Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1885

40° Clear N.W. Ther. MON. APRIL 6^th, 1885 Wea.

Beautiful spring day except for the high wind I walked to Ashton before dinner. Cousin Annie Chandlee brought Geo: Nye here for me to examine his throut & decide whether he was safe to go to school I had John hauling out manure onto the lot "Fritz" got out of the stable and had a grand race & roll in the dirt. Charley came home sick at supper time. Dora & Willie went over to the Lyceum to the "annual meeting" of the Lyceum Co:

43 Cloudy S.E. Ther. TUES, APRIL 7^th, 1885 Wea.

Kate Matthews here for advice and medicine for herself. Old Robt Awkard came about 9.30 a.m. to repair thatch roof on the ice house. I drove over to see Josiah Bowen. Willie went to school with the sulkey. Little Edwd is "breaking out" with some irruptions: it is difficult to say what it is as yet, probably "roseola" similar to Willie's attack. P. T. Stabler sent for and took away the "Fox" horse to try him in his team. "Gus" Stabler hauled us a load of hay from "Nick" Johnson's.

47° Clear & Cloudy Variable Ther. WED. APRIL 8^th, 1885 Wea.

Little Edwd remained in bed today being sick with "Roseola" & enlarged submaxillary glands. Elizabeth Franklin brought her step daughter & daughter for advice & med: Charley fell from his bicycle in coming home to dinner & injured his right ancle seriously: he suffers great pain from the slightest movement. "Billy Johnson" here for advice & treatment for "nose bleed." I walked up to the store & drove down to Ashton. Tom Budd put in new spring plate under Cs buggy for me

28. Clear N.W. Ther. THURS. APRIL 9^th, 1885 Wea.

Ground frozen again this morning. Nelson Kelly here & had tooth extracted. Sent Jno: to bring "Fox" home from P.T Stabler's. I walked down to Ashton & back before dinner. Afternoon Jno: Johnson Jr: called & paid his bill. Charleys ancle does not pain him as much as I feared it would so long as he keeps it perfectly quiet in a horizontal position. Edward seems better the irruption having subsided & his throat not so sore as yesterday.

35 Cloudy N. E Ther. FRI. APRIL 10^th., 1885 Wea.

Charley's ankle is doing very well & he can "hobble" around the room with the aid of a crutch & a chair. Sent John to Julian Gartbrel's place with the "Fox" horse to have him offered at public sale but the people were afraid of him & he did not sell. Little Edward came down stairs before dinner time & seems to be convalesent. The weather is cool & the wind "raw" & chilly.

35 Cloudy & Snow SE Ther. SAT. APRIL 11^th, 1885 Wea.

Diagreeable day. Commenced snowing about noon & contiued several hours. Afternoon Miss Ellie Scott sent to me for a prescription "for her mother." I rode "Fritz" (on horseback) to see a child of Chas Hammond Jr's in a house back of "Bowen's church" had a disagreeable ride through rain & snow. Edwd Gilpin called to see Charley about "Fox" horse.

37° Cloudy & Clearing N. W. Ther. SUN. APRIL 12^th, 1885 Wea

Bro R called on his way to meeting & returned & dined with us. I went to "Jim Johnsons" on J J Shoemaker's place to attend his wife in miscarriage. home to dinner. Willie rode the roan mare to Tulford and to Riverside. Heard of the extreme illness of Geo: E. Brooke.

33 Cloudy & Clearing N.W Ther. MON. APRIL 13^th, 1885 Wea.

Took "blue mass" pill last night & Seidletz powder this morning & feel very weak & wretched. Drove "Fritz" to phaeton to Chas; Hammond Jr's before dinner. Afternoon Ernest came & staid all the afternoon & to supper. I sent Willie to Ashton for flour. Charley went down to the store E Chalfant going with him & coming back in about an hour.

26 Clear & Cloudy N. W Ther. TUES. APRIL 14, 1885 Wea.

Cold & windy again this morning Charley went to the store again this morning as usual. W went to school but returned not feeling well I drove to Fulford to see Fanny Dickenson & her children. Sing Mitchell here for advice & medicine for Josiah Bowen Little Eward has the "mumps" old fashioned & remained in bed.

35° Cloudy & Drizzle S.E. Ther. WED. APRIL 15, 1885 Wea.

I drove "Fritz" to C's buggy to Josiah Bowen's and to Chas: Hammered Jr's before dinner taking Jno. with me. Little Edwd's face swolen very much & more painful than heretofore. C's ankle seems to be improving & he can use it to some extent. I called in at Jno. Johnson's to see his daughter.