Sunday the Lords day which we are commanded to neither work no (nor)
play for it is gods holey day December the 2 th AD 1900 hundred opened
up quite a cool morning clear and bright with the exception of a low
cloud in the south east. wind rather from the South very cool and damp
under foot coused from a heavey dew that fell on the night just passed.
The thermometer registers at and earley hour to day at even 40 Degrees
tempature. my wife and my Self were out of bed rather late this morning
as we were all a lone and being the Sabbath day of our lord AD 1900
hundred although after So long a time we arose from our bed of Slumber
put on our clothes then went to work to prepare the mornings meal .
after getting of it Served and on the table we then portaken of the
same when we were through with our meal my wife taken care of her
breakfast table and put evry thing a bout her Kitchen in good order
a gain whilst i fed the fattening hogs and done other Shores (chores)
a round the place. Then my wife Set our Sleeping department in good
repare for the day. when i was through i then wote (wrote) a letter to
Virginia Frownfelter at Joshua Johnson County Texas. at or near one
Oclock we portaken of our noons meal after we were through i then with
the help of my wife walked out to the cornfield and gathered Some corn
to feed the teem and hogs on i then then taken the feed down to the
bottom field watered then fed my teem; after i was through i walked
back too my house then taken a rest as i was Some what worried from
my walk after a bit Lum Costley come over from Maddoxes to See how
we were getting a long he remained with us Some too hours then
departed for Maddoxes where he is now living during the time he was
here. he cut up Some wood to burn about the time he was leaving Mr
and Mrs Finne come to See us and remained for Some bit then departed
to there place of a bode after they had left my wife and my Self taken
care of the milk calves and fed them and the hogs and cows So that
ended the out door work, my wife prepared a Snack for us to eat after
being Served we then portaken of the Same. when through and the table
cared for we then taken our rest again before going to bed. at or near
nightfall it become very cloudey and the wind changed to the South west
and blew very Strong and also in a very Short while become very cool.
now as it is time to retire to our bed or repose we ask the Lord to
gard and protect us through the present night as he has through the
day just past and gone And when done with these frail bodys of ours to
hand us down too our grave in peace with the (Thee) and all man Kind
and in heaven Save us is my prayer to night. Amen
W.E. Costley at home near middle Bosque Creek
Monday December the 3dh AD 1900 hundred Opened up a blustry morning
wind from the north west brisk and cool Some what cloudey appearance
of Severe weather. Thermometer registers at an earley hour this morning
at even 40 Degrees tempature. My wife and my Self were out of bed
quite late this morning as it was Some what cool and we were too old
to get up in the cold but eventually we a rose from our bed of Slumber
put on our clothes then went to work to prepare our mornings meal when
Served we then Seated our Selves too the fire and portaken of the
mornings meal as it was Some what too cool to go to the table when we
were through with our meal i then fed the milk calves then. fed our
fattering hogs i then come in doors washed then put a way the dishes
that was used at our morning meal then put the house in good order for
the time being . as my wife wanted to quilt on her quilt that She put
up on thanksgiving day and at this writing She Shurley is plowing the
furrows in too her quilt with (t)he needle and thread if it is cold
and blustry whilst i am here marking down time as it passes a way
never to return again. As the day passes a way it appears as the wind
grows Stronger from Same direction. at or near half past Eleven Oclock
i walked down to the turnup patch then gathered a mess of turnups and
greens brought them too the house then prepared them for the cook pot.
after getting them readey my wife Stoped off quilting then put them
onto cook then Kept on untill She prepared the meal after it was Served
and on the table we then Seated our Selves too the table and just Such
dinner we did Eat having turnups and tur(n)up greens boiled with the
best of bacon and good potliquar. for our meal besides the best of
butter and butter milk and coffee and the finest of corn bread equal to
a wedding Supper after we were through with our meal my wife and my
self taken Some corne to the bottom field then watered an fed the teem
then returned back to (t)he house then milked the cows washed and dried
the dishes then prepared night wood for night and morning afterwards i
gathered corn out of the field then fed the fattening hogs i then
brought the wood indoors. So that ended the out door work after feeding
the calves and cows we then eat our evening meal. after the meal was
over with and the vesels that we eat out ove (of) was put a way we then
enjoyed Sitting by a warm fire for ever So lond (long) after becoming
Sleepy and tiard we departed to our bed of repose by first asking the
lord to gard and protect us through the present night as he has through
the day just passed and gone. and when done with these frail bodys of
ours to hand us down to our grave in peace with the (Thee) and all man
Kind and in heaven Save us is my prayer to night - Amen
W.E.Costley. at.home.near.middle.Bosque
Tuesday December the 4th AD 1900-hundred opened up quite a cold morning
very calm wind not Sturing but when it Sprung up it was from the N.W.
heavey freeze also heavey frost. my wife and my Self were quite late
in arising from our bed of Slumber on the account of the cold weather
and my wife not being very well but after So long a while we a rose
from our bed of rest put on our clothing then went to work as usual to
prepare our mornings meal after getting of it Served we then eat the
Same by our fire Side as it was too cold for the old people to eat a
way from the fire after we was through with our meal we then put a way
our dishes and in a Short while they were washed and put a way in good
order then we fed the Stock that was up Such as the hogs calves and cows
the next on hand to do was to unload the wagon of Seed that is cotton
Seed after getting the dishes washed and put away and the house swept up
and put in order for the day. my wife went to work to prepare the noon
meal, whilst i walked down to EDCostleys field and brought up my teem
then put the geer on him or them at least by that time my wife had the
noons meal Served and on the table we then Seated our Selves to the table
then portaken of the Same when through with our meal. i then hitched my
teem too the wagon. my wife and my Self mounted in the wagon then drove
for Crawford to get Something in the Shape of a box to put Some oats in
but failed and had to by Some barrels. After getting of what we went
after we then mounted in our wagon then drove for our place of a bode
after arriving at home. i ungeered and fed my teem. then gathered Some
corne out of the field and fed the fatening hogs and the fowls. by that
time Mr Prock come over to let my Know that he had declined (against)
the edier (idea) of planting any more wheat. and would not take what
he had borgained to take from me So i paid him for what cotton that
his children had picked for me this fall and he departed for his place
of a bode. my wife and my Self Staked the calves out to grass. So that
ended our out doors work as i had Supplied the house with wood through
the day we then come in doors and then prepared our evenings meal, after
getting of it Served and on the table we Seated our Selves too the table
then portaken of the Same. when through and the Suppertable cared far we
then moved in to our bed room by a good fire and enjoyed the Same for
a bout too hours then departed to our bed of Slumber by first asking the
Lord to gard and protect us through the present night as he has through
the day just passed and gone, and when done with these frail bodys of ours,
to hand us down to our grave in peace with the (Thee) and all man Kind and
in heaven Save us is my Prayer to night-Amen
W.E.Costley at home near Middle Bosque creek
Wednesdy December the 5th A D 1900 hundred Opened up quite a cool
morning with considerable frost pirfectly clear wind Sturing very
hardley Strong enough to tell which direction it is from but
eventually it Showed to be from the South. The thermometer registers
at this writing being nine Oclock A m. of Said day at 44 degrees
tempature with a prospect of a nice day. my wife and my Self were
out of bed quite late this morning on the account of being Some
what cool and my wife being Sick with a bad cold and fever through
the night but at last i a rose from my bed of Slumber put my clothes
on then went to work to prepare the mornings meal after getting to
work i Soon had the meal cook and placed before the fire to be eaten
by than my wife had a rose from her bed of Slumber dressed her Slef
(Self) then we eat our meal in front of a good fire. as it was too
cool for the old folks to eat a way from the fire. after getting
through with our meal i then put on water to wash the dishes and
while heating i fed the fatening (fattening) hogs after i was
through i gathered Some corn for the fowls from that part of the
work i come in doors washed and put a way the dish then put the
house in good fix to begin on when through i Seated my Self down
by my desk and taken a minute of what had been done this far up
in the day. After my wife had drank Some caffee and eat a few
bites she had to take her bed again as She become Sick at the
Stomache and could not Sit up I then taken a round out in the
bushes and brush looking for hens nest but could not find a one i
then come back in the house and Shelled a lot of corn for the
fowls. to eat to day. as i feed them once on corn and once of
wheat. and then They appeared to be Starved to death.. the wind
appears to be getting some Stronger at a bout noon to day. and
the Sun Shines very bright pirfectly clear. and is turning some
what warmer as the day passes a way by the hole a nice day
Something Simular to Spring of the year orn planting time. fine
weather on wheat. at about too Oclock i put on turnup greens to
cook after getting of them on i walked down to E D Costleys
bottom field caught then watered my teem. After they drank i
brought them to my house a(nd) then pup ( put) the geer on them
hitched them to my wagon put the barrel in the wagon mounted my
Self in the wagon then drove too the Middle Bosque after a barrel
of water after filling of the barrel with water i then drove back
to my place ungeered my teem then gave them a bundle of Sheaf
Oats i then come in doors then eat my noons meal as the turnup
greens were cooked and my wife through her febleness had baked a
hol (whole) cake of bread saving me of the trouble So we Seated
our Selves to the table then portaken of the Same. when through
we Stacked the dishes untill later on as it was getting Some what
late in the evening So we then milked the cows after we were through
i then fed them and the next work to do was to take my teem to E.D.
Costleys bottom field and turned them in to graze to night after
i returned to the house i then prepared wood for night and morning
then brought it in doors So that ended the out door labor for to
day, as my wife had put the milk calves in the Stall and Stable and
fed them I then come in doors and taken a warm as it had clouded up
and the wind had changed too the north and had become Some what
cooler than it had been all day. after getting my feet warm i then
taken a Seat at my desk and finished recording the events of to days
labor. my wife is quite poorley to night although She has been up part
of to day. She had to retire to her bed quite earley this evening a
She felt as though She was going to have a chill as She had been
Stiring a round too much in the raw wind this evening . not being
very well. Now as i am through with with all our labor to day we
will depart to our bed of rest by first asking the Lord to gard and
protect us through the present nigh as he has through the day just
passed and gone and when done with our frail bodys to hand us down
to our grave in peace and in heaven Save us is my prayer to night
- Amen
W.E. Costley. at. home. near Middle bosque creek
Thursday December the 6th A D 1900 hundred Opened up quite a nice
"'' Morning wind from the The thermometer register at a bout
nine Oclock in the forenoon of to day at 50 Degrees tempature. my
wife and my Self we were out of our out of our bed of repose quite
late this morning as neither one of us were well out at last .i Sumed
up courage enough to arise from my bed of rest and put on my clothes.
After getting clothed i then went to work to prepare the mornings meal.
as my wife was not able to do the cooking Sick but not confined to the
bed all the while. So at last i made the trip in Serving the meal
after getting of it Served and on the table we then taken our Seats
to the table then eat our morning meal but my wife was too feble to
eat. much but i made out a hearty meal on turnup greens bacon bred
butter and good Strong coffee after i were through with my mornings
meal i then Stacked up my dishes then fed the fattening hogs i then
come back in doors put the dishwater on to heat to wash the dishes
after it had warned up i then went went to work to cleaning up the
Kitchen and putting evry (thing) in good order for the next meal i
then proceeded to chop up Some fire place wood for to day and night
and morning as i will be too much crouded to wait later on as i have
no one to help me and i am quite feble all the while but gradually
growing Some better at or near one Oclock to day i taken a Sack.
walked out in too my cornfield and gathered Some corn to feed my
teem hogs and fowls. Afterwards i prepared our noons meal after
getting of it readey and on the table my wife and my wife (Self)
Seated our Selves too the table then portaken of our noons meal
when through i taken care of the table and arrayed (arranged) evry
thing all all right i then Shucked corne for my teem and taken it
to E.D.Costleys botton. field and watered and fed my teem then rode
over to Crawford for a bottle of chill Tonic. After i had purchased
the tonic and . and received my mail. i then rode back home unSaddled
my horse. then fed the cows some cotton Seed and oat Straw I then fed
the fattening hogs afterward i Shuched then taken the corn that i had
Shucked down to E.D. Costleys botton field then fed my teem walked
back to my house and Staked the milk calves out to grass. then
brought the wood in doors for night and morning So as it is late
that Ended the work out doors. So i come in doors then prepared a
good fire. by that time. my wife had our evenings meal Served on the
table readey for to be eat we then alone Seated our Selves too the
table then portaken of our evenings meal. After we were through with
our meal i taken care of the Supper table as my wife was yet feble af
(after) i was through i then moved into our bed room Seated my Self
down at my desk then finished recording the labors of the day my wife
is a great deal better in her Sickness then She was on last night at
this time. She is able to read the news to night which She is doing
at this writing as i brought Some waco papers home with me this
evening from Crawford. this day ended very nicely as it was very
clear and bright. and the Sun Sit with out a Shadow of a cloud to
prevent the Sight of it passing out of Sight. Now as we are done
with the toiles of the day we will depart to our bed of repose by
first calling on the Lord to gard and protect us through the present
night, as he has through the day just passed and gone, And when done
with these frail body of ours to hand us down to our grave in peace
with the (Thee) and all man Kind and in heaven Save us is my prayer
To night Amen-
W.E.Costley at home near Middle Bosque creek
Friday December the 7th AD 1900 hundred Opened up with quite a brisk
norther some what cloudy but So much So as to Keep the Sun from Shining
out nicely. The thermometer this morning is registered 48 Degrees
Tempature. Well as and old Saying and has been for some time back as
the Old folks are old and Some what feble besides we were out of bed
quite late again this morning but after a rising from our bed of
Slumber we dressed our Selves then went to work to prepare our morsel
of food for our mornings meal. after getting of it readey we Seated our
Selves to the table then portaken of the Same when through with our
meal i Stacked up the dishes untill i could feed the fattening hogs
and to do Some other work a round the place be fore i could wash the
dishes and put evry thing in good order for the day, my wife as she
was Some what puney She remained by the fire and pieced on her quilt.
i Shuffled a round the best i could and got up a little wood as i
was out then cleaned up the dishes and put the Kitchen and Sleeping
department in order for the balance of the day, as i have to be Cheef
(chief) cook and bottle washer for the present time to come now as the
Aday is passing a way rapedley i have to hurry up I have gathered too
Sackes of corne to feed on to day and also watered and brought my teem
from the bottom field and fed them I then come in doors taken my Seat
by my desk. and also taken the advantage of the times during the time
of my wife preparing our noons meal and made a Statement of what had
been up to too Oclock to day by that time my wife had the noons meal
Served on the table readey for to be eat So we Seated our Selves to
the table all a lone then portaken of the noons meal. after we were
through i Stacked the dishes a way untill i could drag up Some wood
as i was with out. after we was through with the meal i then geered
my horse taken him down too the well hitched him too a lot of poles
then made him drag them too the house for wood after getting them too
the house i ungeered my horse tied him up then cut the powles (poles)
into fire length and brought the wood in doors from that part of the
work i brought the milk calves in for my wife So She could milk her
cows. afterwards i Shelled fifteen years (ears) of corn then gave it
too the fowls, from that part of the work i then walked out to the hay
Stack and filled 2 oat Sack with the Straw then gave it too the Cows,
then brought the calves in too the Stalls and fed them then the next
work to do was to fasten up the chickens which ended the out door work
for to day, I then returned in doors and eat my evenings meal as my
wife in her febleness had prepared the Same After it was Served and
readey for to be eat we then eat the Same in front of a good fire
when though we Stacked what few dishes we had used a way till morning
as there were not enough to fool a way time to heat water to wash them,
So that ended the eating part for to day we then enjoyed Sitting by
a good fire for Some too hours talking over our past Sorrows and joys
in our past life. the Sun Sit be hind a very red looking cloud this
evening. denoting bad weather and at the wind up of to day it become
very cloudey and much cooler than it was in the fore part of the day.
about the time we were in a good way talking John Tubbs cattle come up
too my house through my field So i had to take my lamp and dog and run
them out they crossed over in too procks field that he had rented from
John Tubbs. now as the days work is done and we are Some what sleepy
we will go too our bed of rest by first asking the Lord to gard and
protect us through the present night as he has through the day just
passed and gone and when done with these frail bodys of ours to hand
us down too our grave in peace with the (Thee) and all man Kind and
in heaven Save us is my prayer to night-Amen
