Bennett Luther Dean Personal Journal, 1908

Introduction To 1907 To 1909 Dean Family History Page

January 1908 Wednesday, January 1     Beautiful day. Not very cold it has not been cold enough yet this winter for me to cover up my ears. It was 16° above one morning in Dec. but it did not stay cold. This year starts out with the country almost at a stand still as far as manufactoring is conserned. Last year the 1st of Jan. the railroads could not furnish cars enough for the business, but this year they idle cars every where. Of course the papers say that the money stringency will not last long and I believe it will not but I think things will slow up some and not run at quite so high a pressure as before. In my oppinion watered stock is the curse of the country coupled with the crimes of high finance. And I suppose at times like the present the water has to be poured off and a few high financiers held up to the public with threats of sending them to jail. But it is very few of them that ever go to jail. Their money finds a good many loop holes in the law. I would like to see the time when the rich would have to obey the law as well as the poor. I think Roosevelt is trying to bring that very thing to pass but it is very slow and up hill work. Thursday, January 2     Beautiful day but colder, about 16°. Got my plush cap out for the first time this winter. Gummie has been quite sick but is a little better to day. Edna and Clarence called. Saturday, January 3     Raining and snowed this morning, slushy and nasty all forenoon, grew colder by night. Howard went over to Elmer Hardenburgs birthday supper and party this evening. Elmer is 12 years old and had 12 boys at his party. I went after Howard about 9 oclock and found him having a fine time playing games etc. I waited for him to play a game of hoops and they were the very same hoops that I used to play with when Elmers father was a boy. They must be at least 30 years old. Howard loves to go and is very proud to be one of the boys in the block. Sunday January 5     Cold again about 18 above but a beautiful day. We had a goose for dinner today the first we ever had and I do not remember ever having tasted of goose before. I went after groceries last night at Hogans and they had this goose left and wanted me to buy it at a bargain 10¢ lb. regular price was 15¢ so I thought it was a chance to try a goose. I got it and brought it home Anna had to get out cook books and recipes to know how to cook it. She finally steamed it tender then stuffed it and browned it in the over. We liked it all but Howard he would no touch it. He will scarcely touch meat any way not eve chicken or turkey. Bennett on the other hand always wants meat. Bennett at the table as soon as grace is said shouts out his order. I want some tats, some meat, some bread and butter, some jelly, celery and salt, etc, etc, and if I do not have the complete order on his plate he sets up a howl and weeps tears. Some times he will say some meat, then he will say no, no meat cause they aint any. Or no, no tats cause I got some. Monday, January 6     Perfectly beautiful day about 20 and got warmer all day. Mrs. Graham called here to day and recited her troubles to us. She has been getting a divorce from [her] husband and she has not been around in so long we were wondering at it. I guess her husband married her for her money and is a regular dead beat. He is a prominent Doctor and rolls rather high and has been spending her money right and left and on his stenographer and other women. He must be a rascal all right from what she told us but she says he is let out now without a dollar to his name and what will hurt him worse he has been exposed to the profession and will be ostracized from their societies etc. Howard went back to school to day. He has had a vacation for a couple of weeks. Tuesday, January 7     Beautiful day got up to 40 and above to day. Wednesday, January     8 Well it looked like a big snow storm this morning. It snowed untill the ground was white, then the sun came out and the snow just disappeared and the rest of the day was beautiful. Gummie came back to day. Anna went down town this afternoon to take advantage of the linen sales that always take place at this time of the year and to do numerous other errands. Thursday, January 9     Coldest of the year this morning 14 above but a beautiful clear day any way. There is good skating now on the ponds that the City floods around town on vacant lots and Belle Island and numerous skating rinks but no sleighing, the ground is bare and dusty. Friday, January 10     About 18 above. Beautiful day. Saturday, January 11     Fine day but threatening a storm. After the kids were all in bed we left Gummie in charge and Anna and I went down town. We bought Bennett a plain gold ring for his birthday and we left it to be engraved with B.J.D. Bennett has been teasing for one because Howard had one. We got Howards for him on his 3rd birthday. We do not often get a chance to get out together so we wondered around, looked in the windows, bought some groceries and some candy dates and peanuts and came home about 10 oclock. It was beginning to rain when we got to the house. Sunday, January 12     Rained all night, turned to snow this morning and has snowed all day and oh what a nasty slushy day. After I got home from work I did not get out of the house, only to clean the walk. Monday, January 13     Cold blustery day. About 20 above, about 3 inches of snow on the ground, froze on top and slush underneath. The papers say terrible storms and blizzards all through the state. Gummie went down town and ordered groceries at Peter Smiths and Sons and other errands this forenoon. Baby Laurence has another tooth, upper one. Tuesday, January 14     About 20 above. Bad walking. Good sleighing. Fair day. Wednesday, January 15     Cold raw wind. About 20 above. Began snowing this evening again, it is fine sleighing, but bad walking. I managed to ride my bicycle today but it was not very good wheeling. I went down to Traubs this evening and got Bennetts ring [for] his birthday tomorrow and nothing has been said to him about it. It is to be a surprise all around. He and Howard play out doors together these days. Howard draws Bennett on the sled and they make out that they have great times. Thursday, January 16     Clear cold day. Thermometer around 20 all day. Went down town after work and got the large picture of Howard, Bennett and Laurence. Met Mr. Frankenstien there he was on the same errand to get one of his baby. This is Bennetts 3rd birthday and of course he must have a birthday cake. The supper table had some pink carnations in the center and we had peanut sandwiches, celery, cream potatoes, orange and banana pudding, jelly, and the birthday cake trimmed with white frosting and pink candies, with 3 pink candles burning upon it. Bennett got a box with a plain gold ring in it and B.J.D. engraved on the in side of it. Bennett was dressed in white and looked fine. And enjoyed it very much. He is one of the slow kind, slow to speak and some times even drawles out his words but he speaks his words very plain. A great many speak of it and think it remarkable that he speaks so plain. He never had any baby words at all. Howard had so many funny baby words . Bennett either spoke plain or not at all. He cries easy and weeps copious tears and as soon as he begins to cry he begins to yell for some body to wipe his nose and wipe his tears he is afraid of the dark, but will get unto his bed in the dark and go to sleep alone. He is very bashful and does not ask to go out and play with other children as Howard does. He can take off his shoes and stockings and can unbutton most of the buttons and take off his clothes. He has a bigger and broader head than Howard, but does not seem to be as apt to learn. He does not say Mother Goose rhymes as much as Howard, but he says dryer and wiser sayings and a great many times seems to get the better of Howard in thier squabbles. He is 35 1/4 inches high. Friday, January 17     15 above this morning. That seems cold but it got warmer and by night it threatened storm. Aunt Dill up afternoon and supper. Inez came to supper. Aunt Dill is very deaf and has a tube to hear with one end in her ear and the other with a bell shaped mouth that she holds up to hear. Bennett was standing looking at it and her, she was talking with Gummie, Bennett is very bashful and Aunt Dill had been trying to get him to come to her but he would not, when all of a sudden he stepped up and said boo in the tube. Aunt Dill jumped nearly out of her skin, and then laughed. Every body laughed and Bennett hid his face. Baby Laurence has been as cute as can be to day, it seems as tho he learns something new every minute. He was awfully afraid of Aunt Dill but while they were talking the baby was sitting on Gummies lap when he turned to Aunt Dill and waived his paddy and said by by. He seemed to thing it was time for her to go home. Bennett often takes a paper under his arm and goes up and down the house yelling "all about the ball game" to day baby brought a paper to Gummy all crumbled up and seemed to want some thing. Gummie had an inspiration and fixed the paper under the babies arm and that pleased him and he started out toddling through the rooms yelling bah, bah, bah. And another new thing he did to day was to come out in the kitchen and take hold of his Mamas finger and he led her into the front room. He had never tried to lead any body before and when he got her in the room he pointed to some carnations that Gummie had got and he wrinkled up his nose and snuffed and showed Mama the flowers. And he can ask now for a drink or a cracker. Howard went to John Grimmermans birthday party, to day 5 years old. Saturday, January 18     Warm to day about 26 this a.m. and got warmer. Beautiful bright day. Norine and Clarkson came to dinner to day, they take Clarkson to the Doctor here yet to receive treatment for his infantile paralysis, but he does not get much better. He can use his hand more but his leg is bad. He can not walk like other boys, he has to throw his leg and foot along, it seems to bad that he has got to be lame that way. Sunday, January 19     Beautiful day. Monday, January 20     Beautiful day. Regular Jan. thaw. Mrs. Durfee called this afternoon. Tuesday, January 21     Warm, about 40, soft, slushy, some rain. Anna and Gummie went down town after I got home and left me with the kids. The Carriers and Clerks of Sta. A. had thier pictures taken in a group to day, as the bunch is to separate the 1 of Feb. when 16 carriers will move on out Woodward to the New Sta. Cor. of Boulvd. Bennett Luther Dean Carriers and Clerks of Station A, Detroit, Michigan Wednesday, January 22     Beautiful day overhead but nasty under foot. Between 30 and 40. Baby Laurence tumbled down stairs to day from top to bottom. He simply walked right off at the top and landed about half way down and then came bumpty bump the rest of the way and landed out in the sitting room. Of course every body was scared stiff. Anna went after him a flying and landed at the bottom nearly as soon as he did but after the smoke had cleared and inventory taken, and he was bathed in witch hazel it was found that a few black and blue spots and bumps on his head was the worse that could be found. Every body felt better then and could tell of it and laugh. The baby soon dried his tears and went on about his baby business. Anna went to the Dentist to day. She has been bothered with and abcess on her gumes and a few cavities. Gummie received a special letter from Norine to day saying that she was sick in bed and desired Gummie present. It always seems as soon as Gummie gets nicely settled here, Norine finds some excuse to get her to come there. We say it is so Gummie can care for the kid while Norine goes. Thursday, January 23     Well to day has been different. The thermometer was about 24 this A.M. and it has been going down all day untill now it is about 11 above, and a fierce wind from the north makes a very cold day of it. Gummie gone and Anna not feeling very well. Howard came home from Kindergarten to day and said he was to go into the first grade tomorrow. We do not like it very well because we were content to have him in the Kindergarten till next Sept. but of course Howard is proud. Friday, January 24     The thermometer was down to 8 above this morning the coldest this winter, but it warmed up and by night was 36. Beautiful day and did not seem as cold as yesterday. Saturday, January 25     Beautiful day. About 24 in the morning and got up to nearly 40. Baby Laurence is pretty sick to day and Anna has had no chance to do the work at all, things just have to go. And she is nearly sick herself. The baby acts very ambitiouless and his eyes are droopy and lifeless. He has fever occasionally his bowel passages look bad and he has a mysterious bunch or swelling back of his right jaw that looks like mumps but we do not think it is. Of course we lay it to teeth, he has one new lower tooth and is getting another upper one. Anna gives him rhubarb syrup for his stomach, castor oil for his bowels and rubs the bunch back of the jaw with camphorated oil to keep it soft. I came home from work and went up stairs and swept the whole upstairs, no down town, no shriners circus. I can tell you it is fun bringing up a family, some thing doing all the time but usually is some thing you do not want to be doing. Sunday, January 26     About 30 above this morning. It began snowing about 7 oclock and snowed fearful untill about 10.30 then it stopped and looked like rain all the rest of the day. Did rain some. It seems as tho things have been rather strenuous around here to day, the children have been especially trying. The baby is a good deal better but feels very cross and wants his mama at every turn. She cannot move with out some one of the kids hanging to her skirts or demanding some attention and the day has been so tiresome for Anna at least that she is glad it is nearly over. Last night was the first time the baby went through the whole night with out nursing. When he cried last night he got barley water, so I guess we may say he is weaned. He would have been weaned before but Gummie said it was the wrong time of the moon and according to the moon he should have waited untill the last of next week but Anna got disgusted and did not wait. She said Howard and Bennett got weaned with out the moon and she thought Laurence could also. She had not heard of the moon business when Howard and Bennett were weaned. Monday, January 27     About 12 above but got quite warm by night. I went down to the Main P.O. after work to night to sign the quarterly pay roll we have to go down once in three months to do that. Howard took his place in the first grade at school to day and he said the teacher taught them to write and know the word "egg". That seems a funny way to me, when I started to school it was the A.B.Cs first and we had to learn to say them forward and backward but now the children know nothing about the A.B.Cs, they never mention them. After school Howard did some thing his Mama has told him not to do time and time again that was to go away without her knowing it. Arthur Seed that lives across the street took him with him to peddle his papers. And when I got home Anna was frantic, did not know what had become of Howard. And when Howard did come he was howling to beat the baud with cold feet. I took his shoes off to see if they were froze and rubbed them and he howled all the more at that and then he had to be jawed in the bargain. Tuesday, January 28     About 22 this morning but it is down to 16 to night. I labeled my case in the new North End Sta. P.O. this afternoon. I suppose we are to move in next Saturday, but we have nothing official about it yet. Wednesday, January 29     Down to 4 above this morning and I think it did not get above 12 all day, it seemed pretty cold. Clear but not bright. 6 above in the evening. The Parisian Laundry burned down again this morning. It burned down just a year or so ago. They are having hard luck. Thursday, January 30     My thermometer stood at 1/2 above zero at 5.30 A.M. and to night at 7.30 it is 14 above. I was anxious that it would not get down to zero this month just to make a record of not going to zero untill Feb. I hear that some ther. was 2 below and others 5 above. Mine is usually pretty near the official report but I have not heard what that was yet. Anna went to the Dentist again this P.M. Friday, January 31     About 12 above this morning and 20 to night. High East wind raw and cold all day. And to night it has started to snow a regular blizzard. Looks as tho we were in for a heavy full of snow. Yesterday was a record breaker cold day through out the state. The papers quote the temperature in different places all the way form 6 to 33 below. Detroit was the hottest place in the state I guess. Minnie Hopkins called and invited us to a birthday party at thier house next Tuesday night. Howard says he will take care of the kids. He said if the baby woke up he would get some condensed milk and feed him, then pat him on the back till he went to sleep again. How easy it looks to him.

February 1908 Saturday February 1     30 above A.M. 16 above evening. A fearful day. There was about 10 inches of snow this morning and it was raining a little. It must have been a fearful night, regular blizzard. And it has blown and howled all day and is howling outside to night and getting cold. Trains were blockaded, street cars tied up and things snowed in in general. And this is the day we started the North End Sta. P.O. 16 Carriers went up from Sta. A. I got up before 5 oclock got breakfast, cleaned the walk enough so people could get through, took a lunch and got up there OK by 6.15. But things do not move at all. The clerks did not know the scheme and could not get the mail in on time. I made 3 trips when I should have made 5. Everything was new and unusual but I suppose it will not take long to get things into a rut and go as tho there was never any other way. It was 9 years ago to day that I came to Sta. A from the Main office and this makes the 3rd new office I have moved into. I was at the old Griswold St. office from 1895 April to Dec. Nov. 1897, then we moved into the New Fort St. office and I went to Sta. A in 1 of Feb. 1899, then at Woodward St. Selden & Alex. and moved into the new Sta A. at Willis and Woodward in April or May 1899 and now the North End. Sunday February 2     Bright sun most of the day. Ground Hog saw his shadow to day all right enough. About 5 above A.M. 8 above at 8 P.M. and then it began to get warmer. Every body worked to day in the new P.O. from 8 to 10-30 A.M. Things went pretty smooth for the first day. Took a trip to the Drug store this P.M. and got a few necessaries but was in all the rest of the time. Monday February 3     Fine enough day. About 16 above A.M. but the walking is terrific. Baby Laurence is getting to know a heap it seems as tho he does smarter things than either of the others. To day he got behind the book case and grunted and filled his pants then he went and got some clean napkins and took them to his Mama and make it very plain that he wanted them on. And he makes his want known usually with a sqeel. Tuesday February 4     Beautiful bright day, very cold, about 5 above A.M., 8 above P.M. This morning I overslept when I woke up it was 5 of 6 oclock and I am due at Woodward & Boulvd. at 6.15 Well I got there at 6.20. I got up shook the stove and fixed it or the family would freeze as Anna can not shake it and make a good fire. I grabbed my lunch which was put up the night before, and started for the Warren Ave Car on the run buttoning up my clothes as I ran, without anything to eat or drink. But I drank a cup of hot water at the Sta. which done for coffee, and ate a piece of bread and butter and went to work. I do not like taking lunch I like to be at home for meals. Anna has gone up to Hopkins on Hancock to night to a birthday gathering of our old crowd that used to meet and play pedro, but have not met in several years. Both of us could not go so Anna went and I staid with the kids and Anna had hard[ly] closed the door going out when baby Laurence set up a howl. I had to fix some condensed milk and feed him then he went back to sleep. Wednesday February 5     Well if the weather man has anything worse than to day on his list, I hope he will forget to dish it up. To start with this morning it was 10 above and a raw high wind from the east then it began to snow a fine hard snow that blew through every thing, a regular wild blizzing that stalled street cars and trains and every body that could kept in. Then in the afternoon it turned to rain and sleet and I came home wet and completely tired out. To night the wind has got around in the Northwest and coming hard. I presume it will be freezing cold again tomarrow. It is up above freezing just now. Thursday February 6     About 20 above. Well to day we got the same storm as yesterday. The wind blew it north yesterday and blew it back to day. The walks were so slippery that one could hardly keep on his feet and many a person took a sudden drop, but I never faced a worse blizzard than I did down the R.R. on my two P.M. trips from Woodward to 12 it blew and beat into my face so hard I could not see and it covered me from head to foot with snow till I looked like a Santa Clause. I took a car down town to day noon and back and the cars have hard work to keep going. Friday February 7     About 20 above. Quite a decent day considering what we have had. No snow, no storm. Cloudy it is bad walking, good sleighing. Baby Laurence is quite sick to night. I suppose it is his teeth. Anna went to the Dentist again to day and had another tooth filled. Saturday February 8     About zero A.M. and did not get above 12 and was when I went to bed, but a bright beautiful day. We have been in the new P.O. a week and I do not like [it] as well as the old. It is nice and new and that, but I cannot get home to dinner and I do not like to take lunch. We have had awful weather and bad walking and may be that his something it [sic]. I went down town after work and paid the gas bill, it was high this time $4.16. Baby Laurence is so sick it frightens us his eyes are lifeless and droopy. He has fever in spells and cries a little peculiar cry nearly all the time and is worse nights that day times. We do not know whether to get a Doctor or not. Anna gives him castoria or some thing to move the bowels, and is very careful what he eats. Sunday February 9     2 Below zero A.M. and cold all day but clear and bright. 14 above Eve. I did [not] have to go to work to day. The first time I have had a Sunday off in nearly 3 months, as 247 I did not have any alternate, at the old Sta. A. but now at the new Sta. that is arranged. I have been in the house all day. I feel ashamed that I did not go to church, I have not been in a long time and am completely out of the habit. Baby Laurence does not seem much better to day, only that he has been able to stay asleep and has slept a good share of the time to day. And hope it will improve him in every way for tomarrow. Monday February 10     About 14 above A.M. warmed up all day, up above 30 afternoon. Beautiful bright day. Thawed . Baby Laurence better but he does act so sick and weak. And we are afraid we ought to have the Dr. but still we are sure it is only his teeth. I do not feel very well today. I feel as tho the grippe was hanging around. Howard did not go to school because he took to barking in the night. There is always some thing on deck. Tuesday February 11     20 above A.M. and it has been just like a warm spring day, bright warm and beautiful. Snow going fast. I hope it will continue the good work. Baby Laurence still on the bum. He has been very cross to day probably that is a good sign. I am still feeling grippy. Anna went to the dentist to day and said she was through going for a time at least. I got our group picture of the Carriers and clerks of Sta. A. before the 16 Carriers went up to N.E. Sta. It is a very good picture. We got in a couple of ton of coal to day and hope it will last untill the good old summer time. Wednesday February 12     About 30 above A.M. and 45 evening. Soft sloppy, and misty. Rivers of water and acres of slush. Baby Laurence a good deal better seems like him self to day. Michigan Ave Street car barns burned last night. One Fireman lost his life and two others seriously hurt. Thursday February 13     40 above A.M. 35 Eve. Soft and Sloppy, bright and warm. Streets running rivers of water. Just like a warm spring day. Friday February 14     St. Valentines day and what a day, it has rained every minute I guess all day. About 30 above and so miserable and disagreeable. Howard could not go to school this P.M. it was so rainy and so he missed the valentine box. But rain or no rain he had to go and put a valentine at the door, ring the bell and run. I went with him after it was dark and held the umbrella over him and gave him the valentines in rotation Elmers, Johns, Lesters, Georgies, Elizabeths, and Edwards, then he came home and waited for our bell to ring. Elmer came, John, Georgie, and Margaret. I helped out by putting some on the steps myself. I would go out to dump ashes, run around and put them on the steps ring the bell and run around to the back door and come in. When I came in they would holler oh Papa see another one and they never suspect. I went 5 times with one for each. Howard got I think 10 and my it is just a fearful night. Saturday February 15     About 30 above. It rained untill this morning and then turned to snow and snowed all the fore noon in blizzards, squalls and gusts and wind. The old snow was all gone but we have nearly as much new snow to night. I went down town after work and ordered groceries and came home loaded. Sunday February 16     About 30 above, snowed some this A.M. then the sun came out and it was fine and bright and warm for a few hours, then it clouded over and got a little colder. Went to work this A.M. at 7 through at 10.30, home all the rest of the day. This is Ednas birthday. I believe she is 35 my but we are climbing the ladder of age fast. I will be 40 this March that seems awfully old. Baby Laurence has another tooth to day which makes 7 and he is a pretty cute youngster these days he is getting so he knows every thing we say to him. Monday February 17     16 above, clear day. Mrs. Durfee came this afternoon and is staying all night. She is moving into a few rooms down on Grand River and is waiting for her house hold goods to be delivered from storage. Tuesday February 18     16 above. It was not a bad day untill evening but a high east wind is blowing and it is snowing and drifting out side. It just makes me sick to think of getting out into more snow tomarrow. This month has been a corker for storms. Baby Laurence and Howard have colds again and the greasing process has got to be gone through with again. Wednesday February 19     The City and I suppose the Country is just simply buried in snow. It snowed all night and all day to day. And it lays in heaps and piles and hills and valleys to night. How deep it is I dont know probably not over 10 inches on the lever. Cars and everything that moves out of doors have just had to crawl and walking was just wallowing. I went down town after work and got a pair of leggings to wear in the snow. I am fearful tired to night. Thursday February 20     About 16 above but a bright beautiful day. Friday February 21     About 20 above. Cloudy but a nice day. Thawed a little. Saturday February 22     Geo. Washingtons birthday and a fine day it has been. About 8 above this A.M. but got warmer. Cold, crisp, clear sunshiny day. Got to work at 6-30 and was through at 9-30 and home before 10, so it has been quite a holiday. I cut Bennetts hair and shaved myself before dinner. Then Howard and I went down town to see the sights this afternoon. I bought a pair of gloves and Howard and Bennett a toy watch at the 10¢ store. Howard teased for nearly every thing he saw but finally decided that he wanted the toy watch worse than anything else so we went back where we had seen it and got one for him and one for Bennett then we got some candy and came home. Bennett was dressed up in a new Buster suit that his Mama made and I never saw him look so fine. Snowing this eve. Sunday February 23     Beautiful bright day, about 20 above went to church A.M. heard a fine sermon. Home all the rest of the day. The News Tribune published the group picture of the Sta. A. Carriers and Clerks to day. Monday February 24     Cold clear bright beautiful day only 6 above this morning got a little warmer but is still cold tonight. Norine came this afternoon. She is to attend a consert here this evening then take a late car home. Anna has a fearful cold in her head and throat, the kids all have it and I am afraid I am getting it. Tuesday February 25     About 30 and rain all day, cold drizzly rain, slush and slippery. Wednesday February 26     About 30 A.M. but got cold, 18 evening fearfully slippery walking and you are apt to step on a pile of snow and go clear down through into water over your shoes. Went down to Ednas after supper and got a couple of doz. of country eggs. Thursday February 27     Very cold all day, about 14 above and did not warm up much. Went to a Temperance lecture at the church this evening. A temperance wave is sweeping the country so the papers say and prohibition is the cry every where. Well I am glad of that. I think it is about time. Friday February 28     Still cold about 16 this A.M. but got a little warmer when the sun came out. Baby Laurence succeeded in climbing on top of the bread can to day and was very much elated over it. He knows where his toothies are and his paddies and his feet. When you ask him where the baby is he taps his forehead and he will point or look at lots of objects around the room when you ask him where they are. When he wants a piece of bread he says bah bah. Howard and Bennett always ask for a piece between meals by saying, I want some bread down. I want a cookie down etc. They mean down from the table. Saturday February 29     Cold fine day, about 11 above this morning and about 20 P.M. February has been a stormy cold and very disagreeable month a few nice days of course but on the whole it has been about the worst I ever remember. It has been good sleighing since the first day of the month.

March 1908 Sunday March 1     About 20 above and a dark ominous day it was raining sleet when I went to work this morning and I heard it thunder once. I walked to work because I was afraid the cars would be tied up but I guess they were running OK. It took 30 [minutes] to walk from Forest and Avery here to Boulevard and Woodward. I did not leave the house after I got home only to clean the walk. Howard likes to clean the walk with a shovel bigger than he is and he does first rate and sticks to it too and cleans clean and he went out to day and got the most of it down. I just finished up. Monday March 2     About 20 above. Cloudy, threatening. The earth is a skating rink to day and kids are skating on the walks and up the streets as tho that was what they were for. It is better skating than walking, fine sleighing too. A little more snow this eve. Went down town to Peter Smiths and ordered groceries after work. Tuesday March 3     Beautiful bright day, about 20 above but got warmer. Wednesday March 4     Beautiful bright day about 18 above A.M. but got warmer. The snow going fast. Howard went up stairs all alone to night and got ready for bed all alone. He is usually afraid to go even to the bathroom without a light, but he has a new streak on. Thursday March 5     Not so bad a day. Rained some in the evening. Fearful walking. The papers report a terrible Holocaust in the suburbs of Cleaveland, Ohio, yesterday. A school house burned and 170 children and two teachers lost thier lives, they were trapped by doors that were locked, and doors that opened inward. Friday March 6     Foggy A.M. Beautiful day, warm as summer, almost up to 60 and my the snow and ice just got a hump and ran away in rivers and oceans of water and slush. Fearful high wind is blowing outside now. I suppose that will help in drying. Howard came home to night wet to the skin. He had fallen into a pool of water some where. He was wading with his rubber boots on and fell down. And he had to go to bed while his clothes dryed, and that hurt his feelings very much. Saturday March 7     Colder and cloudy to day. The ice did not go so fast to day, but melted a little P.M. The sleighing is all gone now. I think we have had 5 weeks of good sleighing and we have had 5 weeks of the worst weather I have ever seen in one stretch. I have not been on my bicycle in that length of time and I guess that is the longest time in nearly 10 years that my bicycle has been out of use at a stretch. Howard has been entirely out of tune to day. Has been out twice and got his feet wet each time after promising that he would not get into any water. And he has been spanked several times and Anna is about ready to sell out to night. I went down town late to night and got Howard a pair of pantaloons at a bargain sale, 1.50 ones at 79¢, good but old style, and Laurence a pair of shoes and they cost a dollar. My 3 kids will keep me humping to support them. Sunday March 8     Cloudy dismal day. Home all day. About 34 above. Just cold enough so the ice in the streets does not go very fast. Friday the snow went so fast that floods were reported all over the country, some where out Jefferson the street was a river, cars could not get through and passengers were carried in wagons and boats. Cars could not get through the Grand River subway. I intended to go out to Mothers to day but Anna did not feel very well and the children seemed to be starting in for a strenuous day. And I was a little afraid the cars might not be able to get through on account of floods so I did not go. I feel guilty that I do not get out there oftener because they get lonesome and homesick to see some of us, so I think I ought to go but it does seem like a job. Monday March 9     Cold, about 18 A.M. but bright beautiful. Went down town and paid gas bill. Anna and kids out for a walk met me at 12 and Warren. Tuesday March 10     18 above A.M. bright and beautiful. Got my bicycle out to day first time since Jan. 31 and I got a puncture just to discourage me but I got home to my dinner. Wednesday March 11     Beautiful day, actually Hot. Mud is very bad. Ice still lays where the sun cannot reach it. Howard about sick with a cold and cough. He did not go to school to day. He seems to take cold easy and his stomach is very finnicy. Just the sight of some things turns his stomach and he is very particular about eating which is a nuisance. Edna and Clarence up this evening. Thursday March 12     Beautiful day, very warm, up around 60 it gives a body that tired feeling. I ride my wheel now and get home to dinner, but it is almost too much ride. It tires me so that I am afraid I will have to give it up and take my lunch. Howard feels better to day, but did not go to school and he coughes hard, especially at night and grates his teeth till you would think he would break them. Anna and the children manage to get out nearly every day for a little airing these fine days. Anna just put on her things and went down to Ednas to get some eggs. The kids are all in bed. Howard coughes once in a while and it sounds dreadful. Friday March 13     About 32 and threatening rain all forenoon. Cleared P.M. Howard did not go to school to day but I guess he is better, he goes out to play now. Saturday March 14     About freezing. I intended to go down town to night but by the time I was shaved and pants pressed, stores tended and I had taken a bath, I just crawled into bed. Baby Laurence is showing off in great shape these days. He understands what we say to him and does things we tell him to and he teases and comes and gets you and takes you to what he wants. He wants bah "bread" and he says see by making a kind of hissing sound t-s-s-s-s and he gets mad and shakes his head and squeales. When the other children wont let him have what he wants or takes any thing away from or bother him he goes to his Mama then he points at them and squeales at the top of his voice. He has a mania for climbing just now. If the stair door is left open he makes for that, if the cellar door is left open he makes for that, and you take him away 40 times and say no no musn't. He will make for it again as soon as you let go of him. He laughs and squeals and plays and says by by and smacks his lips comes running to meet me when I come home and is to cute for any thing just now. Sunday March 15     We had a shower about 8 or 9 P.M., then it got colder, about freezing. Went to work at 7, home about 10.45 then Howard and I went to Plymouth by way of Wayne. We got out about 1.30. I guess I never saw the country so much under water before. From Det. to Dearborn it seemed as tho ever thing was under water and mud goodness it looked as tho if one put his foot down any where he would go down out of sight. We found Mother and Father in pretty good health and very comfortable in their little cottage. Father seems to get stronger and healthier as he grows older. He will be 80 this summer and is as spry as a man of 60. He has split 40 cords of wood this winter for the neighbors. Edna was there and Uncle Asa, Aunt Liza, Aunt Vina, Maggie and Lydia, all Joys came in and visited in the afternoon. Edna came home early and we came [home] at 6.20 by way of Northville and had to wait at N 45 minutes, got home about 9. We went down and called on Grandpa Clarkson in Northville, Gummie was not at home. And at Farmington junction we saw Ted and Norine through the window they were changing from the Pontiac car to the Northville car going home and coming into the city. Georges wife and kid got onto the car and I had a visit with her so we saw nearly every body in one way or another. I enjoy going after I get started but it is like pulling teeth getting started and too the cars are usually so crowded and there is no comfort in traveling on them. Monday March 16     About freezing and a cold chilly wind. Bennett has been about sick all day with a cold and to night after he went to bed he woke up crying once or twice and finally vomited all over the bed so the bed had to be entirely changed. Mothers do not have enough to do to take care of 3 kids ordinarily so such things have to happen to keep them busy. Tuesday March 17     A fine St. Patricks day. Cold and chilly but a very fine day considering the occasion. Bennett pretty bad with his cold and he keeps his Mother busy waiting on him. He wants a drink about 40 times a night and if it is not shoved right under his nose instantly he sets up a howl that I should think could be heard all over the neighborhood. Baby Laurence reaches up and likes to pull things off of the table, he can just reach the edge. Anna left the tea pot on the kitchen table near the edge and when no one was noticing he pulled it off and poured the tea all over the floor. The tea was not hot and he thought he had done some thing smart and the way he acted made us laugh in spite of our selves. He said t-s-s-sh, he means see. And he wanted to swim and paddle in it and he humped his shoulders, a way he has when pleased, and danced. Then he came in where I was and pointed out into the kitchen and said t-s-s-sh and I had to go and see. Wednesday March 18     It was storming when I got up this morning. Sleet and snow. But it soon stopped. The ground was white with snow but it was slush and mud by noon. Bennett is still bad with a cold and coughes a great deal and he looks like the last rows of summer or winter. Thursday March 19     Chilly raw wind threatening all day. Friday March 20     Cold morning about 18 above but a beautiful bright day. Anna and kids took a walk over on Grand River. Anna went to the church this evening, the C. E. is giving an entertainment. Bennett still has his cold and he still calls for drinks day and night. Every time he coughs he must have a drink, he is the most provoking kid in some ways. It takes the patience of Job to manage him. Saturday March 21     Beautiful day about 26 this A.M. I am getting a cold to day. I can feel it coming on and it makes me mad. I have tried to knock it out by taking phthisic but I guess I have got to have it. I intended to go down town to night but I did not get started. Anna thought she would go but when the kids were in bed it was so late she did not want to go. It seems all most impossible for either one of us to get away. I cut Howards hair to night. I cannot do as nice a job as I would like to, but it does not look bad and I think I am learning a little as I gain experience. Sunday March 22     Partly cloudy. Home all day, no work. Every body has colds. Anna thought she would take the baby and go to Northville to day but the baby has a cold and Bennett and I have a cold so she did not go. Edna & Clarence called. Monday March 23     Warm about 40 above. When I went to work on my wheel this A.M. at 6 oclock, the sun was just coming up and the Robins were singing and it seemed like spring. Gummie came in to day. This is Howards sixth birthday and of course we must celebrate a little have a birth day cake Etc., so at supper he had a cake with 6 candles on it and Howard Dean printed in red candies on top of it. And he got a box of candy and a jack knife for a present. And we had ice cream and lady fingers and the kids enjoyed it immensely. Gummie got him a 1/2 doz carnations. Howard just felt as tho he was it all day and took his spanks with a laugh and lorded it over Bennett just like a boy with a birthday. Howard is 43 1/4 inches high. Seems rather slim, but is strong and full of life, wants to be out doors all the time and this causes more trouble with his Mother than any thing else. He goes away and Anna does not know where he is. He plays with larger boys than he is and they come up in front of the house and call out for him when it is time for school. He seems to be some thing of a favorite among them. He likes to go to school except once in a while he complains about his teacher. I believe his own teacher has been sick for some time, but he does not go to Sunday school this winter and he declares he will not go. He did not like it last summer. He had no regular teacher and then some boy stuck a pin into him from behind and he always brings that up in his arguments to escape going. He is learning to read by sight and knows a good many words when he sees them. He can count up to 20 and then can go to 100 with a little help. He never learned to say the A.B.Cs as we understood that the schools rather the children would not. He can print from copy pretty good. His grade at school is B.1st. Tuesday March 24     Cold and raw. Threatening. About 30. I have a bad cold. Anna has a cold and a spot in her throat. Baby has a cold and we feel pretty much on the bum. Bennetts cough is better and last night did not call for a drink once. Wednesday March 25     Cold only 18 above. Cold all day. Anna, Gummie and kids went down to Aunt Dills in the afternoon and Anna and Gummie went out in the evening to call on some body by the name of Hakes. Bad street car accident on Mich. Ave. yesterday afternoon. A suburban car ran off the track and run over the side walk in a store, smashed the store and the car all to pieces. 37 people were more or less injured and one has since died. Thursday March 26     Well yesterday morning it was freezing cold, and this morning it was up to 50 and at noon up to 70 and it seemed really hot. Anna and Gummie went down town this afternoon and down to Ednas in the evening. Friday March 27     Horrid day. About 30 above A.M. Cold rainy day. Anna has tickets for the Temple theatre tonight in honor of my birthday tomarrow. We never get a chance to go any where together and more on account of the kids but Gummie being here to stay with the kids we thought it would be a good chance to go and what a day it is but we went just the same and saw a good show but not as funny as we hoped it would be because we wanted to laugh good and plenty. Saturday March 28     Thermometer around freezing and very threatening in the morning, but it cleared up enough so it did not rain all day, but was cloudy. Well I suppose I am 40 years old to day and that seems rather old to think of but I do not feel old. I guess I feel as young as I did at 25. I am in the best of health do not weight as much as I used to. I weigh 160 lbs. and am 5 foot 8 7/8 inches in my stocking feet. I have no bald spot on my head yet and my hair is black and my mustache red. I have a few gray hairs at the side of my head in front of my ears and quite a several in my mustache. And I have my own teeth, a few filled, none crowned nor any with very large filling. I have one rather peculiar tooth that has bothered me for nearly twenty years. It used to ulserate and I had it treated and the nerve in the tooth killed, but for a long time my gum above that tooth has been gradually parting and a new tooth or some freak of a bone has been growing down outside the tooth and parting the gum as it grew and now it is parted from the teeth clear up and I know I ought to go to a Dentist and see what can be done but I put it off as often as I think of it because it does not pain me or trouble me any. I wonder how much I am really worth financially but I do not know. I guess about a thousand dollars besides house hold furniture etc. I have about $360.00 in the Peoples State Bank. And Anna and I have 20 shares in the Northville Building and Loan which we have been paying $2.50 a week into for 5 years and more. It is supposed to mature in ten years and then to be worth $2000.00. I guess now interest and all would be worth about $700.000. And I am insured for 300 in a company, I think it is the Northwestern National Life and Investment Co., at the end of 10 years I get 300 and interest out of that. I have paid 6 payments of $30.00 a year in that. And I am insured in the Letter Carriers Mutual for $3000, that costs me $2.58 a month but is liable to go higher. It started with 1.08, I don't like that very well but feel that I must keep it up on my families account. So I am insured for $5,300.00 which costs me including Carriers association assessments (which I have to keep up to make the insurance good) about $125.00 a year on an average of over $10.00 a month and I feel insurance poor the year around. And I am in the Carriers sick benefit which pays $10 a week after one week and costs $1.00 an assesment and amounts to 4 or 5 a year. I earn as a Letter Carrier $1100.00 a year before last July it was $1000 a year and after next July we expect it will be $1200.00. I hope so for while I am able to live and keep up assesments and rent Etc. there is not much margin we do not have much sickness. We have not had a Dr. only when the babies were born in two years I guess. I have not lost a days work in nearly two years so you see I work steady. I do not smoke or drink, and we do not go much. Always at home and we spend but a very few pennies on foolishness. Our rent is 18.50 a month and our table expenses amount to about $20 or a little more a month. Gas between 3 and 4 dollars a month, washing 60 cents a week. That makes our running household expense about 25 or 30 a month. We use about 5 tons of hard coal a year $7.25 a ton. Household Etc., rent and coal amounts to about $50 .... We give the church $1.00 a month, then clothes for 3 kids and all the other expenses incidental to the running of a family keeps ones nose to the grind stone. I do not own a bit of realestate. I do not owe a dollar and I have a true (wife and three boys) family. No trouble no sickness. Our lives go on perfectly uneventful, so I think at the age of 40 I have a great deal to be thankful for. As my life goes on I am disgusted with my self because I am not some thing better than a Letter Carrier at a salary of 1100.00 a year. But I cannot blame any body but my self for that, so I think I better be thankful I am no worse. I would not have to look very far to find just as smart men as I am a great deal worse off "ski doo". My Father and Mother are living at Plymouth in fairly good health. Father enjoys fine health and at the age of 79 is as spry as a man of 60. Mother is not so well but does her own work, age 71. Herbert is Supt. of a U.S. Fish Hatchery at Neosho, MO. Wife and 2 children, boy and girl. Ernie is a farmer near South Lyon, Mich. Wife and one kid, girl. George is a motorman here in this city, lives 3 Milwaukee W., wife and boy. Edna is Mrs. Clarence Mason and lives at 279 Calumet and I live at 210 Avery. Edna has no children. Sunday March 29     Cold, down around freezing. Worked, home all the rest of the day. Gummie went to church. Monday March 30     Cold, about 28 above but a fine bright day. Gummie went home to day. Baby Laurence is in the climbing stage and tries to climb into every thing. He can climb up into a chair now he gets his foot on the round and then pulls and grunts and slides onto the chair on his stomach. Then he laughs and acts as tho he had done some thing but his Mama is kept on the jump and worried to death for fear he will fall. We can get him to say Papa now but he wont say Mama and now when I come in and sit down he appears with a book and backs up to me and grunts. He wants me to take him up on my lap and show him the pictures. Tuesday March 31     Between 30 & 40, cloudy. The grass is beginning to show up quite a considerable.

April 1908 Wednesday April 1     Hard showers. Cold rainy and horrid. Not a very pleasant opening for the month of April. Howard brought his first school book home to day to have a cloth cover put onto it. He can spell cat and can read some words that he has been taught to know by sight. Thursday April 2     28 above and it staid there all day. My but how cold it seemed. Cold fierce wind. Blizzards of snow but not enough to cover the ground. Ice on the puddles and mud froze stiff. Whew but what a country we live in, the fires both up stairs and down are going red and hot. Anna went down town to night to buy a couple of waists at a bargain sale and really they did seem like real bargains. 1.50 waists at 95¢. Friday April 3     20 above this A.M. Freezing cold. Some sunshine, some snow, lots of wind. Mercy but it is discouraging to have Jan. weather when you are expecting spring. Saturday April     4 Morning clear and cold, about 22 above but got warm, beautiful day. Inez Hart and Mother called. I went down town to order groceries at Peter Smiths, we think we save a few cents there especially at their bargain days, they give a sugar or soap bargain bargain with a 1.50 order of other goods. And we think we can not get good Tea or Coffee any other place but there, so we usually send there once or twice a month. I bought me a book on the game of checkers. I have got a little interested this winter playing with the carriers during noon hour when I could not ride my wheel. But I get beat right along and I wondered if I could not get a book and study up. I got the book at McCauleys but I am afraid I will not study it much it seems rather intricate and some of the carriers are quite expert at the game. Sunday April 5     Rain, lots of it, dismal day. Warmed up between 40 an 50. I went to church in the rain and came home in the rain and had to change my clothes. Walked home with Sam & Belle. I heard a good serman always do. Mr. Jaquess is a good common sensed preacher. But the kids have been on a tear all day and untill they were fairly chucked into bed at night and asleep they kept at it. First the baby usually so good natured was cross and crying a good share of the time. Howard and Bennett were noisey quarrelsome, and we just had one of those nerve racking strenuous days when you feel like taking to the woods. Monday April 6     Foggy morning but cleared into a bright warm beautiful day. I let the fire up stairs go out to day and I hope I will have no occasion to regret it. Tuesday April 7     Colder to day, raw and threatening. Wednesday April 8     Rained last night. Threatened all day to day but did not rain. Cloudy and raw. Baby weighed 21 3/4 lbs. to day we thought he was getting heavy but now we are afraid he ought to be heavier. Thursday April 9     30 above this A.M. but it has been a bright beautiful day. Went down town after work and paid the gas bill. Got another leak in my tire to day. I am having a run of bad luck this time it is the front tire and the bicycle man at Stone Bros could not stop it and is going to send it down to the makers and in the mean time I have to walk or go on the car and I will have to take my dinner too and I dont like that. Friday April 10     About 40. Misty forenoon. Threatening afternoon. I took my tire down to the Hartford people, 256 Jeff. E., on my spring this A.M. They said they would fix it or give me a new one. I went down at 4 P.M. and they gave me a new one for which I was duly thankful. I hope I can get fixed up in the morning. The baby Laurence can tease to go to bed now. All of our kids tease to go to bed. Laurence to night began to em bah em bah, that is what he says when he wants any thing, then he went to the stair door and tried to open it saying em bah em bah. Mama asked him if he wanted to go to bed and he said em bah em bah and made it very plain that that was what he wanted. The kids have all been fine to day and how good it seems to have them good. Saturday April 11     Beautiful day, all but the wind, it has blown at the rate of steen [sic] miles an hour all day, fairly blow one off of his feet. Got my wheel fixed up to day so I am again traveling on my way rejoicing. The baby has been howling for a hour or two steady, colic I guess but now he is asleep on his Mothers shoulder. The clock in the Fine [sic] hall just struck 10. Howard is nearly sick with a cold and cough, and stomach, every thing that goes down must come up. Sunday April 12     Fine day. Went to work at 7 and home about 11 did not go out of the house after that although it was such a fine day. Howard is better to day we can tell quick enough when he feels better he wants to go out doors or do some thing, take a walk, come on papa and take a walk, and tease tease. I feel kind of mean to refuse but I am out doors all the time at work and so I am glad enough to stay in and read and rest. Baby Laurence got quieted down last night towards mid night. And we came to the conclusion that he had the ear ache. Monday April 13     Warm, thermometer up above 40 and went higher during the day. Beautiful this week is vacation for the schools and we expect to have our troubles with Howard. He is on the go all the time and gone so long that we fear he is lost. Teasing for a top, marbles, football, ball mit and roller skates. Roller skates are all the fad now, every kid and some grown people, they skate on the streets and side walk and every where, they go to the grocery, the butcher and to school on skates. I went to a lecture or talk on the history of Detroit at the church by C. M. Burton the abstract man. What he does not know about the history of Detroit is not worth knowing, he is an enthusiast and goes to England and France and every where he thinks he can find records bearing on the early history of this section of the country. The talk was very interesting and I enjoyed it very much. Tuesday April 14     Beautiful warm day, nearly 70 at noon and it seemed hot and makes one feel like pulling off thier winter clothes. I bought Howard a blue and red sweater to day so he would not have to play in his over coat and he is so tickled he cannot hardly act natural but poor Bennett he tried it on before Howard came in and he looked so cute and of course he wanted one. I cut Bennetts hair to night and he looks much more like a civilized being but I have hard work to get him to submit. He cries and begs to let go and I have to promise pennies and any thing else that I think will keep him still but I succeeded in doing a fairly good job. Wednesday April 15     Warm, rain this morning, but this afternoon a high cold wind came up and it got cold enough for an over coat. The grass is green and fine now. Trees are just budding once in a while you can see a bush or shrub with a sprinkling of leaves on them but not as a general thing. Thursday April 16     Well I declare the thermometer was down to 26 above this morning. Water in puddles was frozen over, mud was froze hard but it was a bright beautiful day. Howard went to Northville to day. Anna took him to Grand River and put him on a car that Norine was on and she took him to Northville to stay a day or two prehaps over Easter. Norine still brings Clarkson in to receive treatments for his paralysis he is lame yet but they think if he sticks to the massage treatments he will get entirely over it. Friday April 17     About 30 above this morning, but it got real warm by night. Beautiful day. Saturday April 18     Well it was raining when I got up and it continued to rain all of the forenoon and some in the afternoon, a warm gentle rain. Gummie came in to day and Howard came home with her. Anna and I went over on Grand River in the evening and bought groceries and Easter things and an ice cream nut sundae on the side. Sunday April 19     Easter Sunday and a beautiful warm day, threatened a little but it was only a scare. New hats and tags were out in force. Womens hats are very broad rings built very high with posies on the crown, or extravagant ribbons instead of flowers, rather long sack coats and about the same old derby hats or soft hats. Gummie, Howard and I went to church this A.M. we always attend the Trumbull Ave. Presbyterian Church where Anna and I are members. Mr. Jaquess is the pastor. Gummie went down to Aunt Dills in the afternoon and in the eve she and Anna went to church. Monday April 20     Beautiful day, rather chilly and windy. Anna went down town forenoon and she and Gummie are dress making to day. Tuesday April 21     Cold morning, 28 above zero but it was a fine night and a clear bright beautiful day and got up as high as 60 before night. Aunt Dill up most of the day. Gummie about sick but is dressmaking just the same. She and Anna took a trip to Grand River just before supper. Charlie Blair and wife called this eve. Wednesday April 22     Beautiful day, warmed, in fact hot. Went down town after work and signed the pay roll, and to Peter Smiths for groceries. Gummie went to Royal Oak to day to visit a Blair. She wont be back here till friday. Howard did not go to school this A.M. he was sick, but he went this P.M. Thursday April 23     Beautiful and hot, up to 78 above. Winter underwear sticks and is very uncomfortable. Baby cross with a tooth to day. Every body done up with the heat, spring fever. Friday April 24     Hot summer heat and how the grass grows and the trees are just tinged with green, and very beautifull. I think this the most beautiful time of the year. And it makes me wish I had a horse and buggy or an automobile to take my family and ride around the City and suburbs and Belle Isle. To day is clean up day. The teachers have been enthusing the children for some time to clean up thier yards and plant flowers on the 24 and they have a half holiday for that purpose. Well I guess Howard did do quite a bit and I noticed in my travel around that a great number were at it and doing wonders especially in places where yards had never been cleaned before. I think it is a good thing and ought to be pushed every year and 2 or 3 times a year. Gummie came back from Royal Oak and went back to Northville. Saturday April 25     Very warm, windy and regular April showers, one fierce, one at noon that lasted just about 5 minutes. This April seems the most like April that we have had for a number of years. It is supper time and Bennett is yelling Howard, Howard, to get him in for supper then Laurence tries to yell Howard too. Howard hates awfully to come in and usually has a canniption fit if he cannot go out after supper. His Mamma thinks he ought to stay in after supper, the kids are so trying at times that I feel as tho I would sell out for a cent, and I guess Anna gets so tired and discouraged because of the kids and the work that she cannot do that she would sell out for less than that. Sunday April 26     Fine beautiful day, rained late in the evening, thunder and lightening. Bennett is afraid of the thunder and even the rain, and he does not want to see it rain and hides his face. Worked to day. Howard and I took a trip out Woodward this afternoon to see a house that was advertised to rent on Gerald Ave. out side the City limits in Highland Park but as usual when we look up some thing that is advertised that reads nice, it was no good. We took the car down to the river and watched the Ferry boats and water for a while then came home. Monday April 27     Cooler, windy, rained all last night. Anna went down to miss Knabs. Got my rear tire fixed again to day, I am having hard luck this spring. Tuesday April 28     About 40 above, cold rain A.M. Wednesday April 29     Cold, cloudy, raw, thermometer about 40 above all day. Anna about sick but of course has to keep going, 3 kids at her heels and all demanding some attention. Baby Laurence has got his eighth tooth. I attended a meeting of the Pool stockholders of the Pay Master Mine to night if they could only get a stamp mill now they think they could pay dividends in a year, but they must have money and no money is forthcoming. It is hard times now and especially hard times to sell Mining Stock. They painted a rosey and hopefull picture but some way I am not so sanguine, but it would be mighty nice to get a few hundred a year in dividends. Thursday April 30     33 above this morning, and we had some snow or hail but the sun came out just before it went down so I think it will be nice tomorrow. Well baby Laurence is crying and his Mama is up stairs so I will have to play Mama for awhile. Bennett is at the window watching Howard and other kids playing out side.

May 1908 Friday May 1     Cold, cloudy, rain. 34 above, not much like May ought to be. The grass is green and quite tall and the leaves are out quite a bit. Anna is having a terrible time trying to buy a hat to suit her, she went down to Miss Knabs last night and got one she ordered and brought it home then she did not like it. It is broad of rim with an immense bow of ribbon in front as broad as the hat, blue ribbon and brown straw they call them the Merry Widow hats. It was a beautiful hat but too large for Anna, so to night she took it back and is to have an entirely different one. She says it just makes her sick to buy any thing for herself especially a hat. I am glad I am not a woman and have to wear the miserable uncomfortable things they do. Saturday May 2     Whew what a day for May, 36 above and it snowed a good two hours good and hard. When I came home from work at noon I faced it on my bicycle and I was plastered white with snow. The ground was white and then the sun came out and it was gone in a jiffy. And the streets and ground steamed like a boiling kettle, then in a few minutes it was snowing again and so it has been all day. Anna took the baby and went to call on Edna when I got home. Sunday May 3     Fine day, threatened but no rain. Went to church. Mr. Jaquess was not there, he exchanged pulpits with this man I did not catch his name. At home all the rest of the day. Monday May 4     Beautiful day, about 40 above, not very hot but pleasant. Howard put on his nightie to night and went up stairs shuting the door behind him and got into bed all alone, then he hollered down and "am I a nice boy." If Anna ever tells any of the other kids they are nice, Howard always says "am I' untill we are a notion of nick naming him "Am I'. Tuesday May 5     Beautiful day, just cool. Went down town after work and paid gas $3.12, bought groceries at Peter Smiths. Got a nice long letter from Mother. Children are in bed and Anna is writing to her Mother in Northville. Wednesday May 6     Damp and rainy, about 40. Howard about sick with a cold, did not go to school. Coughed all night so no body could sleep, just a constant hack hack. He complaines of pains in his knees, wrists and joints in general, and we wonder if he can have rheumatism. Anna went and got her hat and does not feel very much elated over it, but it is in style and I tell her what differense does it make as long as it is in style. Thursday May 7     Horrid horrid day, rain, rain. This weather is enough to drive any body out of the country. Howard gave us another bad night with his hack, hack all night. Nothing seems to stop it and I have been about sick to day with a head ache caused I guess by loss of sleep. Anna is trying to clean house but it is rather slow and strenuous with 3 kids at her heals every where she goes. She has two closets and the bathroom cleaned for a starter. Friday May 8     More rain, horrid, not very nice. Howard a little better, but he did not go to school. I happened to ask Bennett to day what he was going to do when he was a man. Oh says he, I am going to have a great big shovel and dig awful hard and a pick ax and be a working man. Howard always says he is going to build houses. They certainly have high ambitions. Saturday May 9     Started fine this morning but the afternoon was windy and threatening, a little rain. Howard is worse to day. He looks awful, his eyes especially are blood shot, awful dull and heavy. His face is blotchy and we are beginning to think he has the measles. Anna went to see the Doctor after supper and he said it was probably measels and may be hooping cough. Besides he said the two often came together. Howard began last Wednesday just like a cold he coughed for two days and nights and vomited frequently, had chills and cold spells but very little if any fever and he grated his teeth nights just fearfully. Then yesterday and to day he does not cough or vomit, but his eyes are bad and the light hurts them. Sunday May 10     Well this is more like weather, beautiful day, warm about 65. Worked to day, home the rest of the time. I have a cold and feel a little bum. The Doctor came to day and said Howard had the measles all right but he did not think he had the Hooping cough. Howard has been in bed all day and must stay there for a day or two. The Dr. left tablets and a prescription to be filled. Howard is pretty sick and looks worse. His face and eyes are a sight. He cannot bear light and the room is darkened, but I guess it will run its course with out any thing serious, but I suppose the other children will have to have it and that seems like a job to say the least. Howard when ever he is sick is as good as can be, better than when he is well and less trouble, but Bennett, glory. When he is sick it would take a dozen trained nurses to keep him supplied with his wants and demands. Anna donned her new hat to day and took the baby and Bennett to Grand River for a walk. Got the prescription filled for Howard and a box of candy for the other invalids. Inez Hart and Mother called. Monday May 11     Warm, threatening and some rain. Howard pretty bad to day. Dont want to eat, dont want to talk or play or any thing. He says he just feels sick, awful sick. He sleeps most of the time, some times he seems out of his head and he sees things and tries to catch things out of the air, his face is just one solid blotch and it is creeping down onto his body now. He seemed to brighten up towards night and he ate a little ice cream and salted crackers. We keep the other children out of the room in hopes they will not catch it. Bennett sleeps with me in the back room. Tuesday May 12     Very warm, up to 80, beautiful. Howard better to day, his face has cleared up quite a bit, but his body is a mass of blotches to day. Howard wants things to day and keeps his Mama running up and down stairs and when I come home it is papa this and papa that, he wanted me to make a pin wheel and he is losing no oppertunity to tease for roller skates. The Dr. said he would come to day but he did not. Wednesday May 13     Wet, rainy day. Cooler, about 50. Howard better to day but staid in bed and shouted his orders down through the funny stove and his orders came thick and fast all day. And his mama is just about ready to give up in dispair to night. She has gone to bed tired out. The Dr. did not come to day either be must have forgot, he is a dandy. I guess we do not need him, but suppose we did and he forgot to come. Bennett acts a little suspicious to day. I guess we are in for 3 cases all right. We hear the good news from Washington that the Senate has voted the Carriers and Clerks 1200 a year and 30 days vacation but it has got to go back to the house. I hope they will conferm it. Thursday May 14     Horrid rain all day, just poured this P.M. This weather is getting on our nerves, it is as cold and damp as winter to night, we have a red hot fire and it is not a bit too warm. Howard up to day but is weak and shakey. Friday May 15     Came out bright and warm, beautiful day, but had to up and rain in the eve. Howard better, but Bennett shows some symptoms such as coughing and like coming down with a cold. Saturday May 16     More rain, it seems as tho the country would be flooded, warm. Bennett surely has got it coming, coughs and sneezes and feels tired. Baby Laurence acts as tho he had it too. We are in for the whole thing I guess. Went down town in the evening and made a few purchases. Sunday May 17     Very warm, beautiful day. At home. Bennett and Laurence just sneeze and cry all day. Bennett looks pretty bad, his eyes look dull, bloodshot and heavy, and he dont feel well, dont eat much. Ate some toast for dinner, is awfully thirsty and wants ice cream. The baby does not look quite so bad but his eyes look red and sore and thier face looks some blotchy. Monday May 18     Warm, up around 70. Fine most of the day but it did rain once. Bennett and Laurence have the measles all right to day. Bennett has been sick in bed most of the day and Laurence I guess is about a day behind Bennett but his face is a sight and his eyes look as to he had been on a toot for 6 months, he is just miserable but keeps running around. Tuesday May 19     Very warm, it almost rained several times. Bennett and Laurence pretty sick to day and such sights as they are-they are broke out from head to foot and Laurence even on his feet. Bennett has been in bed all day and has been pretty good and quiet. The worst with him is his wanting a drink so often, you wont any more than get the cup set down than he wants another. He keeps every body on the jump. Howard has waited on him most of the time to day. Laurence has been up all day but has been perfectly miserable. The Supt. went over my route with me to day. Miss Ohreen called. Mrs. Walker called. Wednesday May 20     Very warm beautiful day, no rain. Well Bennett is better to day and is up around. His face looks better but is not clear yet. Laurence is worse to day and he is covered with rash from head to foot. To see his face you would think his beauty was gone for ever and that he never would get well. His Mama has not done much but hold him and care for him to day. His eyes are bad and this morning he could not open them untill they were washed with Boracic Acid. Anna washes thier eyes often with that and the house has to be kept dark with the shades drawn. The doors are shut and the fire is still going and the house is stifling hot and close. Howard is all over it, but is kept at home yet. Belle called. Thursday May 21     Very warm. Rained last night, threatened nearly all day. Bennett and Laurence better but they look fearful yet. We will never have any doubt that they had the measles and of course they are cross and make life miserable for every body. Friday May 22     Hot, up above 80. I went with out a coat this afternoon in my shirt waist. Sat on the steps this eve and it seems just like summer. I noticed that the Catalpa trees in front of the house are just beginning to show thier new leaves. They look like dead trees long after the other trees have leaved out. I dont like them. Bennett and Laurence are improving, the rash is disappearing very fast, but they are still miserable. Bennett has laid around all day and says he dont feel very well and we feel a little worried for fear some thing might set in. Anna has just bathed them and taken them up to bed and Bennetts good night is "I want a drink." Saturday May 23     Very warm fine day. Bennett and Laurence are gaining on the measles, they play out doors now if it is warm and sun shiny. They are awfully cross and whiny but the rash is well nigh gone. Anna went down town this evening [to get] her self a pair of shoes and a few other necessaries. I put up the screen doors to day. The kids tease so to have me do it that I put them up whether they are needed or not. They like to get up into the actic to get the doors down. Sunday May 24     Perfectly delightful day, cool and fine. Worked to day. Howard and I took a car ride to Grosse Point and back this afternoon. Howard teases so to go for a walk or to do something that I feel as tho I must do some thing and a car ride is the easiest for me. I would a great deal rather stay at home and rest. Belle Isle bridge approach is a regular Coney Island City and it is added to every year. They have all kinks of roller coasters, swings and merry go arounds, tin pan shows etc. and the crowds of people that put in their Sundays there is unbelievable. And there was a big crowd at Grosse Point. I do not know what they go there for unless it is to see the lake and the beautiful residences and grounds. Aunt Dill called. Monday May 25     Beautiful day and hot. Well I guess the measles are about gone. Bennett and Laurence have a few spots yet but seem all over it. Bennett does not eat much and it is hard to see how he lives. Howard went back to school to day but he is so far behind that I am afraid he cannot catch up. Anna began cleaning house. I took down the down stairs stove this evening, the fire went out a day or two ago. Tuesday May 26     Hot, it was 80 above at 6 A.M. and rain storm this P.M. Taking down the stove always makes me lame and feel old so I am feeling lame and old and stiff to day. Wednesday May 27     Hot, fearful hot for May. Painted a border around the parlor floor to night and it is a fearful job for any one not used to it and I have got to go over it again with JapaLac. Thursday May 28     Hot, awful hot. I go in my shirt waist and nearly melt at that. Never saw such hot weather in May. A little rain towards night. JapaLaced the parlor floor to night an I am nearly dead stiff and sore from last night and adding to it to night. Friday May 29     More heat, more rain. Raining now, 8.30 P.M. like the old harry and lightening and thundering to beat the ban. We are getting ready to go to Northville tomarrow as I have 1/2 day holiday. The kids are taking thier bath and splashing and squealing and having a fine time. Anna and Bennett went over on Grand River to night and Bennett came home with a new gray peanut scoop on his head. Saturday May 30     Raining when I got up but let up. I got home from work by 10 A.M. It looked clear and we took the 11 car for Northville and the car was packed and jammed and we all had to stand most of the way to Farmington. Anna finally got a seat with the baby, but it is really a hardship to go any where on a holiday or Sunday. It was raining when we got to N. and it was a horrid day. And got cold by night. We staid at Gummies and had a good time and a change. The children always enjoy going to Gummies. Sunday May 31     Cold enough for a fire and we had one up in the front room at Gummies. Had as good a time as we could considering the awful weather. Anna went up and called on Norine, then we took the 1 oclock car for Plymouth and was at Mothers untill the next car at 3. Then we came home via Wayne. The car was crowded but we had a seat. Anna held the baby and I held Howard and Bennett all the way to Det. We got home about 6 oclock but the children were all as good as could be all the time we were gone.

June 1908 Monday June 1     Cold, a fire feels good but it was a fine clear day. I feel old to day after my trip, it is almost more than it is worth to go. Anna left the children with Mrs. Burns and went down town this P.M. Tuesday June 2     Warm beautiful day. Cleaning house, Anna cleaned back and middle room up stairs. I have to pound carpets and sweep etc. and I dont like it, I feel like rebeling and going fishing. Wednesday June 3     Cooler, threatening. I went to a meeting of the promoters of the Paymaster mine to night. They have sufficient work blocked out for a stamp mill now, but have not got any money. They have made desperate efforts to raise the money, but on account of the hard times cannot get it, and they are calling on all the stock holders to put up more money, claiming that with a stamp mill they can pay dividends with in a year. Well I subscribed $50 to be paid in instalments but I do not feel very good over it. I feel that I need the money for my self and family, of course if it does pay in a year I will not be sorry but I have my doubts about it. I think the mine is all right but I am afraid I will never see any of the gold. Thursday June 4     Beautiful day, warm. Took the stove down that was up stairs and put it in a closet this evening. I will be mighty glad if I ever get rid of that job, it is no fun to take down a baseburner all alone and get it into a closet. Howard seems to be developing a large propensity for telling fibs. He makes things up and tells them and sticks to it that they are so and he says he did not do things that we know that he did do. We punish him and talk to him and have been very carful to teach him that it was worse to say he did not do a thing than it was to do it. I do not know whether it will wear off or not, it worries us considerable. Friday June 5     Fine day, getting so it seems like the real good old summer time. I feel pretty old to day from rastling with that stove [last] night. Saturday June 6     Fine day, very warm. Baby Laurence is quite a hand to go to sleep while he is eating his dinner, he sits in his high chair and nods and eats slower and slower till his head finally gets clear down onto the chair and he is fast asleep, and we all have a good laugh at his struggles and final succumbing. Sunday June 7     Beautiful day, hot up nearly to 90. Worked to day and at home all the rest of the day it seems tough to stay at home such fine weather, but by the time Anna can get ready to go with the kids, she is tired out and it is so late it does not seem as tho it pays to go. I hope [there] will come a time when we can go a little bit, in fact I would like to go a big bit. Uncle Henry Hart was up this evening and telling how Inez and her Mother are planing routes and ways and means to go to Los Angeles, Cal. They are going as soon as school is out and are going to stay the vacation, and you bet I would like to take that trip and a few others besides. Monday June 8     Very warm, up between 80 and 90, a little rain P.M., awful for and it takes the tuck out of me. Went down town after work paid Gas bill and a few other things. Howard has a bad cold and cough, it may be the hooping cough, we were in hopes he would not catch it most every small child in the block has it. Tuesday June 9     Beautiful day, cool and delightful. To day is Tuberculosis charity day, the City is given over to the charity members. One woman is declared Mayor and the city is over run with young women soliciting contributions to the fund and every contributor is given a star to wear. I guess so he wont be asked more than once. Anna is breaking her neck this week trying to make each kid a suit to wear Sunday next Childrens day. We want to have Laurence christened. Wednesday June 10     Fine day but a little chilly. Lydia joy called this evening, she is working down at Paige & Chope where Edna is. Thursday June 11     Beautiful day. Rained last night, threatened forenoon, got cold enough for a fire by night, about 50 above. Friday June 12     Beautiful day, cool. Laurence says quite a lot of words now. When he wants milk he says au gee, au gee. Bread au boh, au boh, and he says wheres poon, wheres poon, and papa and mama but if you ask him to say Mama he always says papa, and he says Haw oo for Howard and he has some word for Bennett and he sings by by babie. Saturday June 13     Fine warm day untill about 5 oclock then a wind and rain storm came up and it was terrible for a while and it got cool. Gummie came in this afternoon to be here tomorrow when we intend to have Laurence baptised and we intended to take the 3 kids down town this evening to get them each a pair of brown shoes but it stormed so we could not take them So we put the kids to bed and left Gummie to keep house and Anna and I went down town with a shoe of each kid and we got 3 pairs of brown shoes and three pairs of brown stockings and came home. And we rowed the shoes up on the table to await thier respective owners in the morning. Sunday June 14     A very disappointing day, cold rainy and horrid. The children were all tickled with thier shoes but Howards were too small and so he had to wear his old shoes to church and he felt very bad about it. Gummie came in dressed for a hot summer day and it was so wet and cold that she staid at home. Howard and Bennett went with Belle and Anna and I took the baby on the car. There was 10 babies baptized. Laurence was so good as could be, only one cried when the minister put the water on thier heads. Laurence cringed a little but said nothing, and he was so good we got a seat and staid through the whole services. Laurence has two new upper double teeth. Howard and I went again to the church exercises in the evening. Monday June 15     Nice enough day, but cold, about 50 above this morning. Anna and Howard went down town this P.M. and exchanged Howards shoes. Gummie went home this evening. Edna and Clarence called. Tuesday June 16     Cold but bright and fine. My vacation begins today and for a starter I laid abed untill 7.30 then this forenoon I took up the matting in the front room up stairs, and the carpet in the hall, swept the floors, cleaned the matting and carpet and put it away as we are going to paint the floor and have a rug. Then in the evening we took all of the children and went up to call on the McLeods and they had moved but only a block away to the cor of Hudson and 24th, so we found them. We had not seen them since Feb and they were glad to see us and we had a fine visit, children had a good time. Bennett is so bashful that when we go in any house and even a store he says I will stay out here till you come out, but after he got acquainted he had a fine time with Helen. Wednesday June 17     Cool, very cool. 2nd day of my vacation and to day I painted a border around the floor of the front room up stairs, then I cut Bennetts hair and a fine time I had of it. I have to promise them a penny to get them to let me in the first place and before I am through I am willing to give them a house and lot to keep still. Bennett got tired and he wiggled and twisted wanted a drink, cried and cried some and sobbed and wanted his tears wiped untill I thought he would go crazy and I would go along with him, then when I was through he said where is my penny wasnt I a good boy. Yes says I here is your penny. Then towards night as soon as we could get them all ready we took a lunch and went to Parmer Park, we do not go there very often but we had a good time and the children ran and jumped, run up and down a hill and I with them and baby Laurence tried hard to keep up but his legs were most to short, they fed the ducks and had a fine time. Thursday June 18     Cool morning, but it got hot. 3rd day of my vacation. Not much doing, Anna went down town this forenoon and we went over to Hardenburgs in the evening. Uncle Asa and Aunt Liza were there. He is in attending the G.A.R. incampment. Howard went to school to day for the last day he has not been this week and he came home the proud possessor of his first certificate. He passed from the B1st to the A1st. You hear the children on the street saying, did you pass, yes did you? Friday June 19     Warm and fine except a big wind and rain storm about 5 P.M. that was almost a cyclone in some parts of the City blowing down trees and doing some damage to buildings. Howard, Bennett and I went to the Island in the P.M. and was on the boat when it stormed but was safe and O.K. Saturday June 20     Fine day, but fearful hot. Got ready and all went to this P.M. went down town to take the car because we usually cannot get a seat if we get one out here on Grand River. The car had a hot box or nearly a fire, most every body left the car, so we arrived at Northville 1/2 hour late. Sunday June 21     At Northville, rained a little last night but it is just as hot to day. The children are barefooted and they are out doors all the time into the Mulberries and dirt galore, as happy as clams. I went to Plymouth this P.M. to see my Father and Mother. Monday June 22     At Northville, another hot day up nearly to 90, it is too hot to enjoy life. I staid at Mothers in Plymouth last night and got back to Northville by dinner time. Anna, children and Gummie went to call on thier Uncle Geo Bradley he is 82 years old to day. Tuesday June 23     At Northville, still hot but a cool breeze makes it a little more tollerable. Heat, strange beds, strange food, visiting etc. makes me wish I was home. I think I would rather take a cottage at a summer resort and not try to see any one. but just fish and rest, some time I am going to try it. The whole family of us went to Plymouth to day and spent the day at Mothers. We had dinner at Mothers and supper at Aunt Lizas who lives next door. Quite a wind and rain storm at 5 oclock which did considerable damage in other parts of the country. Baby Laurence is 18 months old today and he is just at a cute age and he says a great many words and tries to say more and jabbers away as tho he thought he was saying things. Wednesday June 24     At Northville, much cooler and such a relief no visiting to day. Took a walk with the children A.M. and P.m. went to the creek down below the old mill dam and with Howard and Bennett and let them wade. Anna, baby and I went up to Norines in the evening. Clarkson has the hooping cough so we keep the children away from him. Ex President Grover Cleveland died this A.M. at 8.40. Thursday June 25     Beautiful cool day at Northville. Went to Plymouth took dinner with Aunt Vina then took the car to Newberg and then Jim Joy met us with horses and buggy and took us to his farm, but I and Jim walked as the buggy would hold so many. Mother & Father, Aunt Vina and Mrs. Herr went with us, we spent the afternoon took supper and came back to Northville. I ate so much good stuff that I was sick all night. Friday June 26     At Northville, Beautiful cool and delightful day. Hoed up in Gummies garden all the forenoon, afternoon Anna and I went up town and went to Nerritts and Anna bought a watch chain that she has wanted for a long time. We gave up going to Niagra Falls and so I told her she could buy the chain as a consolation present then we mailed a locket and chain to Mabel in California for a birthday present from her Mother and sister Norine. Saturday June 27     At Northville, fine day. Sharpened lawn mower, mowed lawn. A few trips town and back and lots of hammock. Anna attended a luncheon at the Merritts this P.M. Sunday June 28     At Northville, fine day, breezy, shower in the evening. Partial eclipse of the sun from 9 to 12 A.M. Laurence sick last night, vomited up egg shells, mulberries, green apples, gravel stones and a few other things and then got better, too much freedom out here. Monday June 29     Fine forenoon, rain nearly all P.M. we intended to take the early car home and was ready to take the 12.30 car but it was raining so we took the 1.30 and had to get home in the rain from Grand River. Howard staid at Gummies, it seems good to get home. Tuesday June 30     Fine day. The last day of my vacation and I wish I had another two weeks. I guess I am lazy. We went to Royal Oak this P.M. to call on Aunt Cornilia and Uncle Asel Blair and as we were on our way to take the car out there Mrs. Graham hove in sight and went along with us.

July 1908 Wednesday July 1     Fine day. Back at work same old grind. And I am sore and tired to night and do not feel very well in the bargain. Thursday July 2     Fine day except shower about 3 P.M. which did every thing good, it was getting pretty dry. Friday July 3     Warm, rain evening. Anna Bennett and Laurence went to Northville this afternoon to stay over the 4th and bring Howard home. I went down town this eve. Saturday July 4     The great and glorious fourth. I did not hear a thing last night I slept from 11 untill 5 but I suppose the usual banging, sissing, tooling went on just the same. Any way it was going when I awoke. I went to work at 6-30 and made the usual one trip and got home before 10 oclock then I shaved took a bath and took the 11 oclock car for N. Northville was celebrating with games horse racing etc. I saw horse racing, motor cycling and in the evening, Gummie and my whole family went up to Norines. We ate our supper on the back lawn and then we shot off fireworks. I took the 9-30 car home and the rest went back to Gummies. Weather on the 4th threatening all day but very little or no rain. Sunday July 5     Cool breeze and fine. Home all alone to day. Worked this morning, slept and laid around all the afternoon then about 8 oclock decided to go down and ride on the Belle Isle boats. I took two trips it takes an hour to make a trip from Woodward to Jos. Campan to Belle Isle to Third St. and back to Woodward. and it was beautiful fine music. The boat was crowded too. I do not just believe in going to such places on Sunday but then I can hardly see the harm either. I suppose I would not do it and take the children. Monday July 6     Beastly hot and close, up to 90. Anna and children came home this forenoon and were here when I came home to dinner there was not a thing in the house for dinner and Anna had to go to the grocery the first thing and stock up. Tuesday July 7     Beastly hot untill evening then it began to get cool and it got quite chilly before we went to bed. I went down town after I got home from work. I paid the gas bill then I went to the Northern Developing office and paid $10.00 on the 50 I subscribed. I hated to do it because I have not much faith that I will ever get it back. Wednesday July 8     Well well it was actually cold this morning, 50 above. I guess it was 80 yesterday morning and night before last was one of those sweltering nights that are written up in the papers, that is the way it goes first hot then cold. Cut Howards hair tonight, I cut it pretty close to his head it looked as tho he had been skinned but he said it felt fine. Thursday July 9     Cool and fine. Nothing doing in particular, just keeping going. Friday July 10     Fine day. Warming up. All pretty well done up to night we have been sitting out on the porch. Howard rode the baby up and down in front of the house and rode his bicycle too, but now they are in bed and Anna is asleep on the couch tired out. She has done a bit of ironing to day. Saturday July 11     Beastly hot up above 90. Hot and sultry night, hard to sleep and the weather man says no relief in sight. Sunday July 12     Hot, mercy how hot it is, above 90 and people just lay around and pant for breath and after I got home from work (I worked because my alternate is on his vacation) about 10.45 we got ready and the whole family took the 11-30 car out Michigan Ave way to Plymouth. The car was not crowded and despite the heat we had a plesant ride, and we helped celebrate Fathers 80th birthday, 80 years old and in excellent health and as spry and able and strong as a man of sixty. We had dinner and visited all at Aunt Lizas and came home on the 6 oclock car in fine shape. Edna & Clarence was out. Mother, Father and Uncle Asas folks were all that were there altho they expected Ernie and Geo but they did not come. Monday July 13     Another hot day, I wonder how long it will last. I can hardly get up energy enough to do my work and crawl to bed at night. Anna went down town and bought a rug at Hunters for the parlor $22.50. Baby Laurence is as cross as a bear these days, he is good when we are on the go but at home he howls. Anna got a card from Los Angeles Cal to day saying Flora has a little girl born on the 6th [Carolyn Isabel Crosher], the whole family of Clarksons have been looking for a girl all these years and all were boys now I suppose every body will be tickled. Tuesday July 14     Well turned cool to day, big shower about 6 A.M. and I got wet going to work but ever thankfull it is cooler. Edna called in the evening, the rug came and Anna has the parlor and sitting room fixed up quite fine. Wednesday July 15     Cool and beautiful day. Thursday July 16     Warmer, threatening. A crate of red raspberries came by express from Jimmie Joys. Edna has half and we half @ 10¢ a box and the express 35¢ Anna made a short cake for dinner and we called it lum tissious. Friday July 17     Well it rained about every 10 minutes, I guess it would rain and clear off the sun would shine and in a minute it would be pouring. Wet, hot, sticky and nasty. Children all in bed, Anna asleep on the couch and I am writing this, truck and the fire hall bell is ringing, 10 oclock the clock is ticking loud, the steam cars are puffing and I can hear the neighbors talking well 90 to bed see. Saturday July 18     Cool fine day. The Letter Carriers expected their pay envelopes would show an increase to day but it was held up for some reason. We were to get 1200 this year begining the first of July. I expect we will get it OK but it is disappointing not to get it when you expect it. They say the P.M. reccommended all carriers now in the 1100 class to get the 1200 and the authorities at Washington sent the list back saying that there must be a certain percent that ought not to get it, that is the smallness of a great government. The whole family took a walk over on Grand River this eve. Sunday July 19     Cool and some rain, very threatening at times. We were having such a quiet peaceful time the children were all asleep but the baby Laurence just woke up and for some unknown reason he howls and continues to howl, howl. Worked. Monday July 20     Fine day, cool. Nothing unusual occuring to day, same old routine. I went down to the main office after work to sign the quarterly pay roll. Bought Howard a kite and Bennett a sail boat at the 10¢ store. The sail boat wouldnt stand upright in the water and the kite wouldnt go up in the air but what difference does it make. They carried them around in thier arms and said see my nice boat and see my nice kite and was happy. Tuesday July 21     Rained last night and threatened all day but did not rain to day. I rode my wheel to look at a house for sale up at 200 Calvart Ave. It seemed a long ways up there and across the street from the house was woods but the homes are going up fast and it seems fine [out] there but I do not want to be so far from work. I am too far now. Wednesday July 22     [no entry for this day] Thursday July 23     Threatened some but fine day. We all went to Belle Isle after I got home form work, took x town car to bridge, phaeton across to new casino, and boat back to Woodward and car home. We ate our supper on the Island over on the Canadian side. We had a fine time and the kids certainly enjoy any thing like that and are as good as can be. We got home about 9 oclock, we have so little time to go it hardly seems to pay but it is the best we can do. The Island and the river boats and all are so fine and beautiful, everytime we go we say we will surely go more often, but we never do it is so hard to get ready and so little time to go, then too we are always tired out any way when we could possibly go. Friday July 24     Light rain occasionally all day. Down town after work buying groceries, straw hat $3.00 hat for 1.50 an a shirt 1.50. Saturday July 25     Warm. Rear tire went on the bum this A.M. bothered with it all day then went town to the Royal Cycle Co, 74 State, and bought a Fisk 66 E.H. for $3.25, the old one was a Hartford 77 E.H. and on just a year and a few days. Sunday July 26     Very warm, up near 90. Did not have to go to work to day, did not go to church. Went over and called on the Grand River P.O., first time I was ever in there. Monday July 27     Hot. Anna went down town after I got home and bought a few necessaries. Tuesday July 28     Hot, very Hot. The carriers are being changed around for some reason. I am on 151 to day and up to my ears in confusion forwarding orders, hold orders, leave mail next door, in the refrigerator on back porch, new streets, new names, etc, etc, and I do not like it a little bit and I wish to night I could tell them to take thier old job and skidoo and I would go to farming. Wednesday July 29     Hot, Hot, awful hot, about 90. I am having my troubles these days and the heat makes it almost unbearable. Thursday July 30     And hotter than ever to day, it seems to me I never experience of such fearful hot weather. I am about all in to night. I feel as tho I could not keep going with the strange route and heavy loads and the heat combined. Maggie Joy here to day at dinner. I am so hot I cannot eat nor sleep nor rest these days. Friday July 31     Cooler. We are not freezing by any means, but it is a great relief from yesterday and as time goes by I get more familiar with my new route and of course that makes the work easier. Bennett is quite sick to day with stomach and bowels, he has to go on the chair every few minutes and he sleeps the rest of the time. He says his head hurts and his stomach hurts and he feels bad all over. Anna gave him castor oil one dose came up but another staid down. She tried to call up the Dr. but couldnt get him.

August 1908 Saturday August 1     I was actually chilly this morning, down to 56 I think but it got rather warm by night. I had my troubles again to day on my route the first of the month always doubles and trebbles the mail. We got a telegram to night from Chicago saying Mrs. B. Crosher from California "Flo Clarksons Mother in Law" would be here in the morning on her way east. She will stop over for a day and so I telephoned to Northville for Mrs. Clarkson to come in. Bennett still quite sick, has to go and go on the chair. Anna telephoned the Dr. and he sent him some tablets. Sunday August 2     Mrs Crosher came this morning. Anna went to the Depot to meet her. Gummie came and got here just before they did. Gummie and Mrs. Crosher went down and rode on the boat this P.M. Anna was taken with a violent sick headache and could not go but was better by night. Mrs. Crosher went on her journey to night, Anna, Howard and Gummie went with her to the Brush St. Depot. Monday August 3     Hot, unsufferably hot. 95 in the shade, hottest day of the year and dry, everything as dry as a bone, it must be fearful in the country. Mrs. Clarkson went home this evening and she was taken sick to day and could hardly hold her head up when she [went] away. Bennett is much better but still has to go on the chair time and time again. Tuesday August 4     Hot, Hotter, Hotest. Fearful but it is raining this evening and I do hope it will get cooler, the thermometer was over 70 this morning at 5 oclock and it goes up over 90. Wednesday August 5     Well the rain did not cool it off a bit and it is as hot as ever but it is storming to night and getting cooler. Thursday August 6     Fine this forenoon but lots of rain this afternoon, quite cool. The Hardenburgs, Hopkins, Dean gang had planed to go to Belle Isle this afternoon but the rain knocked it out. Anna cleaned the pantry instead and said she was glad it rained because it was a hard job done. Friday August 7     Fine day. Mrs. Walker called this P.M. Saturday August 8     Cool fine day. Fearful hard day, floods of mail, circulars but I suppose I am through on 151 including Marsden Court and will go back on my own route Monday. Edna called this evening. Sunday August 9     Cool delightful day. Went to church this A.M. This P.M. Anna, the children, and I took the car to the city limits on Woodward and wandered around a while seeing how the City looked out there then we got onto the car and came back to Seward and walked through to Hamilton and down Hamilton and Greenwood to the Corner of Holden then took the car home. We are trying to find a home but it is very hard to find a place in a location to suit our pocket book. I have set my limit at $3000 and what I want in a home costs between 3500 and 4000. I would like to buy around here on Avery or Commonwealth or out North Woodward around 3 or 4 streets north of the Boulevard but you cannot find any thing very nice for 3000. Monday August 10     Rain forenoon, fair and cool P.M. Back on my own route to day but I have to deliver on East Milwaukee extra there is no rest for the wicked. One of my front teeth has hurt me all day, the filling came out some time ago. I went over to the dentist after I got home from work and he treated it. I paid the gas bill at the drug store, 752 Grand River, today. I never paid it any where except at the office before. They have places throughout the City where it can be paid. Tuesday August 11     Cool and fine day. Baby Laurence can say a good many words now, most any thing we say he will try and repeat. And he can whistle and make quite a noise and when he is happy he sings and hums and he is a little rascal. He is at my elbow now trying to reach the ink. He points his finger at it and laughs and smirks. Bennett is not very well he is thin and pale and weak, he complains of his legs being tired and some times he says they hurt and we wonder if he can have rheumatism. He goes and goes on the chair but still it does not seem to be any thing serious. Howard took supper with Elizabeth Hulbert to night, her parents have got out and left them with the maid. There is some kind of boat carnival on the river to night and every body but us I guess have gone. We can not go because of the children. Wednesday August 12     Rain and more rain. Rained nearly all night and nearly all day, some times in terrific gusts and showers it seems as tho enough water fell to day to last a month. I could not ride my wheel so I did not come home for dinner. The kids are just more than acting up to night. Howard and Bennett have gone to bed and first one cries and then the other. Howard hit me and Bennett kicked me untill they drive one distracted they just go the limit almost every day and Anna I guess will go crazy. Howard and Bennett do not get along together at all. When Howard is away Bennett and the baby play together fine and still Bennett is always wanting Howard to come home and play with him. Thursday August 13     Threatened rain all day but did not rain. Hot, muggy, sticky, horrid. The weather and the extra work just about does me up and makes one so discouraged and discontented I can scarcely stand it. I am just about ready to go onto a farm or any old thing to get away from bossism and tyrany. I wonder if I would get away from it in any old place. Friday August 14     Another hot muggy day, it seems as tho there was no end or limit to the heat this summer. Pretty well done up to night, but it seems a little cooler this evening. I went to the dentist again to night he is killing the nerve in one of my front teeth. Saturday August 15     Cooler to day and such a relief it just makes a new man of me to have it cooler. Sunday August 16     Rain this morning and after the rain it came out hotter than ever, the thermometer was about 84 but the humidity was 8 thousand I guess we just had all we could do to keep breathing. Worked this morning. Monday August 17     Rain and hot as ever, my but will it never let up. Did not come home for dinner on account of the rain. Belle and Sam came over and sat on the steps and tried to visit but the children acted so we could not do much but tend to them. My but how humiliating it is to have children act up when company comes. Tuesday August 18     Howard and I went down town after work and ordered groceries at Peter Smith and Sons. We walked around and looked in the windows awhile bought a box of candy and came home. Wednesday August 19     Cool today some rain this forenoon. Went to the dentist to night and he finished the job, he put in a new front tooth and two silver fillings. The tooth cost $5.00 and the fillings .50¢ each. Thursday August 20     Cold, so cold that people are complaining of the cold. About 48 this morning but a fine day to work. Friday August 21     Cold as yesterday, about 48 above and a fine day, there is nothing like cool weather to brace a fellow up. A couple of P.O. inspectors were at the Sta. to day. We supposed they were in town watching carriers to see if we were earning 1,200.00. Saturday August 22     Cool but fine. Baby Laurence is the most mischiefous youngster of any of them. He is into one thing and another just as fast as you can get him out of one thing he goes right for another. He has just been running around with a knife in his hand. He pulls the books down, he climbs up onto every thing in the house, he goes up stairs and climbs onto the sewing machine and he falls and gets bumps enough to kill most any baby. Just as soon as there is that "stillness," his mother just hikes herself to find the baby and she always finds him into some thing. Anna says "Mama spank" and the baby yells "No No" and starts on a run. Sunday August 23     Cold but fine day. We all went to Northville to day. We went out to Grand River to take the 10 oclock car, there was two cars but both were so crowded that we thought we better not get on. We then waited untill the 11 oclock car came along on its way in and we got on and went down town with it and so we kept our seats. We had a fine day at Gummies. She has a fine garden and took us out to see each squash, and cucumber and corn and pepper plants etc. Gummie is very much a farmer and enjoys her garden immensely, even tho as she says she does not know what she is raising so much stuff for. Anna and the kids staid over and I came home in the evening. Monday August 24     Cool and fine, just fine to work but a little chilly for excursions. Anna and the baby came home to day to pick up some necessary articles and intend to go back tomarrow to stay the week out. The children just have the time of their lives out there at Gummies. They can run and go there to their hearts content. And Anna does not worry about them. Tuesday August 25     Still cool and fine. Anna and the baby had disappeared when I came home to night so I suppose they are out to Northville and I am a bac. again. How lonesome and still inside, out side the roller skaters are making noise enough to satisfy most any one. Wednesday August 26     Cool and fine. All alone in my glory but oh how lonesome and still. I intended to go down town to night but I am too tired. The work is fearfully hard and tiresome these days. Thursday August 27     Cool and fine. I went down town and paid 10.00 on my gold stock in the Paymaster Mine. I feel as tho I was throwing my money away but what good is it. Let them keep it that need it. Friday August 28     Fine day. When I came home to night I found the house occupied. Anna and the baby came home and Anna had received a card from her Aunt Helen that she and her Hubby and daughter would be in Detroit and would make her a visit this afternoon. So Anna came home and worked like a beaver to straighten up the house and they came and staid about 5 minutes then went on to Pontiac. They belong in Independense Kansas. Saturday August 29     Fine but getting too warm for comfort. Anna, baby and I took a walk in the evening up on 12th to a jewler and left Annas watch to be repaired then to Mrs. Partelo's the wash woman then over on Grand River to stock up for Sunday. We met the Hopkins, Hardenburg, Moors, but by the time I got home I was nearly dead. I have that tired feeling that wont come off. Sunday August 30     Fine day but hot, awful hot, up very near to 90. Worked this morning then came home and flopped as they say. And I staid flopped all day. I am tired out my legs from the knees down just ache all the time and it will not come out. If I have to do extra work much longer I guess I will have to give up. Inez Hart and her Mother called this afternoon and they have just returned from California. They have spent the vacation in Los Angeles and so we heard about their visit they have had the time of their lives and enjoyed every minute. I wonder if our turn will ever come to make a trip. Edna called, Howard and Bennett staid at Gummies and intend to stay untill next thursday. It seems strange with out them and I wonder what they are doing and I wonder if they are a heap of trouble to thier Gummie. Monday August 31     Hot, awful Hot, and I am tired and Hot. And so is every body I guess. Baby Laurence is beginning to talk and say things and he says things so unexpected that it fairly startles you. He was trying to get up to the buffet and get him self a toothpick and I said bring papa a toothpick and he said as he was pulling himself onto a chair "all right." He had never said it before and I could hardly believe it when he wants any thing he says Mine Mine, he had a piece of celery at dinner and was saying en Mine en Mine and pointing. Mama says what do you want he says en Mine salt, then he always says ank for thanks. When I say grace at the table he puts his head down and says some thing in baby talk then he straightens up and begins to point and say en Mine en Mine. He is crazy for a kitty and will run after any thing a dog or kitty yelling Kitty Kitty. He saw a rat in the back yard and he began running and yelling Kitty kitty. Annas Aunt Helen and cousin Belle from Independence Kansas came this evening.

September 1908 Tuesday September1     Cool, threatening, sprinkled. Aunt Helen and Belle here to day. Mr. Banks came about supper time, he has been attending the soldiers encampment at Toledo Ohio. Mr Banks is Aunt Helens second husband and this is the first time we have seen him [George L. Banks]. Wednesday September2     Quite cool. We all had breakfast at 5-30 this morning and the Banks started immediately for the Depot on their journey home and I for my daily routine of work. Belle H. is here visiting as fast as a horse can trot. Thursday September 3     Almost a frost this morning, the thermometer was about 42 or 44. Gummie and Howard and Bennett came in this morning and then Anna and all of them went to Belle Isle and spent the day. Norine was sick and could not come. Aunt Dill and Inez Hart went with them. I did not see the kids untill they came home at night and I was glad to see them they had been gone over a week and they seemed glad to see me. Gummie staid over. State Fair begins to day. Friday September 4     Cold morning but fine day. Gummie went home to day. Saturday September 5     Cool but beautiful day. Annas birthday, not much doing, one or two little presents and ice cream for supper is all. Too tired to go out tonight, slept all evening on couch. Sunday September 6     Beautiful day, no work, no church, I am afraid we are neglecting our church oppertunities. We have a fine minister and good music and I enjoy it when I go but some way I never seem equal to the effort to get ready and go, and it seems always out of the question for Anna with the work and children and we do not make Howard go to Sunday school either he will not go unless we do he went a few times but for some reason did not like it but we surely must get a new grip on ourselves and do these things. Monday September 7     Labor day. Cool and fine day, 1/2 day holiday. The Fair has had fine weather so far. I would think it must be a little chilly morning and evening. I have not been this year and I do not care to go, it is the same thing over again every year. I spent my 1/2 holiday at home. Tuesday September 8     Beautiful day, fine weather for the Fair and such crowds that are going. Father and Mother came to day, May and Dorothy, Herberts wife and daughter from Neosho Mo. came too and they were all here to supper. Harold is in the City but is looking for work and did not come here. Edna called, May and Dorothy went back to her sisters this evening. Mother and Father staid all night. Uncle Asa and Aunt Lizzie over at Hardenburgs. Wednesday September 9     Beautiful day, quite Hot. Anna and children down to Ednas this afternoon. Father, Mother, May and Dorothy at Hardenburgs for dinner and Ednas at supper. Over on Grand River to see about reseating dining chairs, tired out to night in fact I am always tired out these days. I never get rested my legs ache constantly. Thursday September 10     Hot, fearful Hot, up nearly 90. Went down town after work paid gas, bought a pair of shoes at Traver Birds. Came home tired out as usual. Friday September 11     Fearful Hot, fearful dusty and dry. The air is full of smoke, I guess it comes from the forest fires up north. This is the last day of the Fair and not a drop of rain has fallen since it started, all of us have been out on the porch watching people and Engines etc go to a fire over west some where. Crowds and crowds went, more than the usual entertainment. We could see the reflection over the houses and baby Laurence sat on his Mamas lap and told us all about it. He rattled off baby Language by the yard. We could understand, Engine, Mama, dare, mine, see, more, but the most of it was too deep for us but he kept us all a laughing the way he strung it out. Saturday September 12     Warm and smokey, the sun looks like it does through a smoked glass, it come from the forest fires up north. Forests and and towns in some instances are burning. I went to carriers and clerks meeting to night at the G.A.R. hall, the P.M. [and] Congressman Deuby were there. The Wright Bros. of Dayton Ohio are achieving fame with thier aeroplane flying machine, they are making tests for the government and have broke all records for distance and time in the air. They have staid in the air over 1 hour and the whole world is interested according to the papers. Sunday September 13     Fine day, worked. Every body sick with colds for the last two nights Howard and Bennett have just about kept some body busy all night and they seem so sick. Last night Anna thought Bennett was going to die, she thought the had the croup. Howard moaned and groaned in his sleep all night but they get up feeling first rate and I have it to day. Monday September 14     Cooler, fine day. I was sicker than a dog last night and not much better to day. Anna says she is getting it. The children are a great deal better to day and slept good last night. We had 3 chairs reseated and they came home to day and we were surprised they looked so nice. Dining chairs reseated in imitation leather. Tuesday September 15     Fine day, fearfully dry. Annas Uncle Herbert Clarkson and two sons, Clarence and Herbert, were here at supper and evening then they took the train for home, Chicago. Wednesday September 16     Fine day. Tired completly out to night. Election stuff is swelling the mails and doubling the work. Thursday September 17     Fine beautiful day. Baby Laurence has a new tooth and is increasing his vocabulary every day to night when I came home he says Hello Papa. I cut Bennetts hair to night. Friday September 18     Fine day. Aunt Dill called. Saturday September 19     Still fine, but awful dry and dusty. Anna and the Harts went to the M.C. Depot tonight at 10.30 and met some California people, Dr. and Carrie Armstrong and Helen thier adopted daughter who is about 10 years old and Ella Nash we all call her Auntie T. Carrie and Helen came home with Anna. The Dr. went with his people, and Auntie T went with the Harts. Sunday September 20     Worked for Froh. Fine and very warm and sultry. The California people suffer with the sultry heat, say it is never sultry there. Our thermometer is about 78. Dr. Armstrong, Carrie and Helen here at dinner. Aunt T and Aunt Dill came in the afternoon and every body visited and talked every bodys head off. Chas. Paddock called. Monday September 21     Hot, very warm and so dry it has not rained here since the 19th of August, 5 weeks which is very unusual for this country. Tuesday September 22     Hot, just fearful, up about 86. Smokey and has been nearly all sept. Makes it look like rain some times but it never does. Wednesday September 23     Hot, still very warm and no rain but the weather man says storms are coming up from the gulf. Auntie T here at dinner and to night I am all alone. All of them went to Northville have gone to help celebrate home coming day tomorrow and Friday I expect Northville will do herself proud and entertain her old residenters in royal style. Thursday September 24     Hot, dry. The forest fires have distroyed $10,000 000 worth of timber so it is claimed. Timber is getting scarce now and the price of lumber is sky high and I suppose it will go sky higher. The country is growing alarmed at the rapid consumption and woeful waste of the trees and something must be done to preserve them. Reforestation has started to some extent but as yet not very extensively. Friday September 25     Very warm, up around 80, more like the middle of Aug. Went down town at noon got Howard a pair of hoes and me suspenders at a sale. Saturday September 26     Hot dusty and dry. Went down Sunday September 27     Hot and no rain yet. Went to Northville on the 12 oclock car. Took dinner with Gummie and my family then Howard and I went to Plymouth and called on Mother, over one car then went back to Northville and then all of us came home on the 6.30 car and it was crammed and packed but we got a seat. Auntie T was at Gummies. Monday September 28     Well the long looked for rain came this forenoon and it came in gusts wind storms and I was out in it and got good and wet. Cold by night. Aunt Olivie and Uncle Sam [Joy] from Kansas here at supper, they were here 7 years ago and look and seem about the same. Tuesday September 29     So cold to day that I ware my winter coat all day, about 40 above, a few sprinkles of rain to day but not much. Wednesday September 30     Cold windy and some rain. We keep a fire in the little stove. The steam was on [in] the office today, too chilly for comfort. Auntie T here at supper and all night.

October 1908 Thursday October 1     Still cold, no rain but it was threatening. Baby Laurence was on a tear to night. He is a regular clown when he wants to show off. We was asking him where things were and he knew them all, his eyes, check, cheek, chin, nose, mouth, tongue, teeth, ear, feet, knee, hand stomach. When we asked him where his back was he tried to hump up his back and bring it around in front of him to show it, and things around the room he knew every article, and talk he will try and say any thing you tell him to and usually he will say it so you can understand. Friday October 2     Down to 32 but bright and beautiful, warm during the day. The extra work stopped to day and we are carrying our own routes to day. I have been doing extra work since the middle of July. Brother Herbert was here for a call to day but I did not see him but expect to see him next week. He lives in Neosho Mo. and is in the Government Fish hatchery. Saturday October 3     Down to 32 again this morning but warm and bright during the day. I am alone this eve. Anna is down town and the kids are all in bed. Howard is about sick with a cold and I hear an occasional cough up stairs. I think it must be the cold house. I wish we were in a house that had a furnace but rents are so high I do not feel able to pay the rent of such a house. Sunday October 4     A little warmer and a beautiful day. My Sunday off to day. I did not do a thing but lay around. Monday October 5     Fine day, warmer. Herbert came and Dorothy this afternoon to stay a few days. Tuesday October 6     Fine day, almost hot. May came to day. I went down to Ednas this Eve. Geo was there and Herbert and family. The City has gone Base Ball mad to night the Tigers won to day from Chicago and that means the Pennant for the second time. And the whole town seem to be celebrating, tooting, yelling, fires, parading and all the nonsense they can think of they say that down town there is an immense crowd and bedlam is let loose. Wednesday October 7     Hot, heavy shower at noon, cooler by night. Every thing is Base Ball. Every Body wears a yellow badge in honor of the Tigers victory. The windows down town are decorated with Tiger rugs, Tiger pictures, tiger candy, tiger every thing. I saw a ball enthroned upon a pedistal and enscribed the last ball pitched by Wild Bill Donovan batted by some one, and caught by Ty Cobb, "Hurrah" this was in one of the windows down town. Thursday October 8     Colder. Herbert and family started for home this morning on a 7.45 train. Harold has a position here and is going to stay at Ednas. Friday October 9     Beautiful day, warm in the middle of the day, but chilly mornings and evenings. I began blacking the stove last night and to day I went to the art stove works and got a casting for it. My how I hate to begin the stove business again. I was so in hopes we would be in a house with a furnace this fall, but I declare it seems as tho we get poorer all the time and rents are getting higher and higher. We cannot [rent] any kind of a house with all the improvements for less than 25 or 30 dollars a month and I wanted to be nearer my work too but rents are higher out there than any where else. Saturday October 10     Cold fine forenoon, rain all the afternoon, evening and night. But they played ball just the same. 20,000 people filled the grounds long before the hour and so to satisfy the crowd the players got out and wallowed around in the mud and the Chicago team beat some thing like 10 to 7. Sunday October 11     Some rain in the morning but cleared into a fine day. Worked this A.M. Dr. Armstrong and family came this afternoon to stay all night and start for home in the morning. The Detroit Ball team got beat again today in Chicago. Monday October 12     Cold clear beautiful day, 32 this morning. Got the baseburner out of the closet to night and blacked it and partly set up and what a mess it made. Anna cleaned all up today to get ready for the stove up and after we had blacked every thing was coated with black dust. Tuesday October 13     Fine day, warmer. Finished setting stove up to night but it was so warm I did not make a fire in it. Wednesday October 14     Warmer, fine day. I am nearly sick to day and so lame and sore from putting up stove I can hardly navigate. The Base Ball is over for this season, the Cubs beat the Tigers again today making 4 times out of 5 and winning the World series. The Tigers cannot down the Cubs. Thursday October 15     Beautiful day, so warm I went with out a coat this afternoon. Friday October 16     Beautiful day, very warm. Howard sick all night and we had the Dr. to day because there was a dyphtheria scare in his room at school. Howard had a bad headache and a little fever and complained of being dizzy but the Dr. said it was his stomach and said grapes were poison for children. I supposed they were a very healthy fruit and Howard had eaten a plenty lately. Saturday October 17     Beautiful weather, summer heat. Went down town after supper. Howard up at play to day. Dr. came again but found his patient running at play. Sunday October 18     Beautiful day, very warm, hot. No work. Went to church this A.M. when I was down town last night I got each of the kids a couple of trinkets and put them on thier bed, they like to find a surprise when they awake in the morning, so this morning there was great rejoysing. Howard a bubble blower, Bennett a little barrel of clothes pins, the baby a pair of shoes and each a jingo story book. The baby found his book and he says, book then he turned the leaves and read the pictures. He says verl, or something he means for girl, then he turned a page more, verl, more verl, then he found his shoes, shoes, says he, pitty shoes. He calls automobile, Boo Boo, when he hears one he runs to the window and says Boo Boo. Then Boo Boo Gone Gone. When you give him any thing he most always says totty, for thank you. He still teases for en-gee en-gee for a drink of water or milk. Bread he calls bow. But he does not know how to say yes when he wants to say yes, he says no in a way you know he means yes. Anything good is yum yum, he calls himself Mine. And when he wants anything he simply points and says Mine. but most words that he use he says so plain that any body could understand and Bennett was the same way. Howard was the only one that had lots of funny words. Monday October 19     Fine day, cool. Tuesday October 20     Fine day, cool nights. Built fire in the baseburner to night. Bennett sick last night and to day, stomach and cold. Howard barked so Anna kept him out of school. It seems as tho some thing was the matter all the time. Howard looks bad he is as thin and scrawny as a starved crow and we do not know what to do for him. He is so finniky about eating he wont eat what you want him to at all. Wednesday October 21     Fine day, awfully dry. I was sick last night and am getting the cold to day. Every body has it if it gets started in the family. All three kids had to be greased to night before they went to bed. I went down town after work and signed the pay roll, put a dollar into the fund for the forest fire sufferers, they are having a horrible time up north. A good many lives are lost and homes and property, villages are being distroyed and besides all that is the lumber trees, millions of dollars worth are going and the country can ill afford to lose them. If rain would only come and stop it, it is so dry that nothing but a good rain will stop the fires. Thursday October 22     Fine day, about 50 above mornings. I am about sick with a fearful cold and all the kids are the same. Friday October 23     Beautiful day. My cold is a little better but the baby Laurence is worse and he looks perfectly miserable, he has slept most of the time this afternoon. Saturday October 24     Rained all last night and this forenoon but mercy it was needed. Every body better of thier colds. But bad enough yet, a small six year old boy was most horribly abused and cut by an inhuman brute who so far has made good his escape down here on Commonwealth in a new unfinished house 57-59 I think. The boy ran out as soon as he regained consiousness and cried for help, he was taken to the hospital where he is in a very serious condition. Sunday October 25     Fine day, not very cold after the rain. Worked. Home all the rest of the day. Monday October 26     Fine day, warm and beautiful. Anna and children took a walk with Mrs. Burns to see the flat Mabel Smith Widman is moving into. Mrs Walker came in this evening. Tuesday October 27     Not so fine, threatening rain all day. A very little rain. Anna has the cold, the rest of us are better. Wednesday October 28     Fine day about 45 in the morning. Nothing unusual eating us to day, same old story. Thursday October 29     Fine day, cooler. Friday October 30     Cold day, down to 32 this A.M. and cold all day, cloudy. Auntie T came in to day. Anna went down on National this afternoon and got the fur that had been make over. Howard brought home a picture of his class to day and you would have thought it was a gold medal he was so proud of it. Saturday October 31     Cold, cloudy, raw day. I wore my winter coat and froze at that. Anna took Howard down town to Traver Bird Co. and bought him a overcoat for 6.00.

November 1908 Sunday November 1     Cold, clear, beautiful day, down to 27 this morning. Worked to day, extra Sunday, expected a heavy election mail but none came in. Last night was Halloween but it was quiet around here. Each of our kids had a horn and a false face and a pumpkin face with a light in it in the window, candy and chestnuts to eat but they were easily satisfied and were soon in bed. The McLeods called this afternoon. Monday November 2     Cloudy and gloomy. Tuesday November 3     Warm fine day, blew up cold and threatening at night. Election day. I split my ticket fearfully. I voted on 3 tickets, Democrat Republican and Prohibition. I voted for Bryan altho I did not really want him elected but I knew there was no danger of that. Every thing is Taft. The City ticket I voted nearly all Prohibition because I am disgusted with the Dem. and Rep. candidates for Mayor. Wednesday November 4     Whew but it is cold to day, down to 25 at noon and a high wind. I put up the little stove up stairs and started a fire in it to night. Bennett keeled a double summersault off of the couch this evening and he lit on his forehead and a bump came up as big as a goose egg. Anna put butter on it and after wards witch hazel. Bennett screamed and got white and wanted to lay down and so he is on the couch with his head tied with bandages soaked in witch hazel. Thursday November 5     Windy and cold. Anna went down town to day and purchased a new dress. Auntie T staid with the children. Uncle Sam and Aunt Liva and Aunt Vina called this Eve. Edna called and she and Anna went up to call on the Hopkins. Frank Hopkins is dead, he was the black sheep of the family and drank fearfully. He fell down stairs at one of the resorts where he hung out and from that he went from bad to worse, so it seems like a blessing all around for him to die. Friday November 6     Warmer, fine day. Mrs. Crain called. Saturday November 7     Fine day. Sunday November 8     Fine day. No work. Went to church this morning. Home all the rest of the day. Auntie T came back this eve. she has been visiting at Royal Oak, Aunt Dills, etc. Monday November 9     Beautiful day, fine and warm. Uncle Sam and Aunt Oliva here to day at dinner. Anna Auntie T and children went over on Grand River for a walk and a few things at the store. Laurence came home asleep and had a new bonnet. Tuesday November 10     Warm, about 50. Fine day, cloudy, began to rain sleet in the evening. Anna and [Auntie] T went to call on the Moores but saw they had company so did not go in this evening. Wednesday November 11     Ground covered white with snow but it did not last long. Went down town where Edna works and got a supply of toilet paper, ink, paste and writing paper. We get it at whole sale. Mrs. Walker came today to sew, Anna is to have a new outfit. Auntie T is helping sew. Anna went down to buy supplies. Thursday November 12     Cold and raw all day, with frequent snow flurries. Howard was quite sick last night and Bennett had the croup so we had a night of it. Howard is easy to take care of when he is sick except taking medicine he does not want to take any thing. But Bennett is the limit, he cries and coughs yells and wants things every minute. Ask him what he is crying about and he says nothing but keeps on crying and he will not or cannot stop. Howard did not go to school to day. Friday November 13     Fine day. Mrs Walker here sewing yet the house is always in an up roar when she is here. Howard is still sick, did not go to school, complains of face ache, ear ache and he looks like a pretty sick boy. We think he must be getting some new teeth, he does not eat much. Bennett is well by day and sick by night and Anna just dreads to have night come. Gummie came to night we have a house full and a bowl full. Mrs Walker, Auntie T and Gummie but they turn in and help pretty well so it is not so bad, just confusing. Saturday November 14     Cold, snow, ground wet and horrid. Mrs Walker gone today. Auntie T and Gummie make a trip down town then after the kids were in bed Anna and they went marketing over on Grand River and came home loaded with good things and we grown up children had a feast on kisses, chocolates, salted peanuts, apples, etc. Sunday November 15     Cold down to 18 above, cloudy. Worked this morning, home all day hugging the fire. Gummie went home this afternoon and Auntie T went some where else. Howard is as bad as ever to day and it is discouraging to have him sick and out of school so much. He has had an ear ache all day, he does not want anything done to it but he just cries and complains that it hurts and of being cold and all the other things. I guess he will drive his mother distracted. Monday November 16     Bad day, about 28 or30. It began to snow this morning and it looked like a big snow storm but suddenly the sun came out and it stopped snowing and it was a fair day except under foot it was sloppy and nasty. Well Anna was sick to day and pretty sick too. Tonsilitis and that frightens us for fear the children will get it. Her throat has white spots in it and she aches all over head aches etc. And Mrs Walker came to sew and she was so sick with a cold that she went back home. Howard improves very slowly, does not go to school yet. We are wondering what has struck us. Auntie T has taken charge of the work and we are mighty lucky she is here. Tuesday November 17     About 30 above, mostly fair day, threatening some times. Anna is sick still today and is quite sick her throat is bad and she is unable to do any thing. She thinks she is better to night but we would be in desperate straights if Auntie T was not here. Mrs Walker came back to day and managed to work the day through. Howard just drags around and we worry about him a great deal he has had so many colds and sick spells this fall that it seems very strange, we think it may be his second teeth. Wednesday November 18     Not so cold. Norine and Mrs Crane here at dinner. Auntie [T] downtown and Anna at the helm again. She is better but still not well. Howard acts so tired and lifeless he has a little fever and seems worse than usual. I guess we will have to get the Dr and have him straightened out. Thursday November 19     Beautiful day, warm and summery, up to 60 at noon. Well the sick folks are decidedly better to day. Anna better and Howard seems wonderfully improved over yesterday. Anna, Auntie T and the children took a little walk this afternoon but Howard was very soon tired and wanted to come back. Friday November 20     Beautiful, warm and delightful. Auntie T went out to Mrs Walkers to day to help her sew, out on Bewick near Kercheval. Howard not so well to day seems like chills and fever the old fashioned ague, sick every other day but he is not so bad as he was day before yesterday. Belle H. over this evening. Elmer has been sick some thing peculiar about him his legs looked as tho they were covered with bruises but they did not know where he got them. Several children in the neighborhood are sick, must be some new microbe come to town I guess. Saturday November 21     Fearful foggy this morning, you could hardly see across the street but it cleared into a warm beautiful day. Mrs Walker here again to day and finished Annas suit. Howard getting better very slowly. Anna and Auntie T went down town in the Eve, I home with the kids. Sunday November 22     Beautiful day, home all day trying to plan a house. I feel as tho if I am ever going to build, I ought to this fall because every body says material will come up in price in the spring but I do not feel hardly ready. Auntie [T] and Anna and Laurence went down to Aunt Dills towards night. Monday November 23     Warm fine day. Mr Breman called on [me] this eve., wanted to sell me his house on Leicester Court, I answered his add. Tuesday November 24     Rainy day, nasty, warm. Went up on Leicester Court to see Mr Bremans house, while I liked it pretty well I do not think I will buy it. Wednesday November 25     Another warm rainy day. This weather ought to make Turkeys and chicken cheap but I guess they are selling at .20 and .16 a lb. Anna down town. Auntie Went to Northville this P.M. I went to see a house in Highland park. I liked the house fine but do not want to move out there. Thursday November 26     Warm beautiful day, summer weather high wind which I presume will bring cold. Thanksgiving well we were invited out to Plymouth to take dinner with Uncle Asas folks. I suppose they had a regular old fashion family gathering and I would liked to have been there but the cars are always so crowded and with children it is too much to go out and back the same day then too Howard is not himself yet and we thought last night Bennett was going to be sick but I guess it was a false alarm as he is all OK to day. So we staid at home and we had a scrum dinner. The center piece was a fine 10 pound turkey. We took a walk in the afternoon and enjoyed the day immensely. Friday November 27     Colder and windy. Saturday November 28     Cold, about freezing. Sunday November 29     Worked this A.M., rained this afternoon, home all day. I am trying to get ready to build a house and am studying plans untill my head aches, but I guess I will never get started. I do not seem to know how to get at it. Monday November 30     Rained this forenoon, nice in the afternoon, warm. Went down town after work to see about buying a lot on Seward Ave but did nothing more than make a date for Wednesday to meet the agent at the lots. Anna and kids took a walk. Howard started for school after being out for over two weeks.

December 1908 Tuesday December 1     Cold to day, down below freezing and a high wind that makes it seem a good deal colder. A real estate agent called on me to night and talked a few arms off of me, but we rather him at that. He called on me a year or two ago his name is Linebach or some thing like that. Wednesday December 2     Whew but this is like winter, 14 above and a high wind but clear. I put on my winter underwear this morning and a winter cap with the ear flaps down and bundled up and humped up and went about my work half froze. I went over and talked house with Cap. P. H. Sullivan fireman, he is a good sense able level head Irishman and has had experience in building. He gave me enough advice to build a doz. houses if I could remember it. I know him well, carried mail to Eng 21 9 years but he is at Eng 12 now. Thursday December 3     Cold and windy. Went up to P. N. Lorshes 694 Lincoln this evening and talked house but the house he thought might be built for 2400 figured up to 2700 so that put a damper on it for a while. I have got to lay up some more nerve before I can get at it again. Friday December 4     Snow this forenoon, probably 1/2 inch, sloppy and muddy. Saturday December 5     Beautiful day, warmer, bright. Anna went to Northville on the 4 oclock car and came back on the 10 oclock. She paid the loans and found out about the borrowing for building we wanted to know about and make a little visit home too. I staid with the kids, got their supper read them a few stories and put them to bed and never a whimper out of them Baby Laurence let me put him to bed and he seemed to think it nothing strange at all. I put his nighty on and held him while he dug the dirt from between each toe. He kept saying more dirt, more dirt, then I put him in bed with his bear and an advertisement book and he read the pictures in a sing song voice some times getting up in bed for "papa see man, papa see" untill he finally turned onto his "tomach" and went to sleep. Sunday December 6     Not so cold, about 30 above but rather dark and gloomy, looks like snow. Home all day. Monday December 7     Snowed last night wet snow then it froze, windy and cold. Got my dinner over on Woodward to day, so hard wheeling I did not want to come home. Tuesday December 8     Cold, 14 above and windy this morning, that means fur cap and bundling up. My ears can stand it down to about 20 but below that they get cold. Mr. Lorsh came down this eve. and talked house, but the house we want will cost about 2700 and we think we cant afford that if it could be built for 2400 we might try it. Wednesday December 9     About 20 above. Went down to Ednas this Eve. and talked house. Thursday December 10     Colder, about 14 above, fair day. Went down town paid gas and bought a few groceries and came home. Edna & Clarence called this Eve on their way to a pedro party. Howard has a cold again, Bennett is sick to night. Anna is completely discouraged, she is up stairs now trying to do some thing to make Bennett stop crying and tell her what is the matter with him. They have all had bunches on ther chops under thier ears and the baby now has a big bunch on both sides, it seems as tho they are sick all the time this winter. Friday December 11     Warmer, snowy, sloppy day and fearfully slippery. Saturday December 12     Not very cold, partly cloudy. Bennett had the croup last night and Anna was up nearly all night and nobody got much sleep. Mr Burns in the other side of the house has been quite sick for a week and we wonder how he stands our night parades. Bennett seems all right today but they do go it at a great rate all night. Sunday December 13     Fine day, warm and bright. Worked and after work went out on Grand Ave, Highland Park, to see Peter Martins house he is building. It is just about such a house as I want but I guess my house will not get built this winter. I have waited for a sick real estate man to get back to his office all the week as he is the one to say whether I can get a loan with the lot, if I cannot I do not [think I will get] the lot or any lot because it is hard to get a loan in any other way. Then I came home and was home all the rest of the day trying to lay out a house plan that will suit us. I think I got one but it may not come out right when it is tried out by some one who knows. Monday December 14     Warm, streets fearful sloppy. Just about raining to night. The baby Laurence had his turn last night and he kept his Mama jumping up every little while, he would wake up suddenly and howl Mama Mama. I guess it was teeth or colic, something any way that kids are heir to. Tuesday December 15     Nice day, warm. Wednesday December 16     Warm fair day. Howard came back from school this morning and said the school had been closed on account of diphtheria, then we read that several new cases had developed and the school would have to be closed. Went down town after work to see Baxter and Odell Architects about drawing plans they ask 2 1/2 % and I thought I could do better than that. Thursday December 17     Today is one of those days that make a man wish he was some where else. It began to snow last night and it kept it up all this A.M. snowing raining sleeting. Slush mud and water fearful, could not ride my wheel so got my dinner up near the P.O. Went down town after work to see the real estate man, but he was sick yet so nothing can be done. Then after supper I went out on 28th street near Warren to see a Mr Hull about drawing plans for our house and he is to draw plans and specifications for $25. Then I came home and went to bed. Friday December 18     It was better over head to day because it did not storm but under foot was about as bad as yesterday. Could not come home to day, got dinner up near the office but I do not like the stuff they put up. Bennett had a little pimple on the side of his face and Anna said to him I wonder what makes that and Bennett said "Oh I guess it is because I am getting old." I suppose he thought it was a mole. Saturday December 19     About freezing all day, rough walking. Anna went down town this evening and bought a few christmas things to send to California. This is the first we have done about Xmas. We are just up a stump this year we have no money and less time to do things. The kids do not seem to know what they want and we do not know what to get them. I went up to see the architect to night, he had a plan roughed out but it does not just suit. Sunday December 20     Home all day to day, fair day. Anna went to church this A.M. Howard acts sick again to night, says his ear aches and he is cold, my but it is discouraging to have him sick so much. This house seems awfully cold this winter. I think the cold comes up through the floors we had the floors covered better before and I think that is the reason. I just feel as tho we would freeze this winter. Monday December 21     Warm, about freezing, sloppy. Laurence quite sick, he wants to rock baby all the time and that is about all Anna can get a chance to do. He is very quiet and does not make much fuss but he wants to be rocked and held all the time and he says hurts hurts and puts his finger on his teeth or where his teeth is not so we know it is his teeth. He is the first one of our babies to tell where it hurts at his age but he puts his hand on his stomach some times and says hurt hurt. Tuesday December 22     Colder to day, about 18 above this morning, but a fine day. Laurence still sick to day. He kept his Mama on the jump last night, he wanted a gee of water about every 5 minutes it seemed. Anna went down town last eve to buy christmas goods, she was holding Laurence when I came home from work and she just passed him over to me and I held him untill she got back from down town, so you can see what difficulties we labor under in doing things. Wednesday December 23     To day is Laurences birthday, two years old but he is so sick he does not care for any thing and just wants to rock by baby, and Anna has not had time to do any fixings for him and so he does not get any present or even a birthday cake. We are greatly worried and if he does not get better soon we will have to get the Doctor. We hate to send for [the Dr.] unless it is really necessary. I went down town this evening and tramped all over town trying to find a hook and ladder for Bennett but I could not find one they were all sold. I got Howard a circus and Laurence a doll, some candy etc and came home so tired I ached in every joint it seems as tho I do about the same thing every christmas. Thursday December 24     Cold this morning, about 18 above but got quite warm by night. Well Laurence always seems better in the morning but by night he seems awfully sick. I went over on Grand River to night and found a Hook and Ladder for Bennett and I guess one can do as well over there as down town and escape the crowds. Well this is Christmas eve and we do not feel half ready for christmas. Anna has had all her time taken up taking care of Laurence so no baking or fussing have been done at all. Donald Burns got Howard a tree, Howard wanted one so bad and Howard just about made the stand and strung the pop corn that Donald popped for him, then they trimmed the tree with corn and candles and ornaments that we had last year and before they went to bed Howard and Bennett hung thier stockings to the grate then they went to bed. Howard repeating "and they hung their stockings to the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there.' And up the stairs [they] went and tumbled into bed anxious for the morning to come that they might see what Santa Claus brought them. Then when every body else was in bed Anna fixed the stockings and the tree while I wrote a Christmas letter to Mother. Christmas 1908     A warm soft Christmas day, about 32 above and got warmer, threatened rain, snowed a little in the evening. Well we had the Dr come to day and see Laurence and he thought he was a pretty sick baby, he called it Bronchial Pneumonia but he thought he would get along all right and wrote a prescription for him of course he scared us stiff. We did not know that he had any thing like that we supposed it was his teeth and of course it put a damper on our Xmas. We had noticed his short breathing but did not think it serious, he would not notice any thing but Howard and Bennett were happy all day. Gummie and Aunty [T] came in this A.M. and we all got several presents and had a good time in spite of it all. Edna gave each a present, Howard a football, Bennett a big soft house ball and the baby a wagon with running horses and bells on it, but they did not get as [much] as they did last year but I think they are just as well if not better off for it. I got a tie and a pair of slippers from Anna. I gave her a mustard dish and a pair of hose and lots of things came from California and other relatives. Saturday December 26     Fine warm day. Well Christmas is over again. The P.O. broke all records in the amount of mail coming in and going out and worlds of it is left in the office, the carriers being unable to deliver it all and the Post card business is just simply awful, tons of that class of mail is going through the office. Baby Laurence seems a little better to day, breaths a little slower and easier and his throat is loosening up. Besides the medicine Anna put a turpentine and lard compress on his chest and it seems to do a lot of good. The Dr came to day and said he was getting along alright, but he is so sick he cannot hardly hold his head up for a minute and wants to "down" "couch." I went out on 28th St to night to see the architect and I guess we have a plan that we like now so he can go a head and draw the plans. Sunday December 27     Warm bright day. Every body worked at the office to day. I never saw so much stuff left over [from] Christmas in the office before there is car loads of it yet to deliver. Gummie went home to day but Auntie Tee staid. The baby seems to be improving slowly but he is a pale puny sick looking baby and does not sit up at all. Monday December 28     Beautiful day, about 20 this A.M. Baby Laurence still very sick. Dr came to day and said he was getting along all right but he would have to have good care. Auntie went back to Northville to day and so Anna is alone. I think either she or Gummie ought stay with Anna and help her, but they always have some excuse to go. I guess Anna will have her hands full to do the house work and take care of Laurence and the other kids as well. Tuesday December 29     Warm beautiful day. Baby Laurence seems a trifle better today and asks for some thing to eat and notices play things and cries. He has not cried at all while he was sick just moaned and screamed out in his sleep either in fright or pain the way he would writhe at the time seemed like pain. Anna has her hands full and has to run up and down stairs a thousand times a day and washes out a hundred garments the baby does not ask to go on the chair as he does when he is well, consequently he musses every garment he has on several times a day. And Howard had a sick spell last night just to keep the ball a rolling he ate so much candy at home and more at the neighbors who wanted to be kind to him, so he vomited all over his bed and that had to be changed. Well life especially the raising of children is a strenuous one and no mistake and to add stress and variety to it all, I came home to night besmeared from head to foot with mud and limping badly from a damaged leg. I was riding my bicycle westward on Warren near Lincoln when one of those gasoline spitting machines that they call a Motor Cycle came up behind me. I turned my head to see which was he was going to pass me and in turning my head the wheel swerved a little and he said he thought I was going to turn out of his way but I kept going straight and he run straight into my rear wheel and knocked me ahead and threw me off and I wiped up a good share of the mud in the street. I saw my self making straight for a huge stone just over the curb and I thought I was a goner. Well I bruised my leg and arm and my leg hurts me fearfully to night. I hope it is nothing serious. Wheel came through with a broken pedal, the man that run into was the son the J. J Hart. I used to carry his mail out on Lincoln, he was not hurt , but I guess his Motor was some what smashed up. He did not offer to settle with me, a boy said well you ought not to ride so fast he said I was not riding fast the boy said you went by me like the wind but the man ordered him to shut up. He said he was not going fast at all, we ought to see him go when he was going fast, said he was not going a fast as the street cars. He was going as slow as he could but his machine would not run slower than 15 miles an hour. Well that is fast enough when he bumps into you. Wednesday December 30     Warm beautiful day, rained last night. My leg hurt me so to walk that I had to give up and come home for the afternoon and doctor up. I used witchhazel but it did not seem to do any good, finally Anna went to Grand River and got some Armica and [it] helped right from the start. The Dr came again to day and said the baby was doing all right but it is a great strain on Anna. She is on duty day and night. Auntie Tee came today to help Anna and it will be a boon too for Anna was fast giving out. I am pretty well discouraged to night but I suppose things will get straightened out some time. Thursday December 31     I guess it is fixing for a cold new years day. It blew last night untill the house rocked and it blew all day and kept getting colder, a little snow fell last night. I kept my leg bound in arnica all night and all day to day, and I went to work again this morning but I did not have much faith that I could stand it all day, but I did. My leg improved all day much to my surprise, but I was so slow that I could not get home to dinner and ate a bakery lunch at the office. When I came home they expected to see me crawl in more dead than alive but I said that christian science and arnica had done the business, more arnica than christian science. Baby Laurence must be getting better he is crosser than a bear and teases for apple, then pie and pudding and every thing on earth that he cannot have. It is rather comical to hear him tease in a weak weak voice, pie mama, pie mama, pie mama and he keeps it up over and over again and he wont let any body but mama wait on him. If Auntie sticks her head into the door he begins to say No No, No No and he dont like to take his midicine. Anna went to give him his medicine and he said "No No, Bennett," he meant to give it to Bennett. So you see what a Tartar we have on our hands . Well this is the last day of the year. I always wonder what the new year has in store for us. I hope for one thing, to be able to build ourselves a home and be in it for another winter this house seems like a sieve this winter when the wind blows we can feel it coming right through and we are discontented here because Mrs Burns will not fix a thing or decorated at all so we are disgusted and want to get out but we do like the neighborhood and have lived here so long that it seems like home, but my building has another set back, the loan on the Seward Ave. lot that we wanted and felt sure we would get, we cannot get, the owners will not make any more loans, so just at present our building seems far away. We have about decided on the plan and I guess I will let the architect make the plans any way and trust that I will find a loan some where. There has been a terrible earth quake in Italy, the papers say the greatest in history, 200,000 lives lost and whole cities distroyed and some cities sunk into the sea. A paper that lays before me has great head lines that read "Thousands in Italy's ruins starve or die of wounds; 200,000 now dead. Two cities alone have 110,000 dead with more dying. King and Queen aid in work of succor." It must be terrible and the whole world will have to send money to help the home less and suffering, and the work of help has already been started.

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