday 24th July 1908 A fine day, wind East. Geo N here. They finished haying. George here to dinner helps draw another load which finishes the haying then he goes to work for Geo Gillespie. Belle and Henry go home just before dinner driving up with the mail. Maud papers around the stove pipe hole, and sweeps down all cobwebs and spiders which accumulate fast this warm weather. The wind and weather speaks of rain again. V. going back again to mow around the corners. Reggie goes with him. Maude and I make cherry preserves. Henry & Reginald have had a lovely time visiting, playing, quarreling and some fisticuffs both young pugilists. Reginald was 7 years years old 15th Dec 1907. Henry was 7 years old 6th day of April 1908. Henry is a full 1/2 head taller. Sent Reginald for the mail Herald, a postal for me and one postal from Jamie Dunlop, for V a very small letter from "Hugh". Mrs A Barrie drove in here bringing our provender that she had accidentaly exchanged for her turkey feed Thursday night at the dock �158 159 Saturday 25 July 1908 Began raining this morning at 4 a.m. pouring down in floods nearly all day. Maud cleaned all the floors. Reggie fishes on the shore "forminst" the house, caught 10 perch. V is hoeing and weeding strawberries vines. I am so sleepy. Maud made cake and prepared for Sunday visitors though we dont know who they may be, but surely somebody. While I am sitting here writing, Therrol unexpectedly walks in bringing the "Womans home companion" and Happy hours. This is after the Sun comes out shining bright and clear and warm. Arthur Vincent, Brother Seaton is with him. I see they are carrying away a jug of cider. They brought over our 6 gallon of kerosine. I wonder how long it will last. We heard that Uncle Sam is better and can sit up a while. �159 160 Sunday 26 July 1908 A beautiful warm bright day just a light rippling breeze on the river. I sit out on veranda and write to Louise. Maud goes to church M.E. and from there she goes up to G.W. Woodmans visiting, drives up with Lillie from our M.E. Church. Voltie picks a bowl of black cap raspberries. We have custard pie for dinner. I dont get much time for reading or writing. Tis the demand of others on my most precious time for studying. After dinner and dishes washed while V sits on veranda and I am sitting in my favourite place by the window in the big old rocker, V announces the arrival of Arthur, Marjorie, Kathleen and the babies Charlie & Ross. They have been picknicking picnicing over on their point and thought they would come over awhile and see uncle and Grandma and Grandpa and Reggie. Marjorie and I get supper and Arthur, Voltie & Reggie go fishing. We cook them for supper and have V bowls of raspberries for supper. Marjorie helps me wash dishes and just after sundown they go home away over the river and soon after that Maud comes home having had an enjoyable time at W.G. Woodmans �160 161 Monday 27th July 1908 A warm suny day. Maud washed all the white clothes. I lazed around, cooked and done house work. Voltie pulled weeds and hoed berrie vines. I wandered out in garden among the vines and bushes, pulled a few weeds, had fish and beet greens for dinner. �161 162 Tuesday 28 July 1908 �162 163 Wednesday 29 July 1908 A hot clear day. 84 deg in shade. Voltie turned the cows over on Rachels field. Then pulled weeds and hoed among the vines. Samy down after a jug of cider, carries it in a bag. Says his grandpa is no better. I took a turn in the garden among the geraniums and amaranths �163 164 Thursday 30th 1908 O I dont get time to write in the diary, if I should speak aloud the above sentence some one would say "You have got all the time there is, same as others". I know all that but I am hot, tired and want to rest but I cant do so, have got to get dinner, make two pies, bake a custard pudding. V dug the potatoes. Reginald cleaned them. If I sit down a few minutes I go fast asleep holding the pen in my hand. Maud has gone to town on the boat so has Wells Sr. Reggie rode to the factory and dock. Dock first, then back to breakfast and then to the cheese factory with Voltie. It takes Reginald most of the time to chase the incubators out the kitchen and dining room. Voltie is shoeing Duke, tis 5 minutes past 10 am. V drove to the dock for Maud, Bob, Grace, Margaret, Robbie and the Baby. Maud came bringing groceries, carpeting, wall paper &c Sr having been to Kingston came also, he bought V’s lumber and 25 lbs brown sugar. �164 165 Friday 31st July 1908 A fine day and extremely warm. Voltie cut oats with binder. Reggie and Grandpa set up oats all day. Saturday 1st August 1908 A fine warm day. Light summer clouds floating Maud baked ginger cookies and cakes, cleaned the floors &c �165 166 Sunday 2nd August 1908 A fine day. V and Bob went trawling for pike this morning before breakfast, caught one pike, and lost the trawling spool and didn’t know it till they had trawled as far as Hiram’s. Terrol came over bringing McClure’s and St Nicholas. Jim Smith and a fellow named Busbee came over. They all adjourned to the Shop except Terrol who staid in the house to talk to the women. Smith and Busbee went home. Terrol staid to dinner. After dinner Grace & Maud entertained Terrol in the kitchen. Cassie and Clifford came for lemons for their grandpa. Cassie went home to carry the lemons. Clifford staid to play with the children. Wells Sr stays in barn all day except meal time; to much noise for him. Clifford and Samy came again with the express wagon for another gal of cider, 20 cts. Then they came back visiting Cassie, Clifford and Ethel. Voltie and Bob went across the river came back towards night bringing green corn, onions, summer squash, apples & cucumbers. Terrol says he is coming back tomorrow evening. Wish and hope he will stay home the half witted nuisance. �166 167 Monday 3rd August 1908 Wind North and cool. Sun not shining out so brightly as usual. Bob turning grindstone for Voltie to grind binder knives. V going to bind to day for Frank Woodman. I dont get much time to write in diary or answer corespondense. Bob and Reginald gone fishing. Grace helped push the boat off shore which she ought not to do. Now she is working in chamber. Wells Sr got a turn of colic took peppermint and "Fowlers Extract of Wild Strawberry" and he went to bed and ate no dinner. Bob and Reginald gone all day, ate dinner with Geo Niles family. Then with Geo and Louise and wee Howard. They all went to John Niles to tea and so around home. Sinders have got a boarder (2 of them) a man and his little daughter. �167 168 Tuesday 4 August 1908 A very warm close smothering day. Grace papered the big up stair bedroom and cleaned the floor. Bob painted all the wood work. Then Bob and the children all went fishing caught 2 fine large pike. Cassie, Clifford and Ethel here visiting our youngsters. They make an awful racketing noise. Wednesday 5 Aug 1908 A very fine day after the rain of last night began to thunder and lighten about sending lil sharp vivid lightning from every point of the compass accompanied by heavy thunder strong wind and rain. I didn’t sleep till past one a.m. The old dog tore around the kitchen and dining room frightened bad enough and at last dove under �168 169 Volties bed. We finished the carpet and Grace tacked it down in the big bedroom up stairs. Bob read, slept, painted some upstairs. Geo Whitmarsh drove in here peddling beef. I paid him ,90 cts for fresh beef. V worked on his launch. Maud ironed all the curtains for the chamber windows. Clifford came down again visiting. V & Bob carry a load of cheese to the dock. Reginald went with them. Grace helped her dad milk the cows while they are gone to draw cheese. While the children were all up in the shop, V accidentaly steped backward on Roberts toes, then V and Bob drove them all down out the shop and Clifferd went home. Another ,20 cts for cider to day for Woodmans. Bob, Reginald and Voltie. �169 170 Thursday 6th August 1908 A cool morning somewhat cloudy. Bob gone over the river for tobaco came back with bringing corn, apples and tobaco. Friday 7th August 1908 A cloudy, thundery looking day. It dont rain till towards night then it thunders, lightnings and rains. Old dog tries to climb the front veranda but cant for the steps have fallen down so he howls and barks and runs around the house and at last succeeds in dodging in the kitchen door where the kitchen floor is newly painted. (Bob has only just now finished painting it). and against all orders, commands and persuasion walks the length of the floor and lays down behind the stove and a jolly time they have driving the old dog from behind the kitchen stove where he has laid himself down on the fresh paint and when they suceed in routing him he is well painted behind and on the side and dog foot tracks all across the floor which has to be painted again. Raining hard a heavy shower. �170 171 Saturday 8 August 1908 A beautiful morning, cool and clear. Bob and Voltie gone to Kingston, drove up. They experienced some trouble getting ready to start. V couldn’t find his bullet headed colar button, and his shirt was not right all wrong. Bob had a great hunt for his coat and at last remembered that he had left it over at Arthur Vincents hanging on a peg in their kitchen; then couldn’t find their "terbacky" and had to hunt around for their pipes. Bob wore V’s coat, V wore dad’s collar button, they found their pipes & "tobacy". Bob couldn’t find his collar button and his sleve buttons are missing and his shirt was not in good order and they blamed it all on the women folks, but at last they are gone rattle to bang up the road they go and we have not had any breakfast only V and Bob Sr and reginald are feed and we are glad they are gone and wish they had taken young Bob Jr with them for he does nothing but squall all the time, and now the kids are fishing in front of the house. Bobbie comes running to the house �171 172 saying "oh Mumma; Weggie’s taught a big putch". Sr is tinkering the front steps. Maud is making bread and buns. I wash dishes and scour knives. Grace washes baby things at the river. Reginald comes running to the house bringing his big perch which is nearly 3 inches long and wriggling in his hand. Our young men arrived home at nearly midnight, bringing bed springs and mattress, groceries, and lumber. Maud made cakes "galore". Grace washed line full of clothes. Maud says she will bake big lot of cakes, dont know who may come tomorrow. Grace and her dad milk the cows, 10 of them. Sr separates milk. Voltie finished paying for his double buggy and took up the Note of $50 dollars so that is paid. Sunday 9th August 1908 A beautiful day. I see the people going to church. No one goes from this house to church. Bob goes fishing awhile in a.m. catches enough for dinner then Bob and V go over the river to Arthurs for tobaco, were towed over by a steam launch gone till late in pm. Henry Halliday arrives with his gasoline launch takes Reginald with him and away they speed over the river to Arthurs. Then Stanley �172 173 Stanley Woodman, George Woodman, Wall Niles come. They play phonograph awhile, go to the shop to look at the launch that V is building Then go away home or somewhere else. Nex comes Ray McIntyre and Jim Johnson and two Malony boys. Morris and Ed and a lot more in another launch. Crouse and his gang looking to buy sheep and pigs. Well after dinner I went to bed for a nap was soon awakened by a voice saying "Get up" Charley and Flora are here. When I came out found Charley, Flora, Lottie, Ada Hart and her brother Bert Hart. Then Art Vincent and his hired boy came. 7 beside our own family ate supper including Johnson and McIntyre. There was some whiskey around beside cider in the cellar. H. Halliday persuaded Bob to go home with him in the launch; they are going up above the island tomorrrow to the ducks. My opinion is, Robert had better stay home and away from Hank’s companionship. H said he would bring R home tomorrow evening. We will see. At last all are gone except Lottie; she is going to McClarens to visit Ethel whenever she can get the oppertunity to go. Wells Sr 74 years old to day. �173 174 Monday 10th August 1908 A fine day. A good sailing breeze for skiff sailing. V goes before breakfast to engage Geo Niles to help draw and stack oats and wheat. They found it wet and opened the shocks to let them dry, then they weed strawberry vines till supper and milking time. Clifford, Cassie & Ethel came visiting to Reginald, Margaret and Robbie. All at the river wading, every one. Every dud on them wringing wet. Grace gave them candy and sent Franks kids home. Clifford says he can get drunk, swear and smoke, but he says he cant chew yet. Wells Sr not very well called for quinine but I have none. I’ll send and get some tomorrow by the mail. Arthur V brought Beatrice Schram over enroute for her old home. She phoned for them to come for her. Belle has just gone to the villiage with Irene, Rube Cummings and Anna May Kenny. Irene intends to stay till Wednesday. Charley Jr drove down for Beatrice they stay till after tea and Lottie goes up with them. Bob didnt come home this eve. �174 175 Tuesday 11 Aug 1908 Geo Niles and Voltie drawing and stacking oats and wheat; finished drawing on this place. Mrs Dick Halliday came driving in her covered rig with two of her children, bringing Bob who had had a gay time ever since he left here last Sunday. Grace got dinner had beans, potatoes, boiled beets. After noon Bob and Reggie went trolling. After 3 p.m. V pulled purslain out the strawberry vines, baskets and wheelbarrow full, throwing them in the river. I went out where V is pulling weeds and the bees chased me (2 bees). V killed them after they got in his hair. Maud ironed all her starched clothes. Frank Briceland drove in here and bought a hog from Voltie 6 cts per lb live weight. going to come for it. �175 176 Wednesday 12 Aug 1908 Very warm with swift flying clouds gathering from S.W. V and his father working on R’s place binding and setting up oats. Bob went trawling gone nearly all day, came only in pm for his supper, brought a pike and some smaller fish ate dinner with George and Louise. He says "Louise is a fine cook". "She makes the most beautiful buns, the most delicious cookies, fried cakes, chocolate cakes and can fry fish to perfection". "Yes Sir I tell you Louise is a good cook". Maud bakes bread, ginger cookies, 3 frosted cakes in evening and work all done. V goes up to Woodmans for Quinine capsles. Wells dont feel very well he dont take much rest from work, setting up grain, hoeing, pulling weeds, building fence, chopping wood and kindling. Grace washed the lines full of clothes for her family, getting ready to go home tomorrow. Raining but not pouring down as usual. Burnside drove in here and bought the brown bull and mudy heifer from Voltie $50.00 �176 177 Thursday 13th Raining some this morning not very good for harvesting grain. Voltie and his father go "over there" to bind oats. Grace prepares for going home. Bob came down stairs at 9 a.m. finds the breakfast table cleared away and he is glum as a monk. I suppose he wants his breakfast kept warm hot for him. he smokes awhile then pokes around the pantry looking for something to eat. Maud has carried the cakes and cookies down cellar so he conchides to help himself to bread and butter, cold fish and a cup of cold tea; then he gathers a few news papers and returns to the parlor and to the couch where he stretches himself out lengthwise and reads 2 hours then wanders off towards the barn a few minutes and returns to his couch till dinner time then wanders out doors awhile, sits on the veranda steps, chops a few sticks of small wood and goes to roost again on the couch. I care for little Isabelle while Grace washes combs and dresses, Reginald, Margeret, and Robert then Isabelle and herself. Bob arises and V drove the bull and heifer out to the road this morning that he sold to Burnside yesterday. �177 polishes the childrens shoes and combs and parts their hair in the middle. Margaret and Robert & Isabelle dressed (the boys) all in white embroidered rigs with their little city caps perched on the back of their heads and when all complete they are gay and dudeish. And Oh so foolishly proud. They leave their straw hats behind them for Reggie says their straw hats are only to be worn in the country on the farm. And wee Robbie says "ony wear tawhats in tunty". Voltie comes home from his harvesting at 4.30 and he gather them in double buggy, 6 of them and the baby cart, two valises and other baskets and himself and then I have to go to the door and call "here Bob you’ve left your fathers cane" (which I have in my hand) which Maud takes and hands to Bob and away they drive around the barn and Maud and I return indoors. And __ the silence and quietness is releaving but at same time there is a sadness in it for I know they are gone and I want and miss Grace when she is gone. Grace is always good and patient. Heard to day that Wallace Niles had fell while pressing hay and brake a bone in his wrist and strained the cords. �178 Friday 14th Aug 1908 A warm summer day & breezy. I sent for the Stereoscope views to day to happy hours. V finished cutting oats on R’s place finished at noon brought the binder home. I wash dishes, hoe a few weeds, help get dinner. Maud lent the skiff to John Murry & Arthur Burke to go to the Cape, going to come back by 2 pm. But they wont for the wind blows to breezy. After dinner, with great difficulty I climb the stairs to see how nicely Grace and Maud have papered, painted, white washed, and arranged every thing so orderly and clean, and with nearly as much trouble I came down stairs again. Maud washing a few things! I began making pickles (cucumber). V finished binding on both places and has put the binder away for this year, and now has only the peas to cut which will take two days and then the harvesting is done and the summer is passing on. Voltie went for the mail A postal for Maud from Flora D., a postal for me from Grace & one from Gladys for me. �179 Saturday 15 Aug 1908 A clear bright day, cooler Wind North. Walace called here while Maude and I are washing breakfast dishes, enroute for George’s. They are going over to the corners. Geo is going blackberrying. Wal’s hand and wrist done up in a rag; says tis very painful at some times. Voltie went to Hiram’s for money that H owes for strawberries, but couldnt make a raise. Maud finished washing the colored clothes and hung them on the line, baked bread, cleaned all the floors, I.E. 2 bedrooms, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, pantry & veranda, cleaned windows, ironed alot of clothes and sundries to numerous to mention. I washed the supper dishes while Maude gets ready to cross the river with V. V going to the corners for overalls and shirts, while Maud visits with Marjorie. Arthur drives out to St Lawrence with Voltie. Saturday evening work all done, cows in lower pasture, and chickens gone to roost, Sr setting out in the back veranda smoking his pipe, enjoying the beautiful quietness of this August evening. Saying "wonder who will come tomorrow". Voltie drummed Frank Woodman for $3 dollars which he had been owing him for some time. Got $2 dollars of it. �180 Sunday 16th August 1908 A very warm morning sun shining clear, river like a mirror. V and Maud returned at 4 this morning . having visited with Quinn till 2 a.m. bought tobaco, shirts, overalls, a wrapper for Maude and a wrapper for me. Well this our Sunday visitors. First came Schram and Terrol and Kathleen, then Belle, Beatrice, Grace and Henry. Voltie caught two pike which we cooked for dinner. Voltie and Belle went to look at the corn and other garden "sass". They brought all of Bustards phonograph records which they played on our phonograph, and now they are all gone home. Frank & Beatrice and Terryhole" across the river. Belle & her family gone up the island. Wal Niles here too, and now it looks like rain and we are all tired—too tired to wash the supper dishes. I go to my bed room and read two hours. Expected Mr Taggart and daughter but they didn’t come. �181 Monday 17th 1908 A cloudy morning looks like rain but it dont rain. While we were washing dishes Mr Taggart came driving in here bringing his daughter our little school teacher; he stays to dinner. Voltie not very well, leaves his work in field cutting peas and comes home he is so thirsty, he’s down awhile, plays phonograph for Taggart and has not gone back to his work cutting peas. Next comes Merrit Daily garrulous as an old biddy. He has borrowed a book, a magazine the Peoples Magazine. I hope he will bring it back. Well I am glad he is gone at last. Miss Taggart came home early at 1/2 past 4 p.m. afraid of thunder and lightning. I borrowed ,50 cts of Wells. I had a big search for a suit of underclothes of Sr didnt find them. Wallace borrowed V’s boat to go fishing around the foot to Dick Hallidays coming back tomorrow. V goes to look for help & I draw and stack oats tomorrow. Couldnt get Geo Niles. He working for J Irvine �182 Tuesday 18 Aug 1908 A fine cool day. Gunn helping V draw and stock oats. Kent mad beause teacher dismissed school so early yesterday p.m. Something always wrong with Kent always mad at somebody. Belle phoned that Ruby C and Irene H are coming down with the mail. They came after dark hungry as anything. They sat up quite late singing, dancing and raising Dickens �183 Wednesday 19 A clear bright day no rain, but the wind is tremendous. River white with great rolling waves. The impatience of these two young damsels to cross over is amusing they employ the time singing, dancing, reading a little, playing phonograph, stereoscoping & talking over the telephnoe, thumping the piano, running to the river with marine glass in hand straining their eyes looked over the waves, looking for a skiff to take them across. After chores all done Voltie rows them across and when he returns he has Charley Dixon and Bert Harte with him enroute for Kingston tomorrow with their dressing cases and band boxes happy as birds, going to the Cape fair and dance to night or tomorrow night as the case may be, if they can get any to take them. Thursday 20th Aug 1908 A beautiful day no rain. We arose early, going to Kingston again on the boat. Maud, Charley and Harte. I get their breakfast then breakfast for the family including the teacher. V and dad hoe and weed all day till chore and boat time, then drives to dock bringing M and and Lottie, and I rememer I was awful tired that night. Coons eating and tearing the corn destroying so Voltie with old dog and gun secrete themselves in corn field loaded for coon. V fires off gun, Prince barks and tears through corn nearly all night, no coon. �184 Friday 21st No rain. A bright clear day but O how the wind howls from south. Lottie makes a cake. Maud makes cake. Maud straightens out things, sweep, make beds &c. The wind continues. Charley Jr drives down for Irene and Ruby. V & Charley go over the river after dark for them. Charley D & Burt H and Lottie go across the river in Vincent’s skiff. I set a lamp in the window till they get across. Saturday 22nd Sunday 25th May 1919. No rain. A nasty wet day but wind dont blow. Wall Niles comes over all dressed gay & fine. Emma goes with Maggie to make that periodical visit to Hirmans and came home earlier than I expected. Ray ate dinner with us. Eddie McDonald made his weekly appearence and staid till eleven p.m. (drove home). Rachel went from here this morning after breakfast �185 Monday 22 May 1919. I know there is not much of anything done this day in door any way. Watts came down this day for the first time since the 2nd of May. Postmaster general Toronto started him on the road. I send a letter to Mirian Benton & Grace. Tuesday 27 May 1919. A fine day. Potatoe planting going on to day and other digging out doors. The calves are on the point 5 of them. Harold Dignum is home and has a a party at Jim Morgans this night. Alden drives for E & E and they go return at midnight. Abysma and Eddie here in eve. Wednesday 28th May 1919 A fine warm growing day. Voltie preparing and sowing barley "over there". Emma cleaned and papered my bed room. We had a ring up to meet some one (a man & woman) at the boat. V drove over for them but found no one. Guess it is Bert and Maud. They got left any way, whoever it was. I write and send Grace a letter and receive on from Watson �186 Wednesday 25 August 1908 Thursday 29 May 1919 A bright warm morning, not brilliant. Slept well in my newly cleaned bedroom. Voltie gone to factory. Emma getting breakfast. Edith feeding her pig. I’ll never forget the towel affair. I thought I had the privilege of having one of my very own but how mistaken one can be. Kindness of heart is a beautiful thing but it is almost an unknown quality in this family, nothing but rampant selfishness. Thursday 26th August 1908 A beautiful day no rain. V and dad weeding among the vines all day. Intended sending Maud to Kingston to day for groceries but failed in the cash business. I canned 2 tomatoes, write Grace a long letter, just cooked and washed dishes. Maud made beds, swept floors, cleaned up in general. Will Dignum & Johny Murray here in the evening and they and V and the girl’s visited out on the verandah �187 Friday 27th August 1908 No rain. A fine day Wind South, barometer indicates rain. Snyder working here helping Voltie draw and stack peas which finishes the harvest. Teacher carried a letter for me to post to Grace. I boil corn & potatoes make apple jelly. This is the first time I have written in this diary in more than a week. I dont think I can work back with memory clear enough to catch up with every thing but why should I record every insignificant event; there are some things which I would not write if I rememered them. No rain for a long time. I heard Sr say "the grain harvesting is not very abundant any where this year. Voltie has paid Johny McDonald $25 dollars for hay, also 50 dollars last payment on his double buggy, two debts which we wiped out. V while waiting for dinner plays phonograph for Snider; after dinner Snyder looks at the sterescoptic views. I think this is the first time Snyder ever looked through a stereographoscope A Syrian pedlar here wanting to sell silk embroidery shirt waists $1,50 - no money couldnt buy. V pays Bill Gunn $1,00 for stacking oats. Dignums drive for their mail also drive in here for Maud & Stella to go to their house for an evening brought them home again at 11 pm. No rain. �188 Saturday 28th Aug 1908 A fine day no rain. V rose at four Oclock. I hustled out and got his breakfast, Stella ate with him. She went up with V to Irvine’s for music lessons and came home at 10 a.m. Merritt Daily drove in here for potatoes. I introduced him to Miss Taggart. Poor old Merrit he talks kinder flat. I gave him some tomatoes. Next came a young fellow name Purvis, peddling stereoscopic views, the finest I ever saw. He stays to dinner. V came home about 11 p.m. he came across on the 3 pm boat. Crawford wouldn’t bring his coal or lumber, nor for any one. Said he wouldn’t carry frieght Saturday only passengers on Saturday. V bought 3 phonograph records, gave Irene one. I had not gone to bed but sat up, reading. Dignums phoned for Stella to go to church with them tomorrow. V saw Bob and Mrs Gaskin on the market. �189 Sunday 29 Aug 1908 A beautiful day. No rain. Sr after breakfast goes across to see his relatives. Stella goes to the village R.C. church with the Dignems. We are anticipating a quiet restful Sabath. V he’s down for a little sleep Arthur comes over acompanied by wee Charley also bringing that miserable nuisance Terrel with him, an intruder an interloper. They stay to dinner. V takes Arthur through the corn field. If I sit down to write a few lines I go fast asleep sitting in the chair. I dont like it. Next came Bob Henderson who work for Mike OBrien. V entertained him with stereoscopy and phonograph. Next came Roy McIntyre who staid till dark. Stella came home at 11 pm being brought home by Johny Murphy. Wells came home at tea time having had a fine visit, said Lib has changed her political view of the presedentials election. She is a republican no more. She votes for Bryan now and I think I do too. I dont like Taft with a stomach on him like old Hollenbeck. Van has hurt his foot. �190 Monday 30 August 1908 A beautiful day, no rain but Oh so hot, thermometer more than 80 in shade. V went to Niles to thresh, found that the machine will set up here tomorrow, came home and drove to the ferry for beef, and things. May Ranous here selling tickets for a garden party to be held at the villiage. Maud bought one. Our hens and chickens are eating up our tomatoes & cucumber. Wells chased one old hen more than an hour then called on Maud and I to help him, had the gate open wide but she didn’t go out though very near it several times, at last she dove under the veranda and no amount of punching would bring her out and there she staid. Voltie came home at 9 p.m. Stella and Maud went to River to wash their feet came back and show me how clean their feet are and stay in my bed room till Voltie comes home. Stella telling me her home life. V comes home after having had charge of C.W. who came home drunk as usual, howling drunk. Voltie brought home Irene’s record smile, smile, smile. V went early this morning to thresh at Niles. Wells weeding & wines �191 Tuesday 1 September 1908 A fine warm day. No rain. V went to Niles to thresh, found they have more men than they need; so of course they have no need of him; he fixes the threshing table, takes down the wire by the barn. Cant ring for central telephone wire broken by swallows. V fixed the broken wire. No Rain Friday 30 May 1919 A very warm growing day, deposited a letter in the mail box to Nelson for three books but Walls at his same old tricks, dont come. Voltie planting potatoes. Emma papered my bed room. Bert too is working in evening go fishing by torch light. No Rain Saturday 31st May 1919 Every cleaned up for Sunday but the house cleaning hangs fire, cake made etc. Voltie and Bert working fixing fence & planting. Go fishing by torch light in evening. �192 June 1 Sunday 1919 No Rain. A fine day every thing growing, every apple tree like a snow drift. No one here all day except ourselves including Bert, Maud and Hubert till evening when over came the Morgans ie Alden and Madaline. Then came Eddie McDonald bringing with him Ogle. They hang round on the back steps for awhile talking with Maud & bert then they come in and march through the kitchen & dining room directly to the parlor & then the pow wow begins, hollering yelling thumping the piano and they imagine they are singing. Nearly 12 Oclock midnight when they went home. This is the 4th night V has been kept awake till late Monday June 2nd 1919 No rain. A hot day. After all the rainy weather, I guess a drought has began, tho every thing is beautiful at present but no wind not even a small refreshing breeze not a ripple on the river. After dinner Voltie rows Bert over the river. But enroute for WatertownV comes in time to do the chores bringing 6 gal of kerosine. Then at sunset he goes back over there and bring his own oil tank and 15 more gal of kerosine. �193 Saturday 5th September 1908 No rain. We do a clean hard days work this day (Maud & I). Maud cut her finger and burnt her finger, both done in rags and ointment. We canned tomatoes. Maud swept, moped & renovated the rooms all through, cleaned and polished six windows, tidied the pantry from top to floor. Sunday 6th September 1908 A fine family Sunday, no one here all day. A peaceful, quiet, restful day. We do the dishes, read. A big thunder shower for somebody. It is raining here but not very hard. We need a good thorough rain for this terrible dry weather is ruinous. V brought in an armful of sweet corn and a ripe watermelon. I write a letter to Beatrice; seems to me she must be lonesome without her mother and her own people so long. �194 Monday 7 September 1908 No Rain. A beautiful day wind West and cool. Volty drove to factory this morning enroute for Boltons threshing. Sr, after getting an armful of sweet corn has bonet at his told trade weeding strawberry vines. Says "there is no profit in strawberries. I ask him what there could be made more profitable on this small place, "Potatoes’. Maud & I canned 9 cealers of tomatoes. I finish writing a letter to Beatrice. Maude made a tea cake with maple filling. Merrit Daily here for a bag of oats. Nearly sundown and Voltie not yet come with the unwashed milk can; his father filling the pails with milk. nothing to strain it into. Voltie just now come, can washed and every thing, all all right. Will and Harrold Dignum gone over to Buchanan. Harold got a very bad hand where he dug a pimple open with his jacknife. It is terribly swolen [sic: swollen] and painful. Tuesday morning 8 September No Rain. V stays home to day and pulls beans. machine gone to Montgomerys from Boltons. Mrs Taggart came down bringing Stella. Tag staid to dinner a great talker a good visitors. Irene came down with the mail enroute for Marjories to help her cook for thresh, dry weather, no rain. Sr needs strawberry vines, Maud sick all day with head ache. Harold D gone to Kingston to Hotel Dieu. �195 Wednesday 9th September 1908 Clear, wind wind blowing a harrycane [sic: hurricane] smoky and dry. V digging potatoes. Sr weeds strawberry vines. Irene begining Mauds black dress skirt. The girls have great time visiting; had to drive them off to bed. Such a racket I never heard. Never can be young but once. Harold Dignum is better so they phoned. Thursday 10th September No rain. Maud gone to Kingston this morning accompanied by Irene. Voltie drove to the dock with them, then drew popatoes [sic: potatoes] from the field 7 bags. After dinner V went to Samys to thresh. I cooked, wash dishes, milk can. Stella after school phoned to Dignums to tell the girls to walk home from the dock for V threshing and cant leave, awful dry weather no rain. �196 Friday 11th September 1908 No rain. A fine day, smokey, no rain. V finished threshing at Sam Woodmans and now gone across the river to Arthurs to row Irene across. Merritts Daily here for potatoes. Sr clubbed Sinders Turkeys out the door yard; guess he killed one. I make plum preserves. Bob phoned for George Niles and Lloyd to come immediately. The company are just now sending the Pontiac out on the lakes this late period of the season, "but better late than never". McLaren phoned to ask how the landing is for his launch. McLaren brought Rachel & Ethel down in gasoline boat, bundles, boxes and baskets. They are pleased to get home once home once more. V pulling beans & cutting corn over on R’s place. Wells worked in Strawberry vines. V relates to me the story of Arthur. V’s financial embardment that he told him (V) this day while he was there. Threshing there this pm. Irene & a Mrs Rowans helping Marjorie. The smoke thick and strong cant see across the river, steamboat calling all night long in the murky atmosphere. Franks 4 kids have a great time wading and playing in the water without a stitch of clothing on them, not even baby Robert. �197 Saturday 12 September 1908 No Rain. Cooler this morning wind North, smoky no rain. Everything drying up Voltie drew all the beans and corn from Rachels place. Old Meritorious here again to day for potatoes. V carried home R’s pots cups & plates that I borrowed at threshing time. Stella helped me about the breakfast dishes. Commenced packing eggs only three dozen. Franks youngone, on the shore again to day. Len Patterson, Emma and the auld one gone up to day. Carrie here for tomatoes for dinner. Sunday 13 September 1908 No Rain. Didn’t arise quite so early as usual this morning. A fine day for warm weather. Maud went to 10 Oclock service with the Ranous family. Voltie & Stella went fishing caught enough for dinner. Smith and George Lidy’s boy came over in one skiff and Terrol in another. Terol not very welcome but he comes all the same. We had a fine mess of fish for dinner. No rain. Rachel & Frank Woodman here. Frank carried home butter, tomatoes & watermelons. �198 Monday 14th September 1908 Wind North and breezy cool. No rain. V and dad digging potatoes 12 bags to day which makes 21 bags in cellar. Rachel came over bringing Snyder’s Emma Lemon with them, a very pretty child but Oh! so dirty. Ethel didn’t come over. Heard Wellie was sick, dont believe it. Phoned to Bert Joslin McDonel. Said Eveline wrote Wellie had a billious attack. Tuesday 15th September 1908 No rain. A fine day—a September day cool days that are beginning to foreshadow the decline of the the year autumn. The grain harvest is past, threshing done, and we look upon a bountiful supply yet to be harvested—gathered in great variety, corn & popcorn, sweet corn, ensilage corn, the diffferent varieties of apples, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, squash, beans, cabbage, potatoes, beets, carrots, turnips, sage, summer savory, sunflower, onions (a few) and then is this department are butter, eggs, milk, cheese, beef, honey, pork, fowl, hickory nuts. It take a quantity �199 and variety to supply one small family of four beside the canning, pickling & preserving of fruit not to mention groceries, spices of all kinds etc. etc. etc. etc. 15 more bags in cellar which makes 37. R came over. Ethel ate dinner at Frank Woodmans. Evening visitors Frank & Emma, Laura, Tom, Will & Harold Dignum also Ileen Coil. Dancing after phonograph music. A letter from Rev Lancaster. Maude took up the parlor carpet. Wednesday 16th September 1908 No rain. A cool morning wind North. No rain. Ethel staid all night, went over to R’s after breakfast. I wash a lot of colored clothes. Maud gathers Oldenburghs for market. V & dad pull beans, awful smoky. Heard the woods are on fire and burning between Charmont & Depauville. Evening R has company. The Dignum Bros (Will & Harold), Stella & Ethel by a pre arainged [sic: prearranged] plan meet the Dignum’s at Rachels. �200 Thursday 17th September 1908 A smokey day. The atmosphere heavy with smoke. Cant see the church from here. I ask Stella how she found her way home from School. No rain, everything drying up. I work around all day. Have supper ready on the table when they come home. Rachel came with them bringing bottled ale, cheese and Bologna, sausage. Ethel staid at Dignums. Mrs Dignum not home yet from Brandon. V and dad at the beans & dig potatoes. Friday 18 September 1908 No rain. I made cellery sauce. V and Sr dug potatoes all day. Maude didn’t do much; resting herself after Kingston. Received a letter from Gladys, a postal from Gladys also one from Harriet Roseboom and a letter from Grace. 60 bags of potatoes in one bin. Voltie sent Babson Bros $7,00 on phonograph account. �201 Saturday 19 September 1908 No rain. Not so much smoke as yesterday. North wind blew the smoke southward to where it came from. Stella home from school and doing her washing. Maud baked bread, cakes, cookies, & cleaned floors. V threshed part of the day at Flynns came home to supper. Stella walked up & from Irvines for music lessons. Belle came down driving old Jake accompanied by Henry. Rachel came over accompanied by Ethel for her milk and potatoes. In the evening, Maud goes home with Ethel and Rachel, and stays all night. Belle & I sit up till after 11 pm, then we go to bed. Sunday 20th September 1908 A chilly morning. No rain. Awoke this day morning to find Belle and Henry here. Rachel & Ethel soon came over. I wash all the dishes & separator while Maud dresses herself, V & Stella and Ethel and the Kid Henry go fishing while Belle and Rachel sit visiting out on the veranda. Belle get dinner. R says she dont �202 understand our potatoes nor corn nor squash says if she was home she would know all about it. Will Sr and Wells Junior came over for Ethel to go home. She didn’t go. She going to the fair dance with Will Dignum when Will goes home. Maud goes over to Marjories to see if June has her skirt finished. Len Patterson wife Cassie and Ethel Woodman came to buy a watermelon which they are going to eat on the shore. They came in while waiting for Voltie to come. He has gone down the shore with Will who has left Art Vincents skiff on the shore down by George Niles place. Stella went with Belle to help pick a lot of green corn to carry home with her and some sweet crab apples to preserve and melons &c. Stella went up the island with Belle as far as Ed Paines. Maud returned with Frank and Emma Woodman and Len Patterson. Rachel came over to milk her cow while I get the supper and wash dishes again. Will has gone home disapointed about Ethel. Belle had gone home disapointed about Irene not coming to go home with her but Maud says Marjorie has 12 men to cook for tomorrow. They are going to fill the silo. Phillips, Bass & Guernsey called enroute for uncle Sam Woodman. �203 Monday 21st September 1908 No rain. Smoky. Voltie gone to Flynns to thresh; finished there, moved the machine to Morgans; ate dinner there, finished threshing and came home at 3 p.m. then threshed beans &c Len Patersons wife Cassie & Ethel Woodmans here for tomatoes. They left them here while they went down the shore looking for hickory nuts on Snyders. And as Snider had started to come here to see if V could shoe his horse and was walking fast with club in hand consequently nearly came unaware upon the nut gathers who started and ran while Snider for fun ran after them. And they were frightened of course at nothing. I make sweet apple preserves. Ethel and R came over. In evening the Dignums drive here with Ethel calling for Maude and Stella to go visiting at Geo Gillespies. Maud goes Stella stays home and helps me wash dishes and goes to bed with tooth ache. Poor dear girl. �204 Friday 22nd September 1908 No rain. A heavy thick fog envelopes every thing, can scarcely see the barn. Arose at half past 4. Sr gone to Kingston. Stella gone to school. Not very cold; thermometer registers 60 and steadily growing warmer. Irene, Schram and Beatrice came over in Arthurs skiff enroute for their home to see Charley Sr and Belle and all the others. They rode up with the mail. V lent Frank Woodman his double buggy. They all staid to dinner and Ethel too. Voltie brought in sweet corn, squash, potatoes, watermelon, musk melon, tomatoes and we had beans, cake and custard pie. After awhile R came over and had had no dinner. She helped herself from the cupboard. Ethel washing for herself and Rach. Devolson after shoeing his horse, and fixing the pig pen, turned to threshing beans. P.M. Maud ironing. Irene finished Mauds skirt which is a beauty but she would not accept of any pay. Eleven wee pigs in the pen. A letter from Muriel also one from Grace, when Frank and Irene arrived at home. They found Belle & Charley gone over the river looking for a new home. �205 Wednesday 23rd September 1908 No rain. I wish it would rain; very hot & dry and smoky. The Adirondacks and and Catskill mountains are blazing. The timber (woods) are burning; nothing but a heavy rain can extinguish the fire. Voltie and Stella and Maud are gone to the fair and to the fair dance. V going to Kingston on the one oclock boat. Ethel came over to iron, getting ready to attend the fair dance, going with Wm Dignum. Wells Sr milks the cows alone. R came over to supper bringing some sour milk "cruds". Terrible drought leaves all turning yellow on the trees and droping [sic: dropping] off. Ethel and Wm start for the villiage at 6,30 pm. Snyders turkeys destroying our garden driving them out nor driving them home does no good. They come directly back again. �206 Thursday Sept 24th 1908 No rain. Stella came first with Johny Murphy. Then V and M came but Voltie went to Kingston on the boat. Maud drove over with V so as to bring the rig back. Ethel went home with Will Dignum and also went to Kingston. R. came over and ate dinner with us. Maud went to bed a while. Frank Woodman cutting and binding our corn. Snyder’s turkeys here again; 9 of them destroying our garden. Sr drove to dock for V. Voltie brought a basket of peaches and pickling onions & tumeric, shirt and a suit of under clothes & socks. Friday 25 September 1908 Very thick fog and smoky, everything dying and drying up. weather very warm sent Grace a letter. R & Ethel came over lugging all Ethel’s dry goods, suit case, basket and boxes. Ethel slept till dinner time. After dinner, V rowed across the river with Ethel & A. Vincents. A dance at Dignums this evening. Voltie, Stella & Maude went to the dance. I think it must have been a reception for Mrs Dignum’s return home. �207 Saturday 26 September [1908] No rain. They all came home at three this morning Tuesday 3 June 1919 No rain. A blazing hot day no wind to stir the leaves on the trees. Emma painting a little in kitchen. The house cleaning drags as I expected it would. I dont think there has been a hotter day in a year. After dinner V goes down by the consession and sows and plants a garden. Maud patches her clothes then after sunset she and Em go to R awhile come back and V and they go for Ells and get none. Sunday 27 September 1908 No rain. A very warm day not so breezy as it might be. No visitors to day. Maud went to church with the Ranous family. After dinner V and I went for hickory nuts, gathered nearly 1/2 bushel Wednesday 4th June 1919 No rain. Another day just like yesterday hot hot blazing hot & not a breath of air stirring. Em still painting in kitchen. V was saying at the breakfast table that Bert still continues to carry Hubert around by one leg. He Bert often does that. I dont see how any kid can grow and have good intelect [sic: intellect] that is brought up bottom side upward. �208 Monday 28 A shower accompanied by a tremendous wind from S.E. Voltie says its the equinial [sic: equinoctial] storm. Water dashing high on shore. Weather warm 78 in shade. V has a few boys to help him draw corn. Willie and Larry Dignum and John Murray a.m. and this pm an addition of one recruit Johny McDonnell the other boys are drawing coal from the dock and that is what V ought to be doing. R came over to dinner but she wouldnt stay. She helped wash dinner dishes, got a pail of water from the river to carry home and went. Tuesday 29 September 1908 �209 Jan 1st Saturday 1910 New years day again. A very pleasant day but cloudy. Geo and Sam could drill to day if they had a mind to but they have no mind to the family works all day except father and he sits around all day by the fire. He dont feel very well Thursday Oct 1st 1908 Sunday 2nd Jan 1910 A quiet day reading most all day. Voltie seading nearly all day. Sr in kitchen reading. No one came in all day. After dinner Maud bundles her self up and goes to Rachels and comes home again at nearly sunset. Cloudy all day and snowing some. We get up late but have 3 meal all right. �210 Monday 3rd January 1910 [top margin] John Spoor came at bed time. All abed exept [sic: except] I. V went to the door, Spoor went to Niles to to stay all night. A sort of a windy day from S., chilly, snowing, flying. Frank came up & he & Voltie are drilling. Geo and two flunkeys wouldn’t drill. I finished a letter to Wellie that I had commenced yesterday. Little Samy came awhile but went home before dinner. I worked over and printed the butter 8 lbs and 6 more already done 14 lbs ready for market. This is Election day. Voltie nor Sr didn’t go. Frank staid to supper, and then staid to visit till nine p.m. Tuesday 4 Jan 1910 10 deg below zero, coldest morning yet, river froze across but clear and brilliant. Frank came up to drill. Then phoned to Sam Wm H. W. to come up and see how Rachel fares. This cold morning I send a letter to wellie and to Eaton for Hoosier Schoolmaster. I received cards from Wells family and Balar also, two letters from Grace. Maud received Letters & cards. Samy here again. I treated him to raisons and figs. Fran staid to supper. As usual we sit up reading. Dick Berry brought the New Teacher, Miss Stevenson. She boards with Niles. �211 [top margin] School began this day Wednesday 5 Jan 1910 A coudy morning somewhat warmer than yesterday, looks like snow or rain. River frozen clear across this morning—My Christmas cards beautiful. 15 of them; from children, grandchildren nephews & nieces & friends and brother. With a dirty storming day, snowing cold wind from south. The ice remains solid in the river. Frank came up but couldnt drill, staid to dinner, had pea soup. Thursday 6 Jan. A cloudy day. Emma didnt go to school this day nor yesterday. She is a lazy little girl and careless, spills water every where she goes and says "she cant help it", she never does any thing unless asked requested. Maud cleaned all the floors. V went over to Rachels to put hay in he barn, carried her Mrs Lapatras card. Frank phoned he is coming up after dinner to drill. �212 Friday 7 Jan 1910 Cloudy; snows in fore noon Frank came after dinner and drill till nearly dark when the drill colapsed [sic: collapsed] Frank went home. There was a time when [pagragraph struck out majority of words] and I now wish, and more than. I made her Emma a dress to day. 1910 Saturday 8 Jan some colder than yesterday. Finished Emmas dress. Frank drilling all day—drills 9 feet to day, 40 feet altogether. Found some water but struck a crevice and it drained away. V says he will drill 150 feet but he will get water. Frank staid to supper and Oh so noisy. Maud is very happy in her anticipations of the future, she received a letter of appology [sic: apology] from her father. He said "I was [nghy] to you Maud when you were here". Pea soup for supper. �213 1910 Sunday 9th January Wind South, cloudy and a few snowflakes flying. Maud & Emma doing the breakfast dishes and separator Voltie reads Nancy Stair. I do as I have a mind to. Sunday is always a quiet day in this house especialy if no one here. At this moment, Voltie sits opposite coal stove reading "Nancy Stair". Maud sitting exactly in front of the stove with feet elevated on each front stove corner reading Mansfield park. Emma sitting by the North window trembling over the leaves of a book. Wells Sr sitting out by the kitchen stove reading The Whig (his favorite newspaper) and in his favorite corner; behind the stove is a full pail of cream which I must churn tomorrow. Now tis half past eleven am Well the day passes quietly Monday 10 Jan 1910 Frank drilling again to day. 47 feet. No water. Rachel staid here last night—came home with Maud at dark carrying lantern. �214 Monday 10 Jan 1910 Maud washed after V brought water. After breakfst V hitched up and after driving over home with Rachel came back and drove to school house with Emma. I have a lame back 11 Jan Tuesday 1910 Will is 51 years old to day. We are passing along with the years as they go "thundering down the course of time". Emma walked to school. The weather is cold, quiet, cloudy. I got a lame back yet, drilling water. Tom Chatterton came down with the mail, ate supper here and staid all night, said he was at a party last night at Dignums. Evening mail; a box of paper, pens & envelopes from Bob the Hoosier Schoolmaster from Eatons Acad from Eveline for Rachel, Whig &c. After supper F goes home, gasoline gave out. F went home. The gasoline was sent down by the mail. Sam Snub here in evening �215 Wednesday 12 Jan 1910 A very fine day. Sr calls it weather breeder. After breakfast Tom Chatterton goes down to Franks and then walks across the river going to Wills & to the masquerade tomorrow night. 13 January Thursday 1910 Trees this morning covered with frost beautiful to behold. Wind South, mild & foggy. Frank and V drilling again this day. At 3 pm V came in with the joyful news. Opened a water vein! water pouring in by pails full, 14 feet in a few minutes. Rachel came over a while she came for her mail. A card from Eveline and her Good Litterature. �216 January 1910 14 Friday Wind N. A stormy cold day. Voltie intended going to William G’s for wood but when he came in bringing the cold Northern blast with him and cold hands face and ears. He told Emma to wait till half past nine and he would take her to school but no she was so anxious to go to school that she walked. V went to Franks for the rope to measure the water in the well. He found 51 feet. I darn mittens and cut rug rags. Em washed breakfast dishes. Maud dinner dishes. Maud churned and washed & salted the butter 8 lbs. We had tomato soup for dinner. l5 Saturday January 1910 �217 Sunday 16 Jan 1910 Saturday 17 Oct 1908 A beautiful warm day Voltie and Stella gone to Kingston started early we do the usual Saturdays work mop, bake bread and cake. V �218 Saturday 18 Oct 1908 A beautiful warm smoky day. No visitors. Voltie after breakfast went over to Rachels to carry her bread, celery. W & C came across field and picked up a few hickory nuts a first basket full. Henry Halliday at consession with his yacht. It was out of gas. Voltie fixed it for him then it run like a ribon. I took a nap after dinner, the first in a year in the day time. Maud dressed up for Visitors but none came didn’t expect any one in particular but all the same she was disapointed 19 Monday 17 Jan 1910 A tolerable day. R came over and brought the books "Micah Clark �219 1910 Tuesday 18th Jan 1910 Rain rain rain! all day V out working in the shop nearly all day. Wishes he could sell out and move over the river. Frank here for vinegar. Wednesday 19 January 1910 Snow nearly all gone this morning, sun shines out dimly. I washed all breakfast dishes, milk pails, get breakfast, sponge bread. Emma makes beds & patters around dad asking questions and finding fault. Voltie fixing John McDonel’s sleigh. Wind west & 2 deg below freezing. V hung the quarter of beef in apple tree �220 22 23 �221 Saturday 24 Oct 1908 V drove to the villiage stopping at Bells. Maude and Stella went with him. Stell stopping at Paines (Ed). I work around all day. Belle came down in evening accompanied by Kathleen & Henry Maude staid at Belles and Stell at Paines V soon came home bringing pickles and things. 25 Sunday Oct 1908 A very fine warm day. Voltie, Kathleen and Henry went for hickory nuts down by the cedar. Picked up a half bushel. Belle and Kathleen helped me get dinner. We looked for Arthur and Marjorie but they didn’t come. Belle partly made up her mind to go home but concluded to stay till tomorrow morning. �222 Monday 26 Oct 1908 Election day at our school house. Voltie went up to vote a conservative ticket—Henry Halliday came home with him to dinner. Snub Woodman returning officer. Charley Wood, secretary and he is a drunk, dirty face, eyes all swelled up, a pitiful looking object indeed. Now I dont take any interest in Canadian government affairs. The States is my home. Belle went home to day; never expect to see her again coming down the road driving in here. Tuesday 27 Oct 1908 A very fine warm day Kathleen and I cook & wash dishes, she is quick and smart for a little 11 year old girl. The day is so warm so no wind. Think there will be a storm when the river is so still like a mirror. �223 Wednesday 28 A drizzly cold day. Maud at Bells coming down on the boat. Voltie carried a grist of hay feed to the dock. Then drew a load of cheese from the factory the last time for Voltie to draw this year. Then talked of driving for Maud but the rain came pouring down and phoned to Mrs Dignum to keep Maud there. In the evening V & Stell danced in the parlor to the to the [sic] two step bred thorough Thursday 29 A mudy morning after the heavy rain of last night. Wells drives to the dock with Voltie; he is going to Kingston. Maud came home from Kingston and staid all night at Dignums. The Winmills came down on the boat. Maud had big time clearing and straightning up things, dusting, sweeping, mopping &c �224 Friday 30 The young chap came around with the map of the dominion of Canada, he said he had notified us by postal but I’ve not received it so took it any way, going to pay him next week, send it to Gananoque $1,40. Rachel came over & coaxed the Winmills home with her, she is going to kill a rooster. Joy go with them and peace behind them. Saturday 31st Chilly weather didn’t mop floors to day. they are clean enough. Winmills over to Rachels all day. V worked at cellar way: in the eve he drove to Wm G Woodmans for his trousers that William had carried home with him by mistake. Stella went with him to Irvines for music lesson, came back at nine p.m. & somewhat cold and rather glum. �225 Sunday 1st Nov 1908 A chilly day wind wet and blowing some. I make pea soup and currant pie for dinner. Winmills come over from Rachels. After awhile Rachel comes over also. V & [Stella Taggart|S]] visit in parlor and dance a two step after telephone music. Oh I hate the very sound of that one piece of music throughout. Oh I get so sleepy sitting up so late waiting for the Winmills to go to bed that at last I have to retire but they never get tired for they dont work. Monday 2nd Nov 1908 Wind South and not very warm. Windmills folks went home this morning. (Bill and Mary) after being away from home nearly two weeks. Maud made jumbles and molasses cookies and frosted cakes. I sliced 1/2 bushel of green tomatoes. Sr plowing potato ground by consession, brought in a pail full of potatoes that he has ploughed out. V finishing the cellar way, making door and painting outside door for cellar. Rachel came over and found a letter here from Jen which she read aloud. Jen sent some camping poetry which she has clipped from a democratic newspaper very fine. Mrs Niles here for sage going to make sausage. Frank and Ann here also. �226 Tuesday 3rd Nov 1908 A dull sort of a day chilly. This is the one eventful day in four years, great presidential election between Bryson & Taft. Voltie helping butcher at Boltons. Wells Sr plowing. I not doing much of any thing to day. Kathleen talking over the phone with her sister Grace. There only remains to day and tomorrow for communication by telephone between this house and Belle’s for tomorrow they move to Jeff. County. Maud ironing & frosting cakes. I’ve not written in this diary before in a long time. Another pig missing on the point which makes two. Wells says they have been stolen and it looks very much like it. We stew pumkin for pies. Voltie just returned from Boltons brought 2 livers and 3 hearts. Maud baking bread. V tired after butchering 7 hogs retired early, the girls soon folowed [sic: followed] example but te he’d and giggled so much V couldn’t sleep, heard the old black cow in the yard. V got out bed went and drove her out. I sit by coal stove till 10 pm reading. �227 Wednesday 4th Nov 1908 Wind changed in night to N.W. and made things rattle for a while. Colder this morning, froze quite hard this morning. After morning Voltie hitched up and drove to Charlies; they are moving to day a bee to draw their household goods to the villiage where they will be put aboard of the Wolfe Islander together with the family enroute for Clayton and then for their new home with V. our telephone line broken in the night by strong wind. Grandpa Wells fixed it; he does so many things shingles the barn, draws the manure, plows the potatoes ground, milks the cows. It snowed some to day. Thermometer down to 28. Maude made pumpkin pies and pudding. I made Chow Chow all but vinegar got to wait till Voltie comes to draw it out the keg. Whew how the North wind blown. Three storm windows up only. Stella went to Morgan’s where she met her beau’s sister, Miss Maud Murphy. V came at sunset bringing Grace H & a load of stuff together with one cat & one dog. Voltie drove to the villiage and saw them and their goods safely aboard the Islander. V went down to get Frank to help unload the box of canned fruit. Found Frank and Emma gone to Will Michea wedding reception and Gm in charge of the kids. �228 Thursday 5th Nov 1908 A cool morning, quite cold. Thermometer down to 24 deg, that is 8 deg below freezing. Arose at 4 am hustled around and got V’s breakfast. He hustled too after the old sort; dad drove to Dock with him arrived just in time. We had a good time clearing up, Maude, Grace, Kathleen & I. Dad drove to dock for Grace G and her children. They came early. A cold windy day, evening visitors, Lizzie Redic, John Redic, John Murray, Nina Murphy, Harold Dignum, our own kids Maude, Grace & Kathleen. Voltie and Sister Grace G and watched them dance to the phonograph music. Friday 6 Nov 1908 day. Stell walked to school, dirty, snowy, rainy. Voltie in evening drove to the villiage with Stell Tag. V thinks she is cute but he will not think that for long. I dont mind his fancying Stell nor his driving her around if he would only let whiskey alone and never touch any intoxicating drink but he has been partly drunk since last Wednesday when he went up to help Charlie move and he has been more or less drunk ever since �229 Oh the horror of it. Loss of character time, money, intelect [sic: intellect], health, red bloated face, bleary eyed, unsteady step, unsteady hand, mudled [sic: muddled] brain, and idiotic appearance, thick tongued speach [sic: speech], senseless flat talk, loss of memory and what is the gain, the compensation. Just this, the sensation of drunkeness. 7 Nov 1908 Saturday came Voltie came at 3 a.m. came in very softly and quietly but I heard him. He had driven away up to the villiage with Stell Taggart & broke Woodman’s buggy top. Grace sewing on Mauds red dress. V is so drunk he is strange. Oh tis terrible. I dont know what I’m going to do. Wish I could go away somewhere and never come back again. When, last Christmas, Voltie made me a present of this diary I never thought I would have to record the above event but he has promised Grace his own little sister that he will not drink any more and sealed it with a pledge. �230 Sunday 8 A peaceful day, we pop corn and crack hickory nuts. V getting sober again but he looks bad, miserable. Grace H and Kathleen anxious to go over the river. Monday 9 V plows all day till 3 pm then gets ready for the dance at the villiage. Maud going too. Grace finishes Maud’s dress and dresses her for the ball. She looks love [sic: lovely] in her ball rig. �231 Tuesday 10 Nov 1908 Stella came between 5 and 6 am. John Murphy brought her home all the way from the villiage, birds of a feather, etc.V and M came about 4 pm. V went to Kingston to the dentist. They all enjoyed themselves at the dance and V came home like a gentleman. Old cod was there with mag paine, drunk as usual hollering, yelling, disturbing the party dirty face & spectacles all mud. Wednesday 11 �232 Thursday 12 Nov 1908 A very chilly morning. Voltie drove to do dock with Grace, Rob’t Jr and Isabelle & Maud. Grace is returning home to the city after a week visit. Grace, Kathleen and I do house work. V plowing. Dad quarrying stone. Wind blowing hard from the west all day. V drove to dock for Maud. They came quite early. Maud bring sold butter for 28 cts per lb. She bought me a new wrapper, postal cards, Kathleen & Grace each a movie card album Friday 13 Nov 1908 Cold frozen last night. Wind blowing again to day. Voltie plowing. Kathleen ironing. Maud made a pie for dinner, made a cake. I see so much work to be done and dont do it. I cant sit at work but a very few minutes for I always have something to do around the house. We didn’t get out of bed till till after 6 am. want to write to many people friends and relatives. I am trying to finish making sweet pickles. Received a letter from Belle the first since they moved to their new home. �233 Saturday 14 Nov 1908 A rather warm quiet morning. Voltie rowed Grace, Kathleen & Happy and tiny over to Arthur. Came back towards noon bringing McChires, Review of Reviews, Happy Hours, etc. Yes V rowed Grace H and Bumblebee (Kathleen) across the river and Stell has prodded on foot up to Morgans just before dark after Lizzie has phoned so many times to day to meet Murphy I suppose. Sunday 15 Nov 1908 Awake this morning to find ourselves alone dad, Voltie, Maud & I We are alone all day except Rachel here a few minutes to get Voltie to pull hay from her stack to feed her cow. I sit by the coal stove all day not very well. Think I have eaten to much beef. �234 Monday 16 Nov 1908 A nasty cloudy day, chilly, Wind S. blowing hard all night. Voltie plowing on Rachel. Maud stewing pumkin for pies. I am much better this morning and work around all day, begins snowing towards noon & snows so hard and furiously that V turns out and comes home. Works around till dinner time. (can always find work enough to do with in doors and out) After dinner Voltie sharpens plow coults for Woodman’s. Then goes over to Rachels and pulls hay enough to last her cow two day, comes home and drives to school for Stell Taggart. Maud baking pumkin pies, chocolate cake, jumbles. I stew beef, cook beans, put cucumber pickles soaking, churn, work and pack the first butter in the 4 gal. crock. Try to make an apron didn’t get it done. �235 Tuesday 16 Nov 1908 Snow on the ground this morning and froze. Voltie gone plowing. No kindling in the house this morning found a board down cellar. We arose at 5 am. Stell walked to school. Opened another can of strawberries for her dinner this morning if I keep on soon wont have any strawberries. Well I’ve washed breakfast dishes, separator. Mail letter from Grace, a card from Kathleen, card from Dana Seely, card from Harriet Roseboom, Dr Chases Almanac, Good Stories, and a lot of other trash, advertisements etc. Grace wrote Doctors will vaccinate the city, little Robert and Margaret and baby Isabelle. Reginald got well from Vacination. Kent here for 5 gal of vinegar sent by Frank W for rubber boots. Frank owes V three dol borrowed money. I worked and packed butter & churned. �236 Wednesday 17 Nov 1908 Not very cold, but snow falling half rain. Stell walked to school this morning wearing rubber boots. V, with his new rubber boots on has gone over to Rachels to plow. Maud made spiced cucumber pickles, dad sat by the stove and patched his old felt boots—heels worn out. Well I’ve got to knock up something for dinner for it is past 11 am. �237 19th Thursday Nov 1908 A miserable dirty day. No one goes from here to Kingston to day on account of the small pox scare. Not many goes up on the boat to day. I write letters most all day. One to Grace, one to Belle, and to Gladys and Harriet and send each a post card. Friday 20 Nov 1908 No snow on ground, all disapeared. Voltie plowing. Gunn rowed Chatterton aross to Arthurs and I sent Belles carpet rags, warp and two jars of tomato pickles. When Gunn returned he brought me St Nicholas. Maud cooked or baked pies (pumkin pies) and cakes Frank’s kids here to phone to CW to go for the mail. Mail Herald, a card from Reginald, a letter from June for Maud. 2 letters for Stell V 41 years old this day. Time flies rappidly. [sic: rapidly] �238 Saturday 21st Nov 1908 A bright beautiful day. Voltie plowing over on Rachel. I packed butter. Maud cleaned all the floors. Stella ironed her clothes as usual. Sunday 22nd Nov 1908 A beautiful day, warm still and a briliant sun shining from an unclouded sky. This is the anniversary of my birth 75 years have thundered down the course of time since I first beheld the sunlight on earth. Each year is a mile stone. Seventy five miles of lifes journey have I traveled. Some of the way has been beautiful, and part painful and dark. �239 Monday 23rd Nov A very fine day indian summer weather. Marjorie is 24 years old to day. Rachel went out to Wills to day. Arthur Vincent drove out there with Rachel. Tuesday 24 A mild day. Voltie plowing over there. Maud preparing to go up to Morgans to night with Tag going to walk across the fields. They had so much primping and fussing to do it was nearly pitch dark before they got started. Stell is going up to meet her beau John Murphy. They come home at midnight, Stell stoped out doors awhile in the buggy with Murphy a sparking. Maud done big washing all the lines crowded with clothes. �240 Wednesday 25 A very good day. Voltie plowing over there. Nina Watking Rundridge burried here to day. I churned and put up a little basket for Grace. Maud is going to Kingston tomorrow. In the evening Voltie drove over to Henry Hallidays. He promised to buy 4 cows of V but when V drove over to see when he would come for them H flunked right out. Stell went up as far as Irvines for music. Maud and I had a quiet evening all to ourselves. Maud reading to me while I sit comfortably by the coal fire. Thursday 26th A cold nasty day. Voltie drove with Maud to the dock came back, ate breakfast then finished plowing (over there). I work snug all day. I have too and am tired. V drove for Maud she bought herself a new hat which is elegant. Grace sent some books and a letter. Reginald sent me a letter too. The dear little grandson. �241 Friday 27 November 1908 Bare ground cold West wind, Voltie plowing at home, plowing up the old pasture between here and Sams. Merrit Daily who was driving along the road stoped and talked with Voltie. Says Butcher is going to live with him this winter. I washed a load of dishes this morning that was left from last night. I was too tired to wash them last night. Stella and Maude are preparing for the dance at the villiage this evening. Voltie and the horses will have to draw them up there through wind and mud. I wish it would rain hard so Maud could be compeled [sic: compelled] to stay home. Voltie not long ago was much interested in books and study, now his waltzing, two step dancing and drawing to the villiage 14 miles through mud, wind, rain any old kind of weather at all. Maud is cleaning floors to day for she wont be here tomorrow. She is going home with Miss Taggart. Sr has brought in a hen for me to dress and prepare for supper and now I have to hop up again. There is always a job on hand for me �242 Saturday 28 Nov 1908 Voltie came home from the villiage dance without the girls having left Maud to accompany Stella home for a visit. V tired and gone to bed after being up all night said he enjoyed himself fine and I’m glad. Bolton came to plow. V went and helped plow. V was mad at me too for something I said. I like to have him go to dances all night if he would only not drink any intoxicants. Sunday 29 Nov 1908 A very good day. Len Patterson here nearly all day, play on phonograph. V cut Len’s hair. Rube McFadden here to borrow a broad axe. �243 Monday 30 Nov 1908 Arose this morning and wouldn’t call Maud so managed to get breakfast alone. I let them lie till 8 am when I called Maud and Stella, soon found Maud had not returned and was greatly disapointed but she soon put in her appearance. Will Taggart having brought her down. William put his horse in barn and proceeded to stay all day & night. V plowing going to rain, and does rain hard towards evening. Caught a barrel of water. Young Tag was treated to hickory nuts, popcorn and apples, phonograph music besides three square meals, great visiting going on in evening in kitchen. Early this morning, Len came to bid us good bye he & lena They went just in neck of time for Jack had only returned when the wind began to blow river over the rowed them. Jack Niles to live to Watertown are going Tuesday 30th Nov 1908 Sun shining with flying clouds Wind blowing a gale from the west. The hardest wind storm of all this fall. Voltie plowing all day. Wants to get as much done as possible this fall. Will Taggart drove home this morning. Stella going as far as the school with him. I like the boy well. Sent Grace a letter and cards to Gladys & Harriet Roseboom. Received birth day cards from John & Flora I churned. �244 Wednesday 1 December 1908 Frozen morning. West wind. No plowing done to day, cleaned all the storm windows. Voltie put them on. Wind, yesterday blew the top off the hay stack. V went to Franks to get him to help retop the stack. It was 8 am and no breakfast. Emma just dressing herself. V raked the hay as best he could. The wind blows again but not so hard as yesterday. Frank & Gunn came at noon. Frank a Canadian half breed dressed with red tobagan and sweater. V in trouble about his debts but every thing will come all right. Every thing rights itself in time day after day will pass along and we will find ourselves here well and happy. Thursday 2 Dec 1908 Arose at four. Sr gone to town for well I dont know what for, any way he came home bringing horse lines, knitting needles. Frank borrowed our skiff and gone across the river to Depauville. Gun helped V top out hay stack. �245 Friday 3rd Dec 1908 A dirty nasty snow storm, half rain. Stella walks to school wearing Mauds grey fur collar. Storm so hard V drove for Stella after driving over to feed Rachels hens. In the evening Nina Murphy came accompanied by John Redic. Geo OBrien here, came to bring home some tools of Volties. Redic & Geo soon depart evening performance, popping corn, phonograph and scuffling—a letter from Grace, post cards, & Herald. Saturday 4th Dec 1908 A cold frozen morning. Stella & Nina came down to breakfast 1/2 past 8 am. The sun shone so brightly on the table that Nina arose from the table and pulled down the curtain at half past 11. Stella and Nina after a good deal of fussing on Stells part. Washing clothes and forty other things at last get started for Morgans �246 Sunday 5 Dec 1908 A clear cold morning, river still. Frank can come over if he wants to this morning. This is the apointed [sic: appointed] day for Rachel to come home. We arose late, sat down to breakfast at nine then sat around the stove till 10 Oclock before doing the dishes. Frank Woodman came home to day bringing Arthur V, and Ray McIntyre with him and Voltie was obliged to row them home again so he could have his boat at home. Evening visitors were Lilly Woodman, and Billie Mills. Monday 6 Dec 1908 �247 Tuesday 28th Dec 1809 [sic: 1908] A clear bright cold day. Voltie gone to Kingston by the road, & drove up double, gone for sleigh runners. Not much snow so he drove up in the double buggy. The coldest day of all so far, 8 deg above zero. Emma just this moment come down stairs 10 am, she slept so long her eyes all swelled up. Muade crocheting a rug. I suppose she thinks she is going to mary [sic: marry] Mr B. S. but I have never seen that young man but he is coming down from Sunbury where Maude went to visit her foolish father and where she became aquainted a young Cheesemaker. If he is a cheesemaker I dont think that is very high life nothing so very aristocratic about that. Wednesday 9 Dec 1908 �248 Thursday 10 Dec 1908 Friday 11 Dec 1908 �249 Saturday 12 Hexamethylenetetramine . . . . . . . . 1 hen 36 tie 70 Heart 101 half 2 thy 37 tame 71 Heath 102 old 3 her 38 tan 72 Heath 103 ail 4 am 39 an 73 mirth 104 tail 5 He 40 Annie 74 lit 105 rail 6 nine 41 Mary 75 mitt. 106 nail 7 mind 42 Harry 76 letter 107 lantern 8 Emma 43 tin 77 man 108 ten 9 Ethel 44 Tim 78 many 109 mama 10 Irene 45 let 79 any 110 Nanie 11 lent 46 Merry 80 their 111 lie 12 rent 47 hear 81 air 112 lay 13 times 48 ear 82 hare 113 lame 14 tent 49 tear 83 here 114 tree 15 what 50 tone 84 my 115 three 16 yet 51 are 85 these 116 meat 17 Hattie 52 Henry 86 they 117 meet 18 hat 53 ray 87 hay 118 met 19 Hettie 54 tray 88 thin 119 men 20 Nettie 55 next 89 than 120 hem 21 56 text 90 later 121 neat Nina �22 main 57 teat 91 letter 222 rhym 23 mane 58 eat 92 year 223 hymn 24 rain 59 ate 93 little 224 Nellie 25 tam 60 hate 94 thirteen 225 aim 26 yarn 61 mat 95 really 226 eye 27 arm 62 rat 96 heartily 227 linen 28 harm 63 time 97 Tilly 228 thee 29 harm 64 Ray 98 Hill 229 tell 30 hair 65 early 99 ill 230 hell 31 the 66 remain 100 ale 231 yell 32 them 67 May 232 Hiram 34 tree 69 mate 233 ran 35 lie �250 Monday 14 234 tart 267 aihem 298 lint 235 Hart 268 alert 299 lithia 236 Hexter 269 alarm 300 litter 237 it 270 aliment 301 linnet 238 Helen 271 ally 302 lily 239 heel 272 alienate 303 mallet 240 ill 273 myth 304 mall 241 meal 274 myrtle 305 malt 242 Rattel 275 enemy 306 maltreat 243 Heather 277 element 307 malay 244 leather 278 extant 308 malar 245 exalt 279 exit 309 malaria 247 alter 280 exert 310 mar 248 examine 280 exhale 311 manilla 249 Italian 281 exeat 312 mantel 250 Allen 313 mater 251 Tar 282 entire 314 mealy 252 Tannery 283 entirely 315 meant 253 Malayan 284 entitle 316 mur 254 time 285 enmity 317 need 255 rain 286 mint 318 manial 256 hymnal 287 nit 319 Lena 257 hyetal 288 mill 320 axe 258 hylna 289 mind 321 axel 259 home 290 milliner 322 murmur 260 hernia 291 liner 323 mare 261 hair 292 mimic 324 Hale 262 heathen 293 mile 325 Health 263 heat 294 minx 326 Tiny 264 late 295 miter 327 nineteen 265 airy 296 mite 328 army 266 early 297 mix 329 Mr. �251 Wednesday 16 Peg o my heart, 330 331 332 333 pea 334 pear 335 ear 336 peat 337 he 338 heart 339 heat 340 my 341 peg 342 tart 343 part 344 art 345 hog 346 oath 347 oat 348 oyer 349 paper 350 mother her moth mop pop Thursday 17 �252 Friday 18 The best standard colors Colors Transparent & Indelible photographs Lantern slides photograyures. School maps. Drawings pyrography &c Miss Emma Leeman R.R. #1, Wolfe Island. Ontario, Canada Saturday 19 Saturday 19 �253 Sunday Dec 20 A quiet day no one came, wish Maud was home. Monday Dec 21 Stella staid Morgans since last Friday evening. When V drove up there with her. �254 Tuesday Dec 22 V drove to school with Miss Taggart. Only one pupil so came home again. Mass at Morgan’s to day. Stell picks up and packs up and towards night V drives off up the island with her, she left her trunk behind her couldn’t carry it in cutter. Voltie staid all night at Taggarts. Old Tagg gave Voltie whiskey to drink. Wednesday Dec 23rd 1908 V staying at villiage all day and at the rink at night, slept at McLarens the remainder of the night. The boat not coming to our dock any more this fall. �255 Thursday 24. 1908 V went across to K this morning from Villiage. He went across for Maude and came home after dark once more leaving his kerosine (once more) behind and Mauds suitcase at McLarens which is perfectly unnecessary. Voltie scarcely ever does his work satisfactory and complete when away from home these days. I think he is crazy or foolish. Frank Woodman here for summer savory and onions to stuff his Chrismas goose Friday 25 Dec 1908 A Christmas day. Sometimes I think I’ll stop keeping diary. Then no one will ever know what has been in my thoughts and mind for what I have once written, I dont want to efface or erase. This morning I sent by mail a book and letter to my very dear friend Mrs Wm Brooks, Spokane. What a pleasure tis to know that she never forgets me. Tis a quiet day. Wells Sr had bad cold says tis grippe We dont have a very elaborate dinner for Xmas only corned beef, potatoes, fruit cake, candies, oranges, etc etc. Henry Halliday drove in here at sunset considerable intoxicated bringing a bottle of whiskey with which he treated Voltie very freely which is a cursed shame. �256 Saturday 26 Dec 1908 Sunday 27 Dec 1908 Sun Sun Sunday Sunday 27. Dec 1908 Sunday 27 Dec �257 Monday 28 Dec 1908 A cloudy day. V butchers pork. Tuesday 29 Dec 1908 A beautiful day. Very light wind South. Sr Wells says tis a weather breeder. Of course if we have a fine day that day is accused of of breeding all kinds of bad weather. I try out lard and V goes to Wm G for a load of wood ate dinner there and came home at 3 pm. They report a fine time at Danny Hughys dance. �258 Wednesday 30 December 1908 A howling storm of wind and rain from S.E. The river boils over like a cauldron. Tis tearing mad. The day is dark and dismal. Voltie gone to school meeting this am. A dance at FWoodmans. I guess it will be a slim dance. The new raison seeder works well. Thursday 31st Dec 1908 �259 Mailed letters in 1910 Jan 4th 2 letters 1 to Wellie 1 to Eaton Jan 2 Grace 11 to Helen Watson " " Sunbury " " Herald, Will Dixon [various additions] �260 Postage on letters for 1910 Jan 4 2 letters 4 cents " 7th " " 4 cts " " 5 cards 5 cts " 2 letters 4 1 Herald 2 [various additions] Jan 4 1910 Eaton ,37 for book & postage 50 cts for Dodds pills $2,87 balance on [?] �261 �This document would not be possible without the editorial contributions of the following people: Ann Hopkinson, Ella Deering, Delaney Nielsen, Eric Irvine, Queen’s University Archives, and Carolyn Kane � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Subject The topic of the resource 19th and 20th Century Rural Ontario Diaries Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1887-1922 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Table Of Contents A list of subunits of the resource. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1887 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1888-1889 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1889-1897 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1890 March - June Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1893-1895 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1895-1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1896 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1897-1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899-1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902, 1906 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902-1909 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1904-1905 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1907 & 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1908-1919 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1911 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913-1914 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1915-1916 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1916-1917 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1917-1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1921-1922 Language A language of the resource English Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1908, 1910, & 1919 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1908, 1910, & 1919 Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 20th Century, Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Date Created Date of creation of the resource. January 1st, 1908 Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Typed Transcription UG Transcription Progress Scripto transcription progress Done transcribed https://ruraldiaries.lib.uoguelph.ca/transcribe/files/original/963b6be9ffa968d32da1cf184cf87b5b.pdf be7a8237e1862c116b96b031f7d6bc95 PDF Text Text Irene Dixon Bamford 1907 & 1918, Diary Transcription 5034_4-2-1 �Metadata FromThePage export of 5034_4-2-1 from Irene Dixon Bamford made on 2026-02-11 14:35:21 UTC. itemTitle: 1907 + 1918 date: 1907-1918 Title: 5034_4-2-1 Description: Item is a diary. Created On: 2024-01-11 17:50:36 UTC In Scope: true Uploaded Filename: 5034_4-2-1 �1 [file folder containing original documents] IRENE DIXON BAMFORD DIARY 1907 + 1918 [stamped] Queen’s University Archives Locator Box 2 File 1 �2 1907 + 1918 �3 �4 [right hand of page ripped obscuring much of the diary entry, transcribed below with missing end of sentences indicated with #, left margin also obscured by binding tape these will be indicated with *] 1907 & 1918 R Sunday 13 Jan # A bright clear day snow # somewhat drifted. Miss Crawford # * , no service. goes home with the # towards night. Kent brings her home# *tholicks complaining that she # *ble in school. river still remain # * visitors to day. Reverend Craig sick # couldn’t come down to preach. Monday 14 January 1907 A storm of sleet. Volta takes Miss Craig # school. Volta returns home and then drives to # *yron Irvines, Jack Niles and Hiram Joslin her # * drew two loads of fertilizer for potatoes then * for Miss Crawford. Hiram here for his sleigh * V had fixed it didnt send any money for repairing * put a quilt on the frames this morning. Tuesday 15th Jan 1907 A snowy morning. Voltie drove to School house with Miss Crawford. V went over and brought aunt * over to dinner, and then drove # * then went for the # Rattray came # # �5 [left hand of page ripped obscuring much of the diary entry, transcribed below, the missing text will be indicated with #] Wednesday 16 Jan 1907 # morning 6 deg below zero which # colder than yesterday. river not # losed in Voltie drove to school with # ford. Sunlight clear. V preparing # barrel of vinegar for Mrs R Paine # ns, and Maud irons. Sr scrapes # dle in kitchen. Voltie drives for teacher Thursday 17 January 1907 A cold night and morning. Thermometer 12 deg below zero. Voltie drives to school with Miss Crawford. Two hot bricks at her feet. V moved bed in to hall up stairs. Friday 18 January 1907 Voltie drove to school with Miss Crawford then drove for Rachel she came over and helped us pick chickens, 20 of them for market. Then Voltie walked to Quinns on the ice for his kerosene and Alkane’s gone till towards night came bringing us the medicine, but Quinn had gone to # V ate dinner with Harold # lace, he found the ice # is sick �6 [right hand of page ripped obscuring much of the diary entry, transcribed below with missing end of sentences indicated with #] Wednesday 30 Jan 1 # A beautiful day drew wood # from island. 12 loads now # Maud washed, no visitors # Thursday 21 January 1907 A fine day and cold. finished # wood from the island 15 loads. Voltie # back for the last load (went alone) two # Rachel here for potatoes. Maud ironed. I finished the second pair of mittens. Friday February 1st 1907 Up and breakfast by lamp light again. good sleighing for the snow fell yesterday pm. Cloudy this morning, not cold. Saturday 2nd February 1907 A dark cloudy day, thawing. Sr gone to Kingston on the ice. Met Robert and Reginald and went home with them to dinner. Sr had a tooth filled by Daily. Maud and I cooked for visitors which we expect may come tomorrow if tis a good day, wind blowing hard from South, increasing to a gale. Sr comes home early. �7 [left hand of page ripped obscuring much of the diary entry, transcribed below with missing end of sentences indicated with #] Sunday 3rd of Feb 1907 # ing a gale all night changing # freezing hard, wind blowing all # frozen and rough for starters. # urk came down on skates through the # Miss Crawford went to church no # though the preacher (Rev Craig) was # driving all the way from Kingston to find only 3 of the faithful assembled. �8 [right hand of page ripped obscuring much of the diary entry, transcribed below with missing end of sentences indicated with #] Monday a4 February # A clear cold day no sleigh # on ice, going to pick chickens to day # tomorrow dressed 21 chicks and 3 turkeys # Rachel helping dress a few. Sam’s new tenant # to day from over the river Tuesday 5th Feb storm so terrible couldn’t go to Kingston very cold Wind North went out the door all day, both outside kitchen doors caulked with rags. Voltie drove to school house with Miss Crawford and drove for her again at evening. Wednesday 6 Feb 1907 A very fine day. V and M and R went to Kingston drove up on the ice; no sleighing. They came just in time for supper. all is well. Thursday 7 February 1907 A fine day. Wells Sr drove over to Rachel with her and all her purchases cat and all, barrel of groceries and things, and a table, she carried the lamp in hand. Will Dixon drove to make us a �9 [left hand of page ripped obscuring much of the diary entry, transcribed below with missing end of sentences indicated with #] Wednesday 20 June 1906 # to go home washes & # childrens clothing. Muriel # visiting her little # Alberta Victoria McDonales. # staid over night. Friday 8th Will went home this morning. R went with him drove in buggy no sleeping. fine day. Delovan B and Brown here Thursday 21 June 1906 Grace, her children, Muriel & Maud all embarked for Kingston this morning. V driving to the dock with them. Charley drove down for Margaret, Grace & I. The baby and—I doubt. they come and go come and go but 2 stay at home forever Saturday 9th Feb 1907 Voltie drove to town on ice, Crawford went also & staid there. Marjorie & Art came to dinner. Hagan here also all drove to Bells on ice. V came just after dark accompanied by �10 [right corner has been torn, missing text indicated by *] by Geo Pillar. Sr watering * Friday 22 June 1906 A warm day. Mustard per * and corn cultivating * talking about being in Kingston * more & Muriel. The Rev Lancaster * He is preparing Maud for confirmation and * stay for dinner. V & M picked 34 quarts of strawberries. I got supper and patched shirts and drawers for Sr and made a fly screen for that table. Mr Lancaster is a very fine young clergyman. Cooler thro the p.m. Our evening mail, Herald, New Thoughts, McClures magazine. Saturday 23rd June 1906 A breezy day wind south and showery raining heavey this morning. Voltie went after dinner to the foot with strawberries. He worked 4-1/2 hours and a half. Sr hoed corn in door yard. I bottled the dandelion wine. 16 bottles. Sunday 10 Feb 1907 A stormy day for wind and some snow. McNeely came V & McNeely drove to corners with V & Geo Pillar droave her to Will Dixons. Eddy Bates �11 [left corner has been torn, missing text indicated by *] Bill Bates born this morning. Sunday 24 June 1906 * morning and cloudy * little flocks of ducks we have * three and most of our turkeys are * of sparrow lice. Henry Halliday * just time for dinner. Frank Woodman came over bringing his family to Samy’s to stay a week. Frank going home again after coming here for ppotatoes. We have strawberries for dinner and supper. Henry stays till sundown. bees swarmed * Monday 25 June 1906 A cool fine morning. V went to factory cultivated corn and picked 34 qts strawberries went to OBriens to see about the money for Miss Hall our teacher. Dad went to hoeing and mustard pulling. Evening visitors Sylvia, Ruth and Cassie came looking for strawberries. I treated them to lemonade. �12 [right corner has been torn, missing text indicated by *] Thursday 28 June 19 A fine day. Maud went * Kingston carried 4-1/2 doz * 18 cts per doz. I tool a walk down to the strawberry field. V * berries. Wish I hadn’t gone and * back across the potatoe field and * great difficulty in crossing the field. Friday 29 June 1906 A tremendous rain storm in the night every thing wet, wet and barrel running over with rain water. Mr Lancaster here this am Mauds lesson very poorly learned. Bees swarmed. Sr hived them and another such a scrap I never saw first went on a long rain coat to his feet it came, then the head and face protection then a pair of leather gloves and he sallied forth to capture bees, he says he got stung 40 times on the head and a hundred times on his hands and if V has any more bees to hive he may do it for he never will have any more. Maud lost her glasses on berry patch but �13 [left corner has been torn, missing text indicated by *] * them again after a long * V helping her look for them. * Digman and Will have * Evening A letter from Muriel * Herald and R’s hearth stone. * a post cared from Watson announcing his * Saturday 30th June 1906 * worked at foot and finished there for a while. Maud made cookies and I moped the floors A terrible rain storm lost 7 chickens in the rain dont know what occurred after, at least I dont remember. Sunday 1 July 1906 A long warm lazy day. Tom Redmen here Niles hired man. Dont know much but can lie like a papist. V picked 3 dozen baskets strawberries for market among our neighbours. �14 [right corner has been torn, missing text indicated by *] July 2 Monday 11 February A very good clear day rather cold Miss C* to school. V and Sr drew hay from * 3 loads then V went to R Percys for * 12 gal of Kerosine. M finished her rug very pretty. Voltie fed and watered ducks. Tuesday 12 February 1907 This is the 23rd anniversary of Bells marriage This day is a great contrast to the other 12 February that was a beautiful day this is cold but partly clear. Voltie gone to Kingston with hay. Crawford walked to school. V came back late for he started late, after 12 pm and returned at 12 pm night. Miss C and Maud set up for Voltie. he had bin to supper. Quinn called here on his way to his home and gave him his tea & * Wednesday 13 Feb 1907 V went up to K with another load of hay. Sr watered and fed ducks Thursday 14 Feb 1907 Charley drove down bringing Belle, Henry, Majorie & Marjorie’s Baby through the rain V watered and fed ducks. �15 July 4th A rainy fore noon rained all night pm clear. Marjorie & Art & the baby came down to cross over [illegible] brought them down Grace went home with them Friday 15th Feb 1907. Maud working all day on feet poor Maud. If I could only get around as in in days of yore. I’d help more. V working in shop all day. Albert Gillespie walked into the ice crack when he came to bring the ice tongs V watered R ducks Saturday 16th George Pillar drove into the crack coming back from Will Dixons. Voltie went and put a signal by the crack. Geo horse in all over. After dinner he drove home. Art Vincent came for Marjorie, he brought a load of goods to Quinns.Marjorie, Art and the baby went home after dinner. Morgan Sr came for his cutter which Voltie has repaired. Charley H came down too and brought the phonograph which which Belle manipulated for Morgans amusement. Voltie went over & feed and watered ducks. �16 Sunday 17 Feb 1907 A beautiful day. snow fell last night to the time of very good travelling with [illegible] Voltie and Maud gone to Johns and Marjories. Charley, Belle and Henry go home driving up on the ice. Gertrude goes to church and Sr goes over to water and feed R’s ducks and I’m alone; blessed silence and peace. Monday 18 Feb A beautiful day but rather cold. Sr drove to school with Gertrude. Robert Horn drove here for V to fix his sleigh but V is gone away over the river; and yesterday Sr hitched up and drove over to water R’s ducks and feed them. Tuesday 19 Feb 1907 Snows and blows a hurycane. Teacher walked to school. Sr drove her at night. don’t believe he watered R’s ducks. He said he was going to water them but I didn’t see him go. Merritt Daily drove here for a bag of potatoes. Lonesome without Voltie & Maud. 3 eggs. Not cold day. The Herrald picture is a beauty came to night and a letter from dear Muriel. Wednesday 20 Feb 1907 Sr drove over to the corners for sugar and molasses A beautiful day. Wind south. Sr drove to school with Gertrude this am �17 [Pattern for Wheel lace but corner has been ripped and remainder illegible] I want 67 points in all -48 19 more Thursday 21 rather cold. Gertrude walked to from school. Sr carried her in cutter in morning, At dinner time I’m tired with a lame back. A quiet pleasant day. No one came. Evening I write to Grace, Pea soup for dinner. Sun shining, clear all day Friday 22 A clear cold day. Gertrude walked to school. I hope V & M will come home to day. Sr’s fingers and toes awful cold, pitching straw for cows from the staw stack. �18 Wheel Lace 30 stitches [pattern hand written but is not understandable] �19 �20 Continued. Sr went over to feed and water ducks and froze his nose. �21 Friday Voltie Saturday 23rd Sunday 24 February 1907. looks like a storm. Will came bringing Rachel and Louise, then came Van and Lib. Then came, Crawfords’ bean Pixley a back woods hobo. Grandad mad, about Pixley. Jr �22 Monday 25 Feb 1907. V after driving to school. School with Miss Crawford. drove up for Robert and Grace. Margaret & Robby they came before sunset. Trustees met at school house to see about keeping Crawford in school. no government in is school. They think they will turn her out. Tuesday 26 February 1907. A very good day cold. Voltie and Robert hitched up and drove the gray colt across to Quinns. Came back to dinner. They found Quins folcks moving and Art Vincent moving in. Rachel and Louise came over then came Charley H and Beatrice and William Watts. All ate dinner, went again afternoon and returned towards night. Feb 27 Wednesday 1907 A cold day wind North. Voltie hitched up the grey colt and drove with Miss Crawford to school. Sr drove up to the horse race at the villiage. This day I feel dull and sleepy. Grace help Maud wash breakfast dishes. Thursday 28th 1907 Clear and cold. V drove to school with Miss Crawford; only three pupils today. The threats. V loaded hay for Kingston from R’s place. Bob went to R for a call while V and Sr were loading hay. Rob much pleased with his visit as relating to Louise Horn Niles. I pieced three log cabins blocks. �23 March 1 Friday 1907. Clear and cold. Sent for McClures magazine to day by Voltie. V went to Kingston with hay. Saturday 2nd 1907 A fine day. Bob and Grace, after dinner drive over to Rachels drawing the children on sled. Saturday 1907 March 9th Robert, Grace & children and Maud gone to Kingston today on ice. Robt forgot his pipe and their onions & popcorn & sauce. They visited Marjorie V & M going with them. Sunday the third stay home all day except R & V go over to Van’s. Thursday they all go to Van’s visiting. The 3 of March Van & Lib came over to visit. Will & Willie came over for Louise. Rachel came too then Miss Crawford and her beau Pixley came. �24 Sunday 10 March 1907 Another beautiful day. Mrs Crawford goes to church. Rachel abed with cold. Mrs McLaren came to hire Rachel and hired her to cook. 15 June I’m grieved to say Devolson took mean Woodman with with him to Clayton and V came home very much drunk, brought home a rooster. Monday 11 March. A fine day sun bright and warm and clear. Rachel sick all day Sr got a severe cold too Tuesday 12 March 1907 A beautiful day R sick all night but snored awfuly all night. went home to see if her duck has laid an egg and didn’t come back. V went at evening to see how she is she better been abed all day, rained this pm. Milton Woodard here for supper and then went over the river. V cleaned up a grist for mill but helped Niles all fore noon cut ice. 128 cakes. Wednesday 18 March 1907. V gone to Kingston on ice going to mill. Sent Graces things home and Bobs pipe-a cloudy day and fog �25 Sr walked over to see how R’s health is, found her better. A man from Depanville named Reed, driving on ice with buggy drove into the crack. Wells, Thait & the Woodmans got his horse; he was a cow buyer. Wells heard by some one on the road that Richard Spoor died last night, very sudenly—apoplexy the cause. Voltie came early, ate dinner at Robert G’s Grace sent me a letter &c Thursday 14 March 1907 A dirty morning. Raining and freezing. Voltie drove to school with Miss C and then drove down to R’s carrying her medicine bottles that he bought for her in Kingston. found her fast recovering and eating buckwheat cakes. cakes. The Poster was fine; wish I had more, but tis too expensive; 10 cts per bottle. V cleaned the ice house and pm is cutting ic Jack Niles helping though first he drove to J OBriens for ic saw. Jack Niles ate supper with us Friday 15 March 1907 Jack & Voltie finished filling the ice house and Voltie packed in in saw dust after dinner went across the ice to A.V’s to send �26 to Corners for rubber boots, took Will’s potatoes aross but forgot the to carry the garden seeds. He went for the mail and then went to Rahel’s found her well &c. A snow blizzard in pm Saturday 16th of March A half cloudy day snowing a little now & then, froze last eve. V arose early when I didn’t hear, got his own breakfast put up the eggs and gone to Kingston started at 6 a.m. going to bring Maud home. Hiram Joslin drove Rachels cow here to day. Irene Sr made two pies (apple) and a jelly turnover & washed two dish towel and one hand towel, my feet ache, ache, beat & throb. Voltie came home alone having left Maud at John OBrien’s, been in the River horses in all over Voltie hauled Maud out and sent her ashore. teams coming right along helped him out with the horses and things. Every dud soaking wet groceries & all Mauds dry good, were "wet goods. Rachels bread all pudding. I set yeast cake. Sunday 17 March 1907 A cloudy Windy morning, raining, ground nearly bare. Voltie drives to John Obriens for Maud goes in covered buggy driving on ice, returns in time for dinner. After dinner, with Club in hand goes over the �27 river to Art Vincents; we watch him as he goes away over the ice. I wish I didn’t live on Wolfe Island where there is nothing but ice, water, worry and trouble. Rachels heifer has a new calf born this St Patrick’s day in the morning. We’ll call the calf Pat. Voltie gone till after dark. I set a lamp in the parlor window; he had been to the corners for rubber boots but Donaldson not at home so he came home without them, found Marjorie and the family all well. Monday 18 March 1907 Quite a fair day. Kent came; leaving his horse here and walked to the corners (across the ice). Arthur drove to the corners with Kent. Voltie sent to the corners by Kent for the rubber boots and Kent brought them all right. Sr mending harness all day. Voltie working the shop. Maud very lame and sore after being in the cold icy river. We going to have a telephone it mow came today. Tuesday 19 March 1907 The most dreary and disagreeable day of all the year, wind, rain, snow & mud. G Crawford walked to school. Voltie drove for her at evening time. A card from Mrs Brooks, a letter from Watson, 2 men here to buy horses. Frank Briceland here for butter but got none. �28 Wednesday 20 March 1907 I don’t know what transpired to day nothing out of the ordinary. Voltie working in the shop. Sr got a severe cough and cold. A terrible wind from SE Thursday 21 March 1907 A very good day looks like rain tho Tom Chatterdon came over skated across. Came for seeds, said Marjorie not very well. Rachel came over too to see her cow and calf and get some apples. Voltie began working for Rattray at $2.00 per day. Friday 22nd March 1907 A fine day but looks like rain. Voltie gone to Rattrays to work shingling their house. Kent A Kehoe helping. Sr choring around. I do as I please so does Maud. boil pork and cook the meals; a letter from Muriel and one from Edna Quinn Barrons. �29 Saturday 23 March 1907 A fine day warm and thawing no snow on the ground; one little shity patch of snow towards the gate by the barn. A channel open in the river; fowl around the door turkeys, hens, guineas, cats, old pines, the ducks are in barn yard. V gone to Rattray to shingle their house. Sr gone to R’s to carry her water and milk. Maud emptied the flour bags into the flour cans and scoured the cellar steps and landing. Merritt Daily here to get his sap pan soldered. Jack Niles here to get his saw filed. The filer and solderer not at home. made applies pies. Rena sat up till eleven. I doing sorting old letters and scrap papers. V brought home a piece of cheese. Sunday 24 March 1907 Raining all night. Thundered and lightened A dark dismal morning. Wells got a bad cough nothing occurs to of any consequence to day only a new calf. Rainy dreary dismal day all day no visitors. I wrote a letter to Muriel. �30 Monday 25th 1907 A very fine day. V up early and brought water for Maud to wash clothes. Maud washed big washing and hung them on the line. V and Sr drew hay from the stack. V put the bees in the cellar two extinct hives full of honey which leaves 6 full hives. A man from the other shore attempted to cross over walking on the ice. Tuesday 26 1907. Threatens rain and does rain some Maud irons the clothes from the veranda. The white clothes partly ironed. R came over but didn’t bring Ethels letter. I cook beans and make scrap books. V working for Rattray on the cheese factory - this is the 4 day. Wednesday 27th March 1907 A fine day warm 50 deg above freeze. C walked to school. Voltie walked to Rattrays cheese factory working on factory. Last nights mail a letter from Grace, a post card from Charley D and a letter from Willie for Maud. Grandad didn’t cough so much last night. Dispatch and Massey Harris 18 eggs to day. Foggy evening but Voltie found his way home though the fog was thick enough to cut. I retired at 10 pm. �31 Thursday March 28th 1907 A warm, foggy windy morning. Voltie working at the cheese factory, snow all gone, thundering in south with sharp flashes of lightning and a little shower. Friday 29 March 1907 Voltie working on cheese factory not a very pleasant day. Miss Crawford goes up with the wind Saturday 30 March 1907 Voltie finishes the cheese factory by building a chimney goes to Kent’s for his dinner. Morgan Redick around looking for a piece of pork to fry their easter eggs in. Separated the milk. Sunday 30 March 1907 Easter we are alone all day. A beautiful day, grows colder towards night. We boil a kettle full of eggs. Aunt Rena ate 3 eggs and reads and write letters to Charley Dixon. �32 Monday 1st April 1907. A chilly raw day. We churned for the first this spring. V brought the incubator down stairs and set it up with the lamp burning. Rachel came over and churned. Tuesday 2nd April 1907. Rachel came over and churned. Wednesday 3rd April 1907. Voltie drawing fertilizer for potato ground. Old Morgan came to get V to fix his old wagon. V fix it and gave him a card of honey. V set the incubator. Thursday 4th April 4th 1907. Looks like rain. V finished drawing stone and fertilizer and then began plowing all for potato ground. Maud cleaning up stairs. Aunt Rena cooked and washed all the dishes and separator. �33 Friday 5 April 1907 A cold windy snowy storm from the North. Maud ironing and putting up window curtains up stairs. Voltie after cutting the honey from the hive went to the shop to work. Aunt Rena got breakfast, washed the dishes and separator. Rachel has come over to churn and brought her basket. Miss Crawford came down with the mail. Mail a card from Grace, a letter from Shotts. Saturday 6th April Saturday work went on as usual floors cleaned, cake baked. G.C. laid in bed as usual till after breakfast. Sunday 7th April 1907. A fair forenoon, an early dinner. Maud and Gertrude can go to church, did walk away up to the Episcopal Church, rained some. they stoped at Kents and had their tea by invitation. Lottie Kent brought them home in buggy. Monday 8th April 1907. Snowing, fall like January weather, ground white. Rachel came over to churn, staid all day we didn’t churn. I wrote a long letter to Belle and sent her honey or will tomorrow. �34 Maud white washed kitchen and cleaned the woodwork. Voltie worked on buggy box. Tuesday 9th April 1907. Clear starlight and a clear morning, but some clouds again. Voltie arose before 4 O’clock milked the cows, separated the milk, fed the calves and has now gone to Kingston. The roads must be awful mudy. 10 minutes past 7 am. Sunday 28 April 1907. Marjorie and Arthur came over in Volties skiff after their hired man Macintire & Smith a neighbor rowed across for Marjorie and Arthur & baby. They rowed over for V’s skiff to bring them over so V had to go row them across and didn’t return till bed time. The river is very still. Monday 29 April 1907. didn’t do much my way. V worked in field and has got boils on his neck. Tuesday 30 April 1907. A tremendous rain storm all day with thunder and lightning. Voltie drove to school for teacherMiss Crawford. �35 Wednesday 1 May 1907 Got butter ready for market 28 lbs. churned a very good after the heavy rain of yesterday. no working in field today. Rachel came over and churned her butter she has 8 lbs Thursday 2nd May 1907. A very good after the rain of Tuesday to wet to work in field till pm. Maud and Rachel went to Kingston with butter for market. Aunt Rena done the work of cooking the meals, washing dishes, sweeping, baking bread, custard, washing and putting together separator. Maud bought double Tulip. V & Sr set the fish net in a new place Friday 3 May 1907. Arbor day clear and cool. 7 fish in net this morning when Voltie run the net. V preparing the ground to sow grain. Never know what grandpa is doing he dont ever say what he going to do. Rachel staid here last night and cleaned the fish this morning. Gertrude and the pupils cleaning up around the school yard. Rachel came over to fill the seed dishes with dirt for me, brought me a lot of sweet peas and some orange marmalade and is helping me get dinner. Grandad is coming from away across the fields, been working on Rachels place. Kathleen came down with the mail enroute for Marjorie. Received a letter from Grace �36 Saturday 4 May 1907 A morning of wind rain snow; rains all night hard a sorrowful day for farmers. so much mud can’t work in field when the cold rain and snow are falling and the cold North wind is blowing. Couldn’t go to the net this morning a half inch of ice on everything. Kathleen restless, walking around snow gone. Churning to day about nine lbs butter. Sunday 5 May 1907 Frozen morning ice in both rain barrels. Voltie rowed across to Marjories with Kathleen and Rachel. The girls gone to church both forenoon & afternoon service (Methodist & Episcopal) A very quiet day wind blowing a little from South and looks cloudy again. Dr Volson returned at 1/2 past 2 pm. ate dinner at Marjories. Aunt Rena dressed three fish; cooked one for dinner just three O’clock pm. Edy Bates came bringing three old fish spears to have mended. Monday 6 May 1907 A cold morning for 6 of May. Voltie gathered one pickerel from the net then spread it on the grass to dry badly torn from logs in bottom of river. am V and dad worked over on the 30 acres Merritt came over bringing their separator funnel for Voltie to solder, that Jane had melted the ears off from in the oven. About 12.30 noon �37 Jane came driving over in style for the funnel. Voltie was trying to solder it when she arrived she found V engaged in fixing her funnel and as it was a difficult piece of work to accomplish it was 3 pm before it was finnish. V left his field work. Mrs Daily was nervous with fear V couldn’t solder the funnel. Tuesday 7 May 1907 A cloudy still day. Sylvia W and Lottie Kent here for mission money. They ask no one except Maud she gave them 10 cts. we printed the balance of butter 11 lbs & 11 oz, used the small scales. Maud helped Voltie set the fish net. V after diner not worked in field Sr cut brush and set posts over on Rachels place. Maud done big washing mail: letter from Grace one from Helen Watson Dispatch and that is all. Wednesday 8 May 1907. but not warm yet wind North. I expected a letter from Wellies family but were disappointed Maud churned twice once for ourselves nd once for R. V went to not early this morn �38 but no fish not a scale. Tuesday 6th August 1907 A warm cloudy day. Sr went fishing caught 10 rock bass. V cut barley with mowing machine V Telephone to Elly Woodman for new binder. Maud telephoned to bell to come for berries. Rachel telephone for apples for McClarren Hitchcock house. Telephone to Belle to come and pick raspberries again for herself. Received a letter from Grace Boyne City and a magazine the "Boyne Citizen" Wednesday 7th August 1907. Cloudy BelleKathleen & Henry drove in buggy. They picked 12 quarts. �39 Continuation from February 8th through June 28 1918 diary in separate book �40 June Saturday 29th 1918. A clear bright warm day. Jimy, Voltie and Will Dixon working on the barn. A sharp shower of rain drove them to the house for a while. I wrote a Letter to Grace Cheever. Rachel walked over staid to supper, walked over again looking for her spectacles. Sunday 39th June 1918 A lovely warm bright am very warm almost hot. Will went home to day. V paid him 15 dollars R $2 dollars. Ray Rat drove here for Emma to go visiting to Maggie. The pm very warm it looks like rain. I write a letter to Ben Watson. I sent or gave two letters to mail for me one to Charley Dixon, one to Grace Cheever. Will Niles came and brought me a bunch of roses. Roy & Maggie brought Emma home before rain. Voltie salted the cows and took a nap after rowing Will D across the river. E & E brought in all the clothes off the lines and grass it looks so much like rain. Voltie brought in and gave me all the strawberries that our strawberry vines grew this year which was 6 berries. Emma gave me two candies. I can eat neither berries nor candies but go to bed supperless. Will Niles said, he read in Watertown paper that Wellie Bamford has bought a farm. I am glad; now he wont have to move again �41 Monday July 1st 1918 Dominion Day Wind blowing hard from South this morn rained heavily in the night. Rain came in under the veranda door. The weather clears tho the wind continues to blows and the waves are rolling high and beating against the shore. The clouds are running to the North this morning, and the swaying bowing bending of the trees all in motion. V can’t work on the barn this day on account of wind tho he did work some after Jim came. Jim didn’t go home this eve a picnic Brophy’s pointSamy went accompanied by Miss Langley a dance at night. Tuesday 2nd July 1918 A very good day all day. V & Jim worked on barn all day JD turned the cows in the orchard after milking in morning. V and I watch them to keep them out from the door yard and destroying Emmas flower bed. Edith has to trot after them nearly every ten minutes. After dinner Edith goes visiting to Louise Niles then Emma has to trot every time I say "There the cows are eating your dahlias. Edgar Niles came over for Emma to go to their house visiting and tomorrow pm they are going to Allen’s St Lawrence corners to a dance. Emma went. Jim Morgan goes home after he ate supper �42 Jan 5 1907 Sold butter 25 cts per lb 10 $2,50 " " 28 " " 19 $5,13 " " 25 " 8 Honey 22 sections May 2 Sold butter 3 lbs-5lb " 8 " " S.D. Woodman �43 Debt owe bank paid $47.00 " R 25 " R again for hay 25 owe $7.00 on piano $10 �44 5 Jan 1907 . . \\{} Paid to bank on insurance $18.50 + sent for Alkavis 5.02 + Groceries 1.62 Condition powders .40 horse shoeing 1.00 boat fare .25 horse keep .25 Pink pills 1.25 18 Jan . .\\{} sugar 1.00 Kerosine oil .60 Freight and carting .15 Fare for V and Crawford in Card’s rig .50 Horse keep .35 Deck hooks 1.50 stove paste .50 Harness paint .15 �corn starch .10 Laundry starch .10 Tobaco .20 snuff for R .15 Gin .70 soap .25. + �45 Feb 1st Soap ,25 Rolled wheat ,15 letter tablet 10 Envelopes 5 paid a note to Massay Harriss $8,2 olive oil ,07 Box sodas ,25 Ginger & pepper ,20 two boxes cow brand ,10 mustard ,05 Gin ,70 [illegible] ,36 mittens 1,05 subscribed Herald 1,00 peanuts 10 Tobaco ,35 beef 35 2 cards 20 paid in bank $18,50 paid J Sppor 9,00 Sand bay school tax 1,42 Tax on Lindas 1,43 Gin 85 treating 36 Pipe 1,00 �46 over shoes 2,00 drinks 10 cts 12 gallons, Kerosine 1,50 bolts ,05 codfish 48 cheese ,21 brooms ,25 Yeast cakes ,05 2 bottles ink ,10 6 papers pins ,12 12 safety pins ,13 drawers for V ,50 Grass seed 4,00 1 dressing comb ,15 1 box matches ,15 from corners 10 lbs sugar ,50 " " molasses ,40 1 string of sleigh bells 2,00 4 Feb Spent in Watertown 6,30 27 Groceries 1,38 Gin. He said it was ,25 cts but probably more ,25 Horse shoeing 1,00 syrup from Kingston ,50 sugar ,50 McLures magazine 1,00 �47 groceries ,40 groceries ,49 olive oil ,25 porter ,20 1 bottle pickled olives ,20 1 bottle Barter ,10 b snuff ,05 cocoa ,10 chocolate ,10 pastry sugar ,30 5 lbs sugar ,25 " " granulaed ,30 a card of needles ,10 letter tablet ,10 dry goods from Laidlaws 2,15 Gin ,75 tin ware ,20 cloth for quilt ,50 horse blister ,75 horse keeping ,15 sugar 30 Paid Rachel $20,00 Mauds rubbers ,50 stockins ,25 yeast cakes ,10 �48 smoked herin ,15 1 fish ,35 tobaco ,35 tin pans ,24 Rubber boots cedit 1500 Telephone " 15,00 Boat fare 25 snuff 05 peppermint 10 2 bottles electric oil 50 Borax 10 10 sugar 50 sodas 25 Ginger 25 matting 2,25 Groceries ,50 Table cloth ,98 seeds from Park ,25 Envelopes ,05 4 May 1907 Groceries 1,59 Boat fare 25 two corsets covers ,50 tulip plant ,25 �49 Wednesday July 3rd 1918 A very cool morning and clouding up fast, very strange weather for 3rd July. V turned the cows in again this morning. pm I watch cows pick over beans. Edith getting dinner. phoned to Weir for Tea & Coffee. JimSamy & V working on barn E ran to post box with letters to Bernie Watson. Edith drove the cows back twice before nine Oclock and has to find wood to get dinner with. O such work! Letting the Tea & Coffee be all used up and say nothing and she going to St Lawrence store. Thursday 4th July 1918 A fine day. Grace, Margaret, Robert, Isabel, Bert, Maud and Hubert came this a.m. �50 Friday 5 July 1918 A very fine day. V and Jim working on barn. Emma not home. Van came over in pm. river very Quiet. Van drank cider. Heard Joe is coming home to stay. Saturday 6 July 1918 A bright breezy morning, cool and fine. Emma not home yet. Grace doing all the work, cooking and waiting on the table. Voltie, Jim Morgan & Samy Woodman here working on the barn. Every one busy. One cow jumped in here. Edith and Isabel drove her out. mopping cleaning baking going on �51 Sunday 7 July 1918 Not a very pleasant day for weather wind and showers at intervals. Bert went fishing caught 2 fine pike which Grace cooked for dinner together with mashed potatoes & very nice. Voltie rowed them over the river and they went to Watertown in Berts car. Bert, Maud Hubert, Grace & Isabel. Wm N brought Emma home after they went home. Bert carried home a half bag full of fish. Rachel here too. Monday 8 July 1918 Worked on barn part of the day, then rained again. Jim went home. Wm N staid and V and he done what they could. Tuesday 9th July 1918. Worked some on the barn not much. James didn’t come this day. V and Wm worked in shop. After supper Wm N went home. I requested him to ask his ma to send me some lettuce. E, E & Margaret went to R’s carrying milk after dark. �52 Wednesday 10 July 1918 A morning of fog and clouds rained in the night. Wm came over through the fog. don’t understand how he found his way across through the fog. he brought me lettuce. Jimy came bringing me lettuce so we will have some for dinner any way. Received the announcement of Hubert Bamford wedding to Pauline Catherine Shead. They were married 5th July 1918. Rachel came over to dinner. fish for supper. girls caught high rocks. Thursday 11 July 1918 Voltie, Jimy, Will Niles working on the barn. Margaret, Edith and Emma went to Dora Hallidays to the ice cream strawberry festival. went by way of Jimy Morgan’s and from there in motor boat came home at 2 a.m. I write a letter to Belle. had fish for supper which the girls caught from high rocks. Friday 12 July 1918. A very warm day. Voltie, Jimy, Wm N and Robert working on barn. Barn nearly completed enough for hay and grain. Jimy M drove to dock for lumber, for Voltie from Anglin. Girls fishing for supper. I sent a letter to Belle. margaret rec’d a letter from her ma. Canadian Countryman, Farm and Dairy Famers, Advocate done a good job on the barn this day RobertMargaretE & E went at eve to carry milk to Rachel. �53 Saturday 13 July 1918 A cool clear morning. wind North and breezy. Margaret went to factory with Voltie. Emma wears her best black skirt every day. Guess it is a sign. Poor dear little girl. �54 �55 �56 �57 wheel Lace 31 stitches and knit across plain 1 row S one, K2, 0, n, K 4 on, O 12 3 on 161, 0, n K, 5, useless purchase Gin 70 "5 treatment 36 20 two cards lost note paper & envelopes 15 1 pipe 1,00 $3,26 to this date Feb 10. 1907 two beers, 10 more gin (Last little gusset_ 1-19 listed vertically 1-24 listed vertically Third row of gusset like first one �58 �59 �60 �61 1907 1 Jan Letters Received. Cards from Eveline Letter from W.M. & card " " Ethel with card & doily 8 Jan letter from Muriel letter from Grace letter from W.S. Herald & Dispatch 11 Jan Herald postal from Mrs Brooks Letter from Alkavis Letter from Rena James 12 Jan Letter from Letter from Grace " " Helen Watson " " W.F. Watson " " Catalogue of jewelry " " Dispatch " " Parks Floral Guide Friday 18 Jan a letter from Grace and from Hugh a letter from Muriel " " " Gladys a roll of papers from Eveline The Herald. Maud received a card from Muriel Tuesday Jan 21 Dispatch, New Thought, Floral Guide Friday A letter from Muriel A match scratcher from Maud A calendar from Maud letter from Grace Herald & McCheres magazine Tuesday 29 letter from Gladys " " Rena James Dispatch Experimental farm �invitation to C.M.B.A. �62 �63 �64 New Year 1907 letters posted [date] [cost]\\{} Jan 1 Subscribed to Herald 2 cts " Helen Watson 2 " Rena James 2 Jan 4th Eveline 2 " Jennie Dunlop 2 " Grace 2 " One copy of Herald for Eveline 2 " A package of papers for F.W. Watson 2 5th Edna Parsons 2 " Alkavis 2 " Herald for Eveline 2 8th Herald for Eveline 2 " Mailed a letter for Miss Crawford 2 " Mailed a letter for Maud to W.M. 2 11th Herald for Eveline 2 14th Two letters to Muriel 4 " Two letters posted for Miss Crawford 4 22 Jan Two more letters posted for Crawford 4 " A letter for Gladys 2 " " " " Rena James 2 25 Jan letter for Grace 2 �" sent letter to Grace 2 Feb 9th sent Valentine to Muriel 2 " Sent Valentine to Gladys 2 " letter to Murray Harris Company 2 �65 Sent letter Eveline Other letters and cards April 5 2 letter one to Gladys and one to W.C.M. Letter to Bill one Easter letter to W.F.W. " " " Charlie Dixon " " " Edna Parsons " " " Muriel " " " Eveline " " " Park Grandma Grandma will it be all right if I go down to [illegible] she said allowed. Wants me to come as she is there I dont think the girls will over to go with me �66 one spool thread No 12 white " " " " 30 black Tablet & Envelopes Cosmopolitan Rolle doats Diary �67 February 3-1/2 dox eggs at 30 cents per doz 12 doz eggs " .21 March 16 5 dozen eggs April 10 doz eggs Have knit the 7th ro of the print of sandyk """8""""""" 3rd row of gusset [illegible] 10 row �68 Photomount Pamphlet Binder Manufactured by Gaylord Bros. Inc. Syracuse, N.Y. Stockton, Calif. �69 �This document would not be possible without the editorial contributions of the following people: Ann Hopkinson, Ella Deering, Queen’s University Archives, and hannahb25 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Subject The topic of the resource 19th and 20th Century Rural Ontario Diaries Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1887-1922 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Table Of Contents A list of subunits of the resource. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1887 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1888-1889 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1889-1897 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1890 March - June Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1893-1895 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1895-1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1896 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1897-1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899-1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902, 1906 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902-1909 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1904-1905 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1907 & 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1908-1919 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1911 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913-1914 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1915-1916 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1916-1917 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1917-1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1921-1922 Language A language of the resource English Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1907 & 1918 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1907 & 1918 Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 20th Century, Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Date Created Date of creation of the resource. January 13th, 1907 Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Typed Transcription UG Transcription Progress Scripto transcription progress Done transcribed https://ruraldiaries.lib.uoguelph.ca/transcribe/files/original/a54250a10bb7913c4a89ca9eaf4b65d5.pdf 5396cbbac133513752a053805194873e PDF Text Text Irene Dixon Bamford 1904 November to 1905 May, Diary Transcription 5034_4-1-13 �Metadata FromThePage export of 5034_4-1-13 from Irene Dixon Bamford made on 2026-02-11 14:35:17 UTC. itemTitle: Nov. 1904-May 1905 date: 1904-1905 Title: 5034_4-1-13 Description: Item is a diary. Created On: 2024-01-11 17:48:35 UTC In Scope: true Uploaded Filename: 5034_4-1-13 �1 IRENE DIXON BAMFORD DIARY Nov. 1904- May 1905 1904-1905 Queen’s University Archives Locator 5034.4 Box 1 File 13 �2 Nov. 1904 - May 1905 �3 Re-Read ’76 - ’84 �4 [diary cover with various non-descript scribblings] Marjorie 17-1/2 eggs 12 eggs 84 17 204 [affixed stamp] R Date 1905 Sealed with Gulfwax 11 butter 17 price per lb 77 11 1,87 2,04 6 8,97 �5 Re-Read ’76 - �6 1 Tuesday 25 Oct 1904 A miserable raw rainy day Wind S W & blowing half a gale Suppose ’Tis a whole gale on the lakes Thursday 4 May 1905 A dismal rainy chilly morning V drove to the dock carrying Rachel I send the butter by Rachel for groceries and things. V brought home the new incubator which had been sent down from the villiage on the Wolfe Island. The name of the boat has been changed from Tom Fosset for Wolfe Islander. Volta set up the incubator but did’nt put in the eggs but has gone over there to ditch. Volta drove to dock for Rachel & groceries �7 Friday 5 May 1905 A rainy wet morning Thunder heavy in night with very vivid lightning. I pulled the curtains down to keep out the glare of the bright flashes of lightning. A regluar [sic] down pour of rain in night. Voltie got a stiff and swolen neck on left shoulder. I doctor it with worm wood vinegar and salt as hot as I can bringing it out, a little better at 9 am. Maud has to wash separator breakfast dishes get dinner &c. Sent a letter to Amanda Dies Voltie carries it Post Office A.M. [various scribblings of letter A] �8 3 Saturday 6 May 1905 A sloppy day we cooked and cleaned floors, made punkin [sic] pies &c. Majorie & Irene came after dark driving old Jake with top buggy so we sat up quite late visiting [Image: pencil sketch ’Lafargeville R] Art Vincent, Bob Reid & Len Patterson came over rowed across and in Green Farr’s skiff, wet to the pelt where the skiff had shiped water. so we have company to dinner Majorie and her betrothed Jo walking down in cedars. Irene calls it "lovers retreat". The gals go home at 5 p.m. boys cant go wind blows so but stay all night. Continued on 5 page �9 4 Saturday 30 Oct 1904 Evening, Dont think I was ever so tired as I am this night and alone, no one to help and Voltie gone to the villiage after plowing all fore noon, gone for coal and new plow. I cant get around very well I am so lame with rheumatism, shoats all turned out the pen this morning 12 or 19, rooting up every thing well let them go; I dont care. Wells Sr got all the chores to do this pm alone, milk, feed hogs, stew pumpkins for hogs out doors, go and draw a load of brush and wood to put around the kettle out doors. I feed the lame duck after the chickens go to roost. Oh I must go and put wood in stove to keep the supper warm dont know when Voltie will come, tis 8 pm now. he may not come tonight. I hope he may. He came �10 5 Monday 8 May 1905 The wind hushed and gone to rest this morning and those lads leave for Depauville. Rains again towards night. V makes cabbage bed and sows 4 papers of cabbage seed and sets out the dahlias. Tuesday 9 May 1905 A cold windy day and squally. Maude paints the pantry and floor. V finished setting strawberry plants. 700 plants. Dad plows. I cook, wash dishes & churn. Mail; Good Storries, Whig, Agricultral dispatch, letter from Grace and one from John. V tested the eggs in incubator all good but one, then he accidentaly broke one. He set the alarm and got up twice to examine the temperature in incubator �11 This is 20 May Saturday 1905 Have not written in this diary since 9th of May, many events have occured since then; my dear old mother died on the 12 of May 1905 of paralysis at the age of nearly 90 years. Frank Woodman came over to tell us. Sunday the body was brought to the island and laid in the vault as it was her request to be burried here. Voltie went for Belle, and she came home with him and staid till after the funeral. Will and Flora, Ethel, Lottie, Belle, Charley, Mary, William & Stanley Woodman and Rachel and Frank Woodman and Johny Bamford here to dinner. Voltie carried them all back over the river, they went in two skiffs. V rowing one and Will D the other. V came back towing one of the skiff home again through the thick fog on the river. The weather is disagreeable, windy rainy and cold. I think V has lost all his tomato plants by setting them out on a cold windy day, plants will die. �12 sure, this very morning is nearly cold to freeze. V coal tared [sic] the punt this morning going to set a net for fish. The spring work goes slowly on; onions, cabbage, lettuce, peas are sowed &c. Rachel and Lottie came over awhile after dinner. Mr Roadhouse came down from the cemetery made a long prayer. Sunday 28 May 1905 month nearly gone Not clear and bright but cloudy yesterday (Saturday). V arose early went to Kingston driving up by the road to the villiage. chickens hatching in the incubator. V came bringing brooder and groceries and woven wire for chicken yard. Evening visitors Mr & Mrs Daily, Rube & Mary McFadden Robert Percy & Bob Henderson’ This morning Voltie took the chickens from the incubator 80 of them and tranfered them to the brooder. �13 Saturday 19 Nov 1904 The most beautiful Nov. day I ever saw, warm, bright like June. Wells Sr shingling stable. Voltie building addition to poultry house. Maud done the Saturdays cleaning up. Irene made pumpkin pies, fried cakes, cooked breakfast, dinner & supper & washed all the dishes and separator. Wednesday 8 Nov 1904 Not a very bad day for the season. Dress 7 fowl & two ducks for market. Rachel came over and helped me finnish [sic] picking fowl and staid—no she didnt and sent her shoe over here for Maud to take to Kingston for repair. V plowing another �14 November Sunday 20 1904 A warm hazy day, wind south blowing rather briskly. Very heavy thunder in the night but little rain. There has been no rain or snow for nearly three weeks, though the ground is, or has been frozen so hard, plowing could not be done for more than a week ago. It is a drouth [sic] in November a very unusual thing, or occurance for this month. I sat down to write in the diary and wandered off into dream land for half an hour or more when Maud arouses me to pare apples for dinner. Sr up stairs all forenoon. The sky is overcast with thick dark clouds and so thick and smoky Carleton Island is entirely hidden from view. Away off in the South we hear the rumbling of distant thunder but no rain. �15 Monday 21 Nov 1904 A beautiful day N wind not cold. Wells Sr & Voltie plowing over the way. June cut out the pillow ticking. Maud made one and took the last of the pumpkin from the poles and Irene put it in the bag and washed separator and mixed bread and washed the Churn and prepared for churning, washes dishes and helped get dinner. Maud swept and made beds. Tuesday 22nd Nov 1904 A fine day and also the anniversary of my birth 71 years old to day. I am nearing the other shore. I wrote and send a letter to Jen. This is a very poor pen and worse ink. I’m sleepy and go fast asleep while writing. The Weekly Herald didnt come. �16 Wednesday 23rd Nov 1904 A beautiful day. Voltie buchered [sic] six hogs for market. Charley Woodman helping also Mr McGreggor. I made butter prints 18 lbs for market. Thursday 24 Nov 1904 Arose at 4 a.m. Voltie going to market with butter and pork. Voltie paid Rogers $50 dollars on rent. Sent Grace a little basket. A dirty rainy day with flurries of snow �17 Friday 25th Nov 1904 Every thing white with snow. Voltie went to Geo Rattrays and brought home the cheese together with the lumber for the veranda. A cloudy uncomfortable day growing colder. Sr making a flail to thresh beans. V working in shop till dinner time. Charley Woodman here for buggy tongue. Wish I could have sent Belle a letter, my poor dear Belle. I dont see her very often, wish I could. A letter from Flora B, Whig, Hearthstone. Thursday 9 Nov 1905 Arose at 1/2 past four and pack the fowl in a bushel basket. I send Grace 1 doz eggs and some apples. Eggs are 30 cts per doz. This is King Edwards birthday. ducks 10 cts per lb and hens only 6 per lb at the fish market. Rachel came over with Voltie and helped me all day �18 Saturday 26 Nov 1904 and staid all night. The weather very good. Voltie plowing "over there". Saturday 27 Nov 1904 �19 Monday 28 Nov 1904 Tuesday 29 November A dirty nasty day. Wind South. Sr & V drawing out manure from back of stable. I subscribed to day for American Home & Northwestern Agriculturist & Womans Farm journal & Good Stories. So that now with Good Litterature we have renewed 5 papers. Evening, Voltie goes for mail, Whig, Dispatch, N agriculturist, American Woman (Saturday Chicago Blade), no letters. �20 Wednesday 30 Nov 1904 Another dirty nasty day. Wind South. Sr and V go over to plow but soon come home again. They cant plow through the snow banks. Thursday 1 December 1904 The coldest day yet subscribed for Hearthstone and Home Journal, sent Belle a letter and remailed Jean’s letter from Shannonville. Voltie enclosing the veranda with new boards. �21 Friday 2nd December 1904 3rd �22 4th 5 �23 6 7 �24 8 9 �25 10 11 �26 16 17 December A beautiful day. Trees covered with a lace work of frost. �27 Saturday 18 December 18 Didn’t rise early as usual. First outsider came. Charley Woodman to sample our cider and after drinking a qt, V went with him to the Loban place to do the chores and feed his hogs. Next came Alice Mackey. V put her horse in stable. She staid till 8 pm, next came Walac Niles sampling our grape wine. Maud went to church a congregation of 6 people. Monday 19 December 19. Wind South East and snowing 2 deg above below zero. V working in shop. Sr patching some old harness or some thing else in kitchen with alls and clomps and leather, he always patches old duds in the house on stormy days. �28 Maude Watson St Lawrence PO Wolfe Island Ont Can Maud Watson 28 $1,864 Laidlaw 1,35 mill 1,25 shoes .75 whiskey .25 Muriel .25 fares 5 scrbler 7 8 Groceries [subtotal] 6,57 freight �29 30 December Friday Arose at 4 am. Voltie gone to Kingston with beef and butter. Came home at 7 pm. Arthur Vincent with him from Belles where he has been since last saturday. He came over to Christmas all night. V brought home a lot of things, groceries, books, blankets &c. he has had a very good day. 31 December Saturday Another fine day, warm snow rapidly disapearing. Tom Chatterton came last night as far as OBriens when he staid all night and this morning. He came and went across the river with A.P. Tom is going to work for him. �30 1 January Sunday 1905 A dreary day but not cold, slush and mud every where. Maud went to church am; after dinner went to Niles to make a visit, came home before dark. Byron Irvine there courting Shell. I think they should marry for they have courted five years and that is long enough. Henry Halliday came here visiting put his horse in stable, came early & staid till 9 pm, wouldnt eat any supper but sat at foot of table & looked on, very odd—eccentric. 2nd January Monday 1905 A cloudy nasty day not cold, snow nearly all gone. Voltie goes to township election, comes back to dinner then goes to Alice Mackeys to hang an outside door. Comes just in time to help milk. I write a letter to Will. After the supper dishes are washed we sit by the coal fire and read till 1/2 past 10 pm. except I finger off a mitten. �31 3rd January 1905 Tuesday A very cold day. Wind North, windows covered thick with frost. Voltie brought water for Maud to wash and put up the new clothes line then went to P.O. to mail a letter I’m sending to Will, came back and wroked in shop shoeing old Nell. After dinner breakfast I patch V’s old pants, wash all the dishes, pots, pans & kettle & get dinner. Maud washing. Sr caulking cellar door. After dinner we set around the coal stove. V & M reads. I write in diary. This is a dismal, dreary cloudy, cold day. Its been a good big washing. Not much snow on the ground any where, growing colder, frost on window like snow 3 pm. V still in black smith shop. Agricultures, Whig, Dispatch, Herald, American Woman, Home magazine, American home. A letter from John, a letter from Grace. �32 Wednesday 4 January 1905 Cold but very bright day sun shining out clear all day. I finished washing the clothes & Maud hung them out and all the other clothes, a big washing. After dinner Sr and V went to the island for a jag of wood and bushed the road as they went across, ice smooth and good for skaters so Maud put on her skates and away she went to Niles carrying their butter basket. I washed dinner dishes, fixed separator, set the sponge and picked over and put the beans cooking. Maud came home and after supper went out again on the ice but didn’t stay long. We sat up till nearly 1/2 past 10 pm reading. Thursday 5 January 1905 A very fine day but terrible cold. Roderick Jr helps. Voltie draw wood from Lindas island. 4 loads: Maud went skating pm. and helped get supper and then went again. Rod staid a long time after supper at sun set it looks like a storm. V brought in the clothes after dark. �33 Friday 6 Jan 1905 A stormy day, Wind N.E. Cant draw wood to day skating all spoiled. Maud is sorry, I not sorry but I’m sorry Maud burnt my new apron Belle sent me for Christmas by drying. subscribed to day for Herald Vickerys fire side and sent V.P. Collins 25 cts for Agriculturist. Maud made fruit cake. I made pumkin [sic] pies, churned and worked over butter. We sat up till then to read, only one hen laying each day one egg. Rachels old hen equal to grinnes old hen. So stormy P didn’t go for our mail. �34 Saturday 7 Jun 1905 Rains this morning but earth covered deep with snow, skating ruined. V (after breakfast) went for mail; only Whig & Herald, a disapointment. We expected the Hearthstone. V brought the sad news that little Samy Woodman had his hand nearly taken off in one of those DeLaval Separators. Charley had to break the separator with the axe before he could get his hand free. They sent for Dr Spankey, he came last night. We sat up late to read; hard work to get water to cook meals; snow is deep between river here area. Sunday A stormy day, Charley forgot to get V’s tobaco alone. All day we ate our meals & read. �35 Monday 9 January 1905 A cloudy stormy day. Maud cleaned pantry very nicely & cooked and done most all the house work. V and Sr started for the Island for wood but the storm turned them back. Bob Henderson here in the evening brought tobaco for V. Wal had been to the bay in cutter. Miss Maud, LWatson St Lawrence Island Wolfe Island Ont. [random cost additions in pencil] �36 Tuesday 10 January 1905 The snow blizzard raged all night. The sun shines out to day but the snow is flying as if the demon was in the swirling sweeping wind. Charley started early and carried little [Little Samy|Samy]] up to the doctors. I wrote and sent letters one to Will and one to Belle. Sr as usual patching old horse blankets in the kitchen. I have no ink it is all used up never could write with pencil. A letter from Nellie Bamford. Wednesday 11 Jan 1905 Raining this morning and freezing. V working in shop. Sr puttering around as usual. �37 Thursday 12 Jan 1905 A not very good day I guess. V says he will not attempt to drag any more wood from Lindas till the roads settle. The snow crust is hard and thick. Friday 13 Jan 1905 Friday 13 Jan 1905 A very good day. I dressed 9 roosters and one drake for market also made 13 prints for market. V went for mail; Chad Woodman till pm. Mail Herald, Good Litterature, Womans World, Whig & Agriculturist, Sunday observation. �38 27 My Dear Friend Rene It has been a long time since I received your precious letter which I treasure as a keep sake from your dear self. I have been visiting Grace for three weeks at her home in Kingston and had a lovely time. I went to the opera and matinees and other places of amusement and came home 2 days before Xmas. This is a strange winter, no ice nor snow for sleighing only mud every where. The old St Lawrence is rolling wild and free with the white caped waves dashing high on shore. I wouldnt mind it so much only Voltie said we would go to the masquerade at Depauville which is less than three weeks from this time and I had my dress all planed [sic] and have been thinking about it so long and now I know I cant go. Oh it is an �39 29 Sunday January 1905 30th January Monday 1905 I am tired of writing letters sometimes, recently I have thought and wished that people would write to me no more. Then I suppose I’d be sorry if I never heard from Wellie, Johny, Belle and Grace. A clear bright cold day. Arthur Vincent said Voltie went to Lindas for wood, gone to am till 4 pm, snow so deep 9 feet around the island. �40 31 Jan 1905 Tuesday [continuation of letter written on blank spaces] awful thing to live on an island and want to go some where and cant. Its like being banished though this island is 30 miles long and such a beautiful place in summer. I send you piece of one of my Xmas presents, 4 yds for a waist, my father sent it. I’m not going to have it made till spring with white silk lace. Sometime when I am in [diary day placeholder date written here] 1 February Wednesday 1905 Kingston I will get some pretty post cards of the scenery in water around Kingston and send them to you enclosed in an envelope and then you can address them to whom you please or keep them. The fellow you mentioned in your lettter (Mr Longshort) I dont know much about him. I think he is all right any way he is not bad looking, quite gentlemanly in appearance and a fine dancer. Last night we received a letter from Marjorie, she said Ethel Dixon �41 2 at Floras for a week. Tis fine thing to live in broad [sic] Jefferson Co then you can go any time and whenever you please. but poor little me cant go not even to the masquerade at Depauville. Dear Rena please write again. From your loving friend Maude L Watson [random additions] �42 4 Saturday February 1905 Looked for Voltie nearly all day. Just after dark our team came bringing Spaff and Frances Joy and their kid Florence. In a few minutes Voltie came having rode down with Charley Woodman. I dont believe I was glad to see the Joys for it put us to a great deal of inconvenience. This is a beautiful day, sun bright and clear. 5 Sunday February 1905 Towards noon Spaff and Frances walked to Niles that young one going along. I glad they are gone for Voltie always has to sleep on the bindstead loung [sic]: when ever any one comes to stay all night. No church service to day. �43 Monday 6 February 1905 A cloudy day a little rain and a little snow. Wind East cold. Alice Mackey came for cider for mince pies. I gave her some beans. I made one fan block for quilt, cooked beans, roasted beef, freshened pickles. Bob Horn & Geo Snub drove in here inviting to a dance at Dick Hallidays tomorrow evening. Voltie threshed the Van beans. Marjorie getting restless about going home. Maud making rug. Tuesday 7 February 1905 The day proved fine so Voltie, Marjorie and Maud went to Dick Hallidays to the dance after he went for the mail. �44 8 February Wednesday Voltie slept about an hour. The girls slept till nearly noon when I gave the work into their hands and sat myself down to piece a quilt and enjoy the warmth of the coal stove which I most thoroughly did for I was very tired. it came on to storm snowing and blowing. Voltie had a saw log all ready on the sleigh to draw to Kingston or Garden Island to be sawed to make beadstead and otherwise, but couldnt go on account of storm and bad roads. 9 February Thursday 1905 A terrible day for storm and wind and snow; log on the sleigh by the coal box, snow piled every where there has not been a thaw thro winter. Sr sick with a terrible cold a distemper I think, he has a cold all winter. �45 Friday 10 February 1905 Snow and storm. Charley Woodman floundered his way through for the mail. Tom Dignam drove as far as consession said he could get no further, wants to buy potatoes. Saturday 11 February 1905 A very bad day, snow six feet between here and the barn, 5 feet between here and the river, awful time to get water and to cook with and shovel roads to the river for the cattle and horses to go to drink and to clean out the water hole. just before dark looked out and said John and Flora and Gladys out to help them bring their valises to the hosue when behold it was Spaff and Frances Joy and the kid. �46 coming back again to stay all night so Voltie had again to sleep on the old truck bed. Alice Michea here for more potatoes. I dont think she likes to pay for them and she dont pay as much as other people. Sunday 12 February 1905 The storm not over yet. after breakfast V hitched up and drove away with our New Liskeard visitors to Geo Ratrays, storm increasing, snow deeper than ever; a long peaceful day: Wall Niles here. Monday 13 February Sun shines out clear part of the day, cold cold every day. I am coming down with the terrible distemper. �47 Tuesday 14 February 1905 A very cold day. I helped get breakfast and could do no more, dont feel well, got the distemper. Voltie coming down with it too, head ache awful. Girls done house work and made rugs. I made rugs too; I dont like to give up. I never saw so much snow on the ground as now, and it looks like another storm. Charley went for the mail. Spaff Joy went up with him. Geo Rattray here for potatoes and paid Voltie four dollars on account. Snowing again harder than ever. I dont eat any suppper. Voltie goes for the mail; Whig, Dispatch, Good Storries, Woman’s farm journal, a seed catalogue from Mills and a postal from Nellie Brooks and a book from Dingman and Puglesly ought ot have two �48 Wednesday 15th February 1905 Snowing all night, snow deeper than ever, no traveling, people waiting for a thaw, our North window half covered with the piled up snow. Bob Reid helping. Voltie pitch straw in barn and staid in evening till bed time. Thursday 16 February 1905 Very cold morning, thermometer 22 below zero. Wrote to Nell Brooks and to Hearthstone for her and send her a paper. Snow all day and increasing toward night. Maud washed but couldnt hang out the clothes for wind and storm. Girls, after dinner worked on rugs till time to get tea. �49 Friday 17th February 1905 Storming and snowing all night and all this day and blowing and snow flying, drifts piling higher & higher. We can yet see the top of our barn. Voltie carried the mail to PO but dont think Charley will go for the mail to day. Wal Niles drove to River View yesterday. Said not much water on ice, only along the shore; he came this am and brought home the tobaco. I darn a pair of mittens for Voltie. Charley went for mail found the travelling awful and got lost in a blizzard, found himself in the wire fence in Niles field. so late V didn’t go for mail this evening. I sent Mrs Brooks a letter and paper and wrote to Hearthstone for her. �50 Saturday 18 Feb 1905 A cold clear day wind S.W. and blowing. Maud hung out the clothes towards night. V brought them in. I cooked beans, freshened cucumber pickles, set yeast, sowed on rugs. Maud moped floors we are short of groceries. Want soap, sugar, tea and rolled wheat but dont know when but dont know can get any where to get any Sunday 19th February 1905 A clear bright cold morning 18 Deg below zero, no thaw yet and no tea. Voltie went to uncle Sams to borrow tea, they had none nor McGreggors had any. Rody gone to River View for tea. Voltie sent by him for tea and sugar. heay [sic] crossing on ice. Henry Halliday & Mr William McNeely came calling. McNeely staid to supper, a great conversastionalitst [sic] about politics and Government affairs; a conservation �51 Monday 20 February 1905 A little warmer but cloudy and the wind is blowing and snow flying. Girls making rugs. Thawing some this pm, snow settling a little. Bob Reid and McNeely undertook to go to Depauville, got as far as the other side to Quinn Beadles, found the roads impassable, turned about and came back again. Tuesday 21st February 1905 A warmer day, snow settling some sun shines but not very brilliant. Old Prince dog gone this morning went off last night after dark after being gone all day yesterday and now at 12 noon he’s not come home and probably never will. he came home long enough to get a good square meal and went away again. Reid & McNeely again try to get to Depauville, guess they will succed [sic] �52 this time. Robert came down a few minutes and I sent our letters by him, one to Puglesly and Dingman and one to Womans World. Sr sent one to Supervisor Cape Vincent. Arthur Vincent and Tom Chatterton came across the ice. Stay over night; horse tired out. Looks like storm. Did not get any books Whig, Dispatch, Vickery’s fire side visitor, Parks Floral magazine. Wedney [sic] 22 February 1905 Vincent Chatterton and Majorie went home to day. Weather cloudy but not cold, slush on the shore road to the top of cutter so we are done once more. On evening Voltie and Bob Reid drove to the corner for kerosine for the Woodmans, came home at 10 pm all abed but me �53 Voltie bought matches, sugar, and yeast cakes, thimble, tobaco Thursday 23rd February 1895 Sent this morning by Snub for 6 bars comfort soap and 1 lb tea then drove to Clayton for coal, only got 200 lbs for they had no chestnut coal. Maud went with Voltie goes to Lib Bamfords. They came home early. The day is fine and warm snow settling. Lib and I have a circulating library between ourselves. �54 Friday 24 February 1905 Colder again this morning but clear. Voltie gone to Kingston for coal & carried 3 bags of potatoes, a basket of beans & 5 doz eggs and I sent 50 cts for an express order for seeds, bulbs and the Home Magazine & V came bacck from Charley’s. Belle and Henry came too. Voltie came just at sun down bringing coal & groceries. Saturday 25 February 1905 Clear warm day, snow settling slowly. V drives over to Geo Rattray to ask him to go with him to Wellies. Maud went to Niles for buttermilk & forgot to ask for the Book. �55 Sunday 26 Feb 1905 A beautiful day. Another load from the "other side". Aday and her two youngest girls and old Dilason and Ben Percy. V came drunk as usual and as usual, I swears and talks like a fool. Lib returned the Book I lent her "The Virginian" had no use for it, traded of "Cow boys". Had it been some antiPopery book it would have been read with gusto. I returned her book which she sent over by Maud so our exchange library is ended. I lent the book to Adda. In the evening, Rady and Geo OBrien came to invite to a dance at Flynn’s and so ends the day. P.S. only brought in two eggs this day, no potatoes cooked for the hens, cow not milked, one egg �56 Monday 27th February 1905 A beautiful fair morning colder. The effect of yesterday’s debauchery by Van Bamford and Ben Percy is still very depressing to mind and memory. Did not do much this day. A dance at Flynns this evening. Maude dont go. 2 eggs. Tuesday 28 February 1905 Cloudy this morning snowing a little in the night. Maude went to post office carrying a letter for Belle to Marjorie and one I sent to Grace & Robert. She brought back the news that Shell & Byron are married last night at 7 Oclock pm. A regular sneak weding [sic] a Niles weding. Alice Mackey here for turnips. Only White and Northern Agriculturist. A clear starlight evening. 0 eggs to day, hens ate them up. Nothing looked after as it should be when Voltie is gone. �57 Wednesday 1st March 1905 A clear bright day & cold heavy frost on all the windows. We expect Voltie home to day. Maude washing. Sr gone to Cape to pay taxes on the island. Belle reading Capt Eri in Hearthstone. I washed colored clothes. Sr came back before dinner going no farther than River View, sent the tax money by Mr White. Charley came down for Belle and stayed all night. Evening visitors Eva Pike & Nez Niles. Eva inviting to party to her home tomorrow evening. March 2n 1905 A clear bright day. Charley and Belle went home this morning. Expect Voltie home this day for sure. This is the hour of 10 pm. Dont know what I may record before night, nothing bad I hope. Voltie came home at 5 pm had a fine visit. Wellie has moved, Voltie and Will helped. Wellie more very near Watertown, fine farm 30 cows. A knapp got back to John �58 Friday 3rd March 1905 Cloudy this morning a light snow fell in the night. Maude very anxious to go across the river to the dance at the Corners. Charley Woodman called had a fine time at the party last night. After dinner Voltie went across the river to try the ice and Maud went across with him to Adda Percy’s to go with them to the dance tonight with Adda’s young people. V going to try and draw a saw log to Clayton tomorrow if the ice permits. V returns saying cant go to Clayton so many pitch holes in the road so concludes to draw the log to ClaytonKingston tomorrow morning. not much mail only Herald and Whig and a letter from John. night sets in dark and cloudy looks like a storm �59 Saturday 4th March 1905 A snowy blustering morning wind North. Voltie dont go to Kingston nor any where else. roads are again drifted full, clears off at noon but the wind blows. Charley Woodman here to have his hair cut and brings an invitation for V & M to attend a party at A Berries. Voltie drove over for Maud, she relates all about the party and her visit to addas. We read till 11 pm. Roseveldt’s [sic] inauguration day. Sunday 5 March 1905 Cloudy again to day. Wind North, an awful depth of snow on the ground. 1/2 past 11 am and no visitors, we like a quiet sabath. I have just finished reading "The Light of Asia" by Sir Edwin Arnold a masterpiece of the mind. I wish I could get his biography. Maud asleep on the lounge. Voltie at the shop. Wells Sr paring potatoes for dinner. The day passed quietly, no visitors. I write a letter to Grace �60 March 6th Monday 1905 A clear day cold snow very deep. Voltie and Sr still has to go over the snow hill to get to the barn. Rheumatism has poor me firm in its chitches and I dont believe I’ll ever get over it. I’m discouraged over it. Voltie went to Woodmans for his fur coat. Edy Bates here inviting to his dance to night at St Lawrence hall. V and M go to the dance. Charley Woodman goes to Al Berry’s A dance and oyster supper at Dick Hallidays for the chosen friends this evening. Tuesday 7 March 1905 V and Maud didn’t get back from the dance till after breakfast this morn. V bought C Halliday 9 bags of tobaco ($1,00). After dinner V goes over to Quinn Beadles with beans 3 bushels. Mail Whig Dispatch, Womans World, Heathstone, Good Litterature & New Thought, and "The Streket Monster a postal from Nell a letter about the island. �61 Wednesday 8 March 1905 A stormy day snow fallng fast and furious and blowing too. going to begin working better than ever. I’ll count some things done in this diary to day. Made a chemise for my self and made the sleeves to small, help do house work and make me help V get ready for Kingston tomorrow. Thursday 9th March 1905 A very fine day. Voltie goes to Kingston carrying beans, potatoes. I sent Grace a few apples; made rug to day, done my work over. Voltie came early bringing Robert with him. Wal came also. A new boy at Geo Niles; their first baby. Friday 10 March 1905 A soft day. After dinner V and R.A.G. drives over to Maloney’s. V going to Quinn’s carrying J his tea. To day I sent away for seeds from J.B. Mills and to Presleys for 2 books &c &c. R & P drive over to Maloneys. They take Quinns tea home. �62 Saturday 11 March 1905 4 below zero this morning quite frosty but clear 3000000000 miles of sun spot; so the papers say. I dont believe they (whoever they are) can measure it. V gone to Rattrays for ice tackling of some sort. R reading and sleeping. We had just retired to our restful beds and comfortably dozing when we were suddenly awakened by some one driving to the door when who should prove to be but John and Flora. Well we all got out of bed except Dada. John had brought his phonograph and we got them supper and sat up till nearly 3 pm visiting and listening to the phonograph which is realy [sic] a grand one. �63 Sunday 12 March 1905 Well Sunday was a fine day somewhat cold in the morning but clear. Flora had brought me cloth and all the trimmings for a new dress the dear good girl. Well we had another phonograph concert of thirty five records. V gave Flora his violin. I gave her — &c and they went home at dark 14 miles and the road not very good. I am sorry to see them go. Syvia and Samy heard the concert. Monday 13 March 1905 A very bright day but cold yet. There has been no thaw this winter. Sa and P still continues to climb the snow hill going to the barn. Voltie goes to River view for oil and calls at Quinn’s for his bean money $6.00. Robert sleeps and Read are long. V bought 5 yds print to set a quilt together. snow dont settle any 4 deg below zero. �64 Tuesday 14 March 1905 A bright cold day no thaw, 4 deg below zero; arose early got breakfast so Robert could go to Niles’ at 7 Oclock am; going up with WalaceNiles to Kingsotn. Quinn drove over, he too going up with Wal. V & Sr shoveling snow to make a road to the ice house. V getting ready to fill the ice house. HenryHalliday came for Voltie to help him fill his ice house tomorrow. Voltie cant help him for he has to go to Clayton tomorrow with saw log. Henry here to dinner. Maud & I cut and sew carpet rags. Alice Michea drove here for potatoes. Voltie went for the mail then went to J Niles for his fur coat which Bob had worn to Kingston and sent back by Wall. V did not return from Niles till 11 pm but played poker with Niles, Wal & Muloney. Tom Chaterton drove over with Wills here gone up to CharleyHallidays. V gone over to Rachels for carpet balls for Jen. �65 Wednesday 15 March 1905 4 deg below zero this morn. V gone to Clayton with oak log to get sawed into lumber to work up in shop. a bright clear day. Voltie came early at 1 pm & we were just rising from the table so he had a warm dinner. Henderson came with the sleigh after we were in bed, said Hank hadnt finishing fillinging [sic] his ice house. Mrs Mr Niles & Mrs Paunp went visiting Shell & Byron. Thursday 16th March 1905 4 deg above zero this morning. Sleighing good every where this morning the snow as deep as ever. cloudy. looks like a storm of rain or snow. Chatterton drove down from Charlies, put his horse in stable and stoped still after dinner. I sent Jen a letter. Voltie cut hole in ice and prepared for filling the ice house tomorrow �66 Friday 17 March 1905 A fine day. Voltie out to the place where he intended to get ice found the water and slush so deep he adjourned the job till later and went to Depauville instead for a stone boat which he paid $2,50. Wal Niles accompanied him; ate dinner with Wells family found them well; Grandmother, better than usual Saturday 18 March 1905 A thaw for sure this morning. Raining all day. The ground begining to peep through the snow in places. Every thing out door look dreary and dismal. A robin trying to sing. poor thing. P.M. Maud and I cut and sewed carpet rags. "Some body laid in the vault to day—dont know where tis: Evening raining hard. �67 Sunday 19 March 1905 A cloudy North wind day, growing colder. Chimney burning out again. river beging [sic] to look streaked. Wallace here to have cross cut saw filed. Maud and I sewed rags A quiet day hens eating the eggs as fast as they are laid. 20 March 1905 Monday cold and freezing. Wall here to get saw filed. Maude and I sewed carpet rags. Voltie working in shop making bedstead. Sr reading novel in kitchen, day passes of [sic] quietly enough. Tuesday 21 March 1905 A moderate day. I sent a letter to Gladys. Sewed rags again to day. Voltie goes for mail and is informed that it is the body of Annetoza Warner that is in the vault. 9 eggs to day. A beautiful moon light evening. �68 Wednesday 22nd March 1905 Moderately warm cooking beans and baking apples. V gone to corners with Charly Woodman brought soap and pepper also. A letter from HB Mills seedman about a 5ct price with a hole in it . The 5 cts was returned to us, rather shabby I think considering we had sent him over two dollars for seeds. Sewed rags to day. 13 eggs to day. Thursday 23rd March 1905 A cloudy morning looks like rain. Jack Niles came to borrow the bob sleigh to go to Kingston.. Clears up, warm quite a nice day, thawing some, snow disappearing. Friday 24 March 1905 A cloudy rainy day. The Earth is very dirty in appearance. Wal, Jack & Henderson drew the sleigh home. V went home with Wal—they gave him a calf for the hens. V went for the mail & found that Charley didnt go for the mail to day. traveling �69 on ice awful. Charley drove to school house for his children and teacher found slush way up to the top of the cutter box, he had to stand on the seat to keep out of it. 15 eggs to day. Saturday 25 March 1905 A foggy morning sun shines out dismaly [sic]. Thawing of course. I washed breakfast dishes. Maud cleaned the floors. Voltie went to Sams to ask Charley to drive to Will Gilespie’s with him. Charley sick with cold. V went on horseback to keep his feet from getting wet. Came back & went to Niles’ to ask Wallace to go to River View with him for rubber boots. Wall gone up to visit Shell. Jack went instead. They started after dinner and walked across the ice to Beadles and then to the corners and returned at 5 pm. found slush and water but very good ice. V remailed my letter to JB Mills. �70 Monday 10 April 1905 "April showers bring forth may flowers" and also it thundered. We catch some water to wash with. Sr fixed an old sweat collar (one of his rainy day jobs). Irene churns, wash dishes, saw flower seeds and transplant tomatos. Tuesday 11 April 1905 Very foggy morning. Irene washed dishes & separator, Maud made cake, boiled beef, pared potatoes. Voltie plowing over here a very little snow left yet. ice still clings to shore. V set another hen. R’s old hen �71 Wednesday 12 April 1905 A brilliant warm day plowing and brushing over there, work on rugs. 23 eggs to day. Maud abed all fore noon. Irene cooked the meals, washed separator, churned, washed all the dishes. Thursday 18 April 1905 A very fine day but not so warm as yesterday, darned stockings, cut a few rags, getting nearly out of rags. Maud washed the curtains and a few towels. �72 Friday 14 April 1905 A cool pleasant day, made the butter into prints 11 lbs. counted the eggs. 17-1/2 doz. Worked at rags. Saturday 15 April 1905 A very pleasant day. Voltie drove to Villiage for cultivator he borrowed J Nile’s double cart. Called at Belles. Marjorie visiting at her grandmother’s H’s. Belle sent carrots and a new kind of tomato seed and coffie berry seed. Voltie forgot the ginger. He came early. White wash brush to course Sunday 16 April 1905 A cold miserable sort of a day, snow squalls and freezing ground white with snow. Wind N.W. alone all day no visitors but enjoyed a comfortable quiet Sabath day reading and cooking our meals. Harvey H here in p.m. �73 Monday 17 April 1905 A dismal cold day frozed up again, cold wind clouds continualy arising in the S.W. Voltie goes to the villiage again this morning with a portion of his new cultivator which he found defective. A light snow partly concealing the earth. Voltie wore his heavy fur overcoat and drove up in buggy carrying eggs, butter 11. Sunday 30 April 1905 Long time since I wrote in this diary 13 days ago; been so busy house cleaning making rugs and carpet, many things and incidents occur within 18 days. Maud went to market Thursday with 21 lbs butter & two fowls, went to Grace’s for dinner. Beatrice there helping Grace about spring house cleaning. M met her dad in town and Ben and Will (her brothers). Belle got inflamatory rheumatitis in feet and ancles [sic] cant walk. H Halliday here last Sunday �74 sent for strawberry plants 28 eggs and also wrote to Ed Bates to look out for plants. Saturday 29 Apr 190 rainy all day. Sunday 30 April 1905 A cool day, ground very wet, floating cloud. Wind S.W. Charley Woodman here. I gave him a pumkin [sic] pie for his dinner, he borrowed V’s buggy to drive to the villiage for Miss Eva Pike, his fiancee. V sent Sam a bottle of wine. I suppose it never left his mouth till the bottle was empty. Henderson came after a while, he looks as though he wanted a drink of cider but he will go empty. Well dinner is past and dishes washed & nearly 1/2 past 4 p.m. Sr reading Dispatch. V reading Herald. Maud reading. I’m going to write to Amanda but I dont want to. �75 Monday 1st May 1905 Volta goes to Arch Berrys for seed oats. Sylvia came bringing the pie plate. Miss Pike came after school she wiped the supper dishes, a chilly day Miss Pike wearing fur coat Tuesday 2nd May 1905 A dreary dismal day, chilly and wet. Dick Maloney tells VRachel is at Gloyds and wants V to come over for her. Dawson Beadle rowed over bringing all our garden seeds from F.B. Mills. Volta gave him 20 ducks eggs and 1/2 bushel seed potatoes. Wednesday 3rd May 1905 Dreary nasty rainy day. V & Sr trying to plant potato ground. We churn and print 18 lbs butter for market. I plant one seed "Bird of Paradise". V went across for Rachel. This diary is continued on page 1. �76 March Mail Dispatch Whig Herald A postal from New Thought March 7. Hearthstone Woman’s World Good Litterature New Thought A Book the sticked minister March 10 Home Magazine Seeds and catalogue from lowe 14th March North Western Agricultural Hearth and home Woman’s farm journal Tuesday 21 Good Stories House hold Guest Tuesday 29 Vickerys Fireside 2 Comforts American Home Letters 1 from John postal from Nell a letter about Lindys island 14 Letter from Gladys 21 letter from Gladys A letter from KB Mills about a 5 ct with a hole in it from Flora from Flora From Grace From Watson From Bob 31 from Gladys �77 [images: stamped pictures of various animals] MaudeWatson St Lawrence PO Wolfe Island Ont Canada Miss Marjorie Halliday Miss Maude Watson| Maude Watson C.L.M.W. A.W.V. Asher Core Pearl Lewis �78 V 5 Equitorial Africa V 9 A thousand miles up Nile V 11 The Pioneers V 16 Looker on in London Treasure Island. Stevenson David Harum Rowing in Boston A daughter of Fife Chimmie Fadden Anne Woolson Samantha among colored folks �79 Upstairs on lower left Bert 415 W Main St �80 [affixed stamp] PHOTOMOUNT PAMPHLET BINDER Manufactured by GAYLORD BROS, Inc. Syracuse, N. Y. Stockton, Calif. �81 �This document would not be possible without the editorial contributions of the following people: Ann Hopkinson, MaryV, Vivian Zhang, Eric Irvine, carol ann, Ella Deering, and Queen’s University Archives � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Subject The topic of the resource 19th and 20th Century Rural Ontario Diaries Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1887-1922 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Table Of Contents A list of subunits of the resource. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1887 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1888-1889 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1889-1897 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1890 March - June Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1893-1895 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1895-1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1896 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1897-1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899-1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902, 1906 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902-1909 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1904-1905 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1907 & 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1908-1919 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1911 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913-1914 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1915-1916 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1916-1917 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1917-1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1921-1922 Language A language of the resource English Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1904-1905 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1904 October to 1905 May Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 20th Century, Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Date Created Date of creation of the resource. October 25th, 1904 (p. 6) Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Typed Transcription UG Transcription Progress Scripto transcription progress Done transcribed https://ruraldiaries.lib.uoguelph.ca/transcribe/files/original/5fe93634dfacac2e4c2a485721afc17f.pdf ecb6d5f38c1c88e5a3449ccd6a29df62 PDF Text Text Irene Dixon Bamford parts of 1902-1909, Diary Transcription 5034_4-1-15 �Metadata FromThePage export of 5034_4-1-15 from Irene Dixon Bamford made on 2026-02-11 14:35:19 UTC. itemTitle: Parts of 1902-1903-1904-1906-1909 date: 1902-1909 Title: 5034_4-1-15 Description: Item is a diary. Created On: 2024-01-11 17:49:40 UTC In Scope: true Uploaded Filename: 5034_4-1-15 �1 IRENE DIXON BAMFORD DIARY: Parts of 1902-1903-1904-1906-1909 1902-1909 [stamp] QUEENS UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES LOCATOR 5034.4 BOX 1 FILE 15 �2 Parts of 1902-1903-1904-1906-1909 �3 [Manufacturing stamp] PAMPHLET BINDER [logo] Manufactured by GAYLORD BROS, Inc. Syracuse, N.Y. Stockton, Calif. �4 [stamp] Some 1902 & 1903 R Wednesday 7th Jan 1903 A January day. I helped get dinner. Voltie working on sleighs. Walace came towards evening. A dance at Frank W’s. Voltie, Maud, Irene, Wallace, Lennie all go down to F’s after dark. Len fell in rock hole going down Thursday 2nd April 1903 Arise and call Voltie at 4 sharp. It looks like a storm and I think I will stay home and not go to Belles. Voltie starts at six a.m. He borrowed Charleys old buggy and drove double. The wind rising a blows a half gale all day. Maud whitewashed and cleaned the kitchen. Maud and I are tired and look in vain for Volties comming till long after dark. Dark heavy clouds lying off in the west. Sharp lightning and heavy thunder and Prince comes whining at the door to get in, he is afraid of thunder, we let him in and he cralls [sic] away in the corner behind the stove, the old fool! The supper is kept warm in the oven for Voltie. At last we hear a prolonged whistle and we know Voltie has arrived amid thunder & lightning and now prince goes to the door to get out and Sr, lantern in hand, and Prince goes to the barn and beling the stacks to pilot Volty around the corner and throughs the bars and soon he comes in ladened with baskets and �5 Thursday 8 Jan 1803 A very good day. I dont feel very well yet but helped get dinner. Voltie and the girls got the breakfast after being out to the dance till midnight at Frank W’s. Rachel came over to stay she slept with Irene & Maud slept with me. bundles accompanied by Albert Joy the great electrician. I supposed he was going to stay all night but after tea and raspberries, and helping V water the horses, he concluded he would go home and he went, forgeting his over coat. Well I wash dishes and mix the biscuits all ready to bake in the morning and Maud pares the potatoes, and finally we are settled and gone to the land of nod and dreams, wishing we could stay there a long time. O Lord! Friday 3rd of April 1903 I slept like a top all night with the wind roaring around the house from the South. Awoke this morning to find queer looking clouds piled fold upon fold a strange weird looking morning which finaly consolidates into fog and rain which comes pouring. �6 Friday 9th January 1903 A cold stormy snowy day. Wind I am better I think, Dont do house work only fix socks. Rachel mixed and baked bread & pies & helped the girls about getting the meals after dinner, went home to see about things & wore Mauds red hood. Sent old W.F.W. a letter, R sent one to Will. Maud went to post office came back covered white with snow. Had boiled pork for dinner very good. Voltie working on sleighs. Old man working on something in stable. R came over to stay all night got no wood, brought her rug yesterday she came over. Expected a letter from Grace but received none. I hope they are well. down in torrets, filling barrel and tub in a few minutes and continues falling all day. V tried to plow in the garden to set raspberry bushes but put the team in stable and went to work in shop. Sr fell the dear old poplar tree where the woodpeckers made their nests in the holes every year, then he made sweat collars for horses. After dinner writes in this old diary and nod away. Wall came down and gone to the shop to visit with Voltie. Mail Whig, Homes, Herald, letter from Grace. Albert Roy there again to supper. He just came from over the river in a small skiff wet through to his pelt the rest of his pants looks as if he had sat down in a pail or tub of water. Voltie gave him dry clothes and says Albert is crabby. �7 58 Saturday 10 January 1903 A bright sunshiny day, river frozen over to the other shore. Al Joslin & Frank Woodman here to dinner. Rachel went home, rode over with Voltie came back and brought her canned fruit, 18 cans to be put in our cellar. Found her dog sitting on her veranda. R and M scoured the dining room floor. I feel some better to day. After dinner V carried A. Joslin home Miss OBrien came to pay R ,40 cts for a duck. R churned and made drop cakes and canned sweet apples. I go to bed early dont feel very well. Saturday 4 April 1903 Wind N. freezing, snowy and blowing all night; a dismal looking morn ground white with snow every where, and only day before yesterday Charley Woodman sowed 20 bushels grain. V working shop. Sr drawing out straw on the jumper and spreading it on the point. Maud cleaned floors and made three beautiful cakes, one of them is for Grace’s birth day. Irene pieces 4 blocks for quilt and help do the work. In the evening we all read. Freezing hard. The sun comes out in afternoon but not warm; a clear sun set �8 Sunday 11 January 1903 A cloudy morning not cold Wind South and quiet. River closed in with ice from shore to shore. Am better again this morning. R and the girls in kitchen doing the breakfast dishes and seperators. Voltie brought up from cellar and got me a big apple, a bell Flower, a beauty; he is going to send his grandmother some apples. Think I will write a letter either to Johny or Will or Poor dear Edith. Snow falling heavily all day. Maud & June go to church. Len Patterson here in evening laughing and te he ing about nothing, stays till 1/2 past 10 Sunday 5 April 1903 A clear bright morning but very cold. N wind yet, but very quiet, froze very hard. Maud washes nearly all the breakfast dishes; I help a little and wash scald separator. Maud goes to church forenoon service Voltie goes over the river to Beadles with barley for Will and did not get back till long after dinner and dishes all washed. Heard a rap at kitchen door and Wells bade them "come in" and in walked the electrition, having driven over in buggy, hitched his horse to the gate post, came for his oars and for a neighborly visit. Maud and Irene were both invisible. Maud at church where she had gone to meet Shell and Inez to practice a new hymn on the church organ, then Voltie came and they went �9 60 Monday 12th January 1903 A pleasant morning wind west and freezing, cloudy nearly all day. Rachel and Maud and Irene picked over a bushel of wheat free from cockle seed and wild peas. V going to get it ground for graham bread. Irene Sr mended stocking and washed dinner dishes and made 10 more lbs butter & now I have 20 lbs of butter ready for market. Rachel set up a pair of mittens for Voltie. Old man, cross but no body cares swore too. The weather cold and freezing at bed time to see the pigs, and Albert didn’t come back any more. V came home dinnerless and helped himself in pantry and I just sat down for a quiet reading time when the kitchen door opens without a rap and in walks D.D. Bamford & Jay Lee both loaded to the muzzle with hard cider and noisy. I began to look around for some place and means of escape when "Where is Aunt Rend" in dining room and Jay Lee comes in with a great "How do you do"! and puts out his hand and grasps and shakes hand with a fervor and grip like a Methodist preacher and hauled up our disabled rocker, and sat down in it so forcibly, that the poor old chair gave way in every joint and settled with a squat. �10 61 Tuesday 13 January 1903 Freezing all night. Voltie says could cross with horse this morning. Cloudy and looks like more snow. Maud & Irene washing dishes. Maud on ice skating nearly all forenoon and afternoon. Wallace & Will Niles walked across the river this morning. Voltie drove over to Geo Rattray’s with a grist this morning; pig feed & Graham flour. After dinner Voltie walked over the river and went to the corners to see about the Sears and Roebuck things which are being sent through from Chicago to Rosiere. When they arrive by express Eddie Bates will bring them over. Voltie is very tired. But sets up and tries to instruct M and I in the misteries of playing the game called Nations. Lennie brings the mail mail to us. Len is a good boy but R hates him and calls him a niger. Poor Len. nearly to the floor. I yelled "Get out of that you’ll smash the chair sure" but he would not budge from his roost. And then began a garrilous detailed discription of his life at Windmills, which was a mixture of ridiculous, ludicorous, pathetic, obscenity, which I would like to record in this my diary, but decency forbids. After a while I look towards the open door of the kitchen and discover Van with his yaup going �11 62 Wednesday 15th of January 1903 A cloudy day snow everywhere with now and then a flake lightly falling. Rachel gone over to clar up before going over the river to make an all winter’s visit. She sent her pork, flour and lard & sugar over. Voltie drove to Rattray’s for the grist; we made Graham biscuits for dinner very good but coarse. Shell, Maud & Jack going skating. Irene poor darling has no skates so came back to the house. May Ranous here for mission money had none for her. I helped get dinner, washed the dinner dishes, and washed, churn &c. and I say "Hellow Van" he says "I wont do it. I’m mad at ye. What for? cause you never come over to see me. no! I always have to come to see you and I’ll never come again." Of course it was our cider they were after and they got it and their supper to. I can tolerate Van but I don’t like Jay Lee. �12 63 Thursday 16 Jan 1903 A cloudy day, light snow falling not very cold; 2 below zero, done a little work to day. Voltie butchered 3 hogs, Frank Woodman & Dave Reid helping. R set up a pair of mittens for Maud. Maud made a cake for the party at Geo Niles. No good. made another very good. Wall drove for them ie. Voltie, Maud & Irene. Irene was the belle of the party came home at 2 pm all right. Mnday 6 April 1903 A very good morning, NE wind. I so lame can scarcely get around to do the work. Maud washing all clothes. She going to get our clothes on the line before Samy does this time, but she didn’t. I wash dishes, separator, get the dinner and after dishes washed I washed three pair of old overalls. Robert and Sid Percey came bringing Rachel over, drank cider and then went home. �13 64 Friday 16 Jan 1903 Cloudy, light snow falling not cold A.M. Voltie cut up the pork. I cook beef for dinner. R finishes Maude’s mittens. Irene break teacup & plate accidently. I churn & make 6 more butter prints for market which addition counts 26 lbs., put 1 1/2 doz eggs in basket for market, fill a basket for Grace. Maud goes skating in evening with Shell, Inez Wallace, Jack & Lennie came in at 9 pm. R and Irene goes for the mail, Whig, Herald, Good Stories, Happy hours, no letters. Saturday morning 17 Jan 1903 Arose at 4 and get breakfast for Voltie and Frank Woodman; both going to the city. Voltie carrying 26 lbs butter, 1 1/2 doz eggs, 2 hogs. I send Grace a basket. Frank carrying a a heavy basket of chickens. R made a few cookies and too pies, cleaned dinning room floor, forget what I done. V came home at 9 pm didn’t get coal and left dad’s boots in town but brought granulated & brown sugar, skates for Irene, pills, oatmeal, soap, tea, glue, ginger, bowls, bolts, &c &c. Says he is going to the Sailors ball and take Maud, Margarette, Irene. Tuesday evening V & F stoped at Charlies & had supper. �14 65 Sunday 18 January 1903 A beautiful day, froze last night. Wind west. R picked up her pack and V took her across the river in single bob sleigh. Frank went with him. V says Charley H has been over to Wellies. Len P here. Maud went on skates to Mrs Niles to get her to finish her waist for the ball. Irene & Maud went skating all pm 7 April Monday �15 66 This months Magazines March Good Stories April American Woman April Good litterature April Woman’s Magazine April New Thought Brown Book Good litterature Woman’s World April Woman’s Farm Journal Hearth & home 24 March Comfort 24 March Wednesday 9 April A nasty day, I churned and made prints, 15 for market, sent Grace one American Home The St Paul Weekly Despatch Northwestern Agriculturist �16 67 Thursday 10 April Arose at 4 am didn’t sleep much after 3 am for watching the clock for 4 am. V and Maud and R went to Kingston. I worked steady all day, began to rain towards night. Sr started before six pm carrying umbrella and shawl for Maud. They came at 9, wet and cold and hungry but I had a good hot fire and a good hot supper. Lennie came soon after dark and staid till their return. Friday 11 April 1903 A very good day. R wants to go to see Mrs Morgan who is very sick but didn’t like to walk so far but worked on the quilt instead. V worked in shop. Evening mail, Herald, Whig, News, Womans World, Hearth and Home, Good Stories. Mauds silk for waist. Maud went up to Mrs Niles in evening and staid till 9 pm. I received a letter from Wellie also we churned to day. �17 68 Monday 19 January 1903 A very good winter day. Eddy Bates here to dinner so we get all the news from Wellie, Johny and Wills family. Voltie went to show Edy over the cracked ice. Saturday 12 April 1903 A very fine day no rain. Voltie plows for potatoes. Rachel takes of the tiedown quilt. Maud [illegible] very well indigestion. She made a cake and wiped up the floor. I worked till my feet acke. I sowed cabbage seed and caught a slight cold. Mrs Niles and her daughters here this evening. �18 69 Tuesday 20 January 1903 A very good day. Voltie and Maud started early this morning for Kingston driving up on the ice, carrying 5 turkeys and and a barrel of apples to market then came back after (Maud went to Graces awhile) to Belle’s and after supper Wallace took Marjorie to the Ball. Voltie taking Maud and Beatrice Irene and Irene were alone all day except grandad as at home of course. No I realy should not forgot that Will and Charley came over accompanied by Frank. They come just in time for dinner and were sorry Voltie was not home. Monday 14 April 1903 Easter Monday Wind North cool and breezy. R made self an apron. Maude white washed, cleaned the wood work and R helped her paper the big room in Chamber. I done house work and cooked the meals. V plowing. The weather is dry and clear. �19 70 Wednesday 21 January 1895 A great fall of snow last night over a foot deep every where. It is the morning after the ball and Maud and Voltie come poking along home, driving down on the ice. Voltie brought some coal 2 bags left, 3 bags at Charlie’s and 15 hundred in Kingston. He bought himself a new suit of clothes. Voltie dont feel very well and went to bed, but Maud kept up all day and sung and danced and laughed and worked till after supper. I drove her off to bed. Tuesday 15th April 1903 �20 71 Thursday 22 January 1903 A tolerable fair day. Wells and Voltie bush out a road to Lindy’s. I was scrubing the pantry floor when the girls said a cutter was coming in here which proved to be the PreacherMr. Wheatley, he put out his horse and stayed to dinner. The roads are full of snow and hard traveling. Wednesday 16 April 1903 A dirty cold rainy drizzling day Ellie Woodman came here and bought Voltie’s skiff $40 dollars. Sr & V cleaning up grain at the grainery. �21 Friday 23rd January 1903 A cold day. I write and send a letter for Voltie to the Massey Harris Co. Maud writes to her father and Irene takes both letters to the Post office. Maud cleans the kitchen floor, dear little Maud. Wells and V went for a jag of wood to Lindy’s. We cleaned pantry and washed clothes and Maud cleaned kitchen floor Thursday 17th April 1903 Arose at 4 got breakfast for Voltie. Wells Sr drove to the dock with Voltie he going up to pay the Massey-Harris note. Maud and I done big washing. R finished her apron and helped get the meals. Wells hustled around and done the chores and ate supper and started for the dock, came home at 7 p.m. [Voltie|V]] didnot see Ellie Woodman in Town He ate dinner with Grace. Bob gone. I sent for nothing this day. I churned &c Wells brought the news that Mrs Morgan is better. Uncle Sam is sick Sylvia here for mustard. Lizzie there doing the work. Friday 8th May I sent to Sears and Roebucks for a hat for Maud. A beautiful day yesterday Maud went to Kingston. It rained near all day and it was a much needed rain. �22 73 Saturday 24 January 1903 A very cold day. 18 below zero. Wells and Voltie drew a load of wood from Lindy’s. Voltie this morning went for the mail. A letter from Grace. Whig, Herald, Two "new Thought magazines and a book the heart of the New Thought"—very fine. Frank Woodman gone to Will Dixons looking for a farm, Frank got the morning fever again. Friday 18 April 1903 Wind N.W. Froze Last night, cold this morning. A clear bright day. Voltie did not work in field this morning till after dinner, but instead put up the wee stove in dining room, bored holes in the quilting frames. Rachel making beeswax Maud ironing and working at chamber putting up curtains. Wells fixing stable floors. Rats eating up all our young chickens, grass getting green on the point. Sunday 3rd May 1903 A cool day, cloudy. Frank & Emma came over. Eddy Bates here too and Len Patterson here too, had fish for dinner &c, began to rain towards night. �23 74 Sunday 25 January 1903 A quiet peaceful day. Voltie made himself a pair of leather mittens. We cook and read and daze. No one here but Lennie towards eve to borrow V’s robes for Lennie and Charlie are going driving. The weather is wintry enough. Great body of snow covers the Earth far and wide. Cloudy and snow lightly falling. Frank not home yet from farm hunting. Monday 4th May 1903. Voltie set a hen on hens eggs 16. A cold morning for a May morning. It rained yesterday pm, the first rain for a long time. The Spring is very backward. Rachel churned this morn We built a fire in the pine knot. Maud is flying around at work. Sr chopping or splitting wood May 9th Saturday 1903 A beautiful May morning. Maud drove to the villiage with Addie Percey and little son. Wells rowed across the river with Voltie to River view. V going to Joslin’s and from there to Wellies, he is going to look for a farm. Sunday A fine day not so warm as yesterday. Maud went to church. �24 75 Monday 26 January 1903 A cloudy mild day. Voltie and Sr drawing wood from Lindy’s island. Maud swept and made all the beds and melted snow to clean floors. Irene Sr made apple pies. Irene Jr helped wash dishes. 7 eggs to day which makes 33 new laid eggs beside Voltie sold 30 which makes 63 besides we used 10 which is 73 new laid eggs altogether this winter. After dinner Maud washing a few things. Sr & V gone for more wood. They drew two loads to day. Tuesday 27 January 1903 Wind South, snow drifting, a very mild sunlight lifting through clouds. No drawing wood from the island this day. Maud washing breakfast dishes; Irene Jr washing seperator. The men at the barn and shop doing—I dont know what. Can’t send letters to day on account of drifts. Maude went to post office carrying a lantern. Stoped on the ice talking with Patterson. Voltie called them and they came bringing Whig, Good Litterature & Happy homes & Vickerys fire side and best of all a letter from Johny. �25 76 Wednesday 28 January 1903 A soft cloudy foggy day scarcely any wind, snow settling fast. Wallace here for masquerade suits. After dinner Edy Bates drove in here from across the river thought he had brought the merchandize which is to be sent form Chicago but doomed to disapointment. Nothing came. Voltie working in shop ironing off sleighs. Thursday 29 January 1903 Didnt think when I arose this morning that 10 O’clock A.M. would find me at Charleys. Voltie, Irene and I started at 8 a.m. drove up on the ice & through big bay and the canal till we came to the old barn by Brown’s, where we turned off and drove to Belles. Charley gone to villiage for groceries brought brought sodas and oysters, candy. Voltie went up to get the black colt Topsy shod for the first time. The ice covered with soft snow and water hard traveling some of the way. Voltie didn’t come till after dark, black smith had gone to a funeral. A great thunder and light storm and we staid all night. Will H Woodman stayed too. We had a fine visit. �26 77 Friday 30 January 1903 Voltie and I started from Belles at 8 a.m. found the roads bad for traveling slumpy, horses sometimes going in up to their knees floundering and came nearly tipping over several times and to add to our greater discomfort the west wind blowing a gale but arrived home at 1/2 past 10 all right, went straight to getting dinner, but Maud had the house all tidied up very fine, cakes baked and a big plate full of sweet apples the remainder of the day employed itself in snow squalls and blizzards from the S.W. I tired and sleepy and go to bed at 1/2 past 7. Maud sleeping with me. Weather so bad cant go to PG this eve Saturday 31st and last day of week and last of Jan 1903. A blizzardy morning but partly clears up at noon. Our hens eating their eggs about as fast as laid. Voltie working in shop at sleigh building; dont know what Sr does. Maud cleaned all the floors. After dinner Maud goes to Mrs Niles for subscription for American woman Inez came home with her,—came for milk for coffee, staid for supper and till after the cows were milked. In evening sat up and read, commenced a new quilt log cabin pieced one block and a half. �27 78 Sunday 1st day of February 1903 A very good day for skating but not very clear. Maud, (after work if done up) skates with Inez nearly all fore noon. Voltie reading Herald while we were at morning dishes. Voltie and Johny Wilson run the pike net and got only one fish, a pike which I clean and cook for dinner. While we were eating dinner a cutter came to the door which proved to be Henry Halliday and Beatrice. They had been to dinner. Beatrice had a dish of pudding & a cup of tea with us. She came for instruction in embroidery. Voltie and Henry drove across the ice to Maloney’s while Maud and Beatrice go skating. Beatrice a Noviciate in the art of skating. Inez and Maurice Maloney on skates too. Henry and Voltie came back accompanied by Dick M Frank and Dave Reid and Johny Wilson helped Voltie set the fish net. We sat up and read but no visitors. I see Sr had commenced to keep diary. �28 79 Monday 2nd February 1903 A soft morning & so foggy can scarcely see the barn. V drove our old pig to Joys and then helped Frank butcher 5 pigs. Callers for the barn Johny Willson, Wallace Niles, Jackey Niles, Dave Reid, Len Patterson, Geo Ratray. Voltie came home at noon cleaned up a grist and got ready for going to Kingston tomorrow. But dont think he will for towards evening it thunders and rains. The fields are pretty much bare every where. I churned and got the butter and eggs ready for market. Sr caught one eating her egg as soon as laid it. This is the anniversary of my wedding day 43 years ago. The bear cant see a shadow to day. Tuesday 3rd February 1903 Voltie arose at 5 am look out thought it was to soft to go to Town so went back to bed for another snooze but just before we sat down to breakfast Johny Willson came up to see why V didnt’ come down and bring old Nell but V sent Nell by JW and said Frank was to drive here so he hustled around and got started carrying 16 lbs butter, 4 1/2 doz eggs [illegible] grist to mill a bag of potatoes for Grace was going to carry her a bag of apples but had too full load. JW went along too a beautiful day for the first time in a while ago. [illegible] on to [illegible] dug snow with the hoe to wash �29 80 Maud and I washed quite big washing, grows cloudy again. Shell came for Maud to go skating and stay till after tea and from there to P.O. where she got our mail and went back home with Shell and then went skating till 8 p.m. Jay Joy here in evening setting out in kitchen no one talking to him. I went out gave him an apple from groceries apple bag. After awhile he went home. Poor little Jay is terrible homely, marked after one of the "fools" Evening mail News, Whig, American Woman, Brown book, two letters from Hugh Birch & McKelvey and Massey Harris co. About 8 1/2 Voltie comes accompanied by a cousin who I had never before seen. A Mr Charles Dixon from Detroit a fine good looking loquacious man, we sat up till 11 pm. and spun all kinds of yarns, ancient, past and present. Voltie was thoughtful in bringing home a good supply of eatables, bread, cookies, cake, cheese, pickles, flour, rice, broom, borax, currants, raisons, tea, rolled oats, peppers, cinnamon, extracts &c. The wind blows and snows when we go to bed. �30 27 Wednesday 4th February 1803 Every thing covered with ice this morning raining and freezing. The seperator a curiosity to Mr Dixon from Detroit. After breakfast Cousin Charley and Devolson walk across the ice and go to Depauville to visit Will Dixon and his family . The weather clears up at noon and the sun shines out once more. Well, Maud and I pass rather a lazy day. Not doing much but I must make mince pies, sure did not make pies after all. Lennie drove here in evening to invite Maud and Voltie to a party at Charley Halliday’s Rather cheeky I think. It is like inviting me to a party to be held at our own house. A surprise party indeed! Well Belle and Charley will not be surprized by any of my family’s intrusion. Thursday 5th February 1903. A bright morning, ground covered with ice and snow which fell last night. Some colder froze in the night. Maud clearing floors, made beds and swept. I made mince pie for dinner washed dishes and seperator. Inez here for Maud to go to Charley Hallidays the party to night, but no go. Tis 3 pm and Voltie and Cousin C not here yet. [illegible] here to borrow cutter robe for Frank. Len here too �31 82 Friday 6 February 1903 A beautiful morning very light wind S.E. Two cutters went across this morning. Mr Maloney and his son Richard walked across to Mr Niles this morning. Maud out trying the skating Ten a.m. V & C not yet arrived. Put two mince pies & two mince turnovers in the oven 10 Wish I could write a beautiful hand but the more I write the worse it looks. Old W.F.W. dont write, guess he’s mad. Dont care much. "New Thought" says we can accompish any thing we persevere in doing. I wonder if I could succeed in eradicating the wrinkles from my face. Dont believe a woman sixty nine years old can do any such thing. Voltie & Charley came in time for dinner. Voltie bringing the Sears & Roebuck merchandize with him, a pair of overshoes for his dad, a pair of shoulder braces for me (though I dont need them, but may sometime), a lot of tools for himself, and a beautiful set of glass dishes for me. After dinner, Voltie drives to the city with Charley I’m sorry to see my new found Cousin go; he is a fine man. Voltie came home at 1/2 past 10 p.m. Maud received a letter from her father and a beautiful piece of cloth for a waist and three samples of silk to [illegible] from for another waist. Poor Welsey [illegible] �32 83 Saturday 7th February 1903 A beautiful day wind N and froze last night, so they can draw wood from Lindy’s. 3 loads to day with one horse (old Nell). Maud and I work around the house all day. Maud cleaned and polished the coal stove, cleaned windows, lamps, floors; Irene got the meals, washed dishes seperator besides churning. The cream was to cold, and the butter was hard and a long time churning. Voltie said Belle is coming down this evening but dont come. Mr and Mrs Niles & Shell & Jack gone visiting some where down the island; they drove in here for their robe that V borrowed yesterday because Frank W borrowed ours and didn’t bring or send it home this time for Voltie when he went up yesterday to town. Clear bright sunset and a beautiful moon lit night Sunday 8th February 1903 Awoke this morning to find a great snow storm in operation, coming from N.E. This storm must be Hick’s prediction has begun for he prophetized a great storm between the 8th and 10th. I dont think Belle & Charley will come down to day: wish they could come. Voltie has not run his net since last sunday a week a go to day. Stormed and blew all day; a big fall of snow but drifting. No one came but John Wilson for a jug of cider for Frank and Bob Reid for which he paid 20 cts and Voltie gave it me for postage continued on page [illegible] �33 August 23rd Friday 1902 This is my new diary which Maud bought yesterday for me, in Kingston. "Roll back O tide of time and raise, the past events of other days." which are gone forever. Only a few years ago it seemed since Maud was a baby when her father brought her here to me and laid her in my arms, fast asleep. How well I remember laying her on the bed, till tea time when she awoke for her supper, and I made the discovery that she was cross eyed and remember the first words I ever heard her speak as she sat in the high chair at table, when hearing the clock tick "Me [illegiblell] faid monshes" What a change a few years have wrought She goes to market for me now and is nearly 18 years old. Little did I think at that time she would live and a home with us all these long years. But we cannot tell how a year or even a day may unfold. It was only yesterday morning by a terrific storm of thunder, lightning, rain and enormous hail stones, my beautiful flower garden was utterly destroyed by hail. The force of the storm destroyed standing crops of hay and grain over a wide extent of country. �34 17th January 1903 [Date] [description] [Price] 17 Jan Sold 26 lbs butter at 20 cts per lb $5,20 3rd Feb " 16 " " " " " " $3,20 " "9"""""" $1,80 " "7"""""" $1,40 1 March "6"""""" $1,20 2nd April " 25 " " " " " " $5,00 10 April " 14 " " " 21 cts per lb $2,94 13 April " 18 " " " 20 p lb $3,60 14 April " 12 " " " 20 p lb $2,40 ? May " 14 " " " 20 $2,80 ? May " 22 " " " 20 $4,40 28th May " 30 " " " 20 $6,00 4th June " 26 " " " 20 $5,20 11 June " 22 " " " 20 $4,40 18 June " 21 " " " 20 $4,20 25 June " 20 " " " 20 $4,00 ? July " 20 " " " 20 $4,00 ? July " 22 " " " 20 $4,40 9th July " 24 " " " 20 $4,80 16th July " 32 " " " 20 $6,40 23rd July " 28 " " " 20 $5,60 �30 July 23 $82,90 5 Aug 26 p 20 $27,00 12 Aug 34 ,23 [illegible] ? Aug " 33 ,23 [illegible] ? Aug " 32 ,20 [illegible] �35 17 January 1903 [date] [description] [Amt] our first eggs Sold 30 at ,30cts per doz ,45 3rd Feb " " 4 1/2 doz at 23 per doz $1, 03 20th Feb " " 4 " " ,20 " " ,80 2nd April " " 7 1/2 " " ,11 " " ,83 10 April " " 6 " " ,12 " " ,72 23 April " " 5 " " 12 ,60 31 April " " 2 " " 12 ,24 7 May " 2 1/2 " " ,30 Thursday December 29 1910 A Mice �36 3 Monday 9th February 1903 Just a little cloudy this morning. And the wind continues to blow lightly. Towards noon the sun comes out bright and warm, and after dinner, Voltie and dad hitch Nell before cutter and go bush a road to Lindy’s again. The snow tis heavy and deep on the ice. Henry Halliday drove in here with his fine span of horses $400 dollars he says is the price. The Maloney Boys were with him leading a horse they had bought of Mary Murphy. They were inquiring for Voltie for to get their horse shod but he was gone to the island so they led the horse across the ice following his track. Evening brings the joyful news that old muley had a calf (heifer) which means more butter for market, besides milk for the pigs. I write a long letter to Johny and Maude writes to her father. Tuesday 10 Februry Cloudy this morning but proves to be a fine day bright and warm and thawing. Voltie and his dad draw two loads of wood from Lindys before dinner. All Joslin & Voltie going over with them for second load. After dinner Voltie hitches up and drives the span of colts down the road they go very together. He drove in to Franks and Frank paid him $8,00 which he owed him. Maud made a batch of cookies very [illegible]. I do all sorts of odds and ends. I looked for Belle but she dont come. �37 4 Garden island tomorrow if the weather is favourable. Lennie here inviting to a party at Horn’s tomorrow eve. He and Voltie go down to Franks, didn’t get home till bed time. Maud went for mail. Whig, Good Stories, Woman Magazine and an invitation for Voltie to attend a masquerade ball at Marshalls Hall Grindstone island. Wednesday 11 Februry 1903 A cloudy morning looks like a storm froze a little last night. Voltie loaded on his log this morning and gone to Garden Island to get the log sawed towards building the new ice house. Carried Grace a bag of apples that has stood in the kitchen nearly two weeks suppose they are all nearly rotten; hope not. Maud working. Looked out and saw Charley, Belle and two young children coming, came in time for dinner. Glad to see Belle; but "Henry the Kid" is a terror bawl, scream and yell all the time; wants every thing. Soon as Belle took his duds off & walked into the pantry pulled the cover off the bread can and began dragging it around, grabbed a handful of flour out of the flour can and went at the seperator. Voltie came after dark. A party at Alice Micheas. Voltie and Maud didn’t go �38 7 Feb 3rd Tuesday 1903 Groceries 1 broom, 6 lbs rice, 1 lb tea, 1 raisons, 1 currants, pepper, cinnamon, 1/2 dozen lemons, rolled oats, bread, cookies, cakes, cheese, pickles, flour, borax, extract raspberry February Wednesday 6 bars surprise soap, 8 rolled oats, vial olive oil Feb 20th 6 lbs granulated sugar, 1 box great cakes, 2 spools thread, 4 yds shaker flannel for quilt lining, 6 lbs seed oats, 1 box baking powder, 3 yds narrow black ribon 3 February one lb tea, Winter green oil Quantities bought 25th February 1903 12 plates, 12 cups, 12 sucers, 12 small plates, 1 steamer, 1 enameled wash basin, 1 agate dipper, 1 whisk Feb 28 100 lbs sugar, 1 lbs tea, 5 currants, 8 lbs rolled wheat 3 yds lace white, 1 rubber crochet hook, 1 pkt diamond dye, 5 U.S.A. postage stamps 10 cts, 4 doz clothes pins March 7th 1 yd pillow ticking, 2 1/2 seemless sheeting, 6 bars comfort soap, 1 head cabbage, 1 peck onions 30 lbs, granulated sugar, three rolls batten, matches, buckwheat flour, 15 hundred shingles, hammer, [illegible], 1 butter basket March 6 3/4 qts kerosine, 5 lb rolled oats with a porrige dish [illegible] cabbage seed, sand paper �39 8 Saturday 14 February 1903 Not a very bad day. Voltie goes over the river to help move Frank Woodman after taking a snooze in bed. Belle goes over with Voltie as far as James Gloyd’s leaving here she cried some but was a very good child all the while her mother was gone Sunday 15 February 1903 A very pleasant day everything quiet till noon when Voltie comes home bringing Rachel, Belle and Henry and while we are yet at table, Van Bamford and Ben Percy comes and the quantity of hard cider they can stow away inside their jackets is wonderful. Belle and Ben sing and play a few old favorites. Van goes out to see the pigs, gives V money to buy 30 lbs sugar in Kingston, shoulders his tea and then the two old swill tubs go [illegible] over the river to their home towards [illegible] Voltie goes with R lantern in hand to get her [illegible] pancake griddle, &c &c got back in �40 9 Monday 16 February 1903 A cold day but not stormy. Charley Dixon came over with Frank Woodman and goes to the party at Geo Niles with Frank who is going to play the violin there this eve. Voltie and Maud go down in cutter Voltie drew wood from the island. Sr helping Belle getting home sick. Tuesday 17 February 1903 A cold day but Voltie & Sr gone to Lindy’s for wood, went after dinner took Rachel and her valise over to Dodges and left her there. Charley Dixon at noon went with Frank Woodman out to Reids at Glenvale. Towards night Charley Halliday drove in for his family and they hustled off in a hurry and Maud and I are left alone for a while and peace and quietness reigns triumphant. while we are eating our supper in walks Bob G we are glad to see him He visits till 10 pm, a very cold night and goes to PO, Whig, Herald, American Woman, Hearth and Home, letter from Eveline, Charles and another from Bob Matherson �41 10 Wednesday 18 February 1903 Whew! what a snow blizzard from S.W. cant see an inch for wind and snow which lasts nearly all day. Dont water cattle till towards eve, nor horses. Lennie here for cider for Charley Woodman. Voltie working in shop nearly all day on bobs. Bob G went visiting at Niles and from there rode with Wall to the foot to see Rube & Mary’s Bably. Evening Voltie & B go to Niles to play cards and return 1/2 past 10 pm which finds us all abed. Thursday 19 February 1903 A clear bright cold morning. Wind West. Charlie D came early from S Woodmans where he had staid over night after driving back from Elginburg last night starting at 4 pm from Reids. Frank came towards noon and loaded Rachels traps in, took over the river pancake griddle, and bed. V & B lunch at 11 am and go to Lindys isle for baswood to carry to garden isle to have sawed for lumber. They return at 3 pm; gave them early tea; Abberson Moore here. I churn and make 10 lbs butter, send one to Grace which leaves 9 for market. Volties got toothache. Evening I write 2 letters 1 to Grace, 1 to Belle �42 11 Friday 20th February 1903 Arose early and prepared every thing for market put the eggs in oats, sent Grace a basket and brougt [sic: brought] out the basket of butter while Bob and Voltie loads the logs for the saw mill and after a hand shake and good bye from Robert, they drive off up the ice for Garden Island and Kingston. Then Maud and I pitch in to work. Maud washes all the white clothes I wash all the dishes and seperator and cook the meals. A cow buyer here from town. Mr Wheatley called in pm making a short and entertaining visit Maud goes to Mrs Niles to return her skirt pattern. Shell accompanied her home bringing a pail for milk Then Shell and Maud went to PO for mail, Herald, Whig, Kingston News, Woman’s farm journal and Hearth and Home. Voltie came late,—about nine pm, forgot to mention a letter from "Hugh", for Voltie. Massey Harris Co rather saucy too. Maud goes a little way with Shell when she goes at 1/2 past 8 pm. Saturday 21 February 1903 A blustering, snowy, windy morning morning. Voltie wont go to the island for wood this day, but works in shop, paints sleigh, &c. Wallace Niles here in evening stays till 9 pm borrows Volties cutter to go to Clayton. �43 12 Sunday 22 February 1903 A pleasant day after the storm. Voltie hitches up bay colt with Wall horse and they drive to Riverview for tobaco. Voltie buying a $1,00 for Charley Halliday and tobaco for himself and 5 postage stamps for me, then Wall with V’s cutter and harness goes to Clayton. V & W have agreed to go to the old folks ball at the villiage tomorrow evening. V going to go up with W. Inez here to bring Mauds Book home and borrow a yeast cake. We spend the evening in reading. Monday 23rd February 1903 Arose early for Voltie is going to Kingston & Garden Island, takes a grist of wheat to Kingston for flour, and goes for his lumber and a load of saw dust. The day is rather stormy and blustery from S.E. and he drives away in to the teeth of the storm. C Woodman, in cutter follows close behind Voltie. I send Belles duds up in a bundle. Voltie came early said Reginald is sick, think it may be typhoid, hope not. Angry because Wallace refuses to go to the ball, 1/1 going anyway now and so goes up with Len Patterson and Chas Woodman. Marjorie goes back with Voltie going to finnish [sic: finish] her trade. Len came just before starting for the ball with jug for cider for "Grandpa". �44 13 Tuesday 24 Feb 1903 A very fine day. Voltie came at breakfast time a good deal the worse for wear; looks as if he had been drawn through a knot hole and hung up to dry. Of course he has been out with Charles Woodman didn’t eat any breakfast; went to bed, wants to be called a 1/2 past nine; going to draw two loads of wood from Lindys; called him at 10 am; would [not] get up; called him at dinner time. he arose but didnt want to but took a drink of cider, braced up, ate dinner, and went to lindys with dad and brought a great load of wood; Maud went for Mail. A letter from Grace written yesterday saying Reginald is very sick going to take him to his grandfather Gaskins. Dont know whether or not it is typhoid, hope not. Whig, News Comfort Vickery fire side. Sr fixing to go to the horse races tomorrow in Kingston. Maud cleaned floors & ironed the clothes . I darned mittens, cooked, washed dishes as usual. Sam went to Kingston early this morning. I guess the cider didn’t satisfy samuel. �45 14 Wednesday 25 Feb 1903 Wednesday arose at 6 a.m. A fine day but colder than yesterday. Sr gone to the city. Voltie chased him to the river with bells, cant drive in to the city without bells in winter time against the law. Hope Sr will come home straight, dont want any more cursedness around here. This is his first trip since he tumbled over board and was fished out by the purser and got his name in the paper. What an honor! Voltie painting sleighs. Maud preparing to wash. Wells Sr came home at 9 evening. Didn’t go to Grace’s. Saw Bob and told him Reginald has malarial fever and is not very sick. All the same he ought to gone and seen Poor dear Grace and her babies. Oh the horse trot was of greater importance with him. He bought and brought home some dishes which was exceedingly kind of him, and to me, very acceptable. He was sober and all right. Wind South and blowing all night. Mauds clothes flapping on the clothes line all night. �46 15 Thursday 26th February 1903 A sunshiny hazy day, wind South fresh & breezy. Maud & I washed up all the new dishes and cleaned the pantry shelves and set up our dishes clean, bright and shining. Voltie & dad used the new ice house frame, then cleaned grist of hog feed and went to Geo Rattrays get ground. Barometer 4 above zero in the shade. Lennie Patterson here in evening for cider 8 gallon. Lennie and Charlie went to the horse trots in Kingston to day. Friday 27 February 1903 A beautiful sun bright warm day. Voltie went to Rattrays for grist mill broke couldnt grist. A Russian few here buying old iron, old rubber &c; ate dinner here and had a feed for his horse. After he was gone up the ice Voltie and Sr went to the island for wood and stone boat runners after their return. Wallace drove in here to borrow our straight sleigh to draw out ice tomorrow. I made 7 prints for market, dressed 4 roosters, sent two letters, one to Gladys and one to Grace. Maud went to Niles for borrow butter basket; mine all smashed up no handle. In the evening Voltie brings up from cellar and sorts 8 barrels of apples for market, going to carry Grace some. �47 16 27th Nov 1902 F Snow on the ground this morning. We arise at 3 am that Grace may have time to dress herself and little ones to go home on the Pierpont and such a hustling I never saw! raining just a little and Sr drove the team to the door just as soon as he possibly could after hitching up "All ready to start now come hury out", and only Reginald dressed. Dear Grace how we all had to hustle to to get the children ready. Saturdya 28 February 1903 Arose at 4. Raining, thawing and blowing. Voltie cant go to market to day. We have the work all done by 8:30 am. Maud cleaning floor mattras. Voltie painting sleigh. He looks out sees weather it clearing up puts away his paint brush, whips out to barn, hitches up before sleigh drives to the door, loads on barrels of apples and peck measure, puts the butter aboard the sleigh and chickens and hustles off to market. Away up the see he goes as fast as the horses can pick up their feet. Dinner on table at 11 am. begins to rain again at 2 pm a regular downpour, lightning and heavy thunder tub and pails filled in 3 minutes. Dont expect Voltie home to night. �48 17 Sunday 1 March 1903 Wind blowing all night but freezing hard. Ground nearly bare, ice froze hard enough to bear heavy loads. cutters flying up and down the ice. work done up early. wish V would come. Van & Sid drive in here at 10 have horse put in stable over coats off. cider brought up from cellar, tongues loosened up and talking begins about moving horse trots and Maud & Irene get dinner. we set the table with our new dishes, for we have company fried pork, mashed potatoes, gravy, brown bread, white bread, onions, pickles, cookies, honey, butter, pepper, salt, tea, cream & sugar thats all. after dinner more cider more talk: Voltie came just in time for dinner too. Sid and Van went up to see aunt Ruth and Lib Patterson Van brought me some seed beans. I sent Lib a peck of seed potatoes—russets, and lent her book the "Heart of the New Thought" and two ’new Thought" magazines. At last away they go carrying 60 lbs sugar with them smuggling 30 lbs of the sugar was mine that Voltie brought home to day which we let Sid have for dollar. Voltie bought 1,00 lbs and left 70 in Kingston so I have now only granulated sugar. We all sit and read till 9:30 Forgot to say Maud tried skating but too rough Maud goes to Church a 3 pm. �49 18 Monday 2nd March 1903 some snow fell last night, a warm morning cloudy and thawing. Voltie making ice tongs in black smith shop. Wells as usual choring around. We cook, wash dishes, separator, make one apple pie for dinner. After dinner Voltie goes to Rattrays for the provender. I color Mauds white shaker flannel was pink and also color her facinator, red - Voltie gets beef from the barrel and it is now boiling with a very appetizing odor. I sew a ball of carpet rags. The snow comes tumbling down again this pm 4 Oclock. Sr and Voltie are on the ice marking a place to saw out ice for summer. Charley Woodman has broken his new cutter and wants Voltie to repair it. Every one reading again this evening. Tuesday 3rd March 1903 A snowy morning, wind N.E. Weather soon clears and becomes a mild warm bright day. Voltie sawing ice all am. Sr growling because Voltie is not prepared. Srdid draw and put saw dust in the bottom of ice floor when V asked him to do so. Voltie has most every thing to do, with very little help. P.M. V and dad drawing out ice for the ice house. Charley Woodman driving off up the ice with two horses before the cutter. Niles getting out ice. 7 men helping them. �50 19 Wednesday Thursday 5 March 1903 A soft cloudy rainy, snowy day. Maud cleaned up the rooms made cookies and two kinds of cake. I pieced on quilt started a rug. James Gloyd came over to make visit and get his cloth for pants which V had bought for him in Kingston. Voltie drove to hickory for his bedding and other things which he had left there. Voltie came about two Oclock then drove to Geo Rattrays to get provender ground for pigs. This is Geo last time grinding for this year. Mrs Woodman very [illegible]. Charley gone to Depauville for Frank they came about dark. Frank came to make us a visit and staid till 11 pm. Frank likes cider. �51 20 Monday 1st of December 1902 Wells Sr and Voltie butchering beef (our beef) down to Frank’s barn. Voltie is going to take quarters of the beef down to Hickory leaving one forward quarter at home. Al Joslin helping but came up to dinner with V & Sr. V opened a can of our preserves. I told him he could but I did not want to. They were the Grey black cap and most delicious. Mr J Niles came this morn just after the men had gone down to Franks to bringing the very sad news of the Macys [illegible] lost and all her crew numbering 14 men all Capt Myron Gotham and his two sons. The Mabel Wilson (The Macy’s consort) made port saved her crew but is terribly wrecked. Friday 6 March 1903 A beautiful day soft and warm. Geo Darling drove here. Sr paid him for the tea but kept the last can and ony 1/2 lb used from it. Voltie fixed Chas Woodmans cutters then after dinner they worked on the ice house. I churned, wrote two letters, one to Grace and one to Fireside Visitor. Maud rubbing up her rings to see if they are gold or brass. Maud went to post office. Mail—Whig, News, Herald, Womans magaine, American woman, and Brown Book, letter from Grace & a few advertising envelopes from Crawfords grocery. Len Patterson here till 10 with his violin Len and Voltie playing violin �52 21 Tuesday 2 Dec 1902 A beautiful day warm & bright. The finest day I ever saw in December; so warm. I churned out on the veranda scarcely a ripple on the river which comes ever so gently from N.E. Wells Sr emptied the pork barrel of apples and after bringing water from river, heating and scalding the barrel, cut up and salted the beef. Maud done Chamber work and cleaned floors. Sr is now cleaning up a grist barley for pigs feed which will be carried to mill Thursday on the Pierpont. Our old white cat we put down cellar last night on account of rats and she yawled all night; if she didn’t catch my rats, they surely must have been frightened. Poor old smut cat, something has destroyed her kittens; probably rats. Mailed 4 letters to day one to [R Spoor, one to Grace, one to Chicago for Ella Wheeler Wilcox portrait and one to St Louis for Ladies Art instruction. No little Reginald here to day to eat butter out the churn. Poor little dear. Sturday 7th of March 1903 Arose at 4 am. Voltie going to Kingston carrying apples, butter &c to market drives the north shore. Bill Windmill & Sid Percey here for their processing which are yet in Kingston. Voltie will get them to day. Mrs Ruth Woodman died early this morning. �53 22 Continued from bottom of last page Wind beginning to blow from South, dark clouds rolling up from West tis 5 pm and Voltie come. Promised to be here before dark. Now comes a heavy roll of thunder and Price sneaks under the table. rain pouring in torrents and Voltie not here. I been looking for him two hours didn’t take any rain coat with him. Just after supper Sr says Voltie is coming and he was walking beside the sleigh coming up from consession and had walked all the way across the island for the ground is bare. A good two miles, he left part of his load on the other shore—shingles for the ice house— the river is open around oak point, they (Voltie & Henry Halliday) drove within 50 yds of it—another heavy thunder—In looking over his purchases he discovers that he has left in Kingston (Ferguson Grocery) 30 lbs granulated sugar, 1 peck onions, and cabbage. �54 23 Thursday 4th Dec 1903 Maud went to Kingston and carelessly got left in Town; after putting the baskets and groceries aboard the Pierpoint. A very cold day but Irene works around and keeps every thing snugly and cozy. Sunday 8 March 1903 Wind blowing a gale all night from south, the morning reveals a windy foggy rainy most miserable day for weather but I enjoy it all the same, it speaks of a quiet lazy day at home when we can read, write and have a good time jeneraly [sic: generally]. Maud dressed and goes to church at 1/2 past 10 service. No one came. old Bill and Sid cant get here to day so the cider barrels will take a rest. Monday 9 March 1903 A find day Wind North froze last night. The funeral at 10 am Mrs Woodman (Aunt Ruth) remains laid in the Vault. Wells, Voltie and Maud went to funeral. I staid home and prepared dinner all ready piping hot when they came. After dinner Voltie goes to Alice Michea [illegible] bee. 10 helpers they put up 90 cakes of ice. Voltie home early. Wallace came to bring home a pitch fork visited a whole hour or more. Cloudy towards evening I churn and get supper. Maud made pillow tuck and pulled it and made a sheet. �55 Friday 5th Dec 1902 A very cold day. Maud in town. Expect she will come home with the mail. Sent Sr with a letter to the post for Grace to be sure and keep Maud in town but will be sure and come down with C.W. A coal fire and wood fire fails to keep house warm. I sent veil and shawl by Charley W in case M should come home. After supper and 7 O’clock. Maud walked in accompanied by Lennie Patterson bringing the mail. Rachel comes over for kerosine and to tell me Maud was left on the dock crying. Tuesday 10 March 1903 A warm cloudy still day. Sr and Voltie working on the ice house. Maud washing. Lib Patterson starts for home to day. Went up with Charley when he goes for the mail. I sent a letter to Grace, one to Ferguson the Grocer and one to Comfort paper. I’m most asleep will go now and wash dishes Voltie and Sr shingle one side of the ice house. Len Patterson here for cider 1 gal. Maud went for mail. Good litterature, News, Whig, receipt for taxes on the island. �56 25 Saturday 6th December 1902 Rather cold but clear. I churned in ten minutes; made cranberry sauce. Maud cleaned floors. Jr building fence around straw stack, and doing chores chopping wood and then drove for Voltie. While Sr was hitching up R came to stay all night bringing her anger with her. Mabel Woodman here for subscriber for Good Litterature. We subscribed Maud. Sent Maud to Niles with their basket and their electric oil, and sent her some sage. Wednesday 11 March 1903 A soft warm day, cloudy in morning but clears up about 9 am. Voltie set a hen on 15 eggs. I went to barn to see the pigs cleaned and scoured cask for sugar .60 lbs Sr and V shingling ice house, south side. and practicing hymns, cleaned out barrels and boxes. Maud cleaned and scoured 1 chair and 1 water bench and painted them chair red, Voltie and Sr shingling and boarding ice house; spend the evening reading &c �57 Sunday 7 December 1902 Wind South and blowing hard. Awoke this morning to find the snow falling and the ground white. Maud 18 yers old to day. Rachel staid til after breakfast and walked home. There nine little pigs at the barn this morning. Coal fire went out this morning. Sr on it. Voltie built it again. The first real snow storm of the season not to cold. Maud went to church in fore noon. Evening Sr drove to the foot with Voltie. Says he come home Tuesday evening for he will butcher 6 pigs Wednesday for Kingston market. Thursday 12 March 1903 Last night the most beautiful moonlight night I ever saw, like paridice [sic: paradise] This morning quiet no wind but cloudy and warm, white frost covers the ground frost dew drops hanging from the bare branches of the trees all fore noon. Wells and Voltie finish shingling ice house and are now enclosing it with boards. Voltie after breakfast went to Rattrays for the grist of provender and to the other shore for the remainder of his shingles he left one bunch at the cheese factory. Maud cleaned all the floors and this pm every thing is slick as a new pin I washed dishes & separator emptied flour can continue on next page �58 27 Monday 7th December 1902 A cold day. Maud washed and hung the clothes on the line where they froze almost instantly continued from page 24 and straighned [sic: straightened] up the pantry. I fell and hurt myself. Maud thought I was killed and screamed. I dont know how I came to fall or what I fell over. Anyway I didn’t break any bones only bruised my self. I hopped up and worked all day Maud in evening went up to call on Shell. Mrs Niles and Wallace had just returned from visiting Mary Woodman Lennie here this evening didnt bring a jug but Voltie treated him to cider. 13th March 1903 Friday A soft cloudy morning. After Maud and I had done the work all up, I wrote to the "American Woman to inquire about Bracebridge Hall and why it is not forth coming. Voltie put away in the new ice house, once head, his cutter, bob sleigh, &c finished repairing Chas Woodmans cutter. The ground as bare as May. The ice still hanging in the river. Cloudy all day. I dug horse radish for tea. Our black cow last night had a calf. The calf so big it died before it was born. Charley & Len helped Voltie over �59 Tuesday 8th December 1902 The weather is very miserably cold thermometer 20 below zero which is a vast difference from last Tuesday only week ago. Maud makes mince pies which are fine We expect Voltie home to night hope he will come but am afraid tis so cold he cant get here. Shell came down and had tea with us we had a most enjoyable visit. Maud, Shell and but the foolish girl wore on her feet only slippers and over shoes. While I was regretting Volties absence and thinking he would not come, our dear boy walked in. Wells didn’t drive for him for it was so cold he did not think he would venture to come up from [illegible] Shell & Maud went to the Post office. Geo Niles came home to day from sailing. about the cow. Voltie took his gallon oil can and went & borrowed a gallon of kerosine of Charley and they came home with him and made us a short visit, smoked and had cider. Charley told us all about his mother dying: no one there now only Sylvia to do the work. The mail was Kingston News, Whig, Herald, a letter from Grace, and a postal from "New �60 29 Wednesday 9 December 1902 A very cold morning frost so heavy cant see through windows. V spent nearly all fore noon looking for some one to help butcher the pigs 6 of them but could get no one for the butchers were all engaged elsewhere. Frank done the butchering. Voltie, Frank & Sr dressed 4 for Voltie and then drove down to Franks for F’s pig which they butchered and dressed after dark by lantern light. R came over to help about lard [illegible]. A terrible cold day for bringing water from the river to heat on the kitchen stove in the big tin tank and hustled it in the barrel and threw it on the hand sled to the blacksmith shop. Saturday 14th March 1903 A soft warm cloudy morning. Keyhole and Macdonell (John) drove here for 2 bags of coal Voltie had borrowed sometime in winter. I have not got much coal, but I’m glad it is paid. He borrowed if from Geo Rattray. Maud varnishing chair tis Saturday and lots of work to do. I have it to churn. I can hear the dogs barking across the river. Maud fried cakes. Gandad threshed and cleaned half bushel of beans. Voltie skined the calf I caught a big rat in the trap last night. 50 degrees above zero warm as May day. Thermometer at 50 warm. Wallace here in evening talking sailor small talk. I read them a couple of yarns. V brought up a pitcher of cider. I made 4 pumkin pies. �61 30 Thursday 10 December 1902 Arose at 10 minutes to 4 am. Voltie going to Kingston with pork (4 pigs). Frank came up ate breakfast with Voltie. Sr drove to dock with boys and pork. Frank having one pig who he butchered here yesterday. A cold day and frost hard. Wells Sr started early for the dock in eve We had supper and every thing all ready for the return long before they came. I set by the coal fire and went fast asleep while waiting. At last they came at 1/2 past 8 pm. Voltie ate dinner with Grace. Mrs Patterson came down on the Pierpont this eve. Len here this eve for tobaco. Sunday 15 March 1903 Only a few hours and it will be the middle of March. March is marching steadily along towards spring. Cloudy all day wind North but not very cold—chilly—A quiet peaceful Sabath day. Maud goes to church but first went up to Mrs Niles and from there Shell, Inez and Miss Spoor went with her to church. Inez had nose bleed in church and went home. Maud sang in choir. Evening Len came and Voltie, Maud and Leonard sang and played tunes. �62 31 Friday 11 December 1902 A very cold day. Vapor rising from lake and river mountain high and in every fantastic form. Sr & V in fore noon moved the chicken coop for a bee house and after dinner put all the bees in the bee house, eleven swarms went down in the cedars and chopped and drew wood. Maud made mince pies and tried a new recipe for cookies which proved a failure. Monday 16 March 1903 Arose at six Oclock am. A bright clear morn. North wind, light, ground frozen and bare not very cold, robins singing in the orchard channel open all the way. Maud washed and hung clothes on line by 11 am. uncle Sam got his washing out before Maud. 3 pm becomes cloudy. M brings in the clothes all dry. It begins to rain Maud very gay all pm laughing, singing, dancing. Told her her tune would change before bed time and sure enough I had to doctor her for head ache, sore throat, &c �63 32 Saturday 13th December 1902 A cold blustering snow storm from the North, increasing in velocity as the day advances. But no matter what the day is there is always so much to be done both in door and and out. I awoke this morning to find I had left the pan of bread sponge behind the kitchen stove to freeze up but I brought it in to the dining room, thawed it out and made very good bread of it. I doctored Maud’s cookies with more flour and another egg. And they are tolerable. After dinner Frank came up and helped Voltie butcher two pigs which V is going to sell to Marshall & Guernsey on Hickory. I churned and picked the lard. Tis a cold stormy day. Frank says Dave has gone up to cut wood for R. River steaming; vapor rising up mile high, our apples and potatoes freeze in the cellar last night. Tuesday 17 March 1903 Rained hard all night not a drop caught in tub because it was not set and I want to wash bed quilt. Grandad sending two letters one to Capt Denis and one to his young woman, "Miss" Adams in Montana Great falls. I told continued on 34 �64 33 Sunday 14th December 1092 [sic: 1902] Clear, cold morning wind North; frost so thick and heavy on the windows, we scratch the frost away to see out. Voltie built the fires this morning long before day light. V and Maud get the breakfast. Voltie fried beef which was tougher than Bull tripe. I gave my piece to Prince. The cows went without milking last night Voltie rather discouraged about the chichen he has grown for selling. He says they have not been half fed or taken care of. They are poorer than Jobs turkey with frozen feet, and yesterday he wrung off the heads of 5 and threw them away ("Plymouth Rocks") Maud went to church & after dinner and the dishes were washed, went up to see shell Niles accompanied by Leanardo whom she met watering their horses at consession. Voltie, after weighing his pork, loaded it in the sleigh, and his dad went with him to the foot thinking V could go in the Hickory and I am left alone for a few hours to sit by the coal stove and go fast asleep while reading when suddenly I am awakened by Volties step and voice and he comes in to tell me there is no crossing in skiff to Hickory. He left his pork in Wm Gillespie house and the Marshalls & Guernseys will not fry any of our pork for a few days at least. After a while saw R washing; said her old cow had a swelled "bag" and V goes back with her and carries spirits of turpentine. R returns with Voltie and stays to supper and all night. I retire early and am disturbed several times through the night by several causes. �65 34 Monday 15th December 1902 A cold day but a little more moderate. V banked the front of the house, carried a grist of hog feed to be ground at Geo Rattrays then drew a load straw over and banked R cellar. I rendered the second batch of lard, put away the last of the dried pumpkins & took down the poles, washed 4 pairs of socks. It is reported that the North channel is frozen across to Howe Island if that is true there will be no going by Pierpont from our dock Thursday and Santy Claus cant get here. continued from page 32 him very plainly what I thought of the whole affair. Voltie making jumper. I sent two letters one to Grace and one to "The Womans Mutual benefit Shell here to borrow our scales to weigh she didnot know how heavy they were and of course couldn’t carry them. Afternoon thick and foggy, cloudy warm, no wind. There is so much up work to do dont get much time to sew or crochet or knit only get meals, and wash dishes, make beets & sweep and dust. Old black cow bawling for her calf that was dead when it was born nearly a week ago poor old thing. St Patrick cant march to day . Poor old Saint Patrick Continued on nex page �66 57 Saturday 3rd January 1903 The dirtiest day of the winter; rain, wind, snow all gone, Wind South and blowing, dreary and dismal. I heard my dear brother John is burried [sic: buried] to day it sad even to record in this diary. I am much better but not well. Maud washed couldn’t get an opertunity before this week. Wells and Voltie working outside in shop and stable all day. Irene helped me get the dinner, had soup. Wallace Niles came for oil. Len P here in evening, and all gathered around the table playing a game called old maid. Voltie reading "Ivanhoe". Wellie in the kitchen reading "Artic explorers" while I sit by the coal fire reading the "Herald" Sunday 29th March 1903 Froze last night. "They say" it is good sap weather. The sun shines clear but tis chilly for the Wind is North. Maud wipes off floors and sweeps veranda, after we have the breakfast dishes & seperator washed I walked to the river this morning for the first time since last fall. Voltie went with wheel barrow to [illegible] to carry home their bag of coal and get our kerosine. Maud went to church. Well came to [illegible] Volties boat no one here all day except Wall. I wrote to Wellie and Belle tried to read but went to sleep. �67 52 Sunday 4th January 1903 A very good day, froze a little last night. I dont feel much better this day. Think I sit around to much. Voltie, Wallace went to the bay for oil and then Voltie went to the foot and brought home his skiff. Rachel came over a while. Got rid of every thing now but the dog. Monday 30th Macrh [sic: March] 1903 Wind South and chilly. Sun light Maud sick. I gave her ginger tea and put hops across her. She all right by noon. Wells and Voltie move the old ice house up by the hen house for a chicken coop. After noon Voltie plows for potatoes. Voltie churned. Irene get breakfast, washes separator & all the dishes, take care of the butter and gets dinner. Evening "Wall, Voltie & Jack go spearing, spear only one, a blind pike. Voltie gave it to the cats. V came home after ten pm found all a bed �68 [Sticker: Date 1904] Mnoday January 1904 This morning Voltie went to Kingston. Old [corner ripped] too. V carrying up a grist of hog feed bag of potatoes for Grace, drove up rain so wait till 11 Oclock pm and I only gone to bed when in they came, old K about half froze up and I had to wait till dark for the grist mill had broken down and coming home they lost the track and ran into a snow bank and broke bobs; borrowed Cavelrys and came home after eating supper at Obriens Tuesday When we arose this morning found old K sitting by the coal stove hardly thawed out yet. V warmed him up and thawed him out with hot cider & ginger and I soon had a hot breakfast for him. Voltie drove up for his bobs taking Cavelrys home came back at 10 am and went directly to the island to mark out a road to draw wood. I gave K a book to read and he dozed and read all day. [added in pencil] (Irene Halliday) (Uncle V & I go visiting to Dixons & Uncle Wallies) �69 [left corner torn, missing text indicated with *] * but Sr and V & today * with team go to the island to draw wood * the heads off 7 roosters which I hand up * market and have dinner on the table all rights when they come from with the wood after V chops of 3 more heads and the snow begins to fall right merrily but P & V goes back to another load and I clean the three chicks which makes 10 altogether. As soon as Kilborn gets up from the breakfast table he puts on overshoes and over coat bids us good bye and away he goes across the ice to U.S.A. 14 Thursday 14 January 1904 V intending to go to Kingston but storms and snow so heavy he stays home and breaks out the road again to little island and brings over a big maple log and a few other sticks for wood going to get the maple sawed into lumber. �70 15th January 1904 Friday A very bright day not a cloud to be seen but snow now very deep and somewhat drifted and very deep in the river. after breakfast Voltie and Sr drive to Lindys to break out the road again; drew a little wood and snow so deep could not draw much came at one pm. Maud washed a few things by melting snow they had to shovel a path around through the orchard, bring water from the river. All drifted high by the old path. I made mince pies, cooked corn and apples, cooked potatoes and meat for dinner. Tis growing dark now and V & Sr are doing chores and I must look after the supper. A letter from Mrs Brooks and one from Grace and one from Gladys. Whig, Herald, Women American �71 [top left corner torn, missing text indicated with *] * 1904 A fine day for Weather, but no end to snow. We dont expect V till evening then the roads will be better for traveling. Afternoon service in our church but no one goes from here; one more egg to day. Had beef and mince pie for dinner & I ate to much I think. V came at 4 pm staid all night at CH’s found the road terrible Monday 18 January 1904 VVoltie broke out a road again from the island but couldnt draw any wood, road terrible. �72 Tuesday 19 January 1904 A very cold day. Maude went to 34 deg below zero. I sent a letetr to Gladys and subscribed again for the Northwestern Orriculturist This is a very miserable pen but tis all I’ve got V and Tobe drew one load of wood from the island. Wednesday 20 Maud & I put a quilt on the frames Weather not very cold but cloudy and has every apperance of a storm. Charley Woodman gone over to Franks to a dance, drove double with 3 in cutter. But no girls V fixing his sleigh to go to K tomorrow brought it in and painted it. �73 [left corner torn, missing text will be indicated with *] * January 1904 A cloudy morning 18 above zero wind North. Voltie gone to Kingston carrys a barrel of apples 4 bushels to some man to whom he has sold them a pair of dressed chickens for Grace. Maud gone with him as far as Belles and V coming back to Belles and take all the girls to the Barlees Ball. Maud, Marjorie, Beatrice & Irene. The afternoon is cold & stormy. I think by the appearance of the weather they will be sorry before they return that they went. The night sets in cold dark and dismal. Wells reading the Virginian. I read a sample copy of the hearth stone. I think I’ll subscribe for the Hearthstone A serial story in it by Ella Wheelar Wilcox. Friday 23rd Jan 1904 A bad night and a miserable day for weather; rain hail snow and wind 3 pm and V & M not come yet. Traveling on the ice must be dreadful. They came at 4 pm. Beatrice came with them. I’m glad to see Beatrice and I’m awfuly tired. �74 Saturday 24 January 23 1904 A cloudy miserable day snow and slush deep on the river, not very cold day wind S.W., snow in fore noon stormy. V working in shop nearly all day. Maud, Beatrice and I finished the quilt and partly bound it. No visitors this weather. Voltie went early this morn for the mail. A letter from Grace, a letter from Gladys, the Whig, Herald, Fireside Vistor, Rennies seed catalogue, Park floral magazine. I fry cakes. Maud mops floors Sunday 24 January A cloudy stormy day, roads almost impassible. No service in church to day a long quiet day. Bob Reid came for a little visit, got lonesome up to Sams said Charley had gone to bed. This is a terrible winter up to date. Snowing and blowing at bedtime. Wells reading the Virginian till bedtime. Monday 25 January 1904 A clear bright winter day, no wind. After breakfast Voltie & Sr & Peter Toban went to the island for wood. I made pie for dinner, (mince pie with strawberry and citron in it (a grand affair) stewed fresh beef, boiled potatoes, bakes beans and cream biscuits. �75 [left corner torn, missing text indicated with *] * apple sauce, catsup and chill sauce. * Briceland drove in here buying catsup put his horse in stable and, as usual, staid to dinner. The men were a long time coming from the Island on account of the heavy traveling on ice. They managed to tip the load over at the consession and left it there, driving to the house without any wood. Maud set the pie out to cool on the ground as usual, Tobis dog ate it up. Well after they had stuffed themselves (minus the pie) they adjourned to the barn to look over the stock. Didnot buy any thing. Toban here this evening for a little money for tomorrow, he going up for groceries asks Maud if she has another pie for his dog. V sent a grist up by him for the stock, Rod and Bob Reid here till 11 pm singing, dancing, playing violin and piano. Wells Sr reading the Virginian. Tuesday 26 January 1904 Another stormy day. V & Sr drew a load from the island this am. Bob Reid here to get Charleys horse shod so he can drive him to the villiage for the mail but V gone for wood staid awhile and then I sent my letters by him to post. I sent for Hearthstone and �76 letter to Grace. When V came he went to the p.o mail a Sears & Roebuck. Storm so hard couldn’t saw wood this afternoon. The worst storm of all. I am sorry for mail carriers this day: Johny & Charlie Woodman too. Maude got tooth ache in p.m. Wednesday 27 January 1904 A beautiful day not cold. Sr says this is a weather breeder. Voltie went to the post office this morning. Mail Dispatch, Whig, Womans farm Journal, a letter from Turnock and from the Northwestern Agriculturist, a few lines from Grace relating to selling Gaskins & Agnew potatoes and fresh eggs. Drew two loads of wood from Island which makes 10 loads mostly soft wood. Oh yes and Maud received a letter from Amanda and she wants to marry. Poor Amanda some "feller" will come along and pick her up some day. Mrs Sher Mcays boy drove in here to invite Voltie to a choping wood bee for his mother. We put a quilt on the frames the log cabin. Thursday 28 January 1904 Cloud morning looks like snow. Voltie and Sr draw a load of wood from Island then after dinner V goes in cutter to Alice Michea’s wood [illegible] Snub Woodman drives in here to get Rachels address �77 [illegible] Capt Jack Donnely the driver for weeks. Voltie comes just afer dark: he staid to supper. Then he drives to Geo Gillespie’s carrying the bulls hide that he is going to send to Gananoque to have tanned for a robe. Snowing all p.m. a tough old winter. Maude and Beatrice rolled the quilt twice once yesterday and once to day. Then Beatrice went to Mrs Niles visiting Bob Reid here this evening till 1/4 past 9. Friday 29 January 1904 A day of snow and sun light rather cold. Voltie and Lobe drew three loads of wood from the island which makes fourteen. They may not draw any more but I hope they will. Maud made pies (mince) and cake, baked sweet apples. Loban here to dinner and supper then staid and helped V draw off a barrel of cider. Bob Reid came for his mittens which he left here last night. Beatrice home from her visit from Niles had a very enjoyable time. Said Shell has lost her watch in Kingston, we rolled twice on the quilt to day. The girls went for the mail, we are getting our last Herald till we subscribe again. Evening mail, Whig �78 Herald, American home, Maud received a [letter] from Miss Laura Spoor who is attending business college in town. Saturday 30 January 1904 A cloudy snowy day. Bob Reid drove in here to borrow a robe, he is going to Kingston with pork for Charley Woodman Sent by him for tobaco. V went early to Geo Glispies and brought home the saw and the bulls hide. Dont tan fur for robes in Gananoque. Charley Woodman gone to Elginburg visiting Reids, went last night after he came home with the mail. Maud and Beatrice hustled around to get ready and they go walking up the ice to Niles where they stay for tea and from there go to phinkers with Jack, Shell, Inez & Miss Davey the school teacher for an evening visit. Voltie goes up to uncle Sams for the robe and tobaco. [Bob Reid|Bob]] comes home with him but only remains till 8 p.m. for Sam is alone, poor old Sam. I get supper. Voltie helped me wash dishes. A lame back is my portion. �79 May 31st January 1904 The last of the day of the month, a cloudy snowy day. The girls arose first this morning but it was 1/2 past 7 am before any of the family got out of bed. Maud & Bee [Beatrice] returned last evening at 11.30 pm Had a most enjoyable time. Graphone [sic: gramaphone] and music. Bob Reid here. Snow balled Beatrice. Snow still continues to fall. Evening every member of family reading till bed time. Voltie the last one up reading. Monday 1st Februry 1904 A stormy morning; wind North. We hope it will not storm all day. I found time to bind the quilts all finished now and tis a beauty. Bob Reid helped Voltie butcher two pigs which of course gave me a job I dont like very well. Weather clears up in pm and sun shines. Maud washes and starches the towels and curtains. Beatrice is a darling Jolly merry little maid. I wash an undershirt for V. �80 Tuesday 2nd February 1904 A cold but clear morning. Voltie gone to Kingston with pork started 1/2 past 6 am drove up the ice; but before noon the sky becomes overcast with a heavy snow storm which continues all day. Wind North and cold. Maude and Beatrice burns sulphur in every room; the house blue with the fumes of sulphur up stairs and down stairs whew! Dont know what they done it for, any way it gave Maud a head ache. I mended V’s overalls and darned socks, baked beans, Maud made cake, and baked apples. Beatrice croched [sic: crocheted] doilies, grandpa done all the chores, brought water, choped wood. V came late, long after dark, brought the buckwheat flour. He subscribed again for the Herald to day. Tis 10 oclock all abed but me and I am now going, good night. Wednesday 3rd February 1904 A cold clear morning. Voltie drove to the villiage carrying the bull to Frank Briceland for 14 dollars. Maude and Bee went this morning for the mail, found the snow very deep. Whig, Dispatch, Agriculturist, a letter from MaudsAunt R, invitation �81 [illegible] to a party. C.M.B.A. $1,50 A Sun for W Jr from Oakley. A letter from — for —, a Sun from Birch and McKelvy for W.B. Jr also one for J.D.B. Voltie came 5.30 pm tea ready for him. V paid the taxes $10,80 also Rachels $5,40. Maud and Bee fixing for Michea’s party. Bee [Beatrice] going with Bob Reid Maud with Voltie. Sr in kitchen reading the Sea Lions, whiile I sit in the dining room by the coal stove with feet stuck in the oven to warm, with a pile of socks to darn. Cloudy & looks like a storm. Thursday 4th February 1904 A severe cold morning. The frost makes the house crack. Our dancers came at 3 O’clock a.m. and crawled into bed. V arose early enough to eat breakfast with dad and I. M & B had second breakfast. Going to butcher to day 3 pigs and I know what my job will be, not a very pleasant one. Bob Reid here and Loban helping, both here to dinner. The big tank on the stove Sr tending fire �82 Saturday February 20, 1904 �83 Monday 22nd February 1904 �84 Wednesday 24th February 1904 A blustering morning but Belle is quite anxious to go home though she does not insist in going; any way Voltie concluded to go, so drives to the door. They load up and start and drive on to the ice when behold Sr has let the calf out and he runs after the team. Voltie of course has to stop and try to drive the colt back and Voltie runs, Sr runs too, after difficulty they succeed in driving him to the barn and but no sooner is Voltie under way again than the colt is away too after them again folowing them to Niles. Voltie again attempts to lure him back when the black mare jumps and kicks the bay colt cutting his leg so back they come and unhitch and stay home and tis as well for the day proves to be a dirty disagreable kind of weather �85 Friday 26th February 1904 A very beautiful day bright warm. A very very few days like this, have we seen this awful winter but we accept with the thankful heart this one. Sleighs and cutters flying behind horses horses this day. Voltie cutting ice all alone this day and so very tired, when night comes went early to bed. five times have I written "this day" within 6 lines. �86 your of reading Robert G came and were glad to see him, he came down with Charley W. Voltie & Irene set the table for him and it was midnight when we retired Sunday 28 February 1904 A rainy dirty day. Every one reading. Voltie reading Granstark all day, a quiet rainy stormy day. Irene reading Lena Rivers but we have our three square meals all the same. �87 Niles helping and here to dinner. Briceland here to. We expected him to dinner. He bought the the bare faced calf $1,50. Evening Voltie, Robert & Irene went to Mr Niles for an evening visit returned at 10,30 pm. A stormy night. I read Lalla Rooch a wild improbable story by Moore. Sr reading Ivanhoe. Tuesday 1st March 1904 The stormiest and most blustering day of all the winter. Wind blowing, snow flying. A trememdous growth of snow banks every where what were big banks before are monstors now. snow six feet on level between house and river, the same by the barn. Voltie working on a new set of bob sleighs. I washed a few things. Bob in evening went to post office expecting �88 Bob went to Niles and ate dinner. I baked custard pie. Irene cleaned floors and every fine. Voltie came home early for supper, tired after doing the chores, milking & seperating milk, he and Bob sorted two barrels of apples for market. I am sending 7 lbs butter to market wish it was twenty. Merrit Daily trying to move on the island, drove down the island with two loads had to turn back on acount of snow through the Breaky consession. The weather now looks like a storm. �89 [illegible] rigs gone up this morning. Merrit [illegible]penter moving a load of goods over here to the Breakey Joy place. 1 pm Raining and blowing a hurrycane from the west; the water on the ice rolling with white caps. A terrible day for Wind and rain and cold increasing every minute. 4 pm one team just drove down on ice water up to the sleigh ranes [sic: reigns]. V & M cant come home this day. Toban here. Sr treated him to cider; poor Prince often looks out the window up the river watching and waiting for Voltie in vain. Irene and I sit up late washing but no return of the absent, Maud been gone now 2 weeks. Well I’ll go bed. This March day has gone out. It has riped [sic: ripped] and tore, stormed and swore since �90 as far as Charleys where they stayed and They came with empty barrels and boxes laden with groceries. V brought a new doubble harness from D Spoor. Grace sent me a piece of cheese. Bob sent me a book "The Clerical City" by Hall Caine. Belle sent me two copies of the Brown Book. Irene Sr made molasses cookies. mail, Whig, Herald, Massey book, letter from Grace, one from Ethel & Flora (Uncle Voltie and Irene Sr gone to visit Dixons Uncle Willies) Saturday 5 March 1904 Another beautiful day thoug the is rather more pensive than yesterday. Voltie and Irene gone over the way to another country. I sent Grannie my pocket book and all the money I possessed which was only one dollar, cloth for new apron; sent apples, ginger cookies and sent Jen a monster onion. Perhaps she will not be pleased—I dont care. Voltie told me �91 something of importance occurs after Voltie and Irene leave for another country only Till evening after we are all quietly engaged in reading we are aggreeably surprised by an evening visit form Shelly Niles, Miss Davey and Wallace Niles. Maud treated them to hickory Poor dear Maud went to bed with tooth ache. I applied hot ginger bag to her face and filled the cavity with cotton batten saturated in eclectric oil. Forget to say Maud went out skating this pm found the ice very rough and bad every way. Sunday 6th March 1904 A soft, mild, dim, quiet resting itelf for business ahead. We looked for Voltie and Lib all forenoon. No one came but Loban Excuse wants to get his hair cut but I think tis cider he wants; after dinner and dishes Van drives in cutter with his beautiful white mare wouldnt unhitch but tied her out at �92 tea and dishes washed we enjjoy a very evening reading. Maud reading Graustark W Sr reading Ivanhoe, while I read the Political romance by Hall Cane the Eternal City (Rome of course) Monday 7th March 1904 A rainy day. March is weeping floods of tears very quietly. The snow has disapeared so rapidly that the dirty earth begins to peep forth from her beautiful white mantle that she has worn all winter but tis now soiled, dirty, besmirched with mud sticks, leaves and every filth, but tis welcome after this long dreary cold—Sr mending harness in kitchen and blowing his nose on the floor every few minutes. I can truly say like Jess in "Window in Thurms" "What man am I tied to". Maud working on sofa pillow. I washed separator, churned, worked butter and washed all the dairy implements, cracked a few nuts �93 [illegible] to water without doubt the traveling on ice and land is very difficult; but Charley Woodman has gone to Marysville for the mail. I would have sent letters but have given away all my money. Gave Sylvia 12 cts, sent mother a dollar, gave June 25 cts. Dear June I’m almost sorry I didnt give her the dollar but Voltie will give something—(money) in Watertown and I can give Irene money later. As the snow disapears it exposes and brings to view a very filthy door yard. To day Maud is washing & Irene Sr is limping around doing the dishes, separator and cooking. "Ole man" Sr is untoping straw stack. The hens are all out scratching among the straw for wheat. Wallace gone to Clayton to get tooth pulled out. Evening Dad went for mail. Whig, Daily Agriculturist, American Woman, Household Guest, a letter from Watson, postal from New Thought, and a letter from Clark Street, Chicago which I have not opened. �94 [illegible—page torn] in the consession and cant get up. Charley and Mr McGreggor here while we were at dinner to help get her up but I think Sr is hoping she cant get up for he didnt go with them but thanked them very politely and camee back to finish his dinner while C.W. & R McGreggor went home . The old mare is up and gone to the barn again. I made Johny cake for dinner. Sr ate 6 pieces Maud & I ate 1 each. Sr got mad at Maud; going strike her. I blowed the stuffing out him. I made him ashamed for onc. Evening he began reading Forna Doone. Thursday 10th March 1904 last night Theremometer cold [illegible—page torn] �95 [illegible—page torn] the property they sit up late but finaly go to bed upstairs. Womans World, Herald, Hearthstones good Litterature, letter from Grace, asking for Bobs Friday 11 March A miserable cold, stinging day After breakfast, Davis goes home, leaving Loyd [illegible] here to watch affairs. Sammy and Toban go to Kingston to see about the seizure. Charley as usual goes for the mail. We send Loyd for the mail. No one visible except little Sylve. Sam gone to bu Charley am. McGregors part playing cards. Oh yes he said Bob Reid who said they had consulted Lawyer. Tobe drove in here at bed time wanting cider [illegible] evening mail Whig, Herald, Womans World, Good Litterature &c. �96 Saturday 12 March 1904 The day much warmer than yesterday but not very warm yet, didn’t thaw. Prince as well as my self is still looking for Voltie. Maud cleans floors. I made molasses cookies; they are not very good. Sammy and Loban gone up again to day. Loyd made three trips to Loban’s. After dinner and dishes washed Maud goes skating but is going to come early home to help me get supper. Sr comes in house about 4 pm and says "They are coming, are about a mile away; and sure enough Voltie and Irene are coming home over the ice and in a very few minutes at the door. Irene comes in with bundles and valise while Voltie brings in the robes and blankets and then drives to Sam’s with Charleys cutter. Irene after telling me something about the pleasure of her visit only a little for she has not have gone to relate much—helps me get supper. But where is our Maud who was coming home to help me so early? dont [illegible] Well while we are at table she walks in, face read and breathing like a steamboat, she been over to Maloneys with Shell and Miss Davey, Miss Spoor over there. V started to go over to Dodges but Wallace wouldn’t go so came home and reads all the �97 2 Sunday 13 March 1904 Arose rather late this morning for tis and a day of rest, but Grandad was up fire breath and out milking before Voltie was down stairs. Voltie and Lloyd slept together last night and they both came down stairs together. Voltie declares he must go to Kingston tomorrow for coal and I want to send the butter to market in prints and as part of it is in rolls and the other part in cream not churned yet and tis Sunday I am considering what to do. When Lloyd goes on his watchful mission I pour the cream into the churn and set Voltie at the business of bringing the butter from the cream and as I am making out the butter prints,—in walks Mr. Lloyd. Voltie had told me that Lloyd was a strict Methodist and I was somewhat "Skerry" of being caught breaking the Sabath so to make sure I ventured to ask him what Church he belonged too he said "Church of England" so I didn’t care. Furthermore he said Loban had asked him if Voltie was home and he had told him "No" that Voltie had gone across the river. Lobans mind was to come and get filled up with cider and Lloyd �98 understood it all right. I told him I was breaking the Sabath. He said it was all right, that it was nothing to him and I thought so too. As tis a fine day Jr hitched up (after dressing up) and drove over river to visit his relation—and gone all day coming home just in time for his supper, he brought home Dickens history of England which I had lent Bill Windmill over a year ago—(I’ll not lend him any more) and another book that Lib has sent me to read all about the pure cursedness of "Papery" "Little of Book" "The Great Red Dragon". Maud skates all pm and again in evening. I took a nap this pm first in a long time. Irene told me all about her visit, what a dear sweet girl is Muriel, and what a lovely woman is her Aunt Eveline and her dear uncle Wellie, and the darling boys, Hubert and Clyde & Lyle. It is nearly midnight when I go to bed. The afternoon nap cured me of sleepiness. 3 Monday 14 March 1904 A very fine day except in afternoon it snowed again. Woodman again went to Kingston. Lloyd went to Loban’s three times. Voltie went to Kingston carrying the butter to market 12 lbs and oak to be sawed into lumber. He is going to make a bedstead and book case he did not return till after dark, had to wait for lumber to be sawed. Sold the butter to OConner �99 4 Monday 14 March 1904 A beautiful morning like spring but snow every where; going on ice fine; cutters & sleighs flying every where over the ice bound river. Samy & Charlie gone up again this morning to see about the seizure of their cows and hay for rent. Arose at 5 Oclock this morning for Voltie is gone to Kingston with oak to be sawed for lumber; he is going to make headstead and a book case. I sent 12 lbs butter to market. Voltie will bring coal. Tis 10 a.m. & I am beginning to think about dinner and what will I get I think I’ll cook some carrots smothered in cream and make a pie of some kind. (I didnot make the pie). Voltie brought 1100 lbs of coal and onions for Ed Bates. �100 5 Tuesday 15th March 1904 The skating spoiled again; ice covered with snow. I sent the letter and order to Dr Turnoch $2,50, wrote and sent a letter to Mr Watson, and 3 New Thought Magazines and another magazine, and a letter to Sydney Flower N.Y. Sent them by L Card who has gone up with the mail as he has finished his mission of watching the property. Tis a fine day and thawing. We all go bed early Whig, Good Stories, Agriculturist, Dispatch, Heralds pictures & map Wednesday 16 Marach 1904 Another beautiful day. Voltie goes across the river accompanied by Irene and Maud who are going to call at uncle Delavan’s while V drives to Ed B’s for the sourkrout that Ed promised him early in the winter, he returned at dinner time without the sourkrout or the girls. They are going to visit with Libbie B and Van brings them home near supper time. Wells Sr an Voltie begin breaking the black colt. he drives off like an old horse. Sr is going to Kingston tomorrow. 9 pm good night. �101 6 Thursday 17 March 1904 Well St Patrick’s day has come again; what silly, foolish celebration. Old St Pat. It is realy disgusting but those Roman Catholics are witless as far as their pretended religion is. Barometer this morning registers zero. A clear fine day. Sr gone to Kingston for the first time this winter. I’m glad he is gone for a few hours, for the stove can have a peacable time as well as the family; no slaming of stove doors to day or looking into the tank to see how low the water is, or low muttering growling. Voltie is taping [sic: tapping] our few maples. I am trying to wash a few things. While I am resting a few minutes the coal stove, the girls exclaim, Visitors! and sure enough Old uncle James Gloyd has come. V goes out & puts his horse in stable while uncle Jim comes in shaking hands with us all around. poor old man how white his hair is and how old and decripted he looks. He said he had not seen or heard from any of us in so long time he thought he would drive over for a little while. Well as he is an inssesant �102 7 talker he gave us a vivid and minute description of Franks and Esthers lives and conduct, and several other of his relatives and acquaintances. He has ordered his own monument which is already engraved at the marble works in Clayton. Says without doubt this is the last time he will ever visit us or cross the river. V brought in the sap a few quarts which he boiled, making a small bowl of syrup by adding a cup full of brown suar. Sr came while we were at supper. I lingered at table to keep him company and hear the news, which was not much. Awful sick on the road going up, saw Bob, [illegible] couldnt pull his tooth, Smith charged him ,75 cts fixing his specticals [sic:spectacles] Loban is going to sue [illegible] for taking care of the cattle and property while [illegible] should have done it instead of Loban &c [illegible] carpet rags and darned Sr mitten and Volties �103 �104 9 Friday 18 March 1904 No sign of spring. A bad stormy day, snow falling thick and fast. Winter far and wide. Beatrice is 17 years old to day. This morning Voltie sent to Sears and Robuck for the books on Carpentry and Painting 3 of them, beside a romance. We had our maple syrup for breakfast this morn. Voltie has taken our old rocker to the shop to repair it. Well I feel dull lazy and sleepy. I wish I had 2 dollars in silver change that I might send away for flower and vegetable seeds and bulbs, and for subscribtion purposes, and a few new books but I have not money enough to pay postage for a letter, but better times are coming. I will now go wash separator. I sewed a ball of carpet rags and pieced a new quilt block. V and Charley again breaking our colt to drive double. Ben Percey came over visiting and stayed to tea. After dishes washed Maud & Irene dressed, and went to Mrs Niles, for an evening visit Ben went with them. Evening mail. Whig, Herald, Womans magazine, a letter from Gladys [illegible] �105 �106 11 Saturday 19 March 1904 The snow and weather looks as much like winter as ever; more like January than nearly spring. The fog and snow this morning gave a ghostly appearance to all nature. Maud and Irene hustling around to get the Saturdays work done. I must make pies and cookies for Sunday. We may have visitors. Charley and Belle may come, wish they would. Every body but my children visits us. The ones I so long to see dont come, Gladys the dear little one write to me so I have one steady correspondent among my grand children and now and then an occasional one among the others. Fourteen Grandchildren! I have belonging to me! Well Well! I must be growing very old, seventy! what an age! Muriel sent me this diary, my pretty grandaughter. Well I think grandmothers like the kind notices taken of them. Maude & Irene expecting evening visitors from the Niles family, teacher and all the young trash, but it beging [sic:beginning] to snow and rain and they do not come. Maud & Irene sing and dance in parlor. �107 12 �108 13 Sunday 20 March 1904 Froze last night snow lying in heaps and drifts every where. Last year the Pierpont made her first trip to our dock the 18 of March but now the ice in river is two feet thick every where and covered with snow and deep snow on land everywhere. The weather to day is windy, dim sunlight altogether disagreeable day to be out in. Morning’s work done floors cleanly swept everything comfortable warm & cozy when as a pleasant surprise Brother Will came. He had come with Frank Woodman who has come over to visit his father. After dinner Will & [Frank?] & Maud go up to call on the Niles family and are gone only a short time when Ed Bates drives in here bringing a big pail of sourkrout which to us is a rare treat indeed. We invite him to stay. He excuses himself and only stays for cider. After a little small talk he drives away and [illegible] Irene and I are setting the supper table, Will and [Frank?] came home but had dined with the Niles family. Will much regreted not having seen Edy B. Frank was the next to call and pay his regards to the family. [illegible] the cider barrel. Next on the list with [illegible] �109 14 �110 15 for his cap which he held in his hand with his mittens all the while he was searching; at just after hand clasp and a regretful good bye they were gone and V and were left alone [illegible] past one a.m. Tis over the moonlight and more than half past midnight and Frank and Will ought to have been home 5 hours ago. Forgot to say Toban was here this same evening for a gallon of cider and had to hurry home before it evaperated and lost its stimulating quality for he has an open tin pail in which to carry it. Monday 21st March 1904 It made no difference about the lateness of the hour when we retired. Sr was out 1/2 past 5 am and O! I was so sleepy but had to get up and call the girls out. After breakfast, dishes & separator washed I sit awhile by the coal stove and go fast asleep while �111 16 �112 17 came Ben Percey and "Honorable" Robert Reid They adjourned to the parlor (after a plentiful swilling of cider) and then the orgie commenced: piano, violin, singing, dancing, laughing, hollering and yelling till 11,30 pm when they agreed to home. Will & Frank have to go to Depauville well after a lot more chaff, noisy loud talking. Frank, Bob & Ben go to Sams. Frank gone for his rig while Will, Voltie and I wait in kitchen for Frank’s return. After waiting for an hour and a half V & W go forth in guest of Frank whom they find talking to his father sitting by on his bed. They got Frank started at last. They came in to say good bye to me and get another cider and a jug full beside, and supper for by this time they were hungry so I set them good lunch on the kitchen table and after filling [illegible] a lot more gab, and Will said he had [illegible] ass of himself and Frank said he [illegible] good time and I and V rebut profanity &c and Will [illegible] �113 18 �114 22 Tuesday 22nd March 1904 Arose at the usual hour. Weather looking very unfavorable for going to Kingston. V thinks he wont go then changes his mind and now the hustle and bustle begins. Hurry hurry! bring out the butter & put up the eggs. I hustle the buttermilk into the jug for Grace make out my order! Irene flying around getting her things together for she is going home. I’m sorry to see Irene go, dear little girl but she wants to go home and see them all. V says he might as well go to day and get the job done with. Sr brings the team to the door and the oak plank is piled in and a barrel of apples for sale & a bag of potatoes for Bob G and the butter and eggs and buttermilk. Irene and her valises and bundles and a box of hickory nuts, and they are tucked in furs and robes & away they go up the ice and around the point out of sight, and Maud and I return humdrum ocupation of washing dishes general housework) and so the day �115 �116 23 passes on with wind blowing a gale and rain too. V comes home early. Belle sent me a loaf of graham bread, dear Belle she is a good woman. Voltie brought all I sent for except the bottle of milk. V goes for the mail Whig Dispatch, Agriculturist, Hearth & home, 2 letters from "Turnock" and a Postal saying the medicine is in Kingston with one dollar duty charges. I wish I had had it sent to River View. �117 �118 25 Wednesday 23rd March 1904 A beautiful day, like spring. Voltie working in shop. I wash and set up new lace pattern and finish quilt blocks. V and Sr drew hay from stock, 3 loads, cleaned out hen house and hog pen. Then in pm hitched up the colts again to break them in to driving order, and drove with two young lads who are around looking for two stray dogs (Fox hounds) which they have lost while out hunting. They found the dogs at Archy Berries, drove back again and we gave them lunch for they are nearly famished with humger not having eaten anything since breakfast we fed them and their dogs. They are from Clayton. Well goes the day. Thursday 24 March 1904 A very fine morning. I go to the door to get a few deep drawn breaths of this spring morning which is as stimulating as wine how much better one fells for deeply breathing the ozone. �119 �120 31 Saturday 26 March 1904 Raining all night and raining this morn Wind South. The surface of the Earth, never, at any of the year presents a more woe stricken appearance then at this time. water, wind, dirty snow with over two thirds bare ground. Maude cleans floors. V up Rob Horns old buggy. Wind changes to north and freezes. V and M and I sit up quite late reading. V wants to be called at 4 am. I dont believe it. No use running such a risk on poor ice on Sunday morning before day light smulgling calves Sunday morning 27th March 1904 A clear bright morning, earth and ice stiffens by frost another new calf which is five all told this spring. After breakfast Voltie goes across the river to Quinn Beadles to see if he wants the calve. Sr goes with him as far as the channel to see him over. When Sr came back he reported the �121 �122 33 but as there is no Post office at the bay (River View) any more he did not get his books for the mail is now carried by rural free delivery so he dont know where they are. After dinner Wallace came and told Voltie that there is books and other mail for him at Rob Perceys. Wal goes home, gets his skates and comes directly back and he and V skate across the river and get the books, 4 of them. We all sit up reading till 10 p.m. Monday 28th March 1904 Froze hard last night. Voltie regreting that he had not run the calves over on handsled this morning before daylight and I’m glad he didn’t. After breakfast V drives to the foot to old Mrs Gillespie’s funeral. The funeral service is held at the house. her remains were brought and laid in the M E vault. She was ninety years old. Wells Sr fixing fence to keep the cattle from the hay stack. After breakfast Maud washes the clothes uncle Sam has got his washing hung out first. I wash dishes, separator, and churn the butter, and �123 �124 43 Wednesday 30 March 1904 Snow to day disapearing rappidly [sic:rapidly]] somewhat cloudy. Will Gillespie drove here for Plymouth rock eggs, wants 7 doz, 2 baked bread. Maud ironed and after dinner walked up to see Shell found the walking very slushy. Sr brought in 2 pails of sap. I wrote a long letter to Grace. Wells Sr reads all evening. Voltie read all the evening. �125 �126 41 bed wondering why the old cellar steps dont give away, and colapse, break down with the weight of 2 great men and a barrel of apples for they are 36 years old and wobbling from age and much service; once they came very near breaking my leg when I fell through a broken step. Well they are gone, butter, apples, eggs and their own precious selves, across the island they go and up the ice on the North shore, so I get up cant very well walk for pain across my back, got a kink in it some way so I put on electric belt. V and Henderson came at 3 pm they had had no dinner had been to Charlies twice going and coming. Charley went to town with them. H dont go home to Niles but hangs around here till dark then Voltie gos up with him to get rid of him I guess. Evening mail Whig, dispatch, Agriculturist, leters from Bob Gaskin, Grace, Marjorie and the Turnock meds �127 �128 Friday 1 April 1904 Another cloudy nasty windy time with patches of dirty snow and ice every. No ice traveling any more. �129 Sunday 2nd April 1904 A very nasty day a raw chilly drizzling rain falling at intervals all day. There seems to be a fight between departing winter and approaching spring. Winter had held the lines for a long time ever. since 14 November when the ground froze hard and has never thawed since that time. �130 Sunday 3rd April 1904 A cold raw day. Wind North froze hard last night. The ground lightly covered with snow this morning. After breakfast and work all done. I sit down to write in this diary. Henderson and Jack Niles here for Hendersons old buggy V has repaired. They came in and were freely treated to cider which loosened Henderson’s tongue which goes off like a bell clapper with no sence. Some how I dont like that man; he belongs to the great majority of common class, and fifth rate at that. Whew how the wind blows. It seems a long time to want for a bright, war, soft June day. �131 April 1904 & clear cold frozen morning. I dont feel very well this morning on account of loss of sleep caused by C.W. and Rod staying here so late last night; 30 minutes past midnight. �132 33 Thursday 7 April 1904 A very fine day a white frost this morning. V commenced plowing, mother calf at the barn. Will Gillespie here for eggs. 7 doz at .18 per doz. River clear of ice. Saturday 9th April 1904 Charley Woodman plowed for Voltie to day, ground very wet. Charlie is owing Voltie 7 dollars for carpenter work &c Sunday 10 April A very dirty day raw cold windy. Voltie set a hen on 14 eggs. R’s old hen. Maude had a terrible tooth ache. Wallace made us a short visit, all dressed right and dandy. Henderson made us an evening visit. �133 34 Monday 11 April 1904 A cloudy chilly day. Ice in river jamed in to stay I think. Wind S.W. and not very warm. Maude is all right this morning she bakes pies and cakes. I stew apples and make rice pud and boil and pickle beets. Evening visitors Shelly Wallace & Miss Davey. Night dark and cloudy. Tuesday 12th April 1904 A dirty rainy morning rained all night. Voltie cant plow this day. Wind East I’ll help Maud wash dishes then I’ll wash separator, churn & work butter and make prints. I didn’t make prints but worked the butter all over. Maud churned and washed all the lace curtains 8 of them. 4 pairs. and other things. Voltie did plow all day. Miss Davy here after school giving Maud a music lesson. Charley Woodman here to get V to go to Alice McKays sugar party. He (Charley) is going to invite one of the Jimmie girls. Evening mail Good stories, American House hold, Guest Farmers weekly, New thought with Thetascope and a letter from Turnock. �134 Friday 29 April 1904 Wind North It was after dark when they came [illegible] a very little tired of course and didn’t wash dishes and we had a time washing so many dishes after breakfast. I send Old Turnock, Chicago another $2,50 for second treatment which I think will be the last. Didn’t work very hard this day. Maud made table cloth and put the clothes to soak to be washed tomorrow. V working shop for tis to wet to work in the field. In the evening Shell and Miss Davey came. Mail not much this evening only Herald and Whig. Voltie plowed all day for corn. Shell and Miss Davey here till bed time. Charley & Rod here in evening. Rachel came over early this morning and went up to Belles with Charley W. �135 Saturday 30 and last of April 1904 A fine day wind N but not cold. Voltie plowing all day for corn. Sr building fire. Maud cleaned all the floors. V cultivating all day. Sr building fence. I work around all day. Sunday 1st May 1904 A fine day wind North. We are alone all day. I looked for Belle [page torn down page right side] In the evening Maud goes calling at and found shell has a bean. Byron up to W.G.’s courting. Jack gone down courting. Henderson and Miss Davey driving Mr & Mrs Niles out walk shore so Inez comes partly �136 Wednesday 13 April 1904 A very cold morning froze hard. Wind North. Voltie cant plow this day, he set a hen and drew out manure and a load of hay from the stack. Drew off a barrel of cider for vinegar Maud starched the curtains and pinned them all down on the parlor floor to dry. The snow was falling quite briskly for about an hour this am and it is cloudy now. Voltie put away the sleighs for summer in machine house. A cold raw wind blowing all day. Voltie was halting between persuasions of mind one to go to Alice Michea’s sugar party to night or stay home and read or work in shop. Concluded to stay home, but after the lapse of half an hour and nearly 8 Oclock. Beatrice came in like a whirlwind bound for the party having come from Grandmas Halliday’s with her uncle Henry he also going to the party. Then V & M wer [sic: were] positive that they wanted to go to the party and they went. �137 Thursday 14 April 1904 Another frozen morning Wind North cant plow. They came at 3 am and arose at 1/4 after 6 Oclock. I write a letter Dr Turnock PM Voltie plows two lands through snow storm. Toban here in evening for tobaco treats him to cider. Friday 15th April 1904 A clear bright morning, river sealed over with ice; froze again this morning. Maud taking up the curtains off the parlor carpet ironed the lambrequin and put it and curtains away till the rooms are cleaned. Voltie plowed again 2 lands. Sr brought in two big pails of sap. I sent a letter to Dr Turnock. Maud went calling on her friends the Niles family. Evening mail, two Whigs, Agriculturist, Heralds, Another April Hearth & Home, a letter from Grace and one from Watson. We churned �138 Saturday 16 April 1904 Wind North this morning with snow. Voltie set two hens and another hen wants to set. We now have 70 eggs setting. Miss Davy here giving Maude music lesson then went with the Niles to W.G. Woodmans visiting. Voltie plowed. Sunday 17 April 1904 Froze up morning. I read History of England nearly all day comparing Greens History with Dickenson they agree very well. Maud goes to church a very good turn out to day. The preacher preached fire and brimstone. No visitors to day. �139 Monday 18 April 1904 A dirty day. Wind [illegible] Maud took up the dining room carpet and hung it on the line. Cant do much more cleaning for the weather is miserable was going to make out all the butter prints but Alice Michea came for vinegar. Voltie put the horse in the stable and she staid till evening. She worked stitches on my crazy work cushion over lent her some book Dickens history of England, Lorna Doone & 3 New thought magazine. little Esford was with her. V gave her carrots and she drove away down the road home again just as the sun was going down behind a bed cloud. Tuesday 1904 April 19th Of all disagreeable weather this is the worst. Snowing hard and furious with ground white for a while, then wind North wind & cloudy. Spoor here with asscesment [sic: assessment] Lorna with him. Wonder if she ever means to bring home our book "Sewards travels around the world". I sent 10 cent for flower seeds to the Mystic Co. I think it is all a mistake, a myth they promise to much �140 river full of floating ice acres and [illegible] of it, brown colt fell [illegible] a harness; he has got that well [illegible] up now. Voltie went for the [illegible] [illegible] & Rod, came home with him and [illegible] [illegible] Charley Noisy; been drinking Wednesday 20 April 1904 An awful day for weather snowing and blowing all day and drifting wind N.W. Dreary and dismal last night the river froze over from shore to shore. I finished the butter 38 lbs for market and one for Jack. This weather makes me very lame. Voltie working in shop all day; only he whitewashed the the sitting room. I sorted and straightened up all the corner litterature. Maud cooked & washed dishes. Irene B washed the separator and wiped all the dishes. Maud churned and I took care of all the butter. I’ll be happy when winter is gone. �141 Thursday 21st April 1904 A smiling sunbright day warm and cheering though the ground in morning was frozen quite hard. Maude cleaned her bedroom thoroughly. Voltie plowed. In evening Miss Davey here staid till 9 pm. V went home with her. Charley & Rod here in evening it was so hot he couldnt stay very long for I was baking bread. Dad brought in one pail full of sap and ice. �142 Friday 22nd April 1904 A beautiful day. V set the tomato plants out in the sun. Maud cleaned all the woodwork in little sitting room and dining room and cleaned my bedroom. I done all the cooking and washing dishes and separator. Evening mail Herald, Dispatch, two Vickerys firesides two Hearth and Home and a letter from Turnock. V and dad [illegible] for the Browns skiff. V rowing it up [illegible] black colt. Saturday 23rd April 1904 Arose at four. V going to Kingston [illegible] to board the 1/2 past 8 am boat for V drove the black colts 38 lbs butter, [illegible] Chamber I done house work and took afternoon boiled sap now got 6 [illegible] till 10 pm waiting for V but he [illegiblel] �143 Sunday 24 April 1904 [page torn, right margin, missing text indicated with *] A mild day but getting cloudy * alone all day, no visitors. V came at * got left in Kingston and staid * and Bob. Bob Reid too staid * A very pleasant evening passed * and reading. V got his experiment * staining and hardwood finished * $2,00 and our wall paper from * Paines. Raining hard towards evening and heavy all night. Voltie again kindled a fire in coal stove. Monday 25 April 1904 Coudy. Cool this morning. A very fine day somewhat Voltie and dad drawing manure on the potato ground. V and Maud papered the small sitting room so we didn’t get to bed till 12 midnight. �144 4 Sunday 3rd March 1906 [sticker: Continued, Date 1906] [right corner torn, missing text indicated with *] A cloudy dismal day neither rain * Bare ground except an abundance of ice every * cat might slip on it; no service in church to * The roads are terrible for traveling. Maud is getting dinner While we are at dinner, Frank Woodman and George Smith Woodman came over the ice from U.S.A. gave us all the news and ate dinner here. Geo went down home and brought the horse up intending to lead him across the ice. V went with them to help him but when they were in the channel they found the ice so poor and full of holes that they turned back. [illegible] hired man, Woodard came a little while before sunset from up the island where he has been courting the widow Cavelry and hastened across the ice. said "he must go or they would think he had got in a hole. Voltie watched him with the glass as long as he could see him to see that he hadnt get in a hole. Whitmarsh come about 4 pm [illegible] rode down as far as Montgomerys with Lancaster the English prelate �145 Monday 5 March 1906 [left corner torn, missing text indicated with #] # this morning. Frank & George # accompanied by old C.W. Voltie drove up the island # McDonalds, with a grist for hog feed, left it there and returned in # dinner. Maud and I sort a peck of beans # clear. North door squeaking, North wind. Tuesday 6 March 1906 I write several letters one to Nellie Brooks, one to Belle, one to Grace, one to Capt Cummings, one to Wall, one to Rachel. Hannah Flynn here to say Capt Cummings want R to cook on the Wolfe Islander the coming season. Maud cleans all the floors. Sr bottoms chairs. Voltie works in shop, my left foot ancle and leg feels cold and stiff. Evening Voltie goes to post office, "Dispatch", "Madame", "Household guest" a letter from Grace, Chase Almanac & that is all Wednesday 7 March 1906 A cloudy morning. 2 deg below freezing. Voltie gone to the villiage and will cross if he can. He drove up on wheels no sleighing no snow �146 Wednesday 18 March 1906 Tuesday 13 March 1906 [left corner torn, missing text indicated with #] # Weather about same as yesterday. # and I had a fine visit. Evening set the # going till 11 Oclock pm. A little feathery snow this morning but soon cleared up. Wednesday 14 Belle and the children went home; started about 10 a.m. A raw cold wind blowing from the East. Oh the lonesomeness of the house since Belle went away. Evening no phonograph this eve instead Voltie & Whitmarsh after sawing great logs for firewood go putting corks and lead on fish nets. Thursday 15th March East wind. Trying to snow; a few light feathery flakes. V working in shop making leads for fish nets and bobs to float the nets, then shoed a horse. After supper Fred helped him saw wood till he jamed his finger. Then V put leads on nets till bed time. Maud got a bad cold. Sr sorted beans. I worked on Mauds cushion and helped cook and wash dishes and so ends the day �147 10 a.m. Sunday 11 March 1906 [right corner torn: missing text will be indicated with a *] Ground froze quit hard last night * this morning. Dont get up very early, we * now got done with the mornings work. I * bread & graham bread, washed dishes a great lot * pots, pans, kettles, scour knives & forks & spoons * makes beds, sweeps & dusts. V. F and Sr reading Maud went to church, scant audience. No horn to day so Lillie Woodman asked Maud to sing which she does. After dinner, Maud goes up to Niles and I bake the bread and wash dishes, men folks all read. Oh such a long lonesome sleepy sunday, so very hot in kitchen. I open the door and in rushes 5 cats, grey striped spotted black and white. Well I’ll let them stay in awhile. Maud came in time to help get dinner. Whiled away the evening in reading. Monday 12 March 1906 A very good day some snow this morning about like a feather, froze. V drew wood from Dailys wood and while we were at dinner Belle came bringing Charlie & Henry & the phonograph. So excepting the meals everything was put aside for music and a visit �148 [top & bottom right corners torn, missing text indicated with *] Friday 16 March 19 A half cloudy day, no snow. V and Sr drawing wood sled len * Greggors down to Woodmans for hay. Fred * home to villiage to night going to walk. Maud * a bad cold I gave her some hot whiskey. I guess * her head ache poor little girl. I try to do all I can which is not much with a cane fo a supp * After dinner gone again for more wood from Dailys. Evening snowed. V went for mail, gone only a few minutes. Herald, Hearth Stone, Good Litterature, a letter from Ethel Dixon & a postal from Nellie Brooks. 12 eggs. Saturday 17 March 1906. A bright cold morning, a light snow on the ground. Voltie gone to Dailys woods for a load of wood. Another calf which makes two. Not going to raise it; tis to small. I’m so afflicted with * and cold feet. I can scarcely get around * with the support of a cane. Voltie has come * for another load of wood. �149 Sunday 18th March 1906 A very fine day but a cold morning, froze last night sat up till nearly 11 pm reading; we arose at 7 am and had a quiet peaceful sabath day. Maud went to church in afternoon; going to start a revival meting here begins tomorrow night. Fred came in time for supper. This is Beatrice birthday 19 years old to day. 13 eggs. Monday 19 March 1906 Froze again last night; very cloudy and dark around the horizon, looks like snow storm. Maude undertook the washing but only suceeded in putting them in the tub. Bill McDonel came for beans and consequently staid to dinner on account of having to sort the beans. Sr, Voltie & yours truly picked over a peck of beans while Maud finished the dinner. Beginning to snow. Voltie finished one net and hung up another to put on corks and *. Bed time snowing fast and furious & 8 eggs. Tuesday 20 March 1906 �150 Sunday 1st April Sun bright shining, but froze last night Dont look much like spring for tis chilly enough Coal nearly all gone. Voltie and Fred at the shop. I guess Voltie has forgoten to cool and turn the eggs and trim the lamp. Now they have gone away some where, dont know where. Wells Sr put the last of the coal in the stove at 15 minutes past 10 am. Voltie and Fred have been down the shore looking for clamshells V had forgoten all about the incubator but he trimed the lamp and turned the wick to high and the thermometer had risen to 107 deg. Maud went to church in pm but no preacher there. We had raspberry short cake for dinner and boiled eggs for supper. A clear sunset, a hole down through the ice. Monday 2nd of April Another frozen morning but clear. I am very lame this morning not only in my back and knees & hips but my right arm in shoulder is very lame; experienced difficulty in dressing myself but helped wring the clothes. I washed dishes, separator, cooked the meals. Maud done big washing lines full, we washed a quilt; only 8 eggs to day our hens dont lay very well. 26 hens all young pullets. �151 Tuesday 3rd April 1906 Ice breaking up and floating down stream. A clear bright day sent a letter to Grace. Maud has to work to hard for she has done all the work to day, poor dear Maud. I wish I could get around and help more. V went over to fix Dailys fence where they drew wood through. Mrs Daily came over and V lent Merritt a bag of potatoes, sold her a peck of beans, gave her two bottles of catsup and a can of tomatoes and a peck of apples. Evening mail a lot of advertsing matter, a letter from Irene Halliday, McClures magazine, Farmers Dispatch Wednesday �152 [bottom right corner torn, missing text indicated with *] Thursday 5 April 1906 froze again last night, clear looks like rain off in the South. V works in shop all am and in afternoon draws stone. Sr splits and piles wood. Maud weaves rags for rugs while I sow [sic: sew] them on. We making a a rug for Grace. This is the eleventh day for the incubator hatch. Evening every body reading except Irene, beginning to snow. Fred fixed the separator all right. Wednesday 4 April V worked in shop and drew stone. Whitmarsh climbs top of the fence looking for V & stretching * up like a gobbler, till at last he discovers Voltie * down he jumps and away he runs to the * where V is drawing stone. Sr splitting a piling * Friday 6 April 1906 Awoke this morning to find the ground white with snow but it soon disapears and at 11 am not a sign of snow to be seen. V draws stone awhile early this morn on stone boat. I sent a letter to Grace by Wells Sr sorted a pot of beans to cook quite a hay �153 30 March 1906 Friday A cloudy dirty looking morning. We had just washed our dishes and had done morning’s work done when "Merrit & Jane" came visiting, staid nearly all day till it began to rain. I made a strawberry shortcake for dinner and Mrs D entertained us with piano music (hymns) and at last they went home then we prepared for making pumkin pies &c, rains quite briskly for a short time and that ends it. Saturday 31st March 1906 A frozen morning, clear sky, North wind, bare ground an ice bound river, and hoping and hoping for spring made cookies, pumkin pies, loaf cake, boiled meat, baked bread. V and F out sawing logs and working in shop. Voltie tested eggs in incubator found some bad ones. I commenced a piece of lace little Helen Brooks petticoat knit two scollops. Whitmarsh smoked so much he made himself sick but I think cider had a bad effect too. �154 Friday Froze again last night. Voltie at home all day working in shop most of the time. We dont send any mail to day. Fred going to the villiage after school, on skates if he can get there which is doubtful for the ice is very doubtful and shaky. Maud and I have a very busy quiet time getting the meals and piecing at the gritts. [illegible] sits by the stove most of the time squirting tobaco spit on the floor and stove; a very mild day no snow ground bare as October. Evening mail. Herald, American Home (a good for nothing paper) The Herald, picture of Queen Alexandra, her grand children and dogs, a beautiful picture, the very best the Herald ever sent out; a letter from Helen Brooks which I was well pleased to get—and I think that [illegible] Voltie went for the mail, and then went to [illegible] to inquire if there is any traveling on ice by the [illegible] for V is anxious to go to Kingston to get a [illegible] for the hogs ten of them. He returned at 10 and found no one home but Johny. The rest of the family had [illegible] Dignams for an evening visit. While V was at OBriens and Geo Rattrays man came and they and Johny played cards �155 10 am Sunday A dirty rainy day. Sr and Voltie go to the funeral; no body came from over the river, crossing must be very bad. There was not so great an attendance at grandpa Geo Woodman’s funeral as would have been had the weather been favorable. Rev Mr Morehouse preached the service. Rev Mr Roadhouse was present and said something also. Mr Dignam Sr came home with V & Sr and had a glass of cider and ate dinner with us. As it is a fast day he would eat no meat. V fried eggs and he ate three. They were fried in meat gravy; The gravy for potatoes was made with fried meat drippings, the beans were cooked with pork, and he didnt know how much beef there was in his mince pie but when done eating he said "I thank God I’ve had a good dinner". He had no breakfast this morning, he stoped a couple of houses and visited with us and then buttoning close his over coat he went home, (walking) with umbrella unfurled over his [illegible] A dark gloomy afternoon and evening. I thought [illegible] had blocks enough to finish the quilt but not yet [illegible] few more. Voltie painting Rubes buggy tongue [illegible] �156 Fred gone to the village. walked up through the mud. Sent by Jim for separator oil, rotten Stone, and mailed a letter to Grace Evening mail, Herald, a lot of advertising matter, and a letter from Gladys. Saturday 7 April 1906 A frozen morning river full of floating ice sun bright. Voltie leveled the front door yd and made two flower beds. Maud and June made chocolate cake, cookies, pumkin pies and bread and baked apples. Maud cleaned floors. Sunday 8th April 1906 A bright sunny day. Maud abed. I gave her big dose whiskey sling guess that will cure her. V helped me do up the dishes and separator and we are cooking hocks and turnips and carrots for dinner. V set the table for dinner An extinct hive. V took the honey from about 20 or 25 lbs only four hives left. Whitmarsh came about 4 pm bringing villiage news. Louis Farish in the asylum. Melville [illegible] .. dead &c, etc �157 Monday 9 April 1906 Wind North, cloudy, dark in South. This is fifteenth day for the incubator hatch. It rained then snowed. Whitmarsh forgot his umbrella and walked home through the rain. Voltie went on the other place to cultivate and worked till it began to rain about ten a.m. then came home. 7 little [illegible] in the icehouse Whitmarsh & Voltie setting up fish nets. �158 Wed 24th Feb 1909 A very rainy day ground nearly bare again rain falling continually all day. I patched a pair of pants for V. Voltie working in shop all day. Phoned for for Will Davis to drive to H Halliday to bring Irene home. Frank W here. W Niles called on V at the shop where V is making boat ribs Davis brought Irene home at 10 p.m., tied his nag, came in and warmed himself by the coal stove and then drove home to the villiage 14 miles. �159 Thursday 25 Feb 1907 A clear cold day wind N.W., ground hard frozen and bare nearly. Voltie drew hay for R and curried her pork & hen feed. Ray McIntyre came over and went up to see Wall Niles. Voltie went out to try the ice, found it good enough for a horse in evening. V., M and Stella Taggart, John Murray on ice skating till 11 pm while Irene, Ray and Harold Dignum staid here till Voltie & Maud rehearsed. Friday 26th February 1909. A fine pleasant day. Sr drove to Clayton on ice. V drove over with Irene to Marjories. Ray went home after breakfast. Maud cleaned floors and made a cake. Grandpa bought 10 yds of plain blue calico for Irene a dress, a pair of shirts for himself and a pair for Voltie, 2 quarts of syrup. Lib sent me a years subscription of Hearth stone. Stella came down from school ate supper with us and V & M & Stella went skating over to Marjories. V drew two bags of potatoes. �160 hand sled sent Irenes dress cloth cloth over to Marjories. Stella came back stoped awhile and V skated home with her to Morgans. Charley Halliday & Riff drove here for Charleys oats. Perhaps he is going to smuggle them. If he does he will make a mistake. Saturday 27 Feb A cloudy morning not very cold. V drove to Kingston on the ice stopping a Morgans for Stella who is going to go with V as far as the villiage. Went up in covered cutter. O how I hate to write this. He came back drunk. Terrible Terrible My poor boy drunk. Sunday 28 February 1909 A very fine day. V and M skated across the river to Arthur’s found them all there hadnt moved yet. V skated home. Lib and Van came bringing me some sourkrout. V saked across for Maud. Had a fine �161 Monday 1 day of March 1909 A fine day. V gone to Kingston with grist for hog feed and to get lumber sawed came home after dark, drunk Tuesday 2 Wednesday 3rd A cloudy windy day. Voltie gone to W.G. Woodman for the remainder of his wood bought logs ash log for for waggon tongues sent to Cape by Geo Niles for my scrap book. V went over to Rachels to get her hair dye money, but instead she sent the money for bread and snuff. V & I dressed two roosters for her after dark to carry to market �162 Thursday 4 March Inaugation [sic: Inauguration] day for President Taft. Roosevelt steps down and out, a north windy day wind blowing hard all night. Sent Grace a few things. Maud finished making sheets and pillow cases. V went Graces to dinner. Got the lumber sawed for wagon tongues, he bought corn meal and rolled wheat. bought snuff and bread for Rachel. Snowing hard all pm ground white. Friday 5 March 1909 A very fine day. Rachel came over for her bread and — V carried her home on sleigh and drew two loads of stone to finish or help build the cellar wall. Evening mail is New Thought, Herald, letter from Grace, Rachels Peoples home journal, Prinning Phones to V, Morality Morgan and John Murray came for Stellas over shoes or rubbers. One New Thought missing. January number lost by this terribly mismanaged post office of Woodmans. �163 Saturday 6 March 1909 Very fine day. Voltie drew two loads of straw & two loads of stone for the cellar. Maud made bread, cookies, cake, boiled pork, cleaned floors. Wells Sr cant do much, he is old and his health not very good. Laura Dignum phones to Maud. Sunday 7th March 1909 No one here this day except our own selves, and so nobody came nor any body went. The snow falling constantly and continualy all all day every thing, tree, shrub, roofs, fences earth ladened with snow wherever the snow can settle. Every thing outdoors is ghostly white, but we are comfortably smugly warm while we read read read. �164 �165 Thursday 11 March 1909 A very fine day. Jerry Murphy and his son Stuart here assessing. V bargained for an oak tree to get the logs sawed into lumber. �166 Friday 12 March 1909 Charley Dixon came over to day and we were extremely pleased to see him and hear from the folks at home and know that they are all well. Saturday 13th March 1909 Voltie went to Kingston accompanied by Charley. They started 7,30 am, drove to Murphys woods and while sawing and felling the great oak and it proved to be hollow. They sawed and cut another oak and falling lodged in another tree but with the combined effort of Jerry, his sons, Voltie & Charley they succeeded in dislodging it, trimed it free from limbs arrived at last in Kingston saw mill and then at Horns for dinner at 2 pm faint, weary and hungry. V eats to heartily, came home quite early tired, ate pea soup a big bowl full. �167 Sunday 14 March 1909 14 and arose this morning sick from the effects of over feeding and hard labor but never would give in and go to bed but pokes around all day. Monday 15 March 1909 Charley Dixon went home from here this pm started about 1.30. V not very well he drank a full bottle of Fowlers Extract of Wild strawberry without any result. �168 Monday 15 February 1909 Arose at 1/2 past 6. V intended going to K with oak log to get sawed for boat ribs. It rained and snowed all day thermometer down to zero. V drew hay for R and worked in shop the remainder of day. Irene & Maude made cakes, cookies and fried cakes. Sr sorted beans for market and to plant. I mended V pants & Louise done helped wash dishes and done as she pleased. Wm Gillespie went to Kingston for an opperation [sic: operation] for appendicitus. Evening visitors Mrs Dignem & her children Herbert, Tom, Harald and Danra & wee Alden McDonald, John Flynn & John Murry & Mrs Redic and Compos and Stella Taggart and Mabel Morgan and Mary Bulger and Frank Woodman and Emma Woodman and Ethel Reid. It was three Oclock am when at last we went to bed and our visitors went home in a great Northern snow storm. �169 Tuesday 16 February 1909 Stormy morning and storms all day. Maud cleans the floors after the exit of our visitors. V went over to Rachels to feed her cow; The day passes away quietly with howling wind and fierce snow storm, the very first snow drifts this winter, all the mail this day dont amount to much only one post for Maud. Wednesday 17 Feb 1909 A clear day wind west & cold. The girls (Irene and Maud) want to go to the dance at the villiage and they go. V hitches up before the cutter and they go up on the ice but before he goes V hitches up and drove over to R and carries Louise over there and looks after her stock. I write letters to Belle & Grace also send to Pugsley and Dingnan for books with soap wrappers. �170 Saturday 13 Feb 1909 A fine day. Arthur Vincent came over, carried Belles’ pickles and some potatoes. Sunday 14th A nasty dreary dismal day rains and snows. We read and doze most of the day. V went over to R to feed her cow. Had late meals to day. Evening Voltie popped corn. �171 Thursday 11 February 1909 A fine day. Snow spoiling the ice for skating some snow lightly covering the ground. V gone to Kingston to day with a load of oats. Came home to late to eat supper with us so we kept it warm on the warming oven. Friday 12 Feb 1909 A fine day. Voltie working all day in shop ironing at Wm Gillespie’s sleigh. William Gillespie helping V all day till 9 Oclock pm. Sent to Park for flower seed ,70 cts. Evening mail, Herald, Good Litterature. �172 Tuesday 16 Wednesday 17 March 1909 St Patrick’s Day �173 Thursday 18 March 1909 Beatrice Halliday Schram 22 years old this day. Friday 19 �174 Saturday 20 Sunday 21st March 1909 A fine day. Ray came over. Maud staid all night at Rachels came home at 10 am staid to dinner. �175 Monday 22nd March 1909 A fine day. Ray & V drawing hay from Rachels. Stella came from school as to make us a little visit and stay all night, found the walking pretty soft and mudy. V tapped our few trees. Tuesday 23rd March 1909 A beautiful day, warm and bright, a robin singing in the apple tree. Maud washed and cleaned floors. Hung all the clothes on the veranda line. �176 Wednesday 24 March 1909 A long time ago since I wrote in my diary some times I think I’ll never write again in a diary but I like to; wish sometimes I had always kept a diary since childhood. The day is very mild for March, 40 deg above zero. Cloudy all day looks like rain; more bare ground than snow. V filed Dignums cross cut saw. Harold came for the saw this morning. Ray helping V work in shop. Sr out doors most all day. R came over to dinner. Gave her fried cakes, milk, popcorn, pork (just a few slices). Wallace N is trapping for muskrat. Maud fried cakes and stewed raisons. Frank here using our telephone. Maud got a bad headache went to lie on the lounge awhile, slept, got up much better & helped put the supper on table. Evening V & Ra played checkers, we retire early. Most forgot to say One year ago this day Wellie was here, came across early this morning and staid with us over night. Edy Bates burried one year ago this day. Dear Edy Bates. �177 Thursday 25 March 1909 Oh what a nasty mudy raining slopy weather, ground bare with dirty patchs of snow; brook running like a mill dam. Ray wants to go over the river but cant cross for weather and danger of getting in, so he and V are boat building in the shop. Sr mending old harness in kitchen. I should think the harness mending would sometime be done but it goes on the year around. Tis 9 am jsut through with dishes, knives, forks, pots, pans, pails & sundries. Now I have to go immediately and pick over beans for dinner, a very interesting job. So here goes I. Well beans are cooking. Wellie crossed over the ice from us a year ago to day. We watched him as long as we could him a little black dot away on the other shore. V went across with im. last night dreamed of Will and Harry Watson �178 Friday 26 March 1909 Dear Marjorie. Ground covered with 3 inches of snow this morning, dreary dismal outlook. I never have been to Mary Woodman’s but dreamed I went there, drove there in buggy. V went with me. How very beautiful everything was as we drove along the road, trees, flowers, singing birds and I so free from all care. Wind west and cold, an open spot in the ice above the house. Ray went across to the U.S.A. this morning. V working in the shop Letter from Grace & the herald. Saturday 27th March 1909 Very good day. Frank Woodman here speaking through the telephone about his enjine [sic: engine]. V working on boat. Maud made cake, bread, baked beans. I pieced on quilt. �179 Sunday 28 March 1909 A fine warm day quiet. Maud went to Rachels. Sr reads all day. V goes over to R’s to see if she has any wood. I read and get the meals and wash dishes etc. Tomatoes coming up. Monday 29 March 1909 A very fine day sowed more tomato seeds. Frank W gone to Kingston this morning crosssing to town very poor crossing with only one horse. Rachel came over this morning before breakfast brought me some magazines. Maud popping corn this am. I ought to write a lot of letters to Grace, Belle, Will & Watson and others. Sat up late reading. Maud not very well. V working in shop at day after chopping wood for R. R wants to keep bees. Dora Bates’s baby sick had Dr for him. �180 Tuesday 30 March 1909 Cloudy warm day 40 deg in shade. Maude got head ache and lain down. V working in shop all day. Sr tinkering old aggate wash dish trying to solder it "Simple Simon" or old Josiah Allen which? We are boiling sap on the stove and I get the meals and piece on quilt, sow few flower seeds, water and count the tomatoes plants, 53 new ones just came up out the ground. No mail to night except one letter for V telling him the berry baskets are at Corbett’s. Tuesday 31st & last day of March A clear bright & warm, snow most all gone; boiling more spa on the stove. Maud washing. V working shop, he went down to Franks to see how the new drill works. Guernsey & Wm Gillespie eating dinner at Frank Woodmans. �181 Wednesday April 1st 1909 A beautiful bright warm day. Rachel came over to breakfast and for hen feed. V working in shop all day. Grandad gathered the sap but Franks kids had been before him and had drunk about half. Heard Clayton is burnt. Hubbard house and all. Maud washed on Wednesday that is this day. I done house work, and pieced on quilt. Maud went over to Rachels for calico scraps. Thursday 2nd April 1909 A beautiful warm day, snow all gone but one dirty patch left this side of the grainery. V working in the shop again all day. I done house work and pieced on quilt. �182 Friday 3rd April 1909 A fine warm day looks like rain in the South and hazy. V set the bees out door 7 hives all alive and fine, one came in and stung me. Maud brought the clothes in and washed them again for the bees had them pretty well spotted. Maud is mad about the bees dirtying the clothes. I baked beans and Maud made custard. Sr patched his pants I wrote and sent a letter to Belle and sent one to Grace and a few lines to Mrs Ranous about Dodds Kidney pills. �183 April 1909 Sunday 5 A beautiful day no rain quiet & peaceful. Clarence Percy here. I wrote a long letter to Will but guess I wont send it now I’ll wait awhile. Monday 6 April 1909 A beautiful warm day. Clarence Percy here ice cant get aross the river. He discarded his relatives, they are so very dirty and filthy, cant visit them tho that is his purpose here on the island. He is helping V clean seed grain if V can ever get the time from working on the neighbors more old waggons, drills and tongues to make and repair than ever. He worked last night till [illegible] pm (this is Tuesday) Henry Halliday here for dinner and seed peas. �184 Tuesday 7 April 1909 Warm and hazy nor rain. Clarence Percy here yet V went down to Geo Gillespies to borrow his (Geo’s) ensilage cutter. We expect Frank and his gang here to dinner. Tis 1/2 past 9 am work all done up, dishes washed and beds made, sweeping done. Maude has a lame back cutting corn here. Wednesday 8 April 1909 Corn cutting done here to day with corn cutter and enjine [sic: engine] �185 Thursday 9 Friday 10 �186 Saturday 11 Sunday 12 �187 Monday 13 Tuesday 14 �188 Wednesday 15 Thursday 16 �189 Friday 17 Saturday 18 �190 Sunday 19 Monday 20 �191 Tuesday 21 Wednesday 22 �192 Thursday 23 Friday 24 �193 April Saturday 25 1909 Saturday Voltie went to the villiage and to Kingston didn’t get home till nine pm X stupid April Sunday 26 1909 Wind blowing half a gale but notwitstanding all that we had to have visitors from over the river. Ray McIntyre not contended with bringing himself but brough along a great hulking bull of a fellow named Belenger who is working for Frank Schrum and wants to be a ring prize fighter. Wind blows so they have to stay all night. Wall here and Tom Dignum in the evening. �194 Monday 27 27 Tuesday 28 28 �195 Wednesday 28 1909 April Thursday 29th A very fine morning but soon became cloudy gathering for a storm. Granddad [sic: Grandad] and Maud went to Kingston on the boat. Wal drove over to dock while V helped me get breakfast. R came over and helped get dinner and staid till towards 4 pm then she walked home. Wallace drove to the docks. Grandad brought home a dog a nine months old pup. �196 Tuesday 21st September 1909 A long interval between writing in this diary, many an event incident have occured and passed on forever since the last record. This a beautiful autumn day. V digging potatoes over on R’s. Wells Sr gone to the cheese factory. V gone to the dock for coal instead of digging potatoes. Maud ironing starched sclothes. Emma preparing for school and I am while I still continue to make apple preserves. �197 Friday 30 April 1909 A bad rainy day. Wallace went home after breakfast to help clean house, paper and paint. Voltie worked on nets all day. Mr Ranous no better going to hopsital tomorrow. Some river pirate pushing at the foot of island. �198 �199 �This document would not be possible without the editorial contributions of the following people: Ann Hopkinson, Markeeta Rosenow, Ella Deering, Eric Irvine, guest_user, and Queen’s University Archives � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Subject The topic of the resource 19th and 20th Century Rural Ontario Diaries Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1887-1922 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Table Of Contents A list of subunits of the resource. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1887 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1888-1889 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1889-1897 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1890 March - June Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1893-1895 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1895-1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1896 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1897-1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899-1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902, 1906 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902-1909 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1904-1905 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1907 & 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1908-1919 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1911 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913-1914 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1915-1916 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1916-1917 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1917-1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1921-1922 Language A language of the resource English Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902-1909 parts of Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1902-1909 parts of Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 20th Century, Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Date Created Date of creation of the resource. August 23rd, 1902 (p. 33) Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Typed Transcription UG Transcription Progress Scripto transcription progress Done transcribed https://ruraldiaries.lib.uoguelph.ca/transcribe/files/original/c44fcbb509c197c5d1a3dc387afae6ca.pdf caa636f228c6699d336754c6233c757b PDF Text Text Irene Dixon Bamford parts of 1902, Diary Transcription 5034_4-1-14 �Metadata FromThePage export of 5034_4-1-14 from Irene Dixon Bamford made on 2026-02-11 14:35:17 UTC. itemTitle: Parts of 1902 and 1906 date: 1902-1906 Title: 5034_4-1-14 Description: Item is a diary. Created On: 2024-01-11 17:48:56 UTC In Scope: true Uploaded Filename: 5034_4-1-14 �1 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Partsof 102 and 106 1902-1906 [stamp] Queen’s University Archives Locator 5034.4 Box 1 File 19 �2 Parts of 1902 and 1906 �3 Date 1902 & some 1906 [upside down in bottom right corner] ReRead ’76-’84 �4 Monday 24 Feb 1902 Bob Reid slept here last night. He and Voltie hopped out of bed this morning at 1/2 past 2 O’clock am and hastily swallowing a cold lunch hitched old Jess before the dog cart and drove to North shore to rim his pike nets - 4 of them, and returned at 7 pm. I didn’t get up till 1/2 past 5 am. The boys returned in time for breakfast. The ground is very soft after the rain so wet that planting will have to wait till pm, in mean time V & Bob break the black colt to drive Very Interesting �5 Monday 24 1902 A Cloudy thick morning and rains in pm. Voltie and his father fill the ice house. Jim O’brien getting out ice too, for himself. Young Brigeland here to dinner. A man from Kingston here this pm and bought our fowl they came to $4,55. V gave me the money and I gave him two dollars back to buy groceries �6 Tuesday 25 Feb 1902 Arose early so Voltie can go to Kingston. K drove up with the bob’s on the ice, didnt get back till after dark brought coal and groceries for him self & I pork, sugar, rolled oats, soda &c I dont feel very well. Voltie ate dinner with Grace. Maud done big washing and hung them all on line together with 5 new sheets & 6 pillow slips to bleach. Grace sent the dried punkin, a can of chow chow and a can of preserved tomatoes. I sent her Reggies napkins & a book "Lady of the lake" and print for a dress. �7 Wednesday 26 Feb 1902 A soft warm day. Wells went early this morning with Voltie to Hickory drove down on the ice, came back & worked around all day fattening pitched hay in the barn. Then went over there, and pitched hay off stock. Snow settling. In evening he went back over there and let her know he was going to K tomorrow and she could go if she wants too. Wells goes to bed tired out. I not very well took a nap in pm. �8 Thurs Feb 27 1902 A thick fog this morning cant see from here to the river, clears away towards noon and the sun comes out most brilliantly warm, the big snow banks are settling rapidly. Wells gone to Kingston on the ice. R going with him to get clothes for mother to go out to Wills. Maud gone over to stay all day with Grannie and I am alone with the cat and dog for company. I sow tomato seed in a box, bake pies cake, boil meat, bake bread and dont feel very well �9 machine going away round the road to Dighams. Niles came for cucumbers. I help Rachel churn butter wont gather come home at sunset found Grace, Maud, Marjorie and Tom & sitting for the garden party at Geo Ranous. When Voltie came home from threshing Oh Dignams the gals rode down in dog cart while Arthur and Tom walks. �10 Tuesday 3rd Sept 1901 A fine day. Wind South. V gone to Hickory to secure his job - rode down with Ewoodmans hired man. Tom Chatteron plowing for V. Arthur cutting ensilage corn Maud, Grace and I doing the washing. Marjorie went to the post office for me with a letter for Flora Bamford. Rachel came over with letter to post for Will’s folks. I sent Arthur with it Made me promise I’d go there this pm. dont want to go but I will try and get there Eli I get there. On the way met young abbot, Wm Woodman and threshing �11 Feb 28 Friday 1902 A cloudy morning rained some thawed all night. Wills came at 5 pm brought load of lumber, set sleigh box on top of lumber and stuck himself and Rachel on top of the lumber in the elivated sleigh box going shimpy on hard trading for horses after unloading R’s groceries and our few things, he hitched horse to light bobs and took Rachel and her groceries home and brought Maud home. We have supper all ready when they return. Wells Sr very tired and lame but has to do all his chores alone. he goes to bed early. I sit up till 1/2 10 pm. Maud get sore throat . V & I doctor her with Kerosine and fat pork. �12 Friday 28 February 1902 Comenced [sic] this on opposite page The work in this house is endless and I’m not very well but will pull through all right I believe. I hear Maud working away at the breakfast dishes and must help her now. Maud sent to the comfort soap company for a book, Ivanhoe sent 10 cts and ten trade marks. Wells volunteered his service to carry the letter to post and went through slush across field. We are mending socks and stockings to day. Wells went to post office received the Whig and family Herald & a leeter from Grace. I doctored Maud for sore throat. �13 Saturday 1st March 1902 Thawing now every day, partly cloudy partly sun but slush and mud knee deep and over shoes every where - dirty pools and puddles of water and disapearing snow banks covered with dirt. Wind N.E. dark clouds hovering all around the horizon. Wells went over and pitched in hay for R. and she sent over two lbs butter. Maud cleaned the floors, and swept & made beds & cooked and washed dishes and baked beans washed the churn & set it away till spring. Maud found her lost ring for which I’m very thankful for it was her mothers weding ring. Wells drove down for Voltie and brought home Volties skiff. Supper ready when they come. Lennie Paterson here till 10 pm. �14 Sunday 2 March 1902 Rain all day. Voltie broke the sabath by fileing the saws. No one here to day. We read and doze and get the meals. No service in church to day. Not a rig on the road. Evening Maud pops corn. Voltie reads "The man from Glengary" and "Robery under arms". �15 Monday 3rd March 1902 A cloudy dismal morning mud, bare ground, long streaks of dirty snow drifts, a sad S.W. wind. Voltie got up at 4 went back to bed slept till 5, arose again put his box on the sled after going to barn for it. I held the lamp in the door while he cut a walking stick and away he goes down on the ice to Hickory before V goes he builds the fire and I get breakfast after Voltie goes. when breakfast is ready I call Wells Sr and then I call Maud. comenced a dress for Maud. Growing colder and freezing. Wells can’t put hay in barn on account of wind. �16 Tuesday 4th March 1902 [written upside down] Maud went to post office sent a letter to Grace, she went again at eve only the whig and some advertising letters. A fine morning but rather cold, froze hard last night and the river fine for skating. Wells drove to Millens Bay for Kerosine 6 gallons, asked for Syrup but the store keeper had none, had dinner ready when he returned. Maud cleaned floors and worked. I put the flower and Mauds skirt and baked beans and made cake. P.M. Wells went over to tother place to pitch hay for the cow. Shell came for Maud to go skating. Maud went. Evening Inez came for Maud and they all went skating till 10 pm. Maud, Inez, Shell, Byron, Irvine, Jack Niles, Len Patterson, Len came here for skate straps. �17 Wednesday 5 March 1902 A cloudy morning rather cold and frozen; Wind North. Wells gone to Kingston drove up on the ice with one horse (old Nell). He gone for a pig box &c. The horse races are in Kingston to day. The Woodmans are going. Heard Percy Gillespie is in Kingston Hospital sick with apendicitis. Had an oppration [sic]. Heard Belles children have whooping cough. Heard Arthur Knapp is at Wellies. The clouds look like a snow storm. Wells came at early dark Lenonard Patterson [sic] rode down with Wells. Charley Woodman to Reids. Leonard makes us an evening visit gave us some chocolate caramels. I had dinner all ready when Wells returned and we had a jolly cozy evening Len helped Wells do the chores. Maud and Irene served most all day. Rachel came over and Maud went to post office for R. She received a letter from Wills Topper and they have moved to Depauville. �18 Thursday 7th March 1902 Ground frozen hard this morning, a fine morning. I finished Mauds dress and away she goes on skates up to Mrs Niles for buttermilk and I make buckwheat cakes and try some of the new syrup which is fine. Wells drew a load of wood from Lindy’s island. A little before tea time Geo Darling and his man drove in here. I was afraid they would want to stay all night. But no they went to their old stopping place Geo Gillespie. He shook hands very cordially and wanted to bring in another cady of tea. I said no we have enough left from the one we have now to last another year, but all the same he insisted upon bringing in another caddy. I said go to the barn and see Bamford "all right �19 he said he would, and away he went and while he was gone to the barn, I took the occasion to empty his tea caddie thinking he would want to take it along with him as he always had done before. I had 10 qrts and over in a big tin pail which was full to over flowing and another qrt dish full besides. Darling was gone a long time at the barn and at last he and Bamford came to the house, Darling came lugging in another big caddy and I asked. What is that and he said sugar! granulated sugar for you to make taffy; and I thought it was sugar and was pleased although I though Wells was very extravagant, and Wells came in, in a moment after and I said "did you take that caddy and he said rather sheepishly "yes! but we can sell it. I said you are buying sugar to sell. Sugar! why it is tea! I thought of old �20 Josiah Alen. Well I said do you know how much tea we have left from last years purchase "No." I said, well here it is and brought forth the pail full and the qurt full beside. Wells Sr looked astonished. Darling’s man said ’For God Sake’ and Mr Darling said Oh that tea lasts too long. Any way he examined it, perhaps to make sure it was the same he left here a year ago, he said This is the genuine article, and said, put it back in the can and keep the can till I call for it. So now we have two caddys of tea sitting side by side in the pantry - but the astonishing thing about the whole business is this. Wells Sr said before Darling came for we were expecting him that he would only pay for what tea we had used and he should take the remainder back. �21 and what unaccountable spell he worked upon Sr, while at the barn. I dont understand. It is that soft insinating way of his. I think he would wheadle old Satan into a bargain. He came half whispering to me and said "Does Grace ever say any thing about me?" I said Oh yes Mr Darling she often speaks of you. We urged them to stay to tea but kindly thanking us they proceeded on their way. Before leaving he told us "Mr Niles had taken another caddie of tea, same quality same quantity. Maud, Shell, Inez & ByronIrvine & Len Patterson out skating till 9 pm �22 Friday 8th March 1902 A frozen morning. Wells Sr draws wood from the island. I bake beans, cookies, 3 currant pies and lots of other work, cant think of everything and it make no difference if it is never recorded. remember sending to the post office 2 letters one to Briggs seed company and one to JH Sutherland and must send away again this week for more seeds &c �23 March Saturday 9th 1901 A windy chilly & very disagreeable day, wind North. Sr draws wood from Lindy. Bob Reid helping him both Friday & Saturday. I looked all day for Grace & Bob and baby but all in vain. I dont think now they would be foolish enough to start out on such a day. They may have come as far as Charlies and staid for a visit. Wells started at 4 p.m. and drove to Hickory for Voltie, coming back just at dark and we have supper on the table and we have a cozy time all to ourselves. V brought up a strip of N.C. Pine with which he is going to make a book case of odd scraps and pieces which the carpenters have rejected. �24 Sunday 9th March 1902 New snow on the ground, This morn which came last night. A fine day somewhat Cloudy. We did not arise quite so early as usual being Sunday morning. After breakfast. Voltie goes over to see his grandmother and after waiting for a long time for his return to dinner we ate our dinner without him. After dinner Maud picks up dishes and clears away the table and then goes up to Mrs Niles to practice singing hymns with Shell. Towards evening Voltie packs his box and his father, again, takes him back to Hickory and we are left alone once more. Maud comes home just before dark. Shell coming nearly all the way. Evening visitors Lenardo and Bobilo (Patterson & Reid). Thawing nearly all day. �25 Monday 10 March 1902 A fine warm morning thawing. A frosty morning. After breakfast dishes washed, Maud picked over beans. I’m tired doing without butter, milk or eggs. Our neighbors on every side of us have all three. I cook the last of our beef to keep it from spoiling. Wells Sr pitching hay & straw in barn all fore noon. I cut out my wrapper. Maud made an apron. I tore off another sheet and in evening cut carpet rags. Maud reading Vagrant wife. Sr goes to to bed at 8 pm. Maud and I go at 9 p.m. forgot to say I partly wrote a letter to Mrs Grace and one to box 114 Kingston, Ont & forgot to say Maud went to Mrs Niles for sweet milk. Geo Morgan sale came off to day. Going to sell every thing and go west where Jim & Bernard are. Wall Niles is helping Alex Livingston move. �26 Tuesday 11 March 1902 The day commenced very fine but ends up very nasty with rain, dirt and mud every where. Sr goes to foot, drives down on the ice - gone to get some old bob sleigh irons, that Ed R had given Wellie before he moved to New Hampshire; only got the irons off one sleigh the wind had blown the other off on the ice. Rachel here came for M and to go to post office to mail a letter to Will and stays till Mauds return. I send a letter to Grace and one to PO Box 114, Kingston, Ont. Maud washed clothes I washed Volties shirt & all the socks and stockings and put V old pant to soak in tub. Wells goes over to see about the wood and goes to spaffs for hen feed but got none. �27 Wednesday 12 March 1902 A dirty nasty morning and rain cloudy all day but warm for March door open part of the time. Irene washed the pants, Maud made molasses cookies and after dinner I sewed on my wrapper. Maud got supper and we wash dishes and the evening passes quietly away, forgot to say Wells went over there to see about the wood and brought home some vinegar to charge his electric belt for he has a very lame back. Maud and I practice hymns on piano. Evening Maud reading as usual. Sr in kitchen smoking his pipe. I cut carpet rags. Grannie says she knows there is a letter from Will at the post office if she only could get it heard wild geese holler honk honk �28 Thursday 13th March 1902 A cloudy rainy morning, snow nearly all gone with here and there the remnant of a dirty snow bank. The wind changed this morning from South to North. There are but few people who do not get angry when assailed by the anger of others; They appear to do so from sympathy and alow the sunlight of their good nature to shine forth in all its glory which, will surely disarm your antagonist and shame will take the place of anger P.M. weather still contineus disagreeable. We bake more beans and Maud and I sew on my wrapper. Wells has gone over there to see about wood, snow falling but disapears as fast as it falls strong wind from the North. �29 Sunday 14th October 1902 A beautiful day sunlight bright and clear ground bare with a patch of snow here and there and far between. Rachel came over for tobaco and for Wells to draw a load of wood from Spaffs which he done and also cleaned out her cellar drain. She had been to mail a letter and expected one from Wills folks but got none. Inez came bringing Maud a piece of Jean Gordon’s weding cake which Shell had sent Inez, helped Maud wash dishes. I did not sleep much last and am so sleepy. I can scarcely ope my eyes. Sent a letter to Muriel and to comfort for art table cover and also sent away for hair restorative for V. I thought I’d take a nap after dinner but couldn’t sleep & got up and went to work. A very bright warm sun all day. �30 forgot to say I subscribed for Muriel the little magazine called "Comfort". Sr trying to get pitchfork out of the broken handle but rusted in so cant move it. Maud mended herself a pair of stockings. Wells and Albert Joy dont get along very well since he was hurt on the ice boat. Mail. Kingston, Herald, Comfort, Papers from Science College, a letter from Wells Junior, one from Grace and one from "[Hugh Dalton|Hugh]]" (Dalton & strange). I sent to Comfort for "Art Table Cover" - a letter to Muriel. Hair Restorer Co, Wells sent 3 letters one to J Gotham, one to Capt Denis and one to Liby Simmons which is 12 cts for postage to day. �31 Saturday 15 Marach 1902 A fine day. Wells drawing manure. Tom Chatterton came down to day from Charlies, rode down with the mail. He brought us two pails of water - and, informed us that Marjories was at Henry’s and wants to get down here she been there since the sale at Geo Morgan’s. Maud cleaned floors and had every thing shining. I made two pies and one cake and 4 loaves of bread. Wells drove to foot for Voltie, gone long time stoped on way and choped wood for R & tried all along the road to get hen feed for her but got none �32 Sunday 16th March 1902 A warm morning, mud every where. Wells went over axe in hand to chop wood. Henry drove in here bringing Marjorie. Voltie and Tom had gone to Franks so no one at home and Henry didn’t know where to put his horse for our stalls are full. "5 horses standing in the stable" so Henry said. I sent Maud to tell him to put his horse in the cow stable, which he done. Then after visiting a few minutes with us, he walked off down the shore somewhere and came back at 8 pm. The rain came pouring down and wouldn’t take off his overcoat. Voltie went to barn with him and he hitched up and he drove away through the rain in his top buggy through wind and rain. I break the sabath by cooking for Voltie cookies, pies and bread. �33 Monday 17th March 1902 A dirty windy morning. Wind S.W. Maud and Marjorie washed. Tom reading all day. Wells as usual went over to see about wood "Over there". I write a letter to Grace and in the evening we have visitors. Shell Niles, Wallace Niles, Dave Reid so we have quite a party in the parlor when we include Voltie, Tom, Chattertown, Maude and Marjorie. You understand Voltie did not go to Hickory although he arose early, by his father routing him out and he went off down the shore, valise in hand, and just after dinner he came back and reported no crossing between the foot and Hickory on account of ice have up and jamed in on shore. I gave him dinner and then V and T cleaned the sand out the bottom of Voltie’s skiff and Voltie went up to Mrs Niles and bought each (ie V & I) a lb of butter and he gave me 27 cts in change for postage. �34 Tuesday 18th March 1902 A froze up morning, wind North. Voltie arose early didnot stop to breakfast but took his hammer hand which he made yesterday and his lb of butter and Tom started to drive him to the foot but went no farther than Snub’s, for the roads are so rough and hard frozen. Maud went to post 2 letters one I sent to Grace and one to Pugsley’s for book. Bessie McDonnel came home with her and staid till mail time. The girls had a great visit with Bessie who is quite a "piano player" for never has taken any music lessons. I washed the under garments belonging to our men folks. Evening mail Whig, American woman, Flower seeds from Briggs Toronto. Marine record, account Book from Dr Pierce Buffalo. Evening visitors Dave Reid, Len Patterson, they occupied the parlor again together with Marian, Maud & Chatterton There is an organ in the parlor, and your are welcome every evening to Maggies Murphys home. May Ranous came here for mission money. I gave her 25 cts of V’s money. I did not like too, gave it in V name but I’ll pay it back again. �35 Wednesday 19th March 1902 Maud, again slept on the couch last night. I slept with Marjorie while Tom Chat sleeps in our bed room. Wells came from the stable last night just before retiring for the night and brought the joyful news that old muley has a calf. About three Oclock am the dog gave me a call to get up and let him out. I obeyed the summons and after waiting in vain for 1/2 hour for his dogship to come I went back to bed shaking with cold and left him out the rest of the night. A cold morn so cold the water froze in kitchen a fierce heavy wind blowing from the North all day. Chatteron complaining of a headache & couldn’t eat much breakfast. Too much cold wind in that glass eye of his yesterday while going up and back from Charleys but he braces up and helps Grandad draw manure all fore noon and now they have ground their axes and gone "Over there" to chop wood. Maud and Marjorie fixes �36 to chop wood. Maud and Marjorie fixes Tom’s bed up stairs and pick over beans. Maud made a sheet & sewed it up wrong. Marjorie picks over raisins for tea. Thursday 20 March 1902 The weather much warmer. Tom & Sr made saw horses to saw the wood on using cross cut saw. Grandad & Tom saved and split a big pile of wood. Maud cleaned floors PM. Mararet [sic] went visiting over to R. Wells Sr went looking for his old pig all along the road to Jr’s old place and back up to Franks where he found her and drove her home. Maud cleaned the ceiling in pantry; it looks fine. Rene made molasses cookies. After supper Maud went over to K’s to come home with Marjorie and promised to come home before dark but staid instead. Walace came down to make an evening visit. After awhile our daughters came home escorted by Leanardo & Bobilo and they stayed in kitchen all evening. �37 Friday 21 March 1902 A mild day. Tom got headache again this morning but I doctor him with various remedies and he chops more wood & splits. Sent Maud to post office with letter for Pansy seed free then sent her to Niles for buttermilk and to get a dollar changed so I could send for seeds. I sent to Park for vegetable seed. 4 cts for this day’s postage; looks like going to rain. We got a lot of work to do this spring. 3 dresses to make, house cleaning to do. Friday eve 21st March Maud & Marjorie went to Mrs Niles making an afternoon visit and staying till nearly 11 Oclock pm. There were Len & Nellie Patterson & Bob and Dave Reid and Marjorie. Wells & Tom chopping splitting and sawing wood at the door. Wall and his father went across �38 for George but he had not come. Wall brought me a letter from Jen which had been missent to the corners. Evening mail "Sltenheim Medical dispensory" a book "Black Bird Hill", "Whig", Herald & 4 medical diaries & two letters for Wells Sr. But no letter from Grace, the one bit of mail which I was looking for. I washed 8 towels and a table napkin �39 Saturday 22 March 1902 A beautiful bright warm day. The river is nearly covered with great masses of ice which is rapidly melting away beneath the fierce rays of the sun. Wells & Tom chopping & sawing wood. The wood pile is constantly growing larger every minute. Marjorie reading & making cushion. Maud cleaned all the floors, Marjorie polished the lamps. I made bread, cookies, baked beans, got the meals and washed dishes, and washed V’s under shirt & two towels and popped a pan full of corn. Wells Sr drove down to foot for Voltie. Evening visitors Shell Niles, Wall Niles, Bob Reid, Dave Reid, Len Patterson & Nellie Patterson are all in the Parlor with Voltie and Marjorie and Maud & Tom Chat. Lenard brought his fiddle. �40 Sunday 23rd March 1902 A beautiful day. I set the plants out this morning on the veranda. Voltie read "Glengary" and "Robbery under arms". I washed all the dishes. Maud & Marjorie go to church and Tom Chat (Chatterton) goes too. Bob Reid called here on his way to church and he and Voltie arranged for The girls and Tom came from church. Voltie & Thomas go over to put R’s bees out, and dinner stands waiting for them. At last came back bringing honey in a pan, we have some for dinner. Three little events of the day nothing particular to record only the most common trivial every day happenings over Wish I hadn’t got to cook cookies for Voltie and pie too ought to have done it yesterday. �41 Irene baked two pies (currant) and another pan of cookies (molasses). Evening visitors Mrs Niles & Inez, Dave Reid & Lennie Patterson. Mrs N stays till nine pm, then she and Inez go home, all our young people in the parlor. Voltie, Marjorie, Maud, Patterson, Reid, & Tom. Will Snub boils sap all day if it is Sunday. Bobolo and Leonardo have appointed their sugar party down to Rob Ranous Wednesday evening I dont believe they will have any for I dont believe they have money enough among them all to buy the sugar. Any way they didn’t leave the parlor till Voltie told them to go home for it was bed time. �42 Monday 24th March 1902 Clear and bright ground frozen Wind north. Voltie arose at 4 am, called Tom to drive to the foot with him. But grandad got the start of him and hustled down stairs, and away to the barn- mad too. Voltie not pleased with his father for so doing; but he shoulders his valise and goes out to the barn and they drive off, Voltie to be gone another week. I dont know how we are to get along with Sr and Tom. Voltie says he couldnt keep the best man in the world and Tom only working for his board at present. I have breakfast all ready on their �43 Sr return but I am sure to call Tom down stairs again before he gets back or the divil would be to pay. Well he came raising about "them d-d tramps and bums", and as "a soft answer turneth away weath" I soon quieted him. Well I felt as though I had been on a spree for a week and lay down from 10 till 1 am then arose and had dinner on the table at 12 Oclock sharp. This burning the candle at both ends is killing. Well Maud started in after dinner to finish the pantry, While I go up stairs ransacking the old papers to the tables so Maud could finish cleaning and every thing looking like bedlam when in the midst of the work and confusion �44 Shell appeared upon the scene wanting Marjorie & Maud to go with her down to Franks to see the "baby". She said she had called for Nelly P but as she couldn’t go she called for our girls - I said Margaret could go but Maud had to finish cleaning the pantry. Shell said "O let Maud go we wont be gone long" I said Maud knows her duty but I shall not refuse to let her go, not thinking she would think of going but they both went with Shella leaving everything looking like trinked. They were gone three hours but Shell didn’t see the babies, they were both cutting brush on the 75 acres and their names are Bob and Dave. Shell was disapointed �45 and I scolded for running off when she ought to been home. Well Keranhapuckame had the buisness all arranged and planned for Maud & Margaret to go with her over to Joy’s tomorrow. I vetoed that bill straight. Lennie was down to borrow "terbacker". Wells tried to start the plow but the frost not yet out the ground. A beautiful sunset but freezing. I most forgot to say "our hens has broke loose". Two new laid eggs. We saved mulleys milk to day for the first time. Wells chopped wood for R. he said she had fallen over a piece of old pail hoop and hurt her knees pretty badly. Tom & Sr gone to bed at last. No evening visitors. Tom brought in a box of dirt for dahlias. �46 Tuesday 25th March 1902 Another white frost this morning a beautiful spring day. I pare potatoes and get the breakfast going then mix the bread and set it to rise, skim milk and make porridge for calf and carry it to the barn to seethe calf. Margaret wrote a letter to her mother and then we have breakfast- Grandpa cross at the dickens, couldnt finish the soap this morning. I get the soap and cut a chunk off the cake soap with my hands all dough but he washed without it; then he found a little slop in the calf pail says he "has to leave it in the stable or it is always filled with slop" called Tom, "Ike in bark". He is always mad if there is a young �47 man or boy around. He reminds me of an old rooster; he dont want any young cocks around especialy if they are not Bamfords. Rachel came came over for steelyards going to weigh honey. Left her paper and letter for Maud to mail. I gave her three cents. I sent to Lupton for books sent a letter to Grace and all her litterature. I bake bread. I wish T Chatterton would leave the table after meals insted of leaving with both arms on the cloth gossiping and gabbing at Maud and Margy and whistling. Margarat done her own washing and chot a shirt. Maud went to post office and from there to Mrs Niles for a sailor waist pattern. May the Divil take Chatterton. I want to ask a question but must wait till �48 T goes out after dinner. I cut out a dress for Maud. Maud does the dishes. Marjorie irons clothes. Sr and Tom draw straw and manure from the cellar way and front of house and then plow. Mrs Niles began cleaning house. Sent Maud to Mrs Niles again to buy butter (one lb). Found Shell preparing to go up to Wm G Woodmans with Wal & Geo & Louise, and Bob Reid and Dave Reid, leaving Maud & Marjorie and Lennie out. Assessor here just at sundown "Marjorie feels slighted" M & M went to post office. Lennie invited them to the sugar party and is going to take them in buggy to the party. Evening mail A letter from Grace and a letter �49 from Muriel also received the little table cover from "Comfort". Maud & Marjorie went over to R’s to make a little visit for the coast is clear of young men, all gone to Wm G’s except Len and he has gone to the foot to invite to the sugar off. After awhile Tom goes too. The girls return about 1/2 past 8 pm acompanied by Tom and here is the best of it. When Dave Reid found out that M & M were going to R’s he declined the invitation to go up the island and went to R’s instead accompanied by Charlie Woodman who dresses up very fine for the occasion in his best Sunday go to meeting suit. Like any other �50 old widower he wants to flirt and court. He begins to feel like a young colt let loose in the spring time. He has forgotten how only about 6 months ago he was bawling so loud about poor pen you could hear him half way to the villiage. Marjorie has just told me that after Wall begged the honor of taking her to the villiage ball on Easter Monday eve, he asked her to be released from his promise by telling her "if she could get any one else to go with her to the ball, she had better accept for he (Wallace) may go away. He went �51 Wednesday 26th March Read the "Comfort". A hot clear day like June. Tom plowing. Wells putting a plank platform around the well. I am doing house work getting dinner and helping Maud on her dress and Maud is slower than tar in January. Marjorie and Maud are fixing for the sugar party. It’s nothing but fix and run, fix and run all the time! Marjorie "Oh Dear I’m afraid we cant go" "Charlie wont let Len have the buggy". All the same about 7 pm Lenardo drove up in Charlie’s old dog cart and the three pile in some how and away they go to Bob Ranons to the sugar party. I retire about 1/4 to nine pm. Forget to say Wells went a over there too chop wood. �52 Thursday 27th March 1902 A fine morning some what cloudy. Sr builds fire. I call Tom. Margy comes out early (after going to bed at half past one) think her grandpa is going to drive to the villiage and she is very anxious to go home. I venture to ask Sr if he is going up this morning and in a great state of excitement he says "Going up! Going up! Good G-d! Did you think I was going to start at noon without my breakfast" and I answer "Good G-d No! I dont care if you never go, only Margaret wants to go home and he said no more, but went to the barn to cool off. At breakfast he is as pleasant and "chipper" as a humming bird. The cause of his not going is this. Last night he went to Frank’s to borrow Franks buggy but Bob �53 Reid was going to go to the sugar party with it and it would be to late to get it in the morning. Well after awhile the girls set their tongues wagging about the party and I had to listen till I was sick and disgusted. Oh well I’ll skip all that details of Charlie Woodmans performance and Leonardo’s attention to Margaret and jealousy of Maud. Len went up to see if Majorie can go up tomorrow with the mail. Rachel came over with her assessment bill and and order for things. They have her taxed for a hundred acres of land and her age 45. Wells chops wood for them "over there". �54 Friday 28 March 1902 looks very much like rain but after dinner Marjy packs her valise and Maud helps her carry it to Mr Woodmans. Len & Maud "dont speak as they pass by". These days Maud has asked Len for her old ring; After Marjorie was done Maud began to tell me about Shell hugging & kissing the Reid boys till I command her to "shut up"! under penalty of not going to another folderal in a year. Guess I’ll move out. Maud goes for the mail Whig first & second part Herald & a college science letter. No other letters. Wells went to Frank’s for buggy. He is going up tomorrow rain or shine. I think it is about �55 time for we are nearly all out of eatables no pork beans, butter or anything else. Wells goes over and chops and backs wood for them "over there". I get every thing ready for early start tomorrow morning. Dave Reid going up with Sr. I sewed on Mauds dress. Wells Sr not very well nor has he been for a long time but he never will give up but slaves right through every thing. He will come to a halt some day. �56 Saturday 29 March 1902 Didn’t sleep much last night but lay with one eye open, didn’t want to sleep after 4 am, arose at that hour sharp; it is raining but I get breakfast and Sr goes to the barn to feed & harness old Nell and just as I’m taking up the breakfast for Sr, a rap at the door and in walks [Dave Reid|D Reid]] who also eats his breakfast here. Sr has a very bad cough & cold and Reid is coughing and I gave them honey, at last they start off in the rain. Sr with 3 or 4 over coats on D with one and an umbrella. I call Tom he is sick & eats no breakfast & goes back to bed and sleep all fore noon a very disagreeable rain nasty day �57 Thomas gets up to dinner eats hearty does a few chores and goes for Voltie. Maud washes & cleans floors. I finnish Mauds dress which is very pretty. Rachel came over for turnips says she is all out of everything eatable; no pork or meat of any kind, no potatoes, no beans but has honey, flour, butter, eggs. I gave her a mess of potatoes and a basket full of turnips and some bread. Said she would kill a hen only mother wont let her. said she "dissent" cause mother would cry". Oh Oh the foolishness and crazyness of it all. Voltie came home first and it is nearly 9 O’clock pm before Sr comes. We had been looking for him a long time and Voltie had hung the lantern on the gate post for it is Egyptian darkness outside 20 times we go to the door and look out �58 at last he came with bags and bundles and boxes and I have a good hot supper all ready for him and we all have a cozy pleasant time. I dont think he is very well but he got some medicine to day, but he has got it mixed up with to much whiskey. I offered him my dollar Voltie gave me to buy pork which he took, and put another dollar with it and bought it all in pork at 11 cts per lb. Voltie brought home a fish which he caught in net that he had taken down last week - a pike. He caught 4 one for himself one for old Marshal and one for Ed Marshal. �59 Easter Sunday 30th March 1902 Did not rise very early this morning. I was the first out and dressed. Voltie next and he built the fire. next Sr then Maud, and last Tomas. Windy day North not very cold. Voltie pottering around the shop broke the sabath several times. Quite a fine day for Easter Sunday I cooked 7 eggs all we had. Maud went to afternoon service. Preacher took up a collection for contingent fund. Voltie dont go back to night. I made him a pie and bread and cake and after all are abed I mended 4 pairs of stockings for Voltie on Sunday evening. Black cow has a new black calf �60 Monday 11 Oclock 30 March 1902 Arose a few minutes before 5 am. called Voltie out of bed. I hustle to get his breakfast that he can get on the road towards the foot. Voltie bustles around and helps Tom gets out this time befor Sr and we all ate breakfast together and away T & V goes driving ol Jess. Grandpa mad because Tom didn’t tie old Jess tail up. Call him inkinbark, behind his back though mind you, not to his face. After breakfast I wash the dishes Maud washes the kitchen ceiling with hot water. I sew an old apron folded several times on the brush of the old broom (sewed it with twine & sale needle) and Maud mound on a chair with this weapon and a pail of hot water ’cleans the ceiling all right for �61 white washing. I cook beans and bake molasses cookies and have dinner on the table at eleven: Gave tom soda & water & away he goes to the field to plow. By dinner time Maud has white washing nearly done in kitchen. Sr says Tom eats too much meat & too many biscuits. Sr went "over there" to chop wood. Found them eating breakfast. After dinner Tom helps white wash the kitchen the second time. I am sleepy. Mankind likes to see the home and every thing very clean, bright, tidy but our kitchen shelves and windows are a curriosity shop. In cleaning up, this is what is represented. First window. One plug of tobaco, 2 old pipes, and old heel plate, one file, a box of foot ease, a rasp 2 screws, 6 large nails, 8 shingle nails, a pair of spectacles and case, and an old harness buckle and piece of an old leather strap �62 The shelf back of the kitchen stove represents - two pairs of wool mittens, two pair of old buck skin mittens, three kinds of almands, the conservative platform speech of Mr JP Whiting K.C. M.P.P., more nails, straps, bolts, whet stones, knife sharpener, a box of matches, an old case for a morchaum pipe, the wood box has been spit in till it stinks worse than a skunk, and the old spittoon was turned out doors reeking with poisonous filth. Are men neat animals? How can they be when they are a set of smoking, tobacco, chewing, spitting, swearing, - Oh Lord is it sinful these filthy habits and stubs of burnt matches, tobacco ashes &c &c. I partly write to Muriel & mix up the spoons. �63 April 1st Tuesday 1902 March has marched out and April has steped in. Not a pleasant day either; cloudy chilly, a little snow a little rain and at intervals it neither rains or snows. Tom finished plowing towards the road and now after dinner is plowing behind the hogpen. I finished Muriels letter and send them all (Jens, Muriels, Mauds) to the post office by Maud. Sr gone "Over there" to chop wood. Sr says he knew it would rain this morning when last night he heard Tom sing and whistle so loud. Says Tom dont clean the horses legs clean enough, and dont clean their manes, and dont clean out the corners of the horse stable. Maud cleaned (finished) the kitchen looks fine. Friday eve mail Whig, Marine Record, Parks Floral guide, Womans home Monthly, Templin’s seed Book, 5 sample copies of Vickery’s Fireside Visitor and Templin’s pansy seed & Parks vegetable seeds, a letter from Grace a letter from "Hugh" �64 Wednesday 2nd April 1902 A wet chilly morning, Rained all night, tub running over and rains this morning with occasional flurries of snow. Maud washes clothes. I get the breakfast, take care of the milk, wash breakfast dishes, cook beans, look over the flower and vegetable seeds, and write in the diary. Wells Sr has a very bad cough, rotten auld cough: and he had better begin doctor for it now. He says tom is a fool - dont know as much as Charley Gloyd; throws the wood in the wood box end ways; Never had any bringing up &c. Tom has gone some where- Woodman’s I guess. Sr said tom could have found work enough if he �65 looked for it; hog pen to clean out and beans to thresh and clean up. Tom comes back from visiting the Woodmans just after dinner. Grandpa angry when he saw Tom coming. "Kenbarks, d-d fool shure to come back to his meals-if he had staid home we would have cleaned out the cellar". Sr fixing (or making) a grindstone frame this a.m. one he picked up out the mud & straw, "Over there" when he was banking the house last fall says if R knew it she’d raise H-l though he gave it to Will and all the hangings a long time ago. So much profanity is demoralizing to the bearers it sinks into the soul. They are now going to clean out the cellar and then throw coal ashes around the well. R in trouble again. This time it is poor Len Patterson. She came over yesterday saying she had turned �66 him out. He went there with Bob Reid. Len asked to buy honey & she wouldnt neither sell or give him a taste or smell of honey. She said he "got mad and talked very vulgar. She called very hard names said it was the old Patterson nigger that was in him & said Margy & Maud ought to feel very proud to have the honor of being driven to the party by a nigger coachman. R went over to Bob Reids barn and related her most eloquent speach [sic] which she had made over here against Len & Bob of course, in turn related it all to Leonardo yesterday in Samy’s barn in presence of Tom. The boys making game of her all the time te he and laughing. I dont feel very well & go to bed early. �67 Thursday 3rd of April 1902 No rain this morning. Wind North ground fozen. Tom plowing. Wells went "Over there" to chop wood. Found R mad; she received a letter from Jen. Last night or one of the children stating that Aunt "Mary Anne" is coming out there to stay an indefinite period of time, which Rachel says is all a sham a fraud, so they have an excuse for not coming for Grandmother and R says she has taken care of her just as long as she is going to and furthermore says she is going to write them the nastiest letter they ever got and Wells says I shall not keep her said he always cared for his own father and mother and thinks John & Will should do the same and I dont know what to do about it. She get nearly all their living carried from �68 nearly all their living carried from here now; flour, kerosine - well I’ll not begin to innumerate or specify each article the list is two long. We cook beans again. Maud irons the clothes. I sow flower seeds, Japanese Morning glories, Verbinas, astors, Pansys. R went to Samy’s for a bag of oats came from there, here. had an egg in her hand and two apples in her apron. The egg she had picked up in the barn yard but at first pretended she had brought it from home to buy a yeast cake with. The apples Aunt Ruth had sent to grandmother. She blowed around awhile about Jen & old Mary Anne said she had just mailed a letter to Will giving him to plainly understand she is not going to endure this thing any longer. I gave her beans, cake, �69 and yeast cake and flour. Evening Tom goes up to Sam’s and stays till bedtime. April 4th Friday 1902. Forgot to say Sr went Sams barn for the bag of oats and bagged them over on his back to Rachels. 4th warmer this morning. Wind south. Birds singing in the grove and orchard. Maud went to Samy’s to borrow envelopes. They had ony two which they want to use. I sent her to Rachel though surely could get them there for she writes to Wills folks all the time but she didn’t have one. I never could get any thing there. After Mauds gallop around the country for envelopes, I find 2 fine ones here at home and note paper. No place like home after all. Tom plowed this fore noon and then turned the old team into the stable and helped Sr dig post holes till dinner. �70 Friday 4 send to Park for Flower seeds. time which we had at 1/2 past 11 am. I ask Tom "what will I get for dinner and he replies "Any old thing will do for me this is Friday dont yer know!! I make a big pan full of nice biscuits and he filled his anatomy with them (and syrup) if any old thing would do. After dinner he dresses up and goes to Woodmans and rides up with the mail- going to the dance at the villiage dont yer know. In vain we look and watch for Voltie. Maud beginning to fear he may not come at all. I try to reasure her of the certainty of his coming. At last Sr goes out to the stable and hitches up old Bess ready to start for Voltie when behold �71 we saw him coming away down by Frank’s gate. I hurry around and get supper and after a lot of fixing and fussing they get started at last, driving old Nell hitched to the dog cart and so ends the day. Wells went for the mail Whig, a letter from Mr Watson to Maud & a lot of pictures he sent her - daubs, Herald, a letter from Grace and a lot of trash from Vickery’s Fire Side Visitor. �72 Saturday 5 April 1902 A hard working day for me. Didn’t mop floors, but am very tired when night comes. Tom came just as I had dishes washed ready to drop down into a chair a few minutes to rest my weary old self, but had to get an extra meal for him, but didnt feel like clearing away the dishes but Tom scrabbled them up some Wells waited up a long time for Voltie and Maud & at last went to bed. They came about 1/2 past nine having stoped at Charlies. Maud cold and tired. I started to carry the lantern to the barn for Voltie but met him coming for it, and after he came in, he & Maud had to eat and at last we get settled and come to roost. �73 Sunday 6 April 1902 We dont arise very early this morning and I dont feel much like work but weary and troubled with a kidney trouble pretty bad, but dont tell any one. but I work around all day. I am obliged too. I make pie and cake for Voltie and he has two loves [sic] of bread. V varnished his skiff and put her in the water going to row to Hickory to night. The weather looks like a bad storm dark clouds all around the horizon. V starts just at sunset & after we have had our supper Tom going with him to the river to help him put the skiff in the water. Len came down just stuck his head in and went too. Tom came dodging back for his coat and away he runs again to the river where Len is waiting for him and they go down to Reanons’ Geo and stay till 11 pm. Forgot to say Maud goes to church wears her new dress. �74 Monday 7 April 1902 This is monday but I dont feel much like washing but manage to help get the meals. I ought to wash the old overalls but dont. In the evening Shell and Inez are here then came Bob Reid and I was much surprized to see Voltie come in and Len P close behind him. Voltie brought two big pike and my new books (Greens history of England 4 volumes) and a new level and other things which he had sent to Sears & Roebuck for. he changed his every day wearing apparel and went into the parlor where Shell, Inez, Bob & Maud were, Len and Tom were in the kitchen. Tom soon went home. �75 Tuesday 8 April 1902 A terrible day and all last night it rained. Voltie went away early in the skiff went to Hickory. I arose 10 minutes to 5 am and got breakfast for all, and Voltie started away before the wind began to rise only he had a light head wind to row against till he reached his destination but before noon the wind increased to a gale from the North and howls all day; towards night the rain begins to fall and continues all night. Rachel here for Wells to make her fence - 20 rods were fence. I gave her things no matter what. Tom goes to post office brings the mail and then goes bacak and stays out in Samy’s barn till 10 pm. Mail Whig, Good Litterature, Park Magazine & lot of advertising trash. I send again to Park for more seeds which makes the third time this spring. I sent Maud to post letter. �76 Wednesday 9 April 1902 A terrible wind blowing from the North cold, chilly, cloudy and dreary. Wells and Tom clean out the cellar with water from the well this forenoon. I got dinner at 1/2 past 11 am. We churn for the first time with the dosher 1 PM. Wells goes "over there" to chop wood. Tom plowing in the field. Maud reading. I go fast asleep in chair by the stove. I made a cream drop cakes. Tom in evening reading last days of Pompei till after all are in bed. At last I hear him carefully going up stairs softly closing he chamber door after himself. �77 Thursday 10 April 1902 Arose at 1/2 past 4 and hustled around as if I was sent for. Sr is gone to Kingston went up on the boat. It is her first trip to this dock this Spring. I called Tom out & Maud. I send Grace’s Valise and a little piece of butter. I dont know how she will like it for it has not been worked over. Tom drove to the dock with Sr then came back milked the cows, fed the calves, brought two pails of water and is now plowing. Maud is taking up the dining room carpet after she went down and got some juniper for me. As I am writing this, R comes for tobaco and tells a great story of privation and want. Her cow not coming in, hens lays and egg a day, no bread, no flour, no meat, no butter, no "terbackle", no beans. She has got No ’pertaters’, no milk, no buttermilk �78 3 big cards of honey, some vinegar some horse radish. I gave her buttermilk, tobbaco, butter, 6 potatoes from our few, all the cold meat, and all the cold potatoes (a dish full) said she had a few turnips which she carried from here last Tuesday and Grandmother is crying because she had no tobaco and &c. I am going to send Maud over there with some flour this afternoon. says Wills folks dont write any more and she dont understand why. I think "the why" is on account of her impertinent letter she sent a week or more ago. Tom not doing much to day only loafing around- going to take an easy time now the �79 "bass" is gone. Along towards night he begins to hustle to get ready for the dock. It seems an interminable length of time before the come-pitch dark and I send Maud out with the lantern. Soon Sr comes hugging in a great box of groceries which he deposits on the table. Said he called at Rachels and left them a plug of tobaco 10 cts. I told him "they would want some thing more than terbacker to chow" He said he did not care a dam. Well I said ’Come along to your super’ so he and Tom ’sat’. He said Bob Reid and Dick Irvine are madboth of them, mad as the devil. I asked, What for? He �80 said because George Border had come from the west and brought a nose on his face bigger than either one of theirs. After supper he smokes and tells yarns. Maud & I wash dishes. Tom sits up reading till I drive him off to bed. Forgot to say Maud took up the dining room carpet and mopped the floors all through. �81 Friday 11 April 1902 A very fine day, warm, steam & vapor arising from the plowed ground. Sr says tom didn’t do two hours work yesterday and didnt tie up the surley cow’s calf last night and it sucked the cow dry. Wells & Tom are building fence up "forninst’ Uncle Sam’s. Mary Woodman has just gone past, drove down- I dont know whether to Rachels or Alvira’s. I sent a letter to Park, one to Wells Jr. Maud sent a letter to her father. Wells sent one to Pelo for irons of some kind which was sent down from Borbits and left in Kingston. Junior and Tom building wire fence. I made a bed and sowed lettuce set out geraniums & a rose bush & washed some cloths. �82 Thursday 2nd April 1902 ginger, mustard, 1 yeast cake, 6 bars comfort soap, 1 bottle vanilla, 1 cake chocolate, pens, needles, 2 darning needles, whiting, 1 gal floor paint, 6 lbs oat meal, 1 pt turpentine, 1 bottle sprain cure, Almonds, rivets, washers, whiffle tongues, tobaco, soda, grass seeds, clover seed, pea seed, beet seed, turnip seed, beans seed, three varieties horse shoeing, horse keeping, boat fare, paid a horse keeping debt 15 cts, 1 box note paper �83 Sunday 13th April 1902 Monday 14th April 1902 �84 Monday 14th April �85 Tuesday 15 April 1902 �86 Wednesday 16 April 1902 �87 Thursday 17th April 1902 This morning looked very much like rain and did rain a little. Arose at 4 Oclock, so sleepy could scarcely stand but had to to get them started on the road to Kingston. Clouds cleared away at 10 am. The sun shines clear all day. Dinner ready by eleven Oclock, call tom after dinner, put up a lunch for Grandmother who is "over there" all alone all day, and send it over by Tom, sent bread, butter, fried potatoes, chicken pot pie, with gravy, cake, crackers & cheese. Worked hard all pm and so tired can scarcely walk but skimmed milk, wash pans, boil potatoes, make custard & cake, set table and have every thing �88 on the table when they come bringing groceries, flower pot with geranium in bloom, varnish and wall paper, cloth, pocket purse & corsetts, ribbons, candy. Wells says he is going away 15 days- going with Captain Griffin on the Mom Eagle. �89 Friday 18 April 1902 Set a turkey to day or a hen on turkey eggs 10 eggs. �90 Saturday 19 April 1902 �91 Sunday 20 April 1902 Rained in morning but cleared up. Maud goes to church. The minister comes home with her to dinner. The Rev Mr Wheatley. We have a big roasted fish for dinner, a pike which Voltie had kept on ice for the occasion. So we called it the preachers fish. Voltie caught & brought it up from Hickory last Wednesday evening. After his Rev is gone I churn so Voltie can have butter for himself on Hickory. Tom went over the river in V’s skiff - went over to Quinn Beadles visiting. John Niles his hired man here in the eve. Maud went to Mr Niles and staid till 1/2 past 9 pm. V went after dinner to chop wood for R. Tom sits up till 10 pm writing to, I dont know. �92 Monday 21 April 1902 A cloudy, chilly morning sprinkles of rain on door stops and ground. Maud took up the small sitting room carpet and then began washing. I washed dishes and got dinner. Tom working in field. Wish the onion seed was sowed. hope I’ll get our flower seeds tomorrow evening. I wash all the under clothes and put Chatterton’s old black shirt to soak in a tub of water. Tom again sits up till after bed time to write a letter to Marjorie. cold and Windy all day rains quite hard towards eve. Tom set rain barrel �93 Tuesday 22 April 1902 A fine morning warmer Wind S. I write and send a letter to Kate Knapp. I dont send the letter Tom wrote to Marjorie. I am afraid to let Maud mail the letter for there is row enough going on now at Charlie’s over so insignificant a person, even as poor tom for Charlie is afraid tom is after his girls and if Charley should get the mail and the letter should fall into Charlie’s hands he never would rest contented till he knew the contents of the letter and who it was from and then there would be another row in the family for Charley is quite sure attention to his daughters is an injury and a damage to them therefore I have retained the letter. �94 till I see Bell when I will put in her hands. I ought to have written to Belle inclosing the letter to her and I will do so at once though I will not get an oppertunity of sending it till Friday. I finish washing - wash toms old shirt & socks, shirts for V, & Sr, a pair of pants for V. Maud after supper goes early to the post office. tom carries brush for the bed he sowed at noon. Tom sowed onion, radish, parsnip, beets seed an a space of ground about 8 feet long and two feet wide soed them nearly all in one hole. No seeds come from Park yet. We get the Whig & another bundle of old "Vickery Fire side Visitor" (the Fire side Visitor is most to frequent these days" & Wmans farm journal, Shell & Inez & Bob Reid here. �95 Len didnt come. Had to drive Tom off to bed again. sat up read read and then have to call him every morning. Tom and M dont very well agree. Maud met with a serious though laughable accident just after her return from the post office which is not tellable here. �96 Wednesday 23rd April 1902 Looks like a fine warm morning. Wind S. thought Id go over to Rachels but clouded up and began to rain so concluded to stay home it soon cleared up thought once more I’d go "over there" but while I am preparing to go the wind began to rise and continues to gather force till at last it is a howling gale of wind from the SW and cold as March and I stay home and work all day at your house work. Maud washed her blue skirt and three petticoats and done a big ironing and so the day passes on till evening. No visitors to night. Tommy �97 sits up reading till after we all go to bed. Thought I wouldnt drive him off this time. Soon after I go to bed I hear him tramping around in the pantry I suppose he is after canadian herb pills for he takes them on the sly every oppertunity. Sylvia and Sammy came for Charlies gobbler. Maud went to help them drive him home but he wont drive but started for Franks. �98 Thursday 24 April 1902 Some what milder than yesterday but cold yet. Wind SW. I made the discovery of tomasses night prowling. He snoops into the cupboard and ate all the pie & all the cheese and two big pieces of cake and then took pills as he has done several times before. He eats like a hog at table and then stuffs himself by stealth and he is very cold too. He wears wool under shirt and drawers heavy over shirt, a sweater, and �99 two overcoats and a pair of mittens while working in the field. all this time Rachel was here to day wants buttermilk, linnament, butter, and wants her fence fixed right off. Says Shell Niles is the silliest fool- dont know anything says Shell calls Old Mary Farr "Aunt Mary". Mr Niles, last Thursday gave Rachel a bag of potatoes took her to the dock and back home again. Went to Richardsons as security for her for seed oats and yet to R he is old John Niles and his family are fools. She says Shell is silly -dont know any thing says he calls old Mary Farr Aunt and �100 told her father, coming over on the waggon that she had churned that afternoon, though I cant see what there is silly or flat about churning or speaking about it. If it is I am silly and flat nearly every other day. Well tommy has left us because he couldnt cudgel the poor old mares all he wanted to. Sr heard the blows away down by the river, where he ws building fence, and came where tom was pulverizing and took the cudgels away from him, all broken and twisted and told tom to put the horses in the stable and go hoe strawberry vines but instead of doing so he came to the house and changed his apparel and has cleared out some where. I saw him go off up the road walking as fast as if he was kicked behind. Maud and I get supper, wash the dishes, do all the chores and go to bed. So good night. �101 Friday 25 April 1902 Arise at 6 am. No tom here to call out of bed this morning. Sr working in field all day with horses, cloudy & chilly in pm. I sow all the sweet pear and begin to get supper when Maud comes back from Mrs Niles where she has been to carry some popy seed and exchange gladiola bulbs. Mrs Niles sent me a bowl of sourkraut which Mrs Maloney had sent some over today to Mrs Niles and I cooked it for supper. Maud went for the mail. Whig, Herald, a package of flower seed from Park, and a whole floral out fit, a letter from Grace, and a letter from Mr Watson. Charlie said he gave the letter I sent Belle directly into her own hands which is well and very kind of Charley and a favor which I appreciate. �102 26 April Saturday 1902 Wind South not very cool but rained quite hard in the night. After breakfast I hoe a few strawberry plants wouldnt stay out to hoe any more for the ground is damp and I have on slippers. It soon begins to Thunder and rain begins to pour at intervals, the wind rising to a gale shifting to the west and growing colder. Whew how the wind howls. Poor Bob and George & Wallace. I hope they are safe in harbor to day. Tis a terrible to be a sailor and Sr is going away next 8 day of May. I made cake and currant pie for Voltie but he will not come home to night. I heard tom is at Morgans �103 We set a turkey yesterday on 15 eggs and this pm Sr said the turkey is off her nest. Sunday 27 April 1902 Voltie came home at 10 am popped in unexpectedly; he walked up from foot having left his boat in Will Gillespies boat house. T Chot came in with V. Grandpa just came in from "Over there" where he has been as usual to chop wood. He and Tommy dont speak. I dont feel very well. I go to sleep while writing and make long black marks on the page. Maud went up to help Shell sweep the Church before service and after dinner, and the dishes are washed, goes to church. Tom after shaving and fixing himself up very fine, plastering his hair down to make it lay smooth and twisting and turning around to see how he looks behind, goes to church to get a ride up with Mr Wheatley our preacher. �104 Voltie made himself a carpenter apron (having worn out the old one). Bob Reid here all evening. I go to bed and leave them all sitting there laughing & te he ing at last I tell Maud to pare the potatoes and go to bed which she does and soon all is quiet and I sleep till morning. Monday morning 27th April 1902 When I got up 1/2 past 4 & get breakfast and make cakes for V. & pack in his valise with two loaves of bread, pie, butter, cakes, potatoes, &c and he starts out with the valise swung over his back on an axe handle that Sr had made for Bill McFaden intending to walk to the foot; but his father heads him off out near the barn and tells him to mount into the dog cart and he will drive him to the foot. Sr had been out to the stable and hitched up on the sly. �105 Well Maud is in a terrible way about starting off for subseribord [sic] for Parks Magazine, flower and vegetable seeds. I begin to think Maud was born for canvassing buisness [sic] for she has a gift or tendancy that way, always wants to get out on the road with books or newspapers or something and now it is flower seeds. I said go right along. The day is fine, do as well as you possibly can but dont let the sun go down on you before you return, and away she has gone down the island. Sr is plowing here by the house, plowing & swearing, I know he kept from swearing as long as he could, but old Jess mare dont want to plow. Maud helped churn before she started out on her mission, swept, made beds and helped wash dishes. While I was washing the churn I glanced out the window and �106 saw a tall black object coming up the road which proved to be Rachel bringing a pail and some newspapers she had borrowed & a currant bush. She wanted butter, buttermilk, kerosine and any thing else she could get. Poor old Rachel she looks like the but end of hard times and she appears to be just what she is hard up and broken down, not a decent shoe to her foot or a decent garment of any kind to wear, only one old cow that is going to come in some time she chasses and runs after ducks but I think she is happy why not I wish she had all the fire wood she needs �107 27 May Tuesday 1902 Just one month ago this day since I last wrote in this book called diary and we are, thanks to God all well. Grace came home the first of May bringing Reginald, and went home again the 22nd of May. Johny came to see us the 18th of May stayed only a few hours and then went back down to Geo Gillespies to cross the river with Ed Bates. John came across with Ed and Dora in the morning. We only had 16 Plymouth rock eggs to give him. Will and Charley came over 11th May on a very fine day they could stay only a few hours. Bell & Beatrice were here the same day for a few hours and Rachel came over too. We bought a milk and cream seperator the 9 of May Listes and Spoor brought and set it up the evening of the ninth. Voltie �108 came home the same evening for which I was very glad. I gave them their supper. It was a very cold day and evening. May has been a very cold month with few exceptional day. I know we arose the next morning, the 10 of May to find everything froze up hard all vegetation as stiff as an iron bar, ice an inch & half thick on tubs and barrels froze all along the shore. The 25 & 26th of May were beautiful days, warm and sunny. The fruit trees trees are all in bloom now but the weather has changed again and it is colder, dark wind clouds from the S.W. Sr has this month built a chicken coop we have 9 small turkeys and more hatching. We are milking 4 cows. Bob Reid �109 worked for Voltie and V paid Bob a dollar and ,50 cts for strawing the potato ground and Sr has to dig down among the straw to find a hole to drop a hill for potatoes. I am trying to see how much butter I can make each week by this seperator. Evening mail brought us Whig, Marine Record, a letter from Belle, a letter from Johny, and a letter from Mauds Aunt Amanda. It is raining at night fall evening. I read a story to Maud and Wells from Barce’s monthly. Wells seperated the milk this morning and evening �110 Wednesday 28th May 1902 Maud slept with me last night. It was too cold and chilly to go up stairs. The day is cold, almost enough to snow and drizling rain all day. Wells Sr after doing the chores, plants potatoes all day in the straw. He says Voltie ought to hire one more d-d fool and then quit hiring for that would be three times and out. I churn, bake bread, cook beans, drop cakes & johny cake, sow Parks star flower seed. The cat had knocked off the box of sowed ornamental pepper seed. We gathered it up and found only two sprouted. I planted them over and sowed more seed and transplanted a few more plants. Evening read to Sr & Maud �111 Not copied yet 1901- 15 page Sept 1901 - 3-4 pgs in to 1902 1901 - between Fri 8th 1902 & Sun 9th Mar 1902 �112 This is start with Sat 9th Dates are confused but write exactly as is �113 Thursday 29th May 1902 A day of wind from S.W. Whew! how it blows. Sr planting. I get breakfast and wash all the breakfast dishes and Seperator complete, made a pie for dinner and washed a few things, ie V’s underclothing, 2 dresses for me and an apron for. I planted one big hill of Japanese Navy sent to Sears and Roebuck for a sample book of wall paper last Friday 23rd of May 1902. Suppose I have got to churn Spose I have to write to John. Sr planting all day. Potatoes, corn and "pumpkin" seed. Maud ironing churned all right. Evening read in Winner to Maud and Sr �114 Friday 30th May 1902 The weather fine again. Sun warm and bightly shining. Wind hushed and gone to sleep. Got a terrible pain in my back but have got to work all the same doctored it with R.R.R. and Van Horns linament bathed in hot water and finaly tied a big long wool stocking around my back and went to work. I wrote 4 letters this morning. Johny, Belle, Dr ConnellDentist, and Charley Woodman requesting him to take the Universal self instructor to Belle allright I made a corn meal baked pud for dinner. �115 26 June Thursday 1902 It began raining last night at 6 pm and rained all night. barrel and can full of water this morning. Got Maud out early to go to market. Wells said he would only put the bovines in the barn and milk when he returned from the dock! instead! he carried the pails to the stable, milked all the cows, seperated the milk, ate breakfast, caught the horse and I a hustling around all the time to get them started at last! they get under way only to get as far as the hill. When behold the boat was just starting out front the dock and so Sr turned about and sent Maud with the butter all the way to Marysville to go to Kingston. And Oh such a day! Wind! Ye howling huricanes and gales! blowing all day with a clear sky after 8 am �116 this has been a terrible month for wind and rain if we get one day of quiet summer like old fastioned [sic] peacefulness and bright warm sunlight, we think it a great treat but the meadows and pastures are abundant and luxurious and potatoes and most everything gives great promise of a bountiful harvest. Dear Maud I wonder how will she get over to the city and back again to day, she had 28 lbs of butter yesterday. There was a picknic on Henrys Hallidays point. Maud went with the old mare and buggy taking Ethel & Lottie Dixon with her and did not return till 9 pm evening while Rachel came over wanting for �117 them to return. The wind blew all day yesterday but not nearly so hard as to day. yesterday pm I rolled the churn out on the veranda and churned there. Maud has returned; went and came by way of Hallidays. I have not written in this diary in a long time. This is the 16th day of Aug 1902 and the last written was June 26th, 1902. Many an event has transpired since that time. I invited Watson to stay away and not make his annual visit for which he launched out into a terrible rage frenzied with anger. MaudsAunt Maude has made us a two weeks visit & gone back again to Shannonville. Little Dick Patterson was drowned. Pete Patterson came up and �118 carried Nellie home with him to Vermont. Dick was drowned the 7 of Aug 1902 through Frank Woodmans carelessness. Aug 14th Maud and Amanda went to Kingston this morning. Maud going to Market with 28 lbs butter and Amanda going home. I am expecting Mrs Brooks by this evening’s boat and we have made great preparations to receive her. Grace stays another week to help me entertain her But she didn’t come and I sincerely hope she never will. Voltie is binding oats & Sr is setting up bundles nearly all day. I churn out on veranda �119 Friday 15th 1902 A day of peaceful blessedness; no visitors. To keep breakfast hot for, while they snooze in bed till 8 pm. V binding oats, Sr setting up bundles. I churn in cellar. Evening mail Whig, Herald and a letter from Mrs Brooks excusing herself for not coming Thursday evening. Wants to come in Sept and bring Brooks, a gun & fishing tackle. What a happy event that woud be - for them. but I object as I am under no obligation to her, or Brooks, who I have never seen. I shall inform Mrs Brooks that we dont receive any more company this summer or autumn and then she will be angry like Watson. �120 Saturday 16 Aug 1902 A very good day but cool. I churned in cellar butter cool and could be made in a roll all right. Voltie finished binding and V & Sr set up all the oats in pm. In am they finished drawing the wheat and stacked it behind the barn. A shower but not long. Maud cleaned all the floor. Grace saved for Maud and helped get the meals. After seperating milk & supper Voltie drove over to Spaffords for the old black pig - returned at 9 pm. I’m so sleepy and go to bed early. Reginald helped me dig potatoes for dinner. �121 1902 Done 1906 Remains �122 Sunday 17th of Aug 1902 A cool cloudy morning. Voltie, after breakfast and seperating, gathered in the fish net in the pm a lot of dead fish and one cat fish which he threw away, together with all the dead ones. Voltie goes in buggy to Belles accompanied by Maud and carrying them a sample of his apples and potatoes. Sr brought in one cucumber from our vines this morning. There has been no rain to amount to any thing since two weeks ago this day (Sunday). 4 years later to 1906 ↓ �123 Tuesday 23rd of January 1906 This morning very warm, no snow not a flake to be seen any where, no ice in the river, wind blowing half gale from South. gulls flying in from the lake. V helped get breakfast and after breakfast went over to Daily’s to chop and saw wood. Kent coming across from his place to help V. Maud washed some things. I made or prepared mince meat. Maud and I churned. I dont think we will churn again till the cows come in or separate any more milk. Raining hard. V came home through the rain clothes wet. V went for the mail gone longer under the circumstances that I should think he would. Dignams want to buy Spaff place but Spaff wife want sign off �124 The reason V didnt return earlier the mail had not arrived. Not much mail these days. Dispatch Agneautist, Letter for Maud from Rena James and a postal from New Thought. Maud and I sent 4 letters this morning; one to Nellie Brooks, one to Comfort soap, one Maud sent for a ring and one for a pin neither one of them good for any thing. Sr plowed to day only 3 eggs to day. Wednesday 24 of January 1906 Colder this morning but very quiet, sun bright and clear, no snow nor ice yet. V after breakfast took his axe and dinner basket and away he goes over to Dailys to chop & saw wood two miles he has to walk. Kent helps him �125 while Maud & I were washing the breakfast dishes, Arthur and Marjorie came. Old Green Farr brought them across and Art gave him $2,50 on demand; after dinner Sr let Art have the bay and milk wagon to drive up to Charlies. V came home after dinner while Kent went up to Phinkess’s Mrs Niles came down and brought her Knit quilt to show me. Well I have done very little work this day but visit. We thought we heard the whistle of the ferry boat at our dock. Voltie goes over to investigate and finds the boat at the dock, a fine star lit night. Thursday 25 of January froze a little last night but the sun shining warm and clear Voltie gone up on the steam boat �126 To Kingston with a grist of hog feed. The sky is so clear there is not a cloud to be seen; not any churning to do, no separator to wash. Our new teacher going to leave; to lonesome away off down here; she is an old maid and has the "rheumatism". She thought (if she staid) here she would board at Barry’s but when she went to see about boarding there, but after seeing Mrs Berry and looking her over, she concluded she didn’t like the looks of her, and was more anxious than ever to get away. V said Mrs Barry resembles the cartoon of an old Jew woman, Sr said she looks like a Poleax. It has been a long time since I have seen her. She was not remarkably hansome then beside they watered their milk and �127 and skinned it and had to pay 70 dollars for doing so and taking them and their wrong doings alltogether, they are not very popular. Friday 26 January 1906 A beautiful day sunlight clear froze a little; a white frost ground all bare, river all open, no ice only a thin scale along the shore. Voltie gone over to Dailys to chop wood. Kent helping. I’m troubled this morning with cold feet and rheumatism and drowsiness. We are to have a new teacher a Mr. Whitmarsh from the villiage. Evening mail Herald, a book from Comfort, a letter from Grace. Look on third page �128 The powerful solvent properties of distilled water are well known. Hence to sum up:- the most rational modes of keeping physical decay or deterioration at bay and thus retarding thus retarding [sic] the approach of old age are avoiding all foods risk rid in the Earth salts using much fruit especially juicy rum cooked apples and by taking daily two or three tumblers of distilled water. Nothing causes old age and wrinkles so rapidly as lack of exercise properly balanced: that is the strain on one set of muscles being relieved by the use of others to balance. This causes exhaustion and the tired condition that follows to keep the bones full of rich fluid and healthy, must exercise daily. �129 March 4th 1902 Posted 3 letters 6 cts from our dock to Kingston with a grist of hog feed. Ruth Wolcott here for bee smoker. I patch V’s pants and cut quilt blocks for Maud Saturday 27 A beautiful day warm sun shining cleary. Wind South. but light. Margaret and Arthur came accompanied by Irene and CharlesSr, Charley goes to Niles for their boat and putting up sail they all embark for the other shore landing at Sand Bay. Charley goes up to call on Uncle Jim Gloyd and �130 found the poor old man walking or hobbling around on two crutches for support. he wants R to come over and keep home for him. Charley came back and ate dinner with us. Voltie and Kent chopping wood in Daily’s woods. Kent here to supper & carried home on his back a peck of beans. I made molasses cookies, two mince pies, baked beans and boiled a piece of beef. Irene went home with Margaret. Sunday 28 January 1906 A warm still day cloudy and looks like rain. Quarterly meeting a great turnout. Rev Cornell assisting Rev Moore House. Maud gone to church. We expected the new teacher Mr Whitmarsh but he didn’t come. Inez came down for a little visit growing a little colder. �131 Monday 29 January 1906 Froze last night quite hard, heavy frost on the windows. Thermometer down to zero. Sun clear and bright no snow, river steaming a little. Maud made doughnuts and baked beans. River lightly skinned across with thin ice. V & Sr draw a load of wood from Daily’s and then draw, after dinner, hay from stack to put in the barn. Maud baked apples. I piece on quilt and write letters. Evening passes pleasant by reading &c. The wind blowing fierceley from South. �132 Tuesday 30 January 1906 Wind blowing a gale all night from South, the water roaring and dashing on shore. morning cloudy & looks like a storm. Wind South. Dont storm but a dreary dismal day. Voltie went to Dailys woods to split wood. Sr carried for me three letters to post one for Grace, one Gladys, one Parkleys & Dingman and from the post office went over to Daily’s Woods and cut a load of wood. No snow, no rain, no ice but dreary, cloudy and dismal. Voltie came late. Said Whitmarsh came down with Kent. Dispatch, Kingston News, 3 Park’s floral magazines, New thought, a letter from W.F. Watson. Maud received a letter from Huffman �133 Wednesday 31 January 1906 Awoke this morning to find it raining a nasty day wind south. V gone to Woodmans to help them butcher, came home to dinner and after dinner chopped the heads off 16 fat chickens which we scalded and picked for market, then I put up the eggs, wrote out the order for groceries. Mr Whitmarsh our new school teacher came to board an unofensive looking young man, wearing a fur lined coat and a broken nose; his name is Fred, he appears to be quite intelligent &c. After supper Voltie drove to dock with grist came back and ate supper �134 then he and Maud prepared themselves for OBriens dance which they attended, walking there accompanied by Whitmarsh. Sr goes to bed and I proceed to sit up as long as I have a mind to which is nearly 10 pm and had and was just going to get into bed when V came back with McDonell & Kelly for cider. the trio going into cellar, drinking to their souls content and carrying away a gallon to refresh themselves at the dance. Next morning another couple came for more cider & V sold them a dollars worth. They returned from the dance at 10 minutes to 3 Oclock am. They, V, W & Maud lay down for 1 hour then we all arose and prepared every thing for market chickens, eggs &c Sr and V drove �135 to the dock expecting to find the offenders there but after waiting in barn for the appearance of the boat every neighbour returned to their home. Voltie taking his poultry in Chad Woodmans wagon with Chad’s hogs and drove to the village and from there went aboard the boat to Kingston, stay in town one hour, come home at 7 p.m. brought pickled olives and peanuts, sugar, soap, sundries. Evening practice writing by the trio spencerian method Friday 2nd Feb 1906 16 deg bellow zero this morning which is a sudden change from warm to cold; river streaming like a cauldron; if the bear sees his shadow to day twill be on bare ground. The sun shining clear. V walked axe in hand to �136 Daly’s wood to split wood. We cook beans, bake apples, make drop cakes &c Voltie came home in time for supper but was tired and didnt go for the mail. February 3rd Saturday 1906 After breakfast Voltie goes for the mail. A letter from Muriel & Herald & North Western Agriculturist. Then after doing a few chores takes his dinner basket and axe and walks over to Daily wood to split and cord stove wood; working all alone, wind blowing and begins to storm snow, river frozen clear across. Maud cleans floors, made pies (apple), polished the kitchen stove. Sr chores around. Whitmarsh reads & whistles. Nearly 4 pm I wish V would come home at last he comes, tired after splitting �137 he comes, tired after splitting rock elm all day. Sunday 4 Feb 1906 Dont get up quite so early this morning. Weather colder a miserable dreary day. Wind blowing a gale from the South East all day, cloudy. We all read most of the time, growing colder towards night and so passes the day. Only four out to church to day, no preacher, river frozen over. Monday 5th Feb 1906 Colder this morning 16 deg below zero but clear. Our men drove to Dailys for a load of wood sled length. I picked over a peck of beans. Evening V and �138 Whitmarsh goes to Obriens conclude the school business in regard to hiring the Teacher. The teacher brings home a catalog of the school library which proves to be only childrens story books including a few of Coopers & Dickens &c Tuesday 6 February 1906 A clear cold morning 18 below zero. They think the ice is good for a man to walk across to the U.S.A. At 1/2 past 10 am Voltie walked across to Quinn’s drawing the kerosine can on hand sled, returned at half past 4 pm with kerosine, oil, a coat for Sr, tobaco, a pair of shirts for himself and a lb of coffee. The teacher brought us a book from the library "The last of the Mocachins by Cooper. V ate dinner with Horace Dodge �139 Wednesday 7 February 1906 A clear cold day. Voltie & Sr hitched up after V ate a lunch and drove over to R’s intending to drive back on her place for a load for R, but instead Sr choped up some old fallen apple tree limbs enough to last a day or more, and Voltie walked over to Daily’s woods where he remained all day splitting and cording wood. he returned at night fall tired and hungry. Evening time after tea Maud & Whitmarsh go to call on neighbor Niles family but finding the door locked and no one at home, they soon return and Voltie helps me wash dishes & we read, pare potatoes for breakfast [illegible] for bread. �140 Thursday 8th February 1906 Not quite so cold this morning and though the sun is shining the atmosphere is misty. V took his dinner and axe again this morning and gone away to Daily’s woods. Maud is washing and I, club in hand am trying to get dinner and make a batch of cookies but is terrible hard work my left hip and leg is very painful every step I walk and I’m afraid I’ll never be any better of it. Whitmarsh has gone to his school. I suppose he met with a great disapointment last night when he looked in the commode and couldn’t find his "pot". I wonder if he thinks we are going to empty thundermugs after him? when he hired his board here that was not included in the bargain. continued on 4th page from this one. �141 Tuesday 25 Feb 1902 Voltie went to City brought home 5 lbs sugar 1 qt whiskey, poor stuff 1 pk onions beautiful red 1 box of note paper 1 doz fish - herring 11 lbs fat pork and gave me three for shortning 2 cans of syrup, gave me one 1 lb soda & 5 lbs rolled oats 6 bars of comfort soap 1 Bottle of black ink Voltie bought none paper and envelops 4 volumes Greens History of England �142 Friday 27 of Feb 1902 Wells went to Kingston & bought cheese & a load of lumber 2 lbs figs Irene 6 lemons Irene 5 lbs rice 1 pins Irene Radway’s R.R. a peck of beans a coal shaker 10 cts with 10 comfort trade marks Tuesday 4th March - 6 gallons Kerosine Wednesday 5th - 2 gallons of syrup 6 towels 6 lbs currants 1 box sodas 1/2 bush beans 1 broom 30 cts 6 March Thursday another cady of tea 29 lbs from George H Darling, Landsdowne March 9th 2 bags of potatoes fromJ Niles. �143 March 29th Wells Sr bought 18 1/2 lbs pork - Irene paid for half 10 sugar 1 lb ginger 1 lb soda 1 box yeast cakes 1 yd of elastic 1/2 bush beans - V paid for half 3 lb whiting 5 lb rolled oats 1 box soda biscuits 2 lb cheese April 9th 2 bags of potatoes from Niles April 10th 12 lbs rolled oats 20 lbs sugar �144 Thursday 17 April 1902 pork $1,00 2 lbs cheese 5 lbs currants 3 lbs lard 47 cts 5 rolls wall paper & 12 yd bordering 1 box Iron tonic pills 25 1 pair corsetts 50 1 yd black ribon 12 candy 10 Flower geranium 20 Purse 20 Puff comb 15 2 1/4 yds muslin .30 1 letter .02 �145 continued 8 Feb 1906 2 jew beddlars [sic] and Louis Larrish and Jerry Hunt came wanting to stay all night but dont keep any such gentleman, two great louts Hunt & Larish been to Cape Vincent to a ball on an ice boat, got left here by a lull in wind. They carried a load of strong drink aboard their anatomy which spoke for itself Friday 9th February 1906 14 above zero this morning. cloudy looks like storm of some kind. sent Nelly a post card. Grace a letter. Maud sent to comfort for a ring. I sent Wells Jr two papers "Agriculturist & �146 the jews staid to Sam’s. Wells sold them old iron which came to $1,15, he gave the money to me. Dont know where Hunt & Larrish went & dont care. Voltie gone again this morning for chop, split and cord. Sr drawing wood sled length. Voltie came a little earlier than usual. Geo Rattray & his father & Kent went over river drawing our sled. Kent & Geo gone for oil. Mail a letter from Grace, one from Gladys, Herald, a magazine called Madam. I sent Grace a letter. Maud sent one to Rena James and Toronto for a ring. Saturday 10 February 1906 Arose early that Whitmarsh can go up with Jack Niles. He goes. We bake and cook all forenoon. A very good pleasant day �147 towards night Bob came down with Jack Niles. We sat up late, visited and read. Sunday 11th February 1906 A pleasant day. Mr Rattray called here on his way from over the river; he been to Rob Percy’s visiting. He staid till church time. The preacher here to dinner the Rev Moorehouse a fine man. Whitmarsh returned. Frank Woodman came too. Voltie engaged a passage for Rachel across the river with Frank. Frank drove across from the U.S.A. in buggy and drove back in buggy. R met Frank down by Frank’s old place and went across with him in buggy. Voltie down on ice watching �148 then while they go over the ice is cracked badly. Well I’m glad R is safely over the river. She has not been here in over a month. She went home one evening after she had come over to stay all night pretending she was mad at Maud when Maud had not given her any cause for the smallest offense no not any cause whatever. Well I dont care! She is only punishing herself. Monday 12 February 1906 A fine day. Voltie & Bob walks over the ice to Gloyds to pay Rachel for her old candy cupboard, that she has sold the school section for a school library and "also to pay the tax on Lindys for land & school tax. They return in time for dinner. Whitmarsh does not make a start for school very early he had better be careful. �149 or OBrien and Barry will be watching. After dinner Voltie and I dress 17 chickens for market. Robert weighs each one as soon as it is picked. Evening V, R, & Whitmarsh go to OBriens to play cards & have an evening visit. They return at 10 pm and go immediately to bed. Maud mixed the bread before retiring. Maud slept with me. Tuesdday 18 February 1906 The most beautiful day of all the winter, like a spring day in April. We arise early and tie the chickens necks and get everything ready for market. I send 8 1/2 doz eggs which V sold for 20cts per doz at Hendersons �150 Robert goes home too. I am sorry to see him go. Robert is a good boy. Wells Sr hitches up and drives over for Rachels canned tomatoes and puts them in our cellar to keep them from freezing 9 or less. V comes home quite early, ate dinner with Bob & Grace. V went for the mail but not much, two little books from soap factory and Dispatch etc Wednesday February 14 1906 The weather this morning is changed from Spring to February winter snowing and blowing. Whitmarsh buttoned close his fur lined coat and turned up the collar and away to the school house he went. V at home tinkering in the shop all day. Sr sitting by the stove nearly all reading Dispatch and now they are out milking and doing the chores and the storm is �151 raging and blowing heavy from the North. Thursday 15 Feb 1906 A light snow on ground this morning; a clear day. Voltie at home tinkering in shop and pm partly shoveled the saw dust out of ice house. Wells Sr again complained of shortness of breath. Irene fixes Sr coat sleeves and pieces on quilt & makes too punkin pies, washes dishes etc. Maud works around the house makes beds & sweeps. Samy & Ruth here for Voltie to help bush out a road across the ice. Voltie helped the Woodmans over, but bushed no road. Jack Niles here in pm wanting V to go to Geo Niles to play. V wouldnt go but staid home and read the [?] in Shelly. �152 Friday 16 February 1906 A beautiful day. 8 deg above zero in early morning. Whitmarsh in kitchen whistling something I dont know what it is. There is no time to it only a noise; He is an incessant whistler. I wish he would stop his noise for that blow mouth of his is anoying. V cleaned ice am and pm cut 30 cakes of ice finished reading the Cenci in Shelly. Grandad sat around the stove most of the time jawing and reading the almanac. He dont like Whitmarsh’s bugle call. I sort beans and wash dishes &c. Frank H drove over again on wheels; he going to fiddle for the dance at St Lawrence to night Chad Woodman going to the dance sent a letter to Muriel. Evening mail, Herald, a letter for Maud from Irene and a ring �153 Saturday 17 February 1906 A warm cloudy morning 20 deg above zero, Wind South & looks like rain. Whitmarsh up dressed and whistling. Grandad up dressed in the kitchen swearing very low about that "d-d whistling fool" Whitmarsh puts himself inside his fur lined over coat and goes down on the ice where V & Jack Niles are getting out to fill the ice house and awaits his oppertunity to catch a ride with some one enroute for the villiage and soon hops on Will Gillespie’s conveyance and goes off up to the villiage. Jack N here to dinner. Maud makes doughnuts and I fry. They got the ice all in before dinner. 30 big cake �154 We read till bed time. Voltie reading Shelley. A beautiful star lit night. Alice Rooseveldt married to Tony Easter Sunday 18 day of Feb 1906 A warm cloudy morning looks A like snow or rain. Sr drives over to see Dordane. Quinn Beadles hired man comes over visiting; big burley Milton Woodard here to dinner and brags about himself. He has now gone to church he went before Maud did. Sr has just returned and says Dordane will not live long and that Horace has had another shock. Snows some I write a long letter to Grace. Monday 19 February 1906 A cloudy warm morning snowed some in the night. Wells goes across the ice comes home at 5 pm says Dordane died at 2 this pm. Eddy Bates here and drank cider in the cellar. V �155 gave him 2 bottles of catchup tomatoes. Evening Inez came there The Dignums, Mary, Tom, Lance D & Sadie Murray they stay till midnight. Warm and thawing Voltie shod the brown horse. Tuesday 20 February 1906 A warm cloudy morning, we arose early. Sr gone to Kingston. I send a letter to Grace. Maud sends one to Irene. Voltie helping Niles fill ice house. Teacher gone to school. Maud & I alone. Maud cleans floors. Voltie came home at noon to do the chores. Two men drove in here to inquire the way across the ice to U.S.A. Maud dont feel very well. I cook beans and pare potatoes. Sr came early couldnt get a dentist to fix his teeth. Belle & Charley went to town, drove ahead of Sr, saw Bob and gave him the letter. �156 Wednesday 21st February 1906 Awoke this morning to find the rain falling, ground bare. V and his father started to walk across to Dordane’s funeral. Sr with creepers on. V had to turn back and get his skates for he couldn’t stand up so much sand and water. Maud & I here alone piecing quilts. Maud gets us a lunch a good cup of coffee etc. V came in time for his dinner. Sr came later and had had his dinner at Vans. The weather clears up a little after dinner. Thursday 22nd Feb 1906 A beautiful day; sun brilliantly warm 30 deg above zero, ground bare of snow. It froze a little last night. Voltie takes hand sled and skates across to River view for Kerosine 6 gallons after dinner. Maud goes �157 skating Eddy Bates comes across on skates and Dora too. Eddie here drinking cider evening time. VoltieMaud & Whitmarsh walk over to Dignams for an evening visit came home at 2 pm ice roaring and cracking all night. Friday 23 February 1906 froze again last night, a white frost. day clear and frosty. We pick the last of our chickens to day 10.30 am the chicks are picked ready for market. Mrs & Mr Daily have been here. Daily gave Voltie money to pay in the bank at Kingston and left a barrel for V to fix. They going to make maple sugar. Voltie gave her a drink of cider. Sr thinks the rats will not trouble or destroy. �158 Dec 4th 1902 Voltie 6 lbs up to date while Whitmarsh is here for he is more noisy than a gobbler or a guinea fowl. George Obrien gone to River View on skates this morn. Volta goes to OBriens to inquire if he is going to drive the North shore tomorrow; if he is Voltie wants to accompany him for our side (South) has proved unsound for driving on ice, and out there is strength in numbers they, with Geo Rattray will try the expedition together. The verdict is, if there is hard freezing, they will drive up on ice if not they take the road on wheels. Old man in a pucker about Whitmarsh; noise & wants to know if F.W. is going to send up for new records. I’m quite sure Sr’s old records will never be worn out while he lives Ie for fault finding. Oh I wish he would go visiting for week somewhere. �159 Saturday Feb 24th 1906 Arose at 5 am. Maud & Voltie got breakfast. I tied the chickens necks poor things, running around yesterday small and plump with. all their feathers on, and now bare and in the market basket with their yellow legs sticking up, well tis the last Voltie has going, drove away up the Island on wheels. Barometer 60 deg above zero in the shade, sun pouring down its fiery brilliancy on the ice, ground bare, crows holding council meeting in the cedars. Whitmarsh exchanged a cap for a hat and accompanied by the dog and two cats has leisurely sauntered off down the shore & grandad Sr has gone to roost sunning himself on the �160 [Various additions and entries mostly illegible] �161 �162 �This document would not be possible without the editorial contributions of the following people: Ann Hopkinson, Ella Deering, Jonathan Panuelos, Eric Irvine, MaryV, and Queen’s University Archives � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Subject The topic of the resource 19th and 20th Century Rural Ontario Diaries Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1887-1922 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Table Of Contents A list of subunits of the resource. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1887 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1888-1889 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1889-1897 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1890 March - June Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1893-1895 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1895-1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1896 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1897-1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899-1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902, 1906 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902-1909 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1904-1905 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1907 & 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1908-1919 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1911 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913-1914 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1915-1916 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1916-1917 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1917-1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1921-1922 Language A language of the resource English Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902, 1906 parts of Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1902, 1906 parts of Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 20th Century, Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Date Created Date of creation of the resource. February 24th, 1902 Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Typed Transcription UG Transcription Progress Scripto transcription progress Done transcribed https://ruraldiaries.lib.uoguelph.ca/transcribe/files/original/efaf25da14325e4fe7d0c9f5f1064fba.pdf 7f4b3055f300b9b419d4cd77261a08be PDF Text Text Irene Dixon Bamford 1900 March to May, Diary Transcription 5034_4-1-12 �Metadata FromThePage export of 5034_4-1-12 from Irene Dixon Bamford made on 2026-02-11 15:39:52 UTC. Title: 5034_4-1-12 Created On: 2024-01-11 17:16:18 UTC In Scope: true Uploaded Filename: 5034_4-1-12 �1 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary March - April - May 1900 1900 Queen’s University Archives Locator 5034.4 Box 1 File 12 �2 [on the side] Bess read [/on the side] March . April . May 1900 �3 �4 Hurrah For Old New England Date 1900 R 900 This is our own, our native home though poor & rough the be The home of of many a noble soul The birthplace of the free We’ll love her rocks and rivers Till death our quick blood chills. Hurrah For old new England And her cloud cappt granite hills Cho Hurrah for old new England and her cloud cappt granite hills, Hurrah for old New England and her cloud cappt granite hills Shall not the land Th’o poor she be That gave a Webster birth With pride step forth and take her place With the mightiest of the Earth Then for his sake whose lofty fame our fartherest boundaries fills We’ll shout for old New England and her cloud cappet grante hills Chorus They Fell us of our freezing chine our hard and rugged soft which hardly half repay us for Our spring time care and toil yet [strikethrough] merry [/strikethrough] gaily sings the merry boy. As his homestead farm the tills Hurrah for old New England and her cloud cappt granite hills. Chorus Over �5 Others may seek the western chime They say tis passing fair. That suny are its laughing skies and soft its balmy air We’ll linger round our child hoods home Till age our warm blood chills Till we die in old New England and sleep beneath her hills Chorus Hurrah for old new England and her cloud cappet granite hills, Hurrah for Old New England and her cloud capped granite hills. . shoes running shoes fixing, 50 25 V sent 5 dollars Arthurs coat 1,25 shirt 50 40 stockings 25 cap Elastic, 10 braces 10 ————– $2,60 Paint 3 qrt cans at, 85 cts $ 0,95 5 Wall paper ,25 2 curtains. 70 24 yds bordering 48 calsomine 20 ——$5,18 ,50 Fare for Maud & Grace �6 Come Over The moonlit Sea Oh come o’er the moonlit sea The waves are brightly glowing The winds have sunk to rest And the tide is gently flowing My bark is on the bay and it only waits for me Its silken sails will throw Their shadows over the sea All is still save The echoing song or the distant boatman rowing Though bright may beam the moon Moonlit waves are more en-dearmy [sic] (second time) tide is gently flwoing. My bark is on the Bay And it only waits for me Its silken sails will thro their shadows oer the sea �7 We sold 4 doz eggs to Keys before V went sailing? Thursday 26 April 1900 8 lbs butter at ,16 cents per pound $1,28 2 1/2 doz eggs 2 98 _ ,28 Thursday 3nd May 6 lbs butter -16 ,96 3 dozen eggs 11 ,33 Thursday 10 May 8 lbs butter at 18 cts per lb $1,44 Thursday 17 May 7 lbs butter 18 cts $1,26 Thursday 31st May ,, 18 lbs at 18 cts #3,24 Thursday 14th Junes 21 lbs at 19 cts 3,99 cheese money 15 June $2,40 " " 30th June $4,48 " " 15th July $4,16 " " 31st " $4,23 " " 13 Aug $3,00 [crossed-out] butt [/crossed-out] ,, [crossed-out] 20 [/crossed-out] cheese money $2,00 butter money 12 lbs at 25 per lb $3,00 �8 Thursday 26 April -00 5 sugar 20 8 1 soda cow brand 5 2 sunlight Soap 10 Whiting 5 pepper 5 Black thread 5 paid freight an bags 52 & boat fare 25 7 for lunch 5 for car fare 1,28 pens 3 c. butter. 1.28 96 1,44 pootaqe 2 c eggs 28 ——— 1.56 1,26 carter 5c = total $1.49 3,24 7. balance 3 99 —– $12,17 butter Thursday 2nd May 00 $11 04 onions —— 23,21 25 lbs Flour �9 [sideways] 3 [music notes] [music notes] [music notes] 8 [music notes] [music notes] [music notes] 7 �10 May 2nd 00 25 lbs Flour 50 " " Onion setts 20 Paid 11 cts for Grace lost letter at the Soo May 10 5 sugar .25 yest ,5 Oatmeal ,10 currant ,25 two pairs stocking ’25 Elastic 1,0 Note paper 10 Soap 1.0 bananas 1.5 Candies 10 ——six cents to Arthur $1,45 6 —$1,51 Sold old iron to the amount of 6,00 dollars half of which wellie took for his share Grace brought home to me $1,15 cts and I have a two dollar order and V sent $5.00 order �11 Half lb tea 13 5 brown sugar 20 5 rice 25 2 lbs granulated sug 10 2 bars soap 10 [crossed-out] 10 [/crossed-out] 6 lemons 10 bottle extract 10 5 pak garden seeds 25 —12 3 5 letter 10 — $1,33 Thursday 31st May 00 25 lbs Flour ,50 brown sugar 20 granulated 25 Sodas biscuits 25 oranges 6 lemons 6 23 soap 10 summer savory seed ,05 1/4 lb ved 13 baking soda 05 —1,76 28 May paid Niles 60 cts for potatoes " " Mrs Niles 20 " " butter —,80 paid �12 [music notes] seethee sun how we love to see thee when the day is done 1 How we love to golden evening 2 be it ours thus brightly virtue’s course to run ours to sleep oo sweetly all our labor done 3 Thus we wish in childhood. While we gaze or theo, wish our heavenly pathway like thine own may bee [music notes] crochet hook and cotton .13 Arthur shirt cloth .15 Overall cloth ,23 Note paper 05 for me Slippers me an old things cant wear them ,50 2 spools Thread 10 street car fare and bananas 08 postage on letter 02 potatoe, from Niles 30 paid Arthur 03 —– 1,49 1 76 —3,25 �13 24 May two boat fares ,50 Grand stand ,10 tee cream ,30 —,90 brought home $1,08 — $1,98 Thursday 14th June flour ,50 5 sugar ,25 yeast cakes ,05 note paper .10 oat meal .10 soap .10 coffee 20 tea 13 paid Jen: ,10 matches 13 —1,66 by Will Dixon from the Cape box sodas .20 " " " cakes ,12 Thursday 21st June cheese ,25 baking powder ,15 5 sugar granulated 30 sent to Park for flower seed ,25 �14 Thursday 25 June -00 Sent to Kingston by Grace my $10 dollar order for things for we Could’nt get the chees check that day wash Tub & board ,95 10 lbs granulated sugar ,50 1/2 tea ,15 25 lbs flour 50 nutmegs ,03 ginger 05 soap 10 corn meal ,15 potatoes ,25 twine 05 —freight on potatoes 5 cts 2,73 05 — 2,78 �15 for maud 6 yds dress cloth at 14 ... ,84 5 yds cotton at 8 cts... ,40 corsets ... ,50 1 1/2 ribbon ... ,18 buckle ... ,25 paper pins ... 03 spool white thread ... 06 boat fare ... 25 — for dress yoke ... 07 —[crossed-out] 2 45 [/crossed-out] fixing Arthurs shoe ... 25 —2,83 for groceries ... 2,78 paying for order ... 03 express Order for Loranto ... 2,75 postage ... 04 — $8,43 18 July borrowed $2,00 of Voltie for sugar and fruit cans 10,00 8 43 — 1,57 �16 Bought with cheese money Thursday July 5 1900 sugar granulated white. $1 one dollar oat meal. ,10 cts Brown sugar 25 mailing two latters ,04 Boat far ,25 one Straw hat ,15 Potatoes 25 — 2,04 $1,63 Thursday 12 July 1900 cakes and a loaf of bread 10 25 lbs Flour ,55 Starch ,04 soap ,10 yeast cakes ,05 oat meal ,10 note paper ,10 Boat fare 25 mailing 2 letter ,04 3 lbs [crossed-out] lakon [/crossed-out] bacon ,30 — [crossed-out] 1,53 [/crossed out] [written sideways] ,13 cents due Voltie [/written sideways] �17 Bought butter of Mrs Niles Volties Two lbs at 25 cts per lb ,50 money another lb butter Volties ,25 Thursday July 19th 1900 paid thompson ,90 25 lbs Flour ,50 1/2 cloth lemons ,13 sugar 1,50 soda biscuits ,16 2 lbs cheese 25 3 " bacon 30 2 lard 20 toilet soap 10 1 lamp chimny 08 rolled oats 10 table cloth 88 towels 15 fruit cans 80 Boat fare 25 — stocking 6,30 13 stockings — mail one letter 6,43 2 letter — one bar soap 6,45 5 soap — tea 15 6,50 15 tea — �18 6,65 4 15 3 29 — ,87 Thursday 2nd August 1900 Syrup ,15 Flour ,55 Soda ,05 4 1/2 porpk at 10 per lb ,45 1/2 tea ,15 2 lard .20 rolled oats ,10 2 bunches onions ,10 Soda biscuits 16 lemons 13 soap 10 white thread ,05 arthur 1,50 envelopes ,05 ,16 —- pens ,05 0 ink 05 1,66 Mauds purse 10 Maud cash 25 1/2 doz pans ,60 — 3,29 �19 Aug 9th 3 bars soap 15 1 box yeast 5 1 lb tea 30 5 brown sug 25 box cornstarch ,10 1/2 doz lemons 13 bough 25 lb flour & lost it, grocer covered half 28 1 lb cheese. 13 Volties money for groceries —$1,39 28th Aug 25 lbs flour ,55 __ 3 lbs lard ,30 5 brown sug ,25 " granulated ,30 4 heads cabbage ,10 baking powder ,10 corn beef ,50 onions ,10 tea ,15 letter paper ,05 market basket ,15 soap ,15 — $2,70 balan on picture ,32 cents — $3,02 $1,39 303 — $5,41 ,4 mail 2 letters going to V on groceries $5,00 [on the left side] 10 10 50 30 5 15 — 1,20 [/on the left side] ��20 [on the top left] 4 55 4 23 — 32 16 35 —5c [/on the top left] [on the top right] 150 120 — 2,70 ,16 cts [/on the top right] [main part] V’s money bought 2 lbs muton— 1 bottle Fowlers Extract wild strawbey ,35 Lent Wellie $3,00 dollars which was afterwards turned on threshing for Voltie excepting ,50 Paid Dr Buchanan $3,50 Volties money paid for John’s pitchers 4,55 Thirty two cents of this money belongs to Volty Mauds glasses V’s money $2,50 Thursday 20th Sept -1900 mustard seed ,05 teakettle cover ,10 chillies ,05 cauliflower ,05 onions ,08 corks ,08 tumeric ,05 skirt pattern ,05 4 gallon crock ,55 — my cheese money $2 dollars $1,08 mailing two letters ,04 — $1,12 �[sideways] 5 soap ,10 10 sugar ,60 baking soda 05 fruit cans 47 Allspice 05 — mustard 1,32 — $1,72 owing Thompson $1,42 M Roches tonic $1,00 [/sideways] �21 Voltie ssent $5.00 lost found " " " $13,50 cts [strikethrough] lost [/strikethrough] found " " $12.00 " " 15.75 9 " " $16,00 " " $21,84 " " $21,50 5.59 $7,00 $23.00 $10.00 $17 00 $14 00 $10 00 — 18 6,09 186.59 �22 Paid out Volties money sent home 39 35 23 39 10 35 25 17 25 — — — —4 14 40 35 paid Wells Jr $5 dollars. Two of this was cow money for Arthur 3,50 $14 00 milk can 1,40 2 50 Mauds glasses — 11,50 balance Phillips for bells and hoes 2,57 Mrs Jimy for Turkeys 1,50 [indecipherable] just marked out the mistake June 00 Thursday 28 Paid Geo Seas[sic] on acct $15 dollars. cow money " " Vincent Ockley & sous [sic] on acct $5 dollars cow money Thursday July 5th Paid to McCrossie $15,75 on note July 12 finished paying McRossie, & took note Aug 2nd Arthurs boots $1,50 shirt cloth ,16 Aug 50 dollars to Kirk Patrick & Rog Rashbun company $1,64 For threshing $2,50 cider barrel $1,50 paid Rube $5,25 paid Mills $10,00 [written sideways] 101,01 105,59 101,01 —4,58 3 00 — $ 1,58 I cant account for [/written sidways] [written sideways] 3 3 50 1,40 3,00 1,40 2,57 — �6,97 3,50 — 10,47 1 50 — 11,07 3 — 12.00 3 Wells 3,.50 arthur 1.40 milk can 2,57 Phillips 1,50 Turkeys 15,75 McRossie 1,66 Arthur 52,84 at home 13,50 lost 1,69 Galloher 1 50 McRae 2 10 boller to Mcrossie [/sideways] �23 Wednesday Monday 28th February 1900 The weather looks very favorable for a storm Wells Sr drives To Kingston in cutter accompanied by Dordane who goes as far as Bells To visit for The day. Wells Jr drives To Kingston with sleigh- gone To mill. Voltie with axe in hand walks away across The ice to Dodges woods to chop wood carrying his dinner. The snow begins falling about Ten O’clock and continues Thicker and faster ’Till The we cannot see The other shore Will Charley and George Piller runs acrosss with the ice boat for Voltie and come home just before dark. Wells & Dane arrive in a little while after Saying "Wells has gone home long before them and also bring The news That Robert and grace are at Henry Halliday’s Wells Sr brings sugar cheese soda biscuits buckwheat flour &e The night sets in stormy and dark �24 [on the side] [[Wells|Wells Sr]] says nothing like this storm since old Joy died 80 years ago Dont suppose Will has much wood. [/on the side] Thursday 1 March 1900 The stormiest day of all The winter Snowing and blowing from the N.E. Bob and Grace at Henry Halliday’s; been there. since Tuesday. Not much wood in wood box and Too story to stand out and saw wood to day. Maud is polishing lamp chimneys. Wells reading Whig, Voltie reading Thelma. Dordana rocking. Arthur twisting a string around The back of a chair. Whew! how the wind blows and snow flies- cant see the barn and scarcely see the l wood pile. P.M: storm increases To a gale — a blizzard snow in great pyramids and drifts every where Voltie has great difficulty in wading Through the drifted snow to the river for water. and has to work his way into the pasture and around by the back gate. Our west door snows up and East door froze up and piled with snow inside the Kitchen. �25 Friday 2nd March 1900 This morning the wind hushed and gone To rest but the snow still continues falling and snows at intervals nearby all day The great heaps and drifts of snow are tremendious. Last night Dordane doctored her eyes with potato poultice and they are not much better; her eyes are so red and sore They are just awful- am afraid she will soon be blind Irene washed a few Things Maud cleaned floors. Rene made four pies baked beans The men only done the chores. Voltie shoveled away the snow that the cattle and horses could go to the river to drink. Wells Sr nearly lost his temper over The coal scuttle because he has to fill it. Poor old man! Will Ges Pillar & Charley here This evening with the violin which Will plays accompanied by Voltie on The piano while the young fry play old maid with cards Arthur while playing cards whistles, sings drums with his fingers on the table, nods, shakes and tosses his head from side to side, grins and twists his face into all sorts of grimaces- showing off - I told him to stop but he would’nt I’d like to slap his face. �26 Saturday 3rd March 1900 A brilliant sun shining upon The dazzling whiteness of snow. Wind S. W. not cold Will and Geo Pillar walked to J Niles to get passage for George to Kingston carrying Geo’s luggage between Them and in a short time after came lugging it back again and both got stuck in snow and fell down. Several Teams out breaking roads, horses falling down and floundering in the snow. Wellie’s, Morgan’s, Joy’s, Rube’s Woodmans teams all out After going home. Will came back & walked across to River View on snow shoes for groceries Irene does more washing Maud cleaned floor’s Towards night Wellie drove up for his aunt Dane Cloudy in the West; two sun dogs I very tired. Maud & Arthur wash dishes. Valtie finishes Thelma. I eat a lunch, and retire to sleep the sleep of peace and conTenTment Good Night �27 Saturday 4 March 1900 Awoke this morning To find the sky over cast and snow falling thick and fast. Wind S.W. and not very cold Wind changed To North & then south Except Bob and Grace home to day if the roads are passable. Mr Spofford Joy and Geo Rattray drove across the river and while coming from the church to the river both horses fell down in the snow and Geo & Spaff shoveled them out. Voltie reading Oceans Storry No mail for any of this family not even a news paper- Whig or Herald. and W S has only the "horse doctor" book to read after dinner I slept and dazed in The rocking Chair Ought to write to Nelly more than Two weeks since received a letter from her. Began writing to Nelly. Don’t know when I’ll finish. No Visitors to day only our own solitary family �28 Monday 5th March 1900. A very good winter day. but cold on hands and feet Maude makes all beds sweeps and afternoon commences washing. I cook and wash dishes. when To the door drives Henry bringing Bob Grace Marjorie & Berry Gibson. Shell & Inez came earlier. After stopping awhile. Henry home again taking Bessio and Marjorie with him. Shell wouldnt wait and go up with Henry but preffered walking up with Inez a circle around The sun which indicates a storm I go to bed at nine Oclock and sleep the sleep of the just Voltie and Bob sit up later reading �29 Tuesday 6 cook until thick Best water [sic] while cooking �30 cucumber pickle eo c cc [strikethrough] Wednesday 7 [/strikethrough] slice 2 quart cucumber 2 " onions 2 " green tomatoes 1 large cauliflower put together in with Brien[sic] & stand over night cook up in Brien & drain in colander take 3 quart uinged cup flour 1/2 poud mustard too cups sugar 2 teaspoon turmic use a little v inegar to mix then stir together with real wincer[sic] �31 Sunday April 15 1900 A very fine day Voltie discovers the Niles driving home and goes up there and soon returns with his package of new blue clothes his watching uniform which upon opening the parcel he is disapointed to find no buttons and the button holes are set to far back and concludes to take them back to the taylor fix over Then V goes up to James O’brien to Team if he will pasture our young calves or 2 year olds- Could’nt- and goes from there to George Morgans and neither can he pasture our young cattle so V proceeds to George Morgan Senior’s where he partakes of an Easter Supper of ham & eggs and bottle ale cake ted & e & e I wait up for him [upside down at the bottom] Friday 9 [/upside down] �32 Saturday morning 14 April 1900 Awake this morning to find Wells Junior gone from home I am sorry but he had to go April 1900 Good Friday 13th Arose this morning before 4 am Got breakfast for Wells Voltie and Harry Card Wells and Voltie load in the trunk and they drove away through the misty morning around the churchcorner they go Well its is not like going to South Aftrica �33 [strikethrough] Saturday [/strikethrough] Monday 16 April 1900 Voltie plows the garden covers the well north plank & opens the cellar way works around all day till Towards night then bob Reid brings his mare here and they drive to the village with V’s buggy and harness V taking his navy blue suit back to Howland for the button holes are made in the wrong place V & R. R. going to the Easter Monday Ball at the village Wallace went and took Shell with him to the Ball Wellie plowed here to day �34 Tuesday 17 April 1900 Arthur built the fire. Wellie plowed with gang plow which does good work. No more sap trees stopped running. I finish writing to Johny and mail the letter Then write for Shelly Maud goes to Niles’ to exchange white thread for black Shella came down gave her the said letter, Maud and shell go to the post office only the Whig. beginning to rain paitiently looking and watching out the window for Voltie to come down with Rube and Mary a dark rainy evening. All the house hold retire but myself and I am thinking of going when in walks Voltie encumbered with a basket of groceries two hoes a roll of wall paper for Eveline and others sundries like two or three pair of shoes and &e Ten lb sugar and a pound of tea a paper to tomato & a paper of cabbage seed a letter for Maud 2 for Grace 1 for me Bob writes for V to come and immediately so he is going to start for Buffolo imosront[sic] �35 Wednesday 18 April 1900 A clear morning after the rain of last night. Voltie after picking up and packing his trunk has gone to Kingston to board the train for Buffalo tomorrow Wellie drove to the ferry with Voltie Wallace came down to see Voltie off. A long time Voltie will be gone if we all live. Arthur made a wheel barrow to wheel away the dirt from the cellar way done all the chores and put the colt in the barn. We dont expect Wellie home Till Tomorrow morning It rains thunders & lights and foggy No cold. Wind South grass starting green Arthur built the fire This morning Expect Spafford’s sugar party will be a failure though Spafford drove over for Shelly �36 Thursday 19 April 1900 Arthur built the fire this morning Wind South and chilly river full of ice floating down stream a steamer o some kind this morning working her way up through the ice Wellie came up this morning. Said he returned last night at 10 Oclock p.m. and that Voltie staid at the village last night They called at Belle’s a few minutes Maud Washed Grace finished Mauds "pints" and made Arthur a shirt and Maude a dress Irene sowed tomato seed three Kinds Lester drove in here again inviting to a sugar party & said not one but. Shell there last night. I go fast asleep while writing in my diary. Arthur works like a tow head. Grace sets a hen on 13 eggs a big steamer goes up this afternoon, black one from Ogdensburg Maude made a clothes pin bag all night rained a little this morning Junior building a fence Arthur went to Wellies for the garden rake to make a cabbage bed. we lett Arthur go to Joy’s sugar party and back at 20 before 2 a.m. over a hundred there. �37 Friday 20 April 1900 A fine day scarcly any wind Wellie plowing in the field Grace sewing Maude moped floors Will and Charlie running nets off the high rocks. George McDonel drove in here with a box of eggs for Cappt Rothwell Wants to get them "sat on." Wish he had kept them home The grass is growing green Received a letter from Notty from Kingston about Those eggs Whig and Herlad Grace goes to Evelines after dinner and stays till after dark & I go to Wills after tea A sugar party at Burnham Well goes ther to fiddle Saturday 21 April 00 Jen goes to J N to stay all night. Gomy[sic] to K tomorrow & so out home Ecpect the minister tomorrow to dinner we accordingly make a currant pie and a chocolate cake Grace mops the floor Maude sweeps and dusts all the rooms Looks like rain �38 Sunday 22nd April 00 A lowery morning rains some but and much Very warm Maud goes to church His Reverence and daughter came to dinner A quarrel on the church porch bettween R Reid and Wm Robinson and in afternoon a fight bettween the two villians down in Franks pasture The seconds were Charley Wooddman for Reid and Perley Burnham for Robinson. Result Reid got a black eye and Robinson a bloody nose Shell made us a call. A drowsy day. Monday 23nd Apr 00 A foggy morning warm but a fair day Mr & Mrs Spafford Joy had to dinner & stay nearly all p.m. they were very good to bring us a two quarts of maple syrup Spafford took homee a quantity of raspberry bushes (Marlborough) Shell made us an evening Call W took up the dining room carpet and Maud went to school Maud pulled the Tacks out the carpet in Graces rooms looks like rain again this evening 20 past nine pm going to bed �39 Tuesday 24 April 00 Wind North rather cool a fine growing time. I sent a letter to Voltie Grace sent one to Robert Wellie ate dinner with us and cultivated our garden this morning. Will here for rosin to make grafting wax Grace straightened out the three rooms over the parlor. I dont think we will get our house cleaning done before the last of May. A sugar party at Horns this evening Will & Charley going. Will going to fiddle Arthur learning to cultivate A letter from Voltie from Chicago one from Robert The Whig and free man Grace cleaned Three rooms up stairs her own room and two smaller rooms �40 Wednesday 25 April 00 A fine day Wind North Wellie and Arthur working in field all day Grace finished cleaning chamber Maud at school Will came over for apple sprouts to grafts. Irene churned and made 8 prints for market. and made soft soap for cleaning house rooms by boiling hard wood ashes on the store thereby extracting the lye from the ashes the soap is of an excelent quality Irene baked bread and prepared all the meals Mr Niles & Shell came down in the evening but Grace had gone to bed. Irene put up the butter after dark. �41 Thursday 26 April 00 A fine day Wind West and cool Arose this morning at half past 4. and made Grace a cup of tea and some toast Arthur goes with Grace to carry the butter Grace gets a ride from the corners with Mr Geo Gillespie. Eveline goes to Town to day I did not sleep any last night so took a nap to day Dear little Maud cleaned the floors I took a thorough bath. Grace walked all the way from the dock this evening Will here for more grafts Arthur droped potatoes for Wellie this a m and in p m. hitched Jess to the stonebod and drew two bags of potatoes from Mr Niles’ Grace saw Belle in town to day with butter one market Bell bought two flowers a coleus and hyderangia �42 Friday 27th April -00 Wind North cool W(?) like the warmth of the Kitchen range to day No open doors. Arthur cultivating by the church shed Wellie here preparing to sow grain Arose little after fire a m worked without ceasing. Slept well last night. Maude home from school to day I washed towels and white washed the ceiling in the Kitchen the Artist brought Gladys picture to day and I consider it a very fine work of art I took the frame that was on it at two dollars and I am now [strikethrough] owng [/strikethrough] oweing him $2,75 cts Arthur gone to Rattray’s for hog feed Maud gone for the mail and neither are back yet Arthur came with a bag of feed a night Maud came with mail a letter from Voltie one from his father and two advertising envelopes one for wire fence one for paints, Whig & Herald with notice that they sent the last paper this mail if subscription not renewed Arthur and G cut a bag of potatoes ready for planting �43 Saturday 28 April 00 A fine day. A warm rain would be very benificial Will gave me some fish Dear old Will good brother, Wellie working here to day Arthur helped Wellie in the field all a on After dinner and I had cleaned all the fish I and Arthur planted 12 long rows of potatoes Grace moped floors and Maud swept dusted and arranged all the rooms Arthur was afraid he would not get time to do the chores properly blustered around & said he didnt know which chore to first begin. and finished all chores before sundown and went wills for beeswax found Jen at home she came home with John Niles Sunday 29 April. A fine cool day we hustle around for we are expecting Eveline & the children pu for dinner but we watched in pain and I went to bed Grace and Maud get dinner and call me up: after dinner dishes washed I go back to bed and am sleeping soundly when grace agains me Saying Eveline is coming so up I got again [strikethrough] and [/strikethrough] am glad to see them and they stay to tea and we [strikethrough] hang a [/strikethrough] jolly visit only Welly Joos[sic] home and takes Hubert with them. Welly & Hubert come up again along the shore and after staying a while they all go home again, wacking down the shore �44 Monday 29th April 00 A clear day weather hazy; wind south I half sick but have to work all the same arise get breakfast skim milk wash pans and strain milk and set it away away as usual After breakfast I cover 4 long rows of potatoes Tired out so rest a while. hard work cleaning house this spring. George William came and visited a while about the South African war and Roman Catholicism and has now gone to J Niles’ Arthur works for Wellie cultivating Grace and Maud [strikethrough] white wash [/strikethrough] clean woodwork and paint kitchen Wind North and cool Wind West in pm and blowing a harricane Jen Woodmans clothes flapping in wind all afternoon �45 Tuesday 1st May 00 Cool morning no rain and a warm rain would be a grand thing for the Earth Though farmers are hoping the rain will stay away till after they get all their seed grain sowed, by the appearance of the weather at present they need not worry Just wrote to Voltie and his father Arthur cultivating for Wellie again to day Well we are taking things quite easy to day so far I know we ought to wash and do lots of other different Kinds of work but I cant understand why it is we have to be always hurrying and hustling through This life Never since I can [strikethrough] remend [/strikethrough] remember have I ever seen one day of entire freedom from worry and care of work If I sit down for a few minutes I am always thinking I ought to be doing something else cleaning cellar patching washing darning cleaning door yard hoeing in garden pulling weeds and every thing else perplexing and then in my mind I go traveling over to John’s thinking he is whaling away at work and Flora the same Then away I speed on fancys wings to Belles wondering what she Charley and the youngones may be doing but I know she takes life more quietly with a spice of humour mixed with it �46 be but I know she takes f life more quietly with a spice of humour mixed with it Wednesday 2nd May 00 This is 19 hundred and no year, so, the century begins next January. The day is warm close and hazy Grace and Maud wash dishes and do up the mornings work I rip up a lot of old garments for patches and carpet rags After dinner Maud and Muriel go for flowers in Gillespie’s woods. I churn and make 6 prints for market. Grace is going to Kingston Tomorrow to stay a week. Wellie, to day sold the old iron to Spaff for $6,00 six dollars and gave us three dollars Arthur gathered enough old rubber to come to 30 cts Arthur cultivating at Wellies I ripped up Graces dress skirt going to have it altered After supper Grace went to Evelines a little while and Maud and arthur went down to accompany her home. Wellie came after dark to clean seeds oats at the grainery. Will called after dark on his way home from Niles’ where he has been grafting and house painting Charley and Ethel came after dark for butter print Muriel came up to help Hubert carry the boiler home. Eveline going to wash �47 Thursday 3rd May 00 A dreary dismal day wind North and verey cool, cloudy. looks like rain. Strong wind Grace gone to Kingston this morning to stay a week with Mrs Gaskin. Eveline gone To Kingston this morning c selling calves at $5.00 per head Grace carried To market six lbs butter and Three dozen eggs. Arthur cultivating for Junior. Lots of work to be done. which shall I do first? A great washing To be done but to heavy work to bring water from the river. Dining room to be cleaned, and two bed rooms down stairs, parlor curtains to be washed, pantry to be cleaned, & cellar to be cleaned, Kitchen floor to be painted, & another coat of paint on Kitchen wall. all our garden to be made. whenever we get one piece of work done I will draw a line over the top of each I am glad Eveline can go to Kingston on the Boats It will benefit her health �48 Friday May 4th -00 A cold, raw, chilly day. with snow squalls. Every man which I have This day seen wears an overcoat buttoned close. Wellie sowing grain in feild wearing and overcoat I washed some things; towels, curtains, napkins, aprons and many other things besides. but have only began cant get water. Wellie came for oats: a man came to buy calves skin; we had none. Dick Spoor came To measure the well; going to bring a pump next Thursday. He said the ground in Kingston around Fort Henry was This morning white with snow I heard to day That uncle William Smith has passed over to the other Shore, He will meet all his brothers and sisters gone before him and his father and mother. Only my mother and aunt Hannah now left and note: (84 according to birthday of 1815 on their monument) mother eighty three years old the 18th of last December I heard to day that Mrs Alec Doctuer is not expected to live: had a stroke of appoplexy followed by a parilytic shock, yesterday, going up on the pierpont to Kingston. and is now in the Hotel Dieu. Arthur cultivating for Wellie [written sideways at the top] Will Dignams came very near running over Muriel and killing her only for Will [/written sideways] [at the top] Dixon he would have done so but Will snached her from [/at the top] [sideways right side] under his horses feet where she had stumbled and fallen [/sideways right side] [written sideways at the top] Alvira Burnham working all afternoon at Harolds grave —A postal for Grace addressed to Mrs Rev Gaskin saying there is a letter in that address �at Sault Ste Marie and if she will send a two cent stamp it will be forwarded to her I send a letter to Voltie [/sideways at the top] �49 Saturday 5th of May 00 A cold, windy, snow squaly day. Arthur cultivating for Wellie Maud hung the clothes on the line and brought them in as soon as they are dry. Terrible weather for May Sun shining clear in afternoon squalls working around the westward wind blwoing strong and steady This is the day old Jess jerked me off the back door step on to the stones hurl both my hands and brused. my knees and broke my spectacles but broke no bones. Coldest May day I ever saw and dry no rain Arthur comes home to suppper. We set a hen on 14 eggs alone all day Till evening Jen and Will & Charley came over dark �50 Sunday 6th May -00 Another cold dry day with high wind West. I sent a letter for Rev Mr Weeve to Sault Ste Marie Nich for Grace’s unstamped letter. Organized a Sabath School to day in our church Maud attended service. Annie Horn called here on her way to church for their towel which had been left in Grace’s market basket. �51 symptoms Monday 7 May 1900 - cold day cold enough to freeze I worked around all fore noon after dinner painted the second coat on the kitchen wall Wellie working in field getting ready to sow grain Tuesday 8 May 1900 A very fine warm day done washing Wellie putting in grain here all day. Two letters from our absent ones Wells Sr and Voltie. The clothes on the line look white and clean awake in the night to hear the North wind blowing a harricane and expect they will be all mud in the morning Mrs Niles and Shell and Inez here this evening a letter from Wells Sr and one From Voltie �52 Wednesday 9 May 00 Churned and made butter for market 8 lbs washed carpet rags and dried them on the bushes. very cold and windy had to bring in the clothes from the line and wash some of them over again for the wind had blown them down to the ground so washed and hung them all out again Thursday 10 May 00 Arose early this morning and sent Arthur to the deck with butter He drove Jess and the dog cart R went too going to cook for Whitneys Till after the 24 of May. Maud ironed and cleaned floors Muriel & Hubert called on their way home from school for the white wash brush Then Muriel came up again and brought me some milk pans 3 only all they could spare Grace came home to night from Kingston cold as the chickens Wind North �53 Friday 11 May 00 Weather somewhat warm wind South bright sunlight Wellie finished sowing grain here to day. furrowed out the potatoes land to plant Maude & Grace not very well Rotherwells chicks hatching wish Voltie never had allowed them to have been brought here. Arthur cutting potatoes in the house, makse so much noise I wish he would go out doors and stay there spilling the potatoes all over the [strikethrough] house [/strikethrough] floor Maud scrubbing herself taking a bath A letter from Voltie and one from John D.B. �54 Saturday 12 May -00 A very fine day Arthur picking up stones at Wellies working with teams I and Grace and Maud planted potatoes in field planted sweet corn in garden and a short ton of potatoes Flora Dixon came over and brought me sweet peas and I gave her flower seed Maud made flower bed under the window Grace cleaned pantry wood work and floor Maud moped Kitchen floor. After Arthur got his chores all done I let him go to Wills to play with Charley and he staid until 10 oclock pm �55 Sunday 13 May 00 A beautiful warm day Maud went to Sabath school and received and received her first paper I wrote a long letter to Johny and then. walk over to Wills to see mother and while there, up came a grand thunder and lightning storm it rained beautifully. Jen had fried fish fine cookies and cherry preserves and new bread for tea and I was very hungry and enjoyed my evening meal to hearts satisfaction Arthur came to see why I did not come home but the road is a running brooks mother Will and Jen and all the children urged me to stay all night but I would’nt so Arthur drove over for me with old Jess and while trying to get in the buggy by steping in to a chair the chair tipped over and I fell and raked the sKin off both my legs so went home bruised and angry. Grace done my shins up in salve and rags but both legs smart like fire a burn �56 Friday [strikethrough] 19 [/strikethrough] 18 May 00 a cool day I white wash over head and Grace paint Kitchen doors windows frames and wainscoating bombay red; a very dark color Maud goes to school Art work for Wellie No letters this mail for any of us Grace somewhat disapointed although she has received two letters from Bob this week but- her money order she did not get Saturday 19 a windy day but clear. Grace finishes painting the Kitchen. Maud shits up the Kitchen floor and Irene cavomme[sic] the ceiling and churns p m Maud goes with Shell to Miss Irvine’s for a music lesson Evening cold and chilly Arthur pulverizes the garden with rake and hoe and we sow sweet peas for flowers �57 Saturday 20 of May 00 A very fine morning sun light and warm a delightful sabots morn trees just bursting into leaf Maud goes to saboth school and church and [strikethrough] Mau [/strikethrough] Grace goes to church and Arthur and I get dinner Afternoon grows colder and the wind sweeps down from the North a cold backward spring Wellie came up a little while. And not see any of Wills family to day Monday 21st May -00 A cold day. Wind N.W. and rain squalls Maude goes to School. Grace paints Kitchen floor which tires her completely poor girlie. Arthur and I make garden and sow seeds with the little drill, beets, carrots, turnips sage Arthur transplants three roots of rhubarb and plants some pop corn. Tom Dignam drove in here for the little seed drill- said Wellie lent it to him, we have only had it home 24 hours for the first time in a year, but he got it He may as well take it as any other irishman Maud thumping away at music lesson �58 1900 May 30st The Last of the month except tomorrow Monday have not written in a week, but I we have finished painting Kitchen and papered dining room The whole family went to the 24 May and as the whole family consints of Grace Maud & Arthur and your humble servant The humble servant staid home Muriel came up and staid with me all day: Grace walked home from the dock and was sick all the rest of week Arthur got the pouts all week after going to Kingston So he goes to Wellies to cool off. I am tired of boys of his timber Grace made him a near pair of pants yesterday. Edith Dixon came up to see her grandmother. Wellie set the pump and now we have fine cold water Eveline came up Monday when Wellie set the pump, and staid all day. �59 Thursday 31st May 00 Alright warm day Light South wnid. Artemus drove to dock with Grace With Jess and dog cart came back and says Will Dixon wants him to help run fish nets at foot of Island So after breakfast he goes to help Will. Maud and I do house work, scrub the cellar, Maud mops Kitchen I hoe in garden. I send 18 lbs butter to market Maud & I pick 4 qrts of dandelion blossoms to make wine �60 Ethel Leeman Orphans home Union Street Kingston On Canada Emma Leeman St Lawence Po Wolfe Island Ont Canada Edith Leeman St Lawence Po Wolfe Island Ont Canada Ethel M Leeman St Lawence Po Wolfe Island Ont Canada �61 Prince Patrick of York. London April 5 It is that, by the desire of Queen Victoria. The son that was born to the Duke and Dutchess of York, Saturday, will be christened Patrick. O, Paddy, dear, and did you hear The news That’s going round? The shamrock blooms as ne’er before All o’er The Irish ground; The Queen has come to Dublin Town And right o’Top of ’that, She telegraphs the Duke of York I call the baby Pat! She might have given to the Duke The choice of several names: For instance, Mathew, Mark and Luke, And John and Joe and James; And Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, But no- instead of that, She telegraphs the Duke of York To call the baby Pat. �62 She might have wished the boy to bear Some Scotch or English name, Some chieftain of the mighty past That fills the trump of fame; But Scottish names she put aside, And English- Think o’ ThatAnd turning to the Emerald Isle, She said, "Let’s call him Pat"! O Paddy, dear, ’tis very clear The shamrock’s blooming right. So let’s be wearing of the green And dance a jig to night; The Queen has come to Dublin town And right o’ top of that, She telegraphs the Dublin of York, To call the baby Pat! -New York Mail & Express. and the Kingston News �63 Dandelion Wind One gallon of dandelion blossoms picked when the sun shines. Pour over them one gallon of boiling water. Let this stand in a cool place for three days, then put it into a pocelain lined Kettle or one of agate ware, and add the rinds of three oranges and one lemon cut fine. Boil the mixture fifteen minutes, then strain through a fannel bag, and add three lbs of sugar, and the pulp of the oranges and lemon. When luke warm add two table spoonfuls of yeast and allow the mixture to stand one week in a warm place then strain again, and let stand three weeks, when the wine will be ready for boiling. This combines the flavoring of the best wine with the well Known medicinal properties of the dandelion. �64 at Cape Will mailed for me 3 letters ,06 I am owing Will ,08 cents I am owing Voltie $2,37 mary marjorie Halliday marjorie Halli m Wolfe Island Wolfe Island �65 cast on 44 stitches and Knit across plain 1 ros st 1, kn 3 (over, sl1, n, bind one, over k 3) 5 times, 0 sl 1, n b 1, a, k1 2 p 2 tog, op 2 tog, op 2 tog. 2n row o 2 p 2 tog o p 2 tog o p 2 tog rest plain & alternate 3rd row sl 1, k 3, o, k1, (0, K1, on K1k n 5 times) ok 1 o k2 o2, p2 tog , op 2 tog op 2 tog. 5 row S 1, K1, n, (o, k5, o, sl 1, n, b1,) 5 times, o k 3, ok2 o 2 p 2 tog, o p 2 tog, o p 2 tog. 7 row sl 1, k 2, (o,n,k1,n,o, k1) 5 times, o or k1, n, o k2, o2, p2 tog, op2 tog, op2 tog, 9 row sl 1, k3 (o sl 1, n, b1, o, k3) 5 times, o sl 1, n, b 1, o k 3, o 2, p2 tog,o p 2 tog, o p 2 tog 11 row Sl 1, k2 n (o K1, o, n, K1, n,( 5 times o, sl 1, n, b1, o, K3, O2, p2 tog, o p 2 tog o p tog. 13 row Sl 1, K 1, n, (o K3, o, sl1, n, b1,) 5 times, o k 3, o, k4 62 p 2 tog o, p2 tog, o p 2 tog 15 row Sl 1, l2, (o, n, K1, n , o K1) 5 times, o K 5, draw over 4 k1 16 row all plain [sideways] 21 34 21 50 — 43, 34 41 00 — 2,34 1,66 000 ,68 Maud Watson St Lawrence P. O. ON [/sidways] �66 I. D. Bamford 1899 Lookout on str North Wind of the grate northen S.S Line �67 Grace D. Bamford. Grace D. Bamford. Grace R. Bamford Irene arthurs shoe 90 1,66 5 arthur 2.5 fare — 1 96 5 postage 000 2, 07 �68 PHOTOMOUNT PAMPHLET BINDER Manufactured by GAYLORD BROS. Inc. Syracus, N. Y. Stockton, Calif. �69 �This document would not be possible without the editorial contributions of the following people: Vivian Zhang and Queen’s University Archives � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Subject The topic of the resource 19th and 20th Century Rural Ontario Diaries Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1887-1922 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Table Of Contents A list of subunits of the resource. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1887 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1888-1889 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1889-1897 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1890 March - June Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1893-1895 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1895-1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1896 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1897-1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899-1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902, 1906 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902-1909 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1904-1905 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1907 & 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1908-1919 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1911 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913-1914 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1915-1916 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1916-1917 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1917-1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1921-1922 Language A language of the resource English Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1900 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1900 Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 20th Century, Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Date Created Date of creation of the resource. March 1st, 1900 (p. 24) Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Typed Transcription UG Transcription Progress Scripto transcription progress Done transcribed https://ruraldiaries.lib.uoguelph.ca/transcribe/files/original/15104d9578954590a3569e244dd3f4d7.pdf fd8a87fe5a1ddbd6360e896cca853b86 PDF Text Text Irene Dixon Bamford 1899 August to 1900 January, Diary Transcription 5034_4-1-11 �Metadata FromThePage export of 5034_4-1-11 from Irene Dixon Bamford made on 2026-02-11 14:35:12 UTC. itemTitle: August 30th 1899-January 18, 1900 date: 1899-1900 Title: 5034_4-1-11 Description: Item is a diary. Created On: 2024-01-11 17:30:14 UTC In Scope: true Uploaded Filename: 5034_4-1-11 �1 [File Folder] Irene Dixon Bamford Diary August 30th 1899-January 18, 1900 [Stamp] Queen’s University Archives Locator 50034.4 Box File �2 August 30th 1899 - January 18, 1900 �3 Re-read ’76 - ’84 �4 Wednesday Aug 30th 1899 A very hot day & dry smokey #3 [stamp: Date 1899 Sealed with Gulfwax] Interesting Thursday Aug 31st 1899 [left margin tape has covered writing down the entire page] A beautiful dry hot smokey day. Grace goes to Kingston 8lbs butter at 25¢ per pound. Hubert came up for me said his ma is sick and wants me so [?] hitches up Bess and away I go and find [her] in bed with pain in side and shoulder cant move. So I doctor her with burdock leaves & hops & vinegar & salt She gets better towards night and can [get] up and walk some but it would [not] mattter if she was going to die why [?] would have to suck and maul her around and [?] thin as a skeleton. I churned and [?] the butter [?] down cellar and set top the cellar steps and the cellar [?] �5 Re-read ’76-’84 Friday 1 September 1899 Stay with Eveline all day she is better but will persist in doing work but I keep her quiet as possible. A fine day. Willie working for Geo R. They are threshing for Niles. Saturday 2 Sept 1899. A fine day. Stay with Eveline all day and help her all I can. Eveline gets well to fast: her ambition greater than her strength poor dear girl. We fill a straw bed at the stack with new threshed oat straw and then Eveline & the children and I go to the garden to see the vegetables—cucumbers, tomatoes, melons, squashes, beans, corn, pumkins, cabbage carrots, potatos, Eveline leads Dan to [tape covering bottom of page, covering last lines of page] �6 Sunday 3 September 1899. 3 A fine day Arthur came for me last night with Bess and the buggy. Sorry to leave Eveline but always happy to come home. Monday 4 Sept 1899 A fine dry day. Wills children carrying all their water from the river and drove their cows to the concession to water. �7 Re-read ’76-’84 4 Tuesday 5 Sept 1899 A cool morning. Grace goes to Evelines to pick cucumbers found her sick in bed so staid [sic] and done the work and took care of her. Babcock picks the cucumbers. Frank Woodman threshing peas in field with their old horse power. Wednesday 6 Sept 1899 A fine day but cool. Grace went this morning to wash for Eveline gone till 2 o’clock pm. Came back bringing Evelines butter which I work out the brine and make 6 prints, and a piece which I send back for Arthur. Irene churns and make 8 lbs for ourselves. Grace just going to take a nap when behold! Jen & Mary Anne come over visiting and so we had to gossip and music and get extra tea. Mary Anne has a fearful bad cold in her head and a cough. Jen carries away her apron. �8 5 Thursday 7 Sept 1899 A very fine day. Arthur drives to the dock with Grace—8 lbs butter for us and 6 for Eveline. Willie sends Babcock to draw Volties grain to scow he works here all day and I get his dinner and tea. Arthur having a high time to day. I churn for supper and milk three cows. Maud goes canvasing for "Family Herald & Weekley Star" gets 4 subscribers. Arthur drives to dock at sundown. Grace comes home after dark bringing sugar, onions. John brings the grist for the boys and flour from the mill. Mary Anne Duggin goes home this morning. Jen goes to Kingston too and they all meet in kitchen of the Pierpont. R says she is sorry she ever said any thing about Bob said it was said in ignorance but the better way would have been to have said nothing for words once spoken can never be recalled, they are there for eternity, they may be forgiven but never forgoten [sic], speak well of every one or dont speak at all. �9 Friday 8 September 1899 A warm morning, clouds moving southward, cows all here lying on the point. Sun shining out through clouds. John Babcock assisted by Hubert and Arthur cleaning and drawing oats to the scow at dock. Dick Larush Passt. Maud at school didn’t want to go. Charley Dixon came over at noon stays and turns mill 2 hours. Arthur got a spell don’t like to work very prankish. Bob says keep him away from the grainery for he hinders work. Muriel came up bringing a basket of flower cans and getting subsribers for the "Ladies World". She has six subscribers already. Muriel says Ethel told her mamma (Eveline) that Grace pd. 30 cts for butter yesterday. Grace got 25 cents only. Grace sold E’s butter on market "Don’t cher know". Shell came down to practice her music on piano. Ethel & Lottie came over and brought the drippings that R. gave Grace yesterday on the boat. Asked Ethel about the price of butter said he told Eve so for Jen has said it was 30 cts in market. Work at grainery goes very slow pretty near 4pm and only 1 Load �10 Grace has to go to grainery to help clean grain. A warm quiet day. We make peach preserves. Grace sends Mrs G a postal about those cucumbers for mustard pickles. It looks like rain. Ethel said her grandmother is sick, they brought a basket for apples and piled it full. Babcock worked at clearing oats for Wellie & Voltie till after dark. Arthur & Hubert went with John B to the dock. Mail a letter from Voltie with order for $25 dollars, a letter from Rathbun Company, one from May Wormwith, Whig, Family Herrald, 2 papers from Dick Brown England. Saturday 9 September 1899 Wind North a cold morning. The first one out is myself with fire built and bread mixed. We have our breakfast, I wash dishes and clean pantry. Maud fixes the house rooms all up tidy and cleans floors. Grace & Arthur digs potatoes. We think & believe our potatoes have been dug by thieves afraid we will not have enough for Winter. I saw wood & get dinner. A beautiful day clear cool but dry �11 8 Sunday 10 September 1899 A fine day very warm and dry, arose at 6 A M. I employ most of the day writing letters. Write a long letter to Dick Jackson, London, England. Grace takes a long nap on the couch in parlor then gets dinner. After dinner I walk over to Wills to see Gran. Charley came out to meet me and when nearly there. Bernard Morgan & Flora McDonel passed us in Buggy and after saying how we do said they were going down the island for a drive and were coming to our house when returning homeward. Found Wills folks well and Jen baking the greatest lot of bread and buns. Flora & Bernard after a short drive came back and stoped at Wills and we all staid to tea. And Oh my what a spread! hot buns & butter, honey, plums, preserves, pumpkin pie, lemon pie, pickles & port, cream and sugar and a powerful cup of tea then Bernard, Charley & Will went & milked the cows & fixed the fence. And of course Maud came over as usual. Flora, Jen and I drive over here home in Bernards buggy leaving Will, Bernard and Charley to follow after with Maud & Flora in the rear. When we arrived at home we found Wellie & Eveline and their children here with Grace and Arthur and we had a very �12 social time till 11 pm. Eveline and Wellie and kids went home earlier got to bed about 12 midnight circle around sun Monday 11 September 1899 A cloudy morning sprinkled several times during the day. Arthur drew a barrel of water for Grace to wash, done great washing; all the lines full. Maud at school. Hurbert at school. Arthur draws a barrel of water for hogs and picks up apples. I milk 2 cows and Grace gets breakfast. Arthur and I clean cider mill and try to make cider but dont know how the mill works at all so leave it in disgust; afterwards put the plow in the machine shed, feed the hogs and come to the house again. Tuesday 12 �13 10 13 Wednesday Thursday 14 Sept 1899 Arose at 4 am. Another market day carrying butter for Eveline and ourselves and apples and nuts for young Gaskin Jack. �14 11 Friday 15 Sept 1899 Arose this morning with the consciousness of having to go to Kingston to the dentist. I dont like it but I’ll go if Dr Daily pulls my off. Lisa fine day wind south and breezy roads fine and hard as asphalt. At one pm Arthur drives to door with Bess and I mount in and away I go. Bess on trot pass to vehicles on the road, one Mr Dick Irvine. Examine all the orchards along the road. Apple crop poor, saw some men plowing in field a few turnips growing & tomatoes ripening. When in sight of Bells knew they had threshing machine going in full blast so horse did not go to Kingston tomorrow. Saturday 16 Bell arose early got breakfast for threshers, had hard work to get Mac McClaren up to breakfast. Threshers staid till after dinner, ate nearly all the big roast of beef. Isadore Simons went home mad, because some of the intelligent white irish called Isadore a "nigger"!! After dinner we employ the remander of the day washing dishes, cleaning up the rooms. Belle glad they are gone had them 4 days with boys 8 horse power and the homliest dirtiest lot of men I ever saw �15 12 Sunday 17 A pleasant day looks like rain after we get the breakfast work done and beds made. Charley goes over to brophys point for nuts. Joe said no one to get my bill he has a hundred qts. The girls and Charles junior went along & picked some from their one tree by their garden. I read most all day and time passes on. Monday 18 Sept 1899 The warmest september day I ever remember as hot as August and no wind. Charley threshing for Brown. Marjorie, Beatrice, Irene & Charles Jr at school. Belle done (and me too) lot of talking to day about several things. Belle makes her catsup (tomato) 30 bottles; fine gave me a bottle, and peppers. After school Bill goes away down towards the river where they have a garden and brings potatoes, great yellow cucumbers for sweet pickles and water melons. R going to [?] over her head expecting her intentions of picking all the nuts. [print faded - illegible] �16 13 Tuesday 19 Sept 1899 Awoke this morning to find the rain pouring but I’m going Cityward all same so after breakfast V and I start for the villiage driving Bess over the mudy roads and through the rain. Call at Griffins and order Bess shod forward drive to Costello’s and round to the back door as here we alright and proceed in doors and are very cordialy received by Mr and Mrs Costello. Mr C cares for the horse, and Mrs C invites us to a hot cup of coffee and a substantial lunch of toast, bread & butter, cake, grapes &c. Afterwards admiring the paneling of her rooms, the flowers, the antics of her kittens when the pierpont arrives at landing and we go on board through a wind and rain and after a few minutes proceed to the lower regions of the domicil of the cook where we are invited to another breakfast but decline with thanks, Arrive in Kingston and is [illegible] Proceed to the market for tomatoes, [illegible] 70 to 80 cts per bushel we dont buy. next go to [illegible] from there to Haines and Pocket where Bell buys a pair of rubbers and then to the bank where she gets [?] cashed for $25 dollars and then to [illegible] dentist where we wait two hours for customer [illegible] sit in dentist chair and bare all my teeth pulled out but one [illegible] �17 Wednesday 20 Sept 1897 Awoke this morning to find the rain tumblng down in great force: all the same I’m going home after breakfast. Charley hitches Bess before the buggy and Bell and I pack my articles onions, tomatoes & aggate [sic: agate] ware and other duds and I bid Bell & children good bye and drive out the big gate. Bess very ambitious when she found she was headed for home but stoped her trot before reaching the school house and walked every step of way home like going through porridge, roads all water and mud. Passed several milk wagons on the road and children going to school. Wind North and chilly. I arrive home at 1/2 past 11 am. Waited at the gate till Maud ran up to open gate to let Bess through: found Grace washing and found that I had left all my summer savoy and peppers at Bells but I am so glad to get home. Willie away up the Island threshing for darkie Wells. Charley Halliday gone to the city to day. Afternoon I wash dishes and cook tomatoes for catsup and Jen and Wall Niles came and Grace gone to Evelines to see about the pickles and Hubert & Maud came bringing Eveline back. �18 15 Thursday 21 Sept 1897 The same old thing get out at four am. Arthur catches tons and Grace loads in more baskets than usual. A basket of butter for us and one for Eveline, a basket of crab apples for Mabel G, a basket of apples for Nellie Grey and Arthur going home to visit for the day carying [sic] a small basket of apples and nuts to his little sister Florrie. Maud drives them to the dock. Afterward Maud and I milk cows in stable. I scratch around and get a little wood to start fire when Will and Charlie come over & Will chops wood enough to last all day. Maud feeds hogs and I send Maud to Jen’s for fruit strainer and to Aunt Ruths for vinegar and make 10 bottle of tomato catsup. Maud milked all the cows at evening. Will came over and fixed the strap to harness and drove to dock for Grace and her things. Grace today paid in office Kirk and Rod $106 dollars $7,40 cts to Rathbun Co 10 to McDowel. sold the butter 11 pounds on Market, bought all her own groceries & other things sold Eveline butter and bought more groceries and things. bought all Jens. Hubert called on Nellie went up to G’s ate her and super on the Pierpont. Shell & Jen then went up to day. Shell says she (Shell) is very proud Oh my �19 16 Friday 22 Sept 1894 A very fine day. Grace goes to Evelines to make mustard pickles carrying all kinds of spices, onions and vinegar. Hubert & Muriel came up for their groceries, sugar, tea & spices. After a while Muriel came back for Maud to go with her to Sam’s for vinegar but they had none for her and were sorry for Aunt Ruth had let me have all they had to spare so I sent them up to Mrs Niles but she has none. A very good outlook three great orchards Niles, Bamfords and Woodmans, and barrels of cider made from the three orchards every fall and not vinegar enough among the trio to make pickles. I suppose the barrels leaked at the tap. Oh well cider is more proffitable [sic: profitable] than vinegar, cant drink vinegar very well and cider slips down very easily. Well I told Muriel if they could not get any from Rube, Grace and Eveline may have the vinegar I am keeping for cucumber catchup. Arthur brings in 6 eggs which makes over 10 dozen laid down for winter. I make pumkin pies and use two eggs for pies. I wrote a letter to V and one to Sr. Evening mail Whig, Family Herrald, two from England, News of the World and comic, a letter from Voltie, one from Bob, postal from �20 17 [Page has faded making many words illegible, these will be indicated with a #] Saturday 23 Wind north and cool but a very pleasant day. After breakfast Arthur hitches up Bess and Grace drives to Rubes for vinegar and then to Evelines to finish making mustard pickles. I send Maud and Arthur for hickory nuts and grapes, down by the cedars and I do up the dishes, # milk, churning &c. I look out the kitchen window—and a cow in here making straight for the orchard. I drive her out, dog gone after nuts too soon take another peep out; cows all in the road, and then go on Niles’ meadows. I cant go for them. When Willie came back from driving grain to dock, stops and drives them off their meadow then up the road they go; some one dogs them back to the # then Samy dogs chase them down the road then I go for Arthur and Arthur and Prince dog them home again and I continue down to the nut trees. A fine harvest of nuts if only gathered. Arthur comes home to feed all the hogs, but couldnt Maud gets dinner. M make a discovery, that Grace in our abscence [sic: absence] has been home and carried off our three 1 gallon crocks. Arthur and Maud were still # had been here till they furthermore discovered a small bag of # and a lot of geranium cuttings for flower pots soon after # comes home bringing the three jars filled with beans and # off the grapes and puts them in layers with sugar & pickles and a [remainder illegible] �21 18 Sunday 24 Sept 1899 A rainy morning. Wind South and blowing didn’t get up this morning till nearly 7 am. No fire in stove: no wood & first thing done cleaned out fire place and ash, pm then skimmed all the milk remaining in cellar; by this time my precious family were well out of bed. Arthur fed the hogs. Grace went to milk. Maud & I went after apples, through the orchard, the wind blew down about 2 bushels of all kinds then I choped wood & built fire. Grace came in and got breakfast. I washed pans and strained milk. Grace cleaned up the nut shucks from the floor (over a bushel). Grace and Maud washed dishes. Raining pouring, wind blowing the leaves from the trees ground covered wtih falling leaves like November. I suppose we will not have any visitors to day. I think Grace & Maud are gone to bed have not seen any thing of them in two hours. Arthur shucking nuts most all day, fire in stove gone out. One Oclock pm. Wallace �22 19 Monday 25 Tuesday 26 �23 25 Wednesday 27 Thursday 28 �24 Friday 29 Saturday 30 �25 22 Sunday 1 Monday 2 �26 23 Tuesday 3 Wednesday 4 �27 24 Thursday 5 Friday 6 �28 25 Friday 6 Oct 1899 A fine day warm as June, colored carpet rags and was sitting on the veranda sewing and winding balls. She brought the summer savory. I left them at her house and pepper and beans and Graces handkerchief and citrons. Saturday 7 Oct 1899 Grace and Bell gathering nuts and apples and grapes. Bell picked the grapes for me. A beautiful day warm and lovely weather. �29 26 Sunday 8 Oct 1899 A very fine day Belle and Grace drive to Wellies to make a visit leaving Charles Junior here, they staid till 3 pm and then came back & Bell loaded up and went home— pumpkins, squash, apples, hickory nuts, &c &c. We had a rooster for dinner. Monday 9 Oct 1899 A beautiful day. Will & Jen and Charley went to the bay for kerosine, we sent for 6 gallons oil is 12 cts per gallon. �30 27 Tuesday 10 Oct 1899 A fine warm day Wednesday 11 Oct 1899 A beautiful day warm and clear. Grace, Arthur and Maud gathered apples 3 barrels. Willie came in evening from threshing & cleaned up two bags of wheat for mill. Arthur helping with Lantern then Wellie carried his bag to the dock in the dog cart and put our bag in the buggy. �31 28 Muriel went to Kingston. I colored rags. Thursday 12 Oct 1899 A beautiful warm day arise at 4 am. Arthur drives to the wharf with Grace. Maud sweeps, makes all the beds, cleans floors and after dinner we three drive to Evelines for pumpkins and coming home I stop at Wills sending Arthur home with buggy. Maud & I quarrel and so Maud walks home. Charley and Jen bringing water from the river to get supper. The boat comes in late on account of the Marysville fair. Friday 13 Oct 1899 A very warm day sun bright, weather hazy. I write to Voltie. Grace sewing and doing housework. Arthur gathering apples and nuts. Hawk catching our chickens in the orchard. No letters from any one. �32 27 Saturday 14 Oct 1899 Saturday is a beautiful fine warm day wind South, grass growing fresh and green. Washed towels. Maud went over to Wills to gather autumn leaves to press. Cloudy towards eve with a little rain. Jen came over in eve to learn to point lace & Charley and Will came too. Sunday 15 Oct 1899 A beautiful warm day while still but the leaves are falling. Maud goes to Evelines and to church. Grace goes to bed. Irene does the work. But Grace poor girl has to get most all the wood, we are thankful for the fine warm weather for we dont require much wood. �33 30 Monday 16 A clear fine day and warm as June. Jen came over to get sewing done, night gowns and night caps full of complaints about the neighbors, wants to move but cant. Tuesday 17 Oct 1899 A clear bright day wind south, blowing at a gale. I write to Wills. Maude & I gather hickory nuts in the grove, a pail full. Grace sewing after dinner. I spend the afternoon unsnarling and winding a skein of carpet warp. �34 Wednesday 18 Oct 1899 A very fine day rained in the night, barrel 1/2 full of water. Wind South. Maud got tooth ache - churned, pared apples, to dry. Grace carried the carpet balls and warp to Mrs Niles and then drove to Wellies for the pickles but couldn’t bring them home in buggy. Will, James & crossed the cross cut saw and then went to W’s to thresh. Willie threshing for Morgan. Grace knitting petticoat trimmings. Shell Niles, Wills youngones drawing their cattle to the concession to water A beautiful warm month of nights and the river like a mirror. �35 32 Thursday 19 Oct 1899 A very fine day. Wind South Thanksgiving day throughout Canada. Arthur drove me over to Wills had a fine dinner & after dinner Mrs Morgan came and Mrs M & the children and myself went back in the brush for bitter sweet berries. To decorate the house at Christmas time. I colored some carpet rags for Jen and we stayed to tea and such a grand meal I dont get every day. There was mashed potatoes done in cream and butter, stewed chicken & briskets stuff & gravy, rolls & peach preserves, bread & butter, cookies, jelly cake, and muffin ring cakes, and chow chows, cream and tea,—before supper we had wine & cake which spoiled my appetite. Mr Morgan after dark came for the Mrs and Arthur came for I didn’t know as I was sure of a good nights rest after eating so much but but I took a big dose of soda water and went to bed and slept the sleep of the just & the righteous without any consequences. �36 33 Friday 20 Saturday 21 �37 34 Sunday 22 Monday 23 �38 35 Tuesday 24 Wednesday 25 �39 35 Thursday 26 Friday 27 �40 39 Charley with two masks an Irishman & a negro October 31st Tuesday 1899 A cloudy morning beginning to rain. Rains nearly all day and rains so much at evening, we don’t send Arthur for the mail. Grace does the ironing and gets wood for night She and Arthur fills the wood box. Welly finished threshing for Rattray to day. The party at Wellingtons must prove a failure and Briben cant come for Mary to take her to the party. Irene picks the last of the annuals (flowers) for Grace to take to her friends in Kingston. Rained so hard in evening. Arthur did not go for mail till morning. �41 40 Wednesday 1 Nov 1899 A cold rainy day preparing again for market churned and make 13 lbs butter in evening, dress 4 fowl for market. Grace cleans chamber Arthur goes for mail and get seven letters 2 from V, one from Sr, one from r.G. one from Bernard one from Johny one from Laura John writes that Mrs Lindley has a paralytic stroke. Thursday 2 Nov 1899 Rise at 4 am get Grace’s breakfast put up the fowls in basket (the flowers and butter in basket last night) and Arthur drives to dock. A cold morning and a cold day We did not know what we could do for wood but Arthur filled the wood box full as high as it could be piled and plenty of chip at night. Arthur drove to dock for Grace but she didn’t return, but sent a note that she going to stay all night in Kingston to do her shopping tomorrow, she sent home two rockers and the parlor cutains. Grace send word that she will come down with the mail. �42 41 Friday 3 Nov 1899 Awake this morning to find Grace gone but we pass a very pleasant day. Cloudy towards night looks like rain. Maud and Arthur hurry evening and get the chores done early. Arthur helped wash the dishes and then at 7 pm away they go with the lantern clear and brightly burning for Grace and the mail and Irene and the dogs are left alone. They are gone a long time. I peer out in the darkness to see the lantern or hear some friendly sound or more lanterns flitting up and down the road chasing each other from the church down to our barn like a will o the wisp having a ghostly dance. Ten oclock when they come and for a wonder Grace was with them but they were obliged to run for the rain began pouring down the walk. �43 42 long behind time on account of Miss Obrien stopping at the ferry for music lesson. Mrs Obrien stoped at the ferry to have her leg doctored, she broke a bone in her ankle two weeks or more ago climbing apple trees the fat old fool. She went once this summer to St. Anne shrine for some sort of a "complaint". She was mad because Grace wanted a passage home with them said the horse couldn’t carry Grace & Min. Oh no but the same horse could drag Min and the Old "Rhinoceras" to the villiage. Well Grace bought her dress and other fixings at Steaceys At 11 pm we went to bed forgot to say Wellie came up and drew us some wood from below the cedars, knocked out old cedars stumps &c All our young folks were in the road playing tag each with a lantern. �44 43 Saturday 4 Nov 1899 It is well for us all Grace included that Grace came down with the mail for the rain is a steady downpour all day, but we have wood and pass the day very comfortably. We didn’t hurt ourselves with work to day. Grace arranged the parlor and put up the new curtains. Evening time Will & Charley came over with the new books, Will is agent for very fine books; wish we could buy them. �45 44 Sunday 5 Nov 1899 Raining this morning but clears away so Maud goes to Sabath school and quarterly meeting. A.K.. goes too and Sunday peace and quietness has come to stay for a couple of hours. I write to Dick Brown and Grace goes upstairs and to bed just before dark. Frank Woodman A.K. = Arthur Knapp �46 45 Monday 6 Nov 1899 A fine Monday wind S.W. Grace done big washing while I sewed another ball of hit and miss. Charley came over for X cut, it is down to Wellie. Wants to borrow steelyards it is down to Wellies. Wants to borrow a spool of white thread No. 40. He got it. Wants (if I have it to spare) 18 lbs of flour which they are owing Mr. Niles. He says trade the flour on a half bushel of beans which we bought of Will a while ago and which they have already had 32 lbs. So after dinner I weigh the flour (sent A for steelyard) 18 lbs and Maud & I with flour and a quart of kerosine (which we owe Mrs Niles) and a ball of carpet rags & proceed to the Niles mansion where we find Mrs N. �47 46 working our carpet having at last got Mary Woodmans carpet out of the loom. 32 lbs flour 18 lbs flour = 50 lbs flour is I guess enough for 1/2 bushel of beans. Evening sunset clear and fine with a new moon 2 days old some what cold and not much wood so go to bed early. Wellie to day sold old red cow and the yearling bull & Molly. �48 47 Tuesday 7 Nov. 1899 A fine day. Wind South but cool; not much wood in the box this morning but Arthur had picked up a good lot of chips so we got our breakfast all right. Arthur mad because he had to milk and hit the cow with the milking stool. That was worse than pounding the cow stable door with a club last Saturday morning because it could not stay open on account of wind blowing it shut as fast as Artimus opened it but he soon got all right again and borrowed Mr Woodmans milk waggon to draw gravel to put around the door. Irene raked off the yard and moved the plants into her bedroom. Maud learning to sew on machine. Grace went out to get wood for night when Wellie drove in here and chopped wood. The sunsets bright and clear. �49 48 Wednesday 8 Nov 1899 A beautiful day warm sunbright but hazy, grass growing green. I write to Voltie. Wills, Wellie saws down and splits the ash tree and stayed to dinner and Charley too. After dinner Arthur borrowed uncle Sams milk cart and drew more gravel and then drew the ash wood. Maud cleaned pantry and kitchen floor. Grace done housework, churned and pack butter &c Thursday 9 Nov 1899 Arose at 1/2 4. Irene going to Kingston. Arthur drove to the dock, morning being very dark & foggy, burning a lantern all the way, found only lantern on the dock which was Wellie’s. A great lot of freight to be carried aboard, cheese, pork, grists, apples, eggs, butter and the neighbours gathered around. Boat came late from Gananoque on account of fog. Pierpont blew the whistle at intervals all the way from our dock to Kingston arrived there at 11 am. Went directly to the �50 49 post office but found I could not get the order cashed for it was in Grace’s name but it was all right with the dentist, gave him the order which he accepted for Grace to sign next Thursday. Thursday 30 Nov 1899 A long time since I have written in my diary many events have transpired but am thankful to write "Nothing very alarming except that Mrs Catherine Rattray is very sick and not expected to live long. She is afflicted with a cancer. Grace’s dressmaker has come and gone this morning through the dark and rainy November morning—had to carry a lantern to find the way to �51 50 the wharf. During the present month we have a plowing bee, 8 teams and their drivers. The neighbours were good to help us. Charley Woodman, Frank Woodman, Robert Reid, Percy Gillespie, Welly & Jack Niles & Herbert Dignam & Geo McDonel. Welly and Will butchered for us a week ago. Sold one hog and salted the other. We have not suffered for fires yet. Grace bought one bag of coal which lasted a week. The weather has been unusually warm all through the month of November. The cows getting a good feed of grass every day, only one fall of snow which �52 51 did not last long. Rob Ranous and a Miss McMullen were married this month and a son born for Mr & Mrs George Morgan Jr. Jen had a quilting but I could not attend but she had most of her relatives from off the foot of the Island, the Micheas & Gillespies and Nesbits and Mrs. W.H. Woodman & Mrs Frank Woodman. My mouth been sore all month cutting teeth so late in life does not agree with me very well but "They Say" I’ll get used to them. Hope so. Frank Bamford and Jim Maloney came for school tax on Lindas 85 cts paid and receipted. Frank came over again and went to Kingston. �53 52 Mrs Niles wove our carpet which by the help of Will and Welly we stretched over the dining room floor and under the coal stove. I colored rags for Jen violet, green, and red. Ought to have answered Bernard Morgans letter but never have up to the present date. Sent Johny letters & new papers but no returning answer yet. Will Ranous and wife have adopted a baby. Did not receive any letter from Voltie Tuesdays mail and am disappointed. Wellie came to day and chopped us wood & Arthur & Maud picked up some from away down below the cedars on goose point so we are well fortified against the weather for a time. �54 55 Friday 1 December 1899 This is the first day of the last month of the year 1899 and not a very pleasant day, barometer falling but not very cold day. Grace sewing. I chop mince meat & apples and "stone raisons". Grace sewing all day. Evening pleasant in door but rainy dark & windy outside. Arthur mad & refused to go to bed but we manage to get him started at last. Will went up the Island this morning canvassing for subscribers for his new books. Wellie gone to Rattrays butchering 3 hogs for George R came home at 3 pm. Our mail came late tonight. We received two letters from Voltie, the latest date 27 Nov one from RG one from W.F.W. but none from Wells Sr. The Whig, Montreal Star, Christian Guardian & Christian Herald. �55 54 Saturday 2nd Dec 1899 A dirty rainy morning but not cold. Wind S. Wellie came up and chopped us a lot of wood. Maud washed a few things and cleaned pantry and kitchen floor, sent Arthur to Mrs Niles to buy 10 cts worth of vinegar. Wallace sent me a gallon of vinegar but would not take pay for it. Wall is a good generous boy. I prepared the mincemeat already for pies. Grace made cookies and sewed. Wallace made us a short visit in pm. Gave Wellie a bottle of homemade wine and some candy for the children all I had to give. Hubert brought me some sour krout which is a feast indeed. A windy squally night. Grace, Arthur and Maud go after dark and bring in all the clothes from the line. �56 55 wringing wet. Arthur as usual put the dogs in the barn but our noble prince managed to get out and whined and barked and fought other dogs all night in the door yard & barn yard. And I sat up till 9 oclock pm reading the history and origin of dogs, their education and training. Their good & bad traits of characters of all kinds and sort of dogs mastiffs and curs, blood hounds, collies, newfoundlands, St Bernards, Esquimoux, deer hounds, fox hounds, grey hounds, bull dogs &c &c &c and then I was anoyed by the dogs all night and several other nights previous. If I was in command I’d keep no dogs & tiny is a bird yip yip to get out & yip yip to get in who hears �57 56 Sunday 3rd December 1899 A quiet half cloudy day, not cold, grass green and growing. A most remarkable autumn for fine weather thanks be to God. Will came over awhile said he came home long after dark last night, footed it all the way from the villiage. He stayed all night friday with Belle’s family & has has 20 subscribers. Bell takes 2 books. Grace has gone over to Wills to dinner and from there to Evelines. Flora & Ethel came over to visit Maud & Arthur went over to visit Charley. Maud hung the clothes on the line this morning then went to Church evening. Maud & Arthur gone down to Wellies both lasted to come �58 57 some cutter. Grace and I am alone [???????] Monday 4 December 1899 Awoke this morning to find the ground covered with snow and not much wood and no coal but we are well. I build fire in kitchen stove. I mend Arthurs sweater and pants and mend stockings. Arthur twisted the ring out of the stove hearth with a stick which he ought to have laid to his back. always breaking something. Wellie came up and got wood for us. Wellie’s got a bad cold. Grace fixing a dress for Maud & Maud is ironing all the clean clothes. Cloudy all day looks like more snow but not very cold. Wellie Sr came �59 58 then rapped loudly on the door and I bawled out "come in" and the door was reluctantly opened by some one and behold! our old gentleman presented himself life size and though we were looking for him each day for a week, he came rather unexpectedly at last but none the less welcome. Grace & Maud flew around and soon prepared a hot meal as he had not broken his fast since leaving Watertown at 8 Oclock pm. Well we sat up till 11 Oclock talking �60 59 Tuesday 5 December 1899 A cold morning. frost on window and snow on the ground and a dark threatening horizon, but awake to find one of our dear absent ones safely at home and I am glad. The day passes uneventfully away with the usual rotine of getting the three meals and making a few mince pies. Grace sewing for Maud. Arthur choring around. We hope to get a letter from V to night and K9 too. Wells went over the river to Van’s for his trunk. Wellie went with him rowed back through a snow storm No letters from Voltie nor from K9 �61 60 Wednesday 6 December 1899 A lovely morning the snow over a foot deep on the level and snowing as hard and fast as ever it can fall. Every tree, and branch, & twig and bush, and shrub covered and loaded down with snow. the every barn and house roof covered deep in snow. We shoveled enough snow from the coal box cover to fill the tank and kettles with pure snow water - the trees and shrubery are beautiful in their dress of pure white the river is obscured weird misterious veil of falling snow. Arthur out door wading in snow to his waist after cattle and horses and he thinks it is great fun while not a beauty. �62 61 wind disturbs the scene, all nature stands motionless except fast falling snow not very warm not very cold. P.M. the storm partly clears the sun shines fair and clear, a slight wind sends the snow tumbling from the trees, soon clouds over again. Wells Sr put on his every day attire and prepared for the battle of domestic care. firstly he put Jess in stable but young Jess he could not manage for she has not been broken to the halter and is wild so she ran around barn and cantered & bounded across the fields of snow at will. Then Sr put all the young stock in the stables, choped wood, brought water, fed cows, brought his old cutter out, hitched Bess up and drove down the road and over to dock (or near there) found the snow so deep couldn’t get through. Grace sewing all day for Maud. Arthur shoveled snow paths to barn and river Irene churned made 7 prints for market. �63 62 cooked and washed dishes. Charley came over to see his uncle Wells to pay his respects a complimentary visit. Maud cleaned kitchen floor &c &c &c and so ends the day and we go early to bed for we must arise betimes 4 O’clock. Grace & Sr going to the City Thursday 7 December 1899 Arose at 4 this morning bustled around and got breakfast for all hands; very dark morning and cloudy. Arthur went to the dock to drive the team back carrying a lantern. Will came home last night from a canvassing tour, walking through the snow. The snow this morning is sticking to the lower branches of all the trees. Uncle Sam’s orchard looks ghostly in its dress of white. Maud is writing to her papa would very much to know where Voltie is now a long time since he went from there �64 63 Arthur whistles and sings so much it is tiresome and disgusting. Make and fry cakes and melt snow to wash clothes. Wells Jr has a tough time getting wood for stove. It would be a fine—a satisfying move, to move into the woods. Ah a man that has to be always on the watchful for fuel morning noon and night. "Well, I’ll have to look around somewhere today and get some wood: dont hardly know where I’m going to get it." 3 Oclock pm growing colder. Wind N.W. freezing looks dark and stormy and winter is here in earnest after all our recent warm days and green fields, and Arthur our little man of all work digs some oak limbs from under the snow and bravely chops wood enough to fill the wood box then brings water for night after melting snow enough to fill the tank and boiler so we can wash the clothes tomorrow, milks 4 cows and fills their stanchions and waters horses & cows, feeds 5 pigs and then brings Bess to the dock for Grace and her father and Arthurs boots are not good but �65 64 have holes and his feet are wet and cold—a pair of Volties old boots he left home last spring, poor Arthur. I’m sorry for him, for he is so uncomplaining. Maud swept and straightened the rooms. We made fried cakes and mince and apple pie and sauce for supper. Arthur drives to dock for Sr & Grace, snow drifted in roads, Sr walked home all right but foot sore, had supper all ready. �66 65 cooked & washed all the dishes Wells kindled a coal fire which brought on cheers and warms all the room and the hearts of all the family. Evenings mail, a letter from Laura Joslin, 2 from Voltie, "Herald & Star", "Whig", "Christian Guardian" War news is that the Dutch are whipping the "Dickens out of the English" good for Uncle "Paul". Beat them back old man. Dont let the Englishers enroach [sic: encrouch] into your little Republic and rob you of your country & homes and gold mines and diamonds. They already own enough of this Earths surface, much more than they can keep clean There is a darkest England as well as a darkest Africa �67 66 Saturday 9 December 1899 A bright day. So went to the villiage for coal, drove Jess & Bess This first time Jess been in harness since last May and she thought because she had not been in harness so long that she was superanuated and balked accordingly and as Bess dont like to drive double there was war declared instantly. But we soon brought them around all right and they drove home a load of coal at night. Sr had 4 shoes set on Bess and called at Charlies going & coming. We churned, put the clothes all on the line, cleaned floors and swept all the rooms and done general house work. Will came in the evening with his Canvassing Book, left it here for Sr inspection and then went to Niles to meet Jen and Charlie who have preceeded him. �68 67 Sunday 10 December 1899 Weather moderate cloudy wind S, clothes out on the line, dry enough to be gathered in. Wells Sr reading "Herald and Montreal star". Arthur poking his mouth full of pop corn. Grace reading while Maud combs Jens hair. The house quiet no sound except the ticking of the clock and Arthur munching pop corn. Never since Arthur came here, have I ever seen him take a book in hand to read. I think he hates books as a cat does water. I suppose I ought to write Watson and Bernard. I’m sometimes tired of writing to [ ?] of my own family Wells examined Wills books. Will came over & stays a while. Wells promises to take a book. hope he will. Our turkeys this morning are gone Cont tell �69 68 Monday 11 December 1899 Arose at 6 a m Wind south raining, snow nearly gone all mud. Was going to wash but rains heavy so finished writing to Miss Watson. Wells Sr fixing up around the barn. Arthur puttering around. Grace ironing. Maud washes dishes and helps cook. Irene make mince and apple pie. V will be at home in less than 9 days. A long winter before - us hope it will be a pleasant one. 1 pm sun shining out from behind a dark rain cloud. Charley brought Jens coloring for me to do - but, cant color to day. �70 69 Tuesday 12 December 1899 rained all last night; snow all gone not a sign of snow any where. The flat this side of Consession covered with water. Wind on the rampage all the time. Only wish Voltie was here. I color for Jen and send a letter to Watson Otawa. Grace sewing, Wellie didnt come up to day. He started to go to get wood from the north shore (Me and Will) but the wind and rain coming on they turned back again. No letters to night only one from Helen Watson, none from Voltie or Robert. Will’s book co sent him a letter adressed Rev WC Dixon Oh the days are lonely enough �71 Wednesday 13 December 1899 The month is slowly passing day after day goes by and Voltie does not come yet. We heard from him up till the sixth of December 7 days ago, expected a letter last night but was disappointed. Wind blowing fiercely from SW - churned and made out butter for market and washed dishes. Grace fried cakes and helped around the house. Maud puttered around too. Grace up last night at two fixing R.R.R. for Maud for she has got the belly ache. Oh this is a stormy month of wind snow and rain. The ground as bare as June and grass is green since the snow went off. The cows and horses can pick their living out in the fields. I think �72 71 Geo Niles has come home - just now saw a man with a long overcoat go up along the shore to Niles. The wind is howling and Grace is gone down to Wellie’s: another dark squall arising in the South. The clouds are blue black like ink. Voltie wrote he would come home before the 20 December or about that time. Sr fixing fence all day, he cant find things: he cut the rib and I have it cooking in the pot. The white cap waves are chasing each other today, while the river is is blue, green & purple & mud color along the shore. Wind blew a half gale all last night. Cant get any trace or word of our turkeys. Grace went down to visit Irene and cheer her up a bit & carried her a bag of dough nuts. brought back a pail of pickles. Arthur went down in eve to accompany Grace home �73 72 Thursday 14 December 1899 Arose at 4 am. Sr kindled the kitchen fire. (The fire in coal stove went out Tuesday night). I got breakfast for all hands. Arthur drove to dock. ground frozen some in night. Cloudy wind north but not heavy, snow lightly falling. Arthur thought he would get Maud out to milk but failed. Charlie came over to get subscribers for good litterature but I have no money & never do have any. Evening Arthur drove to dock came back bringing Bob G with him leaving Sr to walk with Will & Voltie. Wellie Sr stoped at Wills and we �74 73 waited a long time for Sr to come and at last sat down to the table when they, Wells & Will came in with each a bottle sticking out of their pocket and very funny. It is surprising how foolish men can talk when drunk. Silly senceless twaddle. Old Jim Barrie came to All of Bery’s to night, came down on the boat this pm RG said V would soon be home. Ill be sure when I see him walking in Friday 15th 1899 A clear cold bright day frost on the north window in kitchen. A heavy fall of snow last night wind blowing and snow drifting. Sr drove to the dock for hog feed and lumber Arthur, Will & Willie �75 74 went too. Arthur in Marts old overcoat which comes clean to his heels and Sr old muffler on. Nellie sent her Christmas offerings last night and I received a letter from V mailed from Sault Ste Marie Dated 9 December 6 days ago. Nelly sent a small Christmas token to Belle and Jen but nothing to Eveline who has done so much for her �76 Saturday 16th December 1899 A cold morning river steaming snow on ground. Afternoon warmer those picture frames came to day came rushing in with an old womans picture in frame said it was mine. The picture looks like the d—l in distress I am disgusted that I was such a fool as to patroning such sharpers. Grace paid them for the daub $200 it will do all right framed on a horse collar and {bring, being ?] for the stable to —— Wish V was home �77 78 Grace is cooking for the preacher who is going to dine dine tomorrow with the Bamford family. Im sorry it is going to thaw. Wish Voltie would come Sunday 17th 1899 December Wind South, raw, chilly day. A night thaw. Maud went to church. Cloudy weather. His Reverence dined with us today. fine good man He got a cold. gave him a couple of lemons to make hot drink for his cough on going to bed. he said he had always drank hot buttermilk for cold �78 81 but I thought lemons would be better. Said he had drunk some hot whiskey once by mistake. I said it wouldnt hurt him any. B.G. asked the preacher to marry him. next Thursday at two Oclock. Wish V would come. Oh lord why dont he come! It didnt choke Bob any to ask his reverence in my presence to tie the knot but he came very near choking, he blushed and stamered like a school boy. �79 82 Monday 18 Decenber 1899 Walls Sr and and R.G. went to the city to day and Jen went up. Drove over for her this morning. I wash the clothes and Grace puts them on the line to dry. W Sr comes just after dark bringing Bella home with him and Jim came and we all had my dinner together. Will and Charley came over & go home with Jen. Didn’t bring in the clothes. Wells brings wine, brandy, club whiskey and old rye. Lemons, bananas, grapes, oranges, mixed nuts and onetionary by the quart. Bell brought the ladies cake which she had made three weeks before. �80 83 Tuesday 19 December 1899 Awoke this morning to find the snow all gone but a patch here & there and clothes flapping in the rain. Went and pinned down them on line the best we could and Bell baked for the wedding and frosted the cake. Voltie dont come, got discouraged and went to bed had been abed about 10 minutes when Grace came to the bedroom door and said "Voltie is here." Well I never will say how rejoyced I was to know that Voltie was home again after 8 long weary months gone on the lakes. He had crossed the river in a punt but claims the flat covered with water up at the �81 84 Wednesday 20 December 1899 A very fine day. Voltie & Wellie go over river for Volties trunk and tow Geo Lidy’s punt home and Voltie drives to the villiage taking Belle and Katheleen home leaving Grace Junior behind. Tis long after dark when they start for the drive up the island and wind blowing sharp from the South so they carry lantern which leaks oil and goes out. Stop at Archie Barrys and bring a lantern. Roads all mud arrive at Charlie’s at 11 p.m. Sat up late to prepare the family for tomorrow’s wedding. Voltie stays all night at Belle’s. Belle set the table before going home �82 Thursday 21st December 1899 Arose at the usual hour find the weather very fine but not a flake of snow to be seen any where. This is Graces wedding morning and we expect Charlie and family here by nine O’clock. They came at ten O’clock am, 8 of them before Belle, came Jen to help carve and cut. Next came Will, Charlie & Flora. Then Wall Niles abd Shell Niles. Then Wm G Woodman & family, 6 of them. Next came the Reverend Mr Wase. Then Carl brought a load from Kingston, Bob’s father and mother, Mr & Mrs Gaskin, Mrs Charlton and Bob himself. Then Albert Charlton groomsman, May Wormworth bride’s maid Next two of Bobs cousins �83 86 Dunlop and Gowdy then Voltie and Laura Davis and last came Muriel. Geo Niles & Wellie, Eveline and the two little boys. Hubert & Clyde although invited didnt come. Came nearly forgetting Henry Holliday & Bessie Gibson. Geo Niles had to go to Kingston to get him a suit of clothes for he is going to marry Louise Dixon. The presents were many and very beautiful & costly. Well tis evening and they are married and gone on their "Lower" and �84 87 Friday 28th December -99 Month nearly gone and I have not written in this diary since 21st December. Wednes & Thursday snowing fast and furious. ground snow covered every where. Yesterday V & Sr went to Kingston. Friday evening received a letter from Grace & Bob Brooklyn. Wednesday V & Junior butchered beef for us and pork for Wells Jr. Jen came over to day and I colored green for her carpet. A letter or card from Nelly Guy she cant come down to visit us; going away to Montana to marry Brooks. �85 88 Saturday 29 or 30th December 1899 Cold dismal weather; river steaming. Will and Charley here. Wm going to Niles for hen feed. Charley came for Jens green carpet rags and butter milk. June prepared mincemeat for pies and washed clothes, such as towels, stockings, tablecloth. Maud done parlor, dining room, and chamber & cleaned pantry and kitchen floors. Evening terrible cold and we all gather around the coal stove in the dining room and enjoy a season of conversation and reading ie Wells Sr, Voltie, Maud, Arthur & "yours to command." Sunday 31st December 1899 This is the last time or day 1899 will be written for the year of A.D. while the Earth continues on its orbit around the Sun. And another such a day for storm. I do not remember since my advent on Earth although may have seen many like this one. Very cold, snowing, blowing & drifting from the North all day. V was going to drive down for E and the children and call for his grandmother but the storm prevented him. How dreary and cheerless is the appearance of the landscape. The old St. Lawrence �86 89 seen through the storm looks dark and frowning. We alone all day not a visitor. Maud gets the tea and washes dishes. Monday 1st of January 1900. The weather is moderate this morning, not nearly so cold but cloudy, the snow gently falling. Volty drives down to Wellies for Wellie and his family to spend celebrate this first day of 1900. They came and had a good time & went home at dark. We had oysters, stew, and mince pie, beef & potatoes, cheese, cookies, Christmas cake, hot buns & butter, gravy &c &c. I think Eveline enjoyed herself most thoroughly and also the little ones. While Wellie & Voltie employed their time in the shop making a sleigh. This is election day sure. The candidates for council are numerous. Geo Gillespie, Snub Woodman, Tom Murphy, Job Watts Briceland, Billy Card are a few whom are striving with might & main to secure the coveted & lucrative office and also for the high honor of the distinguished title "Councilor". �87 90 Tuesday 2nd Jan 1900 A snowy day. Voltie gone to the villiage for coal. started early Will going with him going to cross the ferry to the city to look after his books. I am sleepy. Sr. soldering old tin slop pails. Arthur playing in the kitchen with the dog. Maud studying cook book. 3rd Jan 1900 Wednesday Louise & Geo married at Ed Rattrays Thursday Shell came down in pm to learn embroidery Friday Jan 1900 Sr went to villiage in Cutter sent Belle been come county. Belle sent me big piece of cheese, weather soft Saturday a most beautiful fine day sun brilliant and warm & thawing. The sun sets in dark cloud bank Sunday 7 Jan 1900 A rainy dark day wind South and blowing. ice all broken and swept away by the heavy wind lonely day I write to Edna Quinn �88 Tuesday 9 January 1900 Arose at 4 this morning for Voltie is going to Kingston on the half past nine boat and when returning will stop at the villiage dance this evening and come home tomorrow morning �89 92 �90 93 �91 94 Friday 12 January 1900 A stormy day. Snow falling fast and furious. Irene done washing and hung them on the line. Maud done general home work. Voltie working in the shop on sleigh. Arthur at school. Wells Sr doing chores and building fires, river again frozen over this morning. Arthur at school. Nelly Guy married this day of our Lord 1900 at Montana USA to one William Brooks, Oh dear girls must be scarce in Montana and she wanted a husband pretty bad to go so far. Well Do hope she is happy & always will be. Saturday 13 January 1900 A mild snowy day sun peeping out between clouds now and then. Voltie working in shop. Sr hitches up and drives to Geo for some tools to make window sash. Maud cleans pantry & kitchen floors. Will went to Kingston with G Niles Sr. Went about those books but was again disapointed. No books at the express office. Muriel came up to iron the calico patches Herbert came too. Sent them home rejoicing with some patches. Hubert came too. Sent them home rejoicing with some patches and their Auntie Grace’s old bustle filled with apples. Arthur accompanies them home. Sat up reading till 1/2 past 10 Oclock pm. Maud ironed in the evening. �92 95 Sunday 14 January 1900 A snowy day but not cold. After the dishes are done Maud goes to Eveline’s to skate with Muriel & Hubert. V & A follow after I had dinner nearly ready when they return; they came up on the ice but the snow is fast covering the ice which will soon spoil the skating. All reading except Arthur who never reads anything. Arthur feeds his part. We get tea after dark and go to bed at 1/2 past nine Oclock after reading the War papers & "beside the Bonnie Brier Bush". A lonesome day wish Bob & Grace were here at home. Monday 15 January 1900 cloudy. looks like snow or rain. hazy & not very cold. James Michea died today of inflammation of bowels. Poor boy. he leaves a wife & five children. Arthur gone to school. Voltie working in shop on sleigh has it nearly done. Irene patched Arthurs pants. Arthur & great swearer, uses big oaths when outside the house. Will came over to borrow soap and boiler; boiler at Juniors. Will saw Bob and Grace on the Pierpoint. Will didn’t get his books yet. Maud pottering around today. Maud experimenting in the cake making. Arthur at school. �93 96 Tuesday 16 Jan 1900 A cloudy day looks like snow. I wash all the shirts and drawers for our men and hang them on the line. Voltie & Bob Reid go to the dance at the villiage with Bobs horse and Volties cutter and harness and we are more lonesome than ever. James Michea burried or laid in the vault today. 82 rigs in the funeral procession Arthur at school 1/2 day. Wednesday 17th 1900 Arose at 7 pm when just as we were getting breakfast. Voltie and Bob Reid returned from the dance at the villiage. After breakfast Bob & Voltie went to bed and slept till half past 11 Oclock. Wellie came up. I didnt do much work only tried to churn and butter wouldn’t come so turned the cream out into a pan and washed the churn. Arthur at school. Irene darned Arthurs mittens after dark. �94 97 Thursday 18 January 1900 Arose at 7 a.m. Weather changed to warm wind South and thawing all day. Set tubs under the eves & full of water in short time, cloudy and looks like rain. Think the snow will all go off again. Maud choped apples and beef for mincemeat pies. Voltie choped down one of the twin hickories on the flat for wood and then cut another small tree in cedars & from there went to Frank Woodmans to bargain for hay. He did not return till nearly one Oclock pm. We got an other dinner for Voltie. I was afraid he had walked up on the ice and droped through. no ice to walk on any where. Arthur at school. �95 Many a day has gone since then. When one day to Kingston I had been and as the Pierport was returning home and standing by her dock alone I heard a sigh and looking up what met my eye Old Geo McKenzie ghost I swear alone in the gangway standing there �96 PHOTOMOUNT PAMPHLET BINDER Manufactured by GAYLORD BROS, Inc. Syracuse, N. Y. Stockton, Calif. �97 �This document would not be possible without the editorial contributions of the following people: Ann Hopkinson, shashathree, carol ann, Ella Deering, MaryV, Judi , 2alina, Ben W. Brumfield, Giovanna Lim, Reagan MacMillan, Lisa Bremner, Sheila Hewett, and Queen’s University Archives � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Subject The topic of the resource 19th and 20th Century Rural Ontario Diaries Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1887-1922 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Table Of Contents A list of subunits of the resource. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1887 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1888-1889 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1889-1897 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1890 March - June Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1893-1895 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1895-1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1896 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1897-1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899-1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902, 1906 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902-1909 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1904-1905 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1907 & 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1908-1919 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1911 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913-1914 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1915-1916 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1916-1917 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1917-1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1921-1922 Language A language of the resource English Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899-1900 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1899-1900 Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 19th & 20th Century, Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Date Created Date of creation of the resource. August 30th, 1899 Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Typed Transcription UG Transcription Progress Scripto transcription progress Done transcribed https://ruraldiaries.lib.uoguelph.ca/transcribe/files/original/5716f0e665e0cb414426758cfb23e0c5.pdf 97e1831c1d856455f384769e3acd6b6f PDF Text Text Irene Dixon Bamford 1899 June-August, Diary Transcription 5034_4-1-9 �Metadata FromThePage export of 5034_4-1-9 from Irene Dixon Bamford made on 2026-02-11 14:35:16 UTC. itemTitle: June-August 1899 date: 1899 Title: 5034_4-1-9 Description: Item is a diary. Created On: 2024-01-11 17:32:12 UTC In Scope: true Uploaded Filename: 5034_4-1-9 �1 [File Folder] Irene Dixon Bamford Diary June-August 1899 [stamp] Queen’s University Archives Locator 5034.4 Box 1 File 9 �2 Been Read June - August 1899 �3 Reread ’76-’89 �4 Sunday 14 June 1899 A hot cloudless day am thinking of drouth [sic] but hope not. Wellie came up and stayed a while, lent him a Berralds and a boat. Grace and Maud went to Church & sunday school. Arthur stayed home. Had soiled his clothes so had to stay home. Evening Maud went to Mr Niles with a note for Wallace go to the express office for Grace. Most of the youngsters out this beautiful eve driving. Frank, Emma and Grace in one buggy. Wallace, Marnie Bolton and Minnie Woodman driving in W N’s buggy. Lewis, Joy & Mary Gordon in another. Bob Reid and Hattie Joslin in another. Will Robinson, Maud Gillespie & Lilly Woodman in another. Frank raced and drove by them all hollered and yelled, made more noise than a tribe of indians. I wrote a letter to Wells Sr just to say Grey Gillespie & Bessie Gibson out driving too also Perley Burnham and Hannah O’Brien. Monday 12 June A breezy hot day. I worked at the flowers nearly all forenoon. Maud at school. Wish Artemus was there too. To meddlesome by half unmannerly and noisy wants his own way about everything. I dont believe I like him very well but he helps feed boys and fill dirt boxes. �5 Wallace has gone over the river, think he has gone to Cape Vincent. �6 �7 I have to churn this afternoon. Churned and weed in garden. Wellie told me that his grandmother had lost the sight of one eye (right eye). Wallace came at eventime and brought the box of candy that Voltie had exported through from Buffalo but no picture yet. Grace went with Wall down to Franks and Artemus draged [sic] out the big rocker, fixed it up with cushions, and putting on his over coat, drew the chair in the doorway and with Tiny in his arms comfortably seated himself to the exclusion of any one passing in or out and was quite angry when Maud forced her way out. Telling her to go clear aroung to the other door and not bother him, and only this afternoon was much put out when Grace asked him to drive the horses into the pasture, refusing to go: at last when forced to go, like a baulky horse he went with fury both horses on the run dashed through the gate frightening the colt which jumped through the wire fence beside the gate and �8 tore a piece of skin completly off his neck leaving it on the wire fence which our young hero brought to the house. I think he’ll take a trip to the city Thursday and not come here again. Tuesday 13th June 1899 I walk over to see mother and about her blindness find them all right enough, mother reading with one eye and two pair of glasses. Rachel loaded to the brim with dirt about Bob Gaskin, poor old Rachel wonder will she ever possess common since [sic]. I think she is passed that period to old now to begin to learn any thing but filth. She rolls it like a sweet morsel under her tongue. I’m sorry she is not pure and clean to bad, to bad. Wednesday 14 June 1899 A warm day. I churn and make out 16 lbs of butter for market and dress two hens. Bill & Mary come over to go to Kingston tomorrow �9 Thursday June 15th June 1899 A fine morning arose at 7 AM. Maud drove to dock with Grace and Mary Winsmill in buggy. Bill caught a ride with Niles. Maud and I work hard all day preparing for company. Arthur drove to dock in evening, boat arived [sic] late. Grace came bringing Helen Watson for a weeks visit. Mary and Bill came back bringing nothing but again stay all night. A cool evening, rained some. Friday 16 June 1899 I churn and work in Garden. A fine day, plant more pot corn for hens to scratch out. Bill and Mary go over to Wills visiting because the wind blows so they cant cross, came back and crossed that night. �10 Saturday 17 June 1899 Grace cleans floors. I work in garden. Sunday 18 June 1899 In evening Grace takes Helen W for a drive to foot. A beautiful day, breezy from South (and come to Eveline’s). Grace, Helen Watson and Arthur went to Church and Sunday School. Irene worked around all forenoon & went down and looked at my garden and found that the hens have once again scratched up all the pop corn which Artie and I planted on Friday. Monday 19 June A very warm morning. Grace drove to ferry acompanied by Miss Helen Watson and they ate dinner with a Miss McCartha came back to Belles and stayed to tea and arived at home 10 pm. Will took Jen and Charley across the river to pick berries for Gloyds strawberries per box, rowed back and rove to the village with Rachel. R going to cook for Briggs. Wellie came up and cultivated bushes and potatoes, looked after the pigs. I work awhile in garden as usual. �11 19 June 99 Afternoon 5 pm been working all time since dinner. All the others taking an after dinner nap except noisy Arthur and I. A very slight thunder shower this morning but clears and the wind blowing strong breeze from the West. There I am in my bed room going fast asleep in chair. It blows so hard, one of the flower pots was blown from the stand. I sent a letter to Sr and one to Voltie. Hubert came for Vinegar and brought me a piece of factory cheese. Wellie came for the churn and gave him churn full of lettuce & lemons and a bottle of pickles. Hubert came early for butter for breakfast. Arthur pulled mustard. Maud went for wild strawberries. Wednesday 21 June 1899 A cool dry day, clouds come trooping up from the west covering all the sky. Wind blowing from the West. I churned and make 17 prints for market. Helen teaching Grace to do embroidery. �12 Thursday 22nd June 1899 A fine morning, arose at 4 put up the fowls, got breakfast and Helen Watson, Maud and Grace started for the dock enroute for Kingston. A circus in town. Arthur brought water, fed dogs, scrubed [sic] pantry and kitchen floors, then after dinner, Arthur hitched up Bess and we drove to Wellie’s to make a call. Arthur killed a hen for a pot pie. At night we milked the cows, fed the hogs and then Arthur hitched up Bess and drove to the dock for Grace and Maud. Grace came home bringing pea soup, candy and dates. Friday 23rd 1899 A fine day, thunder and lightening in the night, some rain; but not much. Grace sewed for herself making a shirt waist and a shirt for Arthur. Irene hoed and worked in garden. Sold Ruth Woodman a pound of butter 16. John Dixon and Jen came over and stayed all evening. John came for mother to go home with him but she says she will not go. Letters from Wells Sr, 2 from Voltie, 1 from Robert, one from Watson. �13 Saturday 24th June 1899 A bright clear warm day. Grace sewing for her grandmother. Sold a pound of butter to Wellie & 2 pounds of butter to Jen Woodman. We set cabbage and tomato plants. Maud went for strawberries only got a few, all dried up. Got to wash by the river, wish it would rain. Sent Mrs Woodman lettuce. Arthur doing all kinds of chores, good boy. Maud cleaned floors. 25 Sunday June 1899 Maud and Arthur went to Sunday school and church service. Grace dont go but takes a long nap two of them, brother John came back and ate supper with us. Said he put a quarter in the contribution box. �14 26 Monday June 1899 27 Tuesday June 1899 �15 28 Wednesday 1899 A fine day: after dinner Grace, Maud and Arthur drive up to the picking in Geo Woodmans Grove. It sprinkles quite a shower. They came home early, admittance for children under 13 to the dinner table 15 cents. Charley Dixon went to the table with 15 cents for his dinner but Charley Woodman drove him away because he didn’t have 25 cents. Charley Woodman! a good Christian hog. I have made a mistake in the date yesterday All the above transpired. To day Wednesday it rained all day. Eveline drove to Kingston through the rain. 29 June Thursday Grace gone to Kingston to market with butter 15 lbs. I had sold Eveline 1 lb and Samy’s folks 1 lb. I am not very well and go to bed. Maud and Arthur cleans up the house but I had visitors all the same. Mary Woodman,, Irene Hengie and her little daughter Hazel and her husband came and I got their dinner for them and enjoyed the visit in good faith - from here they went to Wills, found Jen gone to Kingston but paid their respect to their grandmother. �16 30 Friday 1899 1 July Saturday 1899 �17 2 July Sunday 1899 3 July Monday �18 7 July Tuesday 1899 Artimus and I drove up to Bells for Marjorie to come home with me and help milk the cows while Grace goes to Kingston to visit the Gaskins for a week. This is a queer old world any way. It keeps one on the [pump?] all the time to keep up the race for others, but I enjoy the drive, find every thing most beautiful all along the road, grain crops are fine. Drive around by John O’Briens arrived at Bells at 8 am. 5 July Wednesday A fine day. Grace preparing to go to Kingston to stay a week. �19 6 July Tuesday 1899 Arose at 1/2 past 4 this morning. Every thing in readiness for Grace to go to Kingston to be gone a week leaving me and the three youngsters. Marjorie is good tempered but I expect a good deal of sparring and picking at each other by Maud and Arthur. When Arthur goes to the dock for the groceries I go to Wellies and stay till Arhtur returns. Did not know but Mrs Watson would come but happy to know he didn’t come, sent 13 lbs to market of butter. 7 Friday July 1899 A very fine day but Arthur and Maud kicked over the traces first thing lowered Mauds temperature all right but Artie holds spite longer, but willing to help only finds it hard to bring so much water for the hogs so I help bring water from the river. Mail Whig Montreal Stx and Herald and a letter from Helen Watson. �20 July Saturday 1899 The girls clean the floors. A very hot day. I wish it would rain. George Williams drove in here this evening with Wellie and took old Jim horse away. He will get wet for it looks like rain and a fire fly in the window curtains. 9 July Sunday 1899 A very wet day and last night from 7pm till 2 am it thundered and lightened [sic] awfully chrash [sic] after crash of thunder accompanied with briliant flashes of lightning and then continued to rain all night. So we are never forgotten; in our dire distress for rain, it came pouring down in plenty filling boiler, tub, all the pails. What a saturating the Earth did get, now potatoes, corn and every garden will grow: a long lonesome Sunday, wood scarce and wet so burn a scuttle of coal. I read to the children Maud, Marjorie & Arthur �21 Monday 10 July 1899 A fine day after the rain. Maud done a big washing lines full of clothes. I hoed the garden and popcorn. Arthur & I set out cabbage plants till dark. The girls pick a bowl of berries for tea. Tuesday 11 July 1899 The girls done a great ironing and picked berries enough for 2 two quart cans. Our flowers are begining [sic] to bloom poppies, &c. Will working for Niles. Wellie working for Rattray. Evening mail a letter from Wells Sr, Devolson, Miss Kate Knapp a postal from Grace saying she is going to Ogdensburg Thursday a postal from Nellie Grey saying what a grand time Grace is having and how sweet she looks and how she takes the shine off the "Miss G’s" (Nellie ought to have said the Misses G) but better have not said any thing about it, it sounds foolish, silly. I sent Grace a letter from home. �22 Wednesday 12 July 1899 A fine morning. 5 minutes to six when I arose at nearly six. Maud & Marjorie finish ironing and pick berries. I hoe a few potatoes. John Coxall here to borrow a pig box. John told me that Frank Woodman’s cows - ten of them, he (John) drove out of our grain this morning and drove them into Franks pasture and shut Franks bars that Bob Reid had & sent left open when Bob drove out last night. I wrote Frank a note. Wellie "blowed" Frank up. Frank at dark was again driving his cows home from out the road. Will McDonel Sr came for 4 pigs, sold them for 11 dollars per pan. We going to buy feed for the others. We put all our cows in the stable to night. Thursday 1 July 1899 A bright breezy day arose at 1/2 past 5, called the youngsters. They turned the cows out the stable and milked them in the barnyard and then drove them into the pasture. They had been in pasture about ten minutes when Charley Dixon came over to say he had just driven old blue cow & the black one out of the grain. I gave Charley a boquet for the dinner table and told him to come back and get some berries. He came brining me three new laid eggs. Arhtur cleaned the pig pen which is horrible filthy. Fell and hurt my hip while pulling weeds for the pigs so I am very lame. Will went to bay for tobaco bought a lb of butter of me. Irene churned. Dont make much butter. �23 Friday 14 July 1899 Wellie came last night for the buggy and express order from Voltie, $16. Eveline is going to take it to Grace in Kingston for Grace to get the money for it to pay Rattray. We put the cows in the stable again last night. I didn’t sleep any last night in such pain from falling couldn’t rest; but I went down cellar this morning and skimmed the milk and washed the pans and got the breakfast. Arthur don’t like to work only as he is ruged and pooped; The blue cow in the grain again and he wouldn’t have known it if John Coxall had not called to him, and after he has been told so many times to watch that cow. Marjorie is cleaning pantry floor and the steps. Wess didn’t come and I’m so glad and so is Maud. We never want to see him again. �24 Saturday 15 July 1899 1899 It rained at evening timie and all night but caught no water for the tub and boiler were not set out. Sunday 16 July 1899 Grace was going to drive up with Marjorie but the rain prevented. �25 Monday 17 July 1899 Grace after picking a few quarts of berries for Belle drove up to Bills with Marjorie and returned bringing Grace home with her. Tuesday (1899) 18 July �26 Wednesday 19 July 1899 Thursday 20th July 1899 Arthur drove to dock this morning with Grace only carrying 12 lbs of butter. A warm cloudy lonesome day. Two youngsters, Arthur & Gracie both troublesome and noisy: if only Arthur here it would be all right but Grace is a terror. After the work was all done I took the hoe and went to the tater patch to hoe taters. �27 Friday 21 July 1899 A fine breezy day, wind South. Grace washes a few things and I hoe potatoes. Evening Mail Whig, Herrald, & Saturday Evening Post. A letter from Voltie and one from John with a letter from Mrs Lindley and a few lines from Flora. Grace received a letter from Bob of course. I was so tired couldn’t read much but went to bed and slept soundly all night. Saturday 22 July 1899 A fine day. Grace cleaned floors while I churned and made butter prints 2 for Mrs Woodman and one for Eveline. after working around the house went to hoe potatoes and hoe till supper time. And go to bed tired enough after washing dishes. �28 Sunday 23rd July 1899 A clear cool day, wind North and breezy. Arthur and I alone nearly all day. Grace drives to Bells for Maud taking Gracie with her, came back towards night bringing Gracie back with her and Beatrice also. Charley Dixon came over for ice cream freezer and ice. I had no freezer but he got a pail of ice. Arthur and I picked a few raspberries for tea. Grace came early bringing Maud, Beatrice and wee Grace came back again. Mrs Niles came and Inez & Lulu Niles, a homely young one of Geo Niles. Wallace came to & he and Grace went over to Wills for Ice Cream. Monday 24 July 1889 Grace sick this morning of indigestion. After yesterdays Debauch of driving up to Belles through the heat, eating hot yeast bread and honey with ice cream at Wills & then must be so flat as too smoke a whiff or two of Well’s dirty cigar. I have read somewhere that sickness is a disgrace and I believe it. I and Maud done big washing and hung them early on the line, cooked, hoed & cleaning. Sold Frank Woodman a pound of butter but Geo Snub but no money forthcoming. I may never get it; Will Dixon went to Millens bay this morning. Let Arthur go with him didn’t get back till 1/2 past 10 am. Will �29 a jug of cider of H Dodge and crackers and cloth. Wellie is drawing in Wells hay. Grace abed all day, a very hot day. Tuesday 25 July 1899 A breezy day from the south. Wellie here plowing out potatoes. Arthur pairs greened the potatoes and cut burrdocks but he dont like to work but likes pan cakes and all the green apples he can get. Well’s mad, says "what the deval [sic] do you keep so many young ones around for, send three of them home and lower your family expenses about half. I guess he is right. Grace is better and is sewing making Irene a waist. Irene washed more clothes and hung them on the line. Maud done big ironing and cleaned up the parlor &c. My flower garden is fine. �30 Wednesday 26 July 1899 Another hot day. Sold John Coxall one pound butter for Samy’s folks 23 cts, churned and made 8 lbs butter for market. So warm could with difficulty make it out, wish it would rain. Hand cleaned the chamber. Arthur lazy ickle boy a nuisance, wants to eat all the time between meals. Grace had to hide the cookies. I wish he was in Kingston, wont have him around another summer if all is right. I dont believe I mean what I write about Artimus poor little imp got no mother, pretty good boy after all only sometimes I loose [sic] patience. Thursday 27 July 1899 A very warm day. Artemus drives to dock with Grace, Beatrice, Maud & I work around all day (& also Arthur) preparing to receive our city guest Mrs Gaskin. I and Arthur clean cellar and platform door, steps to cellar more and arange [sic] all the flowers. Arthur drove for them. Grace came limping. The lovely Mrs G Well how do I like her? Will �31 tell you much better at the close of her visit. Watson & Ben came too but stoped [sic] all night at Wells. Friday 28 July 1899 Grace hung the hammock between the trees and our guest with book in hand comfortably took to the hamock [sic] and read and slept to her hearts satisfaction after dinner. Mrs G and Grace wandered off down among the raspberries, came back with a bowl of berries for tea and then drove to the foot of Island, came back at bed time. Wesley Watson & Ben came this morning and his gabble gabber is going all day. Ben is sick, ate so much to fill himself up. Saturday 29 July 1899 A fine day. After breakfast Grace drove to village with Miss G taking Beatrice & Gracie home and after posting letters drove back to Bells where they stay till 5 pm then drove home bringing Irene with them for an indefinite length of visit. Wallace came in evening and gets acquainted very fast with Miss G. I think when she calls me in the parlor and tells me that Will Niles is putting his arm around her. Watson and Ben gone to bed. Ben pretty sick. Asked Watson what he drags that young kid around for �32 Sunday 30th July 1899 A fine day. After breakfast Maud and Irene go to Sunday school. Grace and Miss G go to church service. Watson tries to get passage for himself and Ben with the preacher but fails. After dinner Grace and Miss G drive to English church service taking Ben and Watson’s bag with them while Watson gets a ride to the church with Percy Gillespie and from church gets a passage with his Reverence (Mr Dibbs) who drops Watson, Bell and the bag at Bells. There they stay all night. Ben was sick all the time even when he left here. But I enjoyed Watson brief visit with his Biology and Botany. Wish I was the happy possessor of the Botany, the price of the book one dollar. Lazy old Watson can have it but not I. Wallace here again this evening and Will & Charley. Miss G cant sing, cant play. Watson raked. Verona people bald headed, low immoral beastly set so said Wess. �33 Monday 31 July 1899 A fine day. Wellie reaping & binding oats. A novel sight for Miss G never before having seen any farming done. Wellie wouldn’t stay to dinner nor to supper. Aunt Ruth sends Viola for two lbs of butter. Charley Woodman bought 1 lb butter, 23 per lb, dont have to take butter to market any more - sell it all to our neighbors dont make much anyway. Grace, Miss G and Wallace make ice cream in the cellar, old blue tail gets in the grain so many times I cant keep a record - keeps Arthur on the pimp. Grace invited Shell and Jen Gordon Wall and Jack to ice cream. Wall came of course but Shell scorned the invitation by going instead to visit Mary Farr Joslin all right Shell Niles. Jen Dixon sends over Charley for butter - one lb and send a two dollar bill. We couldnt change so didn’t get pay for butter. �34 Tuesday. A fine day for the 1st of August 1899. Wellie finish binding oats in the field, he came in and I introduced my son Wells to Miss G. After breakfast, Grace & her guest visit Eveline and stay to dinner. Jr eats his dinner here. After they return at 1 oclock pm by invitation. They drive up to Wm G Woodmans for a visit where Miss G has a delightful time for Wm & Mary make the visit very entertaining by a description of Watson’s bride, the marriage and the brides trosseau and also told Grace that Watson has obtained the Marysville school for the remainder of the year. If true there will be a sequal [sic]. They had for tea hot rolls and honey. Mrs George Woodman very sick. Wednesday 2nd August 1899 A cool day but bright and clear. Weather very dry, roads terrible for dust, pastures brown and bare enough every cow in the country going dry. Will Young ones carry water from river now every day. Wellie working home to day. After dinner Grace and Miss G driver over to Breakeys to deliver a letter to a youong lady boarder named Miss Watson which had been given to and an �35 opened by Maud by mistake. from Breakeys, they drove to Montgomerys for an afternoon visit. They return at sunsest and without ever coming into the house go to call on the Niles family. They found Shell and Gordon on the river in skiff where they proceeded to remain till "we sins" returned home accompanied by Wallace and Jim Maloney who stayed till 10 oclock pm, and of course we have to get up early tomorrow morning, boat leaves our doct at 1/2 past 5 am. Viola here for butter churn and send Maud with it. Sam pays for Franks butter that Frank got a week ago. Thursday 3rd August 1899 A fine day. Get up at 4 and hustle, a heavy fog envelopes every surounding [sic] object like a shroud. But Arthur gets out and hunts around for Bess to drive to dock at last with bundle and baggage and great bunches of flowers. Arthur drives away with them, good bye. I’m glad you are gone. This has been a tough week for me but I’m alive and kicking all right: haven’t been so happy and free in a week. Grace didnt’ want to go to town today but was afraid �36 to go for binding twine bought 4 more for Voltie and two for Wellie which makes ten balls altogether all paid for with Volties money. Mab is a good girl enough but crude, unrefined, no accomplishments whatever, dont play piano, dont sing, not artistic by way of any kind of crochet, knitting, needle work, no painting or drawing, cant dance but at same time would like to assume a great many high bred airs. No substantial solid reading, only novels, but a good common neat home keeper and as near as I can learn this is the first time she ever was away from home. For all that Mabel is a good girl but is sadly deficient in fine training. There is nothing like good books which elevate the mind with a certain amount of travel for a girl and again a determined persistence in self culture which certainly will work wonders by unfolding the mind to the beauties of art and especialy nature in all varied forms for our heroin has not even a common delight in flowers, that great source of pleasure to most common minds. But how i have anyilzed [sic], criticised. I ought to be ashamed of my �37 self but who will ever see my old diary. They were all so very good to Grace when she visited in Kingston. Oh well, I like her herself. Tis night again. Grace is home once more. The Wormwiths came down this pm to board at Brekey’s. Twelve boarders there now. Friday 4 August 1899 A fine day. Grace done a big washing. Wellie binding wheat till 4 pm, then went home. Arthur setting up bundles. Grace towards night fall drives over to Breakeys. Brings Miss May Wormwith home with her. I am pleased to see her. Have not seen May in long time: find her as pretty and dainty and refined as she was two years years [sic] ago. The little aristocrat. Wallace put in an appearance and though acquainted with May seemed as abashed and awed by her presence as though she was a princess. Well our guest stayed till 10 pm. When Grace drove back to Breakeys with her accompanied by Wallace to drive the horse home for Grace. Grace promising to take May to church �38 Sunday. I churned a few lbs butter. Voltie wrote that those pictures are now at the Cape. Saturday 5 August 1899 A fine day except the west wind is blowing a gale. When just as we had our Saturday work all done and Arthur setting up wheat, Belle drove down home with old Dan hitched to the double buggy bringing Charles Jr, Gracie B & Cathline going to stay all night. Sold Eveline a pound of butter. Eveline sent cucumbers and eggs. Eveline good girl. Jen sent Sylvia down for a pound of butter and to accomodate her. I churned after dark and sent Maud with it all right 23 cents. At last all abed and asleep then Charles Jr, the night walker all unconscious of himself came and crept into bed with me and never awoke till 9 o’clock am and was much surprised to find himself in a strange bed. PS We had our first mess of green corn to day. Sunday 6 August 1899 A hot day, a scorcher. Arose at six am and get breakfast for nine all told. No one offers or makes a move about going to church. �39 to day. Oh no but Graces new hammock is put out for the pleasure of the Kidds and it gets a racket of course: dirty from soiled clothes and dirty shoes with broken cords and drawn warp. Oh it is a pretty looking thing now. There never yet was anything around this home but had to with stand a siege for of course every thing here is public, for the remark was made that Grace bought that hammock for the "quality" and of course the quality used it and now - well are right. Well after dinner. Bell became drowsy and went to bed. Grace went to bed and I dozed in the rocking chair on the veranda while the quality were quarelling and destroying the hammock, 5 at once. While I was comfortably sleeping in chair. A little sprite said "aunt rend mama wants to get some butter milk to make a Johny cake and looking up saw it was Lottie Dixon and impatient at being disturbed and so sleepy. I requested Irene to go down cellar, get the buttermilk telling her where she would find the crock on the back shelf and to �40 give Lottie all the buttermilk there was in the jar so Irene went down and took the cream jar from the table and emptied all the cream in to Lotties pail, which she took home at once to make Johny cake, when I as usual went to skim milk. I found the cream pot empty and by inquiring about the affair found that Irene had done the buisness [sic] and I immediately sent Irene over for my cream and behold Jen sent me back a 1/2 teacup full having used the rest for cooking purposes, cakes, cookies, Johnie cakes &c. Belle started for home about 4 oclock bag and bandbox leaving Irene behind. Wills folks mad because Bell didn’t carry her grandmother up home with her. After Bell was gone Grace drove over to Breakeys and took May out for a drive down the island and back again. May was coming home with Grace to stay all night while I was washing the milk pails who should present himself but his reverence Mr Weese, then I cast all care and work aside to talk with his reverence till 10 pm when he took leave for Mrs Niles to stay �41 over night. Grace drove in just as the preacher left and so we go to bed. Grace tomorrow going to the villiage [sic] for groceries for Wellie is going to draw in grain and build stack Tuesday Monday 4 August 1899 A dry day, wind North. Arose at 1/2 past 5 am found old bue and 5 of Franks horses in Volties oats. Set Prince on the cow chased her around and around the fence and away up by the church and there she stood still and let the dogs bark all they wanted too till Arthur went with Rachel and drove her out into the pasture. Then Grace sent him for Bess to drive to the villiage while Bob Reid was driving Franks horses out the grain. And Arthur thinking Bess was in the grain too, caught Frank’s old mare Doll and put her in the stable and gave her hay and oats, and discovered his mistake when he went to put the harness on her. Bob Reid called �42 to him when he was leading old doll out the oats, asking him what he was leading old doll for. But Arthur said it was Bell so Bob said no more. Arthur has just come back from Wellie’s where he has been to set up grain. Wellie came bringing the binder and waggon. Wellie is going to draw oats this pm. Maud and Irene gone over to Wills for our gobbler. He broke loose again. I dont know what proffit in trying to raise turkeys, from one gobbler and two hen turkeys we have got one little turkey. A woman is fishing here in front of the house sitting in a skiff & guess it is Alvira Burnham by the rig she wears and old tattered straw hat. Maud, Irene, Arthur and I do all the chores. Grace come at sundown could not get beef or scarely any thing close Tuesday 8 Auguast 1899 No rain, dry and cool. The face of nature is perishing for water. No rain of any account since 9th of July. Wellie drawing and stacking oats and wheat clared the field of all the bound grain. John Babcock helping him. After dinner �43 I walk over to Wills to see grandmother, find Wellington and Perley repairing the bridge where Rob Ranons had met with, what nearly proved to be a serious affair by his fast driven team breaking through plank, upsetting the waggon, throwing Bob one way and one of his horses falling down in harness, but after all done only badly shaken up. Found Mrs Niles at Jens sewing; making the little girls dresses. Jen & Mrs Niles have learned the art of cutting and making garments of a Mrs Haskins a "widdy" from Gananoque who is traveling around giving instruction in the art. A good thing for Jen, price $2.00 dollars with a chart. Stayed to tea: had taken Irene with me, found Inez N. There also at sundown Maud and Arthur came and so the noise which had been tremendious all afternoon, now became an uproar, a perfect pandemonium. Several vehicles passing up and down the road. Grace among the rest with Miss Wormworth from Breakeys going to Bamfords to visit for - dont know how long time. Wolfe Island has become a very unsafe place to live in especialy [sic} �44 in summer time, from invaders, city town. I walk home in evening, cool dusky and quiet, with millions of stars looking down upon this old dried parched earth with uncommon brilliance. Letters none only the Whig & Saturday Evening Post. Wednesday 9 August 1899 Clear cloudless day, wind North and pleasantly cool. Wellie & Babcock working at Wellies. Mrs Wormwith lies in bed quite late, consequently has breakfast alone and then while embroidering a patch swings in the hammock. Our poor little flower garden all dried up, sweet peas, phlox, asters, poppies. The day passes away like its uneventful predecessors excepting the children bring few pails water to water the flowers and Grace and May go driving and call upon Mrs William McDonel Jr of the Cheese factory, after which the return gossip awhile and retire for the night. Tomorrow morning we must arise at 4. Grace going to Kingston. John Coxal here after dark for a pound of butter. �45 Thursday 10th 1899 Aug A beautiful cool day. Arthur drove to dock with Grace. Miss Wormwith staying with me and proves to be a very companionable young lady and accomplished and gifted. Music painting, drawing are among the few acqirements a good litterary scholar. I work around all day cookign and doing general house work. Arthur turns the cows in ealry. Maud is going to drive to dock and is in hurry to get there. So they are going to get the milking done in time but old blue won’t stand so they chae the poor old beast all around the cow yard and then she comes through the gate and goes dashing through the front yard and they succeed at last in putting here in stable but will not put his head in the stancion: after they had whaled her long enough. I ordered them to turn her bck in pasture and let her go which �46 they did. When Grace came old blue was as docile as a lamb and gave nerly a pail full of milk. Miss W and Maud drove to dock for Grace. Grace paid Loucks $9 dollars for V & took the note. Laura John is come down from Woodstock to visit her uncle Almon. Suppose she will visit us next. Friday 17 August 1899 A day of extreme heat. It is so sultry dont feel like work. Men surely must suffer in the harvest field to day. Wellie is working for Geo Rattray. I churn about six lbs of good butter. Grace makes ice cream. Dr Stewart drove down to visit Miss Wormworth and stays to tea. Mrs Niles came accompanied by Miss Irwin, dirty and barefooted they stay for ice cream too. Dr S took the girls driving then and goes back to the villiage after dark. Mrs N should train that young daughter of hers to better manners or leave her at �47 home. After Grace & May return from their drive with Dr Stewart they go partly home with Mrs N through weeds and stuble. [sic] Grace requesting Inez next time she came down to wear shoes and stockings. May replying that she wanted to only "Ma was so darned stinking proud she wouldnt let her". Saturday 12 August 1899 Wellie binding oats here to day. A hot dry day, wind South. We all work steady and hard enough all day, except May who reads nearly all day. Arthur, Maude & Irene shock oats till the heat drives them homeward. The drought is a horror. Wellie says the boys are going this evening to cut peas by moon light, Will Robinson, John Babcock, Frank W and Bob Reid. I gave Wellie a lunch at 5 pm. Viola came for butter and paid 40 cents. Bernard came on his wheel. Joh Coxall came for butter. Wellie came for butter and then Will R & John Babcock came to cut peas but so dark cant see so John Coxall �48 entertains the company till 10 oclock when each take their butter and go home. Im sure I never saw May Wormworth laugh so much, as at John Coxall’s performance and so ends Saturday 12 Aug 1899 and we all go bed. Sunday 13th Aug 1899 A clear dry day. Grace and May go to church, go around the road by Samys. John Coxall runs out the gate dressed in a new suit and walks to church within them. Next thing after dinner, Grace & May drive to the English church and by the time I get the work done and dishes washed back they come again bringing Lill Runion with them. Miss Quinn having rode down with Bernard Morgan from the villiage as far as the english church where Bernard espied our rig and deposited Miss Quinn in our buggy till church service was closed. Well after supper Grace drives over to Breakeys with Miss Wormworth her visit here for the season being ended. Lill went also and after the dishes are washed and milking done, I get breathing time of an hour or �49 So, having worked hard all day think Ill not wait for Grace, but guess I go to bed when in wheels Bernard with Lills valise strapped to his bycicle [sic] and is here talking Regiopolis a whole hour before Grace and Lill return when they adjourn to the parlor to drum on piano and haw haw and tee hee till 11 pm when Bernard takes leave Monday 14 Aug 1899 Wind North, dry cool, no rain or any sign of rain. The earth brown, garden all dried up. Wellie binding oats. Hubert & Arthur setting up oats. Wellie wouldn’t stay to dinner. We had sucotash. Lill reads, sleeps, eats and thumps on piano. I churn this morning before breakfast. Grace up stairs taking a nap. Lill in hammock. Wellie after noon gets Arthur & Maud and Grace all out setting up oats. Maud �50 mad because she has to go. Irene dont want to go either. They say they’ll wear their shoes all out, and think so too. Arthur works like a hero. Wellie finishes binding for this year and summer 1899 and puts the binder in the machine house and then Wellie and Arthur set up all the oats in both fields which takes till after dark. Vill been working for Niles all day calls here on his way home. Piano drumming makes me tired. Dont believe I like music any more tis like an old song - worn out. Tuesday 15 Aug 1899 Another dry hot day. Wind North. Wellie working for Geo Rattray and affected with a tormenting great boil on his leg. Will worked half day for Niles and then rowed in Niles boat across the river looking for those pictures which makes 10 times we have expected to see them landed on this shore. I have no hopes of seeing them now. Grace and Lill went with him. Lon Dodge was going to the Cape �51 last night. Will and Grace came back as usual. Dodge found the freight house closed. Offered Will $1.25 to go to Cape Vincent. Cant go for he working for "by tunder" and Wall gone rowing one of Halliday’s boarders. Will brought cider and went back for 2 gallons more. Wellie going to have a moonlight bee cutting peas. Nobody came to the bee but Will & Wellie. Frank couldnt come his wife sick got hay fever. John Coxall says "Carty’s wife sick alle com" - "Franks wife sick allee com - no good". Evening visitors, Mr Wormworth, Miss Wormworth, Mr C Gill & Bernard Morgan and of course Miss Quinn. A great contrast between Miss W & Miss Q, Miss W below the medium size, dark, plump, black eyes & and hair, brilliant acomplished, quiet manners, Lady like, Warmly attached to her few friends, retiring not putting herself forward. Miss Q is tall, thin, very fine complection if her health was good, abundant chestnut colored hair, free in manner to familiarity making friends with every one, mind shallow, no depth. Eyes �52 pale blue and weak. Poor Lill, good girl works hard in Crumley’s store till she looks like a ghost, accomplished needle woman at dressmaking, millinery, mantle making &c, wants to marry but bestows her attentions equally upon Bob Ramons or Bernard Morgan or whatever young man happens around. We got supper for Will, Wellie, Charley, Arthur, Lill and myself, Maud & Irene. The Wormworths and Gills & Bernhard went home by moonlight on their wheels, long before our midnight meal of thanks for the [phrots?] of Northern Wave. Enclosed in Graces letter Trent sends Bob a note. Wednesday 16 Aug 1899 No rain, dry hot scorching weather. The inhabitants along the shore of old St Lawrence ought to feel gratefull that they are privileged to look upon its vast volume of water as it unceasingly flows onward day after day, idle tourists in fishing boats lazily drift drift [sic] up and down along the shore. Lill and Irene gone down to Wellies visiting and sewing. Grace washing. Im roasting a hen for dinner. Wellie cutting peas. Little colt got cut in barbed wire yesterday, poor thing �53 Wells Jr will not stay to dinner goes home: has so many hogs to feed: we prepared good dinner roast fowl, potatoes, gravy, boiled corn on cob, rice with cream and egg, with white frosting buns & butter cookies. Lill dressed in her bathing suit goes bathing along with Arthur, Maud and Irene H. Lill (poor Lill) looks like a "shite poke" or mud hen if she dont get some fat on those bones of hers whe will not stay on earth long time. Grace took a long nap after dinner, While Lill sat with me on veranda and told me how the young men admire her beauty, how one young man told some other young man, that Miss Quinn is the best looking girl he ever saw. After tea Grace takes Lill out for a drive to the foot of the Island and I write letters to Voltie and his father. �54 Thursday 17 Aug 1899 Another day of blazing heat, a scorcher. Grace, Lill and Arthur embark aboard the Pierpont. Lill going to stop at Halliday’s which leaves Maud, Irene Jr & Irene Sr at home. Maud drove the trio to the steamboat and then we fed hogs bringing part of the drink from the river. Irene Sr milked 2 cows, Irene Jr one & Maud one. The flies torment the cows by thousands. I milk 3 cows at evening. Grace came home bringing no one with her for a wonder except Arthur. Wellie went to Kingston to day for first time this summer. Friday 18 Aug 1899 A dry hot day, wind south. Will working for Niles. Grace cuts and makes June’s cape: my shoes are to small. I patch Irenes dress and apron, she is going home tomorrow. I patched her apron in twenty places and then more holes not �55 Sylvia Woodman came for butter one lb, dirtiest butter cloth ever saw, looks as though Samuel Roswell had moped [sic] the floor with it. Mail Whig, Herrald, Ladies World letter from Sr, one from V, none from _ A postal from WFW saying he is at Otaway Normal school. Saturday 19 Aug 1899 Another dry scorching day. I work all fore noon wash some clothes, churn &c. After dinner Arthur, Irene and I drive Bess to Bells cant drive fast, so very hot with scarcely any air stiring, find every farmer out working at the harvest which is a bountiful one this year, some reaping, some reaping & binding, some drawing and stacking, some cutting peas (a heavy crop this year), one man was plowing through ground dry as powder. Leaves are dropping off trees and drying up. Henesey’s orchard all drying up but the grain harvest is grand every where. Arrived at Bells about 1/2 past 3 pm, found Bell and children well and very scantily �56 attired on account of heat. 3 hired men working at Charleys harvest and and [sic] he off rowing his mothers old boarders when like a man he ought to be at home tending to his work. Old Aunt Margaret cant walk a step nor lift a hand but sits propped up in chair like a dead body groaning with pain, and keeping boarders yelling out her household orders in that high pitched squeaky voice of hers "There fly around now", "Pare these apples", "Come bring that water here see what these hired girls are doing . They aint doin a thing..Aunt Mary Saunders says she wishes Margaret would die and get along out of the world before she (Aunt Mary) goes home to Buffalo and then all this turmolt and bedlam about boarders would stop and her grasping avericious hogishness would end for this world any way. Well has staid till after sun set and drove home by moonlight arriving at 10 pm, found the family of 2 up (Grace and Maud) and Jen here. We met and past six rigs coming down one lighted bycicle and passed by Geo Rattrays new steam thresher drawn by 8 �57 A hot dry day, hottest of the season, thermometer 99 in shade, the smoke and heat is suffocating. We scarcely light a fire all day no [raind?] not a [grehpys?]. Oh the heat is intense, guess I’ll go down cellar and cool. Bernard came for butter 2 lbs at 25 cts per lb. Grace and the youngones were just going to drive out for a breath of cool evening air when BM drove in so while I was getting the butter, Grace drove with Bernard and Maud and Arthur drove after them with Beas Monday 21 Aug 1899 Hot dry but breezy fro South. Barometer falling past change. Wellie here drawing and stacking. Babcock helping him. Maud went to school this morning. A powerful wind blowing for an hour or more, kicks up a terrible dust all over the country for two hours or more scattering apples but sand �58 Tuesday 22 Aug 1899 A hot dry day, no rain for a long time. Grace done a big washing, lines full. Grace, Maud and Arthur bring part of the water last night. yesterdays and blew the peas away over in Franks pasture and Wellie & Babcock are drawing and stacking every thing to day finished at 4 pm, harvesting all done. Wednesday 23rd Aug 1899 Hot dry day. Babcock came up after dinner for buggy. Eveline going to the villiage [sic] for groceries. Expect the threshers there on Saturday. Muriel and Clyde came up to stay all after noon till Eveline’s return. Arthur goes down and stays with Hubert to watch cows. Eveline come back at 8 pm and brings me a letter from Belle which is an eye opener surely �59 Thursday 24 Aug 1899 A cloudy morning arose at 4. Grace going to drive to the villiage and Hattie & Laura meets her at the road and goes with her. The great Cathoic pickine at the villiage to day. Grace goes across to the city and sends down the groceries for the threshers dinner Saturday and Phillips sends down the coal stove at last & Wellie drives over to it and he and Babcock puts it together as well as they know how but so much fixing it. Cloudy in morning but clears. Well Grace comes home at three am Friday morning leaving Hat and Lorie at the road wher e she picked them up in the morning. Friday 25 Aug 1899 A scorcher of a day, no rain but dry and hot. We expected the thresher here tomorrow and have cooked beef and stewed pumpkin for pies but Arthur came back from Wellies and said the machine has broken down, smashed the Concave and have to go for repairs so not be here tomorrow. Grace ironing and putting up the curtains ironed all day. I churned. �60 Saturday 26 Aug 1899 A dry hot day. Wind south. We work all fore noon like dickens. After dinner Grace hitches up Bess and drives once to Henrys Hallidays for Miss Anna Chapman (one of Hallidays Boarders) who is going to visit. Belle and Grace is requested to come up and help entertain the young Lady from Washington D.C. Oh- I’m angry. Grace is always going and entertaining. Oh for the good old days that are gone forever. George, Wellie & KWM came and finished putting the coal stove together. Will said he has been acro? Sunday 27 Aug 1899 The day hot dry and lonesome. Maud, Arthur and I are alone all day except Frank Bamford stoped here for a few minutes on his way home from JN’s. Maud went to Church and sabath school. Grace returned home just after dark. She would have come earlier but she drove in to Mrs Hallidays with Miss Chapman and staid to tea and ice cream. Grace brought a letter from Voltie and the Saturday post which she brought from the villiage. We were just going to bed when Will, Jen and Charley came. I suppose they came over to see the new stove says she was 40 cans of fruit. �61 Monday 28 Aug 1899 The day intensly [sic] hot wind North, no rain yet; all vegetation near dead and dried up. Maud at school. Irene churns. Wellie at Dignams threshing. Cattle wading in the river and standing to their backs nearly all day. So hot Muriel came home from school at 1/2 past 2 pm, not very well; been eating black cherries. We expected the threshing machine here to day or this afternoon but it did not come. (continued from this page in Book #3-18 Tuesday 29 Aug 1899 A hot dry scarcly [sic] a breath of air stirring. Sent Arthur to Wellies to learn when the machine would set up. couldn’t tell our beef not very good or enough of it for the men. Arthur and Hattie ran down two hens and chopped of their heads. Irene scalded and striped off their feathers in double quick time - when dissecting them for the dinner pot found them full of eggs. Two ready for lay so packed them with the others for winter. The machine came limbering along after dinner and all hands here so busy �62 [back cover with seal\ Red Rope Magazine Binder Manufactured by Gaylord Bros. Inc. Syracuse, N.Y. Stockton, Calif. �63 �This document would not be possible without the editorial contributions of the following people: Ann Hopkinson, Eric Irvine, MaryV, carol ann, and Queen’s University Archives � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Subject The topic of the resource 19th and 20th Century Rural Ontario Diaries Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1887-1922 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Table Of Contents A list of subunits of the resource. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1887 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1888-1889 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1889-1897 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1890 March - June Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1893-1895 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1895-1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1896 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1897-1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899-1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902, 1906 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902-1909 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1904-1905 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1907 & 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1908-1919 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1911 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913-1914 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1915-1916 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1916-1917 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1917-1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1921-1922 Language A language of the resource English Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1899 Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 19th Century, Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Date Created Date of creation of the resource. June 14th, 1899 Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Typed Transcription UG Transcription Progress Scripto transcription progress Done transcribed https://ruraldiaries.lib.uoguelph.ca/transcribe/files/original/00e81ffade486a57f5d93fa7655b2f04.pdf 6610b90732c72aeb771ab1a373b897a2 PDF Text Text Irene Dixon Bamford 1898, Diary Transcription 5034_4-1-8 �Metadata FromThePage export of 5034_4-1-8 from Irene Dixon Bamford made on 2026-02-11 14:35:15 UTC. itemTitle: April-October 1898 date: 1898 Title: 5034_4-1-8 Description: Item is a diary. Created On: 2024-01-11 17:31:48 UTC In Scope: true Uploaded Filename: 5034_4-1-8 �1 [file folder titles/dates] Irene Dixon Bamford Diary April-October 1898 [Queens date stamp] Queen’s University Archives Locator 5034.4 Box 1 File 8 �2 B - read April - October 1898 �3 �4 5 Tuesday 5 April 1898 A raw chilly day. Rachel came over to get a letter indited to Mrs Hill Lafargeville. Did not want to write it. Finally consented but posponed [sic] it till tomorrow R stayed to tea. Maud went to post office Returned letter to Sr. and newspapers from [?] and the Whig. 6 April Wednesday 1898 A chilly morning. Wind N.W. Grace has a boil on her arm. Maud went to School. Teachers are going home tomorrow for Easter hollidays [sic]. Devolson drove over for grandmother. This is the first time she has been here in two years. Volty arranged his pig pen and put the pigs in two seperate pens and after dinner plowed. A chilly evening. Maud got a half pail of sap from the trees. I wrote a letter for Rachel to Mattie Smith Hill. �5 Thursday April 7 1898. A fine spring day. Wind N.W. Volty drove to dock with Grace, six doz. eggs for market and 5 doz for Eveline. Volty plowing between here and Uncle Sam’s. Maude an industrious little girl all day Irene cooked and washed dishes. Maud went to the dock with Volty this evening. Will and Charley went to the nets found one perch which they put back in the river. V ran the net this morning and got two perch which I cooked for dinner. George Niles went away to day. V brought Mart and Geo Horn’s photoes [sic] from the boat. Evening Grand mother telling ghost and witch stories to Will, Charlie, Voltie and Maud. �6 Friday 8 April 1898 A very fine day froze last night. I work all day at cooking & washing dishes. Wm Willmill and Mary came and stopped at Evelines. Wolmill came here after stoping at Will Dixon’s. came upon the road and talked with the boys where they were blowing. Granny reading all day; after dinner Maud went to Wills visiting stay till mail time: A letter from Sr and one from Mart to senior and two from the Rathburn Co. Frank, Will and Voltie playing cornets in kitchen, a great imprvement since last fall (Charlie here too Jim and Wall were here also. fire in coal stove gone out this morning �7 Saturday 9th April 1898 A beautiful spring day. Voltie plowed till 3 Oclock. Will came over and they went to Marysville to band practice. Frank and Will Robertson drove up to the village. Will going home for Easter. Wells Jr came up to get blacksmith done. We have maple syrup for supper which I expect will be the last of the season. V carried 3 doz eggs to the village. This is a poor pen. Sunday Monday 11 April 1898 A beautiful spring day. Volty finished plowing the big field. Maud and I sowed cabbage and two kinds of lettuce, cooked and done house work. Muriel and Hubert came up and brought butter, dutch cheese and 4 pans. Volty & Wallace go spearing fish in evening. Frank and Will Robertson here the eve. Maud went to Wills for yeast 10 delay and V and Wall not come guess I go to bed. �8 Sunday 10 April 1898 Made a mistake in writing. Mondays work for Sunday. Sunday a beautiful warm day. After dinner Maud and I go to the cedars to look for may flowers when I return. I am very tired so li down while Maud and Flora get the tea. Will goes over to L Dodges for corn comes home at sunset all night. Monday 11 April 1898 �9 Tuesday 12 April 1898 A fine day, warm day. V cultivated field for wheat. Will run his nets got fish. We had fish for dinner. V and Wallace speared the biggest ell [sic] measured over a yard. Grannie finished reading the Mountain mystery. Rachel went to V visiting. Leo’s Border came called here on his way to Spaffords from no one knows where, hes been missing for a time. Maud and Flora went to the snow woods for flowers but got none. Wednesday 18 April 1898 A pleasant warm dry day. V sowing wheat. Jr here cultivating in the wheat, ate dinner here and worked till 5 Oclock pm. Hubert here all day and helped Maud pick up chips. Grandmother picking over peas. Maud and Muriel go to Burnhams woods for May flowers, came back in time to help set table. Frank Woodman here in evening. Would like to do something beside house work but can get no time. Will gave fish 2 a sucker and pike. �10 Thursday 14 April 1898 A cool pleasant day, clouds gathering from the South. Barometer falling. Wind N.E. and brisk. Wellie helping V this am, ate dinner here and then went home. V fixed an iron for Frank 25 cts. Granny has finished the "Mountain mystery" 600 pages and is now reading "In Buncome County" after sorting peas. Hubert came up for his gum and mittens. Will gone to Kingston on Pierpont. I brought water from the dinner river Friday 15 April 1898 No rain, cold chilly wind from North. V preparing ground for sowing grain. Granny reading Buncome. Volty, Welly and Will doctoring Jess for colic all p.m. Thought she’d die but better toward night. Wellie came again in evening and stayed till bed time. Will here and V and Wm practiced their music lessons till 1/2 past nine We read in evening papers that war is declared between US & Spain. Maud goes to Eveline’s to get her apron stitched �11 Saturday 16 April 1898 sent 5 doz eggs. A fine day, no rain. V run the nets and got 2 pike and a sturgeon on a Will and Charley came shortly after and in the other nets and got a pail full of perch. V planted potatoes all am and pm fited pea ground till 4 Oclock pm then done chores and he and Frank go to Village to practice. R came over and brought soap, gave her a mess of potatoes and beans. Sunday April 17 - 1898 A fine day, wind South dry, no rain. Awake this morning to find Grace at home. Belle and the children awake to find her gone. V and G came last or this am at 2 Oclock within the week. Eveline has sent milk, buttermilk, butter, apples dutch cheese &c &c. Maud went home with Muriel and Hubert. Grace went to church. after church Grace went to Evelines from there to Wills. Jen and Will coming home with Grace and Maud. I get supper for Granny. V and I evening practice Jen, Will and Frank Woodman. I write a letter to Flora Bamford which I will finish later on �12 [hand scribed in pencil] 1948 1897 55 Monday 18 April 1898 A very fine day but dry cannot wash for the wash tub has nearly fallen down. V, and G, take the tub to river, put it in the water and fill it with stones. Grace and Maud sweeps the door yard. Grace has pain in side and hes down 8 hours. Set a hen on 18 eggs. Lottie brought seeds, top onions and melon seeds. Tuesday 19 April 1898 A cloudy morning looks like rain. Grace washes all forenoon lines full of clothes. After noon Grace and Maud drive to Belles with Bess and dog carp carrying vinegar and strawberry plants plants &c Irene washes aprons and other things, comes on to rain. Reuben called here leaving his skiff on shore, been up to Montgomery to pick up the fragment of his buggy that was broken yesterday when his horse ran away after wrenching himself free from the gate post where Rube had �13 hitched him. Volty cultivating in peas through the rain. Rain continues all afternoon and evening. Grace and Maud do not return home this eve as they intended. In the evening rains so fiercely that V does not go for mail but toots his horn instead. 20 April 1898 Wednesday morning, a cloudy morning but no rain, wind South and rising and cold. V plowing by the Church. Wellie came for grain to grind and sow. Went from here to Rattrays with double team and waggon to get grinding done. Maud and Grace return at 10 a.m. V works in field till 3 pm then goes to Wellies to help butcher. Belle sent me beans, pork, buttermilk and cream and some very choice flower seeds, gourds and purple morning Glories. Grand has no tobac and she is going to travel right off. Grace set a hen on 10 eggs. A cold raw April day a letter from Jess rec’d �14 Thursday 21st April 1898 A cloudy morning, wind hushed and gone to sleep after last night blowing half a gale. Grass growing and bright green covers our yard. Volty gone to Wellies early this morning to drive him to the dock. Wellie going to carry one pig to market. The apple trees are budding leaves. A rainy day. Rube came for his buggy top. Volty drove to the dock for Wellie. Edna sent me silk scraps and a beautiful bouquet of flowers the "royal George". Heard this evening that there will be a battle fought between U.S.A and Spain after V came home from the dock and done the chores he went to Ma Jr V to help them move their coal stove. A brilliant star lit night. After a day of rain and record squalls. �15 Friday 22 April 1898 A cloudy morning, began to sprinkle rain as Maud started for school. Rachel came over and brought salt and borrowed the garden rake. Grace went home with her for soap, yeast, cakes and sweet peas for Belle. After dinner Grace white washed the kitchen and cleaned part of the wood work. Ethel came over for starch and whiting. Grace used all tthe whiting. Grace made cookies and Irene made pumpkin pies, rained all afternoon. Jack Niles drove to scchool house for teacher and Moz and Maud came down with them. Volty and Wallace moved our coal store into the closet. Saturday 23rd 1898 April A soft mild morning, Wind North and light, warm enough to comfortably in garden field or yard. But Grace, Maud and [?] work within doors, cooking, cleaning kitchen, washing, wood work. After dinner and dishes washed, Grace and Maud raked the �16 front yard and burnt the rubish [sic]. Grace cleaned out the little arbor for flower beds and for the hammock. Wellie came and brought me butter, took Voltites skiff and rowed to Riverview for kerosine. Will and Charlie ran the nets, got a basket full of small fish (perch), gave me 6 fishes and gave Geo Gillespie some fish. Geo Gillespie here for raspberries bushes. Devolson transplated two plum trees (yellow egg). V goes to band practice, taking Jim Morgan with him from Rob Smiths. Will Dixon goes up with Frank Woodman came home at 1/2 past 2. I did not sleep very well. Volty heard potatoes falling in barrel down cellar; arose to investigate, found nothing - Spooks. A sun dog S of sun. V went to A Joslins for hay. 2 hundred Sunday 24 April 1898 Did not arise till late this morning. Grace and Maud had breakfast nearly ready when got out, rainy morning, wind North and cold. Grace and Maud go to church. Hattie Joslin came home with them ate dinner �17 with us. Grace goes home with Harriet and stays to tea. Rubin there. Hattie came over with Grace. R came over and stayed till late. Maud goes with her as far as Frank’s gate. I got supper. Cook eggs and boil potatoes. Evening visitors. Will Robertson, Will Dixon, Jen Dixon, Charlie Dixon. They stay till bed time. All go together Monday 25 April 1898. A cloudy, chilly day. Strong North wind. Grace and V arise early, breakfast, ready by 6 am. V goes to JN’s for seed drill. Frank came to borrow - something of V don’t know what. V working in field all day. Grace goes to Ev’s for our track puller came back, brought butter. Grace took carpet off dining room floor, done big washing hung them all on the line then made a garden bed for onion sets, multipliers and set them out . I cook beans, potatoes. and turnips made �18 aunt cakes. I borrowed sugar of Eveline. Lizzie H at E’s making E a wrapper. Grannie picking out sugar peas for Will. Lottie and Louise came over to bring their grandmother’s wardrobe and ask her when she is coming home, as they were instructed. Evening buglers. Will Dixon, Frank Woodman; practice till 10 O’clock p.m. Dry cold weather. Maud goes to SCHOOL. Will brought me a piece of butter. Tuesday 26 April 1898 Weather cool. Wind North and heavy. Grandmother picking sugar peas for Will, Maud gone to school, Grace moped [sic] dining room floor and is now writing a letter to Laura Joslin. Irene patching overalls for Devolson while he works in field. After dinner Grandmother reads "Romance of two Worlds". Wellie came up with team for grain. Lottie came over for white work finish. V finished the grain fields before the barn and cultivating by the Church. Grace lying down awhile. Grace is taking at �19 Our garden flower seeds came this eve. up carpet on sitting room floor. Grannie gone to bed in eve. V went to Wills with the horn blowers after going to JN to borrow a horse. Wednesday 27 April 1898 A chilly day, wind North. Irene sowed flower seeds. Grace worked carpet and sewed the east bed room carpet for the chamber. Maud at school. V with the Niles horse and Jesse is putting in oats. Grannie reads and goes to bed. Rachel came over for vinegar. Flora came after school and brougth butter milk and sugar, and we had pancakes for supper. WE go to bed early. There is no visitors. Knit or crochet 2 cross lambrequin went to W Boudreaus for [?] Thursday 28th April 1898 A cold chilly morning wind North. V went to JN’s for oats bought 4 bushels oats and JN offered to lend a horse to finish putting in the oats. V run fish net �20 got one perch and a pickerel which I dress for dinner. Granny’s reading and smoking. Cold and cloudless. Hubert came and brought butter. Friday 29 April 1898 sow indoor seeds in small boxes and sow flowor [sic] seeds, Phlox, Selocia [Celosia] and others. After dinner drive to Wellies with V to help E butcher three hogs for market. �21 Satuarday 30th April 1898 A fine day. Wind North but warm. Levi Border here to dinner. We read war news to the old man, poor old fellow going to get a fortune. Never will get any thing. Sunday 1 May 1898 A fine day. Grace went to Morgans in skiff with Will Robinson. Bernard Morgan here all afternoon and evening. Rachel here to dinner and supper. Will went over the river with Dev’ skiff went to dodges, went to carry Mr Levi Border across the river. Grace and Maud went to Church. Charley here too. Wellie here for exchanging milk cans. Van Bamford and Lib at Wellies all p.m. �22 Monday 2nd May 1898 Some what cloudy. Grace washed. I set the wormwood plant that Will gave me in the grove. Maud gone to school, made 3 boxes for gourds, had evening visitors. Viola Davis, Will Dixon, Frank Woodman here to practice music with Volty, Charley, Dixon here too. Dec plowed our flower garden and plowed and cultivated ground for potato planting. Charley brought me flowers from the woods. Tuesday 3rd May 1898 Rainy night and morning, cloudy all day and cool. Every thing looks like spring. Wheat up and growing. V all through sowing potatoes for seed in the s barn. I sowed Daisy and Aster seed & gourds. Grace got a bad cold. I sent 30 cts to Park for flower seeds, for Eveline, made pickles. Grace sewing carpet. I filled lounge tick with husks. Eveline sends lard by Maud last night. Birds are gaily singing. No letter from Wells. �23 Wednesday 4 May 1898 A rainy drizzling day, cold too. Clears up a little in afternoon. Devolson repairing fence down by Franks line. Welly here. I borrowed 6 cts for postage. Grace ironed all the clothes. Grace went to E’s for buttermilk. E sent us more butter. Eveline is a good girl. Thursday 5 May 1898 A cloudy day, weather cold enough to snow. Think it will snow. Wind north. Brought all the plants and pans of sowed seeds in door. Left them out last night for the first time this spring. Nearly ruined poor "Lilly bell". Dee drawing out manure. Grace taking up and tacking down carpet. Charley and Will here fixing hoes. Maud at school. Grandmother here reading all day "terbacker" all gone again. Charley came in for matches for Devolson �24 and told her there is a cigar stub out in the shop. Rachel gone to market with butter. No milk or butter for us yet. Devolson removed an apple tree which bears a sweet red apple, its is doubtful if it ever recovers the shock of transplanting. V fished for the shovel by Jack Light after dark then he and Frank went spearing, gone till 1/2 past 12, caught 1 eel, 1 sucker, 7 small perch. Very cold so brought in all the plants and seed pans. Friday 6 �25 Saturday 7 Sunday 8 �26 Monday 9 Tuesday 10 May 1898 So long ago since last wrote to in this diary nearly forgotten what transpired for a whole week past. We received letters from Wells and Dr Watty. We expected mail from Park seedsman but was disapointed [sic] Grace went for the mail. �27 Wednesday 11 May 1898 A beautiful warm day but afternoon windy and squalling from South. V planted potatoes all a.m. then washed the dirt from the buggy that had been on the buggy since last fall. V and Wm D left for Marysville band practice at 4 O’clock. They came home at 1 am through mud, wind and rain. Wednes evening Will, Volty & Charley went spearing for ells [sic] and got 6 ells and a sucker besides breaking the eel spear. Thursday 12 May 1898 Wall Niles here for eggs to get a loan. A rainy morning. V drove to dock with Grace with 17-1/2 doz eggs which she sold for $11.58. Rain cleared away about 12 oclock noon day. Maud home from school all day on account of rain. Volty slept 4 hours. Will Robinson here for post auger. Holly gone to Kingston too Drove to dock for grace. She didn’t get the money on the post office order. �28 Friday 13th May 1898 A fine morning. Afternoon breezy. Grace cleaning wood-work in dining room. Mrs Niles here for eggs got 15, paid 9 cts doz for 15. Irene came with her. Lollie came over to make an all day visit. V planted potatoes this a.m. and pm drew manure on corn land. Wind West and cool. Expected Eveline sow seeds but they came not. Saturday 14 May 1898 A fine day but this is a house of busy working from early morn till dewy eve. Will & Voltie start for band practice at 3, going to get there. Eli in time for marching: sent Marjorie a little note of thanks for those flower seeds the dear little girl. �29 Sunday 16 May A fine day and warm. After breakfast Maud and I wash the dishes and then go to Wills, found them all well. After dinner we all go to the back woods for flowers, found a heifer out there with a fine calf, a black and white bull calf. Came back, rested awhile and then came home. R came too. We had our tea at home so we read awhile, rest ourselves and all retire to rest peacefully Monday 16 May 1898 A fine warm day: Wind S and mild. V finished drawing names on potatoe ground. After noon plowed the ground for planting. Grace washed big washing and hung them on the line and one bed quilt. Irene does general house work and sows a few flower seeds. Grandmother read novel and then goes to bed. Will and Charley over here setting fish net. Rachel and Flora here for greens. Maud goes to school. �30 S Tuesday 17 May Wednesday 18 �31 Thursday May 19 1898 A rainy morning all the same. Volty drives to the dock with Grace. Friday May 20 1898 Grace papering up stair. Maud at school. I doing kitchen work all a.m. Grandmother reading James sketch book. V planting potatoes. After dinner and the dishes washed, I went to Evelines with V who is going to plow corn ground for Wellie. We stayed till after supper. Rachel stoped [sic] us on our return trip saying she coming over to stay all night for Grandmother has ran away while I am gone and came home again? Geo Williams is there also and acordingly [sic] she came over and also Marjorie who had [?] came down with the mail and surely when one goes another comes. But it is all right. �32 Saturday May 21 1898 A delightfully warm day south wind. Warm weather fortells thunder showers. Every tree, and all vegetation is so green with growth, that it more resembles the luxuriourance [sic] of the south land than Canada. A new milk cow today. Grace cleaning chamber ie papering, painting dining room floor tacked the carpet on the chamber floor. V, WallN and FW gone to band practice. A buisy [sic] day of labor all around the men were here selling bazar tickets. Grace bought one "Sister Mary Mabel" Sister Mary Thomas" from the house of providence. Sunday May 22 1898 A heavy thunder shower this morning. Every thing delightfuly fresh after the rain. V came home 1/2 past 2 a.m., slept till 7, done the chores in the rain, went gain to bed. Clears up fine at 10 am. Our orchard white with blossoms, the flower seeds coming up very well especialy those from England that my dear Helen gave me. Tarks seeds not so good. Grace making a lemon pie for dinner. Walked over to Wills �33 with Marjorie and Maud in tow. They were just eating dinner found John Niles Sr there getting his hair cut. We went to the woods ie Rachel, Will, D., Charlie D., Flora D., Ethel D., Lottie D., Louise D., and Majorie & Maud and myself, gathered wild flowers and Will dug ferns which I brought home. R & C came home with us: tea ready when we arrived: am very tired and we all retire early. Looks very much like rain. Monday 23rd May 1898 Arose at 1/2 past 5 a.m. raining hard. Go to the barn for potatoes and build fire and have breakfast nearly ready when Volty and Grace and the two youngsters get up. another heavy shower then clears up and the south wind blows a half gale from South all day. Marjorie & Maud go school. Grace washes all the clothes - sow some more flower seed and set out ferns and flowers. Our relatives from over the way were intending to cross over here to �34 go to Kingston tomorrow but wind and waves prevent. Fortunate for me. Another baby at Digmans next yonger than Laura. After school Maud goes to Wills for popcorn to finish planting a piece commenced. Two men here from Clayton to buy cattle. didn’t buy any. Tuesday 24 May 1898 Grace and Voltie drive to the villiage [sic]. Starting early to embark on board of ferry boat enroute for Kingston. Wolfe Island brass band are going to play to day in town. American soldiers and Canadian soldiers to day marching side by side bearing the Stars and Stripes aloft through the streets of Kingston, together with the Union Jack floating in the breeze. The Kingston 14 regiment band "Star spangled banner". Then the "Yankee lads" play "God save the Queen". Voltie came home at 12 midnight. Grace stoping [sic] in Kingston till Thursday. V drove her. She came home alone without bringing visitors but brought flowers from Mrs Marshalls flower garden when she went to call on poor Helen Watson �35 Saturday June 11th 1898 Nellie has been and gone. Maud has been and gone and much has transpired since I last wrote in this diary. Battles between United States have been fought, victories won. I don’t remember much which transpired between 24 and 28th of May which was on Saturday which was the very day that young Fred McKood, and Miss Reas who teaches school in the [?] school house came blundering in here while they were out airing themselves on the river, found no one at visible home except Grace who was scrubbing the dining room floor. Dont relish the uncerimonious [sic] visits of city clerks and school marms so early in the day. Saturday evening of the same day I drove up with Voltie (when he went to band practice) to Belles, found them well and pleased to see me, or appeared to. Belle and Charley were out milking the cows. The children were in doors taking care of the baby. Kathleen �36 well we had tea and went to bed. Arose early next morning, a fine morning. People going to church we admired the flowers in yard. We enjoyed a quiet sabath [sic] day. Callers - Miss Richardson teacher and two little Fosset girls, Hazzle and Hattie 30th Monday the children went to school till 3 O’clock p.m. when they came home and then we went to Browns woods for ferns (Beatrice, Fred and V). Belle printing butter for market. Charley drawing stone for a bridge. 31 Tuesday arose early. Belle going to Kingston to market while Beatrice and I do the work and tend the baby who is not very well - got a cold and is teething. About 10 Oclock. Grace and Marjorie came bringing Muriel with them. Grace and I get dinner, and supper while the children have great time playing. Then Charley drives to villiage [sic] for Belle and she comes just in time for supper. We have bananas for tea, about 5 Oclock p.m. We start on our homeward journey bringing little �37 Grace home with us who seems to enjoy the the drive along the beautiful country roads as much as the rest any of us. Home at last just as the sun is setting. Home home sweet home. how bright fresh and green is everything. I forgot we stay at the Wetmore place and gather flowers from the old deserted garden. Evening visitors Jimmie Morgan, Will Dixon, Charley Dixon, Rachel, Dick Jenkins, Frank Woodman, Will Robinson, at last they all go to Franks to blow horns. Rachel & Charley go home and Grace, Maud and I go to bed! 1 June Monday Grace worked. V plowed corn and potatoes. Thursday 4 June Volty and Grace go to Kingston. Volty carried the 5 hogs to Burnside and finished paying for his buggy. A sick sow, lost all her pigs. Rachel came over. Wellie & Jim Obrien here doctoring the sow. They came again in evening. Voltie & Grace came home from F’s bringing Maud Guy with them a regular old home span sort of girl �38 I forgot to mention that Voltie went up to the villiage [sic] Wednesday eve and Belle sent me some butter which I most thankfully received. 6 Saturday evening Voltie drove to the villiage in dog cart, drove Jess, Will Dixon goes with him. I sent Belles pail home with some lettuce and onions. 7 Sunday Grace went to Villiage with Maud Guy taking Gracie with them when they met Belle & Charley and all their youngones enroute for Mrs Margarette Hallidays, so they transfered Gracie to their carriage which fully completed the family load. Charley, Belle and six youngsters, 8 altogether quite fine family turnout. Well to proceed. Grace left Maud at Marysville enroute for Kingston and met Nelly at the wharf and brought her home with her for a weeks visit bringing her photography aparatus [sic] and her painting and music and presto change between she and �39 and her sister Maud. Nellie brought breezy animated vivacious [sic]. Cant work while Nellie is here, only get meals and chat & ramble around. 8 Monday Nelly stayed home and painted a drape. Shelly came down to invite her to her home. Wallace came twice to day. 10 Tuesday An excursion to day to day [sic] to Picton on the steamer. Arrives for the benefit of the Wolfe Island Brass Band. Our boys toot their horns to day for the excursion 20 of them. Will Dixon & Maud Watson with the lunch basket go in dog cart. Voltie, Grace & Voltie go in covered buggy, they got started at six am and return at 11 pm, report a fine time except for a heavy shower of rain. I forgot to say that on 9th Wednesday Nelly took 4 photographs and then went to Mrs Niles and stayed till 4 Oclock. Came home had tea and painted till dark. Grace went to Evelines for Bread for sandwitches [sic]. V drove down the �40 rhubarb rubarb Thursday 9 Nelly went to Evelines at 9 stayed till dark. Grace went to dock to meet young Mahood who was coming down to make a visit but he did not make his appearance and I’m glad of it. Dont want to make the acquaintance of any more city clerks. Grace went with Wallace in Wallaces new buggy to dock then came to Evelines and walked up home with Nellie, stoping at Franks for Rubarb. V mowing door yard with scythe, Wallace here again inviting ours to a dance at Jim OBriens tomorrow eve. Dont think they will attend. Friday 10 Cloudy day but Nelly takes pictures, twelve altogether of different views of the river and orchard, house and grounds in general. We all had our pictures photoed, dogs and horse and all. Cleaning out the cemetery to day, about 20 men and women at work. Saturday 11 Some what rainy. We arose at 4 get breakfast and then Grace drives with Nellie to the dock for Kingston and she goes this afternoon from there to Belleville. Well the �41 the day passes quietly on. Rachel and Flora come over & Grace cuts and makes Flora a print dress. Volty hoes potatoes. Irene weeds flower garden and transplants flowers and tomatoes. Rains nearly all p.m. and all Saturday night. R & Flo stay all night. Will and Charley go fishing by the high rock. Sunday 12 June 1898 A cool cloudy breezy morning, Ground heavy with moisture after last nights rain, a fine growth of all vegetation. Potatoes nearly in bloom, apples give great promise of abundance. It looks fair for a boutntiful harvest of all kinds of vegetables fruit and grain. Half past 12 pm R & H gone home. V gone to bed. Grace gone to bed. Maud reading "Our Bessie" and I’m hungry as a wolf. To day the Rev Cornell preached his last sermon and why are ours not at church. I must now hull those strawberries for our dinner. Evening visitors W.D. = Frnak W, Dick Jenkins �42 13 Monday June 1898 A fogy [sic] morning, clears up at 11 am. Volty went to Jr for crow bar, carried them tomato plants, brought crow bar and peppermint plants. Grace sewing, making Marjorie a dress. Maud pulling mustard. Irene churned and done dairy work in general, made pickles Tuesday 14 June 1898 A fine day. Grace Maud and V pulling mustard. Most forgot what done. Grace went to Evelines from the post office, letters from Bob G., a postal from Nellie Guy from Belleville. V commenced making Franks buggy box. Frank and Jim Morgan drive her in buggy and sit in buggy talking to Y till 10 pm. Grace & Maud come at 10 pm �43 A letter from W Sr which Grace gets from the villiage post office. Wednesday 12 June 1898 A heavy wind from the North nearly all day. I churn and get ready for Grace to go to market tomorrow. Maud goes berrying, got a pint. Grace sewing for Marjorie. Grace changes her mind and goes to the garden party instead so will not go to K tomorrow & goes up with Wm D and V in buggy, leave here at 4 pm and Maud and Irene are alone, ate every thing clean for supper, no bread in house so bake biscuits for suppose they will come home hungrier than hounds generaly do come that way. Thursday 16 June 1898 Willy goes to Kingston, bought a new table. A very good day after the garden party they came home at 4 am tired and hungry for after blowing their horns tired and driving so far 14 miles, his R never offered them any refreshments not as much as a piece of bread or a glass of water. Dibbs will go dry for music a long time before any of the band plays for him again. V hoes potatoes after rising at 8 am. Grace slept all pm. Evening Wallace brought us a mess of fish, transplanted flowers again and weed carrots. Frank & Wallace here. Will D goes to River view �44 Friday 17th June 1898 A warm day, wind South, a gentle breeze. Gace washed a line full of clothes. Maud at home. V hoeing potatoes this side of the marboroughs. Irene churns and makes 17 prints for tomorrow market. Rachel here inviting V & G to a dance at their house this evening! Poppycock. Don’t believe they will go. If Grace goes she must stay home from going to market tomorrow. Maud went before breakfast to Evelines for soap. Saturday 18 June 1898 �45 Sunday 19 Mon 20 �46 Tuesday 21 Wednesday 22 �47 Thursday 23 Friday 24 �48 Saturday 25 Sunday 26 �49 Monday 24 Tuesday 25 �50 Wednesday 29 Thursday 30 �51 Friday 1st July Saturday 2 July �52 Sunday 3rd Wind South blowing a gale all day. Belle wind bound at Gloyds. Charley came for her. Went home without her. Beatrice and Charley were north him. Niles went across this morning to carry Mrs Farr across. Wallace over there too went back again after bringing Grace home last night. Monday 4 A cloudy morning looks like rain wish would rain, need it very much but no rain falls for us. V goes early across the river for Belle borrowed Niles skiff gone two hours. Grace drove home with Belle, Gracie & Kathleen. Came home at 8 pm �53 Tuesday 5 A dry cool day no rain Wednesday 6 A hot day & a cloudless sky, made 13 lbs butter for market & churned in the cellar. V "cookin" hay �54 Thursday 7 July 1898 Another hot day wind South, sky cloudless. Grace gone to Kingston. Maud drove her to dock with Jim horse and the cart. Will Robinson helping V draw hay all day. Laura and R gone to dock gone to K L and Billious stayed all night with J and E. Friday 8 July 1898 No rain. �55 Saturday 9th July 1898 No rain Sunday 10 July 1898 �56 Monday 11 Tuesday 12 �57 Wednesday 13 July 1898 Thursday 14 July 1898 A dry hot day. Maud drove old Jim to dock (or started to) just below Wills broke down dog cart. Grace transfered her butter & eggs to Wm Gillespie cart and then got a seat in Geo Ranions vehicle. Maud not satisfied with her trip. The breakage did not fulfil her expectation of a pleasant drive to the dock. Will fixed the cart. Maud a good girl & worked all day. Maud again drove to dock at night fall for Grace. Mr Watson and Benjamin came to make their annual visit. �58 Friday 15 July 1898 The weather excessively hot. No rain every thing drying up, pastures brown and burnt. Grace and Maud gather raspberries in the scorching hot sun, breezy wind North. Awake this morning to find Wesley and Benjamin Watson here. Voltie and Will draw a big load of hay from Mr Niles that he (Niles) had given to Voltie. p.m after dinner. V tinkered up all around, made pigs trough, ground scythe. W.L.W. turned the grindstone. �59 Saturday 17 16 July 1898 Another dry hot day. Wind South. Volty cutting barley with a Scythe. We churned, cleaned floors & windows, preserved berries, and worked all day. W.F.W & Son go visiting Wills folks. Voltie at 5 p.m. starts for Marysville carrying Belles vinegar to her and I send a letter to Wells & a note to Belle, a postal to Mrs. Quinn We have peas for dinner and raspberries. 18 July 181798 [?] Sunday a dry hot day. W.F.W & family went to church. Voltie let Hazle take the dog cart. Will and Charlie came over for it. We slept late this morning nearly 7 O’clock. V came home at 1/2 past one a.m, brought a piece of beef from J.M. also a piece of beef for Uncle Sammy. Sam came for the beef bringing a five quart pail to put said beef in. �60 Monday 19 18 July 1898 No rain. Tuesday 20 19 July 1898 No rain. �61 Wednesday 21 20 July 1898 No rain, so warm can scarcely make buttter prints have to use ice freely. Old W.F.W. mad "Going to thrash Maud" The old lunatic. Thursday 22 21 July 1898 No rain so hot. V dont work in field, every thing scorching and burning up. The butter hardened with ice but all out of shape some prints look like pancakes, but Grace sold it for 20 cts per lb. a scarcity of butter on the market. Poor old W.F.W. went home this morning. I believe he is insane. Grace bring Victor Quinn home with her. �62 Friday 23 22 July 1898 Another hot day. No rain or sign of rain, a hot cloudless day. Voltie and Will draw our barley and then Voltie goes over and helps Will draw and stack his barley. Eveline sent Muriel up with some honey. Grace sent E some butter. Grace & Maud went to Eveline’s. I sent E a plant. Mail - a letter fro W Sr & a postal for Maud from W.F.W. and the Whig. The Stars & Stripes floating over Santiiago. Saturday 23rd July 1898 No rain. A strong breeze from South. V goes to the Ross place for a load of wood taking Victor Q with him.I write to Sr �63 24 25 �64 26 27 �65 28 29 �66 30 31 �67 Aug 1 1898 2nd �68 3 4 �69 5 Aug Friday 1898 A dance at Almonds this Evening. V and G and LD and Maud W attend. V gets a dollar for playing the Violincello. Frank a dollar and H Joslin a dollar. Grace is going to the villiage to go to Kingston to stay with Kelly till Tuesday. 6 Aug Saturday 1898 Dont arise very early after Almonds dance. V gets up at 7 but Grace, Maud and Miss L Davis lie in bed till 9 a.m. Little Grace Halliday sleeps with me and makes a racquet about "my Aunt Grace". I want her mom I’m very glad when morning comes. Well along towards night Grace starts out again taking Laura Davis and Gracie H with her and the house settles back to its old acustomed [sic] place once again. V drives up to the villiage with Frank W Grace goes up with buggy. �70 7 Aug Sunday 1898 A fine day. V came home late 3 a.m. We are alone nearly all day that is Volty, Victor, Maud and I. V had a long nap. This morning I called him at 8 a.m. , late milking the cows. We had a fine dinner at 3 p.m. Evening visitors were Mrs Niles, Shelly Niles, Irene Niles, Wm Dixon, Jen Dixon, Charley Dixon, Dick Jenkins and Frank Woodman 8 Aug Monday 1898 A very fine day but warm. Eveline and the children come up on the waggon with Wallie after Voltie had been down all there fore noon and and [sic] helped Welly finish his harvesting. then Welly and Volty finished up here but worked till after dark. Uncle Levin Border came and stayed to supper and stayed all night, he is going across the river to live says Spafford turned him out door. Hubert lost himself behind the ice house where Eveline found him alseep after a great deal of anxious look and calling by E & Mr Victor, Maud, Muriel and Volty and I �71 9 Aug Tuesday 1898 Will came this morning took V’s skiff and rowed Uncle Levi over the river. Will stayed on all day and worked for Horace Dodge and come home after dark. Volty works all day for the Niles. Grace rode down with Jim Morgan on meat cart. Grace bought 15 cts of beef of Jim. I was two shirts for V & some towels. 10 Aug Wednesday Churn and make out nine lb pounds of butter for market. Volty digs 4 bags of potatoes for market after working half day for Niles. McDowels agent called here. �72 11 Aug 1898 Thursday A hazy close hot day. Voltie and Grace goes to Kingston. I churn and patch. Victor watches cows and pick up potatoes. Maud skims milk and washes pans & draws milk. Jen & Charley here in evening for ice. Jen brings home my butter print and gets her own V paid 5 more on the P which makes 10 paid on it. 12. Aug - 1898 Friday A fierce wind from South all night: blew the front door open with a bang. Blowing to day. Hazy. V and W Jr gone for a load of wood from the Ross place. The ground this morning covered with harvest apples. Mrs Robinson (from Frank’s) came with the swill pail. Grace crocheting doiyles [doilies]. Irene patched Victor’s shirt. A cow had a calf this morning. the black and white cow. �73 13 Saturday 14 Sunday �74 15 Monday 16 Tuesday �75 17 Wednesday 18 Thursday �76 19 Friday 20 Saturday �77 21 Sunday 22 Monday �78 23 Tuesday 24 Wednesday �79 25 Thursday 26 Friday �80 Thursday 29 September 1898 27 Saturday A beautiful day. Arise early put butter in basket 17 lbs send a basket of sage. E come from Burnhams where she stayed all night. Maud home to day from school. The girls work very well. A nap for me this p.m. 28 Sunday Friday 30 Sept -98 A fine warm day like July. Cut and sewed carpet rags. V dug potatoes and pm went to Wills to cope house John Dixon here all afternoon. V came home at dark and brought 2 band pictures one for sis and one for Wells Jr Evening visitors Maggie Scott Frank W. Grace milked the cows at evening. V drove out with Edna and then drove home with Scott: got to bed at last 12 midnight- a beautiful moonlight night. �81 Saturday 29 Monday Oct 1st 1898 Have not written in this diary since the 12 of Aug. This is very warm, all the doors and windows wide open. River still, no wind. Churned in cellar: butter very soft. V digging potatoes. Ed picking up a party at Van’s to night for Frank. he 22 years old to day. E & M go to Franks for crab apples. Grace finished J.K’s dress 30 Tuesdaygoing to take or send them tonight. Edna & Grace & Voltie drove to Village to band practice. Grace carries Gracies her nigh gowns and drove up wtih Wallae from Wm Ranons. Sunday 2 Oct 1898 A bright warm day, breezy. They came last night at one a.m. They arose 1/2 past 7 O’clock a.m. �82 31 Wensday [sic] Thursday 1 No town �83 �84 [back cover with attached seal] Red Rope Magazine Binder Manufactured by Gaylord Bros. Inc Syracuse, N.Y. Stockton, Calif. �85 �This document would not be possible without the editorial contributions of the following people: Ann Hopkinson, Queen’s University Archives, and MaryV � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Subject The topic of the resource 19th and 20th Century Rural Ontario Diaries Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1887-1922 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Table Of Contents A list of subunits of the resource. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1887 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1888-1889 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1889-1897 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1890 March - June Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1893-1895 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1895-1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1896 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1897-1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899-1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902, 1906 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902-1909 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1904-1905 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1907 & 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1908-1919 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1911 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913-1914 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1915-1916 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1916-1917 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1917-1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1921-1922 Language A language of the resource English Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1898 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1898 Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 19th Century, Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Date Created Date of creation of the resource. April 5th, 1898 Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Extent The size or duration of the resource. Typed Transcription UG Transcription Progress Scripto transcription progress Done transcribed https://ruraldiaries.lib.uoguelph.ca/transcribe/files/original/b1e65dbef3076360239de26ccfd103ff.pdf 878e7b96c1cda36e6d019071f9aa33b0 PDF Text Text Irene Dixon Bamford 1897-1898, Diary Transcription 5034_4-1-7 �Metadata FromThePage export of 5034_4-1-7 from Irene Dixon Bamford made on 2026-02-11 14:35:14 UTC. itemTitle: 1897-1898 date: 1897-1898 Title: 5034_4-1-7 Description: Item is a diary. Created On: 2024-01-11 17:31:25 UTC In Scope: true Uploaded Filename: 5034_4-1-7 �1 [File folder containing originals] IRENE DIXON BAMFORD DIARY 1897-1898 [stamp] Queen’s University Archives Locator 5034-4 �2 B-read 1897 - 1898 �3 �4 Mrs wells Bamford with L.Watson Kingston Public School Scribbler [stamp] 1987 & 1898 [imprint of unidentified school possibly Grant Hall Queens U] Manufactured by McAuley, Cit Book Store 136 Princess Street, Kingston �5 Grace H Bamford St Lawrence PO Wolfe Island Ontario [random scribblings] �6 �7 My dear Papa I received your letter some time ago and was grieved and shocked to hear of poor dear Gordons death. I’m sorry for dear Aunt Mamie and Grandma too and aunt Helen but he is in Heaven now with his father. I can never forget the last time I was there and what a pleasant time we had playing games. Marjorie went with me once. We will see him again some time in that beautiful summer land where there will be no snow or pneumonia. what will poor aunt Mamie ever do but grandma says the Lord can heal her broken heart. Uncle Wells came home on Christmas day like a big Christmas present to us all. Martin came home a week earlier. Martin brought me as a present a beautiful celluoid work box with thimble cissor [sic] &c complete and presents for Grace, Volty and Grandma. Edna Quinn at Christmas time gave me a moroco case for holding letter paper, envelopes, pen holder, blotting pad &c all fill Nelly Guy sent me a flower pot holder. Grace gave me books and other things and we had a Christmas dinner and Wells came. Miss Gordon is our new teacher. �8 I have not been to school since she began teaching, but am going Monday. The weather has been so rough and the walking mudy [sic] beside. I helped Grace, for Grandma fell and sprained her ankle two weeks ago. and she cannot step on it. The river is free from ice on our shore but Volty and Wallace Niles walked across down by Mr Horns, day before yesterday on form ice but the ice is gone now. My health is good. I never was so fat as now. How is your health and what made you sick when you last wrote and are you teaching and how are Benny & Willie dear little brothers and Ma. Give my love to them all and Dear Grandma and grandma Craig and family. From your loving daughter Maude L. Watson �9 Friday 21st Jan 1898 A soft drizzly day. Grace done big washing and hung it all on the line. V carried Rattrays coal home. [letters from Mrs Watson saying his mother on going to bed I slipped and hurt my ankle some ached after going to bed. Saturday 22nd Jan 1898 A cloudy soft day quiet. I’m sitting by the stove yet. Grace finished washing clothes and moped kitchen floor. Mrs Morgan and Mrs Souve came with Geo Morgan to get a sleigh tongue fixed stayed till dark. Voltie ate a hasty little supper and walked to Morgans to go with Jimmis to Marysville to band practice. Wells Sr brought in the clothes from the line. Wallace here and after supper they went (Mart & Wall) to W Burnhams to see Miss Scott & Fanny McLocklin. Mart came in very carefully at 11 a.m. Shell here for Mart & Maud to go skating with herself & Wallace and Jack Jr.Maud came in with her dress wet behind where she had fallen on the ice several times. �10 Thursday 27 Jan 1898 A clear cold day clouds toward night for a storm. Leonard Staley stayed over night. Grace went to Kingston with Leonard after dinner to get more cloth for her dress & coming back to villiage and going from there with the load to Mores to a band concert and dance. grows colder towards night but V & Will D hitch up and drive to Morgans. Mrs Niles, Shelly & Wallace come here and Mart, Maud & Edna go skating while Mrs N and me visit. Friday 28th Jan 1898 An extremely cold morning. Volty came [illegible] 4 oclock pm. Mart Sunday 23rd Jan 1898 Rained and snowed nearly all last night. Volty didn’t come home till to day at 1/2 past one pm. V and Jim stoped at Charlies and stayed all night. A soft warm day a quiet peaceful day. V and Mart gone up stairs to bed. Grace lying on lounge asleep cloudy half snow half rain. Maud reading. The dogs are sleeping too. Wells Sr sits by coal stove reading and looking out the window at the weather. �11 Friday 21st Jan 1898 A soft drizzly day. Grace done big washing and hung it all on the line. V carried Rattrays coal home. letters from Mrs Watson saying his mother on going to bed I slipped and hurt my ankle some ached after going to bed. Saturday 22nd Jan 1898 A cloudy soft day quiet. I’m sitting by stove yet. Grace finished [illegible] Monday 24 January 1898 Colder this morning & freezing. V butchered a beef cow very fat & killed 12 roosters. Grace & Mart dressed them for Market. Will and Wells Jr helped Volty. I finished the rug. Grace made fried cakes, and baked bread. Volty went to Wellies for team and stayed to supper, came back and went down to Franks to blow horn. �12 [Page is a duplicate of Page 10] �13 [Page is a duplicate of page 11] �14 [duplicate of page 10] �15 Saturday 29th Jan 1898 A very cold day. Bucks baby is dead. Frank Woodman is sick sent for doctor B. Mrs & Mr Woodman there got measles or scurvy all broke out. Grace cooking and doing Saturdays work. Edna dressing Muriels doll. Volty cut holes in ice and bushed out a road to Lindas Island. Will Dixon and Volty drove to Marysville to band practice, drove up and back on ice. Lizzie did not come courting on Monday. V carried Frank apple jelly, pickles and catsup. Sunday 30 Jan 1898 Wm & V came at 2 am. Will very cold warmed himself before going home. A clear bright day and cold. Wells Sr goes to Wells Jr to make a visit and carried the doll to Muriel came back and called to see Frank and visited awhile with Samy & Ruth. The Mores party had no fiddler but the turkey and hams didn’t spoil. Henry down to Niles courting �16 Monday Lizzie came this morning through the storm covered with snow. Grace cooking. Edna & Lizzie cutting and sewing. Wells Sr shoveling coal in the stove till it is hot as an oven. Mart whistling and Grace te heing. Frank better no measles only scurvy eating musty pork. 1st February Tuesday 1898 An old fashioned snow storm. The dress is finished and Mart has taken Lizzie home. Henry is down don’t think he went home since Sunday, if storms like this tomorrow the ball will be minus a few dancers from here. Wednesday 2nd Feb 1898 A very cold day. V & M & Jr go to [Lindas Island|Linday Island]] [sic] for wood drive double team on ice & at two leave for the villiage in sleigh driving Dan and Dick. Edna mops and then she and Grace get supper. I can step on my foot by using a cane. Old Mrs Gillespie no better. A quiet peace full evening. Wells Sr telling stories of burried money being found by dreams. Edna reading Queenie Hetherton. Maud reading Swiss family Robinson. �17 Thursday 3rd Feb 1898 A very cold bright morning morning [sic]. Our dancers came at 7 am cold tired & hungry and had had both horses through the ice just up by Elly Woodmans. Grace dress around bottom frozzen they were not in long. Volty and Mart fished them out. Then got Elly out to put a bush to the hole. They come just in time for breakfast. V and M with pant legs frozen stiff to their knees. Grace gone to bed. Mart gone to bed. Volty in blacksmith shop shoeing horses. Friday 4 Feb 1898 A cold day but warmer than yesterday. The weather divided between sunshine and snow storm. Nothing particular occurs to day. Ethel D here came over with Will & Charley. We persuaded Will to let her stay awhile. Will has a very good horse and an old cutter and he can now get all his wood and drive the children to school. Rev Diggs gone down to see old Mrs Gillespie. Saturday 5 Feb 1898 A stormy day of snow. Wellie and V gone to Kingston in sleigh carried beef and potatoes to market. Rachel and Will drove to Kingston in V’s cutter gone for groceries. �18 Mart doing Wellie’s chores and ours. Mart does a great deal of whistling & Edna a great deal of humming which is somewhat distracting and anoying when so long continued. Wills’ horse ran away but done no damage. Rachel and Will rode home with Welly. Welly brought our grist and two bags of coal. V stoped at the practice and came home in cutter at 2 a.m. [Welly|Wellie]] brought back V’s bay. Charley W sorry to have it. Sunday 6th February 1898 A brilliant cloudless day a heavy fall of snow on the earth, dazzlingly white everywhere. The monotonous whistling still going on at short intervals. Will and Charley, Voltie, Grace, Edna & Maud are sitting around the kitchen stove te heing as usual. Mart stops just long enough to whistle. 7th Feb 1898 Monday. Grace does big washing. I wash a few clothes. A good day for hanging out clothes. Father goes to Clayton to see about selling the Island but fails to make a bargain: gets 55 yds factory cloth, 34 print, 9 yds husk ticking and 5 lb batten, comes home early. A harness pedler stays all night. V and Jr and Mart bring wood from the Island in the evening. The whole company go to the oyster supper at William G’s. V & GD & Edna & Mart and JohnNiles Jr and Em Morgan rides up home �19 Tuesday 8th February 1898 Came home at 2 Oclock Grace finished washing Wells bought a new harness, traded an old one for it. Forgot to say Joe Baker was here yesterday peddling tea, bed springs and mattresses, and wall paper. Volty got a severe cold but draws wood from Lindas Island. Frank came for V to go to the villiage to the band practice waited till dark ate supper here: V came but such a bad cold and need of rest stayed at home. Frank went up alone. Wednesday 9 Feb 1898 A soft warm morning; rains No wood to day from the island. Volty and Wallace Niles go up to Kingston start at 2 pm come back and stop at Garden island to the bad concert. At 4 pm another load leaves the door. Grace, Edna, Hattie Joslin, Will Dixon, Mart & Will Robertson, Frank gone up with Jim Morgan and the house is lonesome and quiet once more �20 Thursday 10 February A soft warm morning, fog so thick cant see the barn. Charley Woodman gone to Kingston started at 6 am. Wells Sr came in from barn says they are coming for I hear Mart whistling, they came at 7 am. Wallace drunk, came home with them, think the boys had all been drinking. They drove to Franks where they deposited Wallace till he sobers up. Hattie went to bed, slept till dinner time. Mart went to bed after sitting around with his head hanging down on his shirt front, pipe bottom side up in his mouth, eyes read as coals which speaks bad for Martin: Grace and Edna sitting up to make Graces’ masquerade dress for tomorrow evening but after dinner tired nature asserts itself and they both tumble fast asleep and I drive them both to bed. Edna didnot sleep long but was out in short time and sewing again. Grace laid till nearly supper time, after supper the girls sewed till 10 pm. Poor dear little Edna the best child living. Volty went to Kingston for a masquerade suit did not get any going again early tomorrow morning. �21 Friday 11 February 1898 A warm morning, a slight freeze last night. Grace and Volty start at 1/2 past nine am for the villiage. Volty going to Kingston again. Grace going to stop with Belle till time to go to the masquerade. Welly came up gave him eggs. Very quiet after they are gone. Mart works on the ice boat. Edna makes her dress waist. Evening mail Whig &c. Go to bed wind blowing a gale from South at bed time snow fast disapearing. Saturday 12 Feb 1898 A rainy muddy nasty morning with fog: river ice looks dark and dangerous. Volty and Grace come at 1/2 past 7 well pleased with the masquerade. Old Mrs Hitchcock danced with short dress and red stockings. Perhaps she wants to marry. V and Grace sleep awhile. tried to churn cream no good butter wont gather. Send to Niles and buy 25 cents in butter. Tried a few cakes without sugar, work on rugs &c. Wallace & Geo call here on their way to Franks to make an evening visit. The ground �22 is as bare of snow as April. Sunday 13th February 1898 A brilliantly beautiful day like paradise. Earth nearly bare of snow yet there is driving on ice. Edna, Maud & Martin go to church. Charley & Henry drive down here bringing Irene with them to stay awhile. Henry & Charley here to dinner. Shelly & Miss Gordon make us a long call. Charley goes at 3 pm taking Grace & Martin with him. Grace enroute for Nelly Guy’s Valentine Party tomorrow evening. Shelly & Miss Gordon go at the same time for Miss Scott is at J Niles. Edna, Irene, and Maud are gone out walking perhaps gone to Wellies. Voltie gone upstairs to bed. Sr out to the barn. IreneSr alone remains in full posession of the house if we dont count the dogs. 4 pm growing cloudy: looks like a rainy time again. How very quiet still & lonesome the house is with only Tiny lying under the table fast asleep. Not so much as the buzzing of a fly to disturb the stillness only the tick tick of the clock as the hours creep along towards nightfall. �23 Monday 14 February 1898 A breezy morning wind South. Froze a little last night sunlight over all the earth but not brilliant, ground bare with a patch or blotch of dirty snow here and there. Arose at 1/2 past six, got breakfast, very tiresome work. Maude and Irene noisy and but then Maud swept dining room and kitchen. Volty & his father working in the shop. I mixed biscuits and bread, scoured, churn, cooked beans. Evening Volty goes to Franks to practice; Jim Morgan followed on after calling for Volty. Will there also. Tuesday 15 February 1898 A threatning morning, looks like rain or snow. Wells Sr after waiting awhile for Wells Jr starts for Kingston with old Jim and cutter. Wind rising & about noon begins to snow fast & furiously & continues to storm all afternoon till bedtime followed by an all night storm of wind and snow. Will and Welly out with ice boat on river. Rachel came over for Grace to finish her dress skirt but Grace in Kingston. Will drove here for her at 5 pm. through a snow storm. Wells Sr came just after dark but not Grace �24 Grace sent a postal threatning to come home but the threat failed to keep. I am disapointed but not surprised Perhaps it is all right. Only for little Edna, work and house hold buisness [sic] might suffer. Wednesday 16 February 1898 A half stormy half sunshine morning wind blowing snow flying. Edna moping Volty working in shop. �25 Friday 1898 February 18th A soft warm cloudy morning raining a little. Welly came with a load of grain to get ground and after loading on V’s potatoes for Cummings started for Kingston driving upon the ice. Charley & Will brought Rachel over here in cutter came again to get her dress made. Edna making it, gave her vinegar. Will drove for her taught her to crochet a block for a rug. Wellie came at dark bringing Grace with him, rode down on a load of coal and provender enveloped in her fathers mackintosh covered with ice from the falling rain. sent Maud & Irene to Niles for buttermilk but had none. Geo Darling here bought more tea. Saturday 19 February 1898 A stormy morning of rain & snow. Sr made gain this morning about his horse blankets laying out doors all night wet. It is only his things that are destroyed he notices so he pitched into Volty for a row but Volty having a great command and control of his temper answered him cooly and rationaly and reasonably as a good son ought to �26 but after all such foolish elecution of temper and authority on the paters part is very unwise in a man of his age towards his children or any one. Wind blowing nearly all day. Volty went to bay for kerosine. Edna and Maud out on ice boat with Will Dixon went as far as Morgans. In evening V went to Frank’s to practice. Edna made Irene a night dress. Wellie and Volty partly filled the ice house, a party at Morgans this evening. Will and Jen there. Sunday 20 February 1898 An icy rainy day very quiet very pleasant a dark dreamy cloudy day. Wells Sr cooking potatoes on stove for his callers Mr Sullivan and Miss Andrews from Morgans came down on ice boat Monday 21st February 1898 A stormy morning and a stormy day of rain, ice & snow, trees and earth and buildings fences and everything covered heavy with a coat of ice. Wind North. Edna made my paint dress. Grace done general house work. Irene played. Maud cleaned the lamps. Grandpa done as he pleased. Volty worked in shop and I finished a rug. �27 Tuesday 22 February 1898 Another stormy day snow falling fast, all day, Grace washing. Volty working in shop. Edna went through the storm to the post office. Irene learning to use crochet needle. Maud helping around. Grandad choring around and doing as he has a mind to. Irene Sr very lame to day, but helped get dinner. We have about ninety hens and get only from 3 to 6 eggs per day. Wednesday 23rd February 1898 A snowy morning but soon clears up and the sun comes out once more. Wells Sr hitches up Jess and drives to Gananoque, drives behind Charles Woodman and Frank Woodman. They both come home early. Volty and Frank drive to Marysville and return at 12 midnight. Mart came home with them. Thursday 24 February 1898 A stormy morning increasing in volume towards night. V & Jr sawing ice. Wellie slips in the ice hole. Volty fished him out. Wellie went home wet to his waist. He lost the long handled shovel in the hole. After dinner V tried to get it by grappling but couldnt �28 Grace cut and partly made her new print dress with Edna’s help. Sr worked on his sled. In evening Jim Morgan drove here with his bugle enroute for Frank’s. Volty went with him to Wills, found Will and Jen had driven down to see old Mrs Gillespie, then the two buglers drove to Franks. Two beautiful brilliant sundogs either side of the sun proclaims another storm day (the sun shining out through storm clouds at 3 pm) dark clouds in south like thunder cloud in summer tme. We hull corn. Expected Charley & Belle but think storm prevented. Friday 25 February 1898 A snowy morning, snow fallings so heavily can scarcely see uncle Samy’s barn. Volty butchered 10 roosters for tomorrow market. Sr fixed the stove pipe. Earth completely covered with snow. Charley & Belle drove down home bringing the two youngest children with them. Carley leaves Belle & the little ones to visit and returns homeward accompanied by Rachel and Irene. The house in a hubbub from chicken picking and cooking. A letter from McDowell concerning the piano threatens to make trouble. Wish we never had seen the thing. Will & Charley here in eve & Morgan sleep on lounge. Bernard Morgan reports the death of bishop Cleary �29 Saturday 26 February 1898 Cloudy morning with some snow but very mild. Sun comes out about 10 am and is a lovely day after all the stormy ones. Volty and Grace start for Kingston at 7 am. Charley and Frank & Will Robinson go to the city. Several teams go up to day driving up on the ice. Will and Charley drove over here in their cutter after going home. Wills horse ran away, ran up the ice. Charley & Wills followed on and caught the horse and came driving back again in great state. Belle swept and cleaned floors. Maud washed dishes. Irene Sr cleaned pantry shelves. Mart brought water. Sunday 27th 1898 A very fine day, froze last night after Grace & Edna and little Gracie drove up to Morgan’s for sweet milk for Belle’s baby. Volty drove across the river with Belle & baby Kathleen. V drove back after dinner at Mrs Gloyds. Wellie went across with him. They found no difficulty in crossing. Mart and Edna and Maud went to church. Edna went to English church with Will Robinson. Mart with Perley Burnham and then drove home with Perley and stayed till 10 pm after returning from �30 the other side drove up to Mahoneys stayed to supper and returned home at 11 pm. Bernard here in afternoon went home long enough to do the chores then came back accompanied by Mabel for an evenings visit. Ethel here for sugar. Will R here but didn’t stay a long time. Al Percy and wife over visiting at uncle Samy’s. Monday 28 February 1898 last day of month A beautiful bright day cloudless. Earth spottersly [sic] white, warm in sunlight, froze last night. Maud at school, Grace washing Edna cooking & washing dishes. Irene darning stockings. Sr mending bags. V working in shop. Mart choring around. Little Gracie singing, Maggie de tows are in de tovey. Greenfield here again about the Rogers affair. Im sorry for Sr and for all of us & only for trust and forth in the Feud that never forsakes. I dont fear what the hand of mortal man can do. After washing the dinner dishes Edna walked to Wellies to stay all pm. V and FW gone up on the ice to the practice. This evening Grace & Martin gone to Willies. �31 Tuesday 1st March 1898 A fine day Bright clear and warm, the ground beginning again to look bare. Sr gone to Marysville for coal drove up on the ice. After dinner V hitched up to go over for Belle but instead drove to election with Welly, afterwards drove across to llGloyd]]s for Belle. Wellie going with him. Maud walked to school and back at even’. Sr came at sundown. Edna comenced Maud’s dress. Wednesday 2nd March 1898 A beautiful day warm and bright. Wells Sr drove to school with Maud and from there went to Al Joslins, came back to dinner. Mart & Voltie and to Al Joslins chopping bee. Voltie drove to Wellies with Belle and the two little ones, the baby got a cold. Wellie brought Belle home at dark. Edy Bates moving his furniture across the river to the corners. Ed going to be married the 16th to Dory Gillespie. Grace & Edna walked to Evelines and rode to Al Joslins with Willie Robertson, a dance at Al’s girls stayed till eleven came home with Dick Halliday. �32 Thursday 3rd March 1898 A beautiful day, warm. Baby got bad cold applied a poutice of pork and onions to the little lungs, gave her honey and goose oil. Wells Sr and Voltie gone to Kingston sent for emulsion of cod liver oil for Kathleen. Took care of of [sic] her while Belle and little Grace went over to see their Grandmother. Wells Sr came home at dusk having had a tooth pulled which continued to ache all evening. Voltie stayed at Villiage to band practice came down with Will D in cutter at 12 midnight, not much housework or any other kind done these days, visit confusion and play and cook the meals. Sr drove to school with Maude. Friday 4 March 1898 A beautiful day bright & warm like May. Charley drove down for Belle bringing Rachel back again. Belle began early to gather her belongings in order to be ready for a departure for home. A rooster and honey and a basket of books and a bag of papers &c &c. welllies, sourkrout [sic] and mince meat, from home eggs, vinegar &c &c. A letter from Jess Reid from Seattle. A dance at Will’s, G & E & M & Martin go came here at midnight, a poor affair no supper, all the Horns there. V didnt go only drove over with the girls �33 Saturday 5th March 1898 A fine day sun shining clear. Wind S.W. Wells Sr gone to Rosier to pay the taxes on Linda’s island. Voltie goes with him. Edna cleans up the parlor. Wells Jr gone to Kingston, drove up on ice. Grace cooking—forget what Maud done. Sunday 6 March 1898 A very fine day warm cloudless. Grace & Edna drive to Morgan’s for butter, find Florence & Sullivan there just arrived. House not in good order. Came back. Edna, Maud & Martin go to church. Grace gets dinner—After dinner Grace goes up the Island with Will Robinson to Belles, comes back at 9 pm. After dinner Jim Morgan puts in his appearance. Then come Dave Mahoney, they all stay to supper. After supper, Frank Woodman comes and stays till bed time: at last all go home and we get settled in our beds once more sleeping the sleep of peace and contentment such is life. A lovely moonlight night �34 Monday 7 March 1898 A beautiful bright cloudless day snow fast disapearinag. Grace washing. A tinker came and repaired the organ worked at it all day till bed time. Maud at school. Mart walked across the river to Dodge’ and from there went to Cape and home before dark. Volty went to villiage drove up on ice came back at 12 midnight, we put the tinker in the boys bed. Mart slept on lounge. Volty had to stretch himself as well as he could on the couch in parlor. We have all got a cold in head or some kind of distemper "Epigootic" Wells calls it. I know my head and eyes ache badly. Tuesday 8 March 1898 Grace & Edna put quilt on frames. A beautiful day which is the 12th day of warm brilliant suny weather. Edna drove to school with Maude. W Sr & W Jr drove to Gananoque—went with cutter & 1 horse, started at 30 m past 7, arrived in Gananoque at 9 am bought a horse and back here for the mid day meal. I’m ever to Belles—why is it always so �35 Wednesday 9 March 1898 Another soft warm sun light but rather hazzy. Maud at school. V preparing to go to the villiage to the Presbyterian concert we are quilting. Voltie and Edna tapped trees to day. R came over for Ink, rode on sled home. Wellie driving. V came home at two am. Thursday 10. A fair warm day, snow nearly gone, no crossing, ice rotten with the sun shining on it so long day after day. We took the quilt off the frames. Mart took 16 pans to Wellies they going to tap Frank’s maples, ground so soft didnt tap. Will tapped Dignams maples. Maud at School Friday 11 March 1898 A fair warm day wind East, ice full of holes, open up by Morgans. Dev here for broad axe. Dev milking 7 now �36 cows we bound the quilt. Maud at home, roads all mud. V & M sawing wood. Grace, Maud and Edna sitting on the wood pile. Our cats all sick, have fits. beginning to rain towards night. Wind South, rained all night, ground bare. Volty & Mart husking corn. Put another quilt on frames and quilted in evening. Saturday 12th March 1898 A dismal fogy day raining nearly all time, wind South. After breakfast Grace & Edna quilted, Maud and Irene washed dishes. no more maple syrup making this spring, frost nearly out the ground. After dinner Irene washed dishes. Maud cleaned floors, Grace and Edna quilted. Evening—Volty takes the horns & lanterns and goes to Franks through the fog. About two hours after Jim Morgan follows. J.M. stays all night at Franks. Wells reading in evening. Mart, Edna, Maud, Grace are reading in kitchen. So passes away another day never more to return. Sunday 13 March 1898 A rainy morning ground bare, ice in river breaking up. Gulls flying down the river from the lake which foretells a gale of wind., warm South wind and rising. Channel open �37 Frank & Jim Morgan made us a call, didn’t stay long. Will Robertson called in eve didn’t stay long but Will R and Mart went to Will Dixon’s where they had warm maple sugar. We went early to bed. The wind blowing half a gale dark and cloudy. Monday 14 Marach 1898. A clear bright morning wind S.W. hauling to S. river clear of ice from shore to shore, warm, Wellie here cleaning grain, Wells Sr fixes churn, Voltie cuts brush in the door yard. Grace & Edna quilt. Irene darning socks, Maude washed dishes and pares potatoes and makes a excusion to the cedars. I think if it is a good day tomorrow, Maude will attend school in evening. Grace, Maude & Edna go to Mrs Niles’ to visit. Bamford Sr sends to N’s to buy butter. They return at 1/2 past nine pm and bring some sweet apples and a borrowed spool of white thread, No 36-300 yd. Wm Robertson makes us an evening visit. Frank Woodman started the plow today. �38 Tuesday 15th March 1898 Wind N froze last night clear and bright, ground bare, river rolling broad and blue. Ed Bates came over to day, going to be married tomorrow. The girls took the quilt off. Sr, Mart & V trying to move the machine house up to [this section quite redacted, indicated by #] There is no # # #, # # #. There is no # # # # #. poor # he is to # #. I suppose the # goes # with them when they are in # #. such a # of # would bring a smile to the face of a stoic Grace & Edna going to Evelines this p.m. sap running well. Ebin Bates sick with pneumonia. Will R, J Morgan, W Niles here this evening Wednesday 16 March 1898 Wind blowing all night from East raining this morning, it looks like a bad morning the weding. clears up by 10 am sun come out bright. Rev Dibbs drives down through the mud and marries Eddy Bates and Dora Gillespie: towards night drives back again. Volty captured 8 ducks (wild) cooked two for dinner had maple syrup and biscuits. Finished moving the machine house. Wallace here started out �39 Monday Sept 97 with Gun, going to serenade Edy but Mart with more sense wouldnt go so W stayed the eve and they all played some game at cards at which they all exploded with laughter similtainously [sic]. It began to lighten [sic] and thunder and Wallace went home. The other youngsters sat up and sugared off. It continued to thunder and lighten heavily nearly all night. We caught a tub of rain water. Spring birds are merrily singing early this morning. Wells Jr came up for corn husks and brought us a nice piece of fresh pork. Thursday 17 March 1898 A beautiful morning after last nights showers. The birds are singing this morning robins and wrens. Jim Morgan has a bee shingling the school house V gone to the bee. Martin carried E a few eggs. Edna making Graces wrapper we cooked the third last wild duck for dinner sowed tomatoe seeds to day. Volty came at sun set. V the only man at Jims bee. V ate dinner �40 at Morgans. Jim Morgan called here for V to go to Franks to practice their music. Jim stoped all night with Frank. V came home about eleven p.m. Friday 18 March 1898 A clear rosy morning, warm, birds singing. The ground froze last night which makes the sap run again. Muriel came up with her dress and apron to stitch. Wellie & Voltie went to Geo Rattrays to get provender ground and V carried some corn to grind for Johny cake & came back to late for his dinner till we got him a dinner. Wellie dined with Geo R. Hubert came for Muriel. Grace gave them bread & butter & maple syrup. Edna, Maud, Harriet & Hubert went to the cemetary and found a pansy in bloom, (yellow) & left it there in peaceful solitude. Beatrice is eleven years old to day. P.M. 4 Oclock cloudy & looks like rain again. Volty & Martin set a 2 fish nets. V & E & M gathered brush, carried it to shore & had a big fire after dark. G & M went to N for butter and to the post office. Mrs Scott returned with them, sayed [sic] awhile, M went home with her. Frank W & J Morgan here also. Easter day is always the first Sunday after the full moon, which happens upon or next after, March 21st & if the full moon happens on Sunday, Easter day is the Sunday after; so that by this arrangement Easter may come as early as March 22nd or as late as April 25 �41 Saturday March 19th 1898 A cloudy morning and raiining most of the day. V & Mart went to the nets, but got no fish. Mr N went to Kingston. V repairing bellows. Wellie here. Flora here for yeast cake. Frank Woodman here in evening. In the kitchen horn blowing expected Jimme but he came not. Edna moped kitchen floor. Irene washed dishes and made scrap books. Edna & Maud picked a pansy from Charles Woodmans grave. A thunder & Lightning shower after dark. E & M went to Ns for the balance of butter 2 pounds. Sunday March 20 1898 A half cloudy day, Wind S and blowing half a gale. Quiet, all are reading minds at peace with all created universe to quiet, to still which causes droziness. Evening V, M. G & E. preparing to go calling on Mrs Dignam, when V comes in and reports a sick cow at the barn & after doctoring her awhile again prepare for the evenings visit, when who should walk in but FW, WR, and WN and when one youngsters are ready to depart, they invite our callers to accompany them, and two accepts but [Frank Woodman|F]] prefers staying away from Dignams, so remains and Sr entertains him with various tales & anecdotes �42 untill he goes home at 9 pm. Our night travelers return at 1/2 past eleven, hungry I think by the clattering I hear in the pantry and so ends the day. Monday 21 March 1898 A very fine day rather cloudy. V plowing down next Franks line fence. Irene counted the eggs 12 doz and after dinner Sr started in buggy with eggs driving up as far as Charleys going to stay all night and go across to Kingston tomorrow morning on steamboat. Martin has just returned from across the river where he had been to corners for letters for himself, he carried a letter from the Post to Windmill & ate dinner there. William Winmill sending Sr a letter. Flora here brought home yeast. Mart and G go to Evelines for soap came back and after that they all dance in kitchen & N goes up in skiff to Marysville. Tuesday 22 March 1898 A cloudy windy day South. Grace washing. Volty plowing. Grace got sore throat. Mart choring around bringing water. Maud at home, E been here 8 weeks this day scuffling again in kitchen. M kicked E & hurt her didnt mean too of course but had to apply a mustard poutice at 12 midnight. Grace got a sore throat too. Sr came home after dark 7 pm �43 Found the roads very rough. Mrs Morgan requested to come down in buggy, but could not accomdate her brought milk pails for Welly & sugar, brought 10 yds toweling, 8 spools white thread and groceries, sold the eggs for 11 cts per doz at Bakers. Wednesday 23 March 1898 A cloudy day after wind & rain all night, a quiet morning. Mart & Volty went the fish nets found no fish, wind sprung up and had to come home without bringing the net. V plowing with the new mare. She rather friskey before the plow with old Jim for pard. The te he ing going on in the kitchen again this afternoon. Mart making good bye calls at Will, Wellies & Franks. Maud, Volty and Edna gathering roots and barks for beer. E scraped the bark off and threw the bark in the stove thinking the wood was the part to make beer. The day cold bleak cloudy & cheerless. Wind North. Evening Mart goes home with Wallace to make a good bye visit. Thursday 24th March 1898 Arose at 4 am got breakfast and V drives over to the dock with Mart & his father. Mart going to Chicago. W Sr �44 hires 25 dollars for Mart payable in three months. V plows all day. Rachel comes over & stays all day, froze last night. 3 pails of sap is the result. Wells Sr bought a two wheeled Vehicle & a tank for the shop store. Friday 25 March 1898 A very fine Morning. Froze last night more sap to day. V plowed all day. Wells Sr drove out in his new dog cart drawn by old Jim gone till 4 Oclock at the foot of island. Misses Mable Morgan & Laura Sauve honored with a visit, stayed till nine pm. George came for them. Frank here too, sang and played on piano. no letters only Whig. Saturday 26 March 1898 looks like rain. V plows till 3 pm then V & Frank start for Marysville dont return till 2 am. cook and do Saturday’s work. Will didn’t go. Jim wanted to go but no way to go. Anne Horn, Hattie Joslin here. more sap, one perch 22 eggs. Sunday 27th 1898 A cloudy day begins to rain toward night. V and Edna go to the net but no fish, 28 eggs Sr goes to Wellies. E and M go to church. Wellie here for tack pullers. �45 1898 Continued from this page in April - October 1898 book Monday 28 March 1898 A rainy day and rained in the night. Expected Lizzy but she didnt come. Tuesday 29 March 1898 A chilly day after the rain to wet to plow. A sugar party at A Joslins this evening. Maud and Edna visiting at Evelines this afternoon. Volty set out bushes. Grace washed. Wells Sr brought in the clothes after dark, wind blowing hard. Wednesday 30 March 1898 A very good day, dressed 3 roosters for market. Lizzie Horn here sewing for Grace, walked home at sunset. Volty and to Marysville. Will goes up with Frank come home at 1/2 past 2 am. Edna visits Shell. Maud visits at Wills. V plowed till starting for Marysville. Thursday 31 March 1898 A very good day rather chilly. Wells Sr, Grace and Edna go to Kingston. Maud and I worked all day. V plowed they came home all right. Volty drove to the dock for them in the evening. Jimmie came and Volty went with him to Franks to practice where they met. Will D, Mr and Mrs Woodman are keeper �46 Friday 8 Oct 1898 A windy day from South. R here washing all day. Flora and Maud went in garden and picked nearly all the tomatoes for Wills folks and the rest are nearly destroyed by the hens. Saturday 9th October 1897 A very cool day in am. pm warmer. Voltie & Grace finished digging potatoes in the berry field. R come over for her clothes which hung on the clothes line all night. Maude & I moped the floors and cooked the meals. After dinner Maude & Grace went for nuts while Irene prepared the supper. Ed W & JDB went to Marysville to the band practice. Wm D & Snub W. went to Marysville to band practice. Cold and dry Wind north. Irene made tomato ketchup and apple jelly. �47 Sunday 10 Octobe 1897 A clear bright day, chilly, wind North. The water in tub froze to thickness of window glass. The season is extremly dry, no rain for a long time. The pastures are dry and brown. The trees are many colors, nuts are ready to fall from the shucks, flowers are dead and frozen, a blue haze or smoke pervades the air and forest fires are raging and destroying property and lives in many places. We kept our beds till 1/2 6 this morning. V built coal fire then Wallace came and stayed awhile & W & V went up island in boat to ask the boys to a husking. Will here a while. Maud gone over to Wills. Ed Weaver here. Grace went to church. Flora came this morning for their bread which V had brought from the villiage. two loaves. Then came Lottie for the other two loaves. Wind West & cold �48 �49 Saturday 6 November 1897 A traveling damsel calls here just at night and stays over night. a loquacious vivacious piece of humanity. She wouldn’t be up to her business if she were otherwise. A traveling agent. Sunday 7 Nov awoke this morning to find a stranger, a young lady tramp to stay over Sunday. She hails from Sydenham and her name is Miss Aleda Woodruff pedling patent right to make imitation of Russian lamb fur or cloth. She knows Mrs Naylor. She keeps house for Brown a half breed Widower with a lot of children. �50 Monday 8 Nov 1897 A chilly raw day. Wind N cloudy rain now and then. V husking corn. Girl went down Island contracted buisness [sic] with Nesbits came back at sunset tired out with long walk. Will and Jen here and Wallace & Miss Woodruff. Cornet playing this Eve. Tuesday 9 Nov 1897 A rainy duty day cold. The girl did not go out on the rampage to day saved for Grace. Wednesday 10 Nov Churned and made butter for market 14 lbs. Girl sewed for Grace. Evening visitors, Wallace, Niles, Shelly Niles, Frank W & Will Robertson �51 Thursday 11 Nov 1879 V drove to the dock with Miss Woodruff and Grace. Maud & I had a time cleaning & picking up after last nights company. A rainy stormy day. V done chores and working in shop. Wallace here & Ed Weaver & Frank Woodman. V drove to dock for Groceries. Grace stayed in the city. Jim Morgan here to supper and stayed all night. Volty drew a load of Wood from the Ross place. The minister & wife called here intending to stop for a visit but as I & Maud were alone, they went away Friday 12 Nov 18 1979 V butchered our pork. Wells Jr & Jim Morgan helped him and then went to Wellies to help Wellie butcher his pork. Wallace & Ed Weaver helped V carry the pork down cellar in the evening. �52 Saturday 13 Nov We cleaned all the floors and moved the dining room table to the kitchen. Sunday 14 Nov 1897 A very fine day for a Nov day. Wallace came and Geo Farr. After dinner V and Wall went over river to Sand Bay with Geo Far. Came home at sundown. One duck which they use for a model to paint after. Evening visitors Wallace, Shell, Edith Pike, Will Robinson, Frank Woodman. Day visitors, Muriel, Hubert. Will’s children here for their cows. �53 Monday 15 Nov 1897 A dark cloudy dismal day looks like rain. V gets the corn stalks stacked at last. Wellie here cleaning a grist, drew it to the dock then went home, came back and helped V with the corn stalks. V went to JN’s to help Wallace run grain through the mill so Wall would help V with the stalks. Ed Weaver here in evening for V to mend his drum (snare drum). Churned. 16 November 1897 Tuesday A rainy day. Wind S and warm. V cut and salted the pork. I wrote a letter to Sr. A tribe of boys here as usual at the shop. Will Dixon here for Sug & brought home a bread loaf, sent Granny a piece of pork. V making a platform for the stove. Grace not home yet. Will Robinson shot & killed V’s pet black bird. Jim Morgan ate dinner here. Frank Woodman here and borrowed a piece of pork. Baked bread. Grace came home with Wallace from the dock. A letter from Katy �54 Wednesday 17 Nov 1897 A very good day. Maude went to school. V worked for Jim Morgan on Frank W’s hog pen. Churned and done general house work. Charley Dixon came & Hubert & Muriel. Evening visitors Will Dixon, Will Robinson, Frank Woodman, Jim Morgan, Ed Weaver, Wallace Niles, Johny Niles Jr, Shelly Niles, Edith Pike, Geo OBrien, Minnie OBrien, Hannah OBrien. band practising with cornetts and drum Jim Morgan ate supper with us. Thursday 18th Nov 1897 A clear cold day; frozen ground. Volty & Frank W drove home Rattray’s bull after V returned from the dock where he had carried the oats to grind for the cows, he is going to fat, and then he plowed nearly all day. Grace helped husk corn for the hogs and cooked the dinner. Maud at school. Grace finished setting a quilt together. Moved the stove out from the corner. The helpers were Will Dixon, Will Robertson, Frank Woodman, WalaceNiles, Jim Morgan, Geo Farr, Ed Weaver, Jack Niles, Charley Dixon, Volty, ShellNiles & Edith Pike. Those young heathens managed to break the piano stool and a lamp chimney. �55 Friday 19 Nov 1897 A snowy day and wind blowing from the East. Welly came up for Grace to go down and help Eveline Tie a quilt comfortable. Eveline sick. Wellie crossed the river after dark for Dr Buchanan. V went for Mrs Morgan. ground white with snow. Saturday 20th Nov 1897 A mild day after the storm of yesterday & last night. Eveline’s baby born this morning 1/2 past 1 on Volties birth day. Voltie rowed up with Mrs Morgan and shingled the hen coop. V & Will Dixon go to Marysville to the band practice. Churned. Cutters out on road this morning, snow disapearing towards night. �56 Sunday 21st Nov 1897 Sunday. Wind S and warm been blowing all night. snow all gone this morning. V came home at half past one a.m. Ed Weaver here. V cutting Ed hair. Send Maud to Wills with head cheese & sausage. Jim Morgan stoped long enough to peep in the window. Wellie here for me but couldnt go. Hatties bean brought her down from Charlies. she is going to work for Eveline. Monday 22nd Nov 1897 Monday 22nd Nov 1897 Not a very bad day, cleaned all the out side windows and washed towels and aprons. Grace at Wellies yet. Hattie came up to Wellies this morning. My birthday. �57 Tuesday 23rd Nov 1897 A half fair day cold. Wellie came for me to dress and wash baby. Then rowed across for Dr B then brought me home and went home and then drove B down island on a collecting tour. Dr got nothing then Jr rowed Dr across the river. V gone to Morgans to chop a load of wood started at two didn’t return till 8 pm. sent Charlie Woodman for him, met him coming home. Wednesday 24 Nov 1897 Wind S.W. and cold blowing a gale. River whtie with crested waves. Grace came home this morning. V gone to Morgans for Wood. Wellie drove up for me. Went down dressed and washed the baby, came home & had a good supper, a warm fire in stove: wind blowing a harycane [sic], went to bed early and slept all night several fires in distance. Thursday 25 Nov 1897 A cloudy day. Wind South. Arose at 1/2 past 4. Plenty wood for stove this morning. Had breakfast early ready before remembered Grace is at home. Then called her. looks like snow or rain. �58 26 Nov 1897 Friday Wellie drove up for me again went down washed and dressed the baby. The wind blowing a gale and increasing. Stayed at Evelines all night. Wind lulled towards night. Wellie plowed & V plowed. Eveline has a head ache. Do all can for her. Relieved towards night. Sat up and W. Jr made her bed. Alvira came towards eve brought apples, Talman sweets, baked, some taste like kerosine 27 Saturday Nov 1897 At Wellie’s this morning, stay all day & all night. Made 1 apple pie, 1 berry pie, 1 custard pie. Hirams Joslins wife, Isabella, came and stayed nearly all afternoon. Wellie made Evelines bed, then he came up home and he & Volty worked in shop till 11 Oclock pm. The baby is a week old. �59 Sunday 28 Nov 1897 A very good day for the season. Edy Bates & Eben Bates & Frank Vanalstine came across this morning. After breakfast Hattie went home and to church. Irene got the dinner, washed and dressed the baby &c after church. Hattie came home accompanied by Miss Maitland a very odd young Lady who stayed awhile and then went to Wellington Burhams (her boarding place). Wellie brought me home in waggon. Hubert and Muriel coming to Found Vanalstine 29 Monday Nov Wind blowing a harricane [sic] this morning. Dont believe the boys got across last night after Edwards court ship so late at Gillespies. Vanalstine did not leave here till 10 pm. 30 Friday �60 Friday 1 Dec 1897 Worked hard all day churning & making out butter for market, butter hard frozen, had to cut it and thaw it by the stove, made 27 lbs. Thursday 2nd December 1897 Arose early 1/2 4 and hurry around to get to the boat. Maud and I work all day. Maud expected a new music book but got none. Grace carried 27 lbs butter to market. sold it at 16 per lb. 3rd Friday �61 Saturday 4 Sunday 5 Grace Monday 6 Nov �62 Tuesday 7 Nov Wednesday 8 Nov Thursday 9 Nov arose at 3 am. V going to Kingston on Pierpont, walked to wharf and carried a basket of fowls and shats to be barn dried, 4 lengths of stove pipe & the baritone cornett. Irene fed hogs but Jr came up and done the chores. Grace is better. V came home at nearly 8 pm. J Morgan here in eve and after supper they go down to Franks to blow horns. V come back at 11 pm at last the house is quiet and all is well. Geo Niles came home to day, came on Pierpont. Friday 10 Nov 1897 A cloudy day, sun shining out now and then. V plowing but drove to dock for wheat from Rosedale wreck. A dance at Horn’s. Moved the stove coal again. Callers WmD-W.N.-FW.-WmR -J Morgan Ed W. & P Burnham. No letters only from Hannah �63 Saturday 11 December 1897 A rainy day. Wind South and blowing. The boy’s cannot go to Marysville this afternoon which is a sad disapointment to them. V at the shop working at something or other. Grace taking carpet off stair steps and tidying up the rooms. Maud at her music lessons. Irene churning and the rain falling, filling the tubs and pails, not cold but a sad dreary out look. Evening. The horn blowers are here again in full force viz Will Dixon, Jim Morgan, Frank Woodman, Wm Robertson, and V.B. blew till 1/2 past 10 then pedro’ed till 1/2 past 11 pm. F.W.s horn made my head yank, Ed Weaver walked to Marysville got done with Woodmans. Sunday 12 December 1897 A quiet cloudy day. A gentle north wind with scarcely a ripple on the river. Wallace & George Niles came and stayed awhile then Geo proceeded to B Horn’s and after doing the chores Volty & Wallace went across the river to H Dodge’s returned at 8 pm. Evening guests Wallace Niles & Will Robertson. V went to Jr for stove pipe. �64 Monday 13 December 1897 A fine quiet morning a very light wind & North, sunlight peeping through the clouds at intervals. We are washing. We were up fitness this morning, ate breakfast by lamplight. Maude gone to Wills for soap. V gone to A Joslins with pig crate came home and plowed the remainder of the day. Will D went to River view for shingles, nails & bought 5 gallons for Welly. Evening visistors NONE. Grace & I washed and brought water from river. A lovely day more like June weather than December Tuesday 14th Dec 1897 A rainy morning, wind N.E., mudy raw morning. We have a fire in coal stove but scarcly any wood for kitchen stove. Sr not home yet. Voltie plowing all fore noon. Afternoon goes to Morgans for wood Mid day. raining steadily, tub, boiler and pools overflowing with water. Shell N came down for sage. Dried a pumkin and fried a pan full of cakes. Grace folded the clothes to iron. V brought them in last night at bed time. V working in shop all pm. Evening all the horn blowers go to Will D. �65 Wednesday 15 December 1897 Get out early this morning. V does the chores at the barn & milks the cows. After breakfast V goes to Uncle Sams for big kettle and the mail [illegible] for wood toward the dock. Knockee out [illegible] old stumps, enough to heat water for butchering and also keep the kitchen stove going two days. Butchered 5 hogs—helpers were Will and Frank & Jimmie and Wellie. Evening visitors were Will and Jen. Jimmie came back stayed all night, and helped V do the chores. A very fine day for out door work. Thursday 16 th Out of bed at 4 am. Jim helped V do chores and load the hogs for waggon for market. V gone to K & Jim gone to K and Niles gone to K. Will & Charley here, gave Charley a pumpkin. Wellie came up & done chores. A cloudy day all mud. Wind S. The wreck of the Rosedale was towed down by here to day in charge of three tugs, was towed stern first constantly pumping. Volty came 1/2 past 7 pm. Expected the father but he did not come. �66 Friday 17th Dec 1897 Ground slightfully frozen this morning. V plowing. Grace washing. Irene finished rendering the lard. Hubert & Muriel came for the hard soap V got for them in K and the curry comb. cloudy very little wind North. Wish & hope Wells Sr will come home to day. Maude taking her music lesson. A heavy fall of snow in pm. Good sleighing. V had to stop plowing for snowstorm. Will here to tea. Jimmie Morgan & Wallace came and Voltie went with them to Franks, Wells not home yet. Saturday 18th December 1897 A cloudy morning. Ground white with snow. Wells may come to day—hope so. wind west and moderatley cold, Growing colder, clouds clearing away. Will walked to Marysville. Martin came home this pm. Card brought him down in the evening. V & M go up to J.N’s �67 Sunday 19 December 1897 The coldest night and morning yet this season. Froze in kitchen. Left all the bulbs in kitchen on the shelf; the dirt frozen around them but the plants are all right. This must not happen again. Think the white Geranium is done for froze stiff as a stick. Wallace came down and Martin and Grace & Wallace went to Wellies, after they all were gone Charley came down bringing Rachel and Will, left them at home and came back and stayed to dinner. Directly after dinner he went home. Mart came up from Jr with Wallace and went home with him. Stayed till evening. Evening visitors Frank Woodman & Wallace & Shell came home with Martin. 11 Oclock saw them outside the door enroute for home. Grace came home at sundown Monday 20 December 1897 A stormy snowy day. Mart and Voltie went to Morgan’s Ross place for wood. We churned. Afternoon Voltie went to help Will butcher pig. After doing the chores Voltie & Mart went down to visit Frank. Evening visitors Will & Charley came to blow horn but no one here to blow with. �68 Tuesday 21 December 1897 A clear cold day afternoon warmer. V borrowed a bag of coal of Niles, went up in boat for it. Then V went to Charley Woodman wood bee. Sent a letter to Johny as a Christmas greeting. After dinner Mart went to the bee and from there went with Geo Niles to Al Joslins to a party. Al not at home gone to John Songcist. Frank and Jimmie here blowing with V. Will not here. The boys went to the door and in concert tried to blow him over here. Grace ironed clothes &c. Made pumpkin pies. Wednesday 22nd December Work hard all fore noon making out 20 lbs butter for market. Grace, V & Will D and Frank W all go to Marysville—boy’s going to play for the concert. Grace going to K on the 1/2 past 4 boat going to dentist and stay all night with Nellie. �69 Thursday 23rd December 1897 A cloudy morning. Arose at 4 to get breakfast for Jesse Reid & Martin, both going to Kingston. V arose late nearly 8 o’clock. Maud and I work all day. Churn bring down the lounge cook &c. V drives to dock we expect the father to come home with them but he cometh not and I’m not aweary. Wellie went to Kingston. Jesse came first rode with Niles. Christmas presents from Edna, Lill, Nellie. Friday 24th December 1897 A clear very cold day, windows thickly covered with frost. River steaming. Jesse Reid at noon crossed the river. V drove to Wellies for a plank. Grace fixing the room anddressing Muriels doll. V and M working in shop. Bamford not home. Winter grand bright beautiful and severe, sometimes gloomy. The Earth has yielded up her offering of bountious abundance and and now snow covered, frost bound, V came home at 1/2 1 this morning & present from Maye to Grace. �70 Saturday 25 December 1897 A thick morning, snowing, river steaming, cold, wind blowing, from South, white caps rolling. Chicken roasted for dinner. Wells Jr came home just after our Christmas dinner. Glad to see him home once more. He came as a Christmas present here but not for me. Mrs Adams sent a present to your humble servant. Mrs W.B. Sr a pair of shells, art decorated most beautifully. In evening Grace and Mart went to Mrs Niles, sttayed till 9 pm. V went to Frank’s, found no one home, waited awhile then came home. Sr brought V a gold watch. Mrs Adams is the fathers paramour Sunday 26 December 1897 A cloudy still day not cold. If the sun would out it would thaw. Sr reading Utica Globe. Maud gone to Wills visiting. �71 Monday 27 Dec 1897 Tuesday 28 Dec 1897 �72 Wednesday 29 Dec 1897 Thursday 30 Dec 1897 A dirty, windy, rainy, snowy, day, slush slush everywhere. Shell Niles 16 years old to day: going to have a birth day party. �73 Friday 31 Dec 1897 A quiet cloudy day looks like snow. I’m laid up with sprained ancle [sic]: almost believe it is broken—hope not. Wells made Wills folks a visit this forenoon. Hubert & Muriel came up with Wellie. ancle painfull. Did not sleep any last night. Grace finishing the washing. Mrs Morgan came to get a horse shod, stayed to supper and till 8 pm. Bob Robinson here till late. Saturday 1 Jan 1898 A long lonesome tiresome day, laid up in bed in latter part of the day. Evening visitors two Morgans here to supper, Bernard and Jim. Bernard stays till late 10 or more, wish he’d go home. Will came over. Well and Voltie played on bugles and at the same time Grace entertained B.M. with piano music and as I am between the two kinds of music each playing different airs at the same time. We are charmed. Forget Shelly here nearly all pm. Sunday 2 January 1898 Sun rose clear, a fine morning, but soon clouds and snow �74 falling thick and fast. Mart goes to church. Wallace comes home with him and stays to dinner and nearly all p.m. Monday 3rd January 1897 Election day. Will gone to election, our boys stayed home. School open to day at lower school and here. Mrs Gordon boards at Niles. Volty working on Ratrays bobs. Welly came up. Tuesday 4 Jan 1897 Cloudy snowing some. A dance at Horns. Grace, Volty, & Martin go with the Niles load. Welly came and brought wormwood. Jimmie Morgan came in evening with his bugle & disapointed to find all gone to Horns’. Wednesday 5 Jan 1897 This day like the preceding I sitting a cripple by the stove with foot on small chair. V think he ought to go to the �75 practice at Marysville but stays at home instead. Frank and Jim go to the practice. A moderate day looks like a storm. Voltie works on bobs. Thursday 6 Jan 1898 A stormy day. Rachel came over going to stay till after E Weavers dance at the ferry. V worked on bobs. This day same old thing. No ice in river. The river has frozen over and thawed broken up several times. Friday 7 Jan 1898 A beautiful fair day in afternoon. Wall & Grace go to Belles to supper and from there To Ed Weavers dance in McLarens hall. Bernard came to invite to a raising tomorrow (Saturday). G Niles & L Horn & Hattie J & Jim Taylor & VoltieMartin & Will Dixon and Frank Woodman gone to �76 Ed’s dance. A letter from John and Flora. Saturday 8th Jan 1898 A cloudy morning toward noon. It rains a big body of ice floating down and lodged from shore to shore. Our youngsters came home at daylight and went to bed. Grace has a slight cold, finish the chair cover. Wind blowing a gale from South. Grace arose at two pm and worked till bed time. Sunday 9th 1898 January A clear bright day not cold, ground nearly bare. Grace has a bad cold. lies on lounge nearly all day. Rachel & Maude get the meals. The boys shot a duck will pick and cook it tomorrow. Wallace came and stayed a short time. the ancle [sic] is a little better, river clear. next day duck no good, threw it to the cats and they had a cat fight & quarrel over the duck and we had a stewed rooster instead of duck. �77 Monday 19 Jan 1898 A fair day, warm, river frozen across but no good: a quiet day Wells Sr banked the front of house. Bernard Morgan here and invited V to a raising a log horse barn. Volty went. My foot may be better but swelled yet. Rachel here. Grace much better. Martin doing chores. Maud cleaned lamps and helped wash dishes. Welly drove to our school with Muriel & Hubert this morning. Will’s children made a start for school too, going to Section No 8. Mr Pedro at Will Dixon’s playing Pede Tuesday 11 January 1898 A fine day, bright, clear and cold. Wind North. Voltie and Wallace cross the river on ice down by Horns on jam ice. Wallace gone to St Lawrence for medicine for his father (Mr Treders) Wellington, Mr Horn and Lizzie came across too. They are the first foot passengers this season. In Evening Wallace came down on skates. Coming around the point, he broke through and wet one foot. after drying feet, Wall & Martin went to post office and then Martin went home with Wallace to play with Mr Pedro. Grace washed Rachel hung out the clothes �78 Mart went to Geo Rattrays to mill. Volty in evening shelled two bushels of corn for mill. A black cloud rising in South. sewed rugs and knit lace for Belles. Wednesday 12 Jan 1898 A rainy morning ground all mud with dirty streaks of snow and ice scattered all around. V drove to Geo R’s with corn and brought home the ground provender, wheat, peas, corn and oats a mixed mess. Welly here shoeing horse, raining hard, clothes all hanging out. P.M. Rachel went home, drove home with Welly. George and Wallace here this evening playing pede with V & Mart. A bad time for Dany Hughy’s dance. Thursday 13th Jan 1898 A cloudy morning. Wind N ground covered with snow. Welly drove to school with children. River ice broken from shore to shore, bad crossing from Marysville to Kingston. Two weeks to day since sprained ankle. Frank came home today been gone since Weavers dance, said he never drank so much whiskey before. �79 Friday 14 January 1898 A cloudy day, not cold. Maude carried letters to post: sent one to her father. Mart and Grace went to Marysville to workmans ball. Maude & Wells Sr got supper. No letters only for Sr. V working on bobs. Saturday 15 Jan 1898 Stormy day of snow which will make fine sleighing. Mart and Grace came at 1/2 past nine this am. Wills butchered another pig. Charley came for a butcher knife. Grace slept from 12 noon till five. Mart slept from 10 till three oclock pm V. working in shop on Geo Rattrays bob sleigh, snows fast and evenly: no wind a north [?] All went to bed early. Welly came up for kerosine said Muriel & Hubert are sick with cold Sunday 16 Jan 1898 A beautiful winter day, clear bright cloudless: the fields are spotless a dazzling white blanket of snow covers the earth & every roof and clings to the trees. Wind cold and north very little wind. Sleighs are cutters and out on the road, going up and down road. Mart went to church and from there went �80 Mart didnt come home with the others this morning stayed to go to the Cape to dance. May Wormwith Grace E Bamford 185 University Avenue Kingston Ont Mrs Geromind Feb 15 30 lbs sugar 25 lb salt 1 pk onions 1 1/2 doz currants lemons 2 lb cheese baking powder broom diamond dye cardinal & green �81 [printed inside cover of diary including advertisements] Boston Fur Store George Mills & Co 170 Wellington St 170. Furs and Mantles Furs and Cloaks Mantles, Latest Styles, Coaks, Lowest prices The Boston Hat Store Noted for low prices The exact spot to get your Boots is at Abernethy’s, 127 Princess Street, Offord’s old stand. The low price shoe George Mills & Co’y 170 Wellington Street Noted for Low Prices Nobby Hats Sole Agents in Kingston for Celebrated Marsland Stiff and Soft Felt hats. Boys School Caps. 15c., 20c., and 25c. Empire Typewriter $55 Visible Writing, Strong Manifolder. It will pay you to see it before buyig... Columbia & Hartford Bicycles Good Repair Shop. J.R.C. Dobbs & Co., 44 Clarence Street �82 [back cover of diary with manfacturers stamp] Red Rope Magazine Binder Manufactured by Gaylord Bros. Inc. Syracuse, N.Y. Stockton, Calif. �83 �This document would not be possible without the editorial contributions of the following people: Ann Hopkinson, MaryV, Eric Irvine, Vivian Zhang, and Queen’s University Archives � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Subject The topic of the resource 19th and 20th Century Rural Ontario Diaries Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1887-1922 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Table Of Contents A list of subunits of the resource. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1887 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1888-1889 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1889-1897 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1890 March - June Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1893-1895 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1895-1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1896 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1897-1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1898 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1899-1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1900 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902, 1906 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1902-1909 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1904-1905 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1907 & 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1908-1919 parts of Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1911 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1913-1914 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1915-1916 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1916-1917 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1917-1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1918 Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1921-1922 Language A language of the resource English Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Transcription, 1897-1898 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irene Dixon Bamford Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Courtesy of Queen's University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1897-1898 Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 19th Century, Frontenac County, Wolfe Island, Ontario Date Created Date of creation of the resource. October 9th, 1897 begins on p 46 Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Irene Dixon Bamford Diary Collection Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Typed Transcription UG Transcription Progress Scripto transcription progress Done transcribed