Irene Dixon Bamford

51

Tuesday 20 1896 The wind blowing a gale from south, Maud gone to school. We did not arise so early as usual on account company last evening. The Morgans, four of them, Miss M Foley, F Woodman, Rob Ranous, Will Niles & C hella, Geo Farr were here and danced until elevan [sic]. Voltie threshing after dinner at Woodmans come home for his supper in forenoon. Wellie, Eddie & Voltie drawing up grain for Scow, all here for dinner. I saw in evening while V goes for mail. No mail tonight. V & Maud peel pumpkins.

74

Sunday 15 Nov 1896 I think this is a very lonely day Wallace Niles here awhile this a.m. Walls and V lunch and then go down the Island in Niles buggy to invite to a dance at Will Dixons tommorrow evening. Grace, Maud and I alone all the balance of the day. We breakfasted at 9 Oclock this morning and went to bed early. I didnot sleep much last even. I found Geo Farr was here with Wall but went home and across the river.

Monday 16th A very fine day. V digging turnips all day. Wind blowing hard from South. A dance at Will Dixon's to night each girl got to carry their own supper. Great preperation [sic] for the dance. L. Lerush, Jim Morgan, Wallace Niles, Shell Niles and Geo Farr called here to go with G & V. Maud crying because she cannot go to the

Continued - Wallace and Geo Farr gone to the back woods and lakes of Canada fishing, carried with them a barrel of fish nets, guns, ammunition &c &c

Friday 20 Nov 1896 A quite pleasant Nov day. Grace cooking all fore noon for a surprise party at Bells this eve. We get dinner early, and Grace fills her "basket with apples, pie & cake and goes aross the fields to Uncle Sammy's, and goes up with the mail as far as Berry's Corners, and walks the rest of the way carrying the basket which must have been very heavy. I think it must have been a surprize to Belle and the children when they saw her come in so unexpectedly, the company were not many only V, and G, & Shell, Frank, Ed Weaver, Geo Morgan & Alice F, Hank & Dick Halliday, Lewis & Dick Lerush and Hanks' lad Jim Hunter. Rachel came over awhile. Maud and I alone all the evening and all night. Maud at school. A letter from Wells Sr

Saturday 13 Nov We cleaned all the floors and moved the dining room table to the kitchen.

Sunday 14 Nov 1897 A very fine day for a Nov day. Wallace came and Geo Farr. After dinner V and Wall went over river to Sand Bay with Geo Far. Came home at sundown. One duck which they use for a model to paint after. Evening visitors Wallace, Shell, Edith Pike, Will Robinson, Frank Woodman. Day visitors, Muriel, Hubert. Will's children here for their cows.

Wednesday 17 Nov 1897 A very good day. Maude went to school. V worked for Jim Morgan on Frank W's hog pen. Churned and done general house work. Charley Dixon came & Hubert & Muriel. Evening visitors Will Dixon, Will Robinson, Frank Woodman, Jim Morgan, Ed Weaver, Wallace Niles, Johny Niles Jr, Shelly Niles, Edith Pike, Geo OBrien, Minnie OBrien, Hannah OBrien. band practising with cornetts and drum Jim Morgan ate supper with us.

Thursday 18th Nov 1897 A clear cold day; frozen ground. Volty & Frank W drove home Rattray's bull after V returned from the dock where he had carried the oats to grind for the cows, he is going to fat, and then he plowed nearly all day. Grace helped husk corn for the hogs and cooked the dinner. Maud at school. Grace finished setting a quilt together. Moved the stove out from the corner. The helpers were Will Dixon, Will Robertson, Frank Woodman, Walace Niles, Jim Morgan, Geo Farr, Ed Weaver, Jack Niles, Charley Dixon, Volty, Shell Niles & Edith Pike. Those young heathens managed to break the piano stool and a lamp chimney.