The following is the diary of my great aunt, Julia D. Greene, formerly of Lansing, who lived with us in the farmhouse on Ford Rd. for fifteen years, approximately from 1899 to 1914. [Transcription by Mary Lillian Lathers, AKA Lillian, b. 1901, d. 1978]
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Thur. Aug 1, 1901
Julia has dressed and cooked a hen, and looked after butter. Ollie was over, and did most of the churning. She also helped Julia to make strawberry sherbet for the Miss. Soc. She furnished sugar & 2 lemons & Julia opened a can of strawberries, it was very nice. I have finished Emily's dress, wiped dinner & supper dishes.
Tended baby quite a bit, written, read and played & then dressed for Miss. Meeting. Robert, Julia & I rode to church & took the sherbet. There were a few ahead of us. After a while meeting was opened by reading Gal. 6 in concert. We sang "Jesus Shall Reign" to Duke St. I played at Julia's invitation. Mrs. Proctor & others led the prayer, & Mrs. Stringer, sec'y, gave the report. The subject was "Immigration", some reading & talking about this. There wer 21 members & visitors - 5 children. Very nice refreshments were served. All enjoyed its being at the church & decided to have it there the next time, if it were warm. On way home stopped at Grandma's and gave them dishes of sherbet. Robert & Cyrus came along from They had been Wayne on the cart to do errands this p.m.
Nankin, Wea. Cloudy, Fri. Aug 2, 1901 - Little rain
Waked about 4:00. Robert & Julia were up, and making their preparations very quietly to go to the city, got off at 5:45. I was up in time for the day. They took eggs, butter, cottage cheese, a few apples & blackberries. A shower came up while they were on the way. Julia hunted up Della E. & Celia Longstreet & they were very glad to see her, may come over next week. Julia bought some very pretty remnants, gingham, lawn & shirting for children's dresses & Robert's shirts, brought home cloth shoes I sent for, but guess I shall have to change them, also 3 remnants of white dress goods for Emily C., she is at Wayne to sing & sent for us to make her a white dress skirt & send on. Julia paid me $3.00 I had loaned Robert & Mrs. S.
I have swept sitting room & west bedroom & pulled lot of weeds in back yard & sewed some on tick for Julia's couch but have spent good deal of time in writing & rewriting business letter to Mr. C. F. Hammond. Have tended baby, Emily wheeled her over to Johnnie's this p.m. 9 o'clock or later when J. & R. got home, children all fast asleep. A cloudy, gloomy day.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Sat. Aug 3, 1901
Up in good season, have done usual chores, cleaned & filled lamps, wiped dishes twice. Towards noon carried a bowl of Dutch cheese to Johnnie's house, have pulled few weeds in back yard & swept kitchen, have basted good deal on couch tick & stitched some on it. Julia has baked bread, pies, & hickory nut cake. As both men were gone she helped Robert at the barn some doing chores. Lizzie L. came after dinner & cut out the white dress shirt for Emily C. that she sent for, & Julia has stitched some on it. I spent some hours on a flounce for it, stitching until thread gave out on bobbin & daylight gave out too. Did not get time to write in diary. Emily & Henry have picked some berries, Julia put up 2 quarts. Those they picked on Jennie's premises they took to Inkster to sell, sold this eve. Robert also went this eve on errands, mailed my letters. Baby had a hard cry this eve & Julia got her to bed early. I have read some in Republican, Mrs. Southwell did some washing. We were all very tired & nervous. I had a good bath & retired early. Quite cool tonight.
Nankin, Wea Fair, Sun. Aug. 4, 1901 - Cooler
Made many of my toilet preparations for church before going down to breakfast. Lay down little while, have looked over S.S. lesson some, then dressed for church, as usual had to wait a little for Robert to get himself and the horse ready. Overtook Julia & children of the way, R. got out & they got in. Were barely in time, but Mr. Wm. Lathers & family were were late & session meeting was to be held & the table arranged for Communion service, so service began 35 min. late. I gave the church letter to Rev. Wetmore & he later filled out the receipt blank, & I am to return it to Mr. Esselstyn. His text was John 3, 16. Foreign missions & special collection for the cause was taken at close of service, then followed Communion service. I was the only one received. After service Mrs. Stewart gave me a hearty handshake with words of welcome. She was the only one to do so. S.S. met as usual, att. 28, col .33, but few out to church. Some talk was had about S.S. going to Belle Isle Sat. Aug. 13 as date. Stayed in my room most of p.m., went to evening service. Lizzie L. led, Julia played, good meeting. I walked both ways & was about tired out when I got home. Cyrus & Emily both went.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Mon. Aug. 5, 1901
6 o'clock when I got up, I was at breakfast on time, got very nervous yesterday & did not have the most restful night. Have fussed some with my machine today to clean it up. Sewed some on Emily's flounce & gathered it. Julia carried it to Lizzie L. to be hung, as it is new-fashioned kind. I have cut out a lawn dress for baby & sewed little. Julia washed, Robert churned, & is now making wire fence. Mrs. S. made gems for breakfast, pie & Johnnycake for dinner. I wiped dishes once or twice & have done some writing. Robert wrote me a receipt for the $10.00 I loaned him June 29th. My board is paid to August. Have lain down a little & read some. Mrs. Jennie L. & Henry were in this evening on errands and stayed a while. Baby had a hard cry at bed time. Music did not avail much.
Nankin, Tues. Aug. 6, 1901
Wea. Quite cool this morning. Have done the usual chores, finished basting & stitching on Emily C.'s white dress skirt, & sewed a little on baby's dress. Julia & Mrs. Southwell have worked all morning ironing, baking & straightening up the house. At 10 o'clock Julia drove to Inkster for Della E. & Celia Longstreet who were coming from Detroit, got here in time for dinner. Celia had been trying electricity for her eyes. They are not much better. Julia mailed Emily's skirt to her. I have kept my room most of the day, & written an 8 page letter to Lottie Leonard. Cyrus & Emily have been unusually noisy and annoying, Emily especially, so that it was through great effort that I got through the letter. Have read little & tended baby some, visited some with the cousins in the evening. Julia has worked on a gingham dress for Emily & at bed time she and Della walked to Johnnie's on an errand. Robert has worked at his wire fencing Lizzie Lathers was in a few minutes, & Alice called this a.m.
Nankin, Wea. Fair a.m., Wed. Aug. 7, 1901, Cloudy p.m.
Much warmer this morning. I took 2 of Dr. Bennet's pellets before breakfast. Have done morning chores & added a few lines to Lottie's letter & Julia mailed it this p.m. She has baked & ironed with Mrs. Southwell's help, & some one has fried cakes.
I sprinkled my clothes & sewed on baby's dress this morning & while lying on the couch in my room had a spasm, I guess a hard one, for my head was bruised & ached some most of the time since. I ate no dinner, but about 3 o'clock bathed my face in hot water & salt. Have lain down considerable. Mrs. Southwell brought me toast & hot water for my supper. She drove to Wallaceville this a.m. & this p.m. Julia & the two girls & baby have gone to Dearborn. Emily to Uncle W's, Robert cut grass under the pear trees & this p.m. he & Austin are weeding sugar beets & Cyrus with them. I have written diary & done little mending for myself. Quite warm tonight, only a little air stirring.
Nankin, Cloudy most of the day, Fri., Aug. 9, 1901
Folks got up when they pleased, and breakfasted accordingly. Robert came about 8:40 & said his cows got away from him last night & he could not see to hunt them up, but was going right back to do so after resting. He found them where he had lost them, in a man's cornfield. He got them home. The cattle drovers came this morning to see about a steer they left yesterday (too footsore to travel) he came in the house and sang a while with Julia & me (heard me singing & playing for the baby.) Said he & Sunday school superintendent at Plymouth, a pleasant gentleman & good singer, Mr. Bennett. Julia went to city with Celia at her earnest desire to have a talk with Dr. Connor about her prospect for recovery.
She thought he would tell her more readily than herself or Della. Della stayed & helped do the baking & other work. Ollie & Fannie were over a little while towards night. Jennie entertains her S.S. class this eve & they were invited down there.
Nankin, Wea. Cloudy, Sat. Aug 10, 1901
Waked about 3:30 & was awake till morning, dressed before 5, but worked around my room before going down. Have moved things & brushed closet, swept the room & dusted & regulated. Have tightened the rubbers on my sweeper. This p.m. have done good deal of cutting out & some stitching on a blue shirt for Robert. He has been to his father's & got the sheep & two lambs his father gave him some time ago. They are in the enclosure east of the house that he has been fixing for them. Julia has been washing today. I brought in most of the clothes & have ironed the few I had washed. I brushed up sitting room & porch & tended baby some this a.m. Got her to sleep once.
Mrs. Southwell worked this a.m. & this p.m. she drove to Inkster & took Della & Celia & has gone to city & taken berries to her niece. Julia had letter from Sarah, Cyrus was improving very much. He wants Julia to come home for a visit.
I played a few tunes this eve.
Took bath at bed time. Girls brought horse back, left Mrs. Southwell.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Sun. Aug. 11, 1901
We were a little late getting up this morning, as Mrs. Southwell was away. I played quite a number of tunes and sang for the baby while the others were doing the work. Lay down few minutes before leaving for church - Julia was not ready when it was time to go, so Della and I rode with Robert & he returned for her. Celia cared for baby, Julia did not stay for S.S. The horse was left in the shed, so Robert, the children & I rode home. Rev. Wetmore's texts were 1st John 3, 12 and Heb. 11,4.
Mrs. Wetmore was with him and was in our Bible class. SS att. 27, coll .44
Henry to lead the evening meeting. Robert and Emily the only ones who attended from here.
Baby demanded Julia's attention for herself. Austin returned from A.A. this eve.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Mon. Aug. 12, 1901
Waked before 5 & was dressed at 6. Julia had been up & working for some time. Children & guests came along later. I picked over beans for Julia to cook. She has baked two or three kinds of bread, cake, biscuits, friedcakes, et. Robert churned & J. looked after the butter. J. drove to Inkster on errands, brought Mrs. Southwell, soon after that Dell and Celia left for the city by Inkster. Cyrus brought me up Saturday's Republican from the mail Julia brought. I lay down a while, heated up some chocolate for Julia to make a cake, read paper, & worked on Robert's shirt.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Tues. Aug 13, 1901
Up earlier than usual, was dressed ready to start for the picnic at Belle Isle. Robert took the market wagon & Ollie & Jennie & 2 boys rode with him. Julia, Emily, Cyrus, & I came in the buggy. Dell & Celia went to see the Dr., he thought Celia had better not go. We took street car at Inkster, transferred to Jefferson, then bus across bridge to the island, returning took boat "Fortune".
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Wed. Aug. 14. Warmer than yesterday.
Got up & dressed before 6, but quite lame in the back from my over exertions yesterday. I walked more than I was equal to, aside from so much riding. The others in the house all feel the worse for wear, so Julia did not wash as there was plenty else to be done. Della & Celia went to city, got such prompt treatment that they were back in time for dinner. I wiped part of dinner dishes, tended baby a while, & sewed on Robert's shirt & read some in Republican aloud to Celia tonight while sitting on the porch, had two papers today. A set of papers from Body Brace Co., Salina Kansa. This p.m. Wm. Lathers & wife came and made quite a long stay. I showed him the pile of "Carmina Sanctorum" in the parlor. I had taken one to him to examine some weeks ago, he looked at it some, spoke of its having some of the old tunes in it. Robt. & Henry & his boy cousin went to the city about 3:30 with 2 cows to be sold. Jennie came up to stay all night. I had hot water & washed my feet at bedtime.
Nankin, Wea. Cloudy a.m., Thur. Aug. 15, Sunshine p.m.
I went to bed early & so waked about 4:30 this morning, lay awake, but dressed before 6 & stirred about my room some before breakfast. Have made some changes in the hanging of the map & pictures in my room, lengthening cords, etc. Have pulled weeds in back yard again & swept path & porch, stitched considerable, made buttonholes, & so finished Robert's shirt. Lay down few minutes, & took some stitches in my shoe & shoe string. The girls did not start for city till p.m. Robert returned at 2:30, did not get as much for his two cows as he had hoped, bought a pig and brought it home. Julia has baked bread etc, & had churning done. She made ice cream & served it on the porch this eve., had Ollie, Lizzie, & Fannie to eat with us. Dell & Celia waited some at night for Will Cavanagh, & brought him back to stay overnight, he enjoyed the cream. I had a letter from J.R.E. concerning the Dougherty mortgage, and as an early reply was requested, I have written this eve, & Robert can mail it tomorrow. Had letter from L.V. Beebe, Mortgage Insurance.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Fri. Aug 16, 1901
Found things wet when I waked. Was up at 5:30, dressed at 6, gave porch & steps a good sweeping & brushed up sitting room. Have wiped breakfast dishes, done my usual morning chores, tended baby some. Lay down for while, read little, spent considerable time on one of my colored cotton skirts, lengthening it, & setting in a couple of gores. Robert went to city this a.m. with butter & eggs. Will C. went with him as far as Inkster on his way home. Julia has washed, & Della washed too. She & Celia went to city this a.m. & were back to eat dinner with us. They had word today of the death of an uncle on their mother's side who lived near Eaton Rapids. They were witnesses of, if not participants in, a car accident at Inkster today, and badly frightened, but not hurt.
Nankin, Wea. Lowering, Sat. Aug. 17, 1901
Was up about as usual. Filled & cleaned lamps for Julia, gave sitting room good sweeping, & brushed off porch & steps. Got baby to sleep, she took a long nap, & Julia thought it much help. I wiped dinner dishes. Julia & Della have been busy about work this a.m. Mrs. S. went to city with girls this p.m., is to stay few days. The girls returned in better time, they got the Dr's permission to go home but he put up a quantity of medicine for Celia to treat her eyes. They may return again. They brought what mail there was. Jennie was in and got what there was for her. I had nothing but papers. I have spent most of p.m. sewing for Julia & repairing Robert's nightshirt. Have played some for baby and tended her, read some this eve, took good bath at bed time.
East Nankin, We variable, Sun, Aug. 18, 1901
Not up quite as early as usual, but so that the work was out of the way in due season & Julia drove with the girls. They were going to take the excursion train to Lansing. Julia returned in time to make a little preparation, and drive with the children & I to church, Robert staying with the baby.
It seems Rev. Wetmore had been called to Canton to attend a funeral & we found a Rev. Goodrich who had been pastor at Ypsilanti years ago, there to preside, whom Rev. Wetmore had sent, unbeknownst to us. I liked him much, he came around and spoke to me afterwards, though the had seen me before, & when I explained he concluded that he had seen me at Uncle Daniel's & so recognized me. He taught the Bible class at Wm. Lathers's request. SS Att 30, Col $.40
Had a long looked for shower this p.m. & enjoyed it, not a hard one, but dust was laid. Julia went to bed early with baby.
Nankin, Wea variable, Mon. Aug. 19, 1901
Up before 6. Very warm. Dressed lightly, picked up my room & carried down dirty clothes. Filled & cleaned two lamps & worked a good deal pulling weeds in back yard & picking up rubbish & sweeping. Robert has churned & helped Julia otherwise. She has washed and got meals, Emily has helped her too. I have cared for baby some, and so have Emily & Julia. Have had some very light showers & I have brought in most of clothes & hung them on bars in house, while Julia was lying down with baby. Cyrus & Emily have been to Ollie's to do errands & visit.
I have taken some stitches on shirtwaist for myself & done quite a little writing, & read a little.
Perspired profusely while pulling weeds this morning, & have taken some cold & feel very weak.
Nankin, Wea Showers, Tues Aug. 20, 1901
Have as usual done my morning chores, filled my lamp, & wiped dishes twice, brushed up sitting room & porch. Have cut out gingham dress for baby, and sewed good deal on it. I have tended her some. Besides general housework Julia has done a good deal of her ironing. I think she has canned a few blackberries that the children picked. Jennie was up to see if Julia would care for Henry & his cousin while she was away indefinitely giving them their meals & bedding. Her brother [Henry MacMullan] brought word of her father having had a stroke of paralysis and not returning to consciousness, & wanted her to return with him. She went, they live not far from Dearborn [Hand Station]. Tonight's mail brought me a note from Mr. Esselstyn saying Frank Dougherty would pay up his mortgage note. He sent a discharge, partly filled out, for me to sign & return. I signed & Robert & Julia signed as witnesses & he acted as notary public. All this eve after boys had gone to bed, I read aloud in Lansing Republican to Julia as she ironed.
Nankin, Showers & sunshine, We. Aug 21, 1901
Very heavy fog this morning. I was up little while before breakfast. Started some bromide dissolving. Brushed up sitting room & swept porch & tended baby, & this eve. Gave her a few tunes. Wiped dishes for Julia once, she has been very busy. Helped children get berries & things ready for Robert to take to city & sell, few apples, mush melons, he went this p.m., will stay all night. Henry went for Mrs. Southwell for Julia, as she was too busy and tired. I have finished baby's blue dress and trimmed it with my tatting, had to make nearly a finger length to have enough.
Had a nice letter tonight from Mrs. D. Howell, of Bay View. She now expects to stay there till Oct., a friend has offered her the use of her cottage until that time. She wants me to make 2 sofa pillows (huck toweling darned like the one I gave her this summer.) for Lansing ladies Christmas bazaar. She will furnish the material, it will be "our" contribution. Had a lively shower this a.m. Mrs. Southwell brought few tomatoes from town. I wrote letter & post card to J.R. Esselstyn & sent with Robert.
Nankin, Wea. Variable, Thur. Aug. 22, 1901
Were a little slow getting up this morning, but have done some chores. Have finished a dress for baby and cut out another one, pink gingham, sewed some on it. Ripped a dress for Emily to repair it. At Julia's request, read some in 1900 diary to find out when we put up plums and peaches, it was all written out. Julia has done some washing, and ironed some things. She has been to Ollie's on some errands. Have done some writing, and tended baby some as usual. Julia has been busy all day at the housework, making preparations for her Lansing trip. She & Robert to go to Jennie's this eve to inquire about her sick father. She felt too tired herself to go out. Robert did not succeed in selling his cottage cheese that he took to the city & brought most of it back.
Have had some light showers.
Nankin, Wea. Variable, Fri Aug. 23, 1901
The principal business this morning, apart from getting & eating breakfast, was getting Julia and the 3 children dressed & packed & started off for Lansing. They left for Elm about 7:30. We feared they would be late, but Robert said they were in plenty of time for the excursion train, waited a little. Mrs. Stewart & son went with them, she has a sister living in Lansing whom she will visit for a week or so.
Lizzie was here today for buttermilk (churning was done today), she also borrowed a spool of 70 thread from me. Ollie cam this p.m. & picked blackberries, had to come in for a shower. She picked up apples, & carried both apples & berries home.
Robert drove to city about 2 or 4 o'clock with 4 bu mushmelons, & took 20 bu. of shelled corn for his father.
Mark [MacMullan], Jennie's nephew, went with him. Henry spent the night here. I have spent most of day ripping pants of cyrus's & repairing blue shirt for Robert.
Sprinkled my clothes washed last week. Felt quite lame all day. Played few tunes this eve. Rainbow this p.m.
Nankin, Wea Fair, Sat. Aug. 24, 1901
Mrs. Southwell, Clarence, Austin & Henry & I the only ones at breakfast. I finished repairs on Robert's shirt, & have ironed clothes I sprinkled last night. Wiped dinner dishes. Yesterday began again (have rested 2 or 3 weeks) taking the stomach medicine I had from Dr. Bennet and so have lain down both a.m. & p.m. an hour or two to rest my bowels & have looked over the papers, had 3 come that had been at Jennie's 2 days or more.
About 4:30 Fannie came from Inkster bringing more papers & a letter to R. from Julia telling of her safe arrival yesterday. Had to wait some for Arthur, as he had gone to M.A.C. for her & she had gone to Lansing. Robert got home to dinner and is feeling about sick from toothache & headache, face badly swollen, thinks he has fever, so lay down a while this p.m., at the time took quinine. Mrs. Southwell has put in a good day's work baking bread, pies, etc., sweeping, mopping, & getting meals. Clarence has ploughed with 3 horses, Austin has gone to Milford, Julia reports Sarah having been sick, & Sarah very poorly. Robt. Retired early, had chill.
Nankin, Wea Fair, Sun. Aug. 25, 1901
Up in good season, much more quiet than usual. I wiped breakfast dishes & did several chores. Lay down a while & looked over S.S. lesson before dressing for church. Robert did not feel able to go, but hitched up the horse & Mrs. Southwell drover herself and me. Service was a little late beginning so we were in time.
Music dragged worse than ever. I took one of the Lansing hymnals to let him explain to the congregation and then left it with Alice Lathers to look over. The sermon subject was "Threshing".
Texts - Isia. 23, 27-29, Luke 3, 17.
I thought a thin congregation.
Rev. W. stopped at Wm. Stringer's.
SS Att - --, Coll. .28
Have read some, & played a few tunes. None of us went to evening service.
Fannie L. was to lead.
Robt. Had dinner started when we got home. I wiped dishes. Rev. W. superintended S.S. in Robt's absence.
R. sent money to church & S.S. by me.
Nankin, Wea. Cloudy, Mon. Aug. 26, 1901
So lame this morning, had to make some effort to get up. Wiped dishes, swept porch & steps, and some in sitting room. Lay down while after chores were done, then got up & wrote long letter to Julia, RFD 2, Lansing. After dinner when I finished it, left it open for Robt. to put in a line. He has driven to Inkster to do errands & see the Dr. Austin got back this a.m. & will go to the city with the stuff, melons etc, Robert has churned & worked around some, his face is more swollen & he feels quite bad. He did not find Dr. Bennet in, so went to Wayne & saw the dentist. His tooth was dead, but ulcerated & had to be lanced, a very painful operation. He brought home sarsaparilla to take & pills, is going to feel better, did not see Will Cavanagh. Mrs. Southwell had washed (I put a little in) & done general work. I have begun repairs on calico dress. Emily wiped the dishes, have played and read some, felt quite poorly from effect of medicine.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Tues. Aug. 27, 1901
Slept quite well. Have had bedstead turned around so my head is to north now. Today have shaken rugs & had 3 down on line, moved furniture & had thorough time sweeping & dusting my room & in the hall. Folded & ironed the things washed yesterday & a nightdress left on grass last week. I had mattress & all bedding off & spread around room for couple of hours or so before sweeping as there was a good breeze through the room. I stirred up the straw, & so finished. Have finished Emily's dress, read a little, & lain down some. Written & wiped breakfast & dinner dishes. Had 2 extra men to dinner, but not workers. Mrs. Southwell has ironed some, baked bread, cake & apples, made ice cream for dinner & done general work. Robert had to see the dentist at Wayne at 5 o'clock. Said he might see Will C. He stayed to supper with Will, was 8:30 or more when he got home. Henry came to stay all night. R. had a letter from Tine McCurdy saying she was coming here. We read some. Robt. & Henry had ice cream.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Wed. Aug 28, 1901, 90 Ther.
Was quite foggy this morning. Wiped breakfast & supper dishes, & slicked up living room. Lay down while this a.m. & read while resting. Mrs. Southwell has ironed some & baked a little & slammed doors considerable this p.m. Ollie was over & picked the berries, picked up apples, & got buttermilk. Robert went to Inkster & telephoned Will Everett at Ypsilanti. He said Tine McCurdy had changed her plans and gone to Detroit. R. got letter from Julia, & brought me one from J.R. Esselstyn giving figures on F. Dougherty's mortgage note, & enclosing bank draft for $15.00 & figures for Arthur's note. Said mortgage & both notes all paid with interest. His letter told of Rev. Cadwell's death. The Republican says he died at Bay View, Monday morning, of typhoid fever. Have spent good deal of time today on letter to L. V. Beebe, but did not get it quite done, had not written him in 3 or 4 more years, I guess, had to tell him I had moved etc. Jennie came home to stay tonight, and came up here for Henry.
I took good bath at bed time (am not well).
Nankin, Clouds, but no storm. Thurs. Aug 29
Foggy again this morning. Was up before 6, after morning chores were done I finished my letter to L.V.B. & also got a copy of Republican wrapped & Robert mailed them for me. He had errands at Inkster, & was going to Wayne to see the dentist. Said today's treatment of his tooth & gums was most painful & severe that he had had. He got home just as we were about to eat dinner, rested a while, then made preparations for his Detroit marketing. Towards 4 o'clock when he started for the city.
Threshers were at Wm. Lathers's this a.m., & at Robt's father's in p.m. & part of eve. Austin has helped them, was till 8 o'clock getting home & still had milking to do, as Clarence S., after doing a few chores, had gone to city, & Mrs. S. had done all she was able. I have put 2 large patches on pillow case for Julia & cut out a blue shirt for Robert, facings, gussets, etc. & this eve have done quite a bit on it. Have read little, written some, lain down little while.
Nankin, Wea stormy, Fri. Aug 30
Heard thunder before I got up, continued & increased until we had a very bad storm very dark & windy. Came in NE parlor window while I was stitching on the blue shirt. Mrs. S. & I both hurried upstairs to shut windows. Wiped breakfast dishes etc. Have spent all a.m. & part of p.m. on shirt & gotten along well. Aside from lying down a while spent balance of time on letter to Julia tho I have not had an answer to my last note. The boys have done what they chose on the farm. Robert was about sick when he came from the city, thought he had a chill. Put on his overcoat & lay down, after a hot drink soon felt better, guessed he was more tired than anything. Lay there all evening, I got hot water for him to soak his feet at bed time.
The evening mail brought me a nice long letter from Julia & she enclosed on from Emily C., which she had written them. The have had threshers & Arthur helped the neighbors this week. Henry came to stay again tonight.
Had another hard thunderstorm, just after we went upstairs to bed. Have read some in Republican.
Nankin, Cloudy & windy, Sat. Aug 31
My awning flapping quite noisily when I waked, drew it up when I got dressed. Have filled a lamp, wiped dishes, written two pages to add to Julia's letter. I wrote Julia yesterday. Robert wrote some & has taken all to Wayne to mail. Henry stayed here last night, brought 1 ½ of butter which we wanted. He helped Ollie & Lizzie freeze 3 gal. Or more of ice cream in our basement for a social that is to be held in the church tonight. They had much trouble with the freezer. The threshers have been to Johnny's & Miss Montgomery's, was about 3 o'clock when they got to work here, did not finish, & quit rather early for lack of help, as some of the men went away. There were 16 to dinner, men, women & boys. Ollie & Lizzie helped. Ollie helped Mrs. S. some & so did I, setting the table & clearing & wiping dishes.
I have sewed good deal on Robert's shirt & read little, we had a hard shower last night & it has rained lightly once or twice today.
Took good bath at bedtime.