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.