March 1889

18. Saturday. This is the largest storm we had this winter. We had a bad one in December. 18¢ for butter, sold 20 lbs., 65¢ for cream, 40¢, sugar 25¢, sold 5 doz. eggs, 65¢. Marion is on the mend.

19. Still storming, snow, and showers. Not many in church. Jimmie’s Birthday.

20. The wildest day yet. High west wind and drifting, sun shining beautifully. The account of a terrible fire which took place in New York on Saturday. The Windsor Hotel was burnt in the afternoon. The clearest day, over thirty had perished.

21. Fine bright day, the news in today’s papers that Donald Robertson of Quebec was at the Windsor Hotel in New York on Wednesday. Got 6 lbs. of butter, 48¢. Willie and I took oats, bought alt. 20, 120, for value received, by D. Farquharson.

22. Storming again, Jimmie went to Mr. Campbell’s sale.

23. Jimmie bought a sleigh at Vail’s yesterday, gave $13.25.

24. Fine bright day, Marion sold 32 doz. eggs at Marion, 1½ bushels, 40¢, and got a pair of shoes. Hat and bag from Blach Bros., B.R. 100 lbs., 5.80, 5.50.

25. Jimmie went to Cornwall to an officers meeting and saw a doctor.

26. Fine day, good sleighing, large congregation.

27. Jimmie went to Cornwall as a witness for Dr. Dingwell's R.R.

28. Dull day, 600 barrels at 1.10. Bride went to Martintown to a C.E. Rally, took buggy. Jimmie McGinnis went with us. Farquharson was to tea yesterday.

29. Storm all day.

30. Thursday. Prayer meeting, Dunn there. 70 1-gall, coal oil, 20¢.

31. Fine day, but cold. Sleighing better than it was all winter. Jimmie got home from Cornwall. Mrs. Duncan McEwan let Jimmie and Brenda have $90. Here is the transcription of the diary page from April 1889:

April 1889

1. Monday. Fine day. Cold with wind, roads good. Boys took home a load of hay from the D.J. farm. Sold today 290 eggs, 60 cts, ½ lb. butter, 12 cts. Sugar 25 cts, calf 13.

2. Fine day, though cold wind, a large congregation.

3. Done a small washing. After dinner, Mrs. A. E. called on the way to Donald King’s and took me for a drive. Cattle boys do not gain any; the roads are pretty good. L. Baltimore is sawing our wood.

4. Finished the wood at noon. They drilled the well yesterday and stopped work at 3 PM. Began at 6 AM. Mr. Earley charged $8 per load, 2 loads oats. Jim, Uncle Donaldson, on field, took $30.00 out, borrowed money on Sunday.

5. I made a few calls. Jimmie & Marion were all day on the 3rd of Lancaster running a line.

6. Fine day, got 1 gallon of syrup from Farquhar yesterday. The W.F.M.S. met at Elders today. My off 25 cts.

7. Fine day, Farquhar 2 gallons syrup.

8. Snow and rain, sold 6 lbs. beefsteak, 28 cts., mustard. I was working at a pair of pants for a fee. He brought the cloth. D.M. Cummings 2½ yds at 65 cts, 1.63.

9. Very fine day, wind and bright, not many in church, roads very bad.

10. The Anniversary of our marriage 37 years. Paid Dr. Munot for attendance for 1888 & 1889, $7.00. Ordered two big saws from Raymond, cost 50 cts each.

11. Very fine day, got 7 gallons thin syrup. Well boiled it. Made a little butter, finished bed plants.

12. Fine day.

13. Made a window box and put it on the verandah.

14. By myself again, very fine bright day, but cold.