33412-0001-0116

Poor old 1898 - Strange year - to me anyway - Feel somebody else from
this time last year - "Lord have mercy upon me[underlined] & incline
my[underlined] heart to keep thy law"
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Vale 1898 Vale 1898 Vale 1898 [all underlined]
1st. January 1899. Sunday First day of New Year. May the blessing
of the Lord which maketh rich & addeth no sorrow thereto be upon us.
Felt very strange all day - thought I was going to have scarlet fever
or measles or something such like. Ached all over & pains in back & my
head was dreadful. No sleep till about 2 last night - noises
innumerable - bonfires - larrikins - carts - &c. Went to Albert St
this morning. Felt so queer in church - as soon as Benson would
start the organ - & he did play beautifully - I would start to cry - felt
such a goose - but couldn't help it - then when the music stopped
I would the coquaine yesterday must have made me so feverish & affected my nerves - laid
down all afternoon. got hotter & Hotter - H came - I could have
gone out for a walk to Gardens with him - must go some other time
he stayed for tea & we went to the Pres. Church on the hill -
all the others came too - I couldn't read - nor sleep - & didn't see
the fun of staying home to be miserable - Dr. G. told me not
to go out. Nice sermon from Rev. Nisbet.
2nd Monday. Boxing Day. Feel horrid still - so feverish & dry - very
hot day - noone went from here - H came for a couple of hours this
afternoon. Ivy has made up her mind to go on Saturday home
she's too homesicky to take away from home - H. told
me to send her down this morning to have her teeth finished
as she thought he was going up to Westwood by tonight - she went down
without a murmur tho' she felt sick & had been all night - she likes him
evidently or she wouldn't go to him so readily - he stopped 4 of her teeth
& cleaned them all - I made him charge for her teeth - then he charged
only 1/2 rates - 15/- - mine he says won't cost anything - must get my
front tooth stopped - Mr. Fegan is going in for member for Valley so will
only be at business 3 days in the week - H. will be left in charge -
he wishes he could get on his own hook
3rd. Tuesday. Ma. Mrs. P. Ivy & I went out to Adam's for the day - it
looked a funny day - misty & raw-looking but it kept up all day - & was
very cool out there - we had a nice day - it was so quiet - had a long
walk as usual first of all to Kelvin Grove to meet the bus - it was
hot too there - Ivy nearly died but I didn't feel it. H. came in for a
while at night - He didn't go home & isn't - Mr. F. wants him
to stay just now if he can.
4th. Wednesday. Sent word to Mr. B. that we would come on Sat.
Went to see Miss Thompson's wedding in the Pres. Church this afternoon
before we left for S. Bris. to see Gillies' Minnie Stevenson overtook
me & wants me to come down tomorrow - Found G's place - & then
at home - B. didn't come home for Xmas - is coming later on. Saw
his photo but don't like it much - Jack isn't down yet - they don't think
they haven't seen him - I would like to see the dear old chap - yet don't
care much if I don't - not now feeling different to H. now I think. Kate