Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1890

Left page Ther: 20 degrees Clear Wind N.W. Friday, February 21st, 1890 The wind came from N.W. about midnight and this morning it is cold and as the wind continues blowing a strong gale it feels even colder than it is. Charley left home at about 5.30 this a.m. to go Annapolis with F. Snowden. He went to Ingleside to breakfast Willie going with him to bring the horse back. I rode down to Tilghman Mitchell's with Alice & Fanny Peirce as they wemt home and walked home. Afternoon I walked up to "Avalon" to see little Donald Gilpin again. Willie went over to Amos Holland's driving C's mare to my buggy. Charley & Frank having taken C's buggy to Laurel, they expect to return this evening. I walked up to the mill. Marjory Clark called & settled "Addie" Saunders {School Teacher at Sharp St) bill. She having paid $2.50 to Fletcher Clark at my request and gave me the [ballance] of the bill $2.00. Willie took Miss "Katie" Mathews a ride, passing here about sun down & getting home at tea time; after which he took C's mare down to "Ingleside" for him to drive home, I bought some sausage & fresh pork from "Duvall." (67 cents) Charley came home at 7.30 walking having come across the fields and missed Willie who had taken the horses around the road, they both being too late to attend the lodge at "Olney."

Right page Ther: 20 degrees Clear Wind N.W. Saturday, February 22d, 1890 Still quite cold, the wind getting up towards noon & continuing until sunset. I drove down to Tilghman Mitchell's and to Ashton calling at A Bulwar's Edward going with me. I "strung up" E's violin having first glued it wherever there was a crack & hope it will in time prove an excellent instrument. Afternoon C took Ernest up to Mr. W.B. Chichester's E having walked over from Riverside. C came home to supper after going down to Mitchells to see the little boy again. After supper he & Willie and Louis Scofield went over to Mr Thos: Bell's "to have a little dance" as they express. I read a letter from Wm F Cunningham at "Burnt Mills" asking for advice & medicine. I sent him the latter (Bucher Fol) by mail from Ashton. The boys from next door came in after supper and played "Dr. Furby" with Edward. Boy from Tilghman Mitchell's came for more medicine at tea time which I put up for him. This is delightful winter weather and I sincerely hope it will continue long enough to purify the atmosphere & drive away all germs of "La Grippe."

Left page Ther: 32 degrees Cloudy & Threatening Wind S.E. Sunday, February 23rd, 1890 After breakfast, Charley started off for "Glenwood" first calling at Mitchell's to see the boy "Osburn." Willie took my horse and buggy & drove Miss Kate Matthews to meeting. It looks like snow. I only hope it will not grow warm again as it always has done so far this winter after one or two cold days. Louis Scofield was over to see Willie. Charley & W came home from Mr Thos. Bell's about mid night. Willie & Miss Matthew called here before meeting time. Bro: R called and left Fanny here to spend several days which was the first we knew of her coming. A young man called for medicine for W. F. Cunningham which I sent by mail yesterday. Afternoon Willie and Dora walked over to see Minnie & Ernest who took possession of their new home yesterday. They came home in time for supper. After dark Luther & John Muncaster came and spent the evening Willie having gone to bed before they came.

Right page Ther: 40 degrees Cloudy & Rain Wind S.W. Monday, February 24th, 1890 An extremely dull dark day with rain & thunder & lightning it rained very hard for an hour or two before dinner time & was cloudy all the rest of the day. Charley came home from "Glenwood" Howard Co: at 12.20 this a.m. We neither of us took our horses out of the stable today and all of us kept indoors as much as possible. I walked up to the mill for the papers & C up to the store. Willie also went up to the store for some provisions. "Tom Carter" called & left $1.00 for Charley. I wrote (last night) to Sister Harriet and mailed the letter today. Old Joe Evans was here for advice & medicine. Edward went to school through the rain morning & afternoon. After supper Willie went with Louis Scofield to Mr. Wm Brown's beyond Brighton & Charley went to Mr: Amos Holland's, Dora going with him to spend the evening paying no attention to the weather or darkness it is not actually raining but is damp & "drizzly" dark & muddy: but young folks nowadays pay no attention to such trifles as taking care of their health or the exposure of horses standing out in all sorts of weather for hours at a time.

Left page Ther: 49 degrees Cloudy & Rain Wind S. W. Tuesday, February 25th, 1890 Another damp disagreeable day raining most of the day. I felt unusually rheumatic and lame in consequence of the continued damp weather. Afternoon C drove (in my "road cart") down to Bill Dorsey's and to Riverside. Willie went over to Ernests exprecting to remain all night and help him fix a stable. Angelina Thomas (widow of Jno: Thomas) was here & paid me four dollars for her mother (old Julia Green). Ruth Ann Bowen was also here for medicine for her mother. After supper . . was here after medicine flax seed meal for poultices for a "gathered breast" of Bill Dorsey's wife's half sister who is living at Dorsey's.

Right page Ther: 60 degrees Cloudy & Clearing Wind Variable Wednesday, February 26th, 1890 Very warm last night, rain and thunder & lightening before mid night and today it [is] like April or May. Willie remained at "Atholwood" last night and today is helping Ernest fix a stable. Hettie M Stabler was here to consult me this morning. Charley went up to "Olney Grange" before dinner time to a meeting of the County Grange. It is so extremely warm &pleasant that winter clothing is oppressive & the birds & frogs are singing merrily. I also walked to Ashton with Charles G. Porter and went up to the top of his "wind mill tower" from whence we had an extensive view of the surrounding country. Willie came home about 3.oclk p.m. After supper Charley & Dora, Willie & Edward all went to the Lyceum to an exhibition by an "acrobat or gymnast" from Baltimore or Washington. Charley first going over to Amos Holland's & bringing Miss Katy Matthews to the "show" in my buggy his own being "run down" from constant running around the country night & day ten miles for pleasure for one or business.

Left page Ther: 40 degrees Cloudy & Rain Wind N.E. Thursday, February 27th, 1890 Very dull disagreeable day I felt quite unwell. Willie rode Henderson's gray horse over to Mr Bell's. Charley took Mary Gilpin's "Frank" horse to his own mare and my harness & Scofield's carriage & went with Louis Scofield also taking Miss Kate Matthews & went to Eureka Grange near Washington D.C. Mr: Cunningham was here for advice & medicine for his son from "Burnt Mills." After noon it commenced raining about 2.oclk p.m. and continued at intervals all the afternoon and up to bedtime. It seems extremely foolish for Charley & his party to take such a long drive as they expect to in such weather. I should not be surprised if they went on into Washington if the truth could be known. Edward got quite wet coming from school being caught in a heavy shower and I am afraid he will be "croupy" tonight.

Right page Ther: 43 degrees Cloudy & Rainy Wind N.E. & S.W. Friday, February 28th, 1890 Still another dark rainy gloomy day. Charley came home from the "Eureka Grange" near Washington just before daylight this morning in a pouring rain riding one horse & leading the other having left the carriage at Scofield's where it belongs. He drove his own mare & Mary Gilpin's "Frank." After breakfast he sent Willie in my buggy with Bulwar's horse over to Mr Bell's again to get the young ladies straightened out to their homes again. He did not get home until 2.oclk p.m. Alice & Fanny Peirce came after breakfast to help put the paper on the parlor walls & ceiling. Lewis J. Mitchell, a traveling agent, was here with an anatomical & surgical "Manikin" which was the best I have ever seen, but the times are so hard I was afraid to purchase it just now. Dr. Frank Thomas' man Bell was here to see Charley again to consult him in the case of his wife. Alice Peirce went home about 5.oclk leaving Fanny to help finish papering the parlor: they got the ceiling done & about 1/4 of the walls on. Ernest called in the afternoon. Willie took Bulwar's horse home and went up tothe store for coal oil. "Duval" the butcher was here and I bouught some "scrapple" from him. Edward was quite croupy last night and this morning and did not go to school today: and Charley is very hoarse having caught a violent cold as might have been expected from the exposure & fatigue he had undergone last night.

Left page Ther: 36 degrees Cloudy Wind N.E. Saturday, March 1st, 1890 Much cooler this morning but fortunately not freezing as the peach trees are so forward that a hard freeze would destroy any hopes of fruit next summer, especially whilst the trees & buds are wet. Edward was not as croupy last night as I feared he would be owing to the prompt treatment & great care we took of him. Charley is still extremely hoarse & if he escapes a "spell of sickness" it will be fortunate indeed after their drive to Washington & back through the rain & being out all night. Alfred Warfield brought my new boots from Esq Fairalls which fit me better & are more comfortable than any new "foot wear" I remember to have had for years: Charley Dora & Fanny Peirce worked away at papering the parlor &finished it before night. It is a great improvement in appearance, being well done. Jas. Grady was here to see C. Willie drove "Fritz"to Ashton before dinner. Mrs. Robison was in to look at the papering. Gertrude Tasko was here for advice & medicine just before dark. At supper time Harriet read a letter from "Nelly" announcing her marriage to a Dr. J F Koerpen of Philadelphia on Wednesday last Feb 26th by Rev. Dr. W H Furness.

Right page Ther: 28 degrees Cloudy & Clearing Wind N.W. Sunday, March 2d, 1890 It became very cold during last night and the ground is frozen this morning. I was so unwell that I did not get up until after the family had done breakfast. Dora & Fanny Peirce walked to Homewood & Brighton. Little Fanny going with them as far as the turn of the road to Riverside & from there by herself. Willie took my buggy & C's horse & was to go to Holland's [corner] to take Katy Mathew's home from there and pick up his sister on his way home either to night or tomorrow morning. The wind has been blowing hard from N.W. all day which makes it feel even colder than it is. The change has been very great and is hard to bear. Louis Scofield & W. Tatum called to see Charley. Phil Robison came over to play with Edward & remained until after supper.