Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1896

Wind. S.E. Clear. ther. 45 Thur. April 23^d, 1896.

Almost cool enough for a fire in the dining room early this morning. Willie & Edwd came back from "Fairfield about 7.o'clk We planted four rows of potatoes "Early Rose" the seed was raised by Geo. Nesbit from "Eastern potatoes planted last year. I rode down to Ashton for more seed potatoes. We planted nearly 1/2 bushel in the four rows. Robison finished trimming the hedge. Willie & the boys from next door helped repair the ice house doors. etc. after dinner. after which W, Phil & Frank went to the river "fishing" Phil on his bicycle & W & Frank in my phaeton, driving "Frank" home, who seems free from lameness again Frank took W back to "Fairfield" & was back before dark. I walked up to the store after noon.

Wind. N.E. Cloudy & Rain Ther. 56 Fri. April 24^th, 1896.

Commenced raining at about 9.o'clock this morning, and continued at intervals until afternoon when it rained very hard fron N.W. for about an hour and looked like clearing off. But it soon changed to N E and settled down for steady rain again. I was sorry not to be able to get to the Physicians club meeting, which meets at Dr Green's this evening, but with a lame horse & such weather I could not go but telephoned my regrets. I am all the more sorry as I could not get ther the last time it met in Brookville. Lizzie Scott was here to see Dora this morning. There was a lecture to night at the Lyceum by Rev D^r Keiffer of Hagerstown. Edward acted as door keeper for them, at request of the Secretary. It is raining very steadily at bed time. Thomas S Stabler came to spend the night with us. Arriving here about 8.30 p.m.

Wind. N.E. Cloudy. Ther. 57 Sat. April 25^th, 1896.

Cloudy & threatning. T S Stabler, Frank Robison, Edwd & I burned the hedge brush & other trash that we had raked off the garden & lot. I drove to Ashton taking T.S.Stabler with me, he drove the horse & pleaton on to "Fairfield" for Willie & Fanny to come home with this afternoon. I rode back from Ashton with Wallace Boud. Willie & Fanny came about 4.o'clk I went up to the store & P.O. both before & after supper.

Wind. Variable. Clearing. Ther. 50^o Sun. April 26^th, 1896.

I went to meeting & heard a sermon fom a "fierce Harriet Kirk, Afternoon Willie took Dora and Fanny to church at Crow Town in the "Surry". Edwd' going on his bicycle. "Frank" horse was made lame again by the trip. unfortunatley for me. W rode his bicycle home & Edwd drove the carriage. Harry Easton's wife came in after supper & had a tooth extracted.

Wind. S.E. Cloudy. Ther. 47^o Mon. April, 27^th, 1896.

Willie left for "Fairfield" (riding E's bicycle) about 5-30 a.m. I took "Frank" horse to F Clark's and had new shoes put on his hind feet: he is still quite lame. Bro. Chas. & Sister Lizzie called for advice & medicine for their "girl" Nettie" Woodfield". Afternoon. Eli. Bentley called & paid Chas. Hallowells bill. I ran out some rows in the garden & H. & Edwd planted some onion sets etc. I went to the mill for horse feed. Willie came back about 5.o'clk. I went up to the store for us. I also went to store for some eggs. It has been cloudy more or less all day. & rather cool. We have had a fire in the "Franklin stove and found it quite comfortable. After supper.

Wind. Clear. Ther. Tues. April 28^th, 1896.

Alice Peirce came & took Willie & Fanny to "Fairfield" before dinner. Afternoon I walked down to Ashton. Thos. S. Stabler came & helped me board up the back end of the carriage house etc. After supper he & I went up to the store. John Ed Hill called me up at about one o'clock last night to prescribe for his son Ernest's wounded foot. he having cut it several weeks since, and taken no care of it, it became so painful that he came to me for advice in the night.

Wind. Variable. Clear. Ther. 55. Wed. April 29^th, 1896.

Thos Stabler helped me finish up the fixing the back of the carriage house & "tenkering"the roof. After which we washed the "Surry", & did several other "jobs" about the place. After dinner we drove down to Asthton & back, & he started home. "Frank" horse seems to have recovered from his lameness & feels in fine life & condition, towards evening the wind changed to N.E. and it feels like more rain.

Wind. N.E. Cloudy & Threatning. Ther. 50 Thur. April 30^th, 1896

Edward has taken another bad cold, and is quite unwell. I worked at digging out plantains in the back yard & clover patch. Went up to the store & P.O. Afternoon I went to the mill for chicken feed. Alfred Hoad was here to consult me again about his mother and paid her bill. It has looked and felt like a settled N.E. rain all day, and I expect we will get it before it clears off: the temperature is much lower than it has been for several days, and a fire feels comfortable in the morning & evening.

Wind. S.E. Cloudy & Chilly. Ther. 45 Fri. May 1^st, 1896.

Still raw & chilly, not much like an ideal "May day". T.S.Stabler called & helped me plant two rows of sugar corn west of the rows of potatoes we had planted. Bro. Charles also called & smoked a pipe with me. The cool damp weather (following the unusually hot weather we had a week ago) has increased my rheumatic troubles, and I suffer, considerably with pain & stiffness in my joints. Edward is still considerably under the weather. his cold not being much better nor his appetite improved. It has been cloudy & threatning rain without raining for three or four days: If it should clear off without rain, we will be likely to have a dry spell I am afraid. After dark Patty Thomas ("Mrs Carter") was here for advice & medicine. She lives on Downey's place.

Wind. SE. Cloudy & Rainy. Ther. 52. Sat. May 2^d, 1896.

Commenced raining sometime after midnight last and continued this morning at intervals I "rehung" the front gate. to make it open inward, planted honeysuckle along the fence, raked off leaves etc. Walked up to the store & P.O. twice, and to Ashton & back in afternoon Tom Stabler called in my absence Willie & Fanny came before supper. It was cloudy & attempting rain, with occasional showers, but it looked like clearing off towards evening, H & Cora changed the bureaus around up stairs, and fixed things around generally.