Bennett Luther Dean
Personal Journal, 1913

February 1913

Saturday February 1     Coldest yet, 9° above at 6 A.M., 16° at 3 P.M., 9° again at 9 P.M. High wind made it worse. Ground is bare and dry streets are dusty.

Sunday February 2     Coldest night last night, 7° to 20°. I got up in the night to poke up the fire so the house would be comfortable this morning. We have been very comfortable all day today but it is quite warm this evening. The Ground Hog saw his shadow all day today. The sun came out bright this morning and stayed bright and fine all day so I suppose that means 6 weeks of cold weather. Of course I know there is nothing in it but just the same I wish it had been cloudy today. I have noticed for 3 or 4 years that the weather has been just as predicted by the pesky Ground Hog. Last year it was just such a bright day as today and whew it was cold for the 6 weeks after. I hope it will not be so cold this year but I will watch it and see. The McLeods came over today and we had a good visit.

Monday February 3     Beautiful day and warm, 23° to 33°. I suppose my brother George must be 47 today. My but we are getting old fast.

Tuesday February 4     Fine day but colder and wind. Aunt Dill called and Mrs. Slater our Nurse and Lucile called, she is about to start for California, Oakland, and thinks she may go to Los Angeles and wanted the address of Annas people.

Wednesday February 5     Beautiful day to look at but oh murder it was cold, 2° below A.M., up to 11° above and back to 5° above in the evening. The ground is just about covered with snow and a good stiff wind made it seem fearful cold. I guess the ground hog is getting in his work. I do not like cold and every winter I want to go to a warmer climate.

Thursday February 6     Bright but nearly as cold as yesterday and more wind, 1° above at 6 A.M., slowly up to 15° above and to 12° above in the evening. No comfort anywhere in such weather, the house is warm enough after noons and evening but it takes so long in the morning to get it warmed. I try in vain to keep up heat all night but the coal burns out underneath and leaves the top arched over with black coal and it will not keep up steam all night. Once in a while there will be a little heat in the radiators in the morning then it seems quite comfortable but when I try the hardest to make it keep, it does not.

Friday February 7     Still very cold and a fierce wind makes it very hard to face. Louise is about down sick with a fearful cold. She can hardly breathe nights and she looks watery eyed and woe begone enough but she insists she feels good. Anna feeds her onion syrup, Castoria, Etc. but some times she is pretty anxious about her.

Saturday February 8     Fine looking day and not so bad either, a good deal warmer, 15° to 26°. Louises bad cold has developed into a case of measles and we do not know where she could have got them unless she got them at the school house the day Anna and she went over there the last day of the term. But she is peppered up today in fearful shape, her face is a sight, her eyes are half open and watery and her face is almost a solid blotch of measles. Her body is covered too but still she wanders around and says she feels good but at the table she pushes food away and says, "Mama save that till marrow."

Sunday February 9     11° to 28° Morning cold and clear, afternoon cloudy, threatening and warmer. Louise is better and does not show much measles today but she is sick but still keeps wandering around and wants things.

Monday February 10     11° to 26° Cold morning but got warmer, clear but windy. News that Capt. Scott and party, South Pole explorers, have perished. He got to the Pole but was caught in a blizzard on thier way back. Louise better of the measles but still has spots. Cut Howard and Bennetts hair this evening.

Tuesday February 11     Beautiful day. Got cold again at night (33° down to 15° at night). Anna and Howard went over to the Harts after the rest of the kids were in bed. Louise had a bad night last night, had the ear ache and kept Anna up half the night, the measles are about gone.

Wednesday February 12     Lincolns birthday, half holiday. Fine day to look at but too cold for comfort. 8° up to 14° back to 8°. No work afternoon. I stayed with the kids, Anna went down town to do some shopping. I read stories to Louise and Laurence with both on my lap. Finally Louise was asleep and pretty soon I was asleep also. Laurence woke me up crawling down off of my lap. Anna came home and brought a box of candy and we all had a chew. The children had school just the same.

Thursday February 13     2° to 19°. A fearful cold day, but bright. I was cold in bed. I got up the fire was low and I nearly froze. Lit the oven and hovered over that while I ate my breakfast. I shivered and shook while I warmed the breakfast food, toasted bread and made coffee. I do not like it such weather makes me wish I was in a warmer climate. Louise seems all over the measles and quite like her self. She went to bed tonight with a new nightie on with feet and legs that Mama made. All this after noon Louise had to wait for it and got pretty sleepy.

Friday February 14     Beautiful day, started out cold but got warmer. Valentines day. Heavy mail but mostly cards not but a very few of the old time boxes and big envelopes. The kids got quite a few at school and on the porch and they gave as many. They think it great sport to go and leave a valentine at a door then run. At night I went down in the basement and pretended I was carrying out the ashes and took one at a time for each kid around and put it at the side door and knocked then ran and they never caught on that it was me. They were as tickled as could be and thought it some neighbor kid. And all showed them to me [and] told all about it.

Saturday February 15     Beautiful day, like spring but rained late at night, 29° to 44°.

Sunday February 16     The rain turned to snow and it was nearly as cold as ever this morning but got warmer and fine, 14° to 24°. I did quite a stunt for me today. Howard, Bennett, Laurence and I took a walk down to Aunt Ednas house but nobody [was] at home, it is her birthday, 40 I believe. So we went to the Hardenbergs and made a good call then home. Bought some candy on the way home, got home just about dusk. I have not been down there in so long I would not dare say how long so I feel as tho I had one obligation off my shoulders.

Monday February 17     Threatening today. I guess it must have snowed a little last night but the ground is hardly white with snow.

Tuesday February 18     Fine day. Not very cold, 18° to 32°. They are having a terrific war down in Mexico City, Mexico. Most fearful destruction and havoc.

Wednesday February 19     Beautiful day like summer, balmy and warm.

Thursday February 20     Not quite so warm and balmy. And threatening rain or snow this evening. Pulled the first tooth for Laurence today, he is very proud about it.

Friday February 21     Raw east wind, not very cold, just damp and chilly. Some sleet, some slippery places.

Saturday February 22     Geo. Washingtons Birthday and a horrible day. This morning rain, and so dark and ominous it was scary, then beautiful sunshine for an hour or so then threatening and fierce snow in the evening. I had the afternoon off, tried to get up gumption enough to go down town but could not make the necessary raise. There are so many sales now I ought to get me a suit but I feel too poor. I need a suit, another pair of shoes, and I really need a watch. I could get a fairly good watch for $5.00 and Laurence needs an overcoat very badly. My we could spend a hundred dollars on clothes alone and not get anything but what we need. We got a qt. of ice cream for dessert just to celebrate a little. The children tease me to take them to see something, a show, 5¢ picture show they are all over town now but it is such a job to get ready I never go. I would enjoy taking them to see some decent and funny show I know and I suppose some day I will wonder why I did not go more.

Sunday February 23     Cold again, down to about 12°. It looked nice and bright out but I did not go out to see what it felt like. There is about 2 inches of snow on the ground. Howard and Bennett went to Sunday School but the rest of us did not get out. Inez Hart made us a call this P.M. We got a letter from Edna and in it was a letter from Ernie to Mother saying they had a new baby came the 15 of this month, Virginia Day is to be her name. Anna does not feel very well today, her stomach she thinks. She has worked so much nights trying to get some sewing done I guess it is most too much for her. Louise is all over her measles and is looking fine. She can just about dress herself now even to buttoning her shoes. She is always trying to do grown up things but she cannot talk very plain yet. I cannot understand a good many things she says. Last night she was talking to me and I was reading and did not notice she was talking to me. So she said, "Mama, Papa dont answer me." She was disgusted with her Papa.

Monday February 24     Cold again, down [to] about 12°, kept cold all day. Taped Howards heavy shoes this evening.

Tuesday February 25     Still cold, about 16° above. Wash woman here today.

Wednesday February 26     Snowed a nasty wet snow nearly all day, about 3 inches I guess. Miserable day worse than rain. Children every where happy making forts and throwing snow balls, it was such fine packing but oh dear, when they came in they were wet from head to foot, ours were anyway. We just send them to the basement to shake off snow and hang up thier clothes to dry around the furnace.

Thursday February 27     Fair day, rather cold, about 3 inches of snow on the ground. Mrs. Burns called this afternoon. She has not been here in a long time and Anna was glad to see her. Mr. Burns has quit his job bookkeeping for the National Biscuit Co. and is running the grocery store and Donald is going to Technical school.

Friday February 28     Beautiful day, warm and grand. Snow got slushy and made it bad walking. Anna went down town this forenoon. Howard and Laurence got excused from school, Howard to stay with Louise and Laurence went with Anna and they bought Laurence a new $5 overcoat at Hudsons for $2.50. We watch bargains and get all we can that way but usually we cannot manage to get down town to take advantage of them. This afternoon Anna and kids took a walk over to Nashes and paid up our grocery bill.

April 1913

Tuesday April 1     April Fools Day and the kids have had a fine time. Beautiful day, warmer. When the kids went upstairs to bed tonight they had a great time laughing and cutting up. I guess each had some fool joke fixed up for the others.

Wednesday April 2     Rain all day, some hail. Cold nasty miserable day.

Thursday April 3     Same as yesterday only warm. Rain all day , most miserable day. And I am about sick to night. Heavy mail, lunch at Help yourself and wet feet and all that goes with such a day.

Friday April 4     Some rain, getting cold at night. Bennett has been out of school with measles, we keep them in a week after they are broke out to be safe.

Saturday April 5     Cold and windy. Aunt Dill and Inez called. Anna is very miserable these days and it is very hard for her to do what is actually necessary.

Sunday April 6     Beautiful day to look at but cold air. Home all day. Howard was the only one to go to Sunday School. Inez Hart called and treated Anna to a back rub, she goes to an osteopath and was try[ing it] on Anna.

Monday April 7     Bright and beautiful but cold, about 32°. Voted today for to revise the charter so we could have Municipal ownership and women sufferage.

Tuesday April 8     Beautiful bright day, cold white frost down to 30° A.M. Mrs. Slater, daughter and Grand daughter called today. They have just got back from a trip to California, they were in Los Angeles and visited Annas Mother there.

Wednesday April 9     Cloudy day, very chilly. I am trying to fix up the back fence that the wind blew down, but I do not seem to be much good at odd jobs anymore.

Thursday April 10     Rain nearly every minute all day, some times hard. Nasty miserable day. It was warmer but as soon as it gets warmer it rains and gets cold again.

Friday April 11     Cloudy. Threatening cold day.

Saturday April 12     A little rain this morning. Threatened some more and a little sun, not much. I was working on the old fence and was knocking an old nail out of a 2x4 and the nail flew up and hit me in the left eye and I thought my eye was gone for a minute and I have a bloody looking eye tonight.

Sunday April 13     Fair but cold. Howard and Bennett went to Sunday School. Nobody else left the house. Mr & Mrs Burns called this afternoon.

Monday April 14     Beautiful day, cold air, white frost this morning. Got a lunch at the Help yourself and went down town at noon. Anna gave me an order for $80 on her Bank account. I got it and got a N.Y. draft and sent it to Mabel in Los Angeles, Cal. to bring Annas Mother home from there. Anna thinks she must have her and we would have to hire someone anyway so we thought that the best thing to do.

Tuesday April 15     A perfectly beautiful spring day. White frost this morning but it got quite warm and summery. The wash woman here today. Howard has been sick for a couple of days and was so bad he did not go to school today, bad stomach billious I suppose. I had the front storm doors down today.

Wednesday April 16     Beautiful day.

Thursday April 17     Beautiful weather but cold.

Friday April 18     Well this is summer enough, up as high as 75° and with ones winter underwear on that is plenty high. I took Howard and Laurence down to Traver Birds at a sale of shoes and clothes bought them each a pair of shoes for $1.45 each and a cap for H & B for 19¢ each. They met me over on Woodward after work and Howard came home alone on the 14th line. We came back to the P.O. for the bicycle.

Saturday April 19     Fine day but cold again. Yesterday hot and today cold, it beats the Dutch how it can change. Mrs. Bramert, Mrs. Oehlers sister Lillian died this morning at the Providence Hospital. She left a little baby girl and had been married only a year, it is a very sad case.

Sunday April 20     Beautiful but cold, very chilly. Got up at 6 this morning, shaved, ate my breakfast and took Bennett and Laurence to Plymouth to see Mother and Father. Mother has been sick all the week past and looked pretty old and poorly. Father fails fast and it seems as tho they would not last long but the summer may brighten them up a great deal. Edna was there too and Aunt Vina was there doing the work for Mother. We came home on the 5, got home at 7 P.M. Mr. Wilson called to see about the fence.

Monday April 21     Very chilly, white frost about 32°. Beautiful bright day. Dug some holes for the fence between us and 307, the wind blew it all down but it just kills me to do anything but just my every day stunt, it makes me sore and lame.

Tuesday April 22     Beautiful day, warmer more like summer. We had a sharp thunder and lightening and wind storm this evening that only lasted a few minutes.

Wednesday April 23     Beautiful day, very warm. Ordered fence lumber from Talbot Irwin today. We got a card from Mabel in Los Angeles saying that Mrs. Clarkson would probably arrive thursday Eve.

Thursday April 24     Beautiful day, really hot, 78°. Howard and I went down to the Union Depot car, 3rd and Fort, after supper and Grandma came in on the 7:50 train but it was 25 minutes late. But that was easy, we thought we would probably have to wait for the 10:50 train so we got up home in good season.

Friday April 25     Another hot day, up to 80°. Some more fence and some more lameness. I guess I will never get that fence built.

Saturday April 26     Rain all day, it never stopped from morning untill night and of course it is cold and disagreeable and we have a fire again. And only a few more shovels of coal left. Aunt Dill called.

Sunday April 27     Rain, cold and damp. Miserable day, have to have a fire. Laurence was sick all night with the earache, he rolled and tumbled all night and kept his Grandmother sleeping with him awake a good share of the time. But today he seems all right. Howard and Bennett went to Sunday School in spite of the rain.

Monday April 28     More rain today, cold.

Tuesday April 29     Fair day and getting warmer. I am working on the back fence all the time I have but I do not make it go very fast. Our wash woman has gone back on us and sent another woman but we did not take her.

Wednesday April 30     Beautiful day, very warm sun but chilly breeze.

May 1913

Thursday May 1     A beautiful day and warm. The trees look quite green now with small new leaves. Tulips, violets and an occational dandy lyon are out. Some cherry and apple trees are in blossom, but every thing as yet looks very new and spring like.

Friday May 2     Hot, it seems fearfully warm. I went with my shirtwaist for the first time this season it is warm at night too. Mother Clarkson went down town this morning.

Saturday May 3     Pay day. Very warm again today, shirtwaist and I have a fearful cold, the worst I have had this year and I felt so bad today I could hardly force myself to work but we need the money and I never think I can lay off no matter how bad I feel. Mother C. went down town yesterday morning and she went to Northville this P.M. Howard and Bennett went to the woods with Miss La Hote, Sunday School teacher, this P.M.

Sunday May 4     Cool breeze, beautiful day. Aunt Dill called this morning. Howard and Bennett were drove off to Sunday School protesting every step they took, usual thing. Howard brought home a quart of ice cream for dessert. Grandma came home from Northville in an Auto with the Blackburns.

Monday May 5     Beautiful day, a little cooler and threatened rain.

Tuesday May 6     Fine day and quite cold by night. Threatened rain but none came and I guess a little rain would do good, the world is at its best now and is very beautiful. Mrs. Burns called this P.M.

Wednesday May 7     Beautiful day, chilly, frost this morning, uncomfortably chilly evening. Bought two tires for my wheel today and put my old ones on Howards wheel. I got a Pennsylvania ($3.90) and Cactus ($2.50).

Thursday May 8     Frost this morning and oh so chilly but a beautiful bright day. Aunt Dill called. I had to go down to Slocums, 1039-12, to get a nut for my wheel. I broke one and you cannot get the old Tribune supplies at stores any more. Howard has put in the day riding his wheel.

Friday May 9     Beautiful but cold frost this morning. Went down town at noon paid gas, electric lights and a few purchases. Grandma went down twice to get things needed.

Saturday May 10     Fine but cold, frost this morning. Considerable damage to fruit and early vegetables is being done by the cold weather and everybody is disgusted.

Sunday May 11     Beautiful but uncomfortable, chilly. Our coal is all gone we pick up chips and sticks and posts from the fence and use the little gas stove but we mostly freeze and I guess we have got to order more coal. Laurence and I slept down stairs in the play room last night. Edna had a bed she did not want and sent it up so we may sleep there right along. The McLeods without children called. Mr. McLeod is going to try night routing at the Main P.O. commences tonight. Howard and Bennett went to Sunday School. Grandma went over to call on the McLeods this afternoon.

Monday May 12     Still cold. I ordered a ton of coal today, could not stand it any longer.

Tuesday May 13     Well it got warm today, rain in the evening. Bert Bradley and wife of Northville took dinner with us today.

Wednesday May 14     Rain last night. Cooler today, more rain late this evening. This week I am working on screen doors.

Thursday May 15     Rain, whew but we had some rain this afternoon it came in sheets. I never saw it rain so in my life as it did for a few minutes about 2:30. I was in a grocery store on Woodward near Clairmont on my afternoon trip and how it did come and it rained hard all the afternoon. The streets in places were regular lakes, celars were flooded. The papers say a cloud burst, lots of damage done.

Friday May 16     Cloudy, warm.

Saturday May 17     Warm, a few sprinkles of rain. Grandma went to Northville today, she says the country is perfectly beautiful now, every thing so clean and green, so many flowers out.

Sunday May 18     Beautiful day and warm in the sun but the house seemed so cold I went down and built a fire. Howard and Bennett went to sunday school. Aunt Cornelia Blair called.

Monday May 19     Fine day. Grandma did the washing all but flat pieces, they are going to the laundry.

Tuesday May 20     Put up the front screen doors after trying to get them scraped and painted and screened for a year. I got discouraged last year they were in such bad shape and gave them up and now they are up and look fine.

Wednesday May 21     Another fearful rain storm today at noon. It just opened up and came down. I had to get from here to the office in it. I made a porch box for the upstairs balcony this evening.

Thursday May 22     Cloudy and threatening, some rain. Grandma went down town today and bought Louise a couple of pairs of rompers. That tickled Louise most to pieces but altho she looks so cute she looks too much like a boy to suite me, we have enough boys.

Friday May 23     Fine but chilly again.

Saturday May 24     Fine but a little chilly in the house or shade. Laurence came in from play and took the couch. [He] has a headache and complains of his throat and he seems quite sick. He has head aches often, the least excitment and he is sick. I cut Louises hair today and she looks so different we hardly knew her, but cute. I got my porch box up this evening.

Sunday May 25     Cool, cloudy. Mary Cushing next door took the kids pictures today, she stood them up in front of the snow ball bush which is now in full bloom and perfectly beautiful. Louise in her rompers. Grandma and Louise are now gone over to the Harts. Louise could not stand it untill she had shown them her rompers but she had to wear a coat over them because it is so cool. Howard and Bennett are at Sunday School and Laurence is still sick today. He does not eat and just lays on the couch and sleeps, he complains of his throat and we must get a Dr. if he does not improve soon.

Monday May 26     Rain all the afternoon and Eve. Grandma washed and the clothes hung out in the rain all night. Laurence is a great deal better today but he could not go to school. His throat still had white spots and he had lumps under his chops.

Tuesday May 27     Still raining this morning, it has rained every minute I guess since yesterday noon but it quit about 9 oclock. Laurence could not go to school today, his throat has cleared up he has gargled several times a day with "baking soda and water" but the lumps under his chops are still there and he is weak and talks in a strange voice.

Wednesday May 28     Fine warm day. Laurence is so hoarse that he can hardly make a sound and the lumps under his jaws are quite big but he plays around and eats like a pig. I made and painted a small porch box this evening.

Thursday May 29     Cooler and threatening, a few drops of rain. Laurence is about the same today, can hardly speak out loud. He gargles with soda, takes ipicac for his hoarseness and rubs his lumps behind his jaws with lard and turpentine. Louise can count up to 9 and tries hard to sing. She says one or two Mother Goose rhymes and she [has] two pair of rompers and Mary Cushing took her picture standing by the snow ball tree and also took one of all the kids.

Friday May 30     1/2 day holiday today. It rained hard for a while this morning, then cleared and it was a grand afternoon. I worked this forenoon and took a nap after dinner, then put dirt in two porch boxes. Grandma planted the flowers and we got them put up, one small one on the front porch and the large one on the upstairs porch. I did several jobs in the back yard and by night was as tired as usual. Laurence is a little better today.

Saturday May 31     Fair day and warm. Howard and I went down town after supper. Howard wanted to get a Motor Boy book and has teased all along to go down and buy the book. His Grandma Dean gave him the money to buy one on his birthday and he could not get anybody to go with him to get it.

June 1913

Sunday June 1     Grandma and Howard took a trip over on the east side somewhere this afternoon to call on Mrs. VanZile.

Monday June 2     Beautiful day and a new baby girl was born to us this evening. Anna says she always wanted a girl born in June. After a beautiful warm day and in the evening Mr. Keifer, a neighbor, took Anna and I in his Auto up to the Providence Hospital where after the sister in charge had taken our name, age, residence, etc. we were taken up in the elevator to the third floor room 56 and then the nurse took Anna in charge and she was taken to the confinement room and in about 1/2 hour after we arrived at the Hospital the baby was born. I was dosing in a comfortable chair in the room when a sister came and said well your baby girl has arrived, and soon after Anna was wheeled in on a hospital wagon and put to bed. Dr. John Bell took me into a room and in a tiny bed that looked high up on slim legs a nurse pulled back the covers and showed me a tiny bit of humanity very red and scowly. It made an awful face and finally ended in a yawn. She was born about 8:30 P.M. and came in such a hurry that the Dr. could not get there in time so the house Dr. had to officiate. I did not stay much longer just to see that Anna was all right. I came home and told Grandma then I went over and told the Harts then went home and to bed. We tried to get the kids all to bed before Anna went away but the boys were still awake and all began to cry when they knew their Mother was going to the hospital but they did not know they had a new sister untill the next afternoon.

Tuesday June 3     Fine day and warm, almost hot untill evening then it blew up cool. Anna and baby are doing fine. Grandma took Louise and Laurence up to see the new baby. Louise was pleased and full of wonder over it and Laurence mostly grinned. In the evening I went up and took Howard and Bennett. Howard took the most notice of it and asked a whole lot of questions that we could not answer very well about babies. Anna thinks she will call it June Evelyn because it was born in June.

Wednesday June 4     Fine day, a little cooler. Anna is doing fine. None of us got to the hospital untill after supper, then I took Howard, Laurence and Louise. Bennett was out somewhere and did not go. The children think the baby is a wonderful thing.

Thursday June 5     Beautiful day, cool. Everything now is baby and going to the hospital. Louise talks about the tiny baby about all the time and of course they all think it is jolly good fun to go to the hospital and find the room where Mama is. Everything there is a sight for them and the sisters with thier big hats. Laurence says they look like dutchmen but the sisters and nurses are all very nice and notice to the children. The nurses declare it is easy to tell our baby because it is the handsomest baby there and such a cute nose and they all say it is a Dean nose.

Friday June 6     Whew but it was hot today up near the 90's. Anna continues to improve and the baby is good. She is beginning to nurse now and is not quite so red. She is the reddest baby of them all. I go up every evening after supper and this evening it was so hot and the mosquitoes just swarm all over a body if they step out but a cool breeze was blowing in through the window of Anna's room. She had had a quiet day, she says the nurses are so scarce that she cannot get waited on very soon or often. Some times they take the baby away to the nursery and it is there so long that Anna gets nervous, the baby went 5 hours this afternoon without nursing then she went to sleep without nursing and never woke up all the time I was there. So there are some things about a hospital that is not so nice as it would be at home, but then too it saves so much fuss and work if she was at home we would have to hire a nurse and a woman besides. I presume we pay $14 a week for the room and $5 for the use of the confinement room. It was the only room we could get except one other high price one.

Saturday June 7     Well it rained last night and the thermometer dropped about 40 degrees yesterday. Every body was complaining of the heat and today an over coat would be comfortable. Went up to see Anna after supper, so cold I wore my over coat. Anna said she gave the name of June Evelyn to the Dr. so June Evelyn it in all probability [will] be. Our Dr. had another case there in the hospital and the baby was born the first of June and the Dr. said he named that one Helen June Curtis. I do not know whether I like the name or not but after one gets used to a name [one] thinks no more about it.

Sunday June 8     So cold we had a fire all day. I guess everybody went to the hospital today. Anna is getting along fine and the baby June is the best baby, they say she puts in all her time sleeping. We do not know yet what color her eyes are but think they are blue, we hoped they would be brown like Howards. Her hair seems darker than any of the rest of them.

Monday June 9     Still cold and nearly a frost and I guess there was a frost in some places. I suppose the Circus is in town but we saw nor heard anything of it. I went to the hospital after supper and Anna said she had a long and lonesome day as not a soul had called untill I came. Howard was with me and Mrs. Kiefer came while I was there.

Tuesday June 10     Slowly warming up, bright and fine. We are counting and weighing mail this week. I went to the hospital after supper, Grandma, Louise went in the afternoon. Mrs. Fuller called on Anna also. The Dr. thinks she can come home at the end of this week but Anna says she is getting such good eating that she better stay longer.

Wednesday June 11     Fine day, warm. I never saw so many mosquitoes as there are now, one just cannot stay out evenings and they even attack you in the day time. I made my usual daily trip to the hospital this evening, every body getting along allright. Anna says the nurses shirk waiting on her as she gets stronger but they give her just as much to eat as ever.

Thursday June 12     Fine day, like summer again. Anna sat up today for a while, we intend now to get her home Saturday afternoon. I was up this evening.

Friday June 13     Hot today, and I start my vacation today. And it is Friday the 13th and 1913. I dont know about that combination of thirteens but I have always said that Friday was my lucky day. Anyway I am not going to lose the day on that account. I have kept very quiet, it is too hot to exert ones self much. Anna was up and walked a little. I guess she is getting in to practice to walk home tomorrow afternoon. Grandma went to Northville this afternoon and left me to shift for myself and 4 kids. I cant say as I really enjoy house work and I guess we would starve in a week if it was left for me to get stuff to eat. She was invited out to a dinner party and is coming back tomorrow.

Saturday June 14     Hot and sunny, up nearly 100°. And Mr. Kiefer came to the rescue once more and brought Anna and the baby home from the hospital in his auto. I went to the hospital and helped her get ready and to the auto. The nurses and sisters all bid her good bye and helped us out. Louise was with us and we got home safely at about 4:30. Grandma got home just in time and so we are all home again under one small roof.

Sunday June 15     Hot but a little windy and threatening. June Evelyn slept very calmly and peacefully under her own roof last night and let her Mother enjoy the best nights rest she has had since she went to the hospital. There is always noises and hurrying and scurrying through the halls there and some times screams and mystery happenings that keeps one awake and wondering but still Anna thinks it is best to go there especially when there is a family and lots to do at home.

Monday June 16     Hot, awful hot, away up in the 90ties. For vacation today I took the car out beyond the Waterworks and walked down to the river on the banks of a slip. There are houses for two blocks the rest is cat tails. I came back and walked back through the water works park and down to Holcomb Ave. then went to the river and saw Frank Emmons, he has boat wells and sells gasoline and boat supplies. Then I came back down town and [rode] two trips on the Belle Isle boats, then I went to a 10¢ show and came home about 10 P.M.

Tuesday June 17     Hot but got cool at night. Today or this afternoon I took the boys, Howard, Bennett and Laurence, and went to the Island, got a row boat and rowed up to the bath house and around for 2 hours. Got a lunch and soda water at the Casino, walked across the bridge and took the car home about 8 P.M.

Wednesday June 18     A little rain, not much, cooler, fine. Climbed around on the roof and stuck in a few shingles this forenoon.

Thursday June 19     Fearful storm, rain, lightening and wind. The children all passed at school, they went this afternoon to get thier certificates. Howard was recomended and so was Bennett except in arithmatic. This afternoon I took the ferry to Windsor then a car to Ojibway where the $20,000,000 still plant is to be, nobody knows just where it is to be located, they have bought up two miles of river front and in this two miles somewhere they are to locate. Real estate men are busy advertising lots for sale and I went to see what it looked like. There is nothing there but vacant land and did not see a soul except a man in a store that was playcarded Ojibway Post Office and he new nothing certain about it. They say there is to be a City builded there, well of course that may be true but just now it is all guess work as to where it is to be. I walked about 3 miles back to Sandwich then there was a terrible wind and rain storm came up that put the St. cars out of business and I had to walk 4 more miles back to the Windsor ferry. I got home about 8 P.M. and so tired I did not care whether Ojibway ever was a City or not. I guess I saw as many as 100 trees either all or part of them blown down.

Friday June 20     Another rain & wind storm to day but not near as bad as yesterday. I did not feel very well today and was home all day. Taped my shoes.

Saturday June 21     I went down to see Mrs. Dr. Rorick Bennett and made arrangement to have my piles treated, they are getting so bad I have just got to do some thing for them.

Sunday June 22     Fine day. I went without my breakfast this morning per arrangement to Mrs. Dr. Bennett, 38 Winder, and a Dr. Laurence gave the chloroform and I had my piles treated. I was there by 8 A.M. and at 12 I thought I was over the chloroform enough so I could get home but I had a terrific time to get here, I came so near fainting while I was waiting for the car at Clifford and Henry I was blind for a while and I could not see a thing. 3 cars went by me, I suppose the conductor thought I was drunk and did not want to bother with me. I got a grip on myself and got the next car and finally got home. It seems as tho I would never get here and as soon as I got into the house I collapsed and was in bed all day.

Monday June 23     Fine day. Nothing doing for me today. I do not feel much like anything. The fire engines went by on Marquette and they said the fire was Farrands Organ works. Everybody run to see thinking it would be a big fire. Louise teased to follow the rest of the kids and Grandma so I walked down towards there with her. There was an awful smudge but it was soon put out and people was coming from every direction in autos and bicycles, motorcycles, afoot untill the street was black with people.

Tuesday June 24     Hot day. My stunt for today was to chase up a circus parade, the Gentry Pony Show. I went down 12 to Kirby and over Kirby to Lincoln, waited about 2 hours and saw a 3 minute parade. I had Howard, Bennett, Laurence, Louise and Roy Kiefer in charge. I am fearfully sore yet from my Sunday treatment and do not care to get around much.

Wednesday June 25     The heat is something terrific, up above 90° every day. I scarcely was out of the house today, do not feel very good and I [am] discouraged. I hate to lose so much of vacation. I would like to go and see the surrounding country and places of interest.

Thursday June 26     So hot life is well nigh unbearable. I took the Fort St. car and went out to Woodmere and back by the Baker St. line, it has been a long time since I was out that way before, it does not seem very nice out that way to me.

Friday June 27     Hottest day in the history of the weather office, 105° in the shade. It was above 100° for more than 5 hours. Anna got desperate today for want of some decent house dresses that she went down to Elliots and got two for herself and tickled Louise nearly to death by bringing her a new dress with bloomer pants and a straw hat. Laurence and I went with her down there, then Laurence and I went to the dock and took the City of Toledo for the flats. We were to come back on the Tashmoo but through a misunderstanding where they met the Tashmoo we went too far and missed the boat and had to go to Algonac and come home on the car. I never was on a boat when it was so hot as it was today, it was just fearful even on the boat. I did not care much about getting left because it [was] cool on the car they run so fast and Laurence was about sick with a headache and stomach ache and the cool breeze cured him. We got home about 9:15. I think it is hard work to enjoy ones self especially when it is so hot. Grandma went to Northville tonight.

Saturday June 28     Hot but a little cooler that yesterday. Went down to see the Dr. this afternoon and everything was all right for a time at least. My vacation is about gone, I am not satisfied with it but then I do not know but it may be as good as the most of them.

Sunday June 29     Still hot. Howard, Bennett and I went to Plymouth this morning. Was at Fathers and Mothers until about 5 then we came around by Northville home. We went down to Grandmas house but found nobody at home except the old man, Grandma had gone for a walk.

Monday June 30     Hot, every day it is up in the 90ies. This is the last day of my vacation and it is so hot I am doing nothing but laying around.

July 1913

Tuesday July 1     Hot, Hot, Hot, always hot. Whew but it is the hottest spell we ever had that I can remember. And I am back to the mines again. Just as soon as I get back to work it seems as tho I never had any vacation. I hope some time we can do some thing else on our vacation except to have a new baby or get piles tended to.

Wednesday July 2     Hot of course, the paper keeps saying a cool wave is on the way but I guess some body always touches a match to it before it gets here. It is pretty hard to carry a load of mail these days no matter how slow you go you get ringing wet with sweat, sticky and nasty. One wants to spend this time in the bath tub or creek.

Thursday July 3     And more heat and then some, if it is as hot as this in Gettysburg it must be tough on the old soldiers. It is 50 years since the battle was fought and both the blue and the gray are celebrating the anniversary on the ground where the battle was fought. Foes have become friends in the 50 years that have elapsed. They formed in battle lines and made Picket's charge over again but when they met the blue they shook hands and vowed friendship to the Union instead.

Friday July 4     Hot. All day holiday, the second one in the history of the Detroit P.O. The kids were up bright and early before the rest of us and began the Bang Bang business and the neighbors more than helped. I hate the fire works business and live in hope that the American people will find some other way to celebrate the 4th, so many get hurt and killed and I think there is a little less of the more dangerous fire crackers and implements of celebration used each year. Before the day was over we had several showers and one or 2 good hard ones.

Saturday July 5     Hot, the showers we have do not cool the weather any. The big stores down town are going [to] close Saturday evenings, they have always stayed open untill 9:30 or 10 oclock and for the sake of the employees they are going to try and close up at 6.

Sunday July 6     Turned cool today and got so it seemed chilly. Inez and Aunt Dill called.

Monday July 7     Fine day to work, cool. Grandma came back from Northville this afternoon.

Tuesday July 8     Fine day, cool. I bought me a Ingersol Jr., $2.00, watch today. I tried to persuade myself that I could afford a better one but I felt too poor. I could get a dandy 20 year gold case, 15 jewel for $12.00. Belle called.

Wednesday July 9     Beautiful day, cool. I got my dinner at a Help yourself and went down town at noon. Paid the water tax for 6 months, $3.65, Elec. light for a month, $1.48 and the Gas for a month, $2.70. It makes me feel poor to pay the bills at the first of the month and we have so many this month, Water tax, City tax, Insurance on the house comes due this month and it takes every cent to keep above water.

Thursday July 10     Fine day, cool and delightful, just fine weather. I wish it would stay this way all the time.

Friday July 11     Grand day. Anna took Louise and went over to the Harts this forenoon. This afternoon she made Laurence a pair of pants out of an old pair of mine. He is going to Northville with Grandma tomorrow. Uncle Sam Joy called on us this Eve. He comes from Salina, Kansas [and] had been at Gettysburg and stopped over on his way home. Lydia Joy McNab brought him here from her place. He and his brother, Uncle Asa, were both wounded in the battle of Gettysburg and both went to the reunion.

Saturday July 12     Rained this morning but got fine, windy. Grandma with Howard and Laurence went to Northville this noon to stay a week. It makes our family seem small to be reduced from 8 to 5.

Sunday July 13     Windy. Home all day. Cool. Bennett went to Sunday School. Nobody came to call.

Monday July 14     Fine cool day, big thunder storm in the evening. June is 6 weeks old today and weighs 7 1/4 lbs. Two weeks ago she weighted 6 1/2 lbs , the same as the nurse said she weighed when she was born. She is very small and tiny. Louises doll slippers and dresses are big for her and a pair of booties that were made for Louise when she was born and were too small were lots big for June but she is strong and does not seem skinny. She can lift her head up high in the air and roll over on the bed and grunt and stretch, yell as lusty as a big baby and a little light baby is certainly much easier to take care of. Her eyes are going to be blue and her hair is very much darker than the others but in the right light it has a golden tinge. She nurses well, sleeps well and behaves in a very sensible baby way. Please may it continue.

Tuesday July 15     Beautiful day, grand, cool. I went down town as soon as I got home from work and signed the pay roll, bought a pound of Tzar coffee and 3 pkg. of shredded wheat at Peter Smiths, we think we have to buy our coffee and tea at Peter Smiths, corner Grocery coffee is no good. Fred and Anna Fry called this evening.

Wednesday July 16     Fine day.

Thursday July 17     The weather is fine except we have a shower most everyday.

Friday July 18     [No entry]

Saturday July 19     Fine day. Pay day. Herbert Clarkson Jr. of Chicago, Anna's cousin, called on us this evening. He is traveling for some glass house.

Sunday July 20     Fine day except a shower in the afternoon. We got desperate today and got up at 6 and worked like troopers untill 9 to get the kids ready then we took a car down town so as to be the first to get on a suburban car for Northville and get a seat. They are always so crowded that one can hardly get a seat by the time they get out here. Anna and I, Bennett, Louise and June went to Northville. We got a seat but crowded and had a fine day out there.

	Anna (Clarkson) Dean holding daughter June born June 2, 1913 kids on shed from L to R are: Louise 4, Ben 8, Laurence, 7, Howard 11. Back of photo is dated 1913 and was probably taken behind the Clarkson home on Wing St., Northville, Mich. on same shed that Anna and her sisters were photographed on c.1895. [see below]
	Clarkson Girls Daughters of Charles Eugene Clarkson and Eveline M. Nash. left to right: Norine, Mable, Flora and Anna. Probably taken in Northville, Wayne Co., Michigan at the Clarkson home on Wing Street. c.1895

We brought Laurence back and left Bennett there. Howard and Laurence had been there for a week so Howard and Bennett are still there. While I was there we went down to a little river and Howard and Laurence went in swimming, Bennett was all cleaned up. They teased me to go with them because Grandma would not let them go unless I was there with them.

Monday July 21     Beautiful cool day. The McLeods called yesterday while we were gone and we wanted to see them and had stayed at home for 2 Sundays on purpose to see them, always the way. June bug is a little indisposed today, I suppose because of her first trip into the country yesterday.

Tuesday July 22     Beautiful day, cool and fine. We had great excitement here this evening. The people across the way at 310 were eating supper when they noticed their auto on fire. They ran out and pushed it out of the garage into the alley and one of the men caught fire and ran back between the houses out onto the lawn in front yelling Help Help Help. That was the first we knew anything was happening. I ran out and everybody in the neighborhood ran to help him. As I ran, not knowing what the trouble was, Anna says a man is on fire take a rug, so I grabbed a rug but by the time I got there some men sitting on their steps next door had a quilt wrapped around him. He was burned around his arms & shoulders quite bad. There happened to be a Dr. making a visit in the neighborhood and he was on hand and did what he could then took him [to] a hospital. In the mean time the fire engines were coming from all directions and the excitement was at Fever heat. People gathered in knots and talked about this case and all the cases they ever hard of and it was long into the night before the last one was gone and although it was across the street we may never know how it turns out, whether the man is ceriously burned or not. It took the firemen nearly 1/2 hour to put the fire out of the auto, the gasoline burned and burned. They finally tipped it over on its side and let the burning gasoline run out on the ground and then covered it up.

[The man that was burned died a week later.]

Wednesday July 23     [No entry]

Thursday July 24     [No entry]

Friday July 25     Fine day. Edna called me up and told me that Father was taken suddenly and seriously sick, does not know anybody and does not seem to know what he is doing. The Dr. says it is old age and probably will not last very much longer. He is 85 years old and I suppose it is to be expected.

Saturday July 26     Fine day, very cool last night. Talbot put in 11 tons Pocohontas coal today and such a muss as it makes the lawn and side walk all colored up with dirty black wet coal dust. The getting the stuff in is the worst part of it, after it is in the bin we can handle it very well. We expected Grandma and Howard and Bennett home today but they did not come and we wonder why.

Sunday July 27     Very hot this morning, big rain and wind storm in the evening. I took the 2 oclock car for Plymouth to see Father. He did not know me, he said he did not know anybody. He seemed a little better today, he gets up and walks around but does not seem to know what he is doing. Edna and Clarence were there, I stayed a couple of hours and came back in a rain storm, got back about 8:30.

Monday July 28     Hot, fearful hot, up to 98° and so close I am pretty nigh done up tonight. The kids and Grandma came home today and so the old crowd is around again, the noise and confusion. It has been quite still and quiet while they were away but they brought it all back. They were on a farm for a couple of days and it is their first experience on a farm I guess.

Tuesday July 29     Hot, awful hot again and again I can hardly keep going, it seems to effect me worse than ever. I fixed Bennetts shoes tonight, he came home from Northville with one of his shoes clear gone and off and he was wearing a pair of tennis shoes that Grandma bought.

Wednesday July 30     Hot, fearful hot, but I guess it is a little cooler and this evening a cool breeze came up and every body got a breath of fresh air. Grandma went down town this morning and put in the day mostly on the Belle Isle boats I guess.

Thursday July 31     Very warm.

August 1913

Friday August 1     Very warm.

Saturday August 2     Very warm. Grandma went to Northville this afternoon.

Sunday August 3     Cloudy, threatening. Heavy rain and wind about 5 P.M., wind did considerable damage. We have so many of those big gusts of wind and rain lately they do not last but a few minutes but they are fierce while they last. The 3 boys and [I] went for a car ride this afternoon down town then to Palmers Park. While we were at the Casino it stormed, we were lucky to be under shelter. We came home by the new Hamilton line. Anna and the girls were going over to Aunt Dills but could not on account of the storm.

Monday August 4     Cool fine day, evening quite chilly. Anna, Louise and baby took a walk over to Aunt Dills after supper and while they were away Edna came to see if we had any butter to spare but we had not.

Tuesday August 5     Beautiful day. I went down town at noon to pay City Taxes, Gas., Elec, etc. Howard and Bennett met me at the P.O. and went with me. We tried to go to the top of City Hall but the elevator man said it had been closed for years, that is the top not the building. I used to go up there when I was a boy and thought it would be fun to take my boys up there. When I was a boy you could see all over the City from the top of the City Hall but now buildings all around it are twice as high. So we went to the 23 story of the New [Di?ne] Bank building and it was a great sight from there, that is as high as the public can go.

Wednesday August 6     Fine day, a little shower. I met Frank Robinson, an old school mate today. I had not seen him for nearly 30 years but I knew him and he knew me. I was on duty and did not have much time to talk.

Thursday August 7     Warm day. This was the day set to bring the D.U.R. Street railway to time and force 3¢ fares. The citizens were asked by the Mayor to board the cars and offer 3¢ on streets where their franchises were run out, but they compromised on 7 tickets for 25¢ on all lines to begin Aug. 15, 1913. So we will get something from the Co. but the City is to keep up the fight for Municipal ownership. I painted the back porch this evening.

Friday August 8     Hot, fearful hot and close. We sat on the front porch untill 10 oclock P.M. and watched a fearful thunder and lightening storm mostly east of us. The lightening would streak up the whole sky then the thunder would clap and roll away in the distance. We would hear rain coming up the street and it would pass along by us just like pouring it from a sprinkling can as they went along, it was so queer and freakish.

Saturday August 9     Mercy but it was hot today, the thermometer was 94° but the humidity made it seem 10 times worse and the nights are so hot it must be fearful in the concentrated parts of the city. Aunt Dill over, we got a letter from Mabel in Los Angeles saying she was coming the 17th and Aunt Dill wanted to know about it.

Sunday August 10     It thundered and lightened all night and a fearful hot night at that, then this morning it rained and poured but it stopped raining but threatened all day and got quite chilly by night. Howard and Bennett went to sunday school, but nobody came neither did anybody go. Anna made fudge in the afternoon.

Monday August 11      Well we slept with covers over us last night and then I felt a little cold. I think the thermometer was in the fifties. I painted the side porch one coat this evening.

Tuesday August 12     Beautiful day, cool and delightful. This evening before supper I trimmed 3 heads of hair, Howard, Bennett and Laurence. I still have to give each one a penny for being good I suppose.

Wednesday August 13     Cool and fine. This evening between the time I get home and supper I filled the crack in the side porch floor with putty. Aunt Cornelia called.

Thursday August 14     Getting hot again. Painted the side porch this evening, it is almost impossible to get anything done in the way of odd jobs. It is getting dark earlier now too.

Friday August 15     Hot, my it seems as tho we are having an awful lot [of] fearful hot weather this summer.

Saturday August 16     Hot, Hot, awful hot, the thermometer up [to] 98° and the humidity does the rest. Grandma went to Chatham yesterday from Northville and came back from there here today. Inez Hart came over to help Anna bake as we expect Mabel, Anna's sister, to come from Los Angeles and arrive here Sunday night and she is bringing a friend with her. I went down town this noon bought coffee and tea from Peter Smiths Sons and also bought me a straw had at a sale at Hickeys, $1.00 for any hat.

Sunday August 17     Hot, oh my soul but it is hot today, thermometer about 98° and the humidity worse. Anna and I and all but June of the kids went to the Depot at 7:55 to meet Mabel. Got down there and the train over the Wabash from Chicago was 2 hours late. Anna and I and Louise came home and we left Louise with Grandma and June and went back. Mrs. VanZile and Berthy, Inez Hart and Mother and us were there. The train was another 1/2 hour later, my but it was hot down there and the Depot was crowded with foreigners and every body waiting and wondering. But finally the train came in and Mabel and friend, Mrs. Delany, came. There was Happy squeals and rejoycing and we all got home just in time to miss a storm. Cooler.

Monday August 18     Hot enough today but a good deal better than yesterday. Well Mabel is here today and tongues are running pretty fast. Aunt Cornelia called and they all went over to the Harts after supper.

Tuesday August 19     Beautiful day, cool and fine. All the folks except me went to the Island, they had a fine time, got around allright, the kids were good. Howard lost his hat, he layed it down and when he went to find [it] after a considerable time it was gone. The Harts went too. And tonight Grandma, Mabel and Jerry went to the Frys this evening to eat popcorn. We all intend to go to Port Huron tomorrow, I am to go and have the day off.

Wednesday August 20     Beautiful day. Well for a wonder we got the kids all ready, lunch put up and got down to the dock in good time to catch the Tashmoo boat for Port Huron. We had a grand trip and a grand day. This was Jerrys treat and she stood the whole cost provided a state room so we were always comfortable with the baby and children. The boat was crowded to the limit as far as Tashmoo park, that is where the crowds go, then they catch the boat on its return. From Port Huron I guess it is just about half way. The trip up through the flats and up the St. Clair river is certainly a beautiful ride, stopping at every town along the route. It was dark before we got back then the lights of the City and river are beautiful. We got home about 10 oclock, everybody tired but glad. The children behaved like Mayors and it was a pleasure to take them. Bennett, Laurence and Louise went to sleep on the state room floor before we got back and we could hardly wake them.

Thursday August 21     Big storm at noon, so dark we had the lights lit to eat dinner. Mabel and Jerry met some friends down town, took dinner and went to the Matinee in the afternoon.

Friday August 22     Fine day. Mabel, Jerry and Anna went down town to shop and see things, they got lunch and had big time and a big treat for Anna who left the baby with Grandma while they were gone and June had to get her dinner out of a bottle for the first time. Mabel, Jerry and Grandma with the Harts went to the Opera in the evening.

Saturday August 23     Fine day, chilly at night. Grandma, Mabel and Jerry went to Northville today to see the old home.

Sunday August 24     Chilly, actually cold, I guess a fire would feel good today. Grandma, Mabel & Jerry came back from Northville this evening. I guess Mabel did not think it looked very much like home, the house and yard is so run down. She said she would not care to live there now. Aunt Dill and Inez [and] Aunt Cornelia called.

Monday August 25     Cool fine day. This is the last day of Mabel and Jerrys stay, they start for Los Angeles tomorrow morning, they spent the day resting.

Tuesday August 26     Warm again, beautiful day. Mabel & "Jerry", or her real name is Mrs. Delaney, took the 9 oclock train for Chicago, they spend a day there then on to Los Angeles. Anna went to the Depot with them, it has been a strenuous week for everybody. They were [here] 8 days and kept things hot while they [were] here. Mabel has been away for 7 years and Mrs. Delany is a native Californian, born there and was never out of the state except once before. She is no relation of ours, is just a chum of Mabels, she works in the same office as Mabel. She liked every thing and every body I guess, anyway she said she did and made herself agreeable in every way.

Wednesday August 27     Everybody laying back today and resting up. Anna is pretty well done up, the responsibility of keeping and feeding and entertaining so many people has just about put her on the bum. The girls were high fliers and the genuine article while they were here. They spent money like millionaires and did themselves up proud. I wonder how they will feel when they wake up when thier vacation is over and have to go back to work just common stenographers.

Thursday August 28     I started to shingle the roof of the celar way this evening, my greatest trouble in doing anything like [that] is the kids, they all want to help and get right in the way. Every time I want to drive a nail I have to shoo the kids away before I can hammer.

Friday August 29     Rained last night. Finished shingling the celar way this evening.

Saturday August 30     [No entry]

Sunday August 31     Cloudy, threatening. Mrs. Burns called this afternoon, we wondered what was the matter with them we had not heard in so long but Mr. Burns had a sun stroke and was very sick for 8 or 10 weeks. They thought he would not live but he is getting up around now. Aunt Dill called, Bert Hart has another son today.

October 1913

Wednesday October 1     Not a very nice day and here it is the first of October, Winter coming fast. We have a fire quite a bit these days. Every year when winter is coming on I wish we lived in a different climate, then when summer time I think Old Michigan is good enough for me. We have some fine weather too in the fall when it is fine it is very very fine.

Thursday October 2     Some rain today and some fine weather too. Grandma and Aunt Dill went up near Lake Orion to call on Aunt Sarah Blair. The children got up a show upstairs. Howards Magic Lantern and then Mama and Papa had to go up and pay a penny. Laurence sat at the closed door and took the penny and gave us a ticket. My but they felt big and happy.

Friday October 3     Beautiful day. Grand, one of those beautiful fall days that make you wish they would continue on all winter. The Democrats have at least finished and passed the low tariff bill and President Wilson will sign it tonight. People are wondering and waiting to see what effect it will have on the high cost of living and business. I hardly think we will see much difference in the cost of living. I hope it will tend to stop monopoly and curtail the power of great wealth. Howard, Bennett, Laurence and I went to the new Picture Show over on 14th and McGraw this evening.

Saturday October 4     Grand beautiful day, warm and sunny. No fire and traveled around in shirt waist today. The mail is still very heavy and every body is curtailing now.

Sunday October 5     Fine some times and cloudy some times. Uncle Herbert Clarkson of Chicago came this morning on his way home from the east, he took a trip to New York, Niagara Falls and other places. He went partly to look up his ancestors. He said he went to the top of the tallest building in the world in New York City, the Woolworth Building, 54 stories and then some more up the steeple.

Monday October 6     Beautiful day. Grandma and Uncle Herbert Clarkson went to Northville today. Grandma to take the last run out before she goes to California Wednesday. Uncle Herbert went to see his old boyhood home. Grandma came back in the middle of the afternoon and Uncle Herbert in the evening and he left us about 9 oclock to take the 10 oclock train to Chicago.

Tuesday October 7     Well today all is hustle to get Grandma ready to start for California. She went down town to get her ticket and berth. We have to pay her fare, we brought her here last April to help Anna before and after the coming of June. So we have to get her back to California. Mrs. Ambler is here to see her off and every thing is in readiness.

Wednesday October 8     Fine warm day. Grandma gets started for California this morning. Fred Fry called with his auto and took her and a bunch of women to the Depot. Anna could not go of course she never can unless some one will stay with the kids.

Thursday October 9     Hot day and dry the leaves rattle and the dust flies. The colors are beautiful and gorgeous but it is actually uncomfortabley hot. This week has been very warm, some thing very unusual. I go just as I did in the hottest summer weather. [June] is getting so she tries awfully hard to use her hands at the supper table. Mama placed a napkin in front of her and she tried and tried to get it, she grunted and talked and jawed untill we all were laughing at her. The children all gathered close around and urged her on.

Friday October 10     Hot, fearfully hot. Well I suppose the water is now let into the Panama Canal. President Wilson pressed the button that sent electricity 4,000 miles over land and under the sea and set off the charges of dynamite that blew up the last obstruction and let the water into the mighty canal. And so one of the mighty works of man is practically completed.

Saturday October 11     Rain last night and early this morning so it turned cold and we had a fire before night.

Sunday October 12     Cold and cloudy. Howard and Bennett went to Sunday School but they always make a fuss about going, they dont like to go. The 3 boys and myself went out to Burns in Highland Park this afternoon. It was chilly and damp with a little rain but the boys never make a fuss about going anywhere like that, in fact I did not want to take Laurence but he made such a fuss about not going that I finally said he could go. He has not got proper clothes to wear.

Monday October 13     Grand day, bright and warm in the sun. The washing came home from the wet wash and were hung out and got dry. The kids take thier wagon and take the washing about 3 blocks down back of 12th in an alley. By taking and bringing it home we save 10¢, makes the washing 50¢ and they do very good work.

Tuesday October 14     Another fine day.

Wednesday October 15     Fine day. I went down town after work to sign the pay roll, once in three months everybody has to trot down to the Main Office and sign that pay roll and it usually comes just when you do not want to go. I took Laurence with me and we went to Peter Smiths to get some coffee and other things, then we took a little walk up Woodward and looked in the windows and of course Laurence saw a million things that he wanted and teased for. The windows are full of Halloween things just what a boy likes and wants.

Thursday October 16     Fine day, warm and wonderful for this time of the year.

Friday October 17     Rain nearly all day, that means carry an umbrella, wear rubbers and that means about twice as hard work as the usual hard work. Then people because they cannot get out ask for more accomodating like taking to mail letters, papers, packages, etc. Anna took Bennett and went down town this afternoon to hunt bargains advertised in the papers. She got Bennett an overcoat for $3.25, good looking coat. It costs us so much to live that we just have to be bargain fiends.

Saturday October 18     Cloudy, some rain, turning cold. Howard, Bennett and I went down town after supper. We went to the W.L.Douglas shoe store and got Bennett a pair of no. 1 shoes, $2.00. Then we went to the family good vaudeville show, it was so crowded that we could hardly squeeze in. Laurence thought it was terrible because I would not take him but I cannot manage 3 kids in a crowd very well.

Sunday October 19     Cloudy, cold and gloomy not very pleasant. The thermometer down to about 40° and we have a fire, without a fire such days life is not worth living. Laurence went to sunday school with Howard and Bennett today. We want to keep him going if we can but he is a funny kid. I suppose it is bashfulness, he does not like to go says there are too many people and they make too much noise and a lot of excuses. Bennett said that a boy wanted to fight him and slapped him and Bennett kicked him and ran home and so he does not want to go anymore, it seems some times that even Sunday School is not a fit place to send the children. I guess some pretty tough kids go to that Sunday School and it is a problem to know whether to send our kids or not.

Monday October 20     Cold rain nearly all day, miserable day. Did not get home to dinner, had to go to the help yourself restaurant. I never get very full when I go there, perhaps it is a good thing for me. Taped my shoes this evening.

Tuesday October 21     Cold raw morning, it came near snowing this morning but finally cleared and was not so bad this afternoon. Aunt Dill was over for a call today. 15 lbs butter came today from Mrs. W.S. Bailey, Clarkston [MI] and Aunt Dill takes 5 lbs. We are always anxious to have the butter come because none of us like even the best creamery butter that we can buy here in the City. We have got butter from Mrs. Bailey for several years but nearly always we get out before a batch comes. We do not know Mrs. Bailey and never saw her but was recomended to us, or we to her, and so we have always got butter there when we could.

Wednesday October 22     Bad weather, rain, rain and nasty miserable weather.

Thursday October 23     Well it rained all night all day and is raining yet. I do not believe it stopped for one minute since yesterday afternoon, just a miserable drizzly cold rain enough to make a man leave the country.

Friday October 24     I guess it cannot clear up, more rain today but not steady. I went to Dr. John N. Bell's house and paid his bill up to date. I paid him $17, sent over $5 to the butter woman and paid $10 on my coal bill at Talbots and Irwin and it left us pretty short untill payday. The money certainly goes some, it just seems to me every body, the Dr., the butcher, the baker and all the tribe make it thier business to take every cent and it takes it all just for necessaries too and allows us no luxeries what ever.

Saturday October 25     Well the sun got back today for about the first time this week and it was quite a decent day.

Sunday October 26     Fine beautiful day, warm and fall like. The 3 boys went to Sunday School. Bennett did not want to go because he had some trouble last Sunday, the other boy, who ever he was, wanted Bennetts seat and after Sunday School was going to fight Bennett but Bennett up and gave him a kick and ran for home. And Bennett said he could not run very fast because his new shoes were so stiff and his over coat was in the way but the boy did not catch him at that. And this Sunday Bennett wanted to wear his old shoes and leave his over coat at home so he could beat it for home, but we persuaded him to go and not to fight. We told him to wait for Howard and come home with him but when he came home he said the boy must have forgotten because he did not say a word or try to fight him, of course Bennett said he was a bigger boy than Bennett.

Monday October 27     Nice day except it began to rain in the evening. I wonder where all the water comes from, we certainly are having a spell of weather. I brought Louise a pair of brown shoes today and she was tickled to pieces. She has been wearing slippers all this time. She and her Mama went over to Aunt Dills yesterday and she wore slippers and a scarf over her head. She gets neglected because she does not go anywhere and does not need things like the boys who go to school and it takes all of Annas spare time and more too to keep the boys in decent repair.

Tuesday October 28     It threatened rain all day but has not rained since early morning.

Wednesday October 29     [No entry]

Thursday October 30     [No entry]

Friday October 31     Halloween and the boys make life miserable. They take advantage of the Halloween and do more than the law allows. Bennett got chased home by Allinger the grocery man on Marquette. We were still at the supper table when Bennett burst in the door and a man after him scared us all and nearly done Anna up. The man was all out of breath and he said that boy was putting soap on my window. I dont want him to do it any more. He was gone again so quick I could not think of anything to say. Bennett was so scared he began to cry. Bennett said it was not him and I guess it was not. We would not let him have any soap and told all of them not to mark windows or do anything that would cause trouble. Roy Keifer had the soap and Bennett was with him and Allinger got after the wrong boy. I thought Allinger did not show very good sense and I would like to tell him so but I guess it is better to let the matter drop and say nothing.

Halloween Evening. The kids invited in 4 or 5 of the neighbor kids and had a Haloween party after supper and after they had thier fun out side they ducked for apples, etc. and had candy and popcorn. Roy Keifer, Russel Ochler, the twins, Hubbard and Grant Dewolf.