and covered Snowdrop with gore and when we let them in to-night a beautiful little spurt was coming out of it but Dad. soon stopped it but putting a little chop stuff on it. We intended to go prospecting for sawdust this afternoon but by the time I got the rails unloaded The Law's came in to take their clover mill and engine down to Bob. Leitch's as the roads are now in grand shape. We were very glad to have the clover mill out of the barn as it was a great nuisance, but we didn't get a chance to go for our sawdust as they were here most of the afternoon getting up enough steam to raise hel the engine out of the ground where she was frozen in, when Alan threw her in she would hump and stop "breathing" just like a horse trying to lift a big load. but after a few strains she loosened up. and got out. Sam's brother-in-law was with them and he seemed to understand quite a lot about it.

When they went Dad. put Joe's harness on Osprey and hooked him up to the bobs with Belle. he did pretty fair but seems to throw or paddle his nigh forefoot. Jonas came over this morning and borrowed a pitch fork and the hay knife as he is going to move the hay from McBains barn to Sam McBrides as they are tearing down the old McBain barn to-day. he brought them back to-night and is now playing checkers with Frank. The bear had ample chance to see his shadow to-day as the sun has been shining nearly the whole time it has been an ideal winter day. not too cold and just enough wind to turn the windmill. I got seven eggs again to-day. They are getting a lot of milk now and it is beginning to tell on them.

Tuesday February 3rd

I got up about five this morning and read till daylight When Dad. came out I found that Dick had brought home word last night that Winckey Smith was dead and was to be brought here on the eleven o'clock train to be buried, and as the funeral was to be taken charge of by the mason's. Dad. was wanted at the lodgeroom at ten o'clock. I drove down with Dad. and hung around till the train came in and then drove up to the cemetery with him. After the service was over there we drove over to Evan's woods on the Radical opposite old Stringer's place to see if there was any sawdust. We had quite a time finding any signs of a sawmill but at last Dad. came on it way back in a little ravine. He said there were no men around but quite a few bags and a pile of sawdust.

This afternoon Dad. went down and got his hair cut and was gone all the afternoon. I watered the horses and cleaned out the cow stable and then I took a walk back the lane to look at the little trees. Most of them on the west side are dead while most on the east are alive. To-night Dad. went over to a men's party at Jack Martin's. It has been very soft all day and the sleighing is just about gone. There is snow lying in the fence corners and on the north side of things but it looks very Spring like. water is running everywhere and the fields are nearly all brown and where ever the sun can reach it looks dry and warm. I got twelve eggs to-day which I thought was pretty good.