Life as a Quaker Family: The Brookes

19

February 1898

this last created the greatest whirlwind and tornado that has been known in Charles Town, lo, these many years!! - After the departure of their guests, Mother Cousing Dellie and I went to Rhoderick's, to speak to Cousins Sam and John at their places of business. Maude overtook us and we walked home together, and Mother and I kept on to the top of Hunter's Hill - a beautiful evening, and sunset, but so cold. Cousin Fannie, Harry, Maude, and Annie Mason all invited to tea. a pleasant evening, trying fortunes and puzzles and playing Euchre - Harry left early, the rest with Mrs. Mason and Lacy enjoyed a feast of frozen jelly, cake and caramels.

[left margin:] Fri. 4th. Clear.

Captain Tom Griffith called. In the evening Brother Charlie and I went to Mrs. Eliza Millie to tea, to meet Edith and Dr. Green. Mr. & Mrs. Housekeeper, Mr. & Mrs. Parsley Mr. & Mrs. Shafer, Mrs. Wm. Jones - home by Olney for the mail.

[left margin:] Charles Town.

Bob's birthday. Cousin Fannie and Harry called. I went up for Maude, who is good enough to help me return some calls. We went to see Clara Houff, met her father, then got the key to the new house Cousin Fannie will move to, the 1st of April, and went over it, very cute and convenient. From there we

25th—

14th Book. 1898.

Mary Briggs Brooke.

"Falling Green." January 1- '98

7 January 1898

packed his Shakespeare, and and showed us the pretty illustrations. My first night in Cissy's new home was very sweet.

Fri 14th cloudy

Sent Hallie over for me. Father started to town about 11. I had a very disagreeable walk home in the mud. got ready and Aunt Eliza and I drove over to Springland for the day - a very nice visit. The road was dreadful. Uncle Jim called also, Susie Barnsley. Charlie went for the mail. Star told of Mr. Seaton Perry's suicide from mechancholia.

Sat 15th Raining

A busy morning - sweeping, cleaning, dusting. I took down the hemlock that was put up for the wedding and what a litter! Aunt Eliza had a bad headache all day. Burned the chimneys. Father returned from town about 5.30. Stayed most of the time at Cottage Market - went to Barrys.

Sun 16th Cloudy & windy

Father and Mother went to meeting - Friends Martha Townshend and Alice Robinson there. Called at Mt. Olney and found Uncle G. much better. Aunt Eliza and I read and looked for Sister and Dr. Grun, but they telephoned at dinner time, they could not come. In the afternoon Cousin Charlie & Donald Kirk called & took Aunt Eliza back with them for a visit.

8. January 1898.

Mon. 17th. Clear & beautiful.

Ed. went to town with potatoes. Quiet morning no one here after dinner Sister and Annie walked over for a little while. and Mother and I went part way home with them. No mail all day.

Tues. 18th. Clear & glorious

Mother stirred round [lively?] and made nice biscuit, and at [ten?] she and I started off, heavily laden with bundles and baskets, for "The House". Poor Barney was lame, and the road bad, so we had a wearisome ride. Stayed to a nice little dinner with Sadie and Brother Frank, and then she went on with me, drove into Longwood, then on to Mindon & Mt. Olney to call. Met Cousin Lou at Olney, who took Sister home. Father went to [Aat-] land to call. In the eve I helped Mrs. Hogan through with an [Insurancer] message!! - Mr. Ben. Butterworth died, in Georgia.

Wedn. 19th. Cloudy. rained.

Mother and I [sewed?] and wrote and read. Sent letters to mail, by Charlie. Blew the horn at 12. For Sister, but she could not hear it. In the afternoon, Father and I drove to Olney, on several errands. Saw Dr. Green. I read over "Uncle Tom's Cabin" - What a harrowing book!-

9

January 1898 Thursday 20 Cloudy and rained. cleared in the eve

Churned. Mother and I [sewed?] the entries in here are becoming monotonous - wonder what will be the next excitement to record? After dinner Mr. Dill came for me to telephone to Dr. Brooke, one of his children was sick - hard to find him. Cousin Annie Kirke's son Rudolf born in Washn. Capt. Griffith brought the mail. Sister and I conversed over the phone "B. big conversation!" Then picked over potatoes to go to town.

Friday 21st Warm & spring like

Ed went early to town. Unsettled morning. Agnes and I made ginger cakes, immediately after breakfast, for Mother to take. She and Father, after lunch "backing and filling" started about 11. expecting to pay some visits over on the river, but only went to "The House", and Brooke Grove, returning about 5. I spent a quiet day and ate a lonesome little dinner all alone - no one came and the only excitement was among the animals. the black horse cut up [?] in the truck patch -- Minni and the gray cat fought to the death and then walked in the house, and slept side by side the rest of the afternoon, and poor Felix had one of his queer, pitiful, alarming fits - I thought he was choking to death, but he very soon recovered. Robert here clearing up the house.

January, 1898

Sat. 22nd Dark and rainy.

Father and the men plowing and hauling in fodder. Mother cooking, and I swept a good deal of the house over, and made a pie. important and exciting entry that what would Mr. Barry say? Ed. came late, brought the mail. If only the bad weather won't keep Sister and Brother away!

Sun. 23rd A beautifully clear day with high wind

We all had a lovely, late Sunday morning nap. Right after breakfast Ed. drove down for the mail, and to bring Aunt Eliza back, but she could not come. Sister and Dr. Green came about 12. Little yellow hen hatched, under the conservatory. We had a nice, cozy dinner, and such a pleasant family time, only it was so soon over - they left a little after four - running over the poor white rooster in their haste to get home! - but he was not hurt. I enjoyed a walk on the porch for an hour in the windy, bracing air.

Mon. 24th. A beautiful, clear day

Blue Monday, washing going on. Ed went to Brookeville. Cousin Charlie Kirk brought Aunt Eliza home, he and Father went to Uncle Jim's and returned to dinner. In the afternoon Father and Mother went to the Jones, to Brookeville, Olney, and back by [illegible] Jones. Drunken men passed the gate, fired pistols four or five times. Hard to get Minkie in.

January 1898

Tue 25th. Snowed, rained & hailed.

There is scarcely a single thing to record today. Father and Mother churned. The Brookeville wire broken, so we could not get Dr. Green early, but he called me up from Olney. Emeline sick. We cured and expected to go to town tomorrow, but the stormy weather will prevent. Had a regular thunder and lightning storm in the afternoon. What will follow it? I gave my wheel a grand cleaning in the aft. Heard of the election at Annapolis of Judge Louis E. McComac, to the United States Senate. 62. votes.

Wedn 26. Clear, with a raging N.W. wind We all got up early, and after much hurry and scurry, and packing, Father, Mother and I started to Charles Town via Kensington and Washn. went by by Brookeville for Sister. Between Thurs and Olney The wind blew such a gale That we were all slammed, and gone all run trip for that day. Got the maid and all came home. The wind blew the ladder and fence down, and Mr. H. Harvards was do wind mill over on his Lowes. Ed went to Brookeville. Dr. Green came to dinner, and took Sister home about 3. The wind killed toward evening.

13

January 1898

on the cars. passed Washn. Junction and changed at Harper's Ferry. reached Charles Town at 5. where cousin Sam met us, and took us up to their comfortable house. Cousin Dellie seemed glad to see us, and had a fine supper. Cousin Sam went out, and we retired early.

Sat. 29. Clear, snowed.

Brother Charlie went to Olney on several errands, and to get the mail in the morning. the men ploughing.

Charlestown

Late breakfast. Cousin Ruth Brown called. after Harry Howell. After dinner Mother and I napped. Hannah and Mamie Howell called and Cousin Fannie and Maude. The latter and I walked out to see Florence, for Cousin Dellie. my first view of the city. Mother and I called at Mr. John Hall's. Harry came to tea. Miss Keerl, a Mr. McElroy, Mr. & Mrs. Dane Howell called after tea.

Sun. 30. Cold. Cloudy.

Brother C. and I went to Meeting. Edward Farquhar spoke very prettily to a large gathering. Called at Hermon and home to dinner. No one here. and we had a pleasant quiet afternoon & evening.

15

Janurary 1898

Mon. 31st. Snowed.

A snowy day. snow 3 inches deep. Ed went to Gaithersburg for coal. We contented our selves in doors. Brother C. deep in "Quo Vadis," which is the rage. he reads and reads, day and night, "its an ill wind that blows no body good". The novel keeps him in doors, and I have company at the same time!

Charles Town.

Mother and I served, Harry, Cousin Fannie, and Maude called - also Elizabeth Hall, who invited us there to tea, but we had another engagement. Mr. W. H. T. Lewis, an old friend of Father's, whom I have heard of all my life, came to dinner - I was interested in hearing him talk of the old Alexandria school days. Cousin Fannie called a few minutes in the afternoon - also Miss Florence Hunter, and Miss Ruth Brown. In the evening Cousin Sam, Mother and I went to the Ro[?] Memorial Hall (Fire men's) to hear Dr. Price on Psychology. lecture very good, but the experiments rather a failure, except the mind-reading which was very wonderful. Home late. Young Mrs. Jim Macon called a minute.

17.

February 1898.

call - very pleasant, met Miss Lucy Haines. Clara Houff called while we were out. Cousin D. left us at Cousin Fannie's, where we took tea and spent the evening - such a pleasant, jolly time. Maude played and sang, and she and Harry undertook to teach me Euchre but were illy rewarded, I fear. Harry came home with us.

Wedn. 2nd Cloudy, very cold.

Brother C. and I feel quite proud of our work in keeping the cold out but it keeps us both busy. I am glad Sister Annie is out of it for once. Charlie Farquhar's sale of cows today. Brother C. went, and said it turned out very well. Churned about 30 lbs of butter. Agnes has been so good and satisfactory that it needs recording. she is more thoughtful than I have often seen. Felix follows me every where. and he and Minkie miss the absent ones. the "B.C.", too . ? Rags poorly.

Charles Town.

Nice letter from Cissy and Aunt Eliza. Miss Ruth called also Mrs. Jim Mason, who is a case. After dinner I walked down to Rhoderick's for a "Sun," and then a long walk out beyond Mason's - the air is cold and invigorating. Two little girls called to see Coz. D. She & Mother went out to pay some calls, in their absence Cousin Fannie and Maude, Mrs. Cook & Harry called, also Miss Mary Shearer ear-