Sunday, February 1, 1903
A lovely Sunny day. Thawing just the least bit and no wind to speak of.
Sid came over with fish shanty just as I got up this morning. Left it at landing for a few repairs. Can buy it for $1.50 more.
Old tooth continues to aggravate me. Boils improving.
Got dinner and took a both and that’s all I did to-day.
Jones this evening while he was away. Took supper. Carried over a pie and half a dozen biscuit and she gave me a loaf of new bread to bring back.
Monday Feb. 2
11 P.M. Almost thawing but damp cold air. Cloudy and looking all day as if it was just ready to storm which it did this evening both snow and rain about ¾ inch. It sticks to the ice however and makes easier traveling.
Mailed letter to Mrs. Button but was too late after all. Wrote last night until 2:30 this morning.
Not feeling well today. Sawed a little wood + got some water.
Mrs. Jones came after me at dusk and I went over and have just got home. Took supper of course. Jones was away got home about 9:30. He wanted to sell his hens to me, 32 + 3 Roosters. I bought them + he is to deliver them and two bags of feed to-morrow. Think I will also buy his potato hiller. I may need it next spring. Have lots to do to-morrow.
Tue. Feb. 3
11:45 P.M. A fine warm day. Sun and clouds. No wind to speak of.
Sawed wood and picked over beans.
Barstow came down to see if I was sick, as Mr. Goodspeed saw my light at midnight.
Bought hog of Jones 187 lbs., 7 cents= $13.09
“ 32 hens + 3 Roosters $15.00. He delivered them to-night.
Barstow says Romeo is to commence a camp-house at once and wants some of my blocking to set it on.
Mailed letter to Mrs. Button.
Wed. Feb. 4
11:45 P.M. Another warm thawing day with no sun, however.
Dug my last log out of snow and got it on skids ready to saw.
Was kicking over beans for Chet when he came. About 11. a.m.
He went to Point. Lake full of floating ice and couldn’t go to station.
I had dinner nearly ready when he came back. Had chicken and fresh pork. potatoes, beef + biscuit.
Jones came and took my hog to the city. He + Sid + I put fish shanty on his sled and he drew it up + we put it on piazza, where it will be handy to fix. They came after Chet left.
Commenced to build partition between Jones’ house and mine.
Joe Bessett and Jimmie came after basket coal-sifter and two old umbrellas’ about 5 P.M
Jones and wife came at 10 pm with two bags of buckwheat for hens. Hens had no feed today.
Writing 11-page letter to Mr. and Mrs. W.M Button regarding lease and sale of this place.
Wrote also to Sytonic Co.
Thurs. Feb. 5
8:15 Colder, windy + squally.
Finished partition in hen house and put my poultry, 10 hens + 1 rooster on the smaller side of it, in good shape.
Didn’t like looks of letter written to Mr. + Mrs. B. and am writing it over this evening.
At Jones this evening supper. Cut up my hog. Gave me 8 or 9 pounds. Best fresh pork.
Fri. Feb. 6
Comfortable mostly. Cold at night very. Sun + clouds.
Commenced last evening at 8:30 and revised + rewrote my 11-page letter to Mr. and Mrs. Button. I completed in this morning at just 8:30 having written steadily for 12 hours, only stopping once a few minutes for lunch.
Got breakfast, went over to Jones, took his team + went to city, got molasses, salt-peter and a file for him and for myself 2 suspenders 30 cents; 1/4 pound Pepper 10 cents; stamps 2 cents; salt-peter 6 cents; 2 pair hinges 10 cents; Box of screws 10 cents; 40 # bran 50 cents; and paid bal on Taxes $1.50.
Rec’d letter from Myrtle advising me to pack my trunk + Be ready to go to Randolph as soon as I received a mileage book, which they will very soon; also that they couldn’t talk with Jones until after real estate had been heard from.
I wrote Chet from Van Nye’s + enclosed his letter. Asked him to come down, first chance.
Very cold coming home. Supper and arithmetic at Jones. Gave me pail of milk. Pretty sleepy but had a little arithmetic just the same.
Sun. Feb. 7
8 PM Cold and equally cloudy.
Put hinges on hen house door and got 5th egg of the season. Haven’t done much. Not feeling well.
Chet came about 4 P.M. + staid nearly an hour. Had quite a talk with him. He gave me $5.00 for contingencies if I go to Randolph.
Jones came and brought pigs-heads + feet for me to make into head-cheese.
Sun. Feb. 8.
8 PM The big snowstorm of the season. Commenced about 10 A.M and has been coming steadily ever since. Must be 8 to 10 inches now I think and still coming.
Cleaning and cooking pig’s heads and hens mash. Not feeling first rate somehow. Hard work to bring water from the lake in this deep snow. Headache tonight.
Mon. Feb. 9.
10:20 P.M Wind and drifting snow. Some sunshine, but mostly clouds.
Mr. Howard kindly offers to take me to Winooski to take train for Randolph, if I will let him know the day before I go. The road-breakers + Smith came as far as my mailbox this morning. Ha! Ha!
Finished head cheese for Jones and delivered it this evening. Took supper, discussed age of this world, Garden of Eden, Antiquity of man and war of rebellion.
Jones will send them after me to Burlington when I return from R-. Gave me a pail of milk.
Can hear waves on S. Beach tonight. No wind here. One of the loveliest evenings ever known, if roads were only good.
Tue, Feb. 10
Fair day, shining in the middle of the day. Not much wind.
Washed out 3 towels and had just eaten dinner and commenced on a jumper when Chet came, we went to the Point, but floating ice was jammed in a quarter of a mile wide, so it was impossible to get farther.
Rec’d Mileage from Button, with request to go to tomorrow, but I can’t go until Thursday. I have no key to my trunk + I don’t know hardly how I can arrange to fasten it.
Wed, Feb. 11.
11:15 P.M. Thawing all day very fast and raining to-night, S, wind
Cleaned out my room + made my bed and straightened all things generally. Above + below. Washed jumper. Packed my trunk and did what I could to get ready for my trip to-morrow. Put hen feed into fish shanty + Edson will attend to the hens and cats while I am away. Expect now to return on Monday or Tuesday next week.
Thur. Feb 12.
Left here about 10:30 a.m. with Mr. Howard + my trunk. We reached Winooski late for mid-day train, so took dinner with Mr. H. + visited until 4 P.M. Had a very pleasant visit. Took train for Randolph at 4:32 P.M. but concluded to stop at Braintree. Reached that place about 7:30 P.M. + started to walk the track to Button’s place. But at second crossing was overtaken by Cass who went to B. after me but was late. He took me to a sociable at Mr. Battles on the mountain, where we found all the folks except Bertha who was working at a Mr. Thayer’s a few miles away. Had a very pleasant time + reached home about 11 P.M.
Fri. Feb. 13.
Capt'n is sawing wood with power and drag-saw for Mr. Fitts + went away before I got up.
Visited, with folks all day. Geenie showed me all over the barns and the house. I never supposed any one could be so glad to see me as he was.
Went to sawmill with Cass.
Sat. Feb. 14
Cap'n came home after noon as Mr. Fitts had to leave. Visited all day again. In evening had quite a talk with Cap about selling the place at the Point.
Went to Creamery at Randolph.
Sunday Feb. 15.
Read + visited. Cass + Melvin went hunting but unsuccessfully. In the evening Cap + I called at Mr. Holmon’s. His brother years ago was conductor on N.L.N.R.R. + I knew him. Mr. H was also acquainted with many people I used to know which made it very pleasant.
Monday Feb. 16
Cap'n at home, as Mr. Fitts had to take a lot of stock to Market. He filed one of his drag saws.
Magic Lantern show at Mr. Fords.
Tue. Feb 17
Stormy + Cap still at home.
Wed. Feb 18
Cap went to work but a funeral took the help away so he came back home + filed another saw.
Mr. Holmon + Edminster called.
Thu. Feb. 19.
Very cold last night + this morning. Bode them all good-bye + Cass took me to the depot at Braintree. Geenie felt bad to have me come away.
Car very cold but reached Colchester at 11 a.m. + Mr. Carey's about noon.
Chet had gone to W. Pt. but returned about 2 P.M. Helped him cut up a little wood + visited with him + Ruth in the evening.
Mrs. Carey had fallen + broken her hip and is quite badly off, threatened with pneumonia.
Fri, Feb. 20
At Colchester all day. Sawed wood in a.m. while Chet went into woods to chop. Went with him after load of wood about 4 P.M. Near dark when we got home. Ruth sick tonight.
Sat Feb 21
Home again with Chet. The cats were so glad so see me they nearly laughed in joy.
Unloaded trunk, built a fire to warm the house a little, and then we went to the Point.
We took rope, boat-hook, axes etc. and succeeded in getting within 25 or 30 rods of station. But decided that it would be imprudent to venture nearer, as there were several large open places in the ice very near and wind blowing very hard from S.
Pretty tired after my walk on the ice.
Called at Goodspeed’s this evening with presents for Doris, from Geenie + Francis.
Sunday Feb 22
At home all day. Very cold. Read some and wrote to Cap'n + Mrs. Button.
Called at Jones this evening. Going to move Thursday or Friday. Porter has sued him for $200, damages.
Jones gave me a pail of milk, and some butter. Very sorry to have them leave, as they have been very kind indeed to me.
Monday Feb 23
Warmer. Jones sent Fred Cross over with his team + we drew a cord of wood from Raytee's. Picking over beans for Jones. Mailed letter to Cap'n. Writing another this evening regarding Porters cutting wood in swamp etc. Amos Bean’s baby died this morning. Raty laid up with Rheumatism. His girl had relapse + is still at the hospital. At home to-night. Letter to Chet.
Tue 24
Snow. A.M. Comfortable
Chet come and we went to Station everything O.K.
Ice 4” or more thick.
Hi out fishing west of Hogback.
Tatro wants hay and Goodspeed wants straw.
Compared Howard’s glass and mine. Mine the best. Chet went home via the river as he was in a hurry
Wed 25
Finished picking over Jones beans and peas at 2 am. $2.00 worth 6 potatoes for pay. Jones put them in Hardy’s cellar for me, as they won’t freeze. He also gave me a metal pan for cooking bread in.
Moses Bessett called for his drink of cider.
Rode over to Jones with him + got my overcoat. He came after beans this p.m.
Sid, Frank Burger and Antoine Bessett’s 2 boys were here.
At Jones again the evening. Jared home at 10 clock. Borrowed “Foul Play” of Farnham.
A beautiful evening and think will have fine day tomorrow. Lent “Unsatisfied” to Howard. Uncle Willard+ Reube passed by.
Thurs 25
Midnight. Warm lovely day. Just home form Jones.
Suppose this is my last evening call. As the family expect to move tomorrow. They are now packing up. Two of Jones’s hens got out.
Saved a little wood. Baked two pies and two tins of his biscuits. Emptied beer-keg of cider (2 qts) + Jones took it home to fill it with vinegar for me. Gave me one pail of milk a grape basket, Cranberries + salt peter.
I made them a present of my new thermometer.
Friday
11 P.M. Beautiful day. Warm.
Went over to Jones + wrote tags for their goods to be shipped by freight to Wolcott, Vt.
Mrs. Jones + children gone to Essex. Jones staying here to write with me. Gave me a keg of nice vinegar. He got here for supper about 10. Mose Bessett came with him but stayed only a few minutes.
Chet came with coal about 4. P.M. and took washing machine. Left here at 6. P.M. Looking very much like rain.
5 gallon can filled with kerosene oil. Had nearly 1 gallon on hand besides.
Sat 28.
1 AM. Raining quite hard for half an hour past 11 pm. Jones got around to breakfast about 10 am. Fred Cross had agreed to help him through to Wolcott but went away to city + left him with no one to help. Young Lacy however volunteered and went with him.
A dozen head of cattle and a two horse team. Roads all ice and raining a good part of the day. Hard luck. Gave Lacy some breakfast also. Is coming to see me when he gets back.
They left here about 11a.m.
Antoine Bessett called with almanac and calendar that Mrs. Jordan Ogle of Winooski sent to me by Jones yesterday with invitation to call and see them when convenient. Sid came to weigh hay. But wind and rain prevented.
Letter from Button authorizing me to make a survey of the swamp lot. Mrs. B has written to C + R.
About 5 pm hard gale or squall from W. of half hour duration. Since that time (now 11 pm) There has been there more and one is now blowing.
Returned Howard’s glass and sent Mrs. H half a dozen little Johnny cake jems.
Makes me feel almost homesick when I think that Jones’ folks have gone for good. They have been very kind to me. Wrote to Cap'n telling him of Chet’s moving machinery etc.
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