March 1906

Thu. Mar. 1. 1906. 10 P.M. 12°- N.W. Fair

Cold day. Fair. Finished cutting Watkins’ ice cut 210 cakes 20” sq. Frank Gilmore helped Chet + I. Drew most of it to boat-house + nearly 2 layers to the Ice-house. Hirams’ saw N.G., but tongs better than Henry’s.

My back feels very bad tonight. Thought I would have to give up before night, but managed to hold on. I find that I am growing old + feel that I can be but little but little use to any one. I have been an awful good boy in my day but I am only a poor stick now. It makes me feel sometimes as if it would be better for all concered if I was only under the sod.

But Chestie loves me, and only for him it seems as if there was something for me to live for. We had a good time tonight telling storries. He puts his arms so lovingly around my neck and his cheek against mine and asks me to tell him “more more stories” that I can never refuse him.

Fri May 2 10P.M 20⁰- N.W. Lt.

Cold day cutting Watkins’ Iced Finnished. Frank Gilmore Helped. Pretty lame + used up.

Came + went by land. Ice badly crowded + cracked all around.

Finished Watkins’ ice job except putting in more sawdust later.

Feel as if I must throw up the sponge. Nearly dead.

Warmer tonight. Looks Stormy. Think we are lucky in having finnished icing it tonight. Chestie is half sick with another cold. I have got some myself.

Sat Mar. 3 32⁰- S. Light

Rain + sleet all day + still continues. Rust etc. are cutting + drawing ice. Slept better last night. Played out today. Nothing doing. Dinner at Henry’s. Hope to sleep well to-night. Mixing up bread. Expected Harry Cole to call this evening but guess rain prevented his coming home.

(skip two next pages.) [sic.]

Sunday March 4, 1906 9 PM

Rain, snow and sleet all day. Temperature about freezing. Henry Cole called about 8:20 AM. Stayed an hour and a half. Uncle Reube called PM and stayed an hour: was baking 3 loaves of bread. Had fine luck. Feeling all used up, sick and lame, weak as a cat. Haven’t felt at all well or strong since I had an attack of the grippe and a hard cough in early winter.

Monday March 5 9 PM

Thawing on little in spots, over at Chet’s this morning, took breakfast. Cow had calf last night. Chestie came out to see the calf and sitting on a box, fell asleep while Chet and I put new caulks in horses shoes. Chet brought me home. Returned Henry’s tools, and brought much of my plunder also. My back of lame that I can hardly move, the worst for a long time. Have done nothing but keep fire and get anything to eat. Don’t feel able to go out at all, a fine fair day and beautiful Monday evening

Gave Chet half bbl coal.

Tuesday March 6 9 PM 28° South light Clear

Even temperature near freezing point for all day. Rusty and Co still cutting ice.

Last night the old hurt in right side and back nearly made me crazy and I slept very little. Today it is no better and cleaning out front room has made it worse tonight.

Walked over to Henry’s this evening. Patsy gone to city. Election at City todday and beer tonight.

I wish some one could be here to put something on my side for me. But never mind. I have always lived through these spells, so, perhaps I always shall, through someone I feel as if I shouldn’t. They are pretty hard to bear and no one but myself can even know how hard.

Wednesday March 7 10 PM 35° Foggy Calm

Light snow at early evening. Cloudy all day.

Sent 68 cents to S. R. and Co. for medicine. Feeling much better. Slept pretty well last night.

Have done little to day.

At Chet’s after dinner. Elmer Wheelock and wife and boy there. Hi and Chet went to the Point and I cut up a little wood for the stove.

Supper at Chet’s. Chestie went with Grandpa to Col yesterday so I didn’t stay long after supper. Stopped at Farmer’s. They gave me some Thomperor Plaster for my back. Edie Hardy is sick and wants a bottle of tomatoes. Letter from Sister Mary, 22 chicken, Rheumatism in hands wants me to write good long letter.

Thur. Mar 8.

Smoky and damp all day. Temperature about at freezing point. Chet, Ruth and Lloyd went to Col. about 10 A.M. and Chet had not got home when I came around. Went over and chopped a load of wood for Chet.

Resting fairly well for me. Much better for several days.

Fri Mar. 9 32⁰ N. Lt. Cloudy, 10 mph

Helped Henry split wood. Worked well A.M. but back commenced to ache about 2:20 and had to quit around 3 P.M.

Pretty tired tonight.

Burt Hines has a new horse.

Sat. Mar. 10

Helped Chet chop white birches.

Sun. Mar. 14.

Baked bread and had poor luck: didn’t let it rise enough.

Mon. Mar. 12

Helped Henry split wood; was there dinner and supper.

Tue. Mar. 13

Helped Henry finish splitting wood a little before noon breakfast and dinner.

Wed. Mar. 14

Chopped alone near Farmers for Chet.

Chet drew manure from Howards.

Thur. Mar. 15

Chopped alone this AM. Chet with me PM.

Commenced snowing (fine snow) at noon and has conitnued ever since. 11 PM still snowing.

Put Chet’s old wagon in barn. He gave me $5.00 Cash, a dozen eggs and a pail of milk.

Folks are still away and it seems lonesome over there. I would like first rate to see Chetsie. I hope he will be better when he gets back than he was before he went away.

Fri. Mar. 16

Snow covered the ground this mng. Chet drew wood in sled. 5 or 6 loads. I chopped AM and PM.

At Henry’s this evening for papers.

Wild geese going N. 32 of them.

Chet went to Col. tonight.

Growing warm fast; looks like snow or rain by mng.

Sat. Mar. 17

Fine day. Chet came home early with new wheel and painted lumber wagon. I chopped and it was my best days work chopping that I ever did. Chet not well this PM. Worked too hard yesterday handling wood.

I feel very tired and lame tonight. Snow in my overshoes wet my feet.

Sun. Mar. 18

Henry Cole here last night. My throat sore and didn’t rest. Mixed bread with “World’s Fair” yeast first time last night. Mrs. Farmer gave it to me. Baked biscuit and bread and both were A#1. Henry Thayer was here and sampled my Dutch and also raised biscuit and said they couldn’t be beat.

Chet went after folks. Over there this evening. Albro came. Marie worse and Ray with her.

Gave Farmer’s folks all my milk. Didn’t feel able to bring it home.

Mon. Mar. 19 9 PM Snowing 23°

Mng. Very Fine but soon became hazy.

Wild geese 32, same flock, went So. at 8 AM.

Chopped wood near Farmers. Commenced snowing about 1.20 and I quit at 3:00. Mrs. Farmer nearly sick. I have a bad cough and cold. At Henry’s at supper, carved over a piece of my new bread. Got papers and came home. Not feeling at all well, but hope to feel better sometime. Has snowed continuously all P.M and is still coming.

Tue Mar. 20 10.20 PM 22°

Starlight but faint. Excepting about 2 hrs sunshine at Mid-day then snowed all day. Wind N. Westerly and light. Sick all day. Cough and headache. Haven’t even made a path out of door to-day. Bones ache all over and am feeling pretty bad all over. Haven’t seen a soul stirring to-day. Tried to sweep up and wash dishes, but failed to do either.

Wed. Mar. 21 10 PM Wind S. Mod

Cloudy all day. Snowing a little. Chet and I drew up the old ice boat and other things from the Button place this A.M, and brought two of Watkin’s boats from the island P.M. Not feeling at all well myself; and I am worried about Chestie. He seems to look paler every day and he certainly gains nothing in weight or strength. I am afraid they don’t realize how he is. Hardy’s horse (one of them) pulled on halter at John Bean’s this evening and choked itself to death.

Thu. Mar. 22

Got about 200 lbs. of hay at Goodspeed’s , that seems to be about all that has been accomplished to-day.

Fri. Mar. 23.

Finished drawing hay from Goddspeed’s I guess. 1230lbs. Damn poor stuff too. Snow still covers the ground, and I think there are indications of more to come soon.

Sat. Mar. 24 10.20 P.M. 10°

Northern Lights blazing in great splender. At 6.A.M . 6°. Snow still covers the ground.

A beautiful day. Thawing in spots Mid-day only.

Chopped from 9 AM till 4.30 PM. Dinner at Farmer’s. Best day’s work chopping yet I guess. Think I am gaining. Chet went to city and came home with sick headache. Feeling better half an hour ago when I left. Did chores for him. Expect to go to Col. tomorrow to help celebrate 36th anniversary of Mr. Carey’s marriage with Chet and Ruth.

Cough seems worse today.

Sun. Mar. 25

A lovely day. 6 AM 6° 9 PM 24°

Went to Col. with Chet and family. Good time. Mrs. Coon, Mrs. Jim Carey, Prof. Simonds and his niece Jennie were there. Got home at 7.30 PM.

Jammie John Coig cut my hair.

Mon. Mar. 26 9 PM 36°

Cold and raw. Fresh So. wind all day. Nearly a gale.

Warmer tonight.

Chopped wood near Farmer’s. Carried dinner.

Chet came over to Bert’s for eggs to set and I came too at 4.30.

Supper at Henry’s and a pleasant evening.

Tue. Mar. 27

Thawing all day. So. wind Fr. till night, now NW Fr.

Cloudy AM. Light rain PM. Harder this evening with thick fog. Chet went to Winooski for manure. Albor and I cut up a quantity of wood for Chet, then I came over to chop but felt so bad I came home about 3 PM and took a lot of physic.

Mrs. Farmer gave me some Senna.

Making graham rolls this evening. OK.

Letter from Mary enclosing others from M. and L. Ed pretty hard up. Liable to drop out any time.


Wednesday, March 28

Warm day and pleasant, freezing tonight

Chet and I drew two loads of hay from Porter’s old place. Supposed to be a ton. Chet let cow out and fixed the stable. Feel sick and weak had hardly strength to get home, my right eye gave me much discomfort, and I fear the it may be more serious.

I feel pretty bad most of the time and unless I can soon improve I think I shall not be here a long time.

Letter from G.A Moore telling death of old friends.

Thursday, March 29

Warm day, snow nearly gone and ground bare. Lots of mud.

Porter’s auction. Uncle Ruebe and I went down. Farm sold to Charles Davis, $3,500.

Goodspeed mad about hay.

Chopped a little when I came home.

Friday, March 30

Rain all day. Prize fight downstreet. Ms. Bean and Jennie. Chet drew manure from Howard’s.

Saturday, March 31

Fine day. Finished chopping the corner in front of Farmer’s. Chet got a load of wood and went to Col. for calf.

Henry Cole with me tonight.

Return to Previous Month Return to Home Page Proceed to Next Month