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January 1910
Saturday January 1 Not as cold, the warmest day in about 3 weeks, just about at the freezing point. Cloudy, gray and threatening. The new year ushered in with Bells whistles and bang bang bangs. They woke me up at 12 oclock I spoke to Howard so he could hear them and they were still agoing when I went to sleep. I have been sleeping with Howard since the new baby came. I got up about 5 and got my breakfast as usual and went to work just as tho it was the same old year 1909. I carried out a big load of mail and got home about 1.30 had a dinner of Lamb stew then I was around the house all day. I read from the Swiss Family Robinson we are reading to the children the children like it very much. Well we have slipped into a new year and I wonder what it has in store for us. The old year was some what of a corker for me, full of worries and discouragements and disappointments. A year ago I was having plans for a house drawn and expected to build a house after plans of my own ideas but I could not get a loan as I wanted it and finally was disappointed all together. Then the Land Lady of 210 Avery ordered us out of the house so she could move in and I looked and looked for a house to rent but could not find one decent and moderate priced, then I made a bargain to buy a house at 199 King Ave, then I got a chance to buy this house “309 Hecla” at what seemed to me a bargain so I backed out of the King Ave bargain and bought this and that made the owner of the King Ave house mad and I felt bad about that. Then the next event was the new baby Louise and I felt as tho we had all the kids we could afford so I worried about that and so the whole year has been one of worry and discourgement but here I am at the beginning of another year and I hope above all things that I can be a little more cheerful and see the silver lining to the clouds. I declared I was hoodooded last year and I hope the hoodoo is raised and that this year will be a brighter and more hopeful year and I suppose it depends on me to make it so.
Sunday January 2 Rained last night and it is fearfully sloppy today. Every body worked again today. Home all the rest of the day. Charlie Blair and wife called and staid to supper.
Monday January 3 Rather a rough windy day. Got cold and fearfully windy and disagreeable at night. Heavy load of mail today. A little snow last night, the streets and walks are mostly ice. Howard got out his skates and made his first attempt and the way he went at it was very funny. He found a little patch of ice and he went at it as tho he was going to slide he would run as best he could then slide and of course he would go down front wards and then backwards and when he came in his cheeks were rosey and his face a glow and he asked his Mama if she did not think he could skate pretty well for the first time and of course his Mama said he could do just fine.
Tuesday January 4 Fearfully cold, down to zero at night the wind blew a gale from the east and it blew against the front of the house and made it so cold that I thought we would freeze to death.
Wednesday January 5 Last night when I went to bed I thought we would all freeze before morning. The wind blew against the front of the house like blasts of gun powder. We had a good fire but it did not touch the front of the house. And I woke about 4 oclock this morning and rain was beating against the windows. I could scarcely believe it the ground, trees, snow was covered with ice and it was so warm the water was running from the eaves.
Thursday January 6 The warm weather did not last long, it got cold again last night and Today is as cold as ever. The walking is simply fearful ice is everywhere. When I got up on a pair of steps I was afraid to come down and I just crawled around all day.
Friday January 7 Fearfully cold, down around 12 or 14 above and windy. Went down town at noon and paid Gas, phone, elec. lights etc., ordered groceries at Peter Smiths, about 11 dollars gone. We eat and sleep and keep from freezing and that is all. The cost of living is getting to be a National question. Congress is to investigate but in the mean time prices will go up and stay up.
Saturday January 8 Cold, down below 20 some where, slippery I never saw the walking so fearfully slippery and stay so.
Sunday January 9 Cold and still colder at night about 10 above at night. Worked again which makes 4 Sundays in succession. The McCloud family down this afternoon.
Monday January 10 Fine day not so cold. Got some more Pocohontas coal to try again, we burned 1 1/2 tons of coke in just 20 days it was chestnut and pea mixed 6 & 4.50 a ton.
Tuesday January 11 Fine day, about freezing. Walking still fearfully slippery. Mrs Burns up to call. Got news from California Today that Mrs Crane is married again, this makes the 5th venture, every body disgusted.
Wednesday January 12 About at the freezing point which feels warm.
Thursday January 13 About freezing and snowed and blew all day a most fearful day. Walking is simply beyond expression. The wind is howling around to night like mad and I am so tired I can hardly crawl.
Friday January 14 Ditto yesterday, snow snow every where and in piles and heaps, the worst storm in years. The weather man says 11 1/2 inches on the level, well when one starts out with a load of mail to deliver and no paths and the street as bad as the walk and the walk as bad as the street. I could believe there was 2 feet on the level. And this day of all days Gummie took to go to Northville. She called up on the phone to see if cars were running, they were so she started.
Saturday January 15 Well it did not snow anymore Today but we have a great plenty. Gradually the walks are getting cleared but there are always some vacant that never gets cleaned. A plow runs around here and does a good job. On 12 and Hecla the walks look like railroad cuts through hills and the firemen run a plough through the streets the way they do they get usually 4 auto testers to hitch their machines to the plough and then they make the snow fly but even they some times get stuck, then they spit and sputter snow flys and the men swear but they have to back and start a dozen times before they finally get under way again. We got a letter from Gummie so she got to Northville all right.
Sunday January 16 Every thing piled high with snow it certainly looks wintery out. I have the first Sunday off Today in five weeks and I am enjoying it by staying inside and resting. Edna Telephoned me this morning that Mark Joy was presented with Triplets last Sunday or Monday. Well [he] has my sympathy and I think he or his wife especially needs it. If I was rich I would help him out by sending him a goodly sum for each. If our last one had been triplets I think I would have been running yet and never looked behind me. And this is Bennetts birthday, 5 years old Today. He got a spanking from each member of the family. A pair of rubbers which he should have had some time ago because he needed them so badly. A small but very neat box of Apollo Chocolates and a birthday cake with candies and five candles on it. He is 3 feet 5 inches tall but I do not know how much he weighs as we have no way to weigh him.
Monday January 17 Rained last night and it was misty almost rain all day and the water and snow was fearful. With all the snow there is on the ground the country is afraid of disastrous floods if it continues warm and rainy.
Tuesday January 18 Warm and almost rain all day Today, the going is fearful. The papers are predicting floods all over the country.
Wednesday January 19 Well it was colder Today and a fine bright day. The sun shone for the first time in I do not know how long. The slush was froze and I suppose the danger of floods some what lessened. The walking is fearful and I am all in every night. I have to take my lunch because I cannot stand it to walk home and back at noon, it adds too much to my work days and I always hate to take my lunch, it never sets well.
Thursday January 20 Warm and rainy, snow going fast. Very disagreeable weather.
Friday January 21 Warm, not much left of the snow but ice on the street. Went down town after work to get some handkerchiefs at a sale at Newcomb Endicot but they were all gone, then I went to Peter Smiths and got a few groceries and came home.
Saturday January 22 Well maybe I did not hate to go to work Today, it was snowing and blowing at a terrible rate. It was one of those days that looks as tho a man could not live out of doors, but they get out just the same and keep the world moving. An animal would crawl into a hole and stay there.
Sunday January 23 Not a bad day Today but yesterdays storm left the walks and streets drifted full in places and bare in places. Worked. Howard has been ailing for a day or two and Today we think he has the chicken pox. He is broke out on his body and scalp. Grandma came back from Northville Today, she has been out there over a week.
Monday January 24 Warm and pleasant over head rather bad walking. Anna went for a walk Today the first time she has been out of the house since the new baby Louise came. Altho the new baby is a girl she came so late that she does not get the same consideration as she would if she had been the first one. The fourth baby in a family does not seem such a novelty but for all that I guess she is liked just about as much especially Grandma, she seems to think a heap of her.
Tuesday January 25 Warm and fine. Lots of snow pretty good sleighing and poor walking and worse bicycle riding but I rode home to dinner on mine Today. I do hate to take a lunch and since Christmas I have had to take one the most of the time.
Wednesday January 26 Warm and rainy, slush and water. Had to get a new pair of rubbers today so I could wade the streets. We are having an old fashion winter with a good many variations.
Thursday January 27 A little colder but only about at the freezing point. The slush and snow and water froze so it was a little better getting around. Uncle Henry Hart called this Eve. Howard is getting over the chicken pox, he has not been to school this week and this is the week of exams and he is supposed to pass into the B 3rd and he also goes into another room. I have read the Swiss Family Robinson to the children and now we are reading The Bear Family at Home and how the circus animals came to live with them and Howard read one story himself almost with out a break. He is doing fine in school and his teacher gave him a nice compliment, she said he always paid strict attention to everything and was one of her best pupils.
Friday January 28 About at the freezing point. Mrs Vanzile and Bertha called. Mrs Chas. Blair called. Gummie went down town. I went down to the main P.O. to sign the pay roll, we have to go down there to sign once every 3 months.
Saturday January 29 Beautiful day, clear and crisp, about 26 above.
Sunday January 30 Warm, snow in the evening. Home all day. Gummie went up to the Harts.
Monday January 31 About 3 inches of new snow this morning which does not better the walking any. Anna took a trip down town. Raymond Aulette called up Today they have moved up on Third Ave. They are our old Landlords down on Noble ST.
February 1910
Tuesday February 1 Well the first of February and a beautiful bright and sun shiny day. Coldest morning we have had in quite a spell, about 12 above but got warmer.
Wednesday February 2 Ground Hog day. Warm, about 25. Hazy morning. Sun came out for about an hour about 10 AM then it got cloudy and threatening and finally began to rain and wound up a nasty afternoon and evening.
Thursday February 3 Oh fiddle the rain turned to snow and this morning it was snowing and blowing and drifting and a fearful forenoon. My what walking. Cleared and was nice overhead in the afternoon. Gummie went to Northville Today to help Norine move to Pontiac. We read in the paper Today that Mrs Johnson, Herberts wifes mother [Margaret Taft Johnson] was dead.
Friday February 4 Warm and bright thawing some. Howard getting chicken pox about gone he has been out of school two weeks. Bennett has got it now. Lydia Joy McNab called.
Saturday February 5 Nice over head but getting cold. Bennett is peppered up in great shape with chicken pox, much more than Howard. Baby Louise has it now too but does not seem as bad as Bennett. Laurence is going to be last I guess he says he is not going to have it, dont want any chicken pox he says. No down town saturday nights or anything else any more, it keeps us all busy to give baths and get 4 kids to bed any old night. It is precious few trips we get theses days.
Sunday February 6 Whew but it was cold Today, zero AM, 4 above Eve. A clear beautiful day but the thermometer did not get more than 4 or 5 away from zero all day. As soon as I stuck my foot out of bed this morning I knew the thermometer dad dropped, the house was cold but I soon had a roaring fire and steam up. Then I had to pull out and go to work. We have been very comfortable all day but I have kept the fire just a humming and steam up all day. Bennett was quite sick last night with the chicken pox, had a fever and mumbled and talked in his sleep, he is having it in great shape. Louise does not seem very bad but is pretty well spotted up. Laurence appears to be coming down with it today so I guess they will all have it. We got a telephone from Northville today, Ed said they were moving and they wanted to keep Gummie a few days longer, of course Anna said for her to stay but we need her with all the kids sick if we ever did but it seems always to happen that way.
Monday February 7 Beautiful day, cold, 10 above A.M. but kept getting warmer all day. Gummie came back this P.M. The Merritts got their goods moved to Pontiac then their house was not ready as promised and when Gummie left them they were like Polly up a tree wondering what to do but they have relatives there. Howard went back to school Today the chicken pox all gone. He passed into another room and hated to go alone but there was no one that could go with him but he got settled all right and is chuck full of business tonight.
Tuesday February 8 Warm soft day, snow melting. Mrs. Meder up to dinner and all the afternoon. I [have] something of a cold and I feel like the old harry to night. I wish I could afford to take a rest but mercy me no rest for the wicked, especially when the wicked has a family to support.
Wednesday February 9 Warm forenoon and a little snow, getting cold at night. Went down town at noon and paid Gas, Electric lights, Telephone. I went and called on Edna at Paige Chope paper house and paid my third of Mothers Xmas present to Edna.
Thursday February 10 Cold, about 20 above and got colder, about 17 above in the evening.
Friday February 11 Pretty cold this morning, about 16 above.
Saturday February 12 Lincolns birthday, 1/2 holiday, but it is not very pleasant. We had about 3 inches of the beautiful come last night. I suppose it greased the sleighing up nicely but oh dear the walking it was a blowy and snowy day. Anna and I celebrated the half holiday by going down town just for fun. Gummie staid with the kids and it was the first time we had been out alone since last summer but it was not much fun the cars were crowded and the stores were so crowded and even the streets were so crowded there was no comfort to [be] had anywhere. And we were glad to get home but were so long in shopping and getting a car home that the baby was on the ragged edge for her supper.
Sunday February 13 Nice day, warm & bright. Every body worked Today. Gummie & Howard took a long walk to the Green House for flowers and called on the Hardenburgs. Home all day.
Monday February 14 Cold and fine but bad walking, fine sleighing yet. Valentines galore but they are changing from the old box and flimsy lace like pictures of the Post card variety which is easier to handle but there is so many more of them they just fill up the Post Office on any and every occasion. The children did not get as many valentines as they used to down on Avery. The children in this neighborhood do not go around and put them on the door steps, ring the bell and run as they did down on Avery. They got some from California and Howard got one at school and he put two in the school box.
Tuesday February 15 Warm and pleasant over head getting sloppy by night and almost raining. We had as many valentines to deliver Today as yesterday. I took my lunch and after I ate it I went and called on Geo. I do not see him very often but once in a while I get a feeling that I have got to know whether he is dead or alive. Mrs. Burns called. Mr Hulbert and Mr Porter this evening begging for the church. I did not refuse but I declare I feel as tho I had all I could handle to support my family.
Wednesday February 16 This morning the snow was nearly gone but the streets and most of the side walks were solid ice and fearful slippery. It was about 24 above to begin on but by night it was down to 17 and when we were ready for bed it was snowing at a furious rate. This is Ednas birthday she must be 37 I think 5 years younger than I. Anna went down town Today to do some shopping.
Thursday February 17 Cold, fearful cold wind about 14 above and did not rise much all day and seemed colder at night. Gummie got a phone from the Merritts at Pontiac last Eve. to come out Today as they were thinking of changing plans and wanted to talk it over with her. They have just moved to Pontiac to take a jewelry business there after selling out their business at Northville and we wonder if some thing has gone wrong and they are thinking of making some new change.
Friday February 18 Cold beautiful day, about 8 above got up to about 17 above. More snow last night.
Saturday February 19 Colder, about 3 above this morning but went up to about 25 by night. Bright beautiful day. When Gummie went away thursday she was going to let us know what the Merritts were going to do as soon as she got there but we have not heard a word since and we are wondering if she ever got there.
Sunday February 20 Fine day, not very cold. Thawed enough to make the waking a little sloppy. I think winters back bone is broken and it will warm up now we usually have a cold spell about this time then it breaks up. Home all day, got up with a terrific head ache this morning. I took a dose of salts and felt better but have not felt first rate all day. Anna and the kids took a little walk and I took care of baby Louise. Sam & Belle called and we had a nice visit with them. I guess we are all over the chicken pox, Anna said she washed about all of it off of Bennett and Laurence last night in their bath.
Monday February 21 Not very cold, but froze enough to make the slush and water mighty slippery. We have not had a decent walking since Christmas but have had good sleighing. We heard from Gummie and the Merritts are in a peck of trouble. They claim they cannot handle the Pontiac business financially and now do not know what to do but they seem to think they will go to California.
Tuesday February 22 Not very cold, about 20 and a beautiful bright day. Geo. Washingtons birthday, we were alone and did not celebrate any. I was home from work by a little after 11 oclock. Anna and Howard took a trip down town to order groceries and Howard got a new pair of shoes, No 13 and 2.00 a pair. He is getting to that age when boys look all feet. I took care of the kids and I had to trot baby Louise the biggest share of the time.
Wednesday February 23 4 above A.M., 10 the highest. 8 above at 9 P.M. whew but it was cold Today, this must be the last struggle to get down to zero. It began last night about 10 to blow and luster and this morning the house was the coldest it has been this winter, not a radiator had a bit of heat in it when I got up. I soon had a good fire but it was noon before we had the thermometer up to 70, it was bright [and] beautiful out at that.
Thursday February 24 Most thermometers around here said zero but the weather man said 4 above, up to 16. Cold as cold as we have had this winter that I remember of, but a perfectly beautiful day. I guess this winter is going to hang on as long as there is any thing to hang to. We ought to see a break up before long. Zero weather this late in February is rather unusual I think. With Gummie away it is pretty hard for Anna to keep the work up and take care of 4 kids a good deal of the work has to be done after the kids go to bed and Anna is now out in the kitchen ironing and the clock just struck 10 I usually take a nap in my chair then go down in the basement and do what is to be done to the furnace Etc.
Friday February 25 A little warmer, 12 above A.M. up to 20, clear and fine. The cold hangs on to beat the dutch. Howard has a cold and nights he moans and talks and grates his teeth complains of pains and we do not know what is the matter with him and wonder if he has cought the hooping cough.
Saturday February 26 Well warmer and by night was raining quite hard. Streets and walks were rivers with the ice on the bottom. Gummie came back Today and is talking of going back to California with Ed and Norine who are thinking of going about the middle of March. If she does go with them that will leave Anna all alone of the family and I guess it will be kind of tough on her.
Sunday February 27 I guess it rained all night, it was raining when I got up and I had to walk to work in the rain some times in the street some times on the walk to avoid water and ice. Everything that is left of the snow is ice, there must be several inches of ice on the streets. This afternoon Anna has gone to see a Dr. with Howard, he keeps on coughing no matter what we do for him and she determined to find out what was the matter.
Monday February 28 Around the freezing point, snow going fast. Fearful streets. Gummie went to Northville Today. Inez Hart called this Eve. Howard had a bad night last night he grated his teeth untill I should think he would have broke them all off and moaned and talked and tumbled but he is better today and felt a good deal better by night.
March 1910
Tuesday March 1 Came in like a very gentle Lamb. Beautiful day and very warm, the warmest day we have had in 3 months I guess and the ice is running rivers. Sleighing since Christmas but I guess there is not much left to night. Howard slept as quiet as a mouse last night and Today is like a new boy. I got a bottle of Cod Liver Oil Today for him the Dr. said he better take it to build up his blood.
Wednesday March 2 Another warm beautiful day. Streets are fearful sloppy, the ground has come up out of the snow and ice but lots of water lays around. Mrs Burns up to call. Mrs Fey next door neighbor called. Howard went back to school, he was out two days.
Thursday March 3 Another fine warm day, so warm I took off my knit jacket I wear under my coat. I have worn it steady since the fore part of December, longer than ever before. Laurence was licking the cake dish Today and the first Anna knew he was feeding baby Louise. He said see she likes it see Mama.
Friday March 4 Another beautiful warm day. Norine and Clarkson came in today. Clarkson brought the kids a music box that will play any time you put into it and they have kept it going every minute since. Norine and Clarkson went down town after dinner. I went down town after work and did some trading. Home about 6 and fearfully tired, my feet bother me terribly this winter they are as sore as boils and they sting and smart. One thing is the rough walking and another is wearing rubbers constantly.
Saturday March 5 Beautiful day, 5 in a row. Louise took her first outing Today. Howard took her for a ride but she did not seem to like it and cried so her Mother brought her in.
Sunday March 6 Beautiful day but a high wind came up in the after noon and it began to get cold. Anna started out with the baby in the cart and all the kids trooping after but it was so windy and Louise seems afraid and cries so she brought the baby in and left her with me and started out again and went down to Lincoln and back but it was so windy that it was very unpleasant. My Sunday off and I was home all day, we do not seem to be able to get to Church or get the children to Sunday School. I guess we are heathens.
Monday March 7 Back to winter again we had 5 beautiful days and one not quite so beautiful but Today the wind blew and blew the air was full of snow but not enough to make the ground white. I guess it was not much below freezing but it seemed as tho it was 10 below zero.
Tuesday March 8 Cold but fine day. Anna washed and baked bread and did a few other stunts to kill herself off.
Wednesday March 9 Beautiful day, cold about 30. Went down town at noon and paid Phone, Gas, Elec. light and the water tax up to the first of July, it costs 1.82 a quarter. I have a little cold and feel pretty bum to night.
Thursday March 10 Cold but fine weather. I have a cold and feel bum but have to keep going just the same.
Friday March 11 Still cold about 25 and up to 35 the mud is pretty well dried up. And on well kept lawns you can see a new shade of green grass. Fine weather.
Saturday March 12 Beautiful day, warmer. Mail fearfully heavy these days, I had 78 lbs this A.M. mostly cheap papers and magazines. Howard has another cold, he is the most discouraging kid, he was so much better after his last spell that we felt encouraged. Gummie came to night and is on her way to California again. Inez and [her] mother called this evening.
Sunday March 13 Not quite so nice Today, cloudy and very windy. The McLeods down this after noon, had a good visit with them.
Monday March 14 Cold windy day, it seemed fearfully cold, down around freezing I guess. Howard was pretty sick yesterday but seems a little better Today. Gummie is about sick too, she does not look much like California but I suppose she would go if she had to be taken to the train in an ambulance.
Tuesday March 15 Cold but clear fine day about 25 A.M. up to about 35. The Merritts came Today on their way to California and every one of them about sick with a cold. Their a fine crew to start out on a long journey. Gummie got up nerve enough to go down town Today to lay in a supply of neccessaries. They intend to start Thursday morning. I do not envy them their trip in the condition they are in. Howard went to school this forenoon but had to take to the couch again this afternoon. He has head ache, his eyes are blood shot and droopy his nose in a fearful cataaral condition and he is sick to his stomach and he seems most awful sick. Mrs. Burns called Today.
Wednesday March 16 Cold frosty morning but clear and beautiful. The place is in an uproar and dizzy whirl Today, it always is when Clarkson comes. Norine, Ed, Clarkson and Gummie all here with our family makes a house full and goodness knows what to expect. They are all half sick and a fine lot to set out on a long journey.
Thursday March 17 St. Patricks day. In the morning not very cold, cloudy and threatening a few snow flakes fell but the threatened storm did not come. I got up and got my breakfast and went to work as usual not a soul had stirred when I left but the gang got up and got away to take the 9 oclock train for Chicago and California. Annas Mother and the Merritts all of Annas family “except her father and he does not count” are now gone and left her here alone in Michigan and this day of all days Anna has the new disease and is so sick she can hardly hold her head up but of course she has got to keep going enough to take care of the kids. Howard could not get away from the couch all day yesterday but is around a little Today. And today it is Anna, if she could only go to bed and be sick but she cannot there is absolutly no one to help her in any way and it does not help her to feel any better about her Mother going away and leaving her to her fate. We had Dr. Northrup last night for Howard and left a prescription which I had to trot to the drug store to get filled.
Friday March 18 Beautiful day warm and bright. Anna is no better she is most miserably sick and can scarcely do a thing. Bennett has it today and has been on the couch all day. They came down with a head ache and their eyes are sore and blood shot sick to their stomach and a tight cought and fearful nose and sick oh so sick all over. Anna looks as tho she had been sick a month and the house and everything in general is just going to the dogs.
‘Northville Record’ 3/18/1910
Saturday March 19 Beautiful and Hot, up to 70. I pulled off my under jacket and was warm at that. Anna a little better but awfully miserable still. Edna came up and spent the afternoon, we just feel in a fearfully gone to dogs state and so discouraged. A sick Mother with 4 small kids is a bad combination. We got a card from Gummie today, it was sent from Des Moines and they were getting along fine.
Sunday March 20 Very warm last night, rained a good share of the night. Got cooler with a high wind Today. Howard, Bennett and Laurence all kept us up and down all night coughing and wanting this and that. We were in hopes Laurence was going to escape the pink eye or what ever it is, the people call it pink eye but the Dr says it is not that. But Laurence has it Today and he has occupied the cough all day Today, vomited to or three times and made it interesting as he could for us. Anna is still so miserable she ought to be in bed. I have been home all day but I am not much good to work around the house. I washed the dishes and a few things. I guess we will have to get some body to come and help us get straightened out and do a washing, etc. The baby and I are the only ones that have escaped so far and I hope we will not have it. I just cannot afford to lose any time and I hate like blazes to work when I am sick but a man with a family has to do it time and time again.
Monday March 21 Beautiful day warm and fine. Laurence a little better than yesterday he goes out to play but my how cross and how they all look forlorn and thin as tho they had been sick a month. Bennett is quite deaf and that worries us considerable but he was deaf once before and came out all right so I presume he will this time. Anna is fearfully miserable and it is mighty hard to take care of 4 kids and do even what is positively necessary.
Tuesday March 22 Very warm, up to 70. Cloudy and threatening. Life is hardly worth living these days, the kids are so cross and Anna is so miserable that patience is at a premium and it makes it dreadfully hard to get along. We have got two cards from the folks that are jouneying California wards and they seem to be enjoying the trip.
Wednesday March 23 Beautiful day, frosty morning but warm and fine day. Howards birthday 8 years old. Mother Deans also 73 yeas old. Howard got a pair of roller skates and he hardly took them off to eat and put them under his bed when he went to bed. This is vacation week and so I suppose he will put in full time. Howard stands just 4 feet high in his shoes. Bennett is 3 1/2 feet and Laurence just about 3 feet.
Thursday March 24 Fine day and almost hot must have been up near 70 (the paper says it was up to 81) . Anna and the kids are slowly getting over their colds most people call it Pink Eye. Laurence is in a miserable state with it, his nose keeps some one busy pretty nearly all the time and cross is no name for it. Bennett is deaf and talks like a deaf person. I went down town at noon and bought groceries at Peter Smiths then I went and paid Dr. Bell the balance of our account with him for bringing Louise into town. Then I went and looked at Electric vacuum cleaners, we want one awful bad but they cost about 4 times what they ought to as most things do now days. They cost from 49.50 up to 200.00 but even the 49.50 one seems more than we ought to afford, but they are a fine thing and the wonder is that they were not on the market long before they were.
Friday March 25 Beautiful day, every body remarks on the wonderful weather for March. Inez Hart and Anna Fry called this evening.
Saturday March 26 Beautiful day as warm as summer up around 70. One day it got up to 81, I think it was Thursday. The Post Office is flooded with Easter Cards, I had to curtail my district or a part of it this P.M. We expected Mother and Father in Today but we got word that they could not leave because Uncle Asa was to sick to do their chores for them.
Sunday March 27 Easter Sunday (every body worked Today) and for a wonder it is warm and beautiful and folks can come out in all their Easter finery, and of course they will enjoy that but no one in this house has anything new to show, we have no money to buy with and it seems impossible for Anna ever to get down town any way. The children need a few things then we want them to go to Sunday School and too we want to send Bennett to Kinder garten but I declare we can not even get any where to buy them. We feel that when we moved up here we moved out of the world and when Annas Mother and last sister went to California a couple of weeks ago we were completley deserted and here we are tied almost hand and foot and here we will stay I suppose.
Monday March 28 Beautiful day up as high as 77 and I am 42 years old Today. I am getting there all right. I carried out and delivered 72 pounds of mail this forenoon and 7 pounds this afternoon we are weighing and counting. I had about one thousand pieces all together. I have to carry my mail from Woodward and the Boulevard over to Baltimore and Lincoln, a good big half mile to begin work and 72 lbs gets pretty heavy by the time I get there. I enjoy good health and weigh about 150 lbs. I am beginning to look a little old, getting a little gray above temples and my mustache is streaked with gray hairs. I do not show any baldness but my hair is thin on the crown of my head. I do not feel old and stand my work fairly well although it is awful hard work and very tiresome. I do wish I had easier work but of course with my family I cannot change unless I could do better or any way so well as I do now and I have not had any chance to do that. The only doing to celebrate the occasion was Ice cream for supper. I took down the storm doors and put up one screen door.
Tuesday March 29 Still beautiful weather this has certainly been a wonderful month for March, a month we always dread, it has been more like May or June.
Wednesday March 30 Warm but cloudy and threatening, a few drops of rain came but not enough to lay the dust which is fearful.
Thursday March 31 Quite a change in temperature, cold and windy. March is doing the best it can to go out like a Lion. The fire was out in the furnace but I had to build it up again this morning.
April 1910
Friday April 1 Frosty foggy morning but the sun came out and it was a most beautiful day. Mrs. Slater called. March was the warmest and finest March I ever can remember and vegetation has a good start. Trees and shrubs are budded and on some shrubs the leaves show a little, some bulb flowers are blossomed out. Lawns are green, birds are singing, frogs are piping and some days are so hot it seems like mid summer. Children play out of doors with out wraps, people sit on their porches and neighbors gossip over the back fences and would it not be grand if it would only continue but every body says it is to fine to last and we will have to pay for it later.
Saturday April 2 Cloudy and threatening. Mr. and Mrs. Burns came up this evening to get a couple of gallons of Maple syrup we sent 4 gallons of Tobe Bradley and let them have two they came when we were eating supper and visited after nine oclock the dishes stood and the children got sleepy one by one and had to go to sleep Laurence on the couch and Bennett on the floor but we enjoyed them.
Sunday April 3 Cloudy and began to rain in the evening. I worked this A.M. Aunt Dill and Inez came to call this afternoon, they had a letter from Auntie Tee in California and Anna got three from her Mother and two sisters and they read them and talked and commented and wished and scolded and discussed things California in general. Inez thinks baby Louise is about the cutest and sweetest that ever came to town. Louise is the best natured baby we have had, she sleeps well nights and is not any trouble day times unless she has the colic. She lays in her buggy hour after hour and coos and sputters and googles and goes to sleep and wakes up and googles some more. A mother with 4 kids does not find much time to trot and rock babies so Louise just had to learn to get along with out and she is very sensible about it. Bennett takes pretty good care of her, he will run to the buggy and teeter it if she cries and he acts as tho he thought more of her than any of the others do. Howard said one day he hoped we would not get any more babies because he did not want to stay in and take care of them.
Monday April 4 Warm rain all last night and this forenoon but my we needed it, it was so dry and dusty.
Tuesday April 5 Warm, more rain this afternoon. Howard has coughed so long now that we begin to think he has the whooping cough. We had him go and ask the school Dr. that comes to the school every day but he did not know whether he had whooping cough or not he does not whoop but coughs and coughs and Bennett seems to be getting it too.
Wednesday April 6 Nasty day, rain most of the time and cold. The mail was so light and I got home so early this forenoon that Anna immediately took advantage of the opportunity and went down town during my noon hour. I got home a little before 11 and dont report again untill 1.45 so she had quite a trip, got herself some shoes, the kids stocking and cloth, Etc.
Thursday April 7 Cold, cloudy. I went down town at noon and paid gas, elec lights, phone and ordered groceries at Peter Smiths, came back to work and at night was as tired as they make them. Laurence is a great hand at going to sleep at the supper table if he does not have a nap during the day he always goes to sleep while eating his supper. He gets pretty well through his supper then he begins to nod, he straightens up and begins to eat several times before he gives up but finally his head goes over as far as it will hang and he is a goner. Then it is my stunt to take him up stairs and in the bath room where the kids undress because it is warm there and I have to do a good deal of wrestling with him to get his clothes off, his head is so loose that I am always afraid he will break his neck and he never opens his eyes at all. I finally put him into his bed and he just snuggles down into his pillow and that is the last of Laurence.
Friday April 8 Whew but it was cold last night and this morning every thing was covered with white frost. Puddles were frozen over but it was a beautiful bright clear day and by night it was quite warm. Howard and Bennett [are] doing great coughing stunts they try hard to cough up their insides but they stick to tight. Howard says it hurts his ribs and every thing when he coughs. I guess it is whooping cough all right. The baby Louise has either got it or a bad cold she does not feel well a bit Today and wheezes and coughs and rattles in her throat when she breathes. Anna greases her and gives her Ipacac, my but Anna has her hands full. I wish we could afford to hire help. I think her Mother committed a crime when she went to California and left Anna all alone with her children.
Saturday April 9 Beautiful day, warmer than yesterday about 40 this A.M. A great many people have started their garden. I have not as yet done any thing in the garden way and I dont know as I shall I am too tired after work to [do] any work that I do not have to do.
Sunday April 10 Beautiful day, chilly air but not really cold. We have to keep the fire going yet especially in the morning. We intended to have Howard ready for Sunday School Today but we of course could not send them if they have the whooping cough. We were going down town last night and get him a suit of clothes and a few other neccessaries and start him for Sunday School over on the cornier of 14th and Antoinette. This after noon Anna took the baby and buggy and started to make a call or so down on Avery she has not returned yet. I got the boys some bread and butter and milk and had just started to put them to bed when Anna came.
Monday April 11 Very warm this forenoon 80 then it got windy and grew cold and at night got down near freezing. We had quite a visitation Today. Father and Mother came in unexpected and Ernest, wife and daughter Esther was with them. Ernest has been out with the family for a good many years but is getting back into the fold again we had never seen Esther who must be 4 this coming July. We met them as tho they had been regular visitors and had a good visit but Howard and Bennett had to stay out in the back yard because they had the whooping cough and Esther had not had it. Anna and Esther did not stay long but went down to her brothers. Father & Mother staid over night. Laurence seems quite sick and says it hurts right here and he puts his hand on his stomach. We do not know whether it is the whooping cough coming onto him or some thing else.
Tuesday April 12 Cold and frosty this morning, down some where near the freezing point but was a beautiful bright day. Father and Mother went away this forenoon down to Aunt Julias. I did not see much of them. I wish they could stay longer so I could get acquainted with them but they never stay long they seem to have a few ills incidental to old age that can not be attended to so well any where but at home so they are never away form home very long. The children were very restless last night and Father & Mother were up once or twice. I did not get very much sleep and Anna did not either and Today everybody feels bum. Laurence has been on the couch a good share of the time Today and we are worried about him he still says his stomach hurts. Howard & Bennett cough just awful but neither ever get up whoop enough so you know it is a whoop.
Wednesday April 13 Cold and rain, not very pleasant. The children are whooping or it seems to me more like gagging and mercy how they do strain and double up and get red in the face. We think Howard has had it for several weeks but we did not [know] what it was. Bennett has it the hardest now. Laurence and Louise are just beginning to cough a little bit.
Thursday April 14 Beautiful day and real warm and it is a good thing it is a fine day because this is ball game day the season begins Today. The horses are off and the base ball bug is out and happy only the Tigers got beat that set the smile back a little they played with the Clevelands. There is a good deal in the papers now about Hallys comet, it comes but once on 75 years and will soon be visable to the eye in the early morning. Some people claim they have seen it but I guess they see the morning star Venus. I watched one morning but that was all I could see. Then after I read that the comet was not yet visable to the naked eye.
Friday April 15 Beautiful except one or two warm showers.
Saturday April 16 Fair day. Began to rain hard in the evening. Everybody tired out, the whooping cough makes trying times all around. The kids are cross and tiresome, Anna is about played out taking care of them cleaning up after them. They cough and spit and vomit and you just cannot prevent it no matter where they are in bed or in the parlor or at the table it comes anyway they get into a spasm of coughing all doubled up and trying to catch their breath and you cannot tell them or make them do anything. And as tired as I was I had to go down in the basement and put a tap on Bennetts shoes, when I was putting them to bed I discovered he had torn one entirely off and it would not do to let him wear them out of doors that way. “Bang” but children have no mercy on their parents.
Sunday April 17 It was raining when I got up at 5-30 and I had to go to work in the rain. I had to walk over, it takes me about 20 minutes to walk to the corner of Woodward and Boulevard where the office is. I worked from 7 A.M. to 10-30 A.M. then when I came home it was snowing as well as raining. It is a cold miserable day except towards night the sun came out and it was quite pleasant. The children have been fearfully trying Today and Anna said it was the worst day she has put in in a long time. They cough and cry and quarrel and get into mischief over and over again untill one could go mad and when at last it was night and the kids were in bed we breathed a sigh of relief but pshaw Howard began to cough and I ran up stairs but to late, his supper came up and it was on the bed and on the floor. I hated to tell Anna but she had to go and clean up and rags are getting so scarce that they are hard to find. When again all was serene and we were reading Bennett began and this time I jumped and ran a little quicker and thank goodness I got a vessel under his nose in time but goodness it is one thing after another all day and all night.
Monday April 18 Cold, threatening, disagreeable. Need a fire as much as in the winter our furnace going nearly as hard as ever. Baby Louise coughs the regular whooping cough way but does not whoop yet. I guess there is no doubt but that she has it but she is the best natured baby we have had, she has acted real sick Today and Anna has not done but little else than care for her, but usually she lies in her cart by the hour and coos and gurgles and always has a smile for any one who appears above the cart and then of course she teases to be taken up.
Tuesday April 19 Oh what a day, one of those days that always make me feel like 36 cents because I have to work out in it. It began raining about 7 A.M. and never let up a minute all day and the wind blew so it was impossible to keep dry with an umbrella and cold too, 40°. At night instead of riding my wheel or walking home I took the car down town and transferred up 14th stopping long enough at Peter Smiths to order groceries. It takes me about an hour to get home that way.
Wednesday April 20 Cold disagreeable about 40 above. Rain oh how it rained and beat against the north windows all night long and rained untill about 9 oclock this morning making over 24 hours of almost continuous rain. Hunter and Hunter at 177-181 Woodward Ave. were entirely destroyed by fire last evening and the neighboring stores were damaged by smoke and water. R. H. Fyfe shoe store on one side and Traver Bird Clothiers on the other side. The Papers say a $400,000 fire. It began at 6-15 P.M. and raged fiercely for 3 hours. I was by there not more than 3/4 of an hour before it started but I did not know anything about the fire untill morning.
Thursday April 21 Fine day, continuous cold around 40. Mark Twain is dead.
Friday April 22 Around 40, foggy morning. Fine day. Mrs. Burns called this A.M.
Saturday April 23 Rained last night and threatened rain Today, but did not rain. About 40 above this morning. Howard is getting over the worst of whooping cough and only coughs occasionally. But Bennett is just fearful he coughs untill he seems just about a goner and spits and vomits wherever he is, in bed or parlor, it makes no difference. When the coughing comes on he seems to become paralized and rooted to the spot and right there he fights it out and it seems as tho he would lose out once in a while. When it is over he wants to go and lay down on the couch and be covered up. It takes every bit of strength he has and he is thin and looks like a sick boy and it keeps Anna busy cleaning up after him all the time. Laurence scarcely coughs at all and he may not have it. Louise coughs quite a bit.
Sunday April 24 What a day, cold and rain 37. Raining when we got up and rained the biggest part of the day. Bennett seems to get worse instead of better, of the whooping cough. We are beginning to be alarmed about him he coughs so hard and vomits so much and he seems all worn out and sick. Anna is playing with the baby Louise she is the best natured baby you ever saw. She is squealing and talking and smiling and acting up and amusing the whole family sitting on her Mamas lap she would raise herself right up onto her feet she is so strong she has always held her head right up in the air from the day she was born. She has found her hands and she tries to reach them out and take things, put the wave around in the air a spell then usually fetch up in her mouth. Anna has put her on the floor by the radiator and Howard, Bennett and Laurence have formed a circle around her and all are laughing and talking of the wonders and calling to Mama to come and see her do things and Louise is kicking and puffing and squealing at a two forty gait, how children are when they are like that. Charlie Blair and wife called P.M.
Monday April 25 Rain all forenoon, miserable weather cold about 40. So wet I did not come home for dinner, got a lunch when I went by here.
Tuesday April 26 Rain a part of the forenoon went down town at noon and bought Howard and Bennett a pair of pants, Anna some stockings, Louise a couple of rattle boxes one to keep and one to play with, signed the pay roll and went back to work.
Wednesday April 27 Fine day Today but still cold around 40 and 50. Anna went down town Today noon while I took care of the kids. The whooping cough still whoops and Laurence coughs more like it but not near so hard as the rest and he has not spit any yet. Anna Fry called this evening.
Thursday April 28 More rain this forenoon and cold fearful weather, have to have a fire all the time. My bicycle tire has given out and I had to take my lunch today as I can not stand it to walk home and back to dinner and how I do hate to spend my noon hour over there at the office.
Friday April 29 More rain forenoon, afternoon it got hot and was disagreeably hot. Minnie Blair brought a dress home that she has been making for Anna.
Saturday April 30 Warm up between 50 and 60. Beautiful day but it had to sprinkle while the sun shone to keep up its record for raining every day. Came home by way of down town at noon and bought at the Royal Cycle Co. a 66 E H Fisk tire so I can have the use of my wheel again.
May 1910
Sunday May 1 Heavy rain last night but a pleasant day Today, cool enough so a fire feels good. Worked this A.M. Edna made us a call this forenoon. The whooping cough is wearing out a little, the last two nights have been very peaceful ones compared to them before but every time Howard or Bennett cough they vomit and some one has to be Johny on the spot with a vessel. Some people say oh let them catch the whooping cough and have it over with but goodness I would run from it as from the Devil because it is the worst thing we have had yet. Laurence and Louise do not vomit as yet and we hope they will not but Louise coughs and loses her breath and gets red in the face just frightful.
Monday May 2 Rain all last night and all forenoon, the weather is about as bad as I ever saw it. A good many people think it is Halleys Comet that is causing it well if it is I am glad it does not come oftener than 75 years. I went down town at noon and ordered groceries and changed a cap for Laurence that I got Sat. but it was too small.
Tuesday May 3 Cold, so cold I wore my winter coat and gloves, no rain up to noon but a high cold wind makes it very disagreeable. The papers say we had more rain in April than in any April since 1871. Bennett had a bad night last night coughing and whooping fearfully, vomited all over the bed. Mercy but it is interesting.
Wednesday May 4 Well this has been a beautiful day but very cool, If there was not a frost this morning it must have been mighty near it. Lots of people saw Halleys Comet this morning from 2.30 to 3.30 A.M. I intended to get up and see it but I did not wake up. Mrs. Burns and Belle Hardenburg called this P.M. and Minnie Blair was up to fit a waist she is making for Anna.
Thursday May 5 Beautiful day, cold white frost this morning. I saw Halleys Comet this morning it was rather dim and indistinct. I was disappointed but I presume it will get more brilliant as it rises earlier. I saw it about 3.30 just as I started to write this I heard Bennett begin to cough and up I got and up I trot as fast as I could, snapping on the light as I ran and grabbing a vessel that is kept ready I grabbed Bennett and held his head with one hand and poked the vessel under his nose with the other. That is what goes on more or less all evening and all night. You just have to get a hold of him and hold him over the vessel because he coughs and spits and vomits with out waking up lots of times and instead of helping he resists you with all his strength and yells “take it away” and ” want a drink” and he chokes and gasps and whoops untill you think he surely is a goner. Oh the whooping cough is nothing says some people let the children catch it and have it over with, well we certainly will be glad to have it over with all right enough.
Friday May 6 Beautiful day but rather cold, frost again this morning.
Saturday May 7 Beautiful day and warming up. King Edward the 7th died yesterday and of course the papers are full of him, he has been sick only a few days. I went down to the G.A.R. Hall tonight to a meeting of the Pay Masters Stockholders Pooling Trust but it was the same old story of needing money they are just a little short, only help them over this crisis and they will then make us all rich but I have no money anyway so they did not get any out of me. I tapped and heeled Howards shoes Today noon, I am getting to be a regular cobbler.
Sunday May 8 Beautiful warm day. No work. Went to church heard Mr Bruske of the Alma College, walked home with Sam and Belle and stopped there a while then walked home. The McLeods called this afternoon the kids have been rather strenuous all day. Anna has had a hard day and all together it has not been very pleasant.
Monday May 9 Beautiful day. Needed a fire this morning but it has been out this afternoon. Went down town after work and paid gas and phone but was too late to pay elec. lights, ordered a few groceries at Peter Smiths and came home. Louise is coughing terribly now but she does not whoop. Howard hardly coughs at all and Laurence either but Bennett keeps it up pretty well.
Tuesday May 10 Fine day but does not warm up very fast. Anna took Howard and went down [town] during my noon hour, or noon two hours, and bought Howard a suit at Hickeys and a cap and tie and of course Howard thinks he is made now. It was grey with a box plait coat quite a fine looking suit coat $5.00 that seems cheap especially now when everything costs so much.
Wednesday May 11 Fine day but cold. I put on my winter coat this morning, have to have a fire yet and I am afraid we will have to get in another supply of coal and that will break my heart. Howard went back to school this morning after an absence of 4 weeks and two days and he came home and said he got back just in time [to] catch the mumps as a boy came to school today that they thought had the mumps. Well I suppose if we get over the whooping cough we will be ready to take up the next microbe.
Thursday May 12 Pleasant but cold, still wearing my winter coat and keeping a fire. The boss went over my route with me Today. I had 90 lbs of mail all together and made 275 and put in 7.58 time.
Friday May 13 Cloudy damp some rain and oh so cold we feel it as much as winter the weather man said frost this morning but I do not think there was any but it is fearfully cold and disagreeable, top coat and gloves feel good. Some people claim it is Halleys Comet every thing is laid at the door of Halleys Comet. The papers say that the Negros in the south have quit work and are spending their time singing and praying and they are eating up their supplies and even the half grown vegetables. They are so sure the end of the world will come the 18th of this month when the earth passes through the tail of the comet. Today was Mothers day at school celebrated in honor of Mothers. I guess it is some new movement just started to teach appreciation and honor of Mothers. Howard teased to dress up in his new suit so he put on his new suit and skull cap all gray, an blacked his shoes or I did for him. Then he went and picked a small lilac for a button hole bouquet and I tell you he looked like a dude with his little umbrella for a cane because it looked like rain and off to school he went as proud as a King.
Saturday May 14 White frost, partly cloudy, 36. Bennett was fearfully sick to his stomach last night and kept us busy untill 12 oclock. He vomited again and again even a drink of water would not stay down. The bed had to be changed twice and it was so cold I thought I would freeze running to wait on him in my night shirt but he seems better today. I do not see how there is enough left of him to stand up but he is playing as hard and strenuous as ever.
Sunday May 15 Fine day but cold wind but I guess it is a little warmer. Worked Today from 7 to 10.30. The whole family took a walk this afternoon, went up to the Boulevard. Automobiles are so plentyful on the Boulevard that it looks like a procession and the people out for a walk look like a summer resort parade. We came home by way of 16th, Milwaukee, 14th and Marquette.
Monday May 16 Cloudy and cold but I think it is getting slightly warmer. I wrote a letter to the Mich. State Telephone Co. to disconect my telephone the first of June. I feel that I cannot afford to keep it in 2.00 a month is not very much but I feel that it is worth more in something else. A telephone is a wonderful thing and I wish I could afford to have one always. Murry our assistant boss got a new job today and McWilliamson takes his place.
Tuesday May 17 A little warmer, about 50, but we still have a little fire in the furnace. We had a fearful rain and windy afternoon. I got wet the skin, I stopped at home to change my shoes and stockings and pants and by the time I got back to the office I was nearly as wet again. But I took the car down town and up 14th and left an order for groceries at Peter Smiths.
Wednesday May 18 Beautiful day, quite windy. The thermometer got nearly up to 70. A great many people believe this is the last day of the world. Today and tomorrow Halleys Comet switches the Earth with its tail. I have not seen any thing or felt any thing out of the usual so far and it is now 9 P.M. The children are all asleep and Anna is working in the kitchen and every thing is as calm and peaceful as can be. I wish we could see the thing and see what the thing looked like any way but it is not visable here to night. I have been making garden Today. I spaded up a small space in the back yard and planted lettuce and radishes. The Morgans had flowers all around the yard and so we have dug up some of the less desirable ones and made a place for garden. Mrs. Burns was up this afternoon and Anna Fry and kids called about supper time.
Thursday May 19 Well we are all here yet, comet has not got us yet. In fact the scientists are at a lost to know what the matter is with the thing, its tail was sighted in the wrong place or something is out of whack. The papers say that comet parties were held every where to watch for it but nothing happened and I suppose the world will wag along in the same old wicked way it did before. The people that believed the world was coming to an end and were spending their time in praying and asking forgiveness of their sins will stop praying and go on in the same old way and the comet will start or keep on its same old ceaseless journey through space and will show up again in 75 years and scare the people again in the same old way. As for me, I and my family went to bed as usual and got us as usual and went to work as usual but any way today is the first real summer day we have had, it is actually hot and if the comet is responsible for that it is some thing to be thankful [for] any way.
Friday May 20 Rain nearly all the forenoon and hot. The comet is still causing considerable excitment and news paper talk but now it is only amongst the scientists. It has not acted just as it was scheduled to, it seems that the comet head and tail have parted company and they are not sure that the tail touched the earth at all and all kinds of opinions are advanced as to the reason and why fors of the thing acting as it did. I guess the best opinions are that the comet head is keeping up its schedule all right but has lost its tail through some force not exactly understood but any way the comet head has been sighted in the western sky minus its tails in about the place it was expected to be. Howard and I went down to the Y.M.C.A. building to night to see a swimming master teach swimming and also I thought he was going to show how to rescue a the drowning and how to resuscitate the drowning but he did not do that, he only does so on special nights. We watched them swim for a while and then went into the gymnasium and watched a game of indoor base ball. Howard enjoyed the ball playing the most, he says he loves to play ball.
Saturday May 21 Hot fine day, I wore my shirt waist today and was none to chilly either. Well the comet excitement is pretty well subsided and I suppose the next thing to exorcise the people will be some thing else. I went back to the Y.M.C.A. to night to see the swimming master do his stunt but was disappointed in his performance. He showed a few things about the resuscitating of the drowning but I wanted to see him get a drowning person out of the water. Bet he left that for the last thing on the program and when the time came the man that was to drown had gone home but there was games and fancy swimming and diving etc that was worth seeing. I had to pay 25¢ admission which I guess as it turned out I would have rather spent some other way. We got a letter from Mother today, she said the old Lady Herr died the 19th. She lived near Mothers and is an old neighbor of ours at Nankin Mills. Cut Bennetts Hair to night.
Sunday May 22 Very warm. Heavy rain and thunder last night, a little today. Anna got Howard ready and took him to Sunday School over on 14th, corner of Antoinette, it is a Baptist Church, rather a strange place for a Presbyterian but it is the nearest Church around here and that is far enough. Howard said he liked it. I did not have to work Today and I did not go any where. Anna and the kids took a walk up to the Boulvd. and back and I shaved while they were gone. The whooping cough has about disappeared it is only an occasional cough now and no whooping at all, thank goodness.
Monday May 23 Rain and more rain this forenoon. So wet I could not do any thing in the garden. Louise has at last succeeded in getting her toe into her mouth and oh wasnt it good, I tell you she just about ate it off but mercy what a good baby she is. She is so still and good in her cart most all the time one forgets she is around and what a smiler she is with her mouth wide open, she smiles at every body.
Tuesday May 24 Fine day but it is quite cold mornings. Planted beets and spinage. I saw an ad in the Free Press of a Lawn Mower and Hose for sale at 110 Hague Ave. I went up after work on my wheel and bought a Lawn Mower for 2.00 and 50 ft of hose all good, a reel, sickle, shears and sprinkler for 2.00 more. I thought it was a big bargain. I brought the mower home on my wheel and left the rest untill tomorrow. Mrs. Burns spent the afternoon with Anna and helped her sew.
Wednesday May 25 Cloudy, a few sprinkles and some sun shine. Went and got my hose and reel today noon. And the kids have had a circus all day. Howard cut the whole lawn and Bennett and Laurence have played cut the Lawn and pushed and pushed the mower around untill they were ready to drop to night.
Thursday May 26 Cloudy and cold, about 40 and the house was 56 when I got up and it was so cold I build a fire in the furnace at noon. Bennett has cought cold and coughs nearly as hard with whooping cough as ever but does not whoop.
Friday May 27 Beautiful day, still chilly but not as cold as yesterday. I am trying hard to get a little gardening done on a very small scale but I tell you it is mighty hard for me to do any thing extra and to night I feel like giving up.
Saturday May 28 Warm beautiful day. Worked at my Miniature garden, washed windows etc. Anna and I saw Halleys Comet this evening about 9 P.M. we had a splendid view but it does not look like much it looked like a fuzzy moon more than any thing else the tail was very indistinct.
Sunday May 29 Raining when I got up at 5.30 but soon stopped and the sun came out. Worked. Louise is six months old today. The other children could creep at six months, unless Laurence could not, I forget. But Louise has not had any chance, she has scarcely been on the floor at all. No body has time to teach her or pay much attention to her. She sits in the buggy hour after hour and is as good natured as can be. I tell Anna she must be foolish she is so good natured but her Mother thinks the world of her and calls her all the darling names in the baby dictionary and loves her when ever she can. She sleeps all night and is about the least trouble a baby could be. Of course she has bad spells enough so we really do not think she can be foolish. She sits straight up in the buggy and smiles at every body who will give her half a chance but I do not think she can sit up alone on the floor, she uses her hands a little but rather awkward. She can get her big toe into her mouth and is just the best baby that ever came down the pike.
Monday May 30 Decoration day and so cold, 40 to 46, and wet and rainy that I built a fire in the furnace and I guess we would have froze if I had not. The thermometer was about 40 and up to 46 but it seemed a great deal colder because it was so damp. Half Holiday and the mail was so light that it seemed like quite a rest. I was home by 11.30. I worked in the garden a while and tinkered around the rest of the time.
Tuesday May 31 Well it was snowing when I got up this morning about 5.30 big flakes were coming down with the rain. It did not show any on the ground but it was so cold I wore my winter coat and gloves at work. I ordered more coal and I guess we will have to keep a fire all summer. I do not see how any body could get along with out a fire it is rainy wet cold and horrid. Down to 34 above zero, the coldest 31 of May in history.
June 1910
Wednesday June 1 Cold, 39, and rain and more rain. Went down town after work and ordered groceries at Peter Smiths.
Thursday June 2 Warmer, about 40. When I got up the sun was shining and when I walked to work, because my bike was over there, it was a beautiful morning did not seem as tho it ever could rain again but fiddle by noon it was raining and it just poured all the afternoon. Every minute that I was on my route it rained and rained. And my feet and up to my knees was wet as water could make it. I came home and got my feet into hot water as soon as I could. Every body is so disgusted with the weather that they can hardly stay in the country. Every since the middle of April it has been mostly rain. To night the wind and rain sounds like a winter storm.
Friday June 3 Well no rain Today although it threatened all day. President Taft here to night but I am not even going to see him. I dont like him very well any way do not think he is strong enough to hold the big trust robbers in check, not much like Roosevelt. Roosevelt has been in Africa for a year hunting and is now in Europe being Lionized and feted by the chief moguls and high potentates and is written up as much as Taft he is more popular now than Taft. Mrs. Burns up Today. One year ago Today we moved into this house.
Saturday June 4 No rain Today and quite a fine day, wonderful. Fearfully tired to night. Anna has a bilious spell to night and I had to put the kids through the bath act and it is a job too.
Sunday June 5 Well it could not stand it any longer so it rained good and hard last night. Fairly nice day Today. Howard went to Sunday School and Bennett cried to go untill I had to spank him. He has not got fit shoes to wear so we would not let him go. I did not work Today.
Monday June 6 “Between 40 & 50.” More rain this forenoon and we have a fire in the furnace yet every day this month so far. Mrs. Burns up again, they have put these lots around here into the real estates hand and are asking only $425.00 for them. Morgan said he paid $700.00 for this one before the paving or sewers were in. I heard one man paid $110
Tuesday June 7 Well this has been a beautiful day. Warm in the sun, 50 -60. I was out looking for Halleys Comet last evening but I could not make it out. I wanted the children to see it so they could say they had. When they grow up and may be if they live 75 years they could see it twice but they have not seen it and I am afraid it has got too far away to distinguish it. The telephone man came Today and took our telephone out and although we did not use it enough to pay we hate to see it go. It is certainly a most wonderful invention to be able to talk to any one far and near, here and there, any where. We have had it just one year.
Wednesday June 8 Fine day and warm. Worked in the garden. The neighborhood is all up in arms and so excited they can do nothing but stand in groups and talk about it. Chicken thieves visited all the roosts around this neighborhood and carried off the biggest share of the chickens. Mrs. Cushing next door lost 15, Mrs. Frurip up farther some and all along on Milwaukee they say over a hundred was taken in all. And how they could visit so many coops and not wake any body up is a wonder to me. But it was done and the chickens are gone and with very small chance of ever catching the thieves the police were up looking around but that is all it will ever amount to.
Thursday June 9 Beautiful day and warm but is blowing up a cold breeze to night.
Friday June 10 Fair day.
Saturday June 11 Cold gloomy wet day. Misty rain nearly all day, so cold and damp that we built a fire in the furnace. This is the worst spring I ever remember and every body is completely discouraged over the weather. I guess summer will never come, vegetation seems to stand still and hardly grows at all.
Sunday June 12 Worked. Nice part of the time but heavy showers in the afternoon soaking pleasure seekers at all of the summer resorts and parks so much so that it was written up in the papers.
Monday June 13 Beautiful day, the sun felt like the real thing today, up to 82. Seemed really like summer and I hope it is. Mrs. Burns up. Planted some more seeds in my miniature garden.
Tuesday June 14 Well today I start my vacation of 15 days and two Sundays. I got up about as usual because I could not sleep longer that my habit, got my breakfast and then read the mornings paper. The papers are giving a great deal of space to Flying Machines. They seem to be coming right along and I suppose it will not be long before they will be as common as Autos. They have flown across the English channel and some one over in Europe flew for 2 or 3 hundred miles from one city to another. And Glenn H. Curtiss flew from New York City to Albany. And this mornings paper says Charles K. Hamilton flew from New York City to Philadelphia and returned which they say makes it the greatest feat in history. And in the mean time I am writing with Baby Louise on my lap and she wiggles so I can hardly write. Put up screen doors and window screens in.
Wednesday June 15 Another fine day up in the 80s. Went down town, sent some money for Butter and Eggs and ordered groceries at Peter Smiths. Then came home and took care of the kids while Anna and Howard went to the dentist. Howard had a root taken out, his teeth are bad but the dentist said it was best to let them wait for the new teeth. Anna has an ulserated tooth and some fillings to do.
Thursday June 16 Fine day, Hot as yesterday but more breeze. I took Howard and Bennett down town to see Ringling Bros Circus Parade. We took the 14th car to Jefferson and Bates and then walked out Jeff. a ways and met the parade coming in on Jeff. Then it came back after a while and we saw it again. This was the first they had seen and of course it was wonderful, the music, bears and Lions, tigers, camels and big big elephants and last the steam calliope. Then I bought Bennett a pair of shoes and came home Howard had to go to school with [out] any dinner except a banana & cookie.
Friday June 17 Hot day, up as high as 87. Nothing doing Today home all day. Swept the up stairs and sweat like a trooper.
Saturday June 18 Whew but it is hot up to 91 in the shade, a record breaker so the papers say. One week ago Today we had a fire in the furnace it was so chilly. We have had the coldest and the hottest June days in years this month. Anna went to the dentist this forenoon and has got to go again next week. The only place I went Today was over to the office after my money then I went and called on Geo.
Sunday June 19 Hot, up in the 80s. It is so hot I do not care to get out at all. Howard went to Sunday School and in the evening we all took a walk up to the Boulevard and over to 14th and down 14th and home on Marquette stopping at Mathews and getting a quart of Ice Cream, like every thing else [it] has gone up in Price, it was .25 but now it is .30 a quart.
Monday June 20 Hot, oh so hot, up in the 80s. I can not get up courage to go any where and it is precious little I do around the house and there is enough fixing to do to keep one busy for some time. The Detroit Industrial Exposition opens this evening. President Taft was to press the button at Washington and thus turn on the power. At 7 P.M. there was such a din of whistles blowing that you could not hear your self think for about 5 min.
Tuesday June 21 Hot still very hot, around 90. Anna and I washed because Mrs. Cushing could not do it untill late in the week. In the afternoon I went down town bought a shirt at Elliots then took in a 10¢ picture show.
Wednesday June 22 Still very hot, almost 90. Anna went to the dentist this forenoon. In the afternoon I took Howard to a picture show in the Drt. Opera House, fearful hot there. The pictures were fine and Howard enjoyed them especially the funny ones.
Thursday June 23 Fearful Hot, afternoon and evening just stifling up to 92, Hottest on record. Anna finished at the dentists this forenoon all together this siege cost her $12.00. Tried to rain this evening but could make out only a few sprinkles.
Friday June 24 Grand day. It got cool in the night and by morning we were looking around for cast off coverings and drawing them up over us. We put up a lunch this morning and Howard, Bennett, Laurence and I went to the Island then Anna and the baby Louise came over and joined us in the afternoon. And we all came home in the early Eve. all tired out. We had a fine time and saw the animals the Fish and new bath house and had a grand day. The car that Anna and Louise came on run into an Auto on Locust and a man and wife were badly hurt. Anna did not know how bad. The man had an ear torn off and the womans arm was smashed. Anna was very nervous all the rest of the day. It was Louises first ride on a car.
Saturday June 25 Beautiful day, cool. Howard, Louise, Laurence and Anna went down on Grand River at Sargeants and had Laurence and Louise photographed, then they went over on Avery and visited at Burns and Hardenbergs. Bennett and I went to Plymouth to see Grandma Dean and stay untill Sunday night.
Sunday June 26 Hot again. At Plymouth, came home about 6.30 P.M. Anna and Children were gone up to Harts so Bennett and [I] got out the hose and amused ourselves untill they came home.
Monday June 27 Fine day. Howard and I went to the Industrial Expo. I didnt think it amounted to much. Edna came up after Butter in the Evening.
Tuesday June 28 Hot, up around 90. Nothing doing.
Wednesday June 29 Queer hazy day kind of yellow, hot. All went up to McLeods in the Eve, they live on Scovel Place facing Taft Ave. quite a walk from here but it was a beautiful walk along the Boulevard. Coming home Laurence and Louise was asleep in the buggy and Bennett Grumbling because he was so sleepy. Laurence never woke up untill I was putting him into his bed then he said Papa is this my own little bedy. Yes says I and he said Oh? and was fast asleep again.
Thursday June 30 Fearful hot, up to 95, breaking records and the last day of my vacation, my how I hate to think of going back to work and it is so hot. To do something on my last day I took the afternoon boat “City of Toledo” to the Flats and at Tashmo I returned on the Tashmo boat. It is a beautiful ride across Lake St. Clare and then through the Flats with Hotels and cottages and Lawns and people, then the cool evening ride back. I wish we could go often but we can hardly ever get away.
July 1910
Friday July 1 Hottest day of the year and a record breaker up to 96 in the shade and I had to go back to work. Whew but I boiled and boiled and wished I was any old place but carrying mail. And the P.O. has put back in force the 48 hour for 6 days law so we can work more than 8 hours on a heavy day but not more than 48 hours in 6 days. Sundays we work as usual, so I had to work 1/2 hour longer Today to get through.
Saturday July 2 Fearful hot again today, my but I sweat I wish I was delivering mail to the North Pole ice burgs. Louise is so cross that Anna cannot do but precious little else but trot her. I suppose it is the heat and teeth.
Sunday July 3 Hot in the morning but got cool by night. Got up and went over to the office to work only to find it was not my Sunday to work, came back and put in the day resting.
Monday July 4 Glorious Forth and an ideal day, bright and cool, almost cold in the evening. Work forenoon and afternoon worked around mostly Lawning the grass as the children call mowing the grass. In the Eve. sat on the steps and watched the neighbors shoot off fireworks. We did not get very much to celebrate with we believe in the sane 4th as they call the no fire works 4th. Howard had a few fire crackers, it was so chilly we had to put on coats. Laurence & Bennett sat with me on the steps and hugged up close to keep warm. Anna sat inside, Louise does not think much of the fire works she was afraid and hid her face in her Mamas neck. Howard was running back and forth from the Richards and chasing sky rockets sticks and Roman candles Etc. I suppose Jeffries and the Negro Johnson fight out in Nevada for the champion of the World this afternoon. The papers are full of it and there is a great deal of interest and excitement over it. Of course the better class of people try to stop it but they always find some place to bring it off. Lot of money is up, the fighters will win over a hundred thousand dollars. I cannot help but hope the white man will win but do not care but very little. I do not believe in it and think it a disgrace to [all] civilization. Well they say that Johnson won so the colored man is the Champion brute of the World.
Tuesday July 5 Cool and fine.
Wednesday July 6 Hot and close. Sticky and horrid, a few sprinkles of rain. Went down at noon and paid Gas, Electric lights and water tax. Howard went to a birthday party down in the next block, people by the name of Lamb.
Thursday July 7 Hot, fearful hot, about 84 but so muggy and sticky.
Friday July 8 Hot always hot and no let up. Howard sick Today, complains of headache and throat is hot and feverish and bad stomach. We are scared stiff for fear he is coming down with scarlet fever. The Summers girl across the street has it but it may be just the heat. Belle Hardenberg and Mrs Burns up this evening.
Saturday July 9 Hot always hot, up around 90. Howard is better Today and Laurence is sick Today just like Howard was yesterday. Laurence was awfully sick to stomach. My but it is hot and I feel like a dish rag with out enough strength to stand straight.
Sunday July 10 Hot same old story, quite a breeze Today that helps some. Worked this morning, and it was mighty hard to get up and go. The employees of the P.O. are working to abolish the Sunday work and I hope they succeed quick. Laurence is better today and Bennett has got it Today, all are sick just about alike, some microbe must be going the rounds. Louise sits alone now and helps herself to things and wiggles and rolls around on the floor but does not creep nor has she any teeth yet.
Monday July 11 Cooler up to 84 but a fine breeze made it quite a delightful day. I suppose the City is full of Elks but I have not seen any thing unusual. They are here this week and the City is out doing itself to entertain them.
Tuesday July 12 Well I woke up some time in the night and it was raining, the first real rain in a month and the extreme heat made the country as dry and hard as a bone. It was very welcome and we have had showers all day. I suppose maybe the Elks do not like it but ever body else does. They say the City is beautiful decorated down town. I have not seen it yet. I would like to go and see all the parades and doing but of course I cannot.
Wednesday July 13 A delightful day, up about 80. Anna and Howard went down town after 8 this Eve. to see the decorations. They came back about 10.30 and said the crowds were fearful and they could not take any comfort seeing things at all. The decorations and lights are fine but it is all they are worth to get to see them.
Thursday July 14 Beautiful day and the P.O. employees were given a half holiday on account of the Elks. I went down to see the parade. Well the parade was fine and long, 2 hours in passing, but the crowds and crowds of people. People in every window of every store and building on the route, people up in trees on awnings, on boxes on stepladders on every thing they could get on that would let them see over the people in front. The streets were lined 6 or 8 deep on the curb for a long time I could not see a thing of the paraders but finally found a spot where I could see over the heads of others and coming home it took so long to find a car that I could squeeze onto. I am more tired to night than I would have been if I had worked a good deal.
Friday July 15 Hot. Automobile parade is the Elks big event for Today. They started at Woodward and Boulevard. It was a big showing of Autos, floats, decorations, Etc. Anna took the children over to see it. She got there a little late and after it was over she called on Geos. family, they live at 3 Milwaukee W. I saw a little of the parade.
Saturday July 16 Fearful hot and muggy untill 3 P.M. a thunder and Lighting and rain storm came up and lasted about 1/2 hour and cooled it off untill it was chilly by night. I suppose the Elks are leaving today, they are having Flying Machine exibitions at the Fair Grounds but that is the last.
Sunday July 17 Quite cool down in the 60s but fine day. Did not work. Nothing doing at home. Louise crept a little Today.
Monday July 18 Cool beautiful day, just fine.
Tuesday July 19 Fine day.
Wednesday July 20 Nice day. Mrs. Burns up.
Thursday July 21 Anna and kids took a walk up to Frys this evening, they live at 729 Milwaukee W.
Friday July 22 Getting warm again. Went down town after work this afternoon and bought Howard a pair of Elkskin shoes, ordered groceries at Peter Smiths. Edna up this evening.
Saturday July 23 Fearful hot and muggy. Storm about 1.30 P.M. but it seemed hotter than ever afterwards.
Sunday July 24 Hot, a little rain, some wind but still awfully hot. And oh the flies, they torment the life out of any one. I never saw so many flies in my life as this summer. Mosquitoes are not so bad but the flies make it all up. Worked this A.M. 7 to 10-30. Big storm this evening, thunder, lighting, rain, wind.
Monday July 25 Hot, the storm last Eve. [did] not cool us off much, the thermometer gets up to about 84 or 85 but it seems a great deal hotter. Planted some more carrots, beets, and string beans.
Tuesday July 26 Hot, about 84. Cool nights tho. Went to a meeting of the Post Office employees this evening. Senator J. C. Burrows spoke. Congressman Edwin Deuby, Post Master Homer Warren, Asst. P.M. Chas. Swan and a few lesser lights spoke. The subject was on the retirement bill to retire employees in their old age with pay. It rained like the old Harry about 10.30 when I wanted to come home and I had to wait some time for it to stop.
Wednesday July 27 Still hot, 86, but got cool in the Eve. Anna and kids went up to Anna Frys this morning and staid untill about 5-30 this afternoon. Aunt Dill and Aunt Cornilia were there and they went for a walk out to the LaSalle Gardens and to the LaSalle Park. Anna said it is beautiful out there but only about a half dozen houses are built out there now. Anna fell down Frys steps and was bruised pretty badly but thank goodness no bones were broken.
Thursday July 28 Beautiful day but of course it was hot. All days are hot this summer. The thermometer stays up around 85 about all the time but our house is cool nights. I have not lost any sleep on account of the heat nights but it must have been fearful in close quarters. Anna does not feel much the worse for her fall yesterday.
Friday July 29 Hot untill about 5 P.M. then it looked so it was going to storm fearfully. It thundered and lightened but only a few drops of rain fell then it cleared but it cooled us off.
Saturday July 30 Beautiful day, about 80. I took a pair of gas pliers and pulled a back upper tooth to night, it has troubled [me] for a good many years off and on. First the roots ulcerated, a dentist ..tated that. Then the gums parted so the roots were exposed and it has been getting looser all the time and was so tender I could not chew on that side so I got mad and out she came. So I have added a new trade to my long list, I barber the kids hair, cobble their shoes and am a general all round jack of all trades.
Sunday July 31 Really cool this morning. Worked Today for 198, he is on his vacation. I do his Sunday work while he is gone and he mine while I am gone. Anna and kids took a walk up on the Boulevard and they saw a grass fire. Some one turned in an alarm and they saw the Engines come and the kids was tickled to death. When they got home they told me all about it in an excited way. Every once in a while Laurence would but in and say Papa, Papa, I saw the hook and Ladder, that was all he could tell about it.
August 1901
Monday August 1 Cool, 76, cloudy and threatening and in the evening we had a furious storm. I cut Laurences hair and I tapped his sandals sewed on a sole and it was a job and it will probably last about as long as I was a doing it. The kids wear our shoes to beat the band. I suppose it is the cement side walks, a sole does not last much more than a month.
Tuesday August 2 Fine day, warm. Cleaned up the cellar Today. Anna getting ready for company tomorrow and is killing herself trying to slick up a little.
Wednesday August 3 Fearfully hot and muggy, awful about 86 but seemed as tho it was 100. Anna had company Today Anna Fry and two boys, Aunt Dill Hart and Aunt Cornelia Blair. Inez Hart is out West spending her vacation.
Thursday August 4 Fine day cool breeze all day, 76. I went down town Today noon and spent all my money. Paid the City Taxes $21.32, House and barn Fire Ins. for 3 years form July 15 $12.60, Gas 1.84, Elec. light .88, groceries 3.25, Bennett a pair of bare foot sandals 1.25. It takes the savings of all the year to pay taxes and Ins and other assesments from July to Dec. Mrs. Larkins and daughter Mrs. Baldwin called on Anna today. Roy Hardenberg told me Today that Uncle Asa had received a telegram a day or two ago that Uncle Warren Joy of Portland Oregon was dead.
Friday August 5 Beautiful day, cool and fine, 75. Anna and children went down on Avery to visit old neighbors. Mrs Burns and Bell Hardenberg two of the old neighbors came here to call on her. Edna came up this Eve to get butter.
Saturday August 6 Fine day, cool and fine, 81, windy. Hard day heavy mail, did not finish in 48 hours this week, curtailed about an hour.
Sunday August 7 Cool and cloudy. Howard and Bennett at Sunday School. Anna ironed last night untill about 12 then the baby kept her up nearly all the rest of the time. I walked the floor with her for a while and finally got her to sleep.
Monday August 8 Fine day, got pretty warm, 76.
Tuesday August 9 Threatening a little rain, 80. Got up wrong this morning and have not got straight yet. The clock was an hour behind. I supposed I got up about 5.20 and it was 6.20 and I have to be at work at 6.30, well I got there but without any breakfast and only half buttoned up. Some such thing happens about once a year. Baby Louise is crosser than sam patch to night, Anna is trying to get her to sleep but Louise only cries and cuts up.
Wednesday August 10 Rain in the evening. Hot about 80. Our next door neighbor Mr Jess Stout, 307 Hecla, is a drinking man and did not pay his rent so his furniture was taken away today and he was minus a house. He and his family have been away for a week or two and in the mean time a notice or summons has been tacked to his door.
Thursday August 11 Fine day, cool and fine.
Friday August 12 80°. Mrs. Burns and Fannie Hanna up.
Saturday August 13 Very warm, 86.
Sunday August 14 Very warm, clear. Home all day. Too hot to even breathe.
Monday August 15 Hot always hot and every thing is as dry and the ground is as hard as a rock. Anna went over and called on Mrs Summers across the way. This neighborhood is not much on the call. Louise has a tooth discovered today. I hope it will make her better natured, she has been fearful lately. It is a down stair front tooth just peeping through.
Tuesday August 16 Hot, about 82 but seems a great deal hotter. Threatened rain but did not rain.
Wednesday August 17 Fearful hot, 91. Rain in the evening but did not cool any. Sam & Belle, Maggie Joy and her husband were here this evening.
Thursday August 18 Heavy rain about 8 oclock A.M. and how good it seemed, got cool by night.
Friday August 19 Cool fine day, 72. Mrs Burns up P.M. Aunt Dill called.
Saturday August 20 Cool fine day, 75. Went down town this evening. Bought a silver meat fork to send to Mrs & Mrs Dr J. M. Armstrong of Los Angeles, Cal. 25th wedding anniversary but goodness I was so tired it was a night mare for me, the streets and cars are so crowded that it is a nuisance to go down town.
Sunday August 21 Very warm but pleasant, 85. Worked. Home all the rest of the day.
Monday August 22 Very warm, 80.
Tuesday August 23 Hot and sticky, fearfuly disagreeable, threatening all day, did rain a little this morning.
Wednesday August 24 Fearful Hot day so muggy and sticky, the worst I ever knew. Edna up this evening after butter. Fearful Forest fires out in the Northwest Montana, a great many lives lost and millions of dollars worth of trees. Louise has another lower tooth along side the one she got a week ago.
Thursday August 25 Hot and sultry, 82, in spite of the fact it is cloudy and windy. Heavy rain afternoon and evening. Cora Manning came this P.M. to make a short visit, she has two of her brother Geos. children with her. His wife is dead and Cora is taking Gladys and Mary, 12 and 4 years, to live with her. He has an older boy who will stay with him and another boy who is to stay with another sister here in Detroit. Cora is a Kindergarten teacher on Staten Island New York City and I think she has her hands full.
Friday August 26 Cold Today, 68. It got chilly after the rain and seems cold but a bright beautiful day. Cora and her charges departed Today. Went from here to her sister over on Brooklyn Ave.
Saturday August 27 Chilly, it seemed cold enough for a frost this morning but a bright beautiful day.
Sunday August 28 Chilly morning but a beautiful day, about 75. I got up at 6 shaved got my breakfast and made my sneak before any body else was up. I took the 7.45 car for Wayne there I took the car for Plymouth, visited with Mother and Father all day and came home in the evening loaded with sweet corn and eggs. It was a fine ride out there and back because at the time I went and came the car was not crowded and it was cool and breezy and fine.
Monday August 29 Warming up, beautiful day, 75. Anna and the kids went down on Avery after dinner. They like to go there and visit the old neighbors. I guess we will never find another place that we will like as well as we all liked Avery.
Tuesday August 30 Got hot again this afternoon. Anna done a big washing Today and she herself is done up to night. The Kids help some, I dont know whether they help as much as they hinder or not. Howard helps Anna, Bennett minds the baby and Laurence just makes a general nuisance of him self. I am awfully tired too the clock just struck 9 and I think I will roll in.
Wednesday August 31 Rained, cold at night. Went down town at noon I had 56.56 in my pocket when I went down and .88 cents when I came back. I paid my premium on the New England Life, $50.80, ordered 3.72 worth of groceries at Peter Smiths, got leather and supplies to cobble shoes, bought Anna 10¢ sugar bowl and creamer and came home busted. It keeps us right down poor to pay our assesments. I wish to goodness we could have that money to buy things to make us more comfortable.
September 1910
Thursday September 1 Cold, 68, chilly enough for an overcoat last night.
Friday September 2 Fearfully chilly nights, but a bright day.
Saturday September 3 Fearful hot and sultry, 82, untill afternoon then it rained and got cooler. Guess I never was so tired in my life as I am to night. I get more and more tired as the week goes by and by Saturday night I am all in. Tomorrow is our 15th wedding anniversary and we wanted to have a little better dinner and I tried several shops to get a chicken but could not find one. And after supper I was so tired I went to bed without having got a speck of meat of any kind. I felt cross enough and out of sorts enough to eat a ten penny nail.
Sunday September 4 Rainy and cold, cold enough for a fire. And Today is our 15th wedding anniversary. Well I got up and went to work at 7 everybody had to work on account of Primary Election “vote for me” letters. When I came home at 10.30 I stopped and bought 1/2 lb of Roasted Pork at .45 a pound and a box of Nabisco wafers so we might have at least a sandwich on our anniversary. 15 years married, that seems like a long time. We have 4 kids to show for it, not much wealth surely but good health and an abundance of work. It seems like work work and more work. We find it no snap to take care of 4 kids, support them, on $100.00 a month at the ever increasing cost of necessities. I used to think if I could get $100.00 a month I would be rich but I find it far from riches now. In the evening Anna and Howard went to the Drug Store at the corner of Milwaukee and 14th and got a quart of Ice Cream [got] cought in a rain shower but got home without getting very wet.
Monday September 5 Labor day 1/2 holiday. Hot and sultry almost miserable, 84. Not much of a holiday so much Primary Election stuff that I put in 6 hours and 15 minutes with one trip. Anna is 37 years old today and such a birthday. She did a big washing and made a birthday cake and a few fixings for supper and the baby is so cross, nearly sick I guess. Anna said it was the hardest day she had put in many a moon and at night the baby would not go to sleep. Anna rocked and fussed untill she gave out and began to weep bitter tears of discouragement and wariness. Then I got up and walked the floor with Louise untill she went to sleep. Then Anna had to pile out soon after sick herself to her stomach all together it was any thing but a pleasant [day]. Howard gave Anna her only birthday present. He went to the store and came back as proud as a King with a penny pen wiper which was received very thankfully and graciously. Fixed a corner of the roof where a board was gone. Cut Howards hair and cobbled shoes.
Tuesday September 6 Another fearful sultry day, 81. My it just bears on ones nerves, cross is no name for it. I went down stairs to fix my shoes with my cobblers set. I thought it would take me about 5 minutes and of course the kids came down to help. When I wanted a tool some one would have it, when I laid any thing down some one would grab it. Finally Bennett tipped my box of cobblers nails over and mixed them all up on the floor all in a heap, big and little. I picked some thing up and told him he better get out of my sight and you ought to see him disappear up the stairs. Laurence says “you wont hurt me will your papa.” I says I dont know I am so mad you better get too and up the stairs he went. My 5 minutes work as usual lengthened out to an hour or more. School begins Today. Bennett starts for kindergarten. He did so hate to make the start, he is rather bashful but we have never let him think for a minute that he could stay away from school so he went thinking that he just had to go because that was the beginning of all Childrens life work. Mrs. Burns came up and helped Anna with the kids so Anna could take him.
Wednesday September 7 Hot and oppressive, 71. Bennett likes Kindergarten after he gets there but he starts away from home like a Martyr going because it was duty. Howard starts in the A3rd this year. Lydia Joy McNab has a daughter born yesterday.
Thursday September 8 Hot and oppressive, 78. Rain in the evening. Mowed the lawn at noon and raked it at night and went to bed so tired I could not think.
Friday September 9 Turned cool and bright. Mrs. Burns up Today. They are full of Florida. They have made payment on 10 acres of land away down in the lower end of Florida near Miami. They say there is fortunes to be made in gardens.
Saturday September 10 Nice day, cool. Shivery nights. Tired out as usual at the end of the week and so is every body in the family. I guess by the way they act. And Saturday nights we all have to have a bath and it is such a job to bathe the kids. Our gas heater does not work and we have to heat the water down in the basement where we wash and carry it up stairs.
Sunday September 11 Beautiful day but very chilly. Worked this morning. Mr & Mrs Burns came up towards evening and talked Florida. They have decided to pull up and go about the middle of October with several other families that are going to the same place. Mr Burns gives up a book keepers position in a Cigar Factory and Donald their only son a position in a Auto Mfg. office and are going down there expecting to make big money gardening.
Monday September 12 Beautiful day, hot again, 83.
Tuesday September 13 Beautiful day. Getting cold, 66. Anna washed. Cleaned the furnace this evening.
Wednesday September 14 Beautiful out side (64) but cold inside Howard sick Today came home from school sick. Had a fire this afternoon.
Thursday September 15 Fine day and warmer, 71. Mrs Burns up. Edna up this evening after butter. Howard back to school Today but is not very well. As soon as he starts for school the colds and coughs begin for the winter.
Friday September 16 Fine day, warmer, 76. Bennett seems to have Howards cold and did not go to Kindergarten. Laurence has a bad tooth and they all including Louise seem a pretty cross lot.
Saturday September 17 Beautiful day, 76. Rain in the evening. My 48 hours was up at noon today so I did not have to go to work this afternoon. Anna took Louise and went up and called on Lydia Joy McNab and saw the new baby girl. Then went to Aunt Dills but no one was at home. I went down in the basement and made Howard a board cart.
Sunday September 18 Cloudy cooler and cold at night. I did not have to work Today. Howard and Bennett to Sunday School. Bennett without a hat because he could not find it. No one else left the house and no one came. Rather a dull day. I read stories to the kids untill my tongue was stiff.
Monday September 19 Fine day, warming up. State Fair begins today but I guess it will have to do with out me as I cannot afford to go.
Tuesday September 20 Beautiful day. Went down Cor 12th & Forest where I use to vote and got a removal slip and came back to the Cor. of 12 & Kirby and registered. Anna bought 3 pks Peaches of Tony and we peeled peaches after the kids were in bed. Anna did a big washing in the forenoon. No school Today, it is scholars day at the State Fair so Howard helped. He is pretty good about helping of course some times he wants to play. And Today he teased to have me take him to the fair and I would like to go and take him but it is the old cry, cannot afford to lose the time and the fee too.
Wednesday September 21 Beautiful day, grand. Strail is building a flat I suppose it is to be next to Summers across the street, started this morning. Summers wanted the lot but Strail got a head of them and would not give way to them, he seemed to be spiteful about it. Oehler is building just above here and houses are starting nearly every day. The lots were all sold off this summer so I suppose Hecla, 12th and Avery will be built up solid in a year or so. I do not like it. I would rather see the fields.
Thursday September 22 Fine day. Mrs. Burns up again. Down town at noon to order groceries got a bottle of leather cement and put a patch on my shoe at night.
Friday September 23 Rain, lots of rain. Not very cold but built a fire because it was so damp. Anna is putting up a bushel of tomatoes.
Saturday September 24 Rain and more rain. Warm, Hot about 71.
Sunday September 25 Cloudy and chilly, 71, fire all day. Went to work and found a world of mail. The mail gets heavier right along, it does beat all where it comes from. There will be a fearful load tomorrow and I hate to think of lugging it out. The paper says Detroit gets 29 new carriers the 1st of Oct. and that ought to help some. Anna and kids took a walk this afternoon and while they were gone Aunt Dill came and woke me out of a sound sleep. She is so deaf I cannot say anything to her, I just have to listen and look intelligent. Inez came later and Anna came back and they had a good visit.
Monday September 26 Rain. Quite warm, 64.
Tuesday September 27 Fine day, cool wind, 64.
Wednesday September 28 Fine day.
Thursday September 29 Fine day. We tried a new wet and wash laundry and the clothes came home fine and were hung up to dry. Anna has been doing the washing all summer and it was pretty hard but it was equally as hard to get any one to do it. Anna and Mrs. Richard, Bennett, Laurence and Louise went to call on Mrs Fey but she was away.
Friday September 30 Fine day, beautiful weather. Home early this afternoon on account of the 48 hour law, we have to reserve 8 hours for Sat now. I cut Bennetts hair and tapped his sandals. Mrs. Smitherman called Today, she is one of Annas pupils when she taught school at Northville.
October 1910
Saturday October 1 Elegant day. Bright and warm.
Sunday October 2 Cloudy windy and cold, about 60. Had a good fire in the furnace all day. No work today. Howard and Bennett went to Sunday School. I have to read the funny paper to the children and all the childrens page then if I have any more time and patients they look up a few story books. Howard will listen all day to stories and is always teasing us to read to him. Bennett will most always listen a while then slip down off my lap an go away. We all took a walk out the Boulevard this afternoon. The Automobiles run along one after another so close it seems like a procession, it is hard to get a chance to cross the street.
Monday October 3 Bright and warm. When we went to bed last night we thought we were going to freeze but when we got up this morning it was as warm as summer.
Tuesday October 4 Warm rain almost hot and muggy. Louise is just beginning to creep on her hands and knees. She has always pulled herself along on her stomach. And she will hang on and walk with any thing that moves. And she seems to know Papa. Mama says wheres Papa and Louise will very cautiously look around at me then shyly hide her face in her Mamas neck. She is very shy even of her Papa. And she is a little nuisance just now she wants her Mama to hold her all the time and creeps around after her crying and weeping big tears. Her Mama works with one hand and Louise hanging over the other arm a good share of the time. She will let most any body take care of her if they will only keep on the move either carrying her or riding her in the buggy or go cart. One of the Cassidy girls takes her out for a ride quiet often. Mrs. Jacobs over on 12th comes once in a while to help. She is a sort of neighborhood care taker. Louise has only two teeth yet and seems such a tiny thing. She is only a spot on the floor with a head held a way up and back to look up at you and smile.
Wednesday October 5 Another rainy damp and warm muggy day.
Thursday October 6 Rain all day and cold freezing, 50, cold by night. Got my feet soaking wet twice Today. Fire in the furnace all day. Uncle Herbert Clarkson from Chicago came just at supper time unexpectedly. He is taking his annual vacation. Will stay over night only.
Friday October 7 Fine day but chilly. Uncle Herbert Clarkson went to Northville this morning and probably that is the last we will see him for another year. I had the afternoon off and cleaned up the alley and then started an ash pile. Anna took Louise and went visiting down on Avery. Bennett had a bad cold and the croup last night. I have a cold and bad stomach and of course [am] cross.
Saturday October 8 Bright and chilly. I think we must have had our first frost the last two nights. Every thing has had a good chance to ripen but every thing is high at that.
Sunday October 9 Cloudy, cold and gloomy, 50. Hot fire all day. Worked lots of mail. Home all day.
Monday October 10 Beautiful day. Anna and children took a walk over on 14th and paid the gas bill. When we pay any where else but at the gas office we have to pay .05 extra. They have pay stations throughout the City and sometimes it is hard to get down town and so find these places convenient occationly.
Tuesday October 11 Perfectly beautiful day, warm and bright. Went down town after work and bought me a new uniform cap, ordered groceries, came home tired out.
Wednesday October 12 Beautiful day, cold wind. Anna and children went down on Avery again this afternoon to visit Mrs. Burns. They are packing up to go to Florida to live on a fruit farm. 50 families are going from here all to the same place. Edna came home with Anna to get a crock of butter. She brought Louise a doll, one of the new friek things like a teddy bear with a babies head and face. Louise grabbed it as though she appreciated it. I put a new pair of rubber heals on my shoes Today and also a patch cemented on one. I am getting to be a first class cobbler. This is Columbus day and the schools close Today.
Thursday October 13 Beautiful day, just the kind of weather that is finer outside than inside. Bennett is very much interested just now in Kindergarten. He is making wonderful things out of paper and nearly every day he says he has a secret and wont tell untill it is all done then he is going to bring it home and show us. He brought home [a] wagon made out of paper the other day. It was very nicely made and pasted together looked like this [sketch of a wagon]. Then he told us the story of the little red hen that lived down by the hill and the big wolf that come and [caught] her and how she escaped. I think it wonderful how they remember the stories seemingly word for word. Howard used to and he told so many stories. Bennett is a little more shy than Howard and it takes more tact to get him started but the ways of school are so different than when I used to go it makes me envious of the kids now adays.
Friday October 14 Beautiful day. Grand weather. I do not believe we have had any killing frost yet. The grass is as green and thrifty as mid-summer. I hear people say they are having the second crop of some garden truck and also of roses etc. The stuff in our garden is still green and thrifty looking, like carrots, beets and flowers. The trees look like fall and the leaves are falling fast.
Saturday October 15 Still beautiful, warm and grand. But the usual Saturdays hard work has been gone through and the last thing is bathing the kids and getting them in bed and that usually takes the combined effort of Anna and I. We have to heat the water down [in the] cellar on the laundry gas stove then carry it up to the bath room in a pail. Laurence usually goes to sleep at the supper table and when he gets a bath he has to be kept awake and that means he must be amused.
Sunday October 16 Beautiful day, just grand weather, the thermometer between 70 & 80. We were getting ready to go up to McLeods after dinner when they came down here. Mr. McLeod is thinking of changing for a clerks position but he cannot learn the scheme or thinks he cannot and he is dreadfully discouraged. He is worse than I am that is more discontented and discouraged. The work of carrying mail is awfully hard and tiresome and no chance of advancement. And as one grows old it is hard to think of tramping through old age to the end and there is not very much hope of saving enough to quit untill you drop.
Monday October 17 Beautiful day. Wonderful weather. Every body remarks about the weather we are having.
Tuesday October 18 Beautiful and hot up above 80. The evening was perfectly beautiful and warm. Anna and I sat out on the porch a long time after the children had gone to bed and the neighbors were out. It seemed like midsummer in every way except the trees they are quite bare and the leaves are all turned but the grass and fields look as green as ever.
Wednesday October 19 Still beautiful. I am still traveling around in my shirt waist. Walter Wellman has got safely back from another one of his big Bluffs. He started for Europe in his big Balloon but of course got safely rescued before he got very far on his way. He made two or three very safe starts for the North Pole but not far enough to be in any danger. All he seems to want is news paper notoriety. He is about as big a bluffer as Cook who claimed he went to the North Pole.
Thursday October 20 Got windy and cold, built fire at noon. Weather man says killing frost to night.
Friday October 21 Not as cold as we expected, no killing frost last night. Damp and rainy Today. Louise is crosser than a bear and she has a sore swelling on each knee. I suppose it must be from creeping. She creeps on her hands and feet Today but one finger has a sore knuckle [and] looks inflamed and puffy. And of course we worry and wonder if she has some thing the matter. She certainly makes life interesting for her Mother. She has a couple of upper teeth coming through and that probably helps.
Saturday October 22 Cold, damp and windy. Louise and Bennett made it interesting last night. Bennett coughed and hollered for a drink and to go on the chair half the night. And if Louise couldnt have the nurse in her mouth every minute she yelled and so it went a good share of the night.
Sunday October 23 Fine day, chilly. Worked. Nothing doing. Anna intended to go down to Burns this afternoon but did not want to wear her old hat so waited untill after dark then she and Howard went down and left me with the other 3 kids. The kids went to sleep. I washed up the dishes and wrote a letter to my Mother.
Monday October 24 Nice day, but one feels the need of a fire in the house.
Tuesday October 25 Nice day.
Wednesday October 26 Not so nice, some rain, disagreeable. Went down town at noon, signed the Pay Roll, ordered groceries of Peter Smith & Sons. Mr. Hutchins called with an electric light fixture I ordered. I wanted a chain pull in my room so I could tie a string to it and light it from the bed and a light down in the basement over my bench. The Burns were up this evening, Donald gave Howard his Magic Lantern.
Thursday October 27 Cold Today, from 39 up to 50.
Friday October 28 Colder, from 33 up to 39. Cold wind, put on my winter coat this afternoon. The Burns family are here to night to stay untill they start to Florida tomorrow night. They have sold their house on Avery and sold their Furniture except a few pieces they brought up here and some they sent to Florida. Donald made a Morris Chair and they did not want to sell it so they gave it to us but it has no cushions and his high chair a book rack and a few childrens books and other things they gave to us that they did not want to sell or could not sell. It is so cold to night I would like to start for a warmer country my self.
Saturday October 29 Whew down to 26 this A.M. got up to 40. A beautiful day but one wants gloves and overcoat. Ice on the wet places and a hard white frost and really the first killing frost we have had. The Burns here Today, they started away about 8 to night for the Depot their train goes at 10 some thing. They are off for Florida to farm it on 10 acres of land near Homestead south of Miami and I wonder how they will come out. I cannot imagine Mr Burns farming it but Donald is a big strapping boy of 16 and he thinks he is going to like it and he may make a success of it but I am awfully anxious to hear from them and I hope they will succeed. Maybe if they succeed I will be tempted to try some thing like it.
Sunday October 30 Beautiful day but cold, 34 to 50, getting warmer. Home all day. Howard and Bennett went to Sunday School they [were the] only ones to stir out. Louise does not seem very well and is hard to care for. I suppose it is teeth. I always have to read the funny page of the paper to the kids then the childrens page then all the other stories they can get me to read. They have an animal story book that I read over and over they never get tired of hearing stories about the little cub Bear that would not mind his Papa. No body came to see us and we went to see no body.
Monday October 31 A perfectly beautiful day, warmer, 38 to 60. This is Halloween night but not much going on around here. Our kids had false faces and bean blowers and lots of talk about what they were going to do but they had all their fun during the day. They wanted to go out after supper and we let them but Bennett and Laurence came right back and wanted to go to bed. Howard staid a while but not long. Mildred Mathews over on Vermont invited most of the children in the neighborhood to a party but did not invite Howard and Howard wanted to go dreadfully bad. We do not know why but I guess she invited girls and their brothers if they had any. Howard not having any sister big enough did not get an invite. I do not think it was intended to slight him but he soon went to bed and forgot his troubles. I wish older people could forget troubles as easy as children.
November 1910
Tuesday November 1 Fine day and warm, up to 45-58 about 5 oclock then it began to rain a little and get cold and windy and now 10.30 it is howling and raining out side. Anna intended going to see about a hat but it rained so she could not go, now she is nursing Louise. She has been ironing. I have been figuring up our monthly accounts and dosing in my chair and finally writing this book up since last thursday. I let it get behind then it is hard to remember back. The other kids have been in bed for hours and it is away past my bed time so I must go down and fix the fire in the furnace and get to bed.
Wednesday November 2 Fair day, 36-44. Anna and Howard went down on Grand River after supper to order Anna a new hat. It Sprinkled a little as they went. I staid home with the other kids but they were all asleep.
Thursday November 3 Cloudy and threatening, damp and chilly, 31-41. I put a glass in one of the cellar windows in the evening and of course all the kids had to help. Howard puttied one side. Bennett and Laurence each had to have a side to putty and I a side then I had to do it over again. Any little job takes twice as long and twice as much trouble as it ought to but then the kids are boss.
Friday November 4 Fair day. Went down town after work, took Howard with me and bought him an overcoat. I went to Heckeys, Mableys then to Hershey & Brennans on the corner of Woodward & Grand Circus Park and got a nice coat for 500, as good as the 6.50 ones at the other places, bought him a cap and Bennett a couple of under waists. I suppose Bennett will have to wear Howards old coat and in fact Bennett has to wear out all of Howards clothes. It is not very fair but it is the usual fate of the second son. We then ordered a few groceries and came home on the 14th car.
Saturday November 5 Raw and threatening, seems cold. We got a card from the Burns family. They reached Homestead Florida on the 1st of November. They do not say any thing but that they arrived all right. Anna went down on Grand River and got her new hat. The styles now are perfectly fearful, the women say so themselves but of course they have to wear them because it is the style. Annas looks quite well, better than the usual that you see.
Sunday November 6 Cold, raw and cloudy. Every carrier worked, a big mail was expected on account of Election but it was not very heavy. Home all day.
Monday November 7 Nice day, bright, 28-36. Howard is reading a book he got from school and is trying to read alone but he [would] rather some one would read to him.
Tuesday November 8 Fine day. Went and voted Today noon. I have to go down to the corner of 12th and Kirby. Anna got a letter form Mrs Burns Today, they are staying at a hotel in Homestead Fla. and are getting ready to build a house. They like it so far, living is high there but every body seems to like it.
Wednesday November 9 Cloudy, not so cold but the weather man says a cold wave is coming, 39-61. Anna is cleaning and she thinks she is doing wonders. She cleaned the parlor yesterday and the sitting room Today. And it is wonders because it is so hard to do any thing and take care of Louise too. She wants some body to pay especial attention to her.
Thursday November 10 Rained all last night and part of the forenoon, wind and disagreeable, 43-45.
Friday November 11 Cold wind, cloudy, a few flakes of snow, 27-34. Took down screen doors and put up the back door storm door.
Saturday November 12 32-38
Sunday November 13 Cloudy, cold, not very pleasant, 32-39. Worked Today. We expected the P.O. would be closed Today but it is put off untill next Sunday. Home all day. No body came.
Monday November 14 Nasty day, cold rain and snow, 33-35, bad underfoot.
Tuesday November 15 Cloudy, a little snow, disagreeable, 32-38.
Wednesday November 16 36-34,Cloudy, damp and seems so chilly to me as I have a miserable cold, wind goes right through me. Anna is cleaning house and is doing double duty, makes it pretty hard.
Thursday November 17 Cloudy, damp almost rain, and very chilly and cold. Put away the screens this noon. Cleaned up the barn, puttied up a window in the dinning room where the putty was coming off. I am about sick with a cold and this weather is the worst in the world. At night Howard teased me to start reading the Swiss Family Robinson again and I read and read but he is never satisfied always wants me to read a little more and I have to quit and drive him off to bed. Anna has cleaned the dining room hall and stairs Today and to night is writing to her Mother and Mabel. We have a fine fire in the furnace and we are fearfully tired but comfortable.
Friday November 18 Cold, cloudy and unpleasant.
Saturday November 19 Cold but more pleasant, 37-30. Quiet a bit of sunshine which was the first sun in several days.
Sunday November 20 Fine day, cold but bright, 30-39. Count Tolstoi the great Russian writer died this morning. The Post Office closed Today the first time in its history in Detroit. Nothing open to the public except the General Delivery at the Main Office. After dinner as soon as we could get started about 3 P.M. we started for McLeods up on Scoval Place. Anna and I, Howard, Bennett & Laurence walking and Queen Louise in the buggy up over the Boulevard to Grand River and down Taft Ave. to Scoval, but the McLeods were gone away and we were mad we were cold and tired so we decided we would try for Aunt Dills on Kirby betwen 23rd and 24th. They were home and we staid there untill after supper then came home in the dark. We had a nice time but was tired and cold when we got home but the house was nice and warm and we were soon all in bed. We found that Belle Hardenburgh had been here and left her card.
Monday November 21 Had to go to work 1/2 hour earlier this morning to make up for yesterday. Found it wet and slushy on the ground it must have snowed last night. Damp and nasty Today, 30-30. C. W. Barton committed suicide yesterday. He had been sick for some time and he was despondent because his sweet heart died a short time ago.
Tuesday November 22 Ground white with snow, warmer, sloppy underfoot, 29-38. Went down town at noon and laid in a supply of groceries for Thankgiving. I tried to find a few Christmas presents for the children and bought a few trinkets at the 10¢ store and buy all their Christmas there and really it is wonderful what you can get there for 10¢ and it is also wonderful what one will pay 10¢ for. Some things are worth more than the money and some worth less.
Wednesday November 23 Cold rain, fearful, 35-32. Howard & Bennett came home from school in the rain and got their feet soaked. And I came home to dinner in a down pour of rain. We got out thankgiving chicken up at Tobies.
Thankgiving November 24 Well not a pleasant day, 32-39. I worked in the forenoon and just got home when it began to rain with about half snow and it kept it up all the afternoon and I was mighty thankful for one thing that I did not have to go out in it and slop around all the afternoon. We had a nice dinner we did not have any Turkey, could not afford it at 28¢ a lb. but had chicken at 18¢ a lb. then we had mashed potatoes, chicken gravy, cranberries, celery, pumpkin pie, raisins, nuts and apples. This was Louises first Thankgiving and she seemed to appreciate it very much and bothered her Mama all she could. She pushes a chair around now and walks all around the side walls but does not let go altogether yet she is so shy even with me that every time she looks at me and I smile at her she has to hide her face in her Mamas neck and she will never leave her Mama to go to any one if she can help it. And every time her Mama comes near she holds up her two paddies to be taken to her. We passed the afternoon reading, dosing and Etc.
Friday November 25 The sun came out warm and bright a few times Today but it was mostly cloudy. Anna and kids took a little walk this afternoon to the drug store at the Cor. of 14th and Milawukee.
Saturday November 26 Pleasant day but not very bright, 33-39. Our weather for November has been nothing to brag about. Howard went to Ruth Cherries birthday party this afternoon from 4 untill 8 P.M. He came home and said he had had a fine time and told all what they had done and all they had to eat. He certainly likes to go and be with the gang. Laurence and Bennett tried to wait untill he came but their eyes got so heavy that they had to go and were in their bath when he came so he had to go and tell them all about it. He took a small bottle of perfume as a present.
Sunday November 27 Bad, rain, cold and nasty. Howard and Bennett went to Sunday School under an umbrella. No one else got out at all. This is the second Sunday that the P.O. has been closed and I guess it is going to work out all right. We passed the Sunday reading stories to the kids mostly. Louise has been good and cute and the boys have been less strenuous that usual. To night Anna is doing up pictures of Laurence and Louise to send away to folks in California, and else where.
Monday November 28 Rain, snow, sloppy. Fearful walking in the A.M. some better in the afternoon. Old man Lorish over on Lincoln died yesterday. I have carried mail to him for nearly 12 years and he figured on my house plans when I talked of building. He was well and strong up to a year ago, then I never saw any body go down as fast as he did and a few weeks ago he lost his mind.
Tuesday November 29 Cold, cloudy and windy, 31-29. Louise one year old Today and a little bit of a mite she is. She only weights 15 1/2 lbs. and stands 25 1/4 inches high. We are worried about her weight. She does not seem to gain at all but she does not look really poor and skinny. Her hair is quite long, straight and white with some times a goldencast. And she is oh so shy. She cannot smile at her Papa with out hiding her face but she is a Mama girl all right, and wants her Mama to hold her all the time. Her birthday presents were a rubber ball painted in pretty colors and pictures from Papa and a set of knife fork and spoon from Mrs. Mamer a lady who lives just up on Avery in my route and has always asked after Louise because Louise is her name. She has never seen her but we think they ought to get acquainted now. Louise was all dressed up pretty in white with a blue ribbon run through the cuffs, as sweet as sweet could be. For supper she had a birthday cake, a round cake covered all over with white frosting with a border of almonds meats around the top, and one candle sticking straight up in the center. The interior of the cake was colored pink and white. This was the center piece on the table and Louise only had a wee bit of a bite of the frosting. The rest of us ate it up like pigs. And when the candle burned low the boys wanted to blow it out and to settle matters we let Laurence try first from his chair. He blew and blew but could not blow it out. Bennett next blew and blew and then an awful blow blew it out. And Howard was mad because he did not have a try, he jerked back in his chair and stuck his lips out and his eyes began to glisten and then a tear rolled slowly out of his eye and down his cheek, all because he could not blow. So you see although the oldest is 8 years old they are all babies yet. Louise just got her 3rd tooth, an upper front tooth.
Wednesday November 30 The ground was covered with snow this morning and it snowed lazily all day, but only about 1 1/2 inches covered the ground. We have had bad weather the full month, we have scarcely seen the sun, and it has rained and stormed to its hearts content. The thermometer has scarcely been above 40 or below 30. I never saw it vary so little, it varies only 2 or 3 degrees in a day most of the time.
December 1910
Thursday December 1 Cloudy, snow and cold, went down to 29 in the Eve. Geo. Hopcroft has opened a grocery store over here on the corner of Marquette and Avery in a new building just finished. I hope he will prove a good man as it will be so handy for us.
Friday December 2 Cold, 22 in the morning, warmest 29 but so far our furnace had worked fine and we have been very comfortable.
Saturday December 3 Pay day. Quite a decent day, cloudy of course, we do not have any more sunshine. Snowed some, evening snowed harder. Anna and Howard have gone down town and I am alone with the rest of the kids but they are all asleep and every thing is so quiet I can hear the clock tick and the steam radiator in the play room singing merrily but it is not so cold out side and is very warm inside just now. The clock just struck the half hour for half past eight and it made me jump it is so still here.
Sunday December 4 Fine day, bright but cold, 21-34. Home all day. Howard & Bennett Went to Sunday School and after dinner Anna took Bennett over to Dr. Northrups on 14 & Stanley and had him vaccinated. He did not make a sound. The Dr. told him he must think it a cat scratching him and got Bennett to laugh. And of course Bennett had to come home and take off his shirt to show all of us his vaccination with a little celluloid night cap over it.
Monday December 5 Cold, bright and windy 17-24. Seems fearful cold.
Tuesday December 6 Fine day but cold, 21-23. Anna and kids took a little walk. I attended a meeting of the newly organised association of Federal employees, called the US Civil Service Retirement Association. They met in the Burns Hotel, Cadillac Square.
Wednesday December 7 Light snow quite cold. Got up so late I had to hurry to work with out any breakfast. Went down town at noon to pay Gas and Elec. and some Christmas, mostly clothes.
Thursday December 8 The temperature varied only one degree all day, 20-21, very remarkable for this climate.
Friday December 9 Very cold but clear, bright and beautiful.
Saturday December 10 Snowed nearly all day about 4 inches fell, 16-25. The Woerlers next door are moving Today over the new store, 94 Marquette. We are sorry because they are nice quiet people.
Sunday December 11 Fine day, ground covered with about 4 inches of snow, 24-28. My day to work under the new skedyule. I went to work at 9 A.M. and emptied the paper and letter cases, worked 2 hours and 1/4. Then at 6 P.M. I took a Collection. I took car to the other side of Highland Park, Church St., and walked back took the 6 boxes in Highland Park then took all boxes between Oakland and Hamilton down to Hazelwood and Josephine then took car to Main P.O. got through at 9.30, home at 10, and in bed at 11 and up again at 5 to be at work at 6. I do not like it and would rather work under the old skedyule inside
Monday December 12 Seems quite warm Today, 20-32. Some snow came Today but not much. Louise has a 4th tooth. The new one is a down stairs tooth and is not according to rule as she ought to have 2 down then 2 up, but she had two down and one up then another down stairs.
Tuesday December 13 The thermometer took a sudden drop in the night and it was bitter cold this morning but got a little warmer during the day, 13-25. I went down town after work and laid in a supply of groceries from Peter Smiths.
Wednesday December 14 Beautiful day. Some warmer, 22-35. Edna up to lunch and after some butter. Anna and kids took a walk over to Farmers on 14th. Anna got some cloth to make Laurence nighties. Howard bought Bennett a box of crayons for a Xmas secret and Bennett bought Howard a Jews harp. Neither know what the other bought and they enjoy the secret immensely. Here it is 10 oclock I am writing and Anna is sewing on those nighties to beat the band. The kids are all in bed.
Thursday December 15 Nice day, 35-13, growing cold at night. A Policeman by the name of Lee Herrick lives down in the next block shot himself his morning either accidently or purposely they do not know which. When I got around here with mail about 10.30 there was two patrol wagons and Policemen running around in great excitement and Anna was in the kitchen and knew nothing about it.
Friday December 16 Cold this morning but getting a little warmer, 10-19, cloudy. Mrs Jacobs from over on 12th that is lonesome and crochets and helps the neighbors all around came over this A.M. to help Anna and afterwards came in and wanted Anna to except as a present a crocheted shawl but Anna declined so expensive a present. Louise is quite sick Today. She has quite a fever and is very listless. Her bowels are very constipated and if she is not better tomorrow we will have to have a Dr.
Saturday December 17 Fine day, quite cold but not so cold as yesterday, 16-30. We had Dr. Bell this afternoon. Louise did not seem much better and her fever came back in the afternoon. He said she was threatened with pneumonia but thought we had cought it in time to stop it. And so he prescribed for her and I had to trot off to the drug store when I got home. Laurence had the pnemonia when he was Louises age and we thought Louise acted like he did and we got the Dr. sooner than we would maybe on that account.
Sunday December 18 Beautiful day and thawing more that it has for a month, 23-38. I guess any way the snow is going very fast. Louise is much better today she slept in the play room last night and her Mama slept on the couch. Dr. came this morning and thought she was getting along fine but thought he better come again tomorrow.
Monday December 19 A little more snow last night. I am supposed to be at work Mondays at 6 A.M. but I forgot about it this morning and got up late. I went over thinking I would be shut out but two more carriers were later that I and there is a scarcity of subs on account of the holiday rush so I worked anyway. Louise is better but pretty sick yet and lots of care. The Dr. came again and said he would come again tomorrow.
Tuesday December 20 Fearful cold Today, 15-17, fierce wind. The weather man said it would be mild this week but he missed his guess. I suppose the wind made it seem worse than it really was. Louise is much better Today. The Dr. came again Today and thought she was all right. Mrs. Summers called.
Wednesday December 21 Perfectly beautiful day but cold, 21. Louise better. Dr. did not come today. The children are on tip toe of expectancy for Christmas. We are not getting much outside of clothes. My I would like to spend a fortune. I like to buy toys and things because I like them my self but when you have 4 to buy for it takes lots of money even to buy little inexpensive things.
Thursday December 22 I took Howard & Bennett down town this evening to see the sights they enjoy it for a while but they were soon ready to come home. And after seeing all the many kinds of toys I asked them what they wanted the worst. Howard wanted a book and Bennett a toy pickax and wheel barrow.
Friday December 23 Fearful day, wet snow all day almost rain. And such a load of mail. I had a helper who delivered the packages and papers and I delivered the letters, cards and registers. I did not get through with one trip untill 1.50 P.M. did not go out in the afternoon at all. This is Laurences 4th birthday. He got a box of candy and 4 new bright Lincoln pennies, a birthday cake with 4 candles on it and he was a big happy boy all day.
Saturday December 24 Better than yesterday but bad walking. Colder and clear. One trip and a helper Today. While the packages make the biggest load the post cards make the most work.
Sunday December 25 Cold fine day, 13-21. Xmas morning. Howard could hardly wait for the clock to strike 5 as we told him to. He asked me once or twice before that what time it was. I got up and dressed and as soon as the clock struck, Howard began to holler Merry Christmas and soon the whole gang was pattering down stairs. We had our presents then because I had to be at work at 7. The kids had a fine time and enjoyed themselves. I worked from 7 till 11-30. Mother and Father had dinner with us and staid untill 4, then went down to Ednas. While they were here the McLeods came and that kind of spoiled our visit. I see so little of Father & Mother that I was sorry. They are beginning to show old age and are getting feeble and hard to get around. Father has been so strong and active but he certainly showed that he was failing. I wish I could get to see them oftener.
Monday December 26 Nice day, 20-30. More snow came last night, it never thaws enough to get rid of what we had so we have quite a lot on the ground now and it is pretty good sleighing. Not much of a holiday today, I worked 8 hours on one trip and had a helper at that. Inez Hart and her Mother called.
Tuesday December 27 Beautiful day, 20-36. Went down and paid my State and County taxes at noon, they were 4.20 this year about a dollar less than last year.
Wednesday December 28 Warm, snow and rain, 31-35. Heavy wet snow last night and this morning turned to misty rain. About 3 or 4 inches of snow making just fearful hard walking. I am tired enough to cry to night. Post cards still coming by the bushel.
Thursday December 29 Warm and a little better walking than yesterday but no let up in post cards. Some of them mailed here in the City a week ago are just getting delivered. Some messages telling of the coming of friends. The friends have come and gone before the message was delivered. I am only making one trip a day now.
Friday December 30 Quite warm untill night then a cold wave descended upon us and the thermometer went down to 10 but it went away again as fast as it came the next morning. I made a little more that one trip Today in 8 hours but not much. I never saw the beat of it.
Saturday December 31 Cold in the morning but got warm and bright and was a fine day, 16-33. I am completely tired out and feel as tho I could rest a year or so and sleep the most of the time and I guess Anna feels about the same as the work and the kids are almost too much for one woman. She often works untill 11 oclock at night after the kids go to bed. She can accomplish more and takes that time to try and catch up. I have not lost a days time this year and I think the work gradually pulls one down. Howard has not lost a day in school this term either and he is quite proud of it. The old year is gone and we have a lot to be thankful for. We work hard and live very close. It is a very small margin we have for extras or foolishness and it tries ones soul to live so close and economical.
