Fonds Level Description

Accession Number: 87-006

William Standen fonds
87-006

Diary: February 1895 - December 1895

Note: Capitals, periods, and commas have been added or eliminated in some instances for clarification purposes. Square brackets [ ] indicate indecipherable text, or a section that in the original is comprised of dashes, taken to mean that the missing text is identical to the text that is directly above on the page. Also, occasional misspellings appear in the original and these misspellings have been maintained (examples of some of the common misspellings are "intrest" for "interest,", "feild" for "field," "staid" for "stayed,"and "tomorow" for "tomorrow")

Note: Numbers 3,8,4 and so on appear sporadically in the margins beside the weather accounts. Significance unknown.

Note: Reference to a barn-raising bee on June 12th.

1895: February

Diary for 1895

15. Fri. 15 February 1895. Andrew came down and he and John finished loading our second car of hay. I am not very well but able to help a little. 1 more car in. Fine but wintry.

16. Sat. 16. John and Andrew drawing hay to the station. I did chores and drove up to the corner to clean the snow out of the church but found someone had done it. I shoveled some out of the shed to make it better for the horses to stand and hurried back to help the boys off with another load and found myself rather unwell at night. Cold & wintry.

17. Sun. 17. I was not able to go out today so I sent a note to F. Foysten to go to Josephine for me. S. Coles took the Bible class in the morning and came down with his wife & little one for the afternoon and went up to preach for the R. Baptists at night. Maybeth went over to Josephine with F. Foysten and -. Dibben, afternoon. I am much better tonight. Fine & sunny. Nice winter weather.

18. Mon. 18. I am not able to do much but went up to the corner and did a little business. Gave Annie a drive out and took a rest afternoon but slept too long so I was not in time to send to J.J. Brown a statement of the car loading. There are two more cars to load. Mama went up to stay with G'ma and Maybeth came down here. Fine winter weather.

19. Tue. 19. John & Andrew loading the cars with hay. I managed to do the chores and keep things a little straight. Fine winter weather.

20. Wed. 20. We got all the hay over to the station but 44 bales - but it is awkward getting it from the old house where it was stowed. The snow on the lane is very deep. Fine winter weather.

21. Thur. 21. A stormy day but John took over the last of the hay forenoon and we could not do much afternoon for the storm. John took Sylvie up to the corner & back. Feirce N.W. gale with snow.

22. Fri. 22. We put in the day digging out the lane after the storm and cleaning up the barnyard, cutting ice and snow from doors, cleaning out hen house, etc. Andrew came down afternoon and got some roots for the things up there. Fine & sunny. Cold in the shade.

23. Sat. 23. Andrew is away to Barrie taking Ruth to get some teeth pulled. I met him at the station in the morning and gave him the number of the cars loaded and quantity to take to J.J. Brown. I helped John to get out 4 saw logs & he took them over to the mill at Josephine. Fine but cold N.W. wind.

24. Sun. 24 February 1895. I was thankful to get to Sunday School and meeting as usual. Heman Coles presided & read from Timothy, 1st & 2nd. I went over to Josephine afternoon & spoke on Salvation - 3 aspects. A good gathering. God bless His word. Fine & pleasant. Mild.

25. Mon. 25. Johns birthday (25). Numbers VI-24-25-26 - 91 Ps. Andrew came down and he & John went back to the bush to get out some more timber for the barn. Stanley Jacobs came down and I had to go up to the corner to get 21 bags which belong to Uncle Sam. We got them to clean up a grist for him but he did not get it. I stopped up to dinner and mended the church door that was blown down. I got paper for diary and wrote up the last 10 days from memory, weather & all. Francey took Annie up to go to Mr. Foystens. Colder with high N.W. wind and some snow.

26. Tue. 26. We got a load of hay from T.B.S.'s for the cattle and then Andrew took a load up for Mr. Kerr, the blacksmith in the trade for [Maud]. I went over to see the folks round the station forenoon taking papers for the children who used to come to the S.S. Fine & pleasant winter weather.

27. Wed. 27. I helped John to get out some of the timber that Spencer Croley is making for the barn and went over to see about lumber for siding at the mill but they have none of the right length. Afternoon we butchered 3 of last falls pigs. Mild. Getting very soft.

28. Thur. 28. Mama & I went to town taking 3 pigs. They weighed 410 lbs. altogether, 20.75 ($5.5 c.) per cwt. I got $200.00 from J.J. Brown on the hay ($58.75 to come). I paid Mr. Stewart $90.00 interest on T.B.S. place. Got new bottom for stove, 81 c., creamer mended, 10 c., tin pail, 35 c., fish, 25 c., Sundries, 50 c. We went up to the Hosptial to see about getting a room for Annie to go for a change and called at several other places which made us late home. I brought barrel of salt, $1.00. Fine & very soft. 1895: March

1. Fri. 1st March 1895. I helped John to get some timber from Croleys and T. Cronin came and we helped him to put on a load of hay from T.B.S.'s. Afternoon John drew some more timber and I did chores and then took the cutter up to get some mending done to it. I paid Mr. Young last years bill ($15.00), gave G'ma $50.00 on rent, left $20.00 for Reigh McKniley on the hay baleing, & $3.00 for Mark Knapp for lumber, A. Foysten $4.20 for beef, F. Foysten, $2.75 for wheat got last summer. $1.00 for cows. Warm & foggy till 9 A.M. Cleared off with cold high N.W. wind & a little snow.

2. Sat. 2. John drawing timber for barn. I did chores and then went up to the corner and packed up Mr. Gilmours specs and mailed them to him and a P.C. When I got home Cronin was here for another load of hay. He paid me $10.00 on it. The young folk had a skating carnival on the Beaver Meadow. I went back to Mr. McLeans bush to see about hemlock logs for lumber. They are not very good. Clear, calm & sunny but keen N. wind.

3. Sun. 3 March 1895. S.S. and meeting as usual. I read 1 ch. Phillippians. Suffer for His sake. N. Sheepwash spoke on names of the places the Isrealites camped at. I walked over to Josephine and read LIII - Isaiah. [--]. We all staid home at night. I wrote to Aunt Lizzie. Keen N.W. wind with snow. A gale at night.

4. Mon. 4. I went over to see some logs that Mr. Fostor wants to sell. I think they will do for lumber for the barn siding. We chored P.M. Cold S.E. wind with snow.

5. Tue. 5. John took some dry logs from the bush for light wood up to the corner. Andrew came down with him and we got a load of hay on for the mill folk. John took it up and weighed & then took it over. I took a box of butter over to station and Mama & I went down to S. Webbers for the evening which made us late home. Fine pleasant winter weather.

6. Wed. 6. John took up a lot of oats to mix with wheat for chopp forenoon. Afternoon he & I went over to Fostors to see about getting out the saw logs. We made a start and took one down to the mill. Fine & pleasant.

7. Thur. 7. We went over to Fostors & got out a lot more logs. Andrew & John took a load each forenoon & afternoon. It keeps us busy to get that much and chores done. Fine & pleasant.

8. Fri. 8. We went over to Fostors in good time but a sleigh got broken running down the hill empty so we only got 2 loads down to the mill. Fine, A.M. Stormy P.M.

9. Sat. 9. John & I went over to Fostors and got another load of logs down to the mill and a load of long lumber home forenoon. Afternoon we did up chores and got another load of lumber from the mill. Wintry. Snowy, P.M.

10. Sun. 10. S.S. & meeting as usual. Jas. Johnston read 10 ch. John & S. Coles spoke awhile. Mama went over to Josephine with me for Mrs. John Cameron is sick and Mrs. Fostor had to stay at home with her. I read 51 Ps. and then answered the question "Who then can be saved", Mark 16 c. - 16 v. - John X c. - 9 v. - Mark III c. - 13 v. - Rom. X c., 9 v. - 13 v -. Fine winter weather. Eclipse of moon. Hard frost.

11. Mon. 11. John & I went over to Fostors and got another load of logs, and got home a load of lumber forenoon. John got some peices out of the bush afternoon. Keen cold S.W. wind. Clear & sunny. 14 below zero, A.M.

12. Tue. 12. John & I went over to Fostors and got another load of logs, I think the last we will get from there. We brought a load of lumber back and got 4 pine logs from our own slash afternoon. John & Francey are away for the evening to S. Campbels. Fine, A.M. Snowy, P.M. Mild.

13. Wed. 13. I helped John away with a load of hay for W. Holdsworth. He had to go to the corner to weigh and got his dinner there. He brought a load of lumber back from the mill. I took Annie out for a drive afternoon and took Miss Tracy down to see A. Greensides wife in the evening. Soft & mild, A.M. Colder, P.M. A gale at night from N.W.

14. Thur. 14 March 1895. I went to town and did some business. After lifting a note I gave A. Ronald a month ago, $85.00, I got $50.00 more from J.J. Brown on the hay leaving a small ballance yet due me. I saw some parties about getting rooms for Annie to stay in Barrie while the muddy time is on and came home by Fostors bringing their mail from Barrie for them. Miss Drysdale & brother came and the young folk went up to Christian Endeavour. Lord bless them. Gale all night. Calmer today but very keen N.W. wind. Clear. Hard freezing weather.

15. Fri. 15. John is away to the corner to help Andrew saw wood, etc. I did a lot of choring. S.Webber & family came afternoon and at night we all went up to a meeting addressed by Mrs. S. Coles. Finer. Not so cold.

16. Sat. 16. I took Annie up for a drive in the forenoon and got wood, etc. ready for the church fires. Andrew came down and got some roots, etc. and brought Pruney heifer down afternoon. We cleaned up the Joanette oats afternoon. Fine but cold N.W. wind.

17. Sun. 17. S.S. & meeting as usual. S. Coles took Hemans place at morning service. Francey went over with me to Josephine afternon (67 Ps. & Publicans prayer) & we all went up to the memorial service of Annie & Woodsey Orchard in Methodist church at night except Annie & Mother. Annie went up to morning meeting. Fine but cold N.W. wind.

18. Mon. 18. John & I cleaned up about 40 bus. of Banner oats and then I took Mama down to see Mrs. A. Greensides. Called at Dobbins on the way home and came round by the corner to see about getting some more things to send down for they (Greensides) are in great want. The young folks are all away to take Martha Drysdale home and I do not expect them till the "sma wee hours." Fine but cold N.W. wind.

19. Tue. 19. Mama & I intended to have gone to town to see about getting rooms for Annie but concluded that we would defer the visit for a while so John & I went back to T.B.S. and got a load of hay & he took it over to the mill. Fine but cold high N.W. wind.

20. Wed. 20. John & I went up to the corner and got a load of hay for the horses down here in seeding for we have fed away the best. Afternoon John went with Isaac Downey to a sale at T. Cronan's but did not buy anything. Fine but cold N.W. wind.

21. Thur. 21. Andrew came down and we went back to the bush and got out some logs into the clearing to cut for summer use. Fine but cold N.W. wind.

22. Fri. 22. John and I got down 2 loads of hay from T.B.S., the last of it, to give the cattle and afternoon he and Andrew went down to Edenvale to Mr. Kellums sale. I took Annie up to the corner and she staid with Miss Tracy till I took G'ma R. down to see old Mr. & Mrs. Crawford. They are getting frail. The young folks made up a sleighing party to A. Primroses at night. Fine & much milder. N.W. wind.

23. Saturday 23 March 1895. John and I went back to the bush, A.M., and got out some Basswood saw logs and 1 Pine & 1 Balsam and he took them over to the mill afternoon and brought a load of lumber back. Janey took Dick & cutter up for Maybeth to go down to Aunt Elizas to give music lessons. Cold. S.E. wind & rather cloudy.

24. Sun. 24. S.S. & meeting as usual. I read 67 Ps. & 2nd ch. Phill. - "Possibility, Responsibility & Priviledge." Mama went over to Josephine with me afternoon. The meetings are more encouraging. Andrew took Miss Drysdale home today. It was a tough journey and Andrew R. took his mother up to Avening. R. Murry is sick. Very warm & snow going fast. West wind.

25. Mon. 25. John & I butchered the 4 pigs left of last falls litter which kept us busy most of the day. I expect Andrew is threshing peas at corner. Fine, A.M. Snow squalls, P.M.

26. Tue. 26. Francey and I went to Barrie taking the 2 pigs, 132 lbs., 155 lbs., sold at $5.25, $15.85. I got the last of the money from J.J. Brown, $6.60, on the hay. I sold a basket of butter at 15 c. and agreed to let W.Bothwell have about 50 lbs at the same price to go in Wed. or Thur. I got a mixture like celery compound to see if it would cure my Rhuematism. Snow squalls from N.W. most of the day. Calmer at night.

27. Wed. 27. I helped John to clean up 12 bags of oats and he took them to mix with wheat at the corner and get them chopped. Our big pit of roots which we depended on for spring feed are all rotten so we shall be short of that sort of stuff. Henry Tracy came over in the evening bringing all his family so we spent the evening with them. Cloudy & calm. Stormy at night.

28. Thur. 28. Mama & I went to town with cutter taking about all the butter we have made up, 52 lbs. It is very cheap and sold at 15 c. Hubbert agreed to come out to see the cattle next week. Stormy, A.M. Finer, P.M.

29. Fri. 29. John went up to corner taking 2 bags of Alsike to clean up and leave for sale in the store. I got the chores done, A.M. and just as I was at dinner a man came to get wild goose wheat and another to buy the cattle. He offered me $120.00 for the 2 big steers and the bull but as Hubbert expects to get them I told him I would let him know tomorow noon at Barrie as John intends going in. John and I went down to a sale at J. Bensins and I bought a cradle for 50 c. & a waggon at $52.00 payable in 9 months. I am rather sorry I bid so high on the waggon though it is a good one for we may have got one cheaper which would have served us for the present. John and Francey are away for an evening at J. Parkers. A light snow, A.M. Fine & mild, P.M.

30. Sat. 30. John went away to Barrie to see about a sale there but it did not come off so he got home in good time. He went with Mr. McLeans. I did up the chores. Ruth took Annie up to the corner to stay while the wet weather is on and Maybeth took Dick on down to Uncle Sams on her Music pupil business. I did up chores and rested. Fine & sunny though cold N. wind.

31. Sun. 31st March 1895. Sunday School & meeting as usual. I went down to Josephine alone and was not able to speak much. May the good Lord bless His own Word. John has a very heavy cold. Fine & sunny. 1895: April

1. Mon. 1st April 1895. I went over to the Dampsters and got Mr. Bremners barn keys which he had taken by mistake and then called and brought Mrs. J. Cameron to help the folks with the sewing in the house. After doing chores afternoon I drove up to the corner with Dick and cutter and Andrew went down at night to do up the things for John is not able to be out. I expect to stay up this week. Soft & sleety, A.M. Finer, P.M.

2. Tue. 2. I did up chores at corner, etc. and took Francey & Annie down to Mr. Parkers to spend afternoon. I came back and slept 2 hours and then did chores and fetched Francey & Annie home. Soft & sunny but cold wind.

3. Wed. 3. I did sundry little matters, A.M. & afternoon went down & got Mama to go with me to Mr. Crawfords at the river. Little Eva is very sick. I was rather late to get chores done but took Mama down home after. Annie has to be carried upstairs at night. Fine & sunny but cold N.W. winds. Frosty nights.

4. Thur. 4. Spent part of forenoon reading and sorting books with G'ma R. Afternoon I took Annie down as far as the hill and took a look at Evergreen Home but did not go down for the hill is bare. After coming back I took G'ma R. down to Mr. Adams's and got home in time to do chores and go to C.E. meeting at night. Bright & sunny but cold N.W. winds & frosty nights.

5. Fri. 5. I cut up a lot of wood and chored generally, A.M. Mr. Dixon stayed to dinner and I gave him his interest and he gave me $1.00 on the organ fund. Afternoon I went up to see F. Foysten about the cattle going to town next Monday & agreed to take in a waggon and bring the men home. I sent in with Mr. Young who is going to town tomorow to know if Hubbert will take the lambs then so one trip will do all. I am sick tonight. Bright & sunny but cold N.W. winds. Softer, P.M. & S.E. wind & like rain.

6. Sat. 6. I had intended going over to Donald Camerons today to look over some Bible Readings which he has a great liking for but I can hardly get about with a heavy cold so I got a little sleep and went and told [Jesus] - about tomorow. Sleety & rainy but not heavy. S.E. wind.

7. Sun. 7. I am feeling well this morning, thank the Lord. We had S.S. & meeting as usual. Heman Coles presided and Mr. Dixon spoke awhile. I went down to Josephine on horseback. Read III Phillippians. A Mr. McDonough was there who says he has been living 4 years without sin. I went up from Josephine to the corner and finished up chores for John stayed up this forenoon but is very weak. I went to Presbyterian church at night and brought down Andrews cart to bring Mrs. Cameron home for she stayed up too. Softish but fair, A.M. Heavy rains in spells after 3 P.M. S.E. wind.

8. Monday 8 April 1895. I got Andrew off with the 2 big steers & James & Tom McLean helping him up to the corner where he met the other cattle which were going to the same place. I rigged up a box on the waggon and then went up to the corner where Uncle Sam was waiting and we loaded the 8 lambs and I went with him over the drifts to the school house. There has been no waggon through yet and the snow is very deep along the sideline but we got through all right and I came back to the corner and brought Dick down home & did chores. John is staying up there for awhile. Andrew got home a little after 7 P.M. They got through with the cattle all right but roads were so bad for the waggon that Uncle Sam had to leave it at P. Dunns Hill and drive the sheep to Barrie and the men were very tired after walking to Allandale with the cattle and then back again to Dunns Hill. Frequent showers of rain from S.E. Roads very bad.

9. Tue. 9. I did some chores and then took Mrs. Cameron over to her Fathers and went through the bush where we got the saw logs to look for the axe we lost but could not find it. I had a talk with Mr. Fostor and gave him $4.00 on the saw logs and he allowed $2.00 on the old fanning mill which he is to get off us ($3.00 yet due us). Mr. McDonnough was there and I stayed dinner with them and had a few words of prayer after. I went right up to the corner taking bags of cut feed and other truck, getting home about 4 P.M. A letter from Lizzie telling of Joe's death. It is well with the child. God bless the mourners. I wrote at once enclosing $5.00. I would like to make it more. Francey went up with me again at night and had a little practicing before church business meeting which made us late home. Gave G'ma R. $50.00 which finishes the rent for this year, $160.00, and left $50.00 for Aunt Eliza (G'pa's legacy). Cleared off with cold raw damp N.W. wind. Dryer at night. Hard frost at night.

10. Wed. 10. Andrew went up to corner taking Johns sheep intending to bring ours down but it took quite a while for they are heavy with lamb and one of ours is ailing but we got them down all right before noon. After dinner Andrew took a box of butter down to the station and brought back the clover seed that John left at Elmvale to be cleaned and a bushel that I had bought off I. Downey. Bright & sunny but high cold N.W. winds. Hard frosts at nights.

11. Thur. 11. Andrew and I sowed red clover on No.1 S. except on snow drifts and then cleaned out stables and made a place for the ewes that have lambs. Andrew made a hot bed afternoon and I cleared away a lot of rubbbish left from old pig pen. Bright & sunny. S.E. winds.

12. Friday 12 April 1895. Good Friday. Andrew took Mama up to see the folk at the corner and then went down to Uncle Sams to get Alsike clover. I went over to see Donald Cameron and called on some others. They need some one to look after them. "Great Shepperd send by whom thou wilt send." I got home about 6 P.M. Fine & pleasant. Springlike.

13. Sat. 13. Andrew and John are away to Barrie with gig. I went up to corner and brought Mama home and put in a busy day at all sorts of choring. Got an hours rest, P.M. Fine & pleasant. Snow goes slow.

14. Sun. 14. S.S. & meeting as usual. I read 3 ch. Phill- and spoke on the Lords coming & resurrection. I went over to Josephine on horseback and spoke there from 4 ch. Phill-. Rejoice in the Lord. Fine & pleasant.

15. Mon. 15. Andrew and I cut up some logs against woodshed and chored generally. An old sheep that has been ailing all winter died yesterday so we skinned & opened her - and found a growth about her heart. She had 2 fine lambs both dead of course. Our other ewes are coming on fast. 1 had 2 lambs yesterday and 1 had 3 this morning. 2 had single ones a month ago and 2 had twins about 10 days ago, all living. I hope the others will do as well as these promise to do. Afternoon we piled the lumber at the old barn ready to dry for the new one. Snowy rain from N.W., 6 P.M. Finer and much warmer after but some heavy rains.

16. Tue. 16. Andrew went up to the corner and John helped him to clean up all the peas and wheat. I cleaned out the woodshed and did a lot of other chores. S.E. winds. Cloudy & rather calm.

17. Wed. 17. Andrew and I got the hay that was scattered around the old barn down for the cattle here and afternoon he and John tore up the old barn floor. I went over to see James Tracy and he agreed to come and help to tear the old barn down tomorow. Henry Tracy and his boys are coming to help. I took Mama up to the corner to see Annie and G'ma. I did a little gossiping and we got home about 6 P.M. Francey and Andrew are spending the evening at Mr. McLeans. John & Maybeth too. I had a busy time looking after the red sow and a ewe and lambs. Clear & fine. Wind round to N.W. again. Freezing at night.

18. Thur. 18. We got up early and Andrew went back and sowed Alsike on fall wheat at T.B.S.'s. I found the sow had 10 lively pigs and one weakly so I brought it into the house and Mama attended to it and a black lamb but the lamb died afternoon. We had Henry and his 2 boys, John & Wesley, and James Tracy so we made a big move on the barn. Young folk up to C. Endeavour. Clear warm & springlike but coldish wind from N.W. at times.

19. Fri. 19 April 1895. The same gang working at the barn as yesterday but did not get through. I have a busy time keeping the chores done and fixing up generally. Fine & sunny.

20. Sat. 20. Andrew, James & John Tracy worked at the barn getting about all of it down and the logs piled up and a few parsnips dug as well. I went to town taking gobbler, 18 lbs., $1.62, 4 Roosters, 90 c., 16 lbs., butter, 17c per lb. I saw Hubbert but did not get the money for the lambs which we took in Monday 8th. I put $[1].25 in B. of Commerce in Ruth & Janes names. Got Andrews clothes, $6.00, Johns shoes, $1.25, 2 pairs for myself, $2.75, 1/2 bus. Alsike for John, $3.25. I got home about 6 P.M. Sunny. Rather warmer.

21. Sun. 21. S.S. & meeting as usual. Ja's Johnston read 7 ch. Math. I spoke awhile on the house on Rock & Sand and the false prophets. I went down to Josephine on horseback, 7th Math., and did up chores at night. Fine but light rain at night.

22. Mon. 22. Andrew started to plough but found it too wet (No.2 N.) so he cleaned harness, etc. I did some chores and picked over some goose wheat. There is a lot of Tares and oats & barley in it. Calm & warm but high N.W. wind with rain after 5 P.M.

23. Tue. 23. Andrew up to help John with Drill. I picked over a lot of wheat and did chores. Fine and springlike.

24. Wed. 24. I got all the wheat picked over by 4.30 P.M. and then did a lot of other choring. I expect Andrew and John are getting on with seeding at the corner. Francey went down to Lumleys for a boat ride on the flood. Cloudy & mild but no rain.

25. Thur. 25. I got a lot of odd jobs done and single harness cleaned and oiled. Saw Mr. McLean about his pigs being [ ]. They are rooting up all the grass on the road. Cloudy and mild.

26. Fri. 26. I did up chores. Looked over the pork and put on more salt. Andrew came down and we got the spring wheat put in but the other lands are too wet and the land at the corner is not fit either. Fine. Warm and springlike.

27. Sat. 27. Andrew ploughed the front orchard and did some other chores. I got away to Barrie to get the money from Hubbert for the lambs (Mon. April 8th) but I could not get it. I called to see Mrs. Dobbin on the way home. She is better. Called on old Mr. Jones. He is very low. (God bless and give grace to rest only on Jesus. I came home by the corner to leave some things. Fine & springlike. S. winds.

28. Sun. 28. S.S. and meeting as usual. Heman spoke on 1st John, 1 ch. [7 ver.] (Walk). I had a good meeting at Josephine. Mama stayed up to dinner and tea with G'ma Ronald. Fine & springlike. S. winds.

29. Mon. 29. Andrew harrowed front orchard and took 800 lbs. hay over to Josephine and then went on up to corner to help John with seeding. I went down to T. Herfoots and got a bull calf and afternoon I did a log of fixing up round G'pa's place. Took Mama over to Mr. Jones at night. Fine & springlike. S. winds. Warmer.

30. Tue. 30 April 1895. Andrewis up helping John with his seeding. I had a lot of choring to do, pruned a lot of trees, etc. Fine. Warm & springlike. 1895: May

1. Wed. 1st May 1895. Andrew is still at the corner helping John with seeding. The land here is nearly ready now though none too dry. I finished pruning 3 rows of trees in front orchard and currant trees as well and got the strawbery bed hoed. Fine. Warm & springlike.

2. Thur. 2. Andrew came down this morning and went back to cultivate at T.B.S. John came down at noon and after dinner I helped him to move a fence and clean up the debris on the west side of the feild against T.B.S. house. We will call it No.1 N.W. John took a load of old rails, etc. up for engine wood. I expect he will get the girls to help him down with the cattle in the morning. The young folk are up to the Christian Endeavour meeting tonight. Fine. Warm and springlike.

3. Fri. 3. I went up and met John and Ruth with the cattle and got them down all right & after fixing up some fences I put them back in the pasture against 11 Con. I helped Andrew to clean up the rubbish from the fence between the land and T.B.S. orchard. I shifted the fence over so as to plough and level the land the fence should stand on. John harrowed and drilled in Joanette oats north of T.B.S. house and I sowed some Banner oats on the land the old fences stood on. Fine but very warm. Southerly winds.

4. Sat. 4. John finished harrowing oats at T.B.S., No.1. N.W. He started with Norm and the colt but the colt had never done any work and was very soft and sweat a good deal. So after 2 hours work he took him in and took his own horse again. Andrew ploughed clover, sod No.2 N., A.M. and began cultivating what was ploughed last fall, P.M. & John finished the ploughing and then drilled in a few peas. I let the cows out to grass for the first time this spring. Everything is growing fast. Southerly winds. Very fine but rather too hot to work comfortably. S.W. winds.

5. Sun. 5. S.S. & meeting as usual. I read IV Chap. Phillippians and spoke awhile on God supplying all need. I walked over to Josephine afternoon & spoke awhile to the children, no one else being there till I was about closing when 5 men came in so we had another short service. S.W. wind. Very hot and a close sort of a wind. Thundery.

6. Mon. 6. John started Plum heifer, which had been up at the corner to give them milk, but she dodged back unknown to him and when he came down he found she was not here so I walked up to the corner and got her. John drilling peas. Andrew cutting. I sowed grass seed in slash & did other chores. Thunder storm, 4 P.M. Stopped seeding. Very hot. Thunder storm about 4 P.M.

7. Tuesday 7th May 1895. No. 2 N. was too wet to work this A.M. so Andrew cultivated in No.4 & 5 S. & John and I moved manure from the pits and got a load of potatoes down, A.M. & cleaned out all the pit, P.M. and then we all got No.2 N. finished with peas. I run out a lot of the furrows with Dick and we just got nicely done by 5 P.M. and the [wing] of a thundershower passed over. Close & hot. Cloudy after 10 A.M. Thunder P.M. & a shower 5 P.M.

8. Wed. 8. John helped me to put in the Experimental Oats. 1st lot Bavarian begun on south side of Orchard. One round with drill and 3/4 of another. 2nd lot Siberian, 1 round with drill beside the 1/4 of the end of Bavarian, and the headland against the road. 3rd lot White Schonen, the whole space between the 2nd & 3rd rows of trees and 3/4 down the other space, the width of drill. We then went up to No.4 & 5 S. and put in Prussian Blue peas - which went 3/4 down the feild against east fence 1 width of drill. Then we put in Lincoln Oats finishing out the strip to the bottom and then up 3/4 of the way. Then we put in Poland White oats which finished up to the top and 2/3rd of the way down when we filled the drill up with Banner Oats, and a peice further on John put in Canadian Beauty peas & then further on either Fall white Marrowfat or Egyptian Mung peas. I am not quite sure which but we can tell in the harvest time. I sowed some grass seed & did a lot of choring. Andrew cultivating. A little cooler but very hot yet & rather close & muggy.

9. Thur. 9. John & Andrew finished No.4 & 5 S. except a little harrowing and running out furrows. I put in Carrots, Parsnips, Beets, etc. in the front orchard and a few potatoes. Old Mr. Chapple gave me some of Vicks American Wonder potatoes and another red kind. John went up at night for I think we can get through now & he wants to roll his up at the corner. I took Francey up to the C.E. meeting and then went on to meet Heman Coles to interview Joseph Lumley who has made application for membership. God bless him and all the household and make him a blessing to them and to us as a church. Lord what wouldst Thou have me to do. We expect to baptize a week from Sunday. (DV) [DV - God willing]. Very hot & close but a occasional cool puff of wind.

10. Fri. 10. Andrew finishing No.4 & 5 S. (Banner Oats). I started Francey off with Dick & buggy to take Maybeth to town. Mr. Ford from Craighurst called and I gave him an order for 100 lbs. binding twine, 7 1/4 per lb. (cash). I went over to see old Mr. Jones and found him very low. I came back home and cut up a lot of Mulleins & other weeds from meadow [N1].N.W. and did a lot of other chores. Very hot and thundery.

11. Saturday 11 May 1895. Andrew is finishing the opening of the furrow in No.4 & 5 S. I did a few odd jobs and then took Mama over to see old Mr. Jones and while there a heavy thunder storm came on and we did not get to the corner till near noon. I saw Mr. Rutledge about getting up a subscription for Jas. [Birney] and then hurried home to let Maybeth get the rig to go down to give her music lessons. Jane took it up and I did some reading afternoon. A very heavy rain about 3 P.M. stopped all out door work. Close & frequent thunder showers. Cleared off 6 P.M. with a very cold N.W. wind.

12. Sun. 12. S.S. & meeting as usual. Ja's Johnston read VIII c. Mathew and after meeting we arranged for Baptisms next Sunday, 3 P.M. (Lord guide & keep from all evil). I walked over to Josephine & spoke on the S.S. Lesson Jesus before High Priest and XVII Acts ("Because He hath appointed a day"). Andrew & Francey are away to Edenvale - so I had a lot of choring to do. Very cold. Water frozen & some snow in spots.

13. Mon. 13. Andrew ploughing root ground, No.6 S. [ ]. Ed Jones came and we got the mulleins cut out of meadow, No.1 N.W. John came down and I helped him to castrate some more ram lambs. I took Mama up to the corner and we took tea with G'ma, Andrew & Grace, Aunt Jane, Lizzie & a Miss Lennox from Barrie, and then I got away home to do chores. Fine & some warmer. N.W. winds. S.W. wind at night.

14. Tue. 14. I went over to Josephine to see Mr. Baldwin about shingles but he was not there and I could not do anything definite. I do not remember what I did afternoon but it was stormy so it is likely I was getting a rest and doing some reading. Snowy, A.M. Rainy, P.M. Chilly.

15. Wed. 15. I went round by the corner and took milk, etc. and then went on to see old Mr. Jones. He is very low and not conscious. Heman Coles came down & he and I hauled some stone and gravel to make a place for the baptisms in the creek. Andrew ploughing root ground. Cold N.W. winds & frosty nights.

16. Thur. 16. I went to town with Democrat taking the heifers calf. I let Hubbert have it and he will see how it turns out and pay in proportion. I brought out a barrel of salt and came round by the corner doing some other business. Andrew ploughing root ground. Fine but very cold N.W. wind. Frosty nights.

17. Fri. 17. Andrew helping Bertie English seeding. H. Tracy & John came over and after grinding axes we began getting out posts & plates for the barn, but the old barn timber is not much good and about 11 A.M. Rueben Pilky came over to say that old Mr. Jones was dead so I left and went with him to see Alfred Foysten who was appointed one of his executers and from there went over to see about the coffin. James Keast went with me to Barrie and we got back and put the body away in its narrow bed. Fine but cold wind, S.W. & S.E. at night.

18. Sat. 18. I helped Andrew to skid out all the timber that is any use for the new barn out of the old logs, and then went up to see F. Foysten about Mr. Jones will. He declines to act but I saw Alfred at night and he is willing. I saw Mr. [Tinkum] at the request of Ed Jones and Mrs. Scott to get him to help at the funeral services tomorow. I rested awhile afternoon and went up at night and made final arrangements. John cut his leg yesterday so he cannot do much. Raw S.E. wind, A.M. Rainy, P.M. & still very cold.

19. Sun. 19. S.S. & meeting as usual. Heman spoke on 1 ch. Acts. "And these all continued." I mentioned that Carl Jacobs and Andrew Ronald had applied for Baptism and membership and they were accepted on my report. I got over to Mrs. Jones's and the funeral left soon after one oclock and Mr. [Tinkum] met it at Methodist Church. He spoke on the words "Jesus wept." I added a few words after he was gone and then we went to the burying ground where I read the funeral service and from there home and after changing clothes I went to the creek. Read part of VIII ch. Acts. (Mr. McLean, Baptist student, engaged in prayer, and then I baptized Herbert Johnston, Joseph Lumley, Andrew Ronald & Carl Jacobs. The water was very cold but I do not think any one was the worse, thank the Lord. After tea I went to Anten Mills Church and said a few words for Mr. Rutledge as his throat is sore, & called on the way home to see Mr. & Mrs. Addams. They are both very frail. Heavy rain all night. Cleared off, A.M., with cold N.W. wind but not freezing at night. Cloudy & rather dull.

20. Mon. 20. I helped Andrew to draw away rotten mangels, turnips, etc. from the big pit, about two bushels spoiled (too hot). We scattered them over the feild. We are putting in roots again. Mrs. Forbes came to get a bushel of goose wheat to sow so I had to go up to the corner and get it for her, which made it 5 P.M. before I got home to do chores. Johns leg is better and he is up at the corner again. Cold N.W. winds. Hard frost at night.

21. Tue. 21. Ground hard frozen. The tender herb shows the nip. H. Tracy & John came over and we all worked at getting out timber for the barn. Cold & cloudy.

22. Wed. 22. We all worked at the timber again till noon. There is a little more to get out yet which I think we will do when we get the men to lay the foundation. A Mr. Mason & his son came over to see about Uncle T.B.S.'s house. He bought it over 2 years ago but never paid for it nor took it away. He wants me to wait till a year from November. I agreed to let him know in a month. I took Mama down to see Mrs. Adams, Mrs. [Kitchan], Lizzie Sheepwash, and Mrs. Jacobs. Late home. Hard frost this A.M. but got gradually milder towards night.

23. Thur. 23 May 1895. Andrew finished ploughing root ground yesterday and got it harrowed and marked with cultivator, A.M., for a peice so I sowed white carrots, A.M. and some White Silesian Beets. We got out a big hemlock stump, leaving only one more in the feild. Fine with cool N.W. wind. No frost last night.

24. Fri. 24. Queens birthday. Andrew harrowed and marked off some more root ground and I sowed a lot more mangels till noon. Afternoon the young folk went off Picknicking, and I took a rest. Fine & rather hot.

25. Sat. 25. We got the rest of the mangels and the white Beans sown with the grain drill, A.M. Andrew ploughed and harrowed the corn patch behind the barn, P.M., and I cleared up the yard, fenced off some Evergreen trees, etc. Henri French came and did some digging in garden. Fine & summery. Lots of mosquitoes.

26. Sun. 26. S.S. & meeting as usual. I took Baptism as the subject reading from 3 ch. 1 Peter. X ch. 1 Cor. Rom 6 c. - 4 v. - 2nd ch. 2nd Tim. Vessel to Honour Baptism, meaning separation from old life, & rising to the new. I gave right hand of fellowship to J. Lumley, A. Ronald, & Carl Jacobs. God bless & keep us all. I took the same subject at Josephine though handling a little differently. God bless His own Word. Called to see Mr. & Mrs. Hobson who do not come out to meeting. Thunder shower, 4 to 5 A.M. Cleared off fine & warm till 4 P.M. Another thundery shower after. Clear sunset & cold N.W. wind.

27. Mon. 27. Andrew put in a few more beans with drill & then took it home on the way to corner. John helped him to clean up 6 bags of wheat for Stayner tomorow. Ed Jones came down and we picked over the small potatoes taking seed out of them, A.M. Afternoon we fixed up a lot of loose wire fence and staked and ridered a peice against T.B.S.'s house. Andrew got the timber hauled from the slash and harrowed Potatoe ground and he and Francey went up to practice for C.E. meeting at Edgar next Fri. Cold & cloudy. N.W. wind.

28. Tue. 28. Andrew away to Stayner with 6 bags, 15 bus. goose wheat, and to get 1/2 ton of bran back ($7.00). I did up the chores and went over to see the young widow Jones (James 1 ch. 26 v. 27 v.). I came back by the corner and saw A. Malcolm & Mr. Young about a hand cart to take milk can out to the road & spoke to Mr. Orchard about T.B.S. house. Mr. Bremner came down with me on his way to A. McDougalls. John came down afternoon and got the buggy to go over to see Henry Fuller about a bear trap. [James] McLeans got away 7 bags of potatoes & I went over to Josephine to see about shingles. Baldwin is to be up on Thursday. Johns leg where he cut it is very sore, so he is thinking of going to a Doctor with it. Light frost last night. Fine, warm & pleasant today. N.W. wind.

29. Wed. 29 May 1895. John and Mama went to Barrie taking Jane to get her tooth taken out. Dr. McCarthy says he thinks Johns leg is healing all right and examined Jane for he thinks she has catarrh. Ed Jones, Andrew & I cut potatoe seed, A.M. and planted them, P.M. (5 bags) on about 1 1/2 acre, 1st row against west fence, common kind, 2nd row from top to 1st maple tree in fence corner, the crown peices off seed potatoes from there down and a peice up back, a big red potatoe Andrew got from Mr. Chapple. Then a peice of American Wonder & then a peice of another red kind got from Mr. Chapple. Fine but very hot & rather close.

30. Thur. 30. H. Tracy & John Tracy came & we got working at timber for the barn. I think we have all now but the sleepers. John went up with his waggon and brought down the framers, Jessie Castor & H. Burdge & their tools and they begun at the barn. We washed the sheep after ten oclock. J. Tracy helped Andrew in the water & H. Tracy helped me to taglock and put them in to them. John is spraying his fruit trees. Very hot & close.

31. Fri. 31. I went up with Andrew and helped him on with 1910 lbs hay for Mr. McLean and then I went on to the station and met Maybeth who was down giving Maggie Jones her music lesson. Andrew delivered the hay to McLeans and gave Mr. Roe 4 of the red sows pigs at $2.00 each. I got home at noon and after dinner I made a place for young chickens to feed and get water, etc. Andrew, Francey and other young folk are off to a C.E. meetnig at Edgar which means a long drive after they should be in bed. Very hot & close. Breezy for 2 hours, 9 A.M. Very hot afterwards but N.W. winds. 1895: June

1. Sat. 1st June 1895. Andrew mowed grass round the house and then helped me to clear up round the new pig pen, fill up old well, etc. Afternoon we helped skidd up timber for the men at the barn and got about all the sleepers looked out and into place to hew. Andrew took the red sow up to I. Downeys. Very hot but brisk N.W. winds.

2. Sun. 2. S.S. & meeting as usual. Mr. McLean (Bapt. Student) addressed the school and the meeting. Maybeth went with me to Josephine and there was a good gathering of young folk. I read 22 Ps. Resurection and Dan. VI. (Innocent), [clean hands no hurt pure heart ], (because he believed in his God). Mama went up to corner at night to stay with Annie who went up with us in the morning. Very hot but breezy at times.

3. Mon. 3 June 1895. Andrew got the red sow home and the loan of shears from Mrs. Grant and we got shearing the sheep in good time. John came down and sprayed the apple trees. Mr. Hubbert came out and I sold him the 2 steers about 29 months old at $60.00 to go in on Monday. 2 years since G'ma S. died. Fine. A cool N.W. wind after 9 A.M.

4. Tue. 4. Andrew and I went back and shifted the young cattle to the back pasture and then got out the last stump in the root feild, No.6 S., and then helped the framers with some timber. Jesse Castor hewed another 24 ft. purloin place and afternoon we laid out some mud sills and cleared off ground for foundation, etc. Fine but close and hot at times. Cloudy & threatens rain. Some fresh winds.

5. Wed. 5. Andrew & I did a little more at getting ready for the foundation. I went over and saw B. Tracy about helping to hew sleepers on Friday. Fresh S. winds. Threatens rain.

6. Thur. 6. I went to town with the wool - Mama went along, sold the wool at 18 c., 19 c., & 20 c. Johns wool came to $10.25, 25 paid, $10.00 owing. I got an overcoat (waterproof) $10.00, sundries $12. I saw Mr. Sneath & Wm. Orok about a mistake in road list - also about plank for Willow Creek bridge on the 10 Con. Hubbert gave me $5.00 for the calf I took in a while ago. I came home by the corner leaving Mama to look after things there. Very cold N.W. wind. Warmer & sunnier towards night.

7. Fri. 7. B. Tracy came over and we got all the sleepers hewed and some other of the many things done in connection with barn building. Fine & pleasant.

8. Sat. 8. John helped us at putting mudsills and sleepers into place. There is a lot of tinkering to do and time slips by quickly. Andrew harrowed the potatoes and turnip ground and John sowed the turnips, P.M. Rather hot, A.M. Hotter, P.M.

9. Sun. 9. S.S. & meeting as usual. Mr. McLean, R.B. student, spoke at S.S. & meeting. Maybeth went with me to Josephine & spoke awhile. I took 16 Ps. & Luke 24, as subject. Mama is staying at corner to take care of Annie & G'ma. Aunt Bessie and baby are staying there awhile. Very hot but breezy at times. Cool nights.

10. Mon. 10. I helped Andrew away with the 2 steers as far as the gravel pit and got a ride back with Keast, as he came for the milk. James Tracy should have been on hand early but he would likely catch Andrew about Midhurst. John is taking Aunt Bessie home and will bring them back. I helped the men with rafters, etc. for the barn. Fine & plesant. Rather hot.

11. Tue. 11 June 1895. Andrew away asking hands for raising tomorow. John and I cut wood and chored generally. Jessie Castor got Dick & buggy to go to Shanty bay to see about building a [barn]. Fine with fresh S. wind.

12. Wed. 12. We were all busy all forenoon getting ready for the raising and soon after noon the folks began to arrive. The yard and stables were full of buggies & horses but the barn went up slowly for it was high and the high roof makes the putting up of the purloins dangerous as there was no racing, but it was got up at last all right & without accident for which I am very thankful. The young folk went up to a Baptism service in Regular Baptist Church. Somewhat cloudy at times & threatened thunder shower but was fine on the whole.

13. Thur. 13. We did a lot of choring forenoon and afternoon [put] a dip on the lambs to kill ticks. We sent an order to Mr. Cody for barn track. John is down here helping us with sundry things. Andrew took dishes back and brought nails down, etc. Mr. Huntsman, a colporteur, called at night. Fine & some cooler.

14. Fri. 14. John and Andrew moving manure in barnyard & I cleaned out old manure from calf pens, etc. and got in a lot of straw for bedding forenoon. Afternoon I helped the carpenters to board up the barn. Fine & cool N.W. wind.

15. Sat. 15. We all helped the carpenters to get up scaffolding and rafters and then John & I looked over the sheep. One of them is maggoty from a cut in shearing, and Andrew cultivated the beans & roots. Fine & cool. N.W. winds.

16. Sun. 16. S.S. & meeting as usual. Mr. McLean (R.B. student) adressed the S.S. I read 24 ch. Luke ("Dead gone left no address"). Maybeth went over to Josephine with me and I took the 21st ch. John, the S.S. lesson. But there were very few there so we did not have a long meeting. Fine. Cool N.W. wind & some S.W.

17. Mon. 17. John & Andrew hoeing beans. I did a lot of choring, cleared nails out of boards, etc. for carpenters. Took a rest awhile and did some hoeing among strawberries. Fine with N.W. & S.W. winds.

18. Tue. 18. I think John and Andrew hoed carrots and I did a lot of tinkering and went over to see about shingles at Baldwins Mill (Josephine). They expect to be cutting shingles soon. John & Andrew helped carpenters. Hot & dry.

19. Wed. 19. I think Andrew went down to Knapps Mill and got plank for the Willow Creek bridge and John got down his hay rack from the corner and fixed it. I did a number of odd jobs, hoed in garden, etc. Cloudy & threatens rain. Warm.

20. Thur. 20th June 1895. Andrew went up to the corner to get some hay that is left there and took the buggy up to get the tires set. Afternoon we laid plank on the bridge, leveled stringers, etc. and took posts up to the hill to make a railing on west side (fixed fence round corn). Fine. Rather hot & close.

21. Fri. 21. Andrew & Francey off to Guelph. Keast would not take a small box up to the corner for us so I had to hitch up and go. I called on the way back by Mark Knapps and told him of a mare of his that breaks through fences and he came over and took her off the road. I did a lot of hoeing and choring and made a stand at the road for the milk as we do not want to pay Keast to come in if he will not take a small parcel up to the corner. Cleared off. Fine but rather hot.

22. Sat. 22. After doing chores I went to town with buggy taking Jane to see Dr. McCarthy. He gave her a syringe for her nose. Aunt Bessie went with her. I got hinges for south barn doors and some beef from Hubbert but did not get money for steers. I saw some horse rakes but did not decide to buy. I brought out some small truck for neighbours and Charlie Traceys valise. Rather hot and close till 5 P.M. Heavy wind, thunder storms but not much rain, 6 P.M.

23. Sun. 23. S.S. & meeting as usual. Ja's Johnston read from 2nd Phillippians and Harry Coles gave us in Minesing a scolding for having so many churches and taking money as Mission Churches which ought to go elsewhere (are not these hands clean?). I went over to Josephine alone and had some more encouragement. Fine & pleasant. Cool N.W. wind.

24. Mon. 24. Andrew away with the carpenters beyond Shanty Bay. H. Burdge is staying here to finish this barn and John helped him today. Ed Jones came and I put him to work hoeing mangels and helped him some afternoon. Andrew was late home. Charlie Tracy came with him. Cloudy & a few drops of rain. Cleared off. Some cooler.

25. Tue. 25. Andrew off to the station and got the track for the barn but there is no nails to fasten it up but we put it up with a few 3 in. wire nails and I sent Charlie over to the station afternoon with a P.C. telling Cody about it and expect the right nails day after tomorow. Some friends of Mr. Orchard from Meaford came afternoon. Andrew began cutting No.1 N. It is very dry and dead looking. Clear & fresh S. wind.

26. Wed. 26. Andrew finished cutting all the dryest of No.1 N. and a peice in No.6 N. by T.B.S. orchard. Charlie and I gathered up blocks round new barn and drew down to woodshed with Dick & stoneboat. John took Francey and Ruth to Barrie at night. Ruth is on her Exam for High School and Francey is in for C.E. convention.

27. Thur. 27. Andrew chored and raked up the hay. I took Maybeth to town and after doing up my business I attended the C.E. convention in Methodist church. Took a sail with them on the bay from 5:30 P.M. till 8 - and then another session and address by a Mr. Patterson of Toronto on the "need of the age," "Men of faith" - good - We did not get home till nearly 1 A.M. Cleared off. Cool & bright. N.W. wind.

28. Fri. 28. I did not get up till 6 A.M. Charley Tracy was helping to milk and got hurt by the cows. Andrew & Harry Burdge went over to Josephine to see about shingles but there is not much prospect so they went down to Dobbins, P.M. and got 9000, 2nds, and I helped them up with them and some sheeting. They got in a small load of hay from No.1 N., A.M., but rain came on. I put most of it in cock, P.M. John went to Beach but Mr. Parkers team ran away and plunged into our buggy and smashed it. No one hurt. I went up to corner, A.M. to deliver some truck & messages to neighbours I brought from Barrie. Heavy dew last night. Rain 10 A.M. Cleared off but another light shower, P.M. Clear again at night.

29. Sat. 29. John away with Democrat to gather up the buggy. Andrew helped H. Burdge at barn. I did some choring and then took a rest. I have a billious attack. Clear & fine. N.W. winds.

30. Sun. 30. S.S. & meeting as usual. Heman Coles read 1st John, 3 ch., & 4, and part of 13 ch. - Johns Gospel. "[B--] shall all men know." I went over to Josephine alone. Not many there. I spoke from 23 Luke - "Dying theif." Mary Kaiser came down to tea but has to be away on Tuesday so she went up with the young folk to evening meeting and from there to Aunt Eliza's. Fine & pleasant. 1895: July

1. Mon. 1st July 1895. Dominion Day. I did up some chores and went up to the corner to see about the buggy. It is a serious smash but better that than broken bones. God is kind 'even to the unthankful.' I left work with A. Malcolm to fix it up as well and as cheap as he could. I posted a letter to Mr. Mason about T.B.S. house - if he can furnish a good reliable note for $50.00 payable 1st October 1896, he may have the house. Andrew helped Harry Burdge to shingle barn, A.M., and he and Maybeth & Francey went up to the picnic (Methodist) afternoon. I cut a lot of weeds on the road. Clear, cool & fine. N.W. wind.

2. Tue. 2. I borrowed Wesley Orchards buggy and started Mama & Annie off to Barrie and Ruth brought the rig back. Miss Scott & Charlie Tracy came along. Ruth has been at the exam for High School. Mama & Annie are staying at Aunt Bessies. Willie Morren is here & John Tracy began 2 months today. He and Andrew got in what hay was cut in No.1 N. I went up to church business meeting at night. Late home.

3. Wednesday 3 July 1895. I went up to corner with John and helped him to finish putting up his unloading track in stable. Andrew finished cutting No.1 N. & cut No.6 N. J. Tracy hoeing & mowing fence corners. Charlie horseraked, etc. I sent away $2.00 to D.C. Cook for 7 Little Learners paper & 7 Dewdrops. Fine & clear. Dry days. Dewy nights.

4. Thur. 4. John is cutting with machine at corner. Andrew rowed up potatoes. J. Tracy mowed fence corners & then helped Charlie to thin carrots. I took Dick and drew rails with chain to make a fence south of T.B.S. house. H. Burdge finished the barn by noon. Afternoon we all went back and moved some log heaps and laid up fence, all but a little where the fire I lighted this morning was not quite out, and then we got all the hay into cock that was cut. Clear & fine. A fresh N.W. wind. Very dry.

5. Fri. 5. Charlie & I finished up the fence below T.B.S. and then fixed bridges into new barn. J.T. & Andrew drew in all the hay, No.1 N. but rakings and got in 2 load from No.6 N. John brought down the mower at noon and Andrew cut another slice in No.6 & 5 N. and got in 2 loads at night as it looks like rain. A letter from Emily Standen telling of her fathers death. Cool N.W. winds. Clear, A.M. Rather cloudy, P.M.

6. Sat. 6. J.T. & Andrew unloaded the hay on the 2 waggons and got in all that was fit and cleared up rakings. Charlie did up raking and drew down some truck from new barn for stovewood and we got what Andrew cut yesterday raked up and cocked and one load in. Cloudy at times. Threatening rain. Warm with some S.E. winds.

7. Sun. 7. S.S. & meeting as usual. I read 95 Psalm & 25 Deuteronomy, "A Syrian ready to perish." Dr. Bremner spoke on [ ]. I went down to Josephine alone, a little more encouraging. Aunt Grace & Mrs. R. Murray came down to tea. After milking I found Linda had a calf in the back T.B.S. pasture, so I had to take a wheelbarrow and bring it in. Young folk up to night meeting. Very hot & dry. N.W. winds again.

8. Mon. 8. J.T. & Andrew got in all the hay that is cut except rakings & then Andrew began cutting the last of No.5 N. Charlie T. went up to corner and raked over what John had to do and then came down and begun raking down here. I did a lot of choring, picking up lumber, etc. and begun to fix the bridge on the lane. A heavy thunderstorm about 2 P.M. bringing the welcome rain. Blanche had her calf afternoon. I think we will fatten both hers and Lindas. We finished up the bridge after tea but a lot of water had gathered from the storm. Hot & close but breezy at times with heavy thunderstorm after 2 P.M.

9. Tue. 9 July 1895. Andrew finished cutting No.6 N. and then cut the peice below the roots, No.6 S., and began No.1 N.W. (8 acres). John Tracy mowed fence corners & Charlie & I did a lot of clearing up round the new barn. Mr. Collins & A. Orchard came down and I went back with them to the 11 Con. and let them the job of clearing 5 acres at $20.00 per acre by the 1st Nov., if weather is favourable, if not to wait till it is. Cool. N.W. wind. Drying fast.

10. Wed. 10. Andrew finished cutting No.1 N.W. except a patch for seed and then we got all No.5 N. into cock. I went up to corner to see if our buggy was down but could not get it yet so took Mr. Kerrs as it is lower than W. Orchards and Francey went to town taking Miss Scott who has been staying out here awhile. She took Annie up to Mr. Scotts to stay for a change and Mama came out. Fine & clear & cool. N.W. winds.

11. Thur. 11. Charlie & I Parisgreened potatoes and then I went up and got binding twine, 100 lbs. for us & 50 lbs. for John at 7 1//4 c. lb. Andrew and J.T. got in the hay from No.5 N. and then Andrew cut awhile in No.4 N. & J.T. & I cocked up on No.1 N.W. & Charlie raked. Andrew, J.T. & I finished cocking up No.1 N.W. after tea. The young folk up to C. Endeavour at night. Clear & fine, A.M. Close & cloudy, P.M.

12. Fri. 12. I sent Charlie over to B. Tracy's & he got James T. & a horse back so we got drawing in from No.1 N.W. with 2 teams. Had all in but 2 loads when a thunder shower stopped us, 3 P.M., but it did not rain much so Andrew began ploughing No.1 N. A. Morren called to see Nell. He thinks her lameness at times may be a spavin. Willie Morren went home with him. S.E. & S.W. winds with a sprinkle of rain at times. Thunder shower, 3 P.M.

13. Sat. 13. Andrew ploughed awhile with colt & Nell and then unloaded a load in the new barn with the colt and got in a load but he does not work very well so he got Tops again. Finishing the hauling in from No.1 N.W. except rakings. There is a patch left for Timothy seed, two strips of oats, 1 of goose wheat & fall wheat to cut yet. Charlie raked up No.5 N. and we got in all that was fit. We cocked up the peice south of the roots. Cool & fresh. N.W. winds.

14. Sun. 14. S.S. & meeting as usual. Dr. Bremner gave an address [ ] South American Missions. Very good. Byron Jacobs went over to Josephine with me and spoke awhile from John 3. 16. I spoke from 32 Exodus. Mr. Hickling came down to tea & dinner on Mama's invite. Cool & pleasant.

15. Mon. 15. I went up to the hill with J. & C. Tracy & we got two posts set in the west side for a guard but it looked like rain so we came down & cocked up the peice Andrew cut last Thur. Andrew cut till 10.30 A.M. & then he & J.T. drew in all but what Andrew cut today. I went up to corner, P.M. & had a talk with old Mr. Bremner. Cloudy. S.E. wind. Cool and a few sprinkles of rain.

16. Tuesday 16 July 1895. Andrew cutting No.3 & 4 N. I went up to corner taking W. Orchards buggy and getting ours home. Took the cover over to G. Tracys to get mended for it is badly torn. J.T. & Charley putting in posts as guards at hillside on concession & I helped them after I got home. Gave A. Malcolm $5.00 on buggy. Afternoon we got the hay that was cut yesterday cocked up. Dr. Bremner & wife & 2 little ones came down to tea. Close & cloudy awhile. Cleared off about 11 A.M. N.W. wind.

17. Wed. 17. Andrew finished scuffling roots and then cut. J. Tracy cut fence corners. Charlie raked up some. I gathered up fence corners round wheat and then cocked up. Andrew went over to try McLeans mower which does not work well & J. McLean came down to our meadow to try ours. They finished cutting all by 3.30 P.M. Charlie Tracy had a toothache and wanted to go home so I gave him $5.00 and let him go 3 P.M. Fresh N.W. wind. Rather high, P.M. Cool.

18. Thur. 18. 2 years since uncle T.B.S. died. God bless the fatherless & widow. J. Tracy went back with me and we fixed up the slash fence below T.B.S. house and then I raked up and J.T. cocked up. Andrew ploughed till teatime in No.1 N. and then helped J.T. to finish cocking up and went to the C.E. Dr. Bremner came down and I gave him Dick to put with a horse he has with the Democrat to go to the Beach tomorow. Fresh N.W. breeze. Coolish.

19. Fri. 19. We got hauling in from No.3 & 4 in good time and John & Harry Moore came down & helped us afternoon so we got nearly all in by night. Cloudy & threatening. Some sprinkling.

20. Sat. 20. We butchered a lamb first thing and then J.T. & Andrew hauled in & I got raking till noon. When Maybeth got Dick to go & give her music lessons at Aunt Elizas so J.T. raked up the rest and we got all in safely by night. Hallelujah. G'ma R. went up to the corner with Maybeth. Cleared off but very hot at times. S. winds.

21. Sun. 21. S.S. & meeting as usual but not many out on account of the heavy rains which came on about 7 A.M. Heman Coles was not there so I read 2nd Ch. 1st Pete. I went over to Josephine and took S.S. lesson, Nadab & Abihu for subject. Heavy rains from 7 A.M. till noon. Cleared off slowly.

22. Mon. 22. J.T. & C.T. hoeing mangels. Andrew ploughing No.1 S. I chored & cut up thistles burge, etc. on Con. & went over to Josephine and saw Baldwin about settling for the hay I took over last winter as he did not get shingels cut in time for the barn. He could not give me any satisfaction but said he would settle up as soon as he could. Andrew was ploughing with the colt afternoon and I had to help him awhile as the beast is fractious at times. Maybeth took Dick & buggy to Barrie and brought Francey & Annie home. Clear. Fine & cool. N.West winds.

23. Tue. 23 July 1895. The young folk are all off berry picking. I went back to salt the cattle but could not find them. I got some water hauled and used up what Paris Green we had on the potatoes. Afternoon I wrote to Louisa and a hay buyer came in bringing a letter which he had got at the corner to bring down. It was from Woodbridge. J. Reaman wants hay too so I shewed the man (Charles Ellis) our hay but could not give a definite answer to his offer $12.00 per ton at Minesing station on car, till I had word from J. Reaman so I wrote to Woodbridge at once. Young folk home tired with lots of berries. Clear fine & cool N.W. winds.

24. Wed. 24. J.T. & C.T. finished thinning mangels. Andrew rigged up Binder & started wheat No.1 S. I went up to the corner and got some Paris Green & other truck and came back and helped shock up wheat. Afternoon J.T. & C.T. put Paris Green on potatoes getting done teatime. Mr. Cody, Implement Agent, came bringing slings for unloading. Our bill is $24.00 & Johns $22.10. $2.37 off for freight which I paid, leaving $42.73 c. due to be paid inside of 2 weeks. We all got shocking up after tea but a sudden rain came on which wet us pretty well. Fine harvest weather till 5 P.M. Some rains after. Shower at night again.

25. Thur. 25. Andrew ploughed No.1 N. till 10 A.M. and then hitched to Binder and finished cutting No.1 S. by teatime and begun the peice by T.B.S. house after. I shocked up and chored generally. Cleared off. Fine, 9 A.M.

26. Fri. 26. J.T. harrowing with Dick & colt. Andrew & Charlie went up to corner and got down a lot of pea rakings, etc. from barn floor and then came down and cut all the fall wheat and Timothy seed getting done by teatime. J.T. helped John at the corner to draw in his wheat. I shocked up & did other chores and Andrew and I drove up to see some horses that Mrs. Wm. Johnston wants to sell as Isaac Wallwin wants to buy Topsy. I would rather not sell nor buy just now. Heavy dew but fine & pleasant through the day. N.W. winds but looks rainy.

27. Sat. 27. We put in most of the forenoon choring. Afternoon Andrew hitched up Nell & colt but colt was fractious so J.T. had to help for awhile. C.T. mowing thistles. I cleared up barn floors, etc. Steady rains till noon. Fine after but close.

28. Sun. 28. S.S. & meeting as usual. Heman Coles read 118 Ps. I spoke awhile on the verse "I shall not die but live" and Byron said a few words. I went over to Josephine alone but had a good congregation and spoke on the S.S. lesson - Journeying to Canaan X Num. 29. Walter Bremner came down to tea, also Minnie Taylor & Annie Lindsay to dinner. Young folk up to Gospel services at night. Fine, cool & breezy. N.W. winds.

29. Monday 29 July 1895. Andrew and J.T. ploughing & harrowing No.1 N. I picked potatoe bugs awhile and then about 10:30 A.M. Andrew & J.T. begun hauling in wheat from No.1 S. and I went down to John Kerfoots and got $11.80 from Milk to Factory. I left $1.32 with Heman Coles on the way home to make up the ten dollars for S. Am. Mission. I got down home after dinner and we got in 5 loads of wheat by 3 P.M. where we had to stop for the rain. I wrote to Uncle Fred and took Mama up to the corner to stay with G'ma R. for awhile & saw C. Ellis who offered $12.00 for hay. He will not give it now. Fine, cool & breezy.

30. Tue. 30. Andrew ploughing No.1 N. J.T. harrowing & cultivating. I chored and afternoon helped Charlie to cut thistles & mowed rubbish in pasture by T.B.S. Cold & rain squalls from N.W.

31. Wed. 31. We got drawing in but had several stoppages on account of light rain squalls. The wheat is good and seems to be quite dry but handles heavy. Cold & cloudy. High N.W. wind with rain squalls. 1895: August

1. Thur. 1st August 1895. Andrew ploughing No.1 N. J.T. harrowing. C.T. & I picked potatoe bugs, hoed turnips, mowed thistles & chored generally. Cold & cloudy but cleared off at noon. High N.W. wind.

2. Fri. 2. We got hauling in wheat and had all the sheaves & the Timothy in too by night. Charlie T., Francey & Ruth went away picking berries so we did not get the raking done. Andrew hitched colt to cart at night. He went pretty well but rears when anything goes wrong or he gets excited. Fine pleasant harvest weather. Cloudy at night.

3. Sat. 3. Andrew moving fence between No.1 & 2 N. We are [ ] the rails by the old barnyard. J.T. cultivating and harrowing. I made eavetroughs for pig pens and afternoon J.T., C.T. & I went back to the pasture south of T.B.S. and piled up some old heaps and cut some underbrush. Rainy till 8 A.M. Close & cloudy after smart thunder shower at 3 P.M.

4. Sun. 4. S.S. & meeting as usual. Jas. Johnston read 5 ch. Gal. & Heman Coles spoke awhile. Maybeth went down with me to Josephine & we had a very good meeting, XIII Num. & 3 & 4 Hebrews, unbelieving "spies." An occasional sprinkle.

5. Mon. 5. Andrew finished moving fence and then finished the ploughing & cleared away the old colt shed at this corner of No.1 N. J. Tracy is helping John to pull peas at the corner. Afternoon C.T. raked up wheat stubble in No.1 N.W., & Andrew & I got in rakings from No.1 S. & the other from No.1 N.W. & the little bit of hay left from fence corners. Rather hot & close at times. Fine on the whole.

6. Tue. 6 August 1895. Andrew cultivating No.1 N. Charlie choring. I rigged up buggy to carry the calf of Lindas, $4.50, and tied a box of chickens on behind, $1.40, and took them to Barrie. I took the $36.00 which Hubbert put in the B. of Commerce on 30 April for the lambs, and sent $40.00 to Cody for the track and slings for new barn - being $16.00 on Johns track and slings but he has to have some alteration in his yet. I gave Mrs. Dobbin $6.85 on the shingles we got for the barn leaving $3.00 yet to pay. I got home just as a heavy thunderstorm came on, 4:40 P.M. Cloudy & threatening with S.E. winds. Some sunshine but a very heavy thunderstorm about 4:40 P.M. till 5.

7. Wed. 7. Andrew cultivating fallow, No.1 N. J.T. & C.T. moving manure in barnyard. I did a lot of shoveling up and letting off water round the yard. John & H. Moore came down at night and cut and took up a load of wood. I looked for young cattle. Butchered the black ewe. Another shower, 8 A.M. Cloudy with cooler N.W. wind.

8. Thur. 8. Andrew at fallow. J.T. & C.T. moving manure. I looked all through Mr. McLeans bush for our young cattle and took a skirt along by J. Fralicks & J. Chapple's but did not find them. There are 20 head in our back pasture, a heifer & a calf that she is suckling is ours and I think the others are McLeans. Clear, cool & pleasant.

9. Fri. 9. Some of young folk off to Beach. Andrew & J. T. went up to corner to attend to Johns harvest but the rain sent them home again & H. Moore & J.T. cut wood from old log barn and Andrew went down to see a beast of G. Crawfords. J. Wallwin wants Topsy. C.T. & I made 2 gates, P.M., for the top of the lane against T.B.S. Thunder shower from 7 A.M. to 10 A.M. Fine after but rather close.

10. Sat. 10. Andrew & J.T. cutting wood from old log barn and some down in against bush. C.T. & I put in some posts and hung gates at top of lane by T.B.S. and fixed up the wire fence. The land is too wet to work fallow satisfactorally. Young folk to J. Campbells at night.

11. Sun. 11. S.S. & meeting as usual. I took the S.S. Lesson from 3 ch. John, 14 & 15, "What should be understood by believing in Jesus." G. Hindle spoke awhile very well but I could not hear much. I went to Josephine alone - a good gathering - the same subject as I took this A.M. Excessive Heat. Thunder showers last night. Clear today.

12. Mon. 12. Young folk off berry picking up to Floss. I filled out returns for Bureau of Agriculture and did some chores, A.M. and took Dick up to get shod, P.M. Called on G. Hindle and went over to G. Tracys to see about the buggy cover & had an interview with Mrs. G. T. The young folk came back without any berries. I staid tea with G'ma & a Miss Kay & got home in time for night chores. Heavy rains with thunder last night. Clear today and looks like fine weather. Cool N.W. breeze.

13. Tue. August 13 1895. Andrew & Charlie T. went up to help John after 10 A.M. J.T. went up first thing. I went to town with Dick and buggy taking Blanches calf, $4.00 and 7 chickens, $1.25. I got home about 3 P.M. and took a rest and did chores. I paid G. Tracy $3.00 on his account. Andrew & Charlie came down at night bringing a load of barley. Fine. Cool & clear. N.W. winds.

14. Wed. 14. Andrew cultivating, A.M., and Charlie raking barley stubble for John. I did some underbrushing in back pasture. Afternoon Andrew went up to corner and cut some oats for Mr. Young. J. Tracy is helping John with peas. Clear & fine but rather threatening.

15. Thur. 15. G.T. & I fixed up barn to get ready for threshing. I went up at 10 P.M. and got the buggy cover from G. Tracy's and Mr. Kerr fastened it on but 4 knob rivets short so it will have to be done again. Andrew finished cutting Mr. Youngs oats & got down a load of barley & oats, A.M. We cleaned out some of the sheep pen and got another load of oats, P.M. Cleared off fine without rain but rather hot.

16. Fri. 16. We got threshing in good time and finished by 3 P.M. and moved up to McLeans and Charlie & I got the straw straightened up and barn floor cleared. J.T. at McL. Fine but rather hot. S.W. winds.

17. Sat. 17. Andrew cultivating after he got done threshing at McLeans. J.T. helping John at corner. C.T. & I butchered a lamb and then we took up 62 ewes & lambs to the corner and then we cleaned up the oats and barley. Down here the oats are very damp & barley dirty from rains. Rather warm. S. winds. A gust at noon from N.W. taking top of straw stacks. Thunder shower, 5 P.M.

18. Sun. 18. S.S. & meeting as usual. Heman Coles not there so the meeting fell to me. I read Dueteronomy 32 & 16 Ps., the Lords portion & our Portion. Mr. B. spoke & N. Sheepwash. I went down to Josephine taking J. Tracy & Byron and both spoke awhile. Not many there but a good feeling. Fine & cool. N.W. wind. A few sprinkles, 4 P.M.

19. Mon. 19. J.T. threshing at W. Orchards and from there to help John. I think Andrew took up 5 bags barley & wheat to chopp and a lot of Johns oats & barley for himself to use. C.T. & I put the oats through the mill again and began cleaning up a load of wheat for town. We finished the load, P.M. & got most of the other wheat through for it is rather soft. Cool N.W. winds. A few sprinkles of rain.

20. Tue. 20. Andrew to Barrie with wheat. Sold 12 bags at 65 c. bus., $17.40 and got 8 bags gristed. C. Tracy went with him taking a bag of screenings for his pens, $1.00. I took a look for young cattle but could not find them but Mrs. H. Tracy was over at noon and said she thought they were by their house so I went over again but to no use. I took G'ma R. down to see Heman Coles, afternoon. He is better. Fine & cool till 4 P.M. & a heavy short thunder shower then.

21. Wed. 21 August 1895. Andrew worked fallow for a while and after it got dry tried the mower on the peas but it did not work very well so they will have to be done with the scythe. He cut a few oats but they are not quite fit yet so he & J.T. pulled peas. C.T. got home afternoon. I am not very well but manage to chore a little. Maybeth & Francey off to Barrie. Cool & dampish. N.W. winds.

22. Thur. 22. Charlie is up helping John to get in peas. He took the pump bucket up to get fixed and to tell James Tracy to come from A. Johnsons threshing (where he is for John) here to help us but he did not come. J.T. & Andrew pulled peas all day & I did a lot of choring but am not able for much. Cool & rather cloudy & damp. Frost last night.

23. Fri. 23. Andrew & C.T. looking for cattle, A.M. but did not find them. I think our red heifer is among J. Fralicks. James T. came over about 9 A.M. and helped J.T. to pull peas & they worked at it, P.M. I watched Plum heifer forenoon expecting she would need helping but I got H. Fuller afternoon and he said she had calved but it was not the full time and we could not find the calf anywhere. I took Henry back home and then mother took Dick and went up to the corner for Uncle Geo. Aunt P. & little Geo. came at noon. Cloudy with sprinkles of rain, A.M. Finer, P.M., & cooler. N.W. wind at night. S.W. through the day.

24. Sat. 24. I got a rest, A.M. J.T. & C.T. cleaned out sheep pen and cleaned up some wheat. I went up to the corner at noon and spent a little time with Uncle Geo. & took them all down to the station for Toronto at 4 P.M. I called on Mr. Washington (Methodist Minister) and went down to Factory at night to get milk money for July which made me rather late home. Very heavy rains, A.M. Fine, P.M. and cooler.

25. Sun. 25. S.S. & meeting as usual. Jas. Johnston read XI, Hebrews. Heman Coles spoke awhile on resting on Gods Word & promises, Mr. Bremner on Joshua & Jericho, J. Tracy on Faith. I mentioned Rom. X. Faith cometh by hearing. Maybeth went over to Josephine with me and read the letter from China to the little ones. I read IV ch. Joshua, & J. Tracy spoke awhile. I am tired tonight. Fine & pleasant. N.W. wind.

26. Mon. 26. J.T., C.T. & Jas. T. at the peas. Andrew and I at the oats, No.4 & 5 S. I pulled the Prussian Blue peas and shocked up oats, afternoon. J.T., Andrew & Charlie drew in 5 loads of peas & Jas. T. pulled. I finished up the shocking. The young folk are away to practice for the Anniversary of the Christian Endeavour next Thursday. [ ]. Fine & rather warm, A.M. Very hot, P.M. but N.W. breeze.

27. Tuesday 27 August 1895. Andrew, J.T. & C.T. finished pulling the peas and we got in a load before noon and afternoon we got in nearly all that were ready and cut a few oats after tea. Young folk down here practicing for the C.E. at night. Fine but very hot but west wind at times.

28. Wed. 28. We got drawing in peas though there was a heavy dew. We put 3 loads by the pig pen and got 2 loads into the barn by noon but a heavy rain came on at dinner time so Andrew ploughed after it faired and J.T. & C.T. cleaned up wheat and helped me to ring the pigs and brought down the sheep from the corner after tea. Young folk off to practice for C.E. Hot, close & cloudy, A.M. Heavy rain at noon. Close & cloudy after 2 P.M.

29. Thur. 29. J.T. began cutting oats in front orchard. C.T. went up to the corner and got horse rake and after 9 A.M. all went at the oats. I butchered a lamb and turned over peas - not very well - C. Endeavour social tonight. Cleared off with cool N.W. wind.

30. Fri. 30. Francey's birthday. We got cutting oats after 9 A.M. and finished No.4 & 5 S. and cut the goose wheat, No.1 N.W., and began the Joanette oats but they are too green. We got in 3 loads of peas after tea, 1 load out yet. I am better today. Fine but hot at times. Threatens rain.

31. Sat. 31. We got in the peas, 1 load, No.2 N. and the goose wheat we cut yesterday and a few oats by them cut before. A squall with some rain came on so we quit drawing in and Andrew ploughed & J.T. cut oats in front orchard & C.T. mowed lodged spots in oats No.4 & 5 S. I went to look for young cattle again and J.T. went as well but I found them and got them home by 4 P.M. & J.T. did not get back from his fruitless search till 6 P.M. His time is up tonight. His father wants his help at home. Cloudy & threatening but cleared off with cold high N.W. wind. A light shower, 9 A.M. 1895: September

1. Sun. 1st September 1895. One of the heifers I got home yesterday got away last night and came back afternoon with a calf about 2 weeks old and Fralecks cattle made a breach and got in. We had S.S. & meeting as usual. Heman Coles read from 34 Ezeikel, "I search & seek my sheep" and again from 1st [ ] 4 ch. (give thyself wholly to them) 15, 16 ver. I went down to Josephine alone and dealt with fall of Jericho. S.S. lesson. Fine. Cool & pleasant.

2. James Tracy came over and Andrew & he began hauling in oats and Experimental peas but they are not dry enough, so he had to quit & started Charlie T. ganging pea stubble, No.2 N. We tried to get in the heifer & calf but could not manage it. James T. & I fixed up a place for chaff in west mow. J.T. went home afternoon and I finished the chaff place, fixed cow stable door, bound up some oats, etc. Fine. Cool & please. Light frost last night.

3. Tuesday 3 September 1895. Charlie ganging with Dick & Nell. Andrew ploughing with Tops & Prince. I finished binding & shocked the experimental oats in front orchard. They are a poor lot. We will not grow any more of them. I went to back pasture and got in the heifer & calf but she is very wild and then straightened up the oats that J.T. & C.T. shocked. They are in bad shape. Afternoon I fired a lot of heaps in back pasture and did some picking up. Mrs. Thos. Livingston came down bringing her cousin, a Mr. Jeffery from Missouri. Eclipse of moon tonight. Fine. Cool & pleasant. N.W. wind. Hot, P.M.

4. Wed. 4. We got drawing in oats as soon as we could and had 9 loads in before they got too wet. We should have been at it yesterday, P.M., but they are barely dry enough yet. Fine till 2 P.M. & then sprinkles of rain.

5. Thur. 5. It did not rain much yesterday. C.T. finished ganging pea stubble and then I helped him to gather off some stones and started him harrowing. Andrew ploughing for fall wheat, A.M., and we all got hauling in oats again, P.M. 2 or 3 loads out yet and 3 acres of Joanette to cut. Cloudy & close and very warm. Clear tonight.

6. Fri. 6. We got all the oats in also ex. peas & experimental oats and then cut the Joanette oats. They are very much tangled in spots and rather green yet. Too late to do well with us. Rather hot & close & threatens rain.

7. Sat. 7. Andrew ploughing and C.T. harrowing No.1 N. I did a lot of choring and then went up to the corner and got Walter [Hartmans] address and sent him a letter that had been forwarded to me from Barrie post master. It was from a Mr. R.B. Warner of [Flet--] Assa, N.W.T. enquiring if he could pick up 2 or 3 carload of store cattle in our neighbourhood so I asked Mr. Hartman to reply as they are short of fodder up at Meaford. I also sent a letter to Mr. Warner telling him of what I had done. "O Lord the cattle on a thousand hills are thine." Hot and sultry with thunder. Cleared off at noon with a high N.W. wind. No rain.

8. Sun. 8. S.S. & meeting as usual. I read and spoke from XXX Isaiah, "Light of Moon as light of Sun. Light of Sun sevenfold." I went to Josephine alone & came to close quarters with an undecided case. "Lord save him." I am very tired tonight. Fine & pleasant.

9. Mon. 9. I took Maybeth & Jane down to station and saw them off to Toronto. Jane is to come back next Monday but Maybeth is to be at the Bible Institute in Toronto for 3 months. Andrew ploughed till noon. I cleaned up Dawsons Golden chaff wheat and then harrowed. C.T. went home Sat. and is not back yet. A few sprinkles of rain 8 A.M. Fine after.

10. Tuesday 10 September 1895. I harrowed till near noon & then Charlie got here and he harrowed the rest of the day while I did a lot of other choring. Andrew finished drilling. I had to run up and help Isaac Downey finishing threshing first thing in the morning. Reigh McKinley was there for us yesterday, P.M. and is at Henry Tracys till near 3 P.M. today. Fine but rather cloudy, 5 P.M. Rather hot.

11. Wed. 11. Andrew ploughing & C.T. harrowing. I went to threshing at J. Chapples and Andrew quit ploughing 3 P.M. & came up to help too. I think Angus McDugal is here for me too. Very hot but a breeze occasionally from N.W.

12. Thur. 12. Andrew ploughing. I took up chopp, 10 measures barley & 5 of wheat, & a lot of other truck and brought drill down, afternoon. C.T. & I seperated lambs from sheep, fixed up fences, butchered a lamb of Andrews, etc. Wray McKinley here ploughing, P.M. Cool & pleasant. Thunder shower last night.

13. Fri. 13. Wray McKinley & Andrew ploughing. C.T. & I cut up odd sticks of wood lying round woodshed and gathered up old shingles, etc. & piled in the shed. Afternoon, C.T. & I went back and did a lot of hand piling and burning in the back pasture. Cool N.W. wind. Fine. A stiff breeze, P.M.

14. Sat. 14. Wray McKinley & Andrew ploughing, A.M. & C.T. & I hand piling and burning in the back pasture. It burns well now. Afternoon, Andrew drilled & C.T. harrowed. I cleaned up seed wheat and then went up to corner and picked up a few windfall apples for John. C.T. came up after 5 P.M. and we got down the chopp. Cool with brisk N. wind. Hard frost at night.

15. Sun. 15. S.S. & meeting as usual. Jas. Johnston read 14 John. Heman Coles spoke awhile, Mr. B. & myself. I went over to Josephine alone and dealt with S.S. lesson. Cities of Refuge. Fine, A.M. Cloudy & a few sprinkles rain, P.M.

16. Mon. 16. C.T. harrowing. Andrew finished drilling wheat. We have in about 10 [bus.] Dawsons Golden Chaff 1st bus., 7 Genesee Giant 2nd, 7 bus. Surprise 3rd, and finished with some early white Leader. After that we got in all the sheaf oats and C.T. began to rake stubble. Cloudy, A.M. Clear & fine, P.M. with brisk N. wind most of the time.

17. Tue. 17. Andrews birthday, 22 years ago. Old Mrs. Kent put a Bible into his hand. God grant he may learn to use it to His glory. Andrew went up with waggon and drill to help John to finish seeding and get out manure. He took up 2 pigs which I sold to Mr. Collins last night for $7.00. C.T. raking stubble. I cleaned out old henhouse and after 4 P.M. C.T. & I unloaded oat sheaves and got in rakings. Heavy dew. Clear & fine. Cloudy after 4 P.M.

18. Wednesday Sept. 18 1895. Andrew helping John at the corner. C.T. ganging No.4 S. I did chores and threshed Canadian Beauty peas. They are good but I do not think they will do for a general crop. Afternoon I cleaned them up, about 3 bushels, and threshed a few sheaves of Timothy for seed but it is too tough and needs frosty weather. Andrew came down and took up a load of wood for use at corner. Heavy thundershower last night. Drizzling today & cold. S.E. wind.

19. Thur. 19. C.T. ganging. I helped Andrew on with a load of wood and went up with him and cut up some while he got the colt shod. When we got home Andrew opened furrows in No. 2. N. and I put cows into N. West feild and got lambs down to seperate and then butchered one. We put the 3 Shrop ram lambs in the front south feild. After Andrew got the furrows in wheat run out. He harrowed in No.4 & 5 S. I got in the Plum & Dugall heifer to better pasture to get them fattened off on grass. Rather dark & cloudy. Some light showers. Warm.

20. Fri. 20. C.T. ganging. Andrew cleaned out bottom headland furrow & then cut corn stalks. I did a lot of choring and then set up a lot of the corn. Afternoon Andrew harrowed No. 4 & 5 S. where C.T. is ganging and I finished cutting corn. Breezy but very hot.

21. Sat. 21. Andrew to Barrie with 17 bags wheat, 60 c., $20-, 10 chickens, 35 pair, & 5 lambs, 25 c. each, & sheepskins. I took some necesaries up to the corner and then went over to see about getting James Tracy to help with manure next week. C.T. ganging. Finished 5 P.M. & then harrowed till 6. I did a lot of fixing up & choring, P.M. Breezy from N.W. but very hot.

22. Sun. 22. S.S. & meeting as usual. Heman Coles read 12 ch. John - "a corn of wheat falling into the ground" - the 2 deaths - Red Sea & Jordan, dying with Christ and dying to self. I went to Josephine alone. A more encouraging meeting, thank the Lord. Young folk from Wray McKinleys up at night. Mama is staying at the corner. G'ma R. not very well. I think hotter today but breezy from N.W. & S.W. Fresh S. wind all night.

23. Mon. 23. Andrew and I got a load of wood from slash & then he & C.T. harrowed. I filled up a hole in the land and did some hand piling in back pasture, A.M. Afternoon Andrew finished harrowing and got waggons ready for hauling out manure. I went down to John Kerfoots and got money for August milk, $14.73, a cheese, $5.58, leaving $9.15. I did a little talking on the road which made it nearly 6 P.M. when I got home. Cloudy, 7 A.M. Cleared off with cool N.W. wind & no rain. Cooler, P.M.

24. Tue. 24. G. Tracy came & he & C.T. loaded manure and Andrew & I drew out with 3 waggons. We put in on No.4 & 5 S. oat stubble at the lower end of the feild. Frost last night. Warmer today. A light N. wind.

25. Wednesday 25 September 1895. G. Tracy helping C.T. to load in the barnyard and we drew out with 3 waggons till noon, and then Andrew hauled to the top end of the feild with 1 team and 2 waggons and I went to Barrie with Dick & buggy. Mama was to have gone with me but was not very well, so G'ma R. took the opportunity of going to Aunt Bessies with me. I got a "Family Altar," a present for Lizzie Bell, and then took it down and stayed to see her married to a Mr. Wm. Calvert. The Good Lord bless them and those still left in their old home. I did not get away from the wedding party much before 11 P.M. and by the time I got to A. Morrens and got my horse a heavy thundershower came on and it was very dark so I did not get home till nearly 2 A.M. Thursday.

26. Thur. 26. Andrew & I drawing manure with 2 waggons. Only C.T. helping to load. I had to go over to the eleventh Con. to inspect the clearing A. Orchard & Mr. Collins have done - 10 rods wide, 80 rods long. It is rather rough but not a bad job on the whole, so I let it go and gave them each a note for $50.00 with 7 per cent interest due on 1st Oct. 1896. "Boast not thyself of tomorow." Fine. Cleared off with brisk N.W. wind. Cool.

27. Fri. 27. We worked most of the forenoon getting out manure but there were frequent heavy showers so we quit it at noon and C.T. & I butchered a pig & cleaned up a load of wheat. Andrew ploughed awhile and went to Parlor Social at night in the Methodist Parsonage. Very showery from N.W. Finer, P.M.

28. Sat. 28. Andrew went to town with wheat, 41 1/2 bus., 62 c. - $25.80, C. Tracy went with him and did not come back. I put in the day doing all sorts of chores, fixing up hen house, pig pens, etc. Fine, but rather cold & cloudy.

29. Sun. 29. S.S. & meeting as usual. I read part of 8 c. Rom. and spoke on the Holy Spirit as a Person, Heman Coles on the Lake of fire. May the good Lord make His great salvation from Hell - and to Heaven real, and give us the grateful heart. I went to Josephine alone. A very interesting meeting though not many there. I had a talk at night with Walter Bremner on future punishment. Fine but rather cold and fall like.

30. Mon. 30. Andrew started ploughing but found it too rainy so quit. I did a lot of fixing up around the buildings, pig pens, hen houses, etc. C. Tracy got home in the evening. Continuous cold showers from N.W. 1895: October

1. Tuesday 1st October 1895. Andrew ploughing No.4 S. C.T. & I bagged up 12 bags of wheat & barley, 3/4 [ ] of it barley. We have used in all 40 measures, weighing 40 lb. to the measure, 1600 lbs. I went over to Josephine afternoon to see about shingles but could not get any, so I sent C.T. up to the corner with a load of wood and then got a load down here. Mama & I went up to Methodist Evangelistic service, a Mr. McHardie, Evangelist. Fine but rather cold N. wind.

2. Wed. 2. Andrew ploughing. C.T. & I drew out manure with one waggon, A.M., but Francey took Dick to give Annie a drive, P.M. so C.T. & I pulled beans afternoon. Fine & pleasant.

3. Thur. 3. We all drew out manure A.M. and got all done that we will do at it for the present. I went up afternoon and got 7 bags of chopp and then went up with buggy and took Annie out for a drive and to see about getting help from E. Jones to get up potatoes, beans, spread manure, etc. I went up to Methodist Evangelistic meeting at night. C.T. pulled beans, P.M. Fine & pleasant but a rather chill N.E. & E. & S.E. wind at times. Frosty nights.

4. Fri. 4. Andrew ploughing. C.T. spreading manure. I went up to the corner to do some business and when I came back took out a load of manure that was left from yesterday and then I fixed a box on the old waggon to draw potatoes and we got all the beans pulled afternoon. I went to meeting about creamery at night. Fine but chilly. S.E. winds. Frosty nights.

5. Sat. 5. E. Jones came & he & C.T. spread manure. Andrew ploughing. I took a load of wood up to corner and brought down 7 bags of peas from I. Downeys, 1057 lbs. I think, bags & all, and C.T. & I got in the beans afternoon, 2 loads. Frosty nights. Fine sunny days.

6. Sun. 6. S.S. & meeting as usual. Jas. Johnston read XV c. of John and I spoke from it in connection with 2 c. of Judges. I went over to Josephine, read 2 c. Judges, part of VI ch., 2nd Cor. and 1 ver. of VII - ch. I staid at home at night and did the chores. Fine & pleasant. N.W. winds.

7. Mon. 7. Andrew ploughing. After helping to unload the beans, C.T. & I got down 6 bags of oats from Bertie Englishs and then went back and begun to get up the potatoes. They are a very good crop but a heavy rain squall came on and we had to quit. Dr. Law, his wife & sisterinlaw (Mrs. Switzer) came down and we went up to special services in the Methodist church at night. A light rain, 6 A.M. Cloudy after and a rain squall about 3.30 P.M.

8. Tue. 8. Andrew ploughed a few rows of potatoes out and a few furrows in the bean ground and then went to Wesley Orchards threshing about 9.30 A.M. C.T. & I picked up all the potatoes that lay out and then spread manure for it is very cold on the hands picking potatoes. I went up to Methodist special service, I think the best of the series. Frequent hail squalls from N.W. Cold. Snow at night.

9. Wed. 9 October 1895. D. Jones came over so I let him spread manure and C.T. helped me to clean up some wheat and then went up to help D. Jones. Andrew helped at Albert Orchards threshing and then ploughed. Afternoon we got at the potatoes again. I went up to Methodist meeting at night. Cloudy but calm & milder. Snow gone by noon.

10. Thur. 10. Andrew ploughed till 10:30 A.M. and then went to Elmvale Show. D. Jones, C.T. & I working at potatoes. We got done about 3 P.M. and then did some hand piling and burning in back pasture. I went up to Methodist special services at night. McHardies last address. Some very good, some very bad, but God blessed His own Word, Hallelujah. Fine but rather cold. N.W. wind.

11. Fri. 11. Came on steady rain about 8 A.M. We put in the day doing all sorts of chores. W. Orchard came down & brought the biggest ram lamb, $4.00 & J. Chapple got another for a ram he has & I give him $2.00. I went up to Meth. meeting again. A good experience from a young man converted by instrumentality of a Plymouth Brother. But for that the meeting would have been a failure. Rainy & cloudy all day. Rather warm.

12. Sat. 12. Andrew away to town with 18 bags wheat, 65 c. bus., $26.60. C.T. spreading manure. I did a lot of fixing up and got the sow & 10 pigs into their right quarters. She was in sheep pen before I took Annie up to corner and went to see F. Foysten about the creamery and got wood ready for Church tomorow. Cloudy & chilly but not much rain.

13. Sun. 13. S.S. & meeting as usual. Heman Coles spoke on Grace. I went over to Josephine alone & had Gideon for the lesson, VII ch. Judges - and IV c. 2nd Cor. - "Treasure in earthen vessels." I stayed in and did chores & rested at night. Hard frost last night. Fine today.

14. Mon. 14. Mr. Collins came and he & I began a slash fence along the south line on T.B.S. place. Andrew ploughing & C. T. spreading manure afternoon. C.T. helped Mr. Collins & I did a lot of choring and Mama & I went to Dr. Law's for the evening and had a pleasant time but late home. Fine & pleasant. Cold N.W. wind.

15. Tue. 15. Andrew ploughing. Mr. Collins & C.T. making slash fence. I went to Stayner with 35 [ ], 15 lbs. wheat and got it gristed, 12 1/2 bags of flour back, 6 bran, 1 1/2 shorts, 25 lbs. cracked wehat. I got home about 7 P.M. Fine & sunny at times but a raw chilly air when cloudy.

16. Wed. 16. Mr. Collins at slash fence. C.T. & I tried to get the Dugal heifer down to Wm. Addisons but she was very wild and we had to get Andrew to help and then we got Johns ram lamb and a wether and took up to corner with Democrat. We chored round, P.M. Too wet to work out. Came on rain about 9 A.M. Raw S.E. & S.W. winds.

17. Thur. 17 October 1895. Andrew ploughing. Mr. Collins came and I helped him with the slash fence. C.T. had to go to corner and get some things and spread manure after. We got the fence finished by night except a peice at the corner of old Mrs. Kents place. N.W. sleety squalls. Coldish.

18. Fri. 18. Andrew ploughing. C.T. got in roots from front garden. I had to go to Edenvale and haul a load of cheese from the factory to the station. Afternoon Mr. Quinline came to get steers so I took him down to see the three herds. There is not much there to suit him. C.T. & I got up the peice of fence at the corner of Mrs. Kents place. Gave Mrs. Mark Knapp $5.00 on shingles. Cold raw S.E. & S.W. winds. Warmer at night with high S.E. wind.

19. Sat. 19. Andrew at Mr. McLeans threshing. C.T. and I got our young cattle out of the other herds and on to our own place on T.B.S.'s end. Afternoon we drew out some manure to front garden. Cold N.W. squalls.

20. Sun. 20. S.S. & meeting as usual. I read 27 Acts - "whose I am & whom I serve," "I believe God." I went over to Josephine alone and spoke from 1 ch. Ruth. Not many out, but I announced a Magic Lantern for Wednesday evening. Heavy snow squalls from N.W. Sunny spells between.

21. Mon. 21. We have all the cattle to feed for the ground is covered with snow and a hard frost too. We butchered the big white sow & 3 young pigs and Mama & I went down to N. Sheepwash's at night which made us late home. Fine & sunny at times but chill N.W. winds.

22. Tue. 22. I went to town with Democrat taking 3 little pigs, 305 lbs. at 5 c., $15.25. Mama went along and Mrs. Morley Fletcher (Annie Wadds) and baby. I got boots, $1.75, copper boiler, etc. at Ottons, $5.00. $5.00 to Mama. D. Jones & C.T. pulled mangels & Andrew ploughed, A.M. & drew mangels, P.M. Fine & warm, A.M. Raw cold N.W. wind, P.M., & cloudy. Snow all gone.

23. Wed. 23. Andrew ploughing, A.M. & C.T. & I cleaned out the old root house and began fixing it up. Francey's finger is bad so we had to get Ruthey down. Afternoon Andrew went down to Stroud for the ploughing match tomorow. I quit work early and went down to Josephine with N. Sheepwash where he gave a very good exhibition, Stanleys journeys through Africa & Bible manners aand customs. There were not many there. I was sorry for Nats sake. Frequent snow falls but softish. Fine at night.

24. Thur. 24. Dan & Ed Jones came and we got at the roots in good time. John came down with his team and drew in and I helped to get up and load & unload afternoon. Andrew got home about 12 midnight. He got 1st prize for groomed horses & 3rd for ploughing. Fine & pleasant but rather cool.

25. Fri. 25 October 1895. Dan & Ed Jones helping us at the roots and we got well on with them, nearly all the mangels done & some sugar beets ploughed out. Fine but rather cold.

26. Sat. 26. Mr. Collins came and we all got at the roots in good time but Dan Jones went up to help John at 10 A.M. with his threshing. Some turnips to get up yet & the carrots. Cloudy & dull but not freezing.

27. Sun. 27. S.S. & meeting as usual. Jas. Johnston read XV ch. 1st Cor. & Heman Coles spoke on the gospel, and I on the resurection part of it & the judgement. I went to Josephine alone - discouraging. Warm & Indian summery. Thundershowers afternoon.

28. Mon. 28. Andrew & Charlie at the turnips, getting up and hauling. I went up to corner on some business & brought down some peas, about 3 1/2 bus. & 2 bags of oats which I hope will do us till we thresh. Mr. Collins at Mrs. Grants threshing for us. Afternoon Andrew took 2 loads of turnips up to the corner for John. There is another load of turnips & carrots, 1/2 of each to go up but we had to get in what carrots Charlie & I had pulled so we left the 2 waggons loaded on the barn floors. Cold west & N.W. squalls & some snow. Not quite so cold at night.

29. Tue. 29. Andrew at Mrs. Grants threshing till 10:30 A.M. C.T. & I did a lot of choring and skinned a lamb of Johns that had died of some disease and burned it and when Andrew got home from threshing we got down the sheep and seperated Johns & Uncle Andrews, to go up to the corner. Andrew took the sheep up to the corner and C.T. went with him to help John to clean up a load of wheat. I took Mrs. Moley Fletcher down to the station and Mama & I attended church business meeting at night. Soft snow falling nearly all day. Freezing at night.

30. Wed. 30. Andrew took up the last load of roots up for John and then ploughed No.1 N.W. C.T. & I did some choring and then got some manure out of the yard and put it in front orchard. Fine & some milder.

31. Thur. 31. Andrew ploughed A.M. & C.T. & I got out 2 more loads of barn yard scrapings and then hauled water for threshing engine and got in a big shock of corn, the machine got down and at work about 2 P.M. Softish & some rain. 1895: November

1. Fri. 1st November 1895. We got finished threshing about 10:30 A.M. and Andrew moved the machine up to I. Downeys and helped there, afternoon, and C.T. & I cleaned up the barn floor, got up straw, etc., and straightened up generally. Cold blustering N.W. wind. Some hail. Hard frost at night.

2. Sat. 2. Andrew helped I. Downey, A.M. & ploughed, P.M. Ed Jones came & I set him spreading manure in front garden. C.T. & I cut some old logs at G'pa's and drew down for stove wood and we got 2 loads of carrots up and into the root house. Hard frost last night. Warm, P.M., but chilly S. wind at times.

3. Sun. 3rd November 1895. A year since James Ronald shot himself. We had S.S. & meeting as usual. Heman Coles read part of 1 ch. 1st Cor. & 2nd ch. - "the cross of Christ" - "the only way of salvation." I went over to Josephine alone - VII ch. 1st Samuel. Fine & pleasant.

4. Mon. 4. Andrew ploughing. C.T. & I pulled the carrots and got them in by 3 P.M. I went up to a meeting in the Hall to see about establishing a creamery in Barrie. R.A. Thomas is urging its claims. There were not many there. Fine Indian summer weather.

5. Tue. 5. Andrew ploughing. C.T. & I cut wood at G'pas, A.M., & cleaned up 10 bags of stuff to chopp. Keil Lapham has moved down to G'pas house. He has no other house that he can go to. I took the 10 bags up and some wood, afternoon. Fine Indian summer weather.

6. Wed. 6. Andrew ploughing. C.T. & I did some work in the garden and Andrew quit ploughing 11 A.M. and we butchered 2 pigs and rung the old red sow and fixed her hog pigs. I went up to Mr. Young's credit sale, afternoon. Things are slow sale. John got 4 young cattle very cheap I think. Fine Indian summer weather. Rather warmer.

7. Thur. 7. Andrew ploughed. I went to town with the 2 pigs, 240 lbs. at 5 c. (25 c. of a rebate) $1.75. C. Tracys time was up last night so he went in with Francey & I and I gave him $17.40 c. He worked 4 months for $28.00 and he had $10.60 before & he lost a good bit of time going home and staying several days at a time. Otton agreed to take some old stoves from us and I got out with me a second hand box stove for $7.00, tin for bottom 75 c., pipes 25 c. Rather late home. Some showers till 7 A.M. Cloudy & close with heavy fog after. Clearer at night.

8. Fri. 8. Andrew ploughing. I had a busy time choring and went up to the corner and got down 2 bags of chopp in the single buggy. Nell is very lame today. Cold raw N.W. wind. Cloudy.

9. Sat. 9. Andrew ploughed A.M. and went off on a hunt with Wray McKinley & got 2 partridges. I did a lot of choring and fixing up and got most of the cattle inside for it is a very uncomfortable spell of weather. Cold raw N.E. wind with rain & hail & sleet.

10. Sun. 10. S.S. & meeting as usual. I read part of 15 ch. Luke and spoke on Rev'd A. Murrays address - "Son thou art ever with me and all that I have is thine." I went to Josephine alone and spoke on S.S. lesson & the same subject as in the morning. Cold & wintry but softish at noon. Snow fell last night.

11. Mon. 11. Maybeths birthday. Andrew ploughing. I got down a load of wood and then went down to the creek and got the old plank from the bridge and took up to the hill and went from there to the corner and got the old cow ties and chopp down. Wray McKinley got the horses to get a load of shingle wood from Dobbins so I walked up to "Traveling Dairy" held in the Hall at the village, 1:30 P.M. Dull but softish snow, thawing. Freezing again at night but not hard.

12. Tue. 12 November 1895. Andrew & Wray McKinley ploughing. I did a lot of odd jobs and boiled 2 sugar kettles full of potatoes and peas and mixed up with meal for the pigs. Afternoon I did some fixing up at the end of the roothouse. Dull & cloudy. Much milder.

13. Wed. 13. Andrew & Wray ploughing. I finished up the roothouse door and cleaned out a furrow on the lane to let the water off and opened the potatoe pit intending to pick them over but it came on very chilly & cloudy so I did not get many done. Mr. Hughs, an Implement Agent, came with a root pulper. He wants $12.00 in 12 months. I think it is too much but he left it for me to try. Hard frost last night. Sunny gleams, A.M. Cloudy & chilly, P.M.

14. Thur. 14. Andrew finishing ploughing. I altered some stalls in the calf stable to make more room. Cloudy & chilly.

15. Fri. 15. Andrew off hunting. John got a deer yesterday but was tired enough today to quit hunting at noon. I boiled 3 kettles of potatoes for the pigs and went up to the corner and got some tame raspberry canes from the garden and saw Mr. Washington and F. Foysten about Thanksgiving service next Thursday, 2:30 P.M. Fine but a few drops of rain, A.M. Cooler P.M. with N.W. wind.

16. Sat. 16. I forgot to bring down the crosscut saw yesterday so after choring I went up and got it and we got down the sheep & taglocked. Andrew ploughed some in front garden and we sawed some wood afternoon. Fine & Indian summery.

17. Sun. 17. S.S. & meeting as usual. Jas. Johnston read VI ch. Mathew and Mr. Bremner read VII-. Heman Coles spoke about responsibility of parents to enforce obedience, disobedience to parents ending in disobedience to God - & obedience resulting the other way. I went to Josephine alone & dealt with S.S. lesson. Saul rejected. Fine but rather colder.

18. Mon. 18. Andrew & Keil Lapham sawing wood & broke crosscut saw. I had a busy day, boiling potatoes, went up to corner & helped John clean up a load of peas. Maybeth has not been well so came home tonight. Andrew & Francey went down to meet her. Francey & Annie went down to S. Webbers, P.M. Fine. Pleasant & sunny.

19. Tue. 19. Andrew & Francey off to Barrie with 6 turkeys, 7 1/2 c. lb. Took the old Glenwood stove in to Ottons. He will give $3.00 for it. I took a load of wood up to corner and chored generally. Dull & cloudy, A.M. Rainy, P.M. & snow at night.

20. Wed. 20. Andrew helped Keil Lapham awhile & then we made a shed for fattening lambs and altered stalls for young cattle and fixed the pulper to run easier. Heavy snow last night. Cold N.W. wind today.

21. Thur. 21. Thanksgiving day. I got up the celery but it has got too much frost. Keil Lapham got me to go up and see a heifer he got from McLeans for his own. I offered him $14.00 for her which I think is her full value for all [continues on following page of diary, with date repeated] sorts of stock are very cheap. Mama & I drove up to Thanksgiving service in Presbyterian church and the young folk had their C.E. meeting at night. Cousin Sarah Jeffery came down. She is on her way to Parry Sound and expects to leave on her Mission to India soon. Hard frost. Some sunny gleams, A.M. Snowy, P.M.

22. Fri. 22. Andrew took Cousin Sarah to station and when he came back we butchered the 3 big spring pigs. Jas. McLean helped us. Fine & sunny but freezing in shade.

23. Sat. 23. Andrew and I had a busy time choring, cutting up and salting the pigs we butchered yesterday. Keil Lapham got the horses to draw a load of wood. Snowy most of the day. Not very cold.

24. Sun. 24. S.S. & meeting as usual. Heman Coles read from 2nd [Tim.] 3 & 4 ch. and made several caustic and uncalled for statements about the O.C.B. church. I think they were false - God Knoweth. I went down to Josephine alone. John drove me as far as the 2nd bridge. He had brought Aunt Grace down to see Maybeth. I spoke from the S.S. lesson, V ch. Isaiah - only 7 there. I heard that a Mr. Ship had bought Mr. Budds farm that the Bank of Toronto had possession of. The school house that we have been meeting in will be his now. Fine & sunny at times. More snow threatening. Rather mild.

25. Mon. 25. Late up. We put in the forenoon choring. Keil Lapham helped Andrew to make a place for roots where the young cattle are and they threw a lot of roots in till they got at the mangels at the far end of root house which we thought were heating but we were thankful to find them all right and our work unnecesary. We lost 600 bus. from heating last year. Gave W. De Geer an order for $1 - Rose of Erin potatoes. Steady easterly snowstorm. Not very cold.

26. Tue. 26. Andrew & Reil Lapham working at odd jobs. Took some straw up for his cow & pigs. I laid some plank in cow stable on top of old floor. Heavy rains all night. Cleared up. Cold, A.M. Freezing at night.

27. Wed. 27. I helped Andrew away with 5 bags of oats & peas to chopp & then fastened some boards around the stack to keep sheep from undermining it. Andrew went up for the chopp afternoon but it was not done. The young folk off skating at night. Cold N.W. wind. Sunny gleams at times.

28. Thur. 28. Andrew & K.L. skidding out cedar for rails. John McKinley got down with the Press & Engine ready for baleing tomorow. Afternoon Andrew helped Keil to butcher a pig and I got out potatoes and boiled 2 kettles full for the pigs. Clear & sunny but freezing in the shade.

29. Fri. 29. We got baleing in good time. The hay is weighing well. John came down to help but they had a bad break about 4 P.M. which kept them a long while to get fixed. Mild but cloudy & chilly.

30. Saturday 30 November 1895. We baled till noon making 20 tons 10 cwt. I got the pulley from W. Orchards to work the cutting box for Wray McKinley wanted to cut up some oat straw but he concluded to do it by hand. I went up to the corner and mailed 3 P.C.s, 1 to Elliss Meaford, 1 to J. McAuley, Elmvale, and 1 to J.J. Brown, Barrie. Andrew got his horses shod behind and got down the chopp. 1895: December

1. Sun. 1st December 1895. S.S. & meeting as usual. I read scriptures refering to Judgment. Ecc XI c. - & XII c.-. Rom. 11 c. 1-20 - 2nd Cor. V C. & c.-. Also brought into contrast John V-24. I went down to Josephine alone. A Mr. Ship was there & was very helpful. Praise the Lord. Fine but wintry.

2. Mon. 2. We got the Press onto sleighs and Andrew helped Wray McKinley away with it across the flatts and over to 11 Con. Afternoon I went up to the corner and Jas. Lumley, John & Wesley Tracy & Andrew Ronald helped me to fix the boards on the shed and cut up a good stock of wood and straighten up generally. Andrew got down 12 bags peas from Johns. Snowy, A.M. Finer, P.M. Wintry.

3. Tue. 3. We got wood ready for the engine for chopping and cutting box and cleaned up a lot of oats & peas, so we are all ready for the chopper & cutting box when it comes. Bible Society meeting at night, Rev'd Mr. Chambers of Toronto, Agent.

4. Wed. 4. Andrew went to town to get an overcoat cut & fitted and Mama went with him to see G'ma Ronald. A man came from Barrie to get sraw. I sent him to some folk that I thought would sell but he came back a little before 4 P.M. so I gave him a load for $4.00 which made me late choring. Andrew got home about dark and Uncle Sam & Aunt Eliza came down for the evening. Cold raw S.E. wind.

5. Thur. 5. Andrew helping McLeans to butcher. I went down to J. Kerfoots and got the last of cheese factory money, $20.25, a P.C. from Elliss Meaford offering $13.80 per ton for hay. I sent a letter to the Carter Co., Elora, who offer $15.75. Fine pleasant winter weather.

6. Fri. 6. Andrew and I went down to second creek and fixed the railing on the bridge. It will need some new plank to make a good job of it. Afternoon Andrew and I began sawing wood with the new saw which he got last Wed. but it wants more sett. He went up to the corner and helped to put the coal stove aside and the old one for burning wood up again for G'ma R. is not coming home till after Christmass. Uncle Alf came down with a Mr. Quinline who is running for Reeve. Young folk off skating at night. Snow & rather mild.

7. Saturday 7 December 1895. Andrew & Dan Jones sawing wood. I did chores & boiled a lot of stuff for pigs. I went up to the corner afternoon and cut some wood for them up there for John is not well. S.E. wind. Cloudy & rather mild.

8. Sun. 8. S.S. & meeting as usual. Jas. Johnston read 2 & 3 ch. of 1 Corinthians and then left the meeting open so Heman Coles got up and read from XXXIV Ezikiel about careless shepherds and made some very sweeping denounciations against our little church. We can bear with enemies outside but it is fearful to have enemies within. "The Lord rebuke [ ]." I spoke awhile afterwards which I think helped to relieve the meeting of the unpleasant feeling & I had a straight talk with him afterward in the vestry. I went over to Josephine alone. Mr. Ship led the meeting from 1 c. Collossians. I wrote to Wm. & Louisa at night. Very good. Fine & pleasant winter weather.

9. Mon. 9. Andrew & Dan Jones cutting wood. I did chores and then took a cutter load of short wood up to the corner for the little stove up there and split up a lot for John is not at all well. I got down at noon and did up the work and was just on top of the hill going to W. Orchards sale when I saw Hubbert so I had to go back with him and let him see the young cow and the lambs. He says the lambs are not fat enough & I only get $25.00 for the cow to go in tomorow. I got up to the sale but it was over. Things went very cheap. I went on up to the corner and helped John with his chores and then got home to the chores rather late. Fine but rather cloudy. Not cold.

10. Tue. 10. Andrew off to Barrie with the young cow. I boiled a lot of stuff for pigs and got chores done which kept me busy most of the day. Mrs. Fostor came over to tell me about Mr. Ship's religious veiws having been doubtful about him before she went over to see them last night and was very pleased. Calm & fine. Not very cold but cloudy.

11. Wed. 11. Andrew up to the corner with a load of wood and the bobsleigh which McKinley got to move the Press and tore off the shoeing. It will have to get new runners. Afternoon he took up some chop (4 bags) and then went down to the station to see about a car. There was one there so I sent word to J.J. Brown that we would load it right away at $14.00 per ton. Mama went up to help at a quilt at Mrs. McLeans so I went up at night to fetch her home. Snow storm from the east, A.M. Finer, P.M. Cold at night.

12. Thur. 12. John & Andrew are loading the car with hay. I fixed up the hen house to make it warmer and helped them away with their loads. Mr. Ellis came and staid for the night. Clear & cold. Some warm sunny spells but freezing hard in the shade.

13. Friday 13 December 1895. I helped Andrew to take down 33 bales of hay to the station and loaded it making 213 bales weighing 10 ton, 281 lbs. at $14.00 per ton. We got down some lumber after to fix up a sheep pen for the fattening lambs. Afternoon I went up to corner & did some business there & went down to Wm. Addisons & settled up with him for the heifer he got in Oct. $3.35 c. due me after allowing $6.15 for beef. I got $5.60 from Mrs. Grant for seed wheat. Annie went with me to McKinleys. Not quite so cold. Rather snowy. Fine, P.M.

14. Sat. 14. Two years since G'pa died. I went to town and got $141.95 c. from J.J. Brown for the car load of hay we loaded yesterday. I paid taxes, $49.30 in all. I could not get the right amount due from me and from John but some time when the collection is not so busy he will make it out. $10.00 of what I paid I got from John yesterday. I sent $50.00 by express to Woodbridge and got an express money order for $50.00 for Santa Cruz. I gave T. Culfort $8.00 on his threshing account. I am $14.00 short to send to Uncle Fred. Jane went in with me. Fine winter weather.

15. Sun. 15. S.S. & meeting as usual. Heman Coles was not there so I continued the subject of 2 weeks ago, Judgment, reading 25 Math. latter part, last of Isaiah & Zachariah & a few verses from Jude, Enochs prophecy. Mama went with me to Josephine. Mr. Ship was there and spoke from 1 ch. John. We went to Mrs. Fostors which made us late home. Fine pleasant winter weather.

16. Mon. 16. We butchered a sheep and got down a load of wood and then hitched the colt to the cutter. He has only been hitched single once before. He goes fairly well. I was going to send Aunt Louisa legacy but Maybeth wanted to send some cards for the children so it will wait another day. I got fixing up the pen for fattening sheep. Fine pleasant winter weather. S. winds.

17. Tue. 17. Dan Jones came and he and Andrew went back to the clearing against 11 Con. and drew together some cedars for making rails. I did a lot of fixing up and choring. Rain last night. Thawing today.

18. Wed. 18. Dan Jones came and he and Andrew cut wood and helped me to get in a peice of the straw stack which the cattle had undermined. Letter from Woodbridge with receipt for the $50 I sent away last Sat. T. Pattendon got a load of straw for A. Morren. Very soft all day. Thawing fast. Rain at night.

19. Thur. 19. T. Culfort is here with cutting box and grain crusher. The cutting [ ] broke soon after starting so we had to use our own. We cut up some stuff for Keil Lapham as well and did a little crushing after 4 P.M. Heavy rain, A.M. Finer, P.M. Still soft. Snow about gone.

20. Friday 20 December 1895. We chopped oats & peas all forenoon. Jas. Chapple brought down a load and John got some done. Afternoon they moved up to Mr. McLeans. I settled up with T. Culfort, $18.00 in all, $13.00 threshing & $5.00 cutting & crushing. Mild warm weather. Very muddy.

21. Sat. 21. Andrew and Francey off to Barrie taking 5 turkeys, rags & old rubbers, sheep skin 60 c., and cream for R.A. Thomas creamery. The roads were very bad so they were late home. Ruth went along. Andrew gave J.J. Brown $1.50 loss on car of hay. A few sprinkles of rain, A.M. Fine, P.M. Rain at night after 4 P.M.

22. Sun. 22. S.S. & meeting as usual. Jas. Johnston has resigned his position as presiding elder & Heman Coles was not there so I read XIX & XX c. Rev. and continued the subject of judgment. I went down to Josephine alone and took the S.S. lesson, 2 c. Luke. Mr. Ship was there and spoke on the angels. I made a call at Hobsons & went down to Teesdales to tea & they run up to 10 con. with railway jigger so I walked home from there. Fine but rather cloudy & close. Very mild for December.

23. Mon. 23. After choring we went up to the hill and laid down the plank that used to be on the creek bridge and then Andrew helped Keil Lapham to butcher a pig and I went up to the corner and mailed some letters & a P.C. to C.R. Ling telling him I would not sell straw just now. I waited till afternoon to see what mail there would be but no letter from Lizzie. I took a rest after helping Andrew to turn over the cornstalks we cut. They are very hot. Fine but close, cloudy and warm, A.M. Some heavy rains, P.M., and a slight mixture of snow.

24. Tue. 24. Andrew & I put some boards outside the cookhouse and John came down and he and Andrew cut wood till noon and then John & I settled up for the year, $78.65 c. ball. due me ($400.00 was coming to John when he was 25 years old, 25th February 1895) reckoning $100.00 a year after he was of age. A letter telling of Mrs. English's death. Dull & cloudy, A.M. Rainy, P.M.

25. Wed. 25. Christmass day. We just did chores and wrote some letters to Mr. English and the boys and I went up to the corner at night taking Ruth & Jane to the Magic Lantern entertainment by N. Sheepwash & Irving Innis. It was a good Exhibition but very bad order was [kept]. Young folk very boisterous. Some clearer but dull & cloudy mostly.

26. Thur. 26. After doing chores Andrew took the red sow up to I. Downeys and then went on to the corner and helped John to clean up some grain. I did a lot of reading besides choring, afternoon. Heavy soft snow falling all day.

27. Fri. 27. John is down helping Andrew to cut wood. I did up chores and then went up to the corner and got the lamps & fixings from the pulpit and vestry and afternoon Francey and I went down to Josephine to help with the Christmass tree. I fixed up the lamps and helped generally. Mr. Ship was chosen Chairman and the place was [crammed] and the meeting very late. Home at midnight. Fine & pleasant. Rather wintry. Freezing a little.

28. Saturday 28 December 1895. After choring I went up to the corner and put up the lamps again that I took down to Josephine yesterday. Glad to get them back safe. I went down to the station in case G'ma should be there but she was not so I got home by the new road. T. Dempster came to get some straw. John, Andrew & Keil Laham are splitting rails. Fine & pleasant & rather inclined to thaw.

29. Sun. 29. S.S. & meeting as usual. Heman Coles was not there so I began the subject of Resurection - Christs - where He decended to and rose from, the spirit & soul in [ ] the body in Josephs tomb. I went down to Josephine alone on foot and spoke from 17 ch. Acts "Paul at Athen" - Mr. Ship followed me with 1st & 2nd ch. Rev. [ ]. I know thy works & the open door - standing at door, etc. Fine but rather wintry.

30. Mon. 30. Andrew helped Keil Lapham to haul up his cut stuff from the barn floor here to the barn at G'pas. I went over to see B. Tracy about a wood bee for Mrs. John Cameron. He will ask hands on that side. I took cutter down to station and met G'ma R. on noon train and took her up to the corner and then came home and rested a [ ]. Andrew drove up with sleigh and he & Keil helped John to clean up some more peas to go to town tomorow. Snowy most of the day. Rather soft.

31. Tue. 31. Andrew off to corner to take in a small load of peas to make up money for the waggon that we got at John Bensons sale 29th last March. John & he are taking a small load each for the roads are not fit for big loads. I moved the pork over to the barn and put more salt on it and did a lot of other chores. The girls went up to the corner for a drive and brought Maybeth down and left Ruth up to attend to G'ma and brought word too that S. Jacobs house is burned so after tea Mama & I went down to see them. They have saved most of the things and have settled in the house that Frank Jacobs used to live in but it will be very awkward being so far from the feeding of the catle. Uncle Sam will get out stuff this winter and build next spring. Cold blustering N.W. wind since 3 A.M. Freezing all day.

[Note: At this point in the diary there are 4 pages of financial notations for 1895-1896; also one loosely inserted receipt].