Thursday November 23rd

Dad went back and ploughed this morning as it was quite mild and thawed during the night. I did a few chores and then went back with him. He said it was very {bat?} at first as it was frozen hard along the ploughed ground but as he got into the sod it got easier. I cleane the sods out of the ditches and then had a good lesson.

It began to rain at noon and kept up till night preventing us from doing anything but chores. Carl Coleman came to get Dad to kill their old horse after dinner but Dad had nothing to do it with told them leave him. I read all the after noon and Dad read James Whitcomb Riley.

To night after their lessons, the boys gave an exhibition of their strength and acrobatic feats also vieing with each other in making the biggest noise while I was trying to read and Dad to sleep.

Friday November 24th

It snowed a little last night and as it did not freeze is very muddy but Dad went back to plow. He plowed all day and it was easy enough but he was mud "up to his eyes" more or less. I did the chores and spent the rest of the morning cutting fire rails.

Mr. Duncan was here to see Dad. He went back to find him but returned soon and said he could not swim the stream in the gully. I went back with Dad this after noon. I took a rail with me to put across the creek as Dad told me he had to jump and got in up to his knees. I shovelled ditches all after noon. It was pretty cold wind and began to freeze about half past four so we came up by five. Tige and the grey kitten went back with me. I thought the kitten went back in the middle of the after noon but when we were coming up we picked it up in the gully. Enah went down town this after noon. It promises to be a very cold night.