Sunday May 1st
9 a.m. Work done up ready to go to Station when Ray comes.
Tuesday May 3rd
Had good luck going to Station Sunday.
Chet and wife and baby and Ray left me at station where I stayed until 3:30 p.m. today.
Washed and mended shirts, frocks and overalls.
Chet and Mr. Carey, Ruth and baby and Ray came down with two teams bringing a lot of groceries, etc, Baby’s new chair, big glass etc.
Chet came over with Mr. Carey and I to take boat back to Station. Ray stayed there.
Yesterday was a lovely one, warm, sunny and no wind. This mng. wind S. Moderate, but near noon became calm and remained as until night.
9:20 p.m. Still calm.
Read copy of N.Y Sunday World containing my ad, and my first P.O. card answering it.
Shot my first woodchuck this season near sunset.
At Henry’s this evening, took supplies.
Harry and Pat fighting fire in the swamp.
Hardy paid me the $1.00 for my wood, and I paid it out this evening for some of Dr. Morrow’s Kidney Cure and System Renovator.
Wednesday May 4th
9:20 P.M. Quite warm and pleasant. Hot midday.
Raked garden partly but no good. Mended rake and went to have Pat harrow garden. He did it just before noon.
Planted early potatoes and peas.
Stayed at home this evening.
Back feeling much better today, for some reason. Am taking Dr. Morrow’s Kidney Cure. It may be that. Worked pretty hard for me. Hope I may feel much better so I can work right along.
Thurs May 5
Another nice warm day.
Raked and wheeled off 7 loads of witch grass and clutch. Burned the big- brush heap, and cleaned up a little of the mowing.
Recd 5 answers to Bay View ad, but were all from parties desirous of advertising for me.
Not feeling as well to-day; back pretty bad. But worked all I was able.
Shot 2 woodchucks.
Cut Johnny Morrison’s hair and he gave me a quarter. Exchanged potatoes with Henry this evening and Aunt Em gave me some sweet and some sour milk.
Fri May 6
Fine day, nice and warm but somewhat cloudy. Got 15 strawberry plants at Henry’s, and trimmed them for setting.
Marked and furrowed (with hoe) strawberry bed for 250 plants. Planted about 50 hills of Beauty of Hebron, and two rows of green mountains.
Cut up lot of dried limbs at door , cleaned up yard a little and looked over garden seeds, and did a little (and only a little) of everything.
Sent letters and cards of inquiry to Montgue Co., Boston; J.W. O’Sullivan, Burlington; Tillinghast Co. N.Y.; Am’ Special Agency, Milwaukee; Cha’s Stretch, Phila.
Back feels much worse than usual all day and especially tonight.
Sat. May 7
Hot and windy, S. wind. Got milk at Henrys and picked bouquet of May flowers, as Howard came along.
15 pieces of mail received and 4 sent out. Went to W. Pt. Chet signaled couldn’t come, wind too strong. Wrote note, rested half and hour and came home.
My back is worse then any time since I left old Mass, had to stop several times going and coming.
Took dinner at Hardy’s going, coming back saw Farnham at Porter’s a few minutes: first time since Mrs. Senna was buried.
At Hardy’s, I stopped again and bought a box of blood globules, for my kidney trouble. Hope they will help me.
Mrs. Farmer gave me part of a loaf of bread and a piece of chocolate cake this morning.
They are all pretty good to me, and it helps to bear the burden which otherwise might prove too heavy sometimes.
Hardy drew my lumber up here.
Sun. May 8
Hot and windy again. Swept up again, and shot my 4th woodchuck, this A.M.
Baked Beans, fried doughnuts and made applesauce, and have yet to bake bread to-night. 9:20 P.M.
Ready to put in oven in about 15 minutes.
Wind this evening feels like rain.
Carried apple paring etc. over to Aunt Em for calves and swapped a couple of my doughnuts with Clara for two of hers.
Ed Liberty called half an hour P.M.
Back feeling much better to-day, hope it will continue.
Mon. May 9
Hot and dry south wind. Put my lumber where it will be easy to pile it under cover. Fried and packed a little piece of ham that I had. Got ready to wash dishes and then gave chase to a woodchuck, and lost him.
Called on Dennis Berger, who gave me a handful of extra fine string beans to plant.
Called at Peter Coles, who gave me a quart more for helping his mother pick over and clean a lot which he had in the barn. Took supper at Mr. Coles.
After supper the neighbors came around to relate chain fishing experiences. All seemed to have had very good luck.
My back is no better this P.M. though it seemed to be for a while the morning.
Letter from J.W. O’Sullivan expresses great confidence in the Fulton Compound for its cure of Bright’s Disease and Diabetes; as he knows of several cases cured. A circular gives accounts of cures, describes symptoms and prescribes diet. I hope I may be able to find relief soon. P. Cole has had severe pain in his back and has found great relief in Dr. Radiky’s remedies.
Maybe I ought to let Mary and Charlie know my condition, but I hate to trouble them when it can do no good. I guess they have trouble enough of their own.
Tue. May 10.
11 P.M. Raining
Cloudy /morning; looked like rain. Cleared off pretty warm.
Set out 58 strawberry plants. Cleaned up lot of cherry brush + burned over part of the
cherry orchard. Back pained me pretty bad and I went over to Henrys about 11.A.M. Shot woodchuck #5 on Rusty’s Road.
Took dinner at Henrys.
Helped Clara hang screen doors, and gave her a package of my 3 cent, cooking soda.
Aunt Em gave me an old nappy, about 30 yrs old, and two cabbage + 2 turnips for seed, and some string beans to plant.
Back so bad, had to lie on bed from 3 P.M until after 6.
This evening wrote long letter to the Montagu Co. of Boston about Mail Order Biz.
Read information today that Mad Pub. Co and M. Harper Mfg. So my mail order men are frauds.
Raining at 11.P.M. and we need it very much.
Wed. May. 11
Another shower this P.M. Set out strawberry plants this mng. Covered peas deeper that were already planted (Am. Wonder) and planted another pink. (Yorkshire)
Letter to Montagu Co. ready to mail but forgot it.
Rode to corner with Mrs. Howard, and carried mail to W. Pt. Chet came over. Showed him letter from Watkins who wants one of the boats early next Sat mng to carry folks From W. Pt. to Benlaw. Chet will carry them over but wont let them have the boat.
Hardy's folks all gone to the city. Freeman, and everyone else except for women and children were fishing at the mouth of the river.
Stopped at Fred Farmer’s coming home, and took supper there. Fred got 25 pike and a 2 ¼ lb. Bass. Had sheephead for supper. Very good, first I ever ate.
Got home around 8.P.M. Very sleepy tonight for some reason. Back feeling not quite as bad. Received sample bottle of Calcura solvent by mail.
Thu. May 12.
10. P.M. Nice day. Up at 4.20 Am. Went down to Hardy's and got 120 to 150 Strawberry plants. Took breakfast with Edie. Adrian had gone fishing. Briers had had one of his
spells and Edie was washing.
Met Mrs. Freeman and Leo; first time since last fall. They were going to B- with a lot of fish.
Called on Mr. Freeman, he will let me have some
black berries.
Sent card to Watkins about boat.
Jessie Smith was with Mrs. Howard. First time I met her to speak since they moved away. She had the baby quite a fat nice looking little girl.
Cultivated my garden all over, and raked out quite a lot of witch grass.
At Henry’s this evening, Dogs running rabbits in the pasture, + he is scared that they will hurt his calves.
Washed dishes, had a big lot.
Aunt Em will give me a lot of skim milk in the Morning.
May 13, Friday.
Quite warm, Heavy dew this mng, No wind, Lake calm. Went over to Henry’s this mng after skim milk, They gave me about 6 qts. Took breakfast.
Raked the orchard for old culch; Filled up wood-chuck hole; pulled up several cherry stumps, cut + pulled last of the wild wormwood; and raked off my weed bed ready for sowing and raked out quite a lot of witch grass.
Cleaned up about 150 strawberry plants ready for setting, Back feeling a very little better, and so I feel a little encouraged.
Letter from Charlie Senna, New series of Postage Stamp, the first I have seen.
May 14, Saturday
Fine day, but windy.
Hoed 2 rows strawberries and for W Pt. with mail. Reached Pt. at 10, Chet came over about 10 + had started back when Watkins and party arrived, Watkins + wife, Mr. + Mrs. King, Mr. Brown and “Chuff” Arnold.
Chet came back + took women + baggage to Benlaw I let men have Stone’s boat. Hope Stone won’t be mad. They will go back to-morrow; or expected to.
I sawed off the ends of 6 sections of dock-work, and carried pieces up the wood shed.
Four hours good work, Left for house at 5 P.M.
I am around by Jerry’s to get the seed planter but it was at Nelson Cross’. Got home at 8 P.M. all tired out.
May 15, Sunday.
Cloudy A.M. + rainy P.M. + evening, raining now at 10.20 P.M.
Over to Henry’s this mng after skim milk + screen door. Got both. Took breakfast, and afterwards helped Henry fix corn planters.
Came home finished clearing brush out of the orchard, piled my lumber under cover and got poisoned too I guess by the chaff in the barn, brought up the ladder and swept up.
Expected Aunt Em + Clara this P.M, but rain probably prevented.
Cleared out my truck, and burned lots of old letters too this evening.
Back feeling pretty bad all day.
May 16, Monday.
Rain last night and all to-day, Got skim at Henry’s mng.
Finished setting strawberry plants about 2.50 in all.
Went down to Handy’s + got 23 blackberries for myself + a dozen for Clara, Set mine all out.
Took Clara’s over. Henry’s cleaning harness at the shop, Aunt Em + Clara gave me some new bread + B. Beans for my supper.
Writing this evening to W.W. Mc Collum on M.O.B.
Back felt much better this morning than is has before for two months, but, not so well again to-night.
May 17, Tuesday
Good day, light winds. Got pail of skim milk this morning and drank it all to-night. Borrowed Raytee’s seed planter, and sowed carrots, beets, parsnips, and onions.
Joe came after it and my cultivator towards night. Henry called P.M. as I finished raking bean patch.
Went home with him for bean planter and shot at woodchuck and missed him as I expected to. Went over again with wheelbarrow after jar of pickles.
Dug holes for last row of potatoes and planted about 40 hills of Early Rose Potatoes.
May 18, Wed.
Good day to walk. Rain about 5 P.M. for a short time.
Got pail S. S. Milk for Chet Filed Hoe and cut witch grass out of bean patch. Planted two rows of Henry’s String Beans and got ready + rode with Mrs. Howard to the four corners, carrying milk and mail for Chet. Chet came over. Baby riding on the walk at station. Must carry a few pickles next time I go.
Saw Porter’s man at Whites pt. and told him about Porter bull. Henry Bessett came with me coming home, and at the gates R.R. was the bull. He pawed, roared, and acted pretty cross. I think that Porter will have to shut him up.
I called at Jim Sumner’s. Henry Bessett’s, Tatro’s, and at Peter Coles.
Commenced raining as I reached latter place about 5-p.m. and as they urged me quite hard I stayed to suffer.
The cussed poison from the barn chaff is itching so I can hardly write tonight.
Bought 1 doz big eggs from Mr. Rusty.
Thur. May 19
A Rainy Day
Carried wheelbarrow of brush, over to Henry’s to be put on asparagus bed.
Henry + I went down to Shays Point and caught about 50 perch, Clara helped procure fish worms.
Took dinner with Henry. Aunt Em gave me dish of nice ham fat + a pail of milk.
P.M. Sowed some tomato seed and cabbage seed. Haven’t done much somehow.
Fri. May 20
Another Rainy Day.
Henry’s running grinder. Sowed lettuce + Radishes, hoed peas + planted there kinds of pole beans.
Had a nice fish dinner, and at 3:30 p.m. started to go fishing. Great Luck. Got 50 or over. Saw a big fish guess it was a mullet or catfish. Rained all the time + I got rather wet even though I had on a black slicker coat.
Hands poisoned by ivy + back feeling awful painful makes one feel as if life is hardly worth living sometimes. Card to Hardy to get sour milk at Henry’s
Mailed long letter to Charlie Senna.
Sat. May 21
Fair Day. Got milk as usual. Henry going to city. Weighed 6 hens + roosters.
Came home + got ready to go to W. Pt. Carried 2 doz. Perch, a qt. sweet tomato pickles, + mail.
Rode with Mrs. Howard. Gave her 2 doz. Perch + carried pail of sour milk to Mrs. Farmer. Old Mrs. Cole having trouble with Dennis Berger about her mail. Hereafter to be left at Farmer’s.
Hiram + Hough at island. Hough came over after 2 deaf men strangers to me.
Chet came over.
Porter’s bull headed me off in front of Stone Cottage as Chet took me in the boat + landed near South Beach. Stopped at Hardy’s. Edie gave me some bread + butter and pickles + a new doughnut.
Had a good visit with Mrs. Freemen + had quite a discussion on lunar + calendar months. Took supper with + ate pike for the first time this season. Found I had left glasses at the Pt. in excitement of getting away from Bull. Got home at 8.20 p.m. Now 1:30 a.m. Hardy came up to Henry’s after sour milk but some one else had got it.
Sun May 22
Mostly fair but showery in p.m.
Took breakfast at Henrys when I went after skim milk. Showed Henry copy of letter I wrote last night to send to Porter calling his attention to cross bull.
Came home swept up and went fishing about 2 p.m. Hoyt Solla at Henry’s after stuff for camp. Sid Tatro there also with his rifle.
I took pole to catch catfish but he didn’t come.
Mon. May 23
Looked like rain all day, but it didn’t get here until nearly evening. Got my pail of skim milk as usual this morning. Aunt Em gave me some rice pudding and a cup of coffee.
Picked bouquet of wild flowers for Clara.
Brought home the washing machine they gave me some time ago, and also a wringer that is no good unless I can fasten the rubber rolls to the iron inside.
Henry harrowing corn land on flat.
I did big washing. Hung screen door.
Mr. Perleman called. Sid called.
Mailed letter to Porter regarding the bull.
Mrs. Howard brought me half loaf of new bread, two doughnuts + to ginger cakes.
Sent by Mrs. Howard for two lbs. butter + glass cutters.
Tue. May 24
Fine day to work or play.
Henry + Pat planting corn on the flat by hand.
Cultivated and hoed my whole strawberry patch, and also the raspberries.
Went down to Raytee’s after my cultivator.
Mrs. R. + Clara just came from fishing on the river.
At Henry’s this evening. Clara riding out with Burt down to Mrs. Tatro’s.
Chet Brownell was there. Henry gave him a sample of fodder corn.
Looks very much like rain.
Frogs, tree-toads, and whippoorwills are singing for all they are worth.
Ants have sand piled high around their holes.
Mailed letters to Montague Co., and Rural New Yorker.
Wed. May 25 At Station
Chet came over early this morning with soil and I went to Light House with him.
Wife sick since Saturday and she + baby + Ray went home leaving me alone at Station.
Thurs. May 26 At Station
Chet came about 1 P.M. Brought a wheel to the point and found my glasses which I left the day the bull cornered us.
He also brought Jimmy-John's talking machine.
I left them with sail about 4 P.M. and had a nice easy breeze that landed me at Pete Cole’s about 6 O’clock, where I left the boat.
Went over to Henry’s. They were late at supper and I sat down with them.
Fri. May 27
Gale, N.W. A hard one, but at 6 P.M. lake nearly still.
Henry + Pat still planting corn by hand in flat.
I have cultivated + hoed my potatoes and raked off another lot of witchgrass.
Got scythe to mow grass + weeds but pretty dull.
Edie + Rachael Guyette came up to Harry’s after swill + I had to go over and load it for them. Caught in shower coming home + stopped here until it was over.
Pretty cool all day.
Had bad tooth ache all last night and all today.
Feeling a little better to-night.
My back is feeling much better thou two or three weeks ago, but it is far from well yet.
Sat. May 28
Fair. Planted peas, 2 quarts, winter squash, cucumbers and pumpkins.
Bake 2 small loaves of bread, + commenced cooking beans, but mail came for Chet to be delivered soon, and as wind was S + light I went.
I left P. Coles at noon + reached Station at 9 P.M.
Found Chet well. Came home in just an hour. When I got home, found pantry window had been pried open. But I think not wide enough for anyone to get in.
I learned that some of the Senna family were down from Williston, and 5 of them took dinner at Hardy’s. Two of them were looking for me.
At Henry’s this evening and Henry got a gallon of molasses at city for me. Clara gave me a banana and Aunt Em gave me a piece of nice custard pie.
Letter from Cass + his wife.
Sun. May 29
Good Day. Tonight looks like rain tomorrow. Didn’t do much except to read papers that Mary sent me last week.
Went fishing this P.M but had very poor luck until after sundown.
I wheeled out a few loads of witch-grass from the garden and mowed wormwood this morning.
Tooth commencing another good old time.
Mon. May, 30
Storm conditions all day, and still prevailing 9:20 P.M. Rain this P.M. but not heavy.
This mng. Got milk and ash sieve at Henry’s. Looked rainy so got in two loads of hay.
Sharpened 20 bean poles for Clara. But rain prevented my carrying them over.
Salted my onions, so pismires can’t kill them I guess. Dressed 9 perch and had a nice fish breakfast. Put the remains in two hills for tomatoes.
This P.M I baked three pies. Apple + Rhubarb stewed and mixed. Had dough left and made it into doughnuts as an experiment. It was entirely successful + both pies + doughnuts are A. No. 1.
Baked two tins of biscuits they are perfect.
This evening, called on Raytee a little while and then on Fred Farmer. His brother Charley is visiting Fred now for a few days.
Sid Tatro and Joe Bessett were there, and we had singing and whistling and story telling.
Had a very pleasant time.
Wind now (9:40 P.M.) blowing quite strong from the N. Posted a letter for Chet. No, mail except Free Press came. Harry Liberty call a short time while I was cooking. I ought to go to the Point tomorrow to work on Stone’s cottage.
Tue. May 31
Started early for the Point to work on Stone’s cottage. Got Leo Freeman to go with me. He worked about two hrs. and a half and ran away.
I worked from 8 A.M. until 7 P.M. stopping only half an hour for dinner. (10 ½ hrs. in all).
Stayed in cottage over night and had to drive Porters young cattle away 4 times. Didn’t rest very well.
Porter’s bull is shut up for the summer.
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