SEPTEMBER 1903
Tue. Sep. 1st. Bright and cool and dry from N and no rain in sight. Willie and Howard worked on wire fence (putting up a new one) in hollow E of here all day. I picked cotton in Gate cut on roadside till 10 3/4 in morn and got 31 lbs. I picked 25 on yesterday. I got a sack of boat corn and wood and water and picked some butter beans for hogs in eve. Minnie and Rose washed in eve. Nellie and Minnie cooked some in eve (for Camp meeting on tomorrow). I drank some coffee just before I lay down and slept till 11 and coughed at 11 1/4 to 12 1/4 but slept again till 3 1/2.
Wed. 2nd. Clear and quite cool early in morn from N and dry and some dark spots of clouds at 12 till late in eve but clear and cool again late in eve and all night. Nellie and Bernice and I drove Joe to Camp meeting (by Woodville) early in morn and we came back same way at 8 1/2 at night. Willie and Howard worked on wire fence in woods E of here today. I suffered most of night with wheezing and coughing and choking and slept but little.
Thu. 3rd. Bright and quite cool early in morn but some dark clouds and warmer in eve. Willie and Howard cut and split pine wood (for molasses) in Sims' corner today. I walked in Sims' corner and got 1 1/4 pecks of tomatoes early in morn and I got some snap beans in garden and I lay on gallery and rested and slept some at 9 1/2 in morn to 12 and I got wood and water and a sack of boat corn from H ridge and some okra from orchard in eve. I had difficult breathing all day and most of night and didn't sleep much and Nellie and Carmell went to Wiley's in eve and staid all night.
Fri. 4th. Bright and cool early in morn but warm and some dark clouds after 9 in morn. Willie and Howard and Ray cut and split pine wood in Sims' corner today. Wiley and Rena and Bernice drove Joe to Camp meeting early in morn and returned at sunset. Nellie kept little Wiley here all day. I picked 20 of cotton on hilltop of H ridge and some in Gate cut near there at 8 to 10 1/2 in morn and lay down and slept a little till 12. I got wood and corn and cut a sack of dry okra for seed in orchard in eve. I had hard breathing most of day and night too but slept some at 12 1/4 to 3 in night.
Sat. 5th. Bright and cool early in morn but warm in eve with a dry NW breeze and clear and a little cool all night. Willie and Minnie and baby drove Ella to Camp meeting early in morn and Minnie and baby stayed there all night and Willie came back by Woodville and got home at 8 1/2 at night. I lay on gallery and slept some early in morn and got a sack of boat corn from H ridge and got wood and water and shelled some butter bean seed in eve. Bernice here all day and Rena and little Wiley here in eve and Rena helped me to draw water and milk cows late in eve. I suffered most of day and night too with wheezing and choking and slept but little at night.
Sun. 6th. Clear and cool some early in morn but warm and very dry after 10 in morn. Willie and Carmell drove Joe and Wiley rode Goulden to Camp meeting early in morn and Lewis and all of his family went on wagon too. Willie and Minnie and their 2 children returned before sunset and Wiley just after dark. Rena and her 2 children and Clara and Effie and Gordon and little Henderson here most of day. Gordon and little Henderson drew water and brought in a sack of boat corn for me in eve. I lay on gallery and slept a little in morn and suffered most of day with feverishness and choking and coughing and wheezing and nervous tremors and at night too and slept very little all night.
Mon. 7th. Bright and warm and dry and wind from S. Howard cut down bushes and briars out E of fig orchard today (clearing land) and Willie worked there too in eve some. Willie rode Joe to Surgett's in morn and engaged Charles B to mow pea hay on tomorrow with Sims' machine which he borrowed and Willie got wood and water and corn in eve. I suffered most of day and night too with wheezing and choking and nervous tremors and can hardly walk for it and slept very little at night. Edna was sick early in morn and Lewis went to town and saw Dr. Woods and got some medicine for her and Lewis got a bottle of malt whiskey for me and I took some of it in eve and at night. Nellie at Lewis' all morn.
Tue. 8th. Bright and warm and dry but wind from SE and some clouds and sprinkled rain a little in eve. Chas came early in morn and took Ella and Jack to Sims' and got mowing machine and he mowed peahay in Luckett field at 9 in morn till 12 and part of eve and broke machine. Willie and Howard picked some cotton in Gate cut in eve. I lay on pallet most of day and suffered with coughing and choking and fever all day and suffered all night and didn't sleep more than 1 hour.
Wed. 9th. Bright and warm and dry most of day but a breeze from E and rained around near in thundershowers at 4 to 5 in eve but none here. Willie drove Joe to town in morn and got mowing machine repaired and got Dr. Magruder to come out to see me. Willie returned at 10 1/4 and the Dr. came at 11 1/2 and examined me and prescribed and ate dinner here and left at 2 1/4. Chas. and Howard raked and piled peahay in Luckett field in morn and they and Willie and Ray piled and hauled in hay most of eve. They hauled with Jim and Ella. Wiley rode Goulden to town in eve and got 2 prescriptions filled at Adams' drug store for me. I took Calomel at 6 to 8 in eve and it worked me most of night and I slept very little all night.
Thu. 10th. Bright and warm most of day but cloudy some all eve and a damp SE wind but no rain. Willie and Howard and Ray hauled in peahay all day from Luckett field with Ella and Jim and left 2 loads there of cured ones. I lay on gallery most of morn and some in eve and I coughed up some worm-like phlegm today and some on yesterday. I took the medicine which Dr. Magruder prescribed (cough syrup and cod liver oil tonic and whiskey) all day. I had a coughing spell and nervousness at 9 to 11 and drank some coffee at 11 and slept till 4.
Fri. 11th. Cloudy and a damp SE breeze all morn and we had a shower at 12 and another at 3 which layed dust well for it was very dry. Willie and Howard hauled in the 2 loads of peahay from Luckett field by 10 1/2 in morn and hauled a load of poles for Wiley by 12 1/4 and Willie hauled a wagonload of dried pine poles for wood from Sims' corner in eve by 3 and Howard and Rose picked some cotton in Gate cut in eve till rain at 3. Miss Ellen Deloach and Mattie D and Viola came here from Wiley's in morn with Rena and her 2 children and left at 2 in eve. I grabbled some Queens and red yams in patch E of hayhouse early in morn and lay on kitchen gallery part of morn. I slept some at night but coughed and choked some through the night.
Sat. 12th. It rained slowly from 5 1/4 in morn till 9 and quit then and bright till late in eve and showered around some late in eve but only sprinkled here. Willie and Howard didn't work today. I lay on pallet and slept some early in morn and parched some coffee for Minnie at 10 1/4 to 11. Nellie and Minnie washed in eve and Willie and Howard got wood and water for them. Willie got a bucket of muscadines in morn. I patched up garden pickets where a hog broke in in eve. I slept at 8 to 10 at night and again at 12 to 2 1/2.
Sun. 13th. Bright and warm from E all morn and we had 2 or 3 little sprinkles of rain and 1 pretty hard one at 1 to 3 1/2 in eve from E and thundered around some then and bright and warm late in eve. Buddy here most of day and Lewis here awhile in morn. Wiley went to his Pa's in morn and Rena and her 2 children here most of day. I lay on gallery some in morn but didn't sleep any but I slept at 8 to 10 at night and had a hard coughing spell at 10 1/2 to 11 1/2 and slept well again at 12 to 4 1/4.
Mon. 14th. Bright and warm but a pleasant breeze from NW and no rain in sight today. Willie and Dan helped Wiley all day to cover a new barn just N of his cowpen and they finished late in eve. Howard drove Goulden and Ella to wagon to town at 8 in morn till 1 1/2 in eve and he picked cotton in eve. I planted some mustard in NE corner of garden early in morn and I took a dose of salts at 10 in morn which worked me well. I walked to Wiley's in eve and back and got wood and water and a sack of corn from H ridge and grabbled some Queens and reds late in eve. I coughed a good deal till 12 in night and slept pretty well at 12 to 4.
Tue. 15th. Bright and warm and dry from NW and no rain but thundered in a cloud in sight in N and NE late in eve and early in night. Willie and Howard picked cotton in Gate cut all day. I hoed and picked grass out of our turnips in garden by 9 in morn and picked some red pepper till 10 and I lay on gallery till 12 and I strung the pepper at 1 to 2 1/2 and I picked 15 of cotton in Sims' corner and got some boat corn and got wood and water in eve. I suffered with cough and choking till 11 in night and made and drank some coffee and slept at 12 1/2 to 3 1/2.
Wed. 16th. Bright and warm and dry from NW till 3 in eve and a thundercloud came up from NW at 4 and we had a little shower then till 5 and another little one at 8 in night and turned cool from W of N in night. Willie and Howard picked cotton in Sims' corner all morn and till 4 in eve and got nearly wet in rain. I picked cotton in Sims' corner at 8 to 10 1/2 in morn and I got wood and corn and water in eve by 4. Mrs. James and all of her children except Mary came at 1 1/2 in eve and all here at night except Willie and Luster (they staid at Lewis'). I suffered with rattling and wheezing and slept very little till 12 in night and drank coffee then at 12 3/4 and slept some at 1 1/2 to 4 1/2.
Thu. 17th. Bright and very cool wind from N all day and quite cool all night but calm and clear. Willie and Howard got up Ella and Jack from pasture early in morn and carried Sims' mowing machine and horse rake home and hauled a wagonload of dry pine poles for wood and they picked cotton in Sims' corner in eve. I grabbled some Queens and red potatoes in patch E of hayhouse early in morn and I packed a barrel of ashes in garden and strewed them between the rows of turnips and I walked to Luckett field and in our field and got some Persimmons by 11. I picked cotton in Gate cut most of eve and got 28. I slept very little all night and was cold most of night.
Fri. 18th. Clear and very cool and dry from N. Willie and Howard picked cotton all day and I picked most of day in Gate cut and got 40 in morn and 42 in eve. Mrs. James and her children left in morn for home - all but Mattie - she is to stay a few days. I rested pretty well till 12 in night and had a coughing and choking spell and drank coffee and slept again at 2 to 4 1/4. Nellie and Carmell stayed all night at Wiley's.
Sat. 19th. Clear and quite cool early in morn but warm in sunshine after 10 in morn and a dry breeze from NE and no sign of rain. Howard didn't work today. Willie and I picked cotton on hilltop of H ridge till 10 1/4 in morn and Willie helped Dan to cover Clarissa's house at 10 1/2 to 12 and again in eve. I got wood and corn and water in eve and walked to Wiley's after sunset and put his cows in pens with calves. Wiley and Rena and their 2 children drove Joe to Jack D's in morn. I coughed and choked at 9 to 11 at night and slept well at 11 1/4 to 4 1/2.
Sun. 20th. Clear and quite cool early in morn and a dry and cool breeze from N most of day. I put out Wiley's cows and fed his chickens before breakfast and Carmell and I got some Persimmons and muscadines at 8 to 9 1/2 in morn and I lay on gallery and rested at 10 to 12. Willie and Minnie and Carmell went to Sunday School in eve and Nellie and I and baby staid home. Wiley and family returned from his Pa's late in eve. I slept till 9 3/4 in night and coughed and choked till 11 1/4 and slept again till 4 in morn.
Mon. 21st. Clear and cool and very dry - wind from NE. Howard and Rose and Net picked cotton in back of our field most of day and Willie and I picked in Gate cut most of day. I lay in bed till 12 and made and drank some coffee and lay down again at 1 1/2 to 4 but didn't sleep much all night.
Tue. 22nd. Clear and cool and dry and wind from NE. Willie and I picked cotton in Gate cut in morn till 10 1/4 and finished there and Willie picked in Sims' corner in eve. Howard and Rose and Net picked cotton in back of our field most of day. Willie hauled in all that Rose and Net picked today and on yesterday too in 1 cart load with Joe late in eve. I got wood and water and picked some dry pole beans in garden in eve. I coughed and choked good deal through night and slept very little.
Wed. 23rd. Bright but some clouds and cool and dry from N. Willie and Howard pulled all of corn in Locust ground at back of our field in morn and they got up Ella and Jack from pasture at 1 to 2 in eve and then hauled all of corn pulled in morn in 2 loads in eve. I picked cotton in Sims' corner most of morn and I cleaned out barn and grabbled some Queens and red potaotes and got wood and water in eve. I coughed and choked through night and slept but little.
Thu. 24th. Clear and cool early in morn and very dry from NW. Howard didn't work today - he went to Henderson Lee's burying. Willie and I picked cotton in Sims' corner in morn and in Gate cut in eve. Wiley and Ray hauled in their corn all day with Ella and Jack. I had a coughing spell at 9 at night and another at 12 and drank coffee then and slept again at 1 1/4 to 4 1/2.
Fri. 25th. Bright and cool and dry. Willie and Howard picked cotton in Cherry cut most of day and I picked most of day on hilltop of H ridge. I got some Persimmons in old Cane hollow at 3 in eve. I had a coughing spell at 9 at night and another at 12 and drank coffee and slept again at 1 to 3 1/2.
Sat. 26th. Bright but some clouds and a damp breeze from S most of day. Willie and Howard picked cotton in Sims' corner in morn and I picked on E side of Gate cut at 8 to 10 3/4 in morn. I walked to Wiley's just after breakfast to see about little Wiley -he had fever last night and Nellie staid at Wiley's last night. B C stopped here at 11 in morn on way to town and dined here and Willie went in buggy to town with him in eve and returned at dark. I got wood and water and milked cows in eve. Willie got a bottle of King's new discovery and a box of pink pills for me in eve. I rested well till 1 1/4 in night and drank coffee at 2 1/4 and slept some more.
Sun. 27th. Bright and warm and very dry. Wiley and Rena and their 2 children here most of day and West and Lila and Mattie James here awhile in morn. Willie and Nellie and Bernice and Carmell went to Sunday School in eve and the rest of us staid home. I slept till 10 1/2 at night and coughed on till 12 1/2 and made and drank some coffee then and slept a little more till 4 1/2.
Mon. 28th. Bright and warm and dry but showered around some near late in eve but none here. Willie and Howard picked cotton in Persimmon cut and some in 3rd Cane hollow today and I picked cotton in Gate cut most of day and got 104 and I got wood and water and a sack of boat corn from H ridge in eve. I slept till 1 and drank coffee and slept again at 2 to 4 1/4.
Tue. 29th. Cloudy some all day but bright and warm and dry but a damp SE breeze most of day but no rain. Willie and Howard and I picked cotton in Pine corner and in 3rd Cane hollow in morn and we picked in new ground just beyond our field in eve and I hauled all picked today with Joe and cart late in eve. I slept till 11 at night and drank coffee and slept again at 12 1/2 to 4.
Wed. 30th. Bright but cloudy some all day with a damp SE breeze and rained around in little showers some in eve. Willie and Howard and I began and picked peas most of day in water hole cut and I hauled them at 11 in morn and again late in eve with Joe and cart. I didn't sleep much at night and coughed and had difficult breathing at 9 to 12 and drank coffee at 12 1/2 and slept some till 4.