for awhile. Dick Quint and Aunt Hattie arrived there to-day. I got home before dark. Marj. was just out feeding the chickens and collecting the eggs, we got a total of 40 to-day. I have felt the cold to-day more than any day this winter I think. The mercury was 9° below this morning Ray said and there was a north-east breeze all day that was intensely chilling. It is freezing hard to-night but the wind has gone down. Marj. and I sat up till after midnight reading and I stayed awake nearly the whole time, which I considered a remarkable accomplishment, and which Marj. attributes to the fact that she promised me I could have a smoke if I kept awake long enough to read one chapter.

Thursday January 27th

I struck off this morning as soon as I could get away which was far from early to get Queen shod I expected to find the shop full when I got down there but I was in luck. There was just one horse and four bums in the shop. The bums weren't occupying Sid's time and he was just finishing shoeing the horse so went right to work on Queen. While she was being shod I went on up town and got my hair cut, peddled some eggs, and did a little trading. I called in at Aunty's with a jar of cream. They were all at dinner but I didn't stay. This after noon I didn't do anything but the chores. Marj. has hopes of going to the carnival next week as Mabel and Ina promised to stay with the kids so she was going over all her old garments to rig out a costume and as she wanted to see if she could skate before attempting it on the rink we all went down back of the school house where the school kids have a little patch of ice cleared, and Marj. had quite a work-out. She managed well considering she hasn't had skates on for six years. I went over to Dave's before tea to see if I could borrow Doc to-morrow to haul coal. Brother John is there and they were figuring on hauling up wood but they said I could have Dock first thing for long enough to get a load of coal. Very cold this a.m. but moderating no wind.

Friday January 28th

I got over to Dave's with Queen a little before nine which was as early as I could make it and they had the waggon all ready for me but as it looked very dark and threatening I suggested that we haul the wood