FEBRUARY 1903
Sun. Feb. 1st. Warm and cloudy and a damp breeze from W of S all day and night too and rained some through the night. Nellie at Wiley's till 1 1/2 in eve and Carmell and I went there at 10 in morn and Bernice came back with us at 11. Buddy dined here and Wiley and Bernice and Minnie and Carmell and Willie and Buddy and I walked to Sunday School in eve and we waited for Seymour and folks to come (from Wyoming) till after 4 and they didn't come and we had Sunday School without them. Sims here late in eve.
Mon. 2nd. It rained slowly till 9 in morn from SW and we had a heavy one at 9 from NW and it rained on slowly again till 3 in eve and quit then and weather quite warm. I patched a pair of pants by 10 in morn and walked to Wiley's in eve and Viola and Bernice came back with me - I took Carmell with me. Howard came early in morn to work but rain prevented and he went back home just after dinner. Willie rode Joe to Ogden's in eve and got an ax. I slept very little at night on account of wheezing and choking.
Tue. 3rd. Warm and cloudy from SW all day and began to rain in little sprinkles at 1 in eve and lasted most of eve and rained hard at 5 1/2 to 6 and quit at 6 1/2. Willie and Howard cut trees in Sims' field most of day and I helped them in morn and I cut up good deal of wood and drew water and put a good deal of woodpile manure and stable manure around the bought purple fig out N of kitchen and I brought 11 eggs from a hen's nest under bank of road where I found a Dominique hen setting and put them under a white hen under wagon shed in eve. Wiley brought Jack early in morn and he hauled wood to his house all day with Ella and Jack and brought wagon home late in eve. I rested well at night.
Wed. 4th. Bright and a cold wind from W of N all day but calm at night. Willie and Howard cut trees in first corner of Sims' field all day and I helped them in morn and we made a good many sassafras rails today and yesterday too. I cut up wood and drew water and cut off 2 cuts of young poplar in hollow in Sims' field SE of here and split and packed them home for hoe handles and milked Jersey cow, and fed in eve.
Thu. 5th. Bright all morn, and cold and wind from S of E all day and cloudy all eve and chilly and rained a little in night. Willie and Howard and I threshed peas under shed at hayhouse most of day and threshed about 20 bus. Willie and I threshed about 10 bus about 1 month ago. Rena and her 2 children and Viola here in eve and they and Nellie and Carmell walked to Sims' and got some flowers. I found a nest with 22 eggs in it in hayloft in late eve. I rested well at night till 1 3/4 and had a coughimg spell at 2 to 2 3/4 but slept again till nearly 5.
Fri. 6th. Dark cloudy and no sun and chilly from S of E and misted and dropped rain part of morn and eve too and rained some through the night. Willie and Howard cut trees in first corner in Sims' field most of morn and Willie most of eve. Howard got his leg hurt with a tree in morn and didn't work in eve. I cut up good deal of wood and got water early in morn and I shelled some dry butter beans part of morn and part of eve and milked Jersey and fed in eve. Gussie came to Wiley's in morn for Viola and he and Viola and Bernice here most of eve. I had a dull headache in morn but it left me at noon, but my head and throat were stopped up all day and night too but I rested well at night.
Sat. 7th. It rained good deal last night and dark cloudy and no sun today and rained in hard showers from NW at 11 in morn till 12 1/4 and very cool from NW all eve and at night. Willie and Howard cut trees in Sims' field in morn and Willie rode Joe to Clara's in eve. I cut down a dead bay in orchard and a dead pecan tree too early in morn and I hauled 2 cart loads of the bay wood at 10 to 11 1/4 and rain stopped me. I cut up wood and milked Jersey and fed in eve. Nellie walked to Wiley's in eve and Bernice came back with her and staid here all night and I didn't sleep much on account of cough and wheezing and Bernice was restless too.
Sun. 8th. Cloudy, but bright and a little breeze from NW and very cool all day and clear at night and calm. Wiley went to his Pa's in morn and Bernice and I walked to Wiley's early in morn and Rena and little Wiley came back with us at 10 1/2 and here balance of day. Tigner D dined here too and all of us but Rena and baby and Minnie and her baby went to Sunday School in eve and Seymour and family didn't come. I rested well at night but had a coughing and wheezing spell at 1 to 2 1/2.
Mon. 9th. Bright, and a white frost in morn, but wind from E and cloudy and a little warmer in eve and rained good deal in night with a chilly wind from E. Willie and Howard cut trees in first corner in Sims' field all day. I got wood for Nellie to wash early in morn and I drove Joe to buggy to town at 9 1/2 in morn to 2 3/4 in eve and I got 2 bus meal and 10 lbs lard for Wiley on credit at Metzger's and I got some things there for us which I paid for. I carried some sewing to Miss Supple and sold 8 1/2 doz eggs to her too at 15 cts. per doz. I set out a Nectarine peach tree in centre of garden (Wiley brought it from his Pa's on yesterday eve) and I got wood and water and fed in eve late. Rena and Viola and Bernice and baby here in eve late.
Tue. 10th. It rained all day till 1 1/2 in eve from E with a chilly wind in hard showers most of time and we had a hard one at 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 in eve from NW with some thunder and rain quit at 4 and bright at night. We didn't work out on account of rain today. I patched 2 old backbands and one bridle by 2 1/2 in eve and got wood and fed. Wiley and Viola and Bernice here awhile late in eve. I slept well till midnight and had a coughing and wheezing spell then but slept some more at 1 to 3 1/2.
Wed. 11th. Bright, but some clouds and quite cool from NW most of day and clear and calm at night. Willie and Howard cut trees in Sims' field most of day. I walked to Wiley's and on to pine thicket near creek and got 2 old axes and went on to Sims' field and made and elm maul and split some rails there in morn and I got wood and water and set 2 hens (our first) and milked Jersey cow and I removed all of cotton seed in big box under cart shed and put in cotton house in eve. I rested well at night.
Thu. 12th. Bright, and some frost and a very heavy dew early in morn, but wind from SE and a pleasant and bright day. Willie cut trees in Sims' field all day and Howard and I split rails there most of day (water oak and red oak) and we split nearly 200. Willie and Howard cut off the rail cut on yesterday eve. Wiley got up Dan at 12 to 12 3/4 to plow. I rested well at night but had a coughing and wheezing spell at 12 to 1.
Fri. 13th. Foggy and very wet and warm from SE early in morn and began to thunder in SW at 11 in morn and a cloud passed around W of here at 12 1/2 to 2 and rained slowly here then and misted most of eve. Willie cut trees in Sims' field most of day and Howard helped him in eve. Howard and I split red oak rails all morn but only made about 65 - the timber didn't split well but made good rails. I covered an old horse collar with new lowells and got wood and water and fed in eve. I slept well till 11 at night but couldn't sleep anymore on account of difficult breathing and wheezing and I got up at 2 and slept some in rocking chair after drinking coffee which relieved me.
Sat. 14th. It misted and sprinkled rain from S all morn and very warm but a little breeze from W of S and bright and warm all eve and night too. Willie and Howard cut trees in Sims' field all morn and Willie went hunting in eve awhile but didn't kill anything. I hauled 4 cart loads of wood in morn by 12 with Joe - one load of bay and one of pecan from orchard and 2 of beech from NW of orchard and I cut up good deal of wood and drew water and fed in eve. Rena and her 2 children here in eve and Bernice staid all night. Gordon and Effie here in eve too. I arose at 11 at night with coughing and wheezing and choking and made and drank some coffee and lay down and slept again from 12 to 4.
Sun. 15th. Warm and cloudy and a damp wind from SW all day and sprinkled rain first time at 1 3/4 in eve and several times through the eve and hard at sunset and wind changed to NW at dark and rained in hard showers through night with some thunder. I walked to Wiley's early in morn and took Bernice home. Aunt Margaret died before day in morn and Nellie and Willie walked and carried a cap to bury her in morn. Minnie and baby and Rena and her two children went to Lewis' in morn and Wiley dined here and Willie and Wiley went to Lewis' at 1 3/4 for them and we didn't have any Sunday School in eve. I had choking and wheezing at 10 at night and made and drank coffee then and lay in bed and slept again at 11 1/4 to 3 1/2.
Mon. 16th. It rained in hard showers with a very cold NW wind in morn and snowed some at 1 in morn to 3 in eve but melted as fast as it fell and it began to freeze at 3 in eve and clear and very cold all night. I covered an old horse collar with new lowells in morn and Willie and I got wood in eve and Willie got up Dan and Joe and mule and fed and milked Jersey cow. I suffered all night with coughing and wheezing and choking and lay in bed very little and only dozed a little sitting in rocking chair.
Tue. 17th. Bright, nearly clear, and very cold early in morn with a heavy hard freeze and the coldest weather that we have had this Winter - but calm and pleasant in sunshine in eve. Willie cut and split some china wood out E of here in morn and he and I hauled a cart load of it with Joe at 11 1/2 and Willie rode Joe to town in eve and got a pair of plow shoes for himself and some other things and he got 2 bottles of Hall's Cattarh cure for me and Wiley went to town too at 11 in morn and he and Willie drove up Wiley's Ellen cow with a 3/8 Guernsey calf more than a week old. Rena and her 2 children here in eve. I made a saddle pad for Willie in morn with new lowells padded with part of an old quilt and I cut up good deal of wood and drew water and fed and milked Jersey in eve. I had a little dull headache all day and night too and slept but very little with coughing and wheezing and choking and sat up most of night.
Wed. 18th. Cloudy a little in morn with a freeze, but calm and sun shined dimly and all thawed by late in eve and cloudy late in eve and looked like rain. Willie walked to Wiley's field early in morn and got old Jim mule (Wiley has him rented) and Willie and Howard and I worked road through our field on H ridge with hoes by 11 1/4 and Willie and Howard hauled rails and green wood from first corner in Sims' field all eve with Ella and Jim and I cut up good deal of wood and drew water and milked Jersey in eve. Rena and baby here most of day and Bernice too in eve - she went to school in morn and Wiley dined here too - he and Ray threshed peas most of day. I took Hall's Cattarh cure today - began in morn. I was bothered most of day with coughing and wheezing and choking and most of night too and slept but very little.
Thu. 19th. Cloudy and no sun and quite cool from E all day. Lewis got our wagon and Ella and Jim early in morn and went to Cohen's to get some supplies and returned at 12 and Willie hauled rails and poles from 1st corner in Sims' field all eve and put around calf pasture to repair fence. Willie and Howard cleaned up in field in morn and Howard in eve too and I got wood and water in morn and some in eve too and milked Jersey and fed. I suffered most of day and night too with cough and wheezing and choking and nervous tremors and slept but very little at night and sat up in rocking chair most of night. I took Hall's Cattarrh cure all day.
Fri. 20th. Cloudy and cool from E all day but sun shined a little. Nellie and Nett washed on machine in morn and cleaned off flower yard in eve. Willie and I got wood and water for washing early in morn and Willie hauled rails and wood from Sims' field all morn and Howard cleaned up there in morn and they hauled pine brush most of eve and put in gullies in our field. Howard hauled his plunder to Doug's old house late in eve. I repaired steps on E end of back room by 10 1/2 in morn and nursed baby awhile till 11 1/2 and lay down till 12 and I got wood and water in eve and walked to Wiley's and back. Two of our cows got into cow pasture to their calves in morn (Rose and Jerry). I suffered most of day with cough and wheezing and short breath and choking and night too and slept but very little and sat up part of night in rocking chair.
Sat. 21st. Bright and a cool and dry breeze from N and pleasant in sunshine all day after 10 in morn. Willie and Howard cut down wire fence row E of H ridge and didn't work in eve. Howard cleaned up Doug's old house and put up his furniture in it all eve. I got water and potatoes early in morn and took down old Spring gate and some of fence near it to repair it at 9 to 10 3/4 in morn and I lay down and slept a little at 11 3/4. I walked to Wiley's in eve and Bernice came back with me and Rena and baby here late in eve and I got wood and water in eve. I suffered all day and night too with rattling and wheezing and choking and coughing and difficult breathing and couldn't lie down in bed at night but sat up in rocking chair and slept but very little.
Sun. 22nd. Bright, nearly clear, and frost in morn but calm and pleasant after 10 in morn with a little breeze from N. Nellie and Rena and baby and Bernice and Carmell drove old Jim mule to Ogden's in morn and returned late in eve and Wiley went to his Pa's. Willie and Minnie and baby went to Sunday School in eve and I staid home. I suffered most of day and night too with choking and coughing and wheezing and very difficult breathing and sat up in rocking chair all night and slept but very little.
Mon. 23rd. Bright, and frost in morn but calm and sun shined all day and pleasant after 10 in morn. Willie and Howard beat out peas at hayhouse all day and beat out 20 bus. I drove Joe to buggy to town in morn at 10 and returned at 4 in eve. I carried 4 doz eggs for us and 6 1/2 for Rena and I saw Dr. Magruder and he prescribed a bottle of cod liver oil and a box of capsules which I got on credit at Adams' drug store ($1.50 for both). I sat up in chair all night and slept very little with coughing and difficult breathing.
Tue. 24th. Bright, nearly clear, and frost in morn but calm and pleasant in sunshine after 10 in morn. Willie and Howard threshed peas at hayhouse most of day and I lay on floor and slept a little just after breakfast and I took valve out of our well bucket (it leaked badly) and put in another valve at 10 to 12 in morn and I put some cotton tie hoops on 2 wash tubs and got wood and water and fed in eve. Ray went and got Dr. Magruder to come out to see Aunt Susan today. Clara here in eve and got some flower bushes. I sat up in rocking chair all night and slept some but suffered good deal all night.
Wed. 25th. Cloudy all day and a damp breeze from E and rained a good deal in N with a hard wind at 2 to 4 1/2 in morn. Willie and Howard threshed peas in morn and cleaned up ground in field in eve. I got water and potatoes early in morn and I mended our buggy harness by 2 in eve and gathered a sack of dry moss for horse collars and got wood and water and fed. I suffered some today until 11 at night and made and drank some coffee then and slept at 12 to 2.
Thu. 26th. Cloudy and misted and sprinkled rain some in morn and began to rain slowly at 2 1/2 in eve from S and we had a hard rain from W at 3 to 6 in eve. Willie ________ off some in potatoe ground in Persimmon cut with Ella and Sims' rafter level in morn and till rain in eve at 2 1/2 and Howard helped him. I covered an old horse collar with new lowells and got potatoes and water in morn. I suffered most of day with short breath and painful nervous spells and most of night too but I lay down and slept some at 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 in morn.
Fri. 27th. Cloudy and misty from S till 2 in eve and wind changed to NW at 2 1/2 in eve and sprinkled rain several times in eve and bright and cool at night. Willie got up mules in morn and measured up 25 gal of molasses in a 1/2 bbl and Howard drove Ella and Jim to wagon and Willie rode Joe and carried the molasses to town and Willie sold it to Joe Johnson at 40 cts. and got some things and returned before night. I sat in house and lay on floor and slept some most of morn but suffered most of day and night too with cough and choking but lay down and slept some after midnight. Willie got a large bottle of malt whiskey for me and some rock candy too and put in whiskey and I drank some of it through night.
Sat. 28th. Bright and cool from NW. Willie and Howard repaired some of calf pasture fence in morn and they hauled pine and cedar brush most of eve and put in washes in field. I lay on floor and slept some till 10 in morn and I walked about some in eve and sat in sun some. My breathing is so short till I can only walk a little and that very slowly. I suffered most of night with coughing and choking and coffee nor whiskey seemed to relieve me but very little and I slept about 1 hour at night.