5034_4-2-10

41.

Wednesday 12 February 1908 A beautiful day; trees and every thing covered wtih a dainty white frost which is beautiful. The boys again gone to Daily's woods carrying their dinner, they steep tea on "Janes" stove. V carried Mrs "Jane" a pail full of sweet apples and a jug of vinegar. Maud is mopping floors floors. Rachel is making pies (apple). I write in this diary. Tom Chatterton called here on his way to set Vincents. Belle married 24 years ago this day which was another beautiful frost covered morning. Wells Sr says Ray is the biggest liar he ever saw. I am glad to say Sr appetite for eating is remarkably good tho he complains of being sick. We were expecting Bee and Schrum over to dinner but they didnot come. Belle telephoned to ask if they were come. Frank Woodman began moving back on the island to day brought over 3 loads. Merril & Jane have gone visiting to day across the river to John Carpenters. 22 deg above zero, cloudy and looks like a storm. Wind North this evening. V & Ray playing checkers. Rachel made fried cakes. [margin] Ed Bates phoned to V. Maud washed some clothes from Geo Gillespie wanting oak stick.

42.

Thursday 13 February 1908 Rainy morning, snow settling snow on ice like slush and turning black. Frank will have a bad time to move. Grandad has at last turned against poor Ray, for he is not only a "liar" but he "washes himself in warm water" What next? When Ray first came he was a smart boy "and he leans on the stove too". 40 deg above zero. I finished a mitten, knit 2 points on crocket lace, began another mitten. C Woodman drove over and back with double. Phoned that he had brought Rays fur coat and suitcase over. Voltie and Ray sawing & chopping in Dailys woods. They went over with a team this morning and when they came home drew a cord of stove wood at same time. Rachel wants pea soup so Grandpa went to the grainery a brought half grain bag or a grain bag half full of peas. He not well pleased because she insists so strenuously in hurry pea soup.

43.

Friday 14th February 1908 A cloudy rainy day not cold, not freezing thermometer registers 42 deg, snow disapearing [sic]. Put up the boy`s dinner while they hitch up. They are going to break road across Woodmans field to Dailys woods. Rachel picks up, packs up, cat and all, and climbs aboard the sleigh, and goes home. I send a letter to F.M. Lupton. Maud sends 3 letters. Rinah, Ethel & Gowan. The boys home to dinner this day. As we were sitting down to dinner, Edy Bates came in and had dinner with us, and talked! Well of any one ever was gifted with gab Edy Bates is, Voltie invited him down cellar to cider. After dinner, V and Ray went over to Dailys for a new log. Edy staid and visited till 3,30 p.m. when he phoned to Dora telling her he is going across the river and is not coming back to day; and not to worry. We watch him till he reaches the other shore. Evening V and Ray play checkers awhile and then V goes for the for the [sic] mail. Herald, a letter from Grace, a letter from Mauds Bean, W.S. A Valentine from Chicago, a card from Rinah James. We sit up awhile and read till 10 pm & retire. [margin] Sent a letter to Nellie and a note to Marjorie by Edy

44.

Saturday 15 February 1908 Rained all night and raining hard this morning, the river covered with water. Flat covered with water, ground getting bare. I helped get breakfast & washed all the breakfast dishes. Maud making bread and washing. A bad time for drying clothes. V shoeing his own horses. I dont think Edy can come home to day. Maude cleaned all the floors, dining room, pantry, kitchen, cooked dried corn for dinner. V and Ray for noon pastime played checkers. V winning the games I think by the haw hawing. Why does humanity laugh? No other created animal ever laughs except but men, women & children laugh from the good broad happy haw haw haw to childish giggles and girls te he he. Snow falling thick and fast. Evening, talking, reading and a game or two of checkers as usual. V pointing out and explaining the situation of the different countrys on the Atlas to Ray, retire at 11 pm

45.

Sunday 16 February 1908 A cloudy morning. Thermometer 14 deg below freezing. After breakfast V reading "The Escapade". Ray looking over the atlas. Sr smoking in by the kitchen stove. Maud out-door examining the clothes on the line, to see if they were dry. The cat eating from a dish on the floor and old Prince impatiently watching the cat to see if anything will be left for him. The monatony [sic] of winter in the country leaves but little to record in a a [sic] diary but we have health and quiet peacefulness, plenty of unread books, papers and Magazines, warm fires and enough for the table. Clears up, sun shines out bright and warm. No one here, we are alone all day reading and studying atlas. Uncles Sams folks have a hired woman.