Irene Dixon Bamford

66

Tuesday 10 November 1896 V plowing and drawing wood from Devilo's. Grace and I got cabbage ready for the barrel and cut it up (at night) with knives on kneading board and old kitchen table (I.O.) V and I did the cabbage. A letter from Capt W.B.

Wednesday 11 November 1896 A very nasty a.m. raining hard filling tube in short time. V in shop shoeing old James. Will & Charley here. Will telling some of his back woods experience. One was about the man that was very friendly and well acquainted with her Royal Majesty Queen Victoria Sovereign Ruler of England and Empress of India.

I mean is his stories takes in the whole vast continents of North and South America and again their are so moraly pure and elevating. I am glad to think that when you return to dear Old England you will have an English Country home. Not in a crowded noisy roar city like London or Manchester or any other great or small not even a suburb but rural England the very sound is charming.

"Away from the toil of care men warm Away from the haunts of vice and sin" Were lines written by Mrs Moody, sister of the Hon Mrs Norton while making the back woods of Canada her home for a short time. She has written a book describing life in the Canadian Wilds, have you read her poem "The Sleigh Bells" It is exquisitely beautiful. Even when Mr Moody's business called him home to England it was with regret she left.

65

cooked & washed all the dishes Wells kindled a coal fire which brought on cheers and warms all the room and the hearts of all the family. Evenings mail, a letter from Laura Joslin, 2 from Voltie, "Herald & Star", "Whig", "Christian Guardian" War news is that the Dutch are whipping the "Dickens out of the English" good for Uncle "Paul". Beat them back old man. Dont let the Englishers enroach [sic: encrouch] into your little Republic and rob you of your country & homes and gold mines and diamonds. They already own enough of this Earths surface, much more than they can keep clean There is a darkest England as well as a darkest Africa

understood it all right. I told him I was breaking the Sabath. He said it was all right, that it was nothing to him and I thought so too. As tis a fine day Jr hitched up (after dressing up) and drove over river to visit his relation—and gone all day coming home just in time for his supper, he brought home Dickens history of England which I had lent Bill Windmill over a year ago—(I'll not lend him any more) and another book that Lib has sent me to read all about the pure cursedness of "Papery" "Little of Book" "The Great Red Dragon". Maud skates all pm and again in evening. I took a nap this pm first in a long time. Irene told me all about her visit, what a dear sweet girl is Muriel, and what a lovely woman is her Aunt Eveline and her dear uncle Wellie, and the darling boys, Hubert and Clyde & Lyle. It is nearly midnight when I go to bed. The afternoon nap cured me of sleepiness.

3 Monday 14 March 1904 A very fine day except in afternoon it snowed again. Woodman again went to Kingston. Lloyd went to Loban's three times. Voltie went to Kingston carrying the butter to market 12 lbs and oak to be sawed into lumber. He is going to make a bedstead and book case he did not return till after dark, had to wait for lumber to be sawed. Sold the butter to OConner

65

Tuesday 10 March 1914 A new milker at the barn. Emma took up old mattress from my bed room floor, cleaned out every thing, sent the old cupboard at foot of my bed up stairs. It took Emma Voltie and John to get it up there and then Emma carried up a thousand old magazines and periodicals every kind printed in U.S.A. and Canada, England Barbados - besides we tore up and burnt up but still they accumulate.

Wednesday 11th March 1914 A very good day for traveling on the ice. Voltie went across to Vans brought home 5, 6 gallons cans of Kerosine. Lib sent another load of literature and some carrots, onions.

Thursday 12th March 1914 I write two letters. One letter]to Maud also one to Grace, sent Isabella .10 for buy her candy. Voltie and John draw straw for Rachel. I dont feel very well with grip. The rest of the family can walk or run or bang around just as they please while I sit here. O sometimes I dont know wheather I'm on Wolfe island or in the world or where. Every thing seems strange weird and wizzardy.