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17th. Monday. Letter from H. this afternoon. I should have got it on Saturday. Poor boy - he is still troubling over what I said. Is most unhappy. He will have my letter by now tho' I hope it will comfort him. M. came home this afternoon. 18th. Tuesday. Busy day - Another letter tonight from H. Says he awaited my letter with great longings & it comforted him more than ever he deserved or expected. Believe it has done him good - both of us. God grant that we may be brought nearer Him too as well as nearer each other. Had to show Jean S. my ring yesterday - & Miss Scott & Mrs. Martin today. Mr. G. asked[underlined] to see it. Heard that Miss P. was wearing a ring. They all think it very pretty. Mr. G. wished me every happiness. 29th. Wednesday. Coughed lots last two nights. Got rubbed tonight. Wrote to H. ought to write to Ella & Amy this week. Raining again these days 20th. Thursday. Slept better last night - rubbing did me good. Alick & Maud came home tonight. Well to be they have had over 5 weeks holiday. Horrid headache all day. P F H F F F H 21st. Friday. Last day of another week. How slow they go by when one wants them to go quickly. Got ready parcel for Ma. Girls going down in morning. W. driving. I ought to be going too but am afraid of this old cough getting worse - also - they are making jelly & I'd like to see it done - We cut up the apples tonight. 22nd. Saturday. Was initiated into the mysteries of jelly-making this morning There's nothing like seeing[underlined] things done. M. & I went over to library then up to Aleck's - the bride's first visitors. they will be very comfortable when settled - look very happy as indeed they ought. I was congratulated again. Seems so strange. Think it must be somebody else - Hope I'll have a home as comfortable as this. God grant it. Mr. Snell arrived for tea - preaching tomorrow. He's a good-looking man. Conceited too - snubbed me rather in my playing of "Nazareth". Never heard it drawled before like he did. Has a fine voice but rather "loud", A. W. came. Dave was to but didn't. No letter from H. I was[underlined] disappointed. Had looked forward to one. It spoilt my evening. I'm getting to think too much[2 underlined] again. It will be better for my peace of mind if I don't. Parcel from the dear Mammy - all sorts of things in - Letter too. Says not to say anything about leaving B. That set me thinking. Perhaps I'd better hang on till the end. But only if I'm better will I stay longer than midwinter. Much more of what I've had I couldn't stand nor repetition of last year. 23rd. Sunday. Church this morning. Mr. Snell & A. W. went home this afternoon. Feel 'triste' to-day. Couldn't sleep much last night either. 24th. Monday. My letter came this afternoon. Should have got it Saturday after all. He'll have to put no "Bundaberg" on it at all. after this. Wish I had got it on Sat. Would have made me feel so different. Wrote to Ella. Must write Amy next week. 25th. Tuesday. Always glad when today & tomorrow is over. Worst days of all the week. No letter to night when I ought have got one. 26th. Wednesday. Letters from my dear old boy (delayed again) & dear old Alf - after all - a nice brotherly letter - full of counsel & good wishes He "always liked H. very much" - like to hear that from him - would rather hear him say it than anyone - he knows always Alf does Wrote to the boy - Alf hopes the love[underlined] is there for certain [inserted] Feel very much offended. M. & W. went up to [...] & spend the evening & I wasn't asked .. 27th. Thursday. Glad I'm this far - another week nearly gone - how slow they pass. H. thinks they go fast - Wish I did Wrote to Art & Min.

28th Friday. Band of Hope meeting tonight. I intended going but it was so cold last night & this morning that I thought it best not to - children were going to sing too - but I don't want this old thing to hang round. Mrs. Wilde & the two bairns up. - she congratulated me - It is[underlined] true then. Mrs. G. & I stayed home tonight & minded the babies. 29th. Saturday. Horrid this morning. For all my care I might just as well as gone out last night .. That horrible sick feeling over me & couldn't eat this morning .. It must be indigestion I think - pure & simple. Went over to the Hall this afternoon & wrote to Jim S. & Meme A. Told them both. M. & W. went to town after dinner - W. to Maryboro. M. coming home tonight with A. - Dave & Mr. Furness came up in time for tea - We had some music. Mrs. W. told D. he ought to congratulate me - He looked surprised - don't know whether it was feigned or not - didn't congrat.[2 underlined]me - Mrs. W admired my ring muchly this evening. Letters from my dear old boy straight this time - Alice P. too. She hasn't done as I - taken her friend for something more when she couldn't love him. Is going to Gladstone on the 6th. Mr. P. too. Big parcel from Ma - in it note - I've another niece - bother them - no nephews now. Think it's a sign that they ought not want any more. Got my combinations - Poor little Mammy she has been sewing out her eyes - Good thing she finished &been all up in time. 30th. Sunday. Went not out all day - Nasty very feel not sick - D. & Mr. F. went home early. M. & A. out to tea. Want to be comforted today - want my boy or little Mother. Never mind. This is my waiting time - Must stay & be patient for the time being. 1st. May. Monday. Nasty again. Glad it's an easy day. Wrote to H. Mrs. W. goes home in the morning. Mable Davidson here for tea. We 3 enjoyed ones [sar] together 2nd. Tuesday. Got through today somehow. Wrote to Ma to send me some more "things". No sleep hardly last hight. Hot too these days. Letter from H. 3rd. Wednesday. Always glad when these two days are over the worst of the week is gone then. Feel bit better today - Must'nt show these folks that I'm not right. Wrote to Amy W. Mr. Snell here tonight 4th. Thursday. Quite hot today - strange - it must be going to be like the winter before last - mild - do hope so - Mr. S. had service but I went not. Don't like him as well as Mr. D. 5th. Friday. Another week gone - three more weeks & I'll be home for a bit again. It seems ages since I was there - Nasty today too. M. left this morning 'en route' for Brisbane with Mrs. B. Well to be she - wish I were going to[sic] & could leave all cares behind like she does ~ & see my boy. Suppose I'll miss my resting time more when it comes for this time of weary work 6th. Saturday. Home all day - did odds & ends - didn't go to Hall - Prepared tomorrow's Sunday School lesson - couldn't find any 'Review' but managed without one - got a nice little story too bearing on the lesson - it will be strange going to teach again but after the first will be all right. Letter from H. Not like his usual tho' I could tell he was 'off it'. Biz not so good this week. Sorry - had hoped it would be - He is out of debt - that's one great thing to be thankful for. I pray the Lord to help to him to save a little now & again towards our little home - & give him a measure of success - He sent his fountain pen that was given him for a prize for short hand - it will be very nice for me to have - Children away in town - Mr. G. at Gin Gin. 7th. Sunday. Church this morning - Mr. Hogg. S.S afternoon. Got on all right - glad I went - Nice class too. [...] gave me packet this morning from the little Mother. Things all serene - was afraid she was sick no word last night. Evie back Alf's & Jim's letters.

8th. Monday. Wrote to H. This pen is funny - It leaks very much fast at the join - Do hope he does better this week - Must ask - He is doing his best - God knows - Letter from Sarah M. She says nothing about me but asks a bit at the end 9th. Tuesday. Mr. Dunn went this afternoon for a week - We miss him tho' he is so quiet - he talks well - 10th. Wednesday. Polly & Maggie both left this afternoon - Glad they are - good riddance to both - Florrie Woodgate is here - they expected another from town this afternoon but she didn't turn up - went elsewhere Glad so few of us are here - Mr. G. will go on Friday so there'll be less. Will come home tonight wanting to know if I was going to Martins this evening - It was the first I had heard - he didn't know till he was coming home past Stirling's. I of course didn't go - wouldn't even had I been able - on so short notice - Had letter from Meme A. nice loving letter she's a dear good little sort - wishes me all sorts of good blessings &c. &c. 11th. Thursday. Raining. Feel bit nasty today - Letters from H. bit better week promises - letters too from Mr. Martin asking me to play next Thursday also from Blaikie re Sam 12th. Friday. Another week gone - thanks be. Sent word to Mr. Martin that I would play Will write to Blaikie tomorrow. Can't get out of it now I suppose. Mr. J.G. wants me to go over there to tea tomorrow 13th. Saturday. All to my little self today - Florrie W. came to me for orders I felt quite a mistress - Mrs. G. went to town with K. & E. so there was only W. & I to dinner. I gave Ray his lesson this morning - practiced a bit - wrote my lessons out for tomorrow - Got bath &c. after dinner - went over to Mrs. J's before 4 - stayed there till nearly 9 - she persuaded me to stay on till then - Glad I went - always felt queer over it - now feel different she's very nice too - taught Katie A. before she went to Grammar School. Mr. Tunley came up too tonight - Letter from H. Better week this - He doesn't write such love-lorn epistles now as he did - is settling down now 14th. Sunday. Feel nice today - Slept better than for wks - outing did me no harm last night - church & S.S. Got properly wet coming back - Waited in Hall for it to stop for nearly an hour - it didn't so we came on - changed all tho - Hope I get no harm - got Thursday in view - Letter from Ma - parcel - enclosing 2 from Alf & Mrs. A. Surprised to see how Mrs. A wrote - congratulations - most hearty - looking forward to the time when she'll have us both in Brisbane - Hope it will be - I don't want now to live anywhere but there - now I've set my mind on it - Alf & family are at Westwood. A. contemplates building on the Range - do wish they would - he's got bronchial asthma again - Dr. says must live there - Mr A. says Arthur would be better if he didn't think so much about himself - is too nervous - poor old chap - noone has heard from him - 15th. Monday - Wrote to H. Busy at night altering coms. which Ma mad[sic?made] They hardly fit me. 16th. Tuesday. Letter from H. tonight. It so nice not being disappointed Can relie[sic] on him so surely. That thought always used to run through my mind about him. "Her heart doth safely trust in him". He has had better luck thanks be 17th. Wednesday. Feel so well today. Haven't felt like this for 7 or 8 wks - one of my good days. This week has been a very nice one so far - Wish they were always like this. Blaikie sent up a pile of songs for me to look up. Had to practise them tonight. Shall be glad when the affair is over. 18th. Thursday. Had to leave off early this afternoon as Charlie Wrench was wanting to decorate the Hall - Blaikie wanted to know by Mr. John yesterday about the piano - Think we'll have to make it do - there's only Mr. James' & I don't think they care about lending it now it's tuned up. Went home first & practised - then back at 5.30 & they were

just come - 8 of them in a cab. We practised together - That piano is horrid today. Just like it used be - then when I got back the middle G. had gone bung again - lovely - We arrived there too soon it didn't commence till 8 - not 7.30. Had to manage with the old piano somehow - but was very thankful when the concert part was over. There were 3 encores - Blaikie: Smith & Davies & Fred [?Gelles] songs - comic - I didn't play for them - they were very funny - The farce after was a fraud - such a silly thing. Stayed for 2 or 3 dances Mr. John - would make me come over to Wheatley's & have some supper Maud G. came with me. I like her - she is so unaffected - Spect I'll suffer for this night's work - Awfully hot inside & cold out - Lovely speckled sky today - lovely night - Threatened rain yesterday - Pity Ralph Smith shoud have got his name mixed up like he has. Maud was telling me that it wasn't true that he had lots of cases like Eva Rowlands' - She was allied to others besides him - he wouldn't marry her on that account - but paid all her expenses to Brisbane - He has a lovely voice - They were pretty much 'on' - [?Bufutt] stayed with Blaikie & me - says he saw nothing in Townsville a month ago. Working well. 18th. Friday. Another week gone. Only next week & then home - Cold today Believe I've got one too - Forgot to ask May to take Ma's letter tomorrow so wrote her tonight. Letter from Jim Stirling - congratulating me - He wants to write still - if I don't mind & M. W. doesn't object. 20th. Saturday. Horrid day. Cold & rain. Felt nasty so thought perhaps a ride would do me good. Kate & I went out as far as the cemetery - W. away to Maryboro' today - We'll be all alone tomorrow. Mr. Castleton sleeps here tonight - Meant to write to Jack today - also go over to school but did neither. 21st. Sunday. My letter arrive not last night which didn't make me feel any the nicer all night. Thought it must have gone wrong again but Jim W. sent it over after breakfast this morning - it had got hidden last night So I might have had a better night - All the old nasty things crowd upon me when anything comes in the way now - but I trust him[3 underlined] Stayed in bed till after they had gone to church - Felt very nasty till towards evening. Do hope I'm better tomorrow - Couldn't go to S.S. either. The girls (little) here for tea. M. not coming home till next Thursday - Glad when she does - these flowers bother me. Mr. G's speech in reply was in the Courier of Thursday - much praised in the Leader too - Another cold day but not so much as yesterday. I'm going to feel the cold properly this winter. 22nd. Monday. Better - good thing too Wrote to H. W. came home tonight. M. & Mrs. B. are home too from Brisbane. 23rd. Tuesday. Wrote to Jack W. tonight - while there was quiet as the girls went down to meet M. Letter from H. Cold & feel nasty too. 24th. Wednesday. M. brought me a big white damask tray-cloth - & a table runner for presents - that makes 4 things I have now - they can give me as many as they like. M. has got a lot of things for herself in B. - No word from Ma - Mr. Snell here last night & this morning - Asked W. yesterday to ask through the telephone about her - said she was in the shop on Monday & all right Lovely day - they will have nice weather for the picnic. The girls wanted to go out riding early so I closed up at 3 - went in at 1.30. 25th. Thursday. Another lovely day but cold. Feel better today but still horrid at nights. Letter from Arthur - such a nice brotherly letter - now like what he used to write - gave me hearty congratulations &c. 26th. Friday. Got things ready for tomorrow - looks very like rain - dull - Feel better than I've done for long time - excepting old cough. 27th. Saturday. Came on raining like everything early this morning &

kept on till we started - then it ceased a bit till Kate & I got over to the office - Then when we were started on the truck down it came harder than ever & never ceased all the way till I got home - happily I had on my big cloth cloak - it was wet before I got into the train - then changed it for the thin one - the streets were flooded - there had been lots of rain in town - the little Mammy was there in it all - she thought I wouldn't come - but after waiting for a holiday I wasn't going to be done out of it - it would be sure to clear up too tomorrow - got a cab home - no going out all day - It rained & blew too - had to content ourselves at home - He knew but is not bad - but not as good as she ought to be in behaviour - It turned very cold all day - Letter from H. waiting me - a scrap - he had forgotten to post the usual one to Burnett St as I told him. He has done better this week - thank God - 28th. Sunday. Lovely bright day. I not lovely tho' - suppose yesterday's adventures didn't agree with me - stayed in till after breakfast - Will coming some time today by train - special - Lovely to be with the little Mother again - but she doesn't have the nice time here I'd like her to have - Kate is expected to do far too much - left her on purpose - I don't like it - get what's to be done - she's one woman in a 1000 ~ she ought to be resting now instead of working - glad Grace is near anyway - do wish the time would not be so long - six months is so long to look forward to. Feel very nasty - Got Ivy to get some of the medicine from Davidson that did me good last year - feel all wrong in the stomach - suppose it's the cold 29th. Monday. Will came home last night about 1/2-9. Didn't have very nice time in Brisbane. Got wet throught[sic] on Sat. marching from Lytton - Didn't see him atall - he was off early this morning & I wasn't up till late - left here about 11 for town - Got what things I wanted - Had something to eat at Peat's & then made for the train - Felt better then - Carriage full coming to here - Mrs. Capt. Watsons boy was coming to Gin Gim he asked me to talk to him a bit as he was feeling leaving home for the first time - so I did from Sharon - seems nice home[underlined] boy - talked about [?Gla...] little girl too amused us very much - a regular child of nature - Got home after 4 - No girl got yet - can't get one - Wrote to H. Want him to get The Twentieth Door - Sheldon's latest book & send Ma after reading it 30th. Tuesday. Feel it today after the little respite - Glad when this month is out. Letter from H. Nice one - don't get many loving[underlined] ones now. 31st. Wednesday. Last day - Joy! Feel better than I've done for weeks - that medicine has done me good already - Slept so well these 2 nights. Wrote to Mammy telling her so - only had one thing[underlined] yet - 1st. June. Thursday. Cold this morning. Turned another corner - 2nd. Friday. Nice day - only 4 at school - Afraid I'm getting lazy - 3rd. Saturday. Got ready my bandbox & sent it down home with items in Did odds & ends. Saturday always passes faster than any other day - W. went to Maryboro' & Mr. G. came home from Brisbane. I got Mrs. G's photo this week - tonight she gave me Mr. G's & one of M. & Mrs. B. taken in B - so I've got them all now except Mrs. Wilde - Dave & Mr. T. up tonight - I felt very tired but we didn't get to bed till 11. Letter from H. This week he has made the old sum - "Forget not all His benefits" 4th. Sunday. church - played. Feel kind o' lonely today. Longing for the little Mother again. 5th. Monday. Cold again. Wrote to H. Mr. Snell & Revd. Hutchinson up this evening. We had singing &c.