JULY 1885
Wed. July 1st. Clear and pleasant, wind from N and no signs of rain. I finished breaking up oat ground on H ridge (in lands) by 7 1/2 in morn and hilled cotton in Cherry cut by sassafras stump till 11 1/2. I rode to Morgan's in eve and carried 19 pieces of baby clothing and paid me a $5 draft for all. I returned just at sunset and watered few of the potatoevines set yesterday eve in orchard. I had a dull pain in right side of my head all eve and all night.
Thu. 2nd. Bright and warm and getting dry again. I hilled 5 cuts of rows of cotton on SE corner of H ridge that hands left on last Tuesday and finished that cut early in morn and hilled cotton with hoe in long poor part of Cherry cut near hilltop all day. The headache left me early in morn.
Fri. 3rd. Bright and warm in morn till 2 and then it clouded and blew up from SW but only dropped rain, then cloudy balance of eve. I finished hilling Cherry cut of cotton by 9 in morn and patched old cart body and cleaned out henhouse by 11. Willie and I went on cart to Cohen's in eve. I paid Charlie for the button shoes I got for Dixie on last Saturday ($2.50) and got a bbl of flour $6.50 and a sugar cured shoulder 85 cts. and 2 1/2 bu corn $2, 5 pds coffee 70 cts, 1/2 doz thread 30 cts, and writing paper and 2 pencils and cakes 45cts and paid for all. We returned just before sunset and got some green boat corn for Julia before dark.
Sat. 4th. Bright and very warm till 12 1/2 and then a cloud came up from W but it only dropped rain then and bright, but showered around all eve and a dark thundercloud came up from NW just at dark and we had a good hard shower at 7 1/2 to 8 1/2. I drew up the 4 oat ground rows in orchard for potatoevines early in morn after I came from Mr. Sims'. I went there just after breakfast and got a 1/2 bu cow peas from him to plant in oat patch. I hoed around my pie squashes in new ground and some cotton there. Willie and I brought a cartload of green corn by 11 1/4. Willie and I got young Julia and colt from Coon place at 2 to 3 and I hoed all of cotton in new ground between gum and beech and bay logs at 3 to 6 1/4 in eve.
Sun. 5th. Bright and warm till 11 1/2 and a dark cloud came up then from SW but only sprinkled here then. Thundershowers passed around all eve - sprinkled several times and we had a good hard shower at 5 1/2 in eve. Nellie went to Mr. B Chambers' early in morn and Dixie and Rena went there from Sunday School and there all day. Willie went to Pa's for dinner and I came home to dinner and rode to Pa's at 2 1/2 in eve and a dark cloud came up at 5 1/2 in eve and I came across creek to old house before rain and went back for Nellie, Dixie and children and all of us got home just before sunset.
Mon. 6th. Cloudy some all day and we had 2 or 3 sprinkles of rain from 12 to 3. Thundershowers passed around all eve. I set out 4 rows in potatoevines in orchard early in morn by 7 1/2 and planted most of my oat patch on H ridge in peas by 4 in eve and bedded balance on hilltop for potatoes late in eve. Bud dined here. He came from town at 10 1/2 and left at 2. I had headache all eve from 3 and bad all night and slept but little.
Tue. 7th. Bright and warm in morn, cloudy and rained a long slow shower in eve. I lay in bed all day and vomited and suffered all day with a severe headache and ate and drank nothing all day. George A., Mary and Ann hilled all of Dewberry cut by 11 1/2 in morn and I paid him $1.15.
Wed. 8th. Bright and very warm till 5 in eve and then a thundercloud came up from E and we had a hard shower of rain with some sharp thunder and little wind. Nellie and Rena rode old J and I rode young J to Cohen's at 7 1/2 to 11 in morn and got a good many things : 50 yds brown domestic and 20 yds bleached domestic, 25 yds Calico, 1 bu meal, 1 corset, and 1 pr shoes (button) for Nellie and 10 cts spice and 10 cts pepper and 2 pds nails and 2 towels and 20 cts cathartic pills and paid for all except $7.60. The headache left me early in morn. I hoed cotton in new ground by cowpen from 2 1/4 to 5 in eve and rain stopped me then.
Thu. 9th. Bright and very warm all day. Thundershowers passed around most of eve but none here and none very near. I began to plow cotton in Gate cut the 2nd and last time with 4 furrows in morn and plowed till 10 1/2 in morn. Willie and Rena went to Pa's in morn and carried the pup to Dick D. I hoed cotton in new ground on W side next to log fence all eve.
Fri. 10th. Bright and very warm. Thundered and showered not very far off most of eve in E and very sultry all eve. I plowed in Gate cut with 4 furrows till 10 3/4 in morn. I hoed cotton in new ground on W side in eve from 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 and got up to sugar cane. It was so warm that I sweated till my pants were wet.
Sat. 11th. Bright and very warm till late in eve. It thundered in E not far off and rained in that direction from 1 to 6 and a dark cloud came up from SE just before sunset and rained little here just at dusk. I plowed cotton in Gate cut laying by with 4 furrows and finished that cut by 10 in morn. Willie and I cut some roosting poles and put up in henhouse at 2 to 4 in eve. Dick D here from 4 to 5 1/2 in eve. Seymour, Gus and Willie swam in creek late in eve. I had a dull headache all eve.
Sun. 12th. Bright and warm all day. It thundered far off all day. Dixie rode old J, I rode yound J and Willie walked to Sunday School and all came home to dinner. Gussie came with but Dixie stopped at Mr. D's. Nellie, Rena, Willie and Gussie went there in eve. I sent a few peaches to Mr. D. I rode to Mr. Sims' at 2 1/2 to 5 1/4 in eve.
Mon. 13th. Bright and very warm all day. It thundered and showered around far off most of eve. I harrowed sugar cane and some cotton N and E of it running 4 times between rows till 9 in morn and Willie and I cut and packed about 45 green stakes and poles and fixed all of fence around new ground from log part to wire fence by 12. Willie rode old J to Cohen's in eve and got the 1st two of Ladies Book (Review) and got 25 cts soap and 10 cts bluing. I hoed cotton in new ground all eve N of sugar cane and sweated till all of my clothes were wet.
Tue. 14th. Bright and very warm - thundered and showered around far off most of eve. I harrowed cotton mids in Gate cut till 8 1/2 in morn and Pa came then and Bud came at 10 and both dined here. Pa brought some apples and a watermelon. Bud left at 3 and Pa at 4 in eve and I hoed cotton in new ground on E side by beech and bay stumps at 4 to 6 1/2 in eve.
Wed. 15th. Bright and warm all day - not much sign of rain and getting quite dry. Seymour, Gus and Jack came early in morn and got Lizzie's little brindle bull. I got a bucket of peaches and sent to Mr. D's folks by Willie. I harrowed last of cotton mids in Gate cut by 8 1/2 and harrowed all of oat ground on H ridge, slip ground on hilltop and between rows of peas twice each row by 10 3/4. I hoed over all of sugar cane and 5 rows of cotton E of it in eve and was very wet with sweat.
Thu. 16th. Bright and warm till 11 and a cloud came up from S then and we had a good hard shower of rain at 11 1/4 to 12 and bright in eve. I rebedded 21 rows for slips on top of H ridge and drew all of it up with hoe by 10 3/4.(Willie drew up 4 rows). I hoed my couch peas and set out all of the 21 rows in potatoe vines in eve and finished just at sunset.
Fri. 17th. Bright and warm all morn and thundered and showered some all eve but none here. I began and plowed in Willie's cotton on H ridge next to oat patch with 4 furrows till 11 1/4 in morn. I hoed in new ground cotton all eve on E side. Willie rode to Pa's in eve and carried some peaches and brought back some apples and Nellie's old saddle which has been there for some time. I shot a mink and killed it NE of new ground in Sims' pasture.
Sat. 18th. Bright and warm all morn and rained a shower (enough to run) at 12 and sprinkled at 2 to 3 and again late in eve all from NE. I plowed in Willie's cotton on SE side of H ridge till 11 in morn. I gathered and sent a bucket of peaches to Mr. D's folks early in morn by Willie and he hoed over his popcorn in morn by 8 1/2. Seymour, Gus, Dixie, Willie and Rena had a little dinner in pasture at 2. Lewis here at 2 to 3 in eve. I didn't work in eve but got some wood and green cornstalks to feed on.
Sun. 19th. Bright and warm, wind and cloud from NE. A cloud came up from 5 to 6 in eve but only sprinkled. Dixie, Willie and I went to Sunday School in morn. Nellie and Rena stayed home. Dixie rode old J and I rode young J to chapel in eve but had no preaching. We rode in a slow sprinkle of rain from beyond Mr. Henderson's home late in eve at sunset.
Mon. 20th. Bright and warm. Rained a little shower, cloudy and sultry and thundered around all eve. I hoed in Willie's cotton on SE corner of H ridge and began on top of Cherry cut and plowed a part on hillside by 11. I hoed cotton and finished getting over last of it on E side and some of that planted with hoe between gum and beech log in eve. I sweated till my pants were wet.
Tue. 21st. Bright and warm most of day. Thundershowers passed around but not near most of eve. Winds and clouds from S. Children and I gathered a bucket of figs and a basket of peaches and Willie and Rena carried them to Mr. D's. I plowed cotton in Cherry cut on upper side and got down to within 8 or 10 rows of lower Cherry stumps by 10 3/4 and Willie and I put up some thread over watermelon patch. I hoed in new ground all eve. I hoed around pie squashes by beech log and put some poles on log and hoed all of ground between beech and gum log. I hoed corner of cotton by cowpen and hoed the 3 rows of planted potatoes and 1 1/2 rows of slips.
Wed. 22nd. Bright and warm, wind and clouds from SW. I plowed in Cherry cut of cotton from above Cherry stump to long straight rows by 10 3/4 in morn. I had toothache all last night and slept but little and pain went into my head just before daylight.
Thu. 23rd. Bright and warm. Not much appearance of rain - very dry. I suffered all last night - pain left me early in morn. I plowed in cotton on lower side of Cherry cut and finished that cut by 9 1/2 in morn and brought my plow to be sharpened by 10 1/2. Newman came at 9 to 10 1/4 in morn for figs. General came by at 9 3/4 and got some peaches. Nellie and I cut and packed poles and made a pig pen at 1 1/4 to 4 in eve and went to Pa's and I carried some peaches to Mr. B Chambers' folks. Came back to Pa's and Bud brought back Nellie's pig with us at dusk.
Fri. 24th. Bright and warm and getting very dry - wind from S and thundered far off most of eve. I sent some peaches and figs to Mr. D by Willie and Rena in morn. I hoed around middles in all of Willie's cotton on H ridge two times and finished it by 10 in morn. I carried a bucket of peaches to Mr. Sims at 1 1/2 and bought 2 little white guinea pigs at 75 cts apiece. Ed caught them and helped me to bring them home at 3 1/2. Miss Jessie and Shelly Sims were at Mr. Sims' also Beverly. I made a moveable pen out of staves of 2 bbls and white oak posts at 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 in eve. Beulah W came here from Mr. D's in eve and here all night.
Sat. 25th. Cloudy all morn till 11 1/2 and bright, warm and dry all eve till late and a heavy shower passed around S of here. I gathered and sent some peaches and figs to Mr. D's by Willie, Rena and Beulah W. I harrowed cotton mids in all cotton and finished it by 9 3/4 in morn. In eve I rode old J to Cohen's at 1 1/2 and carried a bucket of peaches to Charlie and others. I gave them to Max. I paid him $3 on account.
Sun. 26th. Bright and warm till 2 and then we had a hard little shower at 2 - enough to run from E and another at 3 1/2. Then thundered and showered around balance of eve. Dixie rode old J, I rode young J and Willie walked to Sunday School in morn. Willie went home with Dickie and Bud and Johnnie Chambers came home with us. Mr. D, cousin Dosia and Seymour here in eve. Beulah W stayed at Mr. D's last night and came back here in morn and stayed all night.
Mon. 27th. Bright and warm till 3 1/2 in eve. A dark thundercloud came up from E at 4 and passed around but only sprinkled here then and again at dusk. I began and plowed in Dewberry cut of cotton with 4 furrows from top to longest circling rows by 11 1/4 in morn. Dudley came for Beulah at 11 1/4 and they left at 11 1/2 and I scraped all of slip potatoes planted in orchard at 2 to 5 1/2 in eve and finished all that patch.
Tue. 28th. Bright and warm till 12 and showered little at 12 1/2 to 1 1/2 . Bright till 4 and we had a good shower then - enough to catch water barrels half full. I plowed cotton in Dewberry cut till 9 in morn. Mattie and Lula C and Mr. Newman came and Nellie sent for me (Nellie and Dixie were washing). Mr. N got a basket of peaches and left at 10. Mattie and Lula stayed all day. I rode old J to Morgan's at 2 1/2 to 6 in eve and carried 8 dresses which Nellie made for his girls. It rained a good rain at Morgan's.
Wed. 29th. Bright and warm till late in eve and then a dark thundercloud came up from E and SE but only sprinkled here just about sunset. I gathered some peaches and sent them to Mr. D by Willie and Morgan sent 2 men and got 2 large sacks of peaches early in morn. I plowed cotton in Dewberry cut and finished it by 10 in morn (last of my cotton all being plowed over last time). Alice and baby here all day. I gave Sims' hand some peaches at 11 3/4. Misses Jeanette Brown and Jessie Sims got peaches to preserve at 10 1/2 to 11. I didn't work in eve. I rode in Mr. Sims' pasture and brought home young J.
Thu. 30th. Bright and warm till 10. It showered at Chapel at 10 1/2, 11 1/2 and about 12 1/2. Cloudy and sultry all eve. I gathered a basket of peaches early in morn and carried them to Mr. D's to give away at Chapel. Nellie, Willie, Seymour and Gus rode the wagon and Dixie and I rode horseback to Chapel. Mr. Marner preached in morn at 12 to 1 and had dinner and again at 2 to 3. All of us got home before sunset. Clarissa stayed here all day. Rena is at Pa's - she went home with Alice yesterday.
Fri. 31st. Bright and very warm till 4 in eve and then a dark cloud came up from E with sharp thunder and lightning and some wind and we had a good rain here at 4 1/2 to 5 1/4 enough I think to thoroughly wet the ground which has not been wet for a long time. I think the worst part of wind and thunder passed around SE of here. I hoed cotton in Gate cut (began at roadside beyond bars) till 9 1/2 in morn and was very wet with sweat. I went to see Harrison at 1 1/2 about selling peaches and he came and looked at them at 2. Willie and I got up young J and colt and got some green corn (stalk with ears) by 4.