Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1887

29^o Clear N.W. February, Wednesday 23^d. 1887.

Willie reached home from his "Good Templar" lodge at 10 .30 last night. Chas: Bond was here to have something done for his right eye which has a small piece of iron in it. Willie hauled saw dust from the mill & covered the ice in the ice house. After which he drove over to Riverside for more rye straw, but they had sold it all. I took "Fritz" up to Sandy Spring and had new shoes (with steal toes) put on "behind" . It commenced snowing very fast about 4.o'clock & continued snowing or raining til bedtime.

29^o Cloudy & Clearing "Variable" February, Thursday 24^th. 1887.

Edward was "croupy," and remained in bed all day I drive to Ashton before dinner to see Kate Stabler & for some things from the store rock salt for the horses &c. &c. Wrote again to Charles telling him I would meet him on Saturday afternoon at "Silver Spring" instead of Laurel. the roads being in such a wretched condition except on the "turn pikes" & bad enough on them.

28^o Clear & Cloudy N.E. February, Friday 25^th. 1887.

Ground hard frozen & extremely rough: no one goes over the roads except those whose business is urgent. Mary E Gilpin called here. After supper Willie went to Olney to a Good Templar lodge I wrote to sister Harriet & walked up to the P.O. and mailed the letter. Edward seems rather better but is still somewhat "croupy." Dora's cold is also better.

29^o Snow & Rain N.E. February, Saturday 26th. 1887.

Commenced snowing before day light and continued unit it was about 5 inches deep when it turned to rain. Willie left in Ed: Gilpins "Germantown wagon" driving both horses for "Silver Spring" to bring Charley home. I received a dispatch from C asking if he should come & replied in the affirmative Richd Lea called for advice & medicine for Helen B Lea. W. left at 12.30 p.m. Afternoon I walked down to "Ashton" & back through the "slush" Charley & Willie reached home at 8.30 p.m: tired & "chilled through." Poor old "Fritz" seems a good deal "crippled up" from "falling" so badly with the wet snow. There was lightning & thunder several times in the evening & night.

30^o Clearings N.W. February Sunday 27^th. 1887.

Commenced growing colder about day light & after 9.o'clock the wind came from N.W. quite cold. Charley drove in the sleigh over to Eldon & prescribed for Helen B Lea. The very worst roads for sleighing I ever rode over. I believe. Chaled Bond called on his way from meeting & Charley & I both examined his eye again using "Cocaine", Eye specullum & magnifying glass & found that the fragment of iron or steel had been dislodged by my former treatment & had worked out & was gone. Afternoon we all were at home, the roads being too bad to drive over more than necessary. Mrs: Robison came in after tea for some coal oil but we were "out" except what was in our lamps

15^o Clear N.W February, Monday 28^th. 1887.

Clear & cold the wind blowing strong from N.W. makes it seem colder than it is. Sent the Gilpin wagon home C & W emptied the "tanks" from under the "garden house." I have a sore throat & headache having taken cold in my "sleigh ride" & walk through the snow & mud yesterday. After dinner Charley went in the buggy to the "Bone Mill." &c. trying to collect for me the broke tire on the wheel W. went to W Hill's on horse back. Charley cut my hair. and vaccinated little Bessie Edward and himself with vaccine sent to me by the State vaccine agent, as it was some time ago since it came to me it may have become inert.

29. Cloudy & Clearing March, Tuesday 1^st. 1887.

I felt miserable with a sore throat & pain in breast Bob Johnson was here for advice & medicine. Elijah Leizear brought his wife for treatment &c. Afternoon Samuel Thomas was here for advice & med: Charles rode over to "Riverside" and came home after supper. Wrote to M J Tayler Boston. Sent buggy wheel to T Marlow's ship & had tire welded. "off fore wheel."

30^o Cloudy S.E. March Wednesday 2^d. 1887.

Mrs: Ent brought their apprentice boy Clarence Leizear to me for advice & medicine. "ulcer on the shin." After noon I drove to "Bloomfield" to prescribe for Helen & little Anna Lea went from there to Ashton and called to see Kate Stabler and at "Gus Bulwar's to prescribe for his daughter Annice. Charley went with me in the buggy with "Fritz."

40 Cloudy N.E. March Thursday 3^d. 1887.

I drove to Ashton for some neats foot oil &c. Charley, Willie & I cut down the white oak tree at the corner of the stable as it was injuring the building Afternoon I walked up to the store to see Albert Chaudlee

32^o Snow Snow N.E. March Friday 4^th. 1887.

Charley left home in the buggy for Laurel & Balto: at 6. a.m to have his lecture tickets "stamped" by the Dean as it seems they must be presented to the Dean for "stamping" in person by the student to whom they are issued. He will have a fearful drive through the snow & mud. I am suffering with a bad cold & Rheumatism. "Nelly" came in the stage from Balto: to see after "Fanny" It snowed more or less all last night & all day today Afternoon Henry Butler called & paid me $3.00 promising two dollars more "next week" and the remaining five in April. Elijah Leizear called at supper time to enquire if I had heard from "Taylor in Boston."