DECEMBER. 12th MONTH == 1881. ==

19. MONDAY. [ 353- 12 ] Got Brisk shod 2 new shoes. & piece of old iron & plough beam straighened to fix up his manger with. Fixed manger with it when I came home.

Afternoon cleaned out pig pen & fixed roof

Evening paid Hamilton $12.75 Ballance on townline chopping

Very dark night frost coming out of ground. A brillian light seen to N.N.E. some building burning

20. TUESDAY. [354 - 11] Cleaned up 14 bags Oats for O.S. on Thursday as Miss Bella is coming home. Afternoon pulled 4 drills turnips which was left at fence side & took them home to roothouse 2 half loads Will do well with store cattle

Today has been a very fine day a day one could hardly expect in middle of a Canadian winter. Like the winter days of Auld Lang Syne

21. WEDNESDAY. [355 -10 ] Cleaned & oiled the turnip cutter then tried the plough in piece of new land went pretty well. Afternoon ploughed till G. Haverson came over to me. He came down for turnip Straw cutter. Got load on to waggon for tomorrow. Rain tonight

22. THURSDAY. [ 356-9 ] Very rainy morning waited a long time for day light then fed the cattle turnips. Faired a little started for O.S. Sold 2 bags on the way for 6 bus at 42c = 2.50. 12 bags on Market 36 bus 27/34 lbs @ 42c $15.45.= 17.95. Spent 1.26. Got Miss Bella at Station. The G. Trunk bought the narrow gauge road & has widened it & put on their rolling stocks powerful locomotives making Toronto in 6 hours. Turned out fine day but cloudy, roads soft.

23. FRIDAY. [357 - 8 ] Ploughing all day, stumpy piece beside turnip land. By night the frost was getting rather hard. Two or three hours will finish it now

24. SATURDAY. [358 - 7 ] Thrashing peas two floors with flail Afternoon 3 with horses. We had a lamb died to day has been sick for four days. I think the ram must have hurt it. Did not get the peas cleaned up

25. SUNDAY. Christmas Day. [359 - 6] Our text today I Sm. 12 & 24. Samuel here would have the people consider the past & it would well for us at the end of the year to look back. How much we have to be thankful for. The Bible in our hands. The Gospel preached Light all around & the support of Christians their help & encouragement to witness for Christ. Oh how much to be thankful for. Therefore let us fear the Lord. Filial fear, honour & obedience. The fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom. Then serve him in truth. Many would serve him but not in truth like Ananias & Sapphira. If not in truth it is no service. And we must serve with all our heart. Take our hearts Lord for we cannot give them to the keep them for we cannot keep them for Thee.