DECEMBER 1899

Fri. Dec. 1st. It rained some last night and wind changed to W of N and cloudy and quite cool from W of N all morn, and bright and cool in eve and sun shined all eve. Willie and Buddy sawed and split oak cord wood for Sims on Nolan ridge all day and I carried their dinner to them. Nellie and Dean washed in morn. Wiley rode Goulden to town from 8 to 10 in morn and got bottle of Quinnine syrup refilled for baby and she took fever again in morn and Wiley rode Joe to town at 2 to 4 and Dr. Murdock came at 4 1/2 to see the baby. Nellie was at Wiley's most of eve and at night. I hauled 2 big cart loads of beech wood from NW of Wiley's at 8 to 11 in morn and cut up some till 12 and I winnowed one bbl of peas in eve, at 1 1/2 to 3 1/4 and I walked to Wiley's and back twice late in eve and milked the cows (5 in all).

Sat. 2nd. Bright, nearly clear, and a slight freeze in morn and a white frost, but wind from SW and pleasant in eve. Willie and Buddy sawed cord wood all day on Nolan ridge and Pa carried dinner to Willie and walked on to Clara's and back in eve. The baby seems a good deal better today and Nellie came home early in morn. I took Joe and cart early in morn to Wiley's and loaded up cart with red oak wood NW of Wiley's and stopped there and helped Wiley to load up 2 of Cohen's wagons with last of Wiley's cotton and I got home at 10 1/2 and cut up some wood and measured up 2 bu of yams by 12 and I drove Joe to cart to Cohen's in eve at 1 to 4 and carried the potatoes to Mrs. Johnson and got one dollar's worth of pea berry coffee with the money. I helped Wiley to milk late in eve and walked to Wiley's and back after sunset. Nellie was sick in eve and at night with cold and some fever.

Sun. 3rd. Cloudy and dropped rain from W some in morn, and wind changed to W of N at 9 1/2 and turned cooler and bright and quite cool and windy in eve (from N). I cut up some wood in morn early and I walked to Lewis' at 9 in morn and carried some papers and came by Wiley's and home by 11. Nellie and Willie walked to Wiley's just after dinner and Buddy and Gordon came at 2 and they and I walked to Wiley's at 2 3/4 to 4 in eve. The baby is lively today and seems to be getting all right again.

Mon. 4th. Bright, nearly clear, and a frost and light freeze in morn and wind from NW but sun shined all day and pleasant after 10 in morn. Willie and Buddy split cord wood all day on Nolan ridge (for Sims) and Pa carried dinner to them. I walked to Wiley's early in morn and carried a little chicken to Rena for baby and I cut up some wood and Wiley rode Goulden and I Joe to Cohen's at 9 to 12 1/4 and I sold our 6th and last bale of cotton weighing 535 to Cohen at 7 1/4 and Wiley sold his 2 last bales to Cohen at same price (7 1/4/c) and we paid the land note (the first one) -$112.50. Wiley paid $65 and I paid balance and I paid all owing Cohen and I left $15 there to pay our taxes and $9 to go on Willie's policy. Wiley and I patched up wire fence between Coon field gate and Lewis' fence in eve.

Tue. 5th. A freeze in morn and chilly and cloudy all day - wind from E and clouds from W and very little sunshine. Willie rode Joe fox hunting before day in morn and returned at 12 1/4 and didn't work in eve. Pa packed some wood today. I walked to Wiley's in eve. Wiley rode to his Pa's and back today. Old Kitty's red heifer came up with a brown bull calf late on yesterday eve (a Jersey) and we put them in pen and I packed some rails and put around cowpen fence early in morn to keep calf in pen. I put our big calves in cow pasture early in morn. We have been putting them in orchard for 2 or 3 weeks and I packed and cut up some wood in morn and winnowed one bbl of peas out of barn by 2 in eve.

Wed. 6th. A freeze in morn but clear and sun shined all day and pleasant after 9 in morn and a breeze from E most of day. Pa patched up fence on W side of yard and packed some wood today. I led Joe to cart to Lewis' early in morn and borrowed 6 bbls to put peas in and Willie and I threshed peas out of cotton house most of day and we got 4 3/4 bbls threshed (rough) today and set the bbls on Pa's gallery and put the hulls in barn. I have a cold since early yesterday morn and was feverish at night with a dull pain in left side of my head.

Thu. 7th. Cloudy some all day and chilly some early in morn and dropped rain at 8 1/2 in morn but bright after 9 and sun shined most of day and pleasant and dry - wind from E. I led Joe to cart to Lewis' early in morn and got 6 more bbls to put peas in and Willie and I threshed peas most of morn and August M and Buddy came at 10 in morn and Willie rode Joe and went with them to Stewart place to see about some land there and Buddy and Willie returned at 2 1/2 in eve and Willie rode Dan late in eve to hunt his mare colt (Salome). I threshed peas at 10 1/4 to 1 1/4 and cut up some wood and winnowed one bbl of peas from off Pa's gallery. Pa packed some wood today. Rena and baby here awhile in eve for first in more than a week. I arose with a dull headache (in right side) and had it all day but it got better late in eve and went off in night and I slept well and my cold was better at night.

Fri. 8th. Bright and cool in morn but dark cloud with an E (or S of E) wind after 10 in morn and thundered in S most of eve and sprinkled rain some late in eve and rained all night from S of E with a wind. Pa packed up some wood today and Willie and I threshed peas out of cotton house all morn and till 2 in eve and they got too damp and tough and we quit then. We threshed 10 bbls (rough) out of cotton house since last Wed. morn and put them on Pa's gallery. Willie rode Joe in Sims' field in eve and drove up his mare (Salome). I walked to Wiley's at 3 1/4 to 4 1/4 in eve. Wiley finished threshing last of his peas out of his kitchen late in eve.

Sat. 9th. It rained nearly all last night from SE and till after sunrise this morn - a big fall of water in all - and bright and sun shined most of day and pleasant from SW. Willie cut down trees in 3rd Cane hollow most of day. I rode Joe to Cohen's in morn at 8 1/2 to 11 1/2 to get him to pay our taxes and Willie's insurance and August gave me 4 toys for baby and Nellie and I carried them to her at 1 in eve. I cut up some wood and winnowed some peas off Pa's gallery in eve. Pa walked to Clara's and back in eve and Willie rode Joe foxhunting at night.

Sun. 10th. It began to rain in thundershowers from S or SW at daylight in morn and the rain lasted all day and in very hard and heavy showers part of time and some in night too. I think the biggest fall of water in all that I ever saw in the length of time. Wiley and Willie went to the creek late in eve and said that it was higher than they ever saw it. Nellie and I walked to Wiley's and back in eve and got nearly wet and had umbrellas over us too. We cut up wood and milked and fed in a slow rain in eve (late).

Mon. 11th. Cloudy and a cold NW wind all morn and bright (nearly clear) with a wind from NW most of eve. Willie cleared in 3rd Cane hollow in morn and cut and split some timber there in eve to put up a stable for Salome - she is sick today. She came up sick last night and wouldn't eat at all today and Willie kept her in yard all last night and today and at night again. Pa packed up some wood today. I cut and hauled 2 big cartloads of wood from NW of Wiley's in morn and I winnowed peas from off Pa's gallery most of eve. Willie rode Dan foxhunting at night.

Tue. 12th. Bright, nearly clear, and a frost in morn but wind from SW and pleasant in eve. I led Joe to cart to Wiley's early in morn and we killed a black sow shoat of his and brought it here and cleaned it and Wiley gave us 1/2 of it. I hauled 5 cartloads of stable timber (and all of it) from back of field at 10 1/2 to 12 and at 1 to 3 in eve. Dan here all day and Jack D came at 12 and he and Wiley and Rena and baby dined here. Jack worked at Wiley's in eve (putting plank posts and bannisters on gallery there). Willie rode Joe to Cohen's at 3 1/4 to 5 3/4 in eve.

Wed. 13th. Bright, but cloudy some, from SW and cool in morn but some warmer in eve. Wiley and Willie worked on Donegal road in morn and Wiley and his Pa worked on posts and bannisters for Wiley's gallery in eve. Pa and Willie dined at Wiley's and Willie helped to work road from Estina here in eve. Nellie and I drove Fanny mule to Wiley's old buggy to town in morn and returned late in eve. I carried some potatoes to Mrs. Henderson in morn and I paid my subscription to Republican to Nov. 1900.

Thu. 14th. Cloudy some but bright from SW till 11 in morn and wind changed to NW then and rained some slowly from there till 2 1/2 in eve and quit then and cold late in eve. Willie rode Joe to town early in morn as a witness in Chancery court and returned at 3 in eve. I walked all the way around fence between our cow pasture and Lewis' land to find where 4 of our calves got into field from pasture on yesterday eve and I found that they climbed up the bank in old bluff and I fixed place by 9 in morn and I winnowed peas off Pa's gallery at 9 to 11 and churned for Nellie and cut up wood till 1 1/2 and winnowed peas till 4 and finished all on Pa's gallery. We put 10 bbls there (rough) and they made 8 clean. John Deloach borrowed Wiley's buggy at 2 in eve.

Fri. 15th. A freeze in morn and a cold N wind most of day but not high and nearly clear and sun shined most of day and pleasant in sunshine in eve. Nellie and Aunt Margaret washed in morn. Willie rived some timbers for a stable in morn and he put up frame of it on N end of barn in eve. I hauled 3 big cartloads of wood (mostly beech) from NW of Wiley's (with Joe) by 11 1/2 in morn and I winnowed 2 bbls (rough) of peas out of barn in eve. Rena and baby here most of day and Jack D and Wiley dined here too and Jack went home in eve.

Sat. 16th. Clear most of day but some hazy clouds in eve - a hard freeze and white frost in morn, but calm and pleasant in sunshine after 10 in morn. Willie worked on his stable on N end of barn till 10 in morn and rode Joe to town in eve. I hauled 3 cartloads of beech wood from near Wiley's in morn by 11 and cut up wood till 11 3/4 and some in eve too and I winnowed 1 bbl of peas out of barn in eve and there was not enough wind to winnow well and I left 1 bbl in barn not winnowed. All have been cleaned but 1 bbl that were threshed out. Gussie and Helen and Viola came to Wiley's in eve and Gussie stayed here at night. I had a dull headache all day but it left me in night.

Sun. 17th. A freeze in morn and cloudy some but sun shined all day after 9 in morn and wind from SW and pleasant. I walked to Wiley's early in morn and Helen and Nellie and Rena and baby walked to B C's in morn and returned late in eve and Gussie and Viola went to Lewis' and Buddy and Wiley dined here and Wiley made coffee and I cooked bread and biscuits and potatoes for dinner and parched some coffee just after dinner. Helen and Viola stayed at Wiley's at night and Gussie too.

Mon. 18th. It sprinkled rain some at daylight and cloudy and damp from S all morn and till 2 in eve and bright late in eve. Wiley and Rena drove Fanny mule to town in morn to get "Christmas" and returned at 4 1/4 in eve. Gussie and Helen and Viola dined here and left at 2 1/2 in eve for home. Willie rode Dan foxhunting early in morn and returned at 11 1/2 and worked on his stable some in eve. I led Joe to cart to our locust thicket and cut 2 locusts and made 4 blocks and some posts and got some more posts there (enought to make a cartload) and brought them home by 9 and put the 4 blocks under our barn by 12 1/4. I cut up wood and helped Willie some on stable in eve.

Tue. 19th. Cloudy and a fog or mist in morn from SW and bright at 11 to 2 in eve and wind changed to N at 2 and cloudy and cool late in eve. Willie worked on his stable on N end of barn all morn and till 2 in eve and finished it then and cleared some in field in eve. I drove Joe to cart to Cohen's in morn at 8 to 11 1/2 and I got 50cts. lard and a gal coal oil and some other little things which I paid for and I got 2 ready made calico shirts ($1.00) for Wiley and Willie and 3 pieces of glass set for Nellie (for Clara) -25cts.- on credit. I winnowed 1 bbl of peas out of barn in eve and last of our peas that are threshed and I worked road a little with hoe late in eve, S of here. Nellie walked to B C's and back in eve.

Wed. 20th. It rained slowly from NE part of last night and most of today in slow showers and no sun, and chilly some from NE and it rained all night too. I shucked and shelled some breadcorn and cut up some wood in morn and I walked to Wiley's after dinner and cut up one cartload of wood SW of Wiley's and rained stopped me. Willie cut logs in 3rd Cane hollow awhile in eve.

Thu. 21st. It rained all last night (slowly) and all of today without ceasing entirely, and no sun, and chilly too. Willie and I shucked and shelled some breadcorn early in morn and sat in house most of today. I walked to Wiley's at 1 to 3 1/2 in eve and helped him to pack some wood.

Fri. 22nd. Dark, cloudy and no sun, and dropped and showered all day from SE in morn and from NW in eve and chilly some. I hauled 3 cart loads of wood (and I got nearly wet) in morn, with Joe, by 11 from near Wiley's and Joe wouldn't pull the last load up the hill on bluff SW of Wiley's and I unloaded and pulled cart up hill and reloaded and he pulled home all right. Wiley helped me. Rena and baby here all day helping Nellie and Aunt Margaret to cook cakes. I milked and fed in a slow rain late in eve. Wiley and Willie rode to Lewis' to fiddle in eve.

Sat. 23rd. Dark cloudy, and no sun, and a chilly breeze from NW but no rain today and ground dried a little. Wiley and Willie and I killed and cleaned and cut up and salted down a barrow weighing 95 lbs. by 9 1/2 in morn and Willie rode Joe to town with Bob Fugler at 11 in morn and returned at dark. I shucked and shelled some corn and cut up some wood at 9 1/2 to 11 1/2 and I walked to Wiley's just after dinner and I helped him to pack up some wood and I milked and salted and fed all of stock late in eve. Aunt Margaret helped Nellie to cook all day.

Sun. 24th. Bright, nearly clear, and a white frost in morn and a breeze from NW all day but sun shined all day and a pleasant day after 10 in morn. Pa walked to Clara's in morn and returned late in eve. Wiley rode Fanny mule to his Pa's in morn and returned late in eve and Rena and baby here all day and Mr. Primm here most of day (from Cohen's) and Buddy and Gordon here in eve. Nellie and Rena iced some cakes and cleaned 2 chickens in morn. I milked cows (5) late in eve. I had a dull headache all day but it went off in eve. Tigner D and Miss Minnie Comfort went in buggy to Mrs. James' on yesterday morn and returned late in eve and Tigner came here at dark and stayed all night.

Mon. 25th. Bright, nearly clear, and a very cool breeze from NW most of day but not quite cold enough for frost in morn and the sun shined all day and pleasant in sunshine. All of us walked to Lewis' in morn and we had a Christmas tree there and a fine dinner. I led Joe to cart and carried our dishes and part of dinner and brought Joe and cart back and Pa walked to Lewis' with me at 10 1/2. Clarissa staid here all day and Aunt Margaret went to Lewis' with us and there all day. Willie rode Joe to Cohen's late in eve with Miss Minnie and Bob Fugler and returned at 8 at night.

Tue. 26th. Bright, nearly clear, and cool early in morn but a breeze from S and warmer in eve. Willie cleared in SW corner of field (the wet hollow) most of day and I hauled 3 cart loads of oak wood from NW of Wiley's by 11 1/4 in morn with Joe and I rode Joe to Cohen's in eve and saw Mr. Faust about selling him some hogs and I put all of them but the old curly sow and pigs in pen at dark. Pa walked to Clara's and back in eve. Miss Minnie C came late in eve and went to Wiley's to stay all night.

Wed. 27th. Cloudy some but bright and pleasant from SW and rained a little at midnight and wind changed to NW. Mr. Faust came at 10 1/2 in morn to buy our 4 hogs but didn't offer enough and I went on to Wiley's with him and he engaged Wiley's 4 barrows at 38 1/2. I put 6 chickens in pig pen to carry to Primm (at Cohen's) and fixed a box to carry a sow pig to him and cut up some wood in morn. Bob F dined here and he and Willie and Wiley and Rena and Buddy and Seymour and Miss Minnie C went to Mr. Dick Chambers at night to fiddle, on Lewis' wagon and baby staid here and they returned at 3 1/2 in night.

Thu. 28th. Cloudy and a chilly wind from N but bright late in eve and clear and cold at night. Willie cleared some in back of field today and I led Joe to cart to Cohen's in morn and carried 5 young hens and a rooster and a sow pig to Primm and I returned at 1. I cut up some wood and shucked and shelled some corn in eve and I put the old curly sow in pen with the other 3 and let all of pigs out late in eve. Miss Minnie Comfort came late in eve and stayed all night.

Fri. 29th. Bright, nearly clear, and a hard freeze in morn and a cold breeze from NE but sun shined all day and pleasant in eve. Willie cleared in back of field today. I hauled 2 cart loads of wood from near Wiley's by 11 in morn with Joe and shelled some corn by 11 1/2 and I cut up some wood and shucked some corn in eve. Pa walked to Clara's and back in eve and Nellie walked to Seymour's and back. I had a dull headache all day and night too.

Sat. 30th. Cloudy and a chilly breeze from E and sleeted a little just before day and again at 2 in eve and turned warmer and dropped rain all eve after 3 and all night too from E. Willie cleared in back of field most of morn and drove Joe to Lewis' buggy and carried Miss Minnie Comfort home in eve. Walter Henderson came in morn and carried Nellie home with him and brought her back late in eve (little Lillie H died in morn). Wiley and I carried his 4 black shoats to Cohen's in morn with Fanny and Lewis' mare mule to Lewis' wagon and Cohen paid Wiley $38.50 for the shoats. We carried some corn to mill too and got some meal at the mill. We got home at 1 1/2 in eve. Rena and baby here all day but went home late in eve.

Sun. 31st. It rained enough last night to make ground very muddy and cloudy all day and no sun and a chilly breeze from N all day and


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