Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1898

Clear. High Wind. Ther. 35^o Wed. Jan. 26^th 1898. Wind. N.W.

Wind commenced blowing about four o'clock this a.m. & continued to increase in violence until towards noon. When it closed an outside shutter in our room with such violence as to break two panes of glass out; one in upper & one in lower sash. We exchanged the sash from the South window in room over office for the ones broken. I sharpened the wood saw J.J. Shoemaker called to say he was about to stop taking milk past here on Monday next: taking it hereafter to Ed. P. Thomas instead of to W. W. Moore's as heretofore. I went over to Mrs Robison's towards evening Wrote to F Hewett about wood.

Clear. Ther. 28^o Thurs. Jan. 27^th 1898. Wind. N.W.

Clear & colder this morning. The wind having gone down in the night. I walked up to A. F. Fairall's shop and he mended the boot heel that was knocked off in my fall down the kitchen stairs. Afternoon Willie called on his way back from Washington, where he had been to take Alice Peirce who has gone to Alexandria on a visit. Edwd went to the store and to the baker's. Sarah Dent Thornton called & paid balance for her daughter. Frank Hewett called at the office door & promised to bring us a cord of wood tomorrow "if the weather was fit". Alma Gilpin came to Mrs Robison's in afternoon stage.

Ther. Sun. Jan. 30, 1898. Wea.

I was taken sick with a wretched headache, and a severe "cold" in my chest & pain "all over". Willie was here & took Dora back to "Fairfield" with him to spend a day or two. Edwd went to meeting.

Cloudy & Snow. Ther. Mon. Jan. 31. 1898. Wind.

Snow 6 inches deep & still snowing. I passed a suffering night and am feeling wretched today. "Ernest" was here for medicine for his father. It snowed more or less all day. Several sleighs passed but the sleighing must be poor as the snow is so light & soft. After supper Edwd went to "Mt Airy" to a "singing class" going on horseback.

Cloudy & Snow. Ther. 23^o Tues. Feb. 1, 1898 Wind N.W.

Wind blew a gale all night and all day today. I slept quite well last night & felt much better this morning but feel badly again this evening. It is cold everywhere in & out of doors Received a nice letter from Charley & answered it this evening. Harry Fairall here this evening. The farmers convention was to have met at the Lyceum today but I am told it was so cold & blustering they postponed it to some future day. Edwd went to the store & P.O. towards evening.

Clear & cloudy. Ther. 6^o Wed. Feb. 2, 1898 Wind S.E.

The wind blew hard until towards daylight this morning when it went down & left it cold & clear for a time but clouded over & the wind changed to S.E. Willie brought Dora home in his sleigh & went back before dinner. Edwd went to "Pen y bryn" to tune their piano. I am still feeling quite miserable with my cold & pains in my back and hips. Wrote to F. Tyson.

Clear. Ther. 7^o Thurs. Feb. 3^d 1898. Wind N.W.

Still cold but not much wind Ernest was here & left his horse & took "Charley" & drove him to W^m E Muncaster's to fix a telephone calling on his way back & exchanging again. George Matthews was here for another certificate. Afternoon Edwd went to "Sherwood" to fix the electric bells again. I am still feeling miserable, and do not improve as I hoped I would have done.

Clear & Cloudy. Ther. 3^o Fri. Feb. 4^th 1898 Wind. N.W.

Continued cold weather. I walked to the village, was called to see Miss Lizzie Fairall and went to see & prescribed for her, also called at the insurance office & toll house went to the mill & signed Teacher's monthly report & approved some bills. Charles Powell was here for advice & medicine. Willie came & took lunch with us and after lunch took me to Ashton & back. Afternoon Chas Addison was here for advice & medicine. Edwd went to the store & P.O. "Phil" Robison came in in the evening for Edwd to help him reload his photograph camera.

Cloudy Ther. 20^o Sat. Feb. 5 1898 Wind Variable.

Considerably warmer today I went to the mill & to the store and to A. F. Fairall's shop to have one of my boots mended. Afternoon Lizzie Scott called to see Dora. It looks very much like rain or more snow this evening. Edwd went to the store again towards evening. After supper Harry Fairall came to the office & he and Edwd practiced "sending" and "receiving" by sound by telegraphy I do not improve as rapidly as I hoped I would and am still feeling weak & miserable. It has cleared off again before bed time.

Clear. Ther. 30^o Sun. Feb. 6^th 1898 Wind N.W. & N.E.

Edwd went to meeting. I did not feel well enough to risk sitting with cold feet and perhaps the room too hot elsewhere. Willie & Fanny came about lunch time & afternoon put my carriage tongue or "pole" to Ernest's "dayton" and after straightening out and oiling up our doubleharness. W took "Charles" & "Sally" and about 4.30p.m. he & Fanny went back to "Fairfield". W expecting to drive to "Silver Spring" tomorrow morning to meet Alice Peirce & perhaps Kate Mathews who has been making a visit to Charley & Ida in "Lincoln" Va. Fred Iddings called this morning having brought Eliza Brooke to meeting & left her there. He wanted our "air cushion" for his father.