January the 25th AD 1901 Opened up quite a cool Still morning wind not Stiring
from any direction but when it did come up it was from the North East The
thermometer Registered at and earley hour to day at 40 Degrees tempature
Some what cloudey. We were out of our bed of Slumber and rest quite Earley this
morning clothes on readey for our dailey occupation Such as eating and working
after renewing of the fire that i had built at 3-Oclock in the morning my wife
a rose from her bed then dressed her person then went to work to prepare the
mornings meal whilst i fed my horse after my wife had Served the mornings meal
and had placed it on the table and announced readey for to eat i Seated my Self
down to the breakfast table and come to the conclusion very Soon that was too
cool to eat a way from the fire So my wife and my Self taken up our grub then
moved in too our bed room by a good fire and placed the meals vituals on the
desk and a Stool then portaken of the Same when through with our meal we then
placed the vessels on the dining table to a wait time for my wife to clean up
the vessels as we had to attend to the turning out of the cows off of the wheat.
when done with that work She then washed and put a way evrthing used during our
mornings meal then put her house in order for the present time as the Sun rose
higher and the wind rose from the north East it grew much colder than it were
just after daylight. We are all alone again but appear to be in a better
condition of health this morning So far up in the Day being half past eight
oclock in the forenoon of to day after evry thing was finished a round the house
that had to be done i then caught and Saddled my horse then caught Old Judy and
Silkey mare and led them all to the Bosque to water after they had drank i then
turned them loose for them to come back in to the field i then mounted on my
horse and rode over to Crawford to get my mail and to See if the potatoes had
come to the Depot at Crawford or no that Virginia Frownfelter had Sent us from
Joshua Johnson County Texas after geting of my mail and Some writing paper i
then walked down to the Depot to See about the Potatoes after arriving at the
place i fund that they had come i then mounted my horse and rode for my place
of a bode after arriving at home i unsaddled my horse then turned him in too my
cornfield to graze a while then in a Short while my wife Served our noons meal
when Served and on the table and announced readey to be eat we then Seated our
Selves to the table and then portaken of the meal after getting through with the
meal my wife taken care of her dinner table then put evry thing a way in good
Stile whilst i finished a letter that i had commenced to write to Lum Costley
earley this morning after finishing writing of the letter i then walked out in
to my corn field braught up Walker put the buggy geer on him hitched him to my
buggy then mounted my Self in the buggy then drove for Crawford to mail my letter
to Lum Costley at Waco and during of the time i received a letter from Virginia
Frownfelter of Joshua Johnson County Texas our Daughter Stating that all were
well but her Self as She had been having the tooth ache badley for the last too
weeks or more but at this writing was better. after returning from Crawford i
ungeered my (horse) put him in the Stable and fed him and the fowls, and
fattening hogs afterwards i prepared wood for the fire place and brought it in
doors to have handy by the time i had the wood carried in my wife had the
evening meal Served on the table and announced readey to be eat we then Seated
our Selves down to the table a lone then portaken of our evenings meal and
dined heartiley as we had just received a Sack of Joshua yam Potatoes from our
daughter Virginia Frownfelter of her own rasing and my wife baked Some of them
for our evenings meal and they Shurley Splended. after we were through with the
evening meal my wife taken care of her Supper table and put evry thing in good
Shape a gain for the next meal, we then moved into our bed room by the fire
She then went to work to churning the milk whilst i went to work to complete
the recording of the labor thas (that's) been done to day by my wife and my
Self and also to give a discription of the weather through out the the day.
The first and formast (foremost) place the wind made a change in the fore part
of to day from the North East and blowed very cool to South East untill near
night fall from which it turned much warmer than it had been all day it also
has been very cloudey and much like falling weather. all day and the Sun
disappeared behind a heavey cloud in its going down after i was through with
this Recording of the labor of to day and weather also my wife put me to
churning of the milk as she was wanting to piece on her quilt again. after i
finished churning She then layed her Sewing down and taken the butter up out
of the churn and worked it in good Shape to put a way. we then went to our bed
of repose but before departing i called 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 bodys 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 + Amen
w.E. Costley at home near Middle Bosque creek
Saturday January the 26th AD 1901 Opened up rather a cloudey morning
much like rain, almost in the act of comin a mist the air is So
heavey and damp. at this writing being twenty five minutes past
Eight Oclock in the morning, The wind at the Same time of writing
the a bove is blowing from the South East but mild and damp. The
Lord has Spared the prvaleague (privilege) to my wife and my Self
to live to See a nother day of the new year and we are thankful to
the Lord for his great merce for the Same to give us health and
Strength to arise from our bed of repose and prepare our mornings
meal and giving to us a good relish to eat the Same. and to do our
labors a round the premises that is requred to be done in caring for
the dum(b) broots that we have under our protection and care. in
feeding and watering of them. whilst i were buisey at the out door
work my wife was very buisey attending to her indoors work Such
as washing and putting a way her breakfast dishes that was used
in portaking of our mornings meal when She was through She then
went to work to putting her house in good repair for the time
being then to work She wen(t) a gain to pieceing on her quilt
which She is maKing by cutting up great Squares of cloth to make
Smaller pieces of it in order to have the quilt in different
culors. as to my Self after i was through with the work a rou(n)d
the house i then walked out into the cornfield the(n) went to
pulling corn on the North Side of my orchard and pull down
untill half past eleven Oclock in the fore noon then left off
corn pulling come to the house caught the(n) Saddled walker
mounted my Self up on him then rode him and led Judy mare one
of my teem then drove the out horses to the Bosque to water
after they had drank i then pulled the holter off of my Silkey
mare as She was draging a rope in order that i could Ketch her
when wanted then turned them over across the creek in to E.D.
Costleys pasture off of my wheat as it looked So much like rain
as it was a Sprinkling of rain a little rather a mist from the
South west and at a bout half past eleven Oclock the wind changed
to South west, and be come very dark and Cloudey all over the
Elements which it Seemes to me it will rain or come a norther
and that very Soon, it is too cloudey for the Sun to make its
appearance. and has been all day long. after returning from the
creek i drove a couple of our cows out of ED Costleys bottom field
and turned them in to the pasture, then put the geer on my teem
then tied them to a post untill i could eat my dinner which was
readey waiting on me as my wife had it Served and on the table
waiting on my return from the creek So we Seated our Selves to
the table all a lone then portaken of our meal, when we were
through with our meal, my wife taken care of her dinner table
whilst i put my teem to the wagon. we then mounted our Selves
in the wagon i then drove for my cornfield to hall the corn that
i had pulled do(w)n in the forenoon after getting loaded, i then
drove for my cribb and unloaded the Same in too my cribb, after
getting of it unloaded i drove a round to where i Kept my water
barrel then loaded it in to my wagon then we mounted in the wagon
with my Self and i then drove down to the Bosque to water the teem
and to hall a barrel of water for the use and benefit of the place
after the teem had drank and we had filled the barrel with water i
then drove back to our place of abode we then changed our place of
the Stoppage of our water wagon and moved it in Side near the
Smokehouse door to be conveniant to the Shade from the Smoke house
which is nothing more than and old log cabbing (cabin) Something
ike unto my Self give way entirley, after my wife returned from
the Bosque with me She then went to work again pieceing on her quilt
and Sewed on it untill a late hour in the after noon of to day from
which She Stoped off Sewing then milked her cows. When she was through
and her milk that she had milked from her cows Stained then put a way
She then went to work prepareing our Evenings meal a gain, during the time
She was So buisily engaged at her work i was just as buisey preparing wood
to burn night and morning and feeding of our Stock that has to be cared for
after we were through my wife prepared our Evenings meal for us too as we
Still are a lone, after getting of it Served then placed on the table we
Seated our Selves to the table then portaken of the Same, when through my
wife taken care of the Supertable and put evrything a way in good Shape we
then moved in to our bed room by the fire althoug(h) not very cool rather
pleasant, Seated our Selves down by old Stand my wife went to work on her
cuilt (quilt) again, whilst i went to wor(k) to finish recording of the days
labor that was done by my wife and my Self to day and to give a Sketh (sketch)
of the weather and its changes. this has been a dark gloomey day all the way
through the Sun did not Shine out to day to do any good and Sit behind a dark
cloud with a Small mist of rain in the four part of the day. Now as our days
work is done we will go 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 our frail bodys here on earth 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 ______ Ammen
taken care of the Supertable and put evrything a way in good Shape we then moved
in to our bed room by the fire althoug(h) not very cool rather pleasant, Seated
our Selves down by old Stand my wife went to work on her cuilt (quilt) again,
whilst i went to wor(k) to finish recording of the days labor that was done by
my wife and my Self to day and to give a Sketh (sketch) of the weather and its
changes. this has been a dark gloomey day all the way through the Sun did
not Shine out to day to do any good and Sit behind a dark cloud with a Small mist
of rain in the four part of the day. Now as our days work is done we will go 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 our frail
bodys here on earth 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
This little slip was left out blank and i will here record Some happenings in the weather
in Texas in 1908 in December on the 21st of Said month Snow fell in Denison also rain and
Sleet and on the Same day rain Sleet and Snow fell at Texascanna Texas also at Tyler on
Same day of the month Snow and Sleet fell for three hours and on the Same day at McKinney a
Slow cold rain fell but no Sleet or Snow and at Crawford Texas there were nothin of the Kind
nice pleasant weather but a few day after christmas there were a too days slow rain fell
was not cold
W.E. Costley at home Christmas Day
It is a good thing to observe Christmas day The mere making of times and Seasons, when men
O gree to Stop work and make merry together, in a wise and wholesom(e) custom It helps one
to feel the supremacy of the common life over the individual life. It reminds a man to Set
his own little watch now and then, by the great clock of humanity which runs on Suntime. How
maney old recollections and how maney dormant sympathies does the Christmas time awaken Happy,
Happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childest days that can recall
to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the Sailor and the traveler
thousands of miles away, back to his own fireside and his quite home, Fill your glass again
with a merry face and contented heart Our life on it, but your Christmas Shall be merry and
your new year a happy life - The writer
Pork and Sausage
Maney of the citizens and farmers took advantage of the low tempature to Kill hogs on Tuesday
December the 7th, 1909 The weather was just right, and Several Saled down there first
installment of winter meat. The county has not as maney hogs as She Should have, but those
who have them will enjoy Spare ribs and back bone right away. A little later on the old
Sausage mill will be cleaned up and then the frying pan will be put in use yum yum" Dem good
ole pork Sausage am good enuff for me or a King
December the 7th 1909
W.E. Costley at home in Crawford
Commerorative of the Galveston Disaster September the 8th 1900 A city by the Sear arose it
Spires nigh reached the Sky Its people throve its commerce grew, with larger ports is vie
And lo both peace and law abode in yonder island town It throbbed with placid industry and
leaped into renown From East and West and North and South the Stancest vesels come They plied
the world's great waterways to reach that port of fame And carged with rich cotton bales, the
bullion of the State These argosies of magic Sail bore evrywhere their freight Its Seed the
Soul of myriad lives its fiber flushed the health of Britton on the foggy banks, of Teuton and
Malay and gold poured in from Liverpool, from Hong Kong and Calais Thus Silently, with rapid
Strides, the gulf town grew a pace Its citicens waxed Sturdier, its dwellings showed more grace
As Plenty bowed to Probity, So Honor walked with Thrift And fervor told all vaunting men that
God was in the gift It well did Seem that heaven Smiled upon those Striving men Who Sheathed
the Sword at Alimo and Smote but once again When Kith fought Kindred in acause we mane not
in disdain, Which blessing to the nation brought and healed it of its pain.Since then no unrest
Stirried their blood_these toilers by the Sea Save only when the western isles Succumbed to
tyranny. But then the blue besides the gray the Stars and Stripes unfurled And won fresh luster
for the flag, as back and from they hurled And peace did reign, and quiet lulled those miles of
Sandy beach Which Stretched along the water-front the billows to beseech The ocean rose, the
ocean fell, the tide rolled in and out. And with a rhythmic ebb and flow, it Scattered Shells
about So calm and tranquil was the Sea, So innocent its whim That ere the pious closed their
eyes, they Sent a prayer to him whoes voice is out upon the deep and echoes long the Shore
Who gathereth the waves there of and Silenceth their roar But on the Solemn Stillness rolled
an ominous refrain The ocean heaved, and anchored Ships were Straining as in pain. The
foaming Crest rose mountain high and whiped to terror, surges With might and main oer prow
and deck till all was nigh Submerged The tempest from the Caribees now frenzied lashed the
bay It Smote upon the ravished Senes and made as night the day It whirled and Swirled and
hurled its force against the Sail Stud coast It wrecked and Swept and ruined all the harbors
burdened boast On on, it raged the demon wind. and Keener blew the gale; It Swiftley Seized
the Seaboard town, So Strong, and whole and hale It Shattered church and School and home and
leveled to the dust The city hall and orphanage with Savage flendish lust Nor was this all,
O Lord of Host, the horrow but began When mothers clutched their lisping babes and panic
Stricken ran Away from flooded, roof crushed rooms to brave the Storm without Where men,
unmanned, now vainly Strove to pray and be devout Great buildings tottered, then collapsed
and burried all beneath With out a farwell, many died and nauht did they bequeath To those
`perchance, who yet Survived the ne'er forgotten thrall Twixt triple death by wind and wave
and quickly crumbling wall. For all was lost, the city lay exhausted mid the Streets
And what remained of barren hope was Spent in sheer distress Ah, desolate and rudely Shorn of
beauty and of skill Dismantled of its wares and wharves, She wept and then lay Still.
And through a dirge Still rends the air, and anguished heart yet groan Thou, noble city by the
Sea, dost mourn not all alone The millions of this tear touched land now lavish Succor Send
The nation means to Shelter the its Sorely Stricken friends. From Sea to Sea and Shore to Shore
thy name will yet resound Before a decade more will pass, or ere its half goes round Take
courage. build the up again, O city by the Sea The country looks the in the ege, the world
`will Stand by the (Repeat of the beginning) A city by the Sea arose its Spires nigh reached
the Sky Its people throve its commerce grew, with larger ports to vie And to both peace and
law abode in yonder island town It throbbed with placid industry, and leaped into renown From
East and West and North and South the Stanchest vessels came They plied the world's great
waterways to reach that port of fame And cargoed with rich cotton bales, the bullion of the
State The cargosies of magic Sail bore evrywhere their freight. The wharves of distant
continents were laden with its wealth Its Seed the Soul of myriad lives, its fiber flushed
the health Of Briton on the foggy banks of Tuton and Malay And gold poured in from Liverpool,
from HongKong and Calais.
The young widow
The following poem has made periodical circuits of the press for maney years. Last January
1900 it was a float again credited to Wideawake. It is now once more on its rounds, credited
Some times to various papers and again to none, and the auther's name is never given. It was
written by Robert Josselyn, and was published as long ago as 1858 when it apeared in a work
entitled Poets and Poetry of vermont.
She is modest, but not bashful
Free and easey, but not bold
Like an Apple ripe and mellow
Not too young and not too old
Half enviting half repulsing
Not advansing and not Shy
There is mischief in her dimple,
There is danger in her eye
She has Studied human nature
She is Schooled in all the arts
She has taken her diploma
As the mistress of all hearts
She can tell the very moment
When to Sigh and when to Smile
O, a maid is Sometimes charming
But the widow all the while
Are you Sad Now very Serious
Will her handsom face become
Are you angry, She is wretched
Lonely friendless, tearful dumb
Are you mirthful? How her laughter
Silver Sounding. will ring out
She can lure and catch and play you,
As the Angler does the trout
Ye Old bachelors of forty
Who have grown So bald and wise
Young Americans of twenty
With the love looks in your eyes
You may practice all the lessons
Taught by cupid Since the fall
But i Know a little Widow
Who could win and fool you all
Coppyed from a paper devoted to heath buisiness and Science on the 13 th day of January AD 1901 by
W. E. Costley at home near Middle Bosque Creek
W.E. Costley - 68 years old past
Father, Who travels the road So late The world a looking glass
Hush, my child, tis the candidate The world is but a looking glass
4 Fit example for human woes- Wherein ourselves are Shown
Earley he comes and earley he goes Kindness for Kindness cheer for cheer
He greets the women with courtley grace Coldness for gloom repulse for fear
He Kisses the baby's dirty face To evry soul its own
He calls to the fence the farmers at work We cannot change the world a whit
He bores the merchant, he bores the clerk Onley ourselves which look in it
The blacksmith, while his anvil rings, Coppied from a almanack on the
He greets, and this is the Song he Sings- 6th day ofJanuary AD 1901
Howdy. Howdy. Howdy. do by W.E. Costley at home
How is your wife, and how are you
Ah! it fits my fist as my other can.
The horny fist of workingman
Taken from Hostetters Almanac by
W.E.Costley on January the 6th 1901
Crowned with a reath of ripened grain
Purple asters and golden grasses
Loved by the Sunshine and the rain
Blithe and bonny September passes
Calling the birds to Southland next
Lulling the Sleepy flowers to rest
Shaking the crimson apples down
Turning the verdant meadows brown
Sweet September, the fair the gay
Rulest a queen in our hearts to day
W.E. Costley at home
Contributed Verse for my Children and GrandChildren
1 The old and the new A motto for the new century
I have carved a bove my cottage door
And all who pass the threshold oer
May. read. and . enter. Joyfully
My door forever Stands a jar
2 To welcome men both great and Small
It matters not from whence they are
A cheerful home a waits them all
The miserable, the mean, the blind
3 The rich the poor, the high the low-
A royal welcome all Shall find
And loving care each one Shall Know
In other walks and Spheres in like
I might have been a beggar too
4 Then why not lend in time of Strife
A hand to help my brother through
I might have been, in other Spheres
A branded fellon Shunned by all
5.
Then why not through these coming years.
Surport the feeble ones who fall
I've carved above my cottage door
This motto" you are welcome here
And all who pass its threshold o'er
May read and enter filled with cheer
Earnest Powell by W.E.Costley at home
near Middle Bosque Creek
Jolly . Jingles__ He Kissed her
He Kissed her neath the misletoe
Where She had chanced to Stray
But if designedly So or no
We're not prepared to Say
Her lips and cheeks were all a glow
With tintings of the rose
55He Ki
3th the mistletoe
And also neath the rose
Denver post
A Brave little Girl
Just one more Kiss for good night mama
Just one more Kiss for good night,
And then you may go, my dear Papa
Ahd yes you may put out the light
For I,ll promise you truly I wont be a fraid
Cause Im going to be Papa's brave little Maid
As he told me I ought to be
But the Shadows won't Seem So dark mama
If youll Kiss me a little bit more
And you Know I can listen and hear where you are
If you onley wont Shut the door
For, if I can bear you talking I think
It will make me Sleepy maybe
Then i will go to Sleep just as quick as i wink
And forget to _ cry like a baby
You needn't be laughing my mama dear
While you're huggind me up So tight
You think I am crying to Keep you here
You and I guess_the light
Please Kiss me good night once more mama
I could Scarcely my promise Keep
If you'd only Stay with me just as you are
And Kiss me untill _ i go to Sleep
The above was copyed on the nights of December the 7th AD
by W.E.Costley at home on Middle Bosque
Clouds And Shadows - - - - - - -
By G.G. Whittier
The clouds which rise with thunder Slake
Our thirsty Soules with rain
The blow most dreaded falls to break
From off our limbs a chain
And wrongs of man to man but make
The love of God more plain
As through the Shady lens of even
The eye looks fatherest into heaven
axOn gleams of Star and depths of blue
The glaring Sunshine never Knew
Coppyed By W.E.Costley at eight oclock of the night
of December the 7th AD 1900 hundred
W.E. Costley
The Bachelor left at home what a queer looking place
My cosey home what a queer looking place
Such a change I never Saw before in my life
I felt like Saying it was a drisgrace
But had been a whole month with out a wife
They Say my dear Bachelor? looked gloomey and Sad
And Seem So lonley while i was a way
No wonder no wonder he felt So bad
And So anxiousley waiting my coming day
Ashes and cigar Stump on the floor
My_ they must have been up to all Sorts of capers
I don't think I.ll leave home any more
The carpets had not felt the cratch of a broom
The furniture was buried deep in the dust
The pantry it Seems was in evry room
From the Apple Cores peach Stones and Knives gone to rust
The bed i am Shure had never been made
Since i made it and tucked it just right
And I cationed him Kindley and smilingly Said
Take the counterpane off, and fold it each night
The parlar was used for a School of instruction
of the Bachelors left at home for a while
zMy embroidered pieces had gone to destruction
In the corner my cushions lay all in a pile
I at once went to work, and Some things were allright
Though Some were ruined and replaced with new
And Now when I go for a Short pleasure flight
I See to one thing the Bachelor goes too
Wrote by Mrs W.P. Gilbert Coppyed By W.E.Costley at home
on the North Side of Middle Bosque Creek in McLennan
County Texas on the Sabbath day of our Lord being November
the 18th 1900 hundred
W.E.Costley. at. home
Phillosopher
I wish but what I have at will
I wander not to Seek for more;
I like the plaine I climbe no hill;
In greatest Storms I Sette on Shore;
And laugh at them that toile on Shore;
To get what must be lost again
Old Song he raines a tidy parlot maid.
She dust with care each Seperate blade
And the high walls of the Skies. And Mother Nature, too is wise
And often has a cleaning day. To wash the dust and dirt away
On the carpets of the fields, Well her broom of Storms She wields,
On her furniture of trees. The feather duster of the breeze.
There She's readey. when that's done. For her companion, the Sun
Isabelle Howe Fiske
I am one of those who beleave in Providence which cares for the destiney of
collective Millions. I feel that our toilers have out Striped all others and
grown greater in a century than nations that have lived a thousand years.
not a lone because we have more energy and more brain than those who dwell in
other lands. But because we have been the justest nation of all history. In
this great crises let us Show to all hearts. And all time that the American
Republic. Still furnishes the world's best example righteous rulers and free
people
W.E.Costley. at. home. near Middle Bosque Creek
Crowned with a reath of ripened grain
Purple asters and golden grasses
Loved by the Sunshine and the rain
Blithe and bonny September passes
W.E.Costley. at. home. near Middle Bosque Creek
Calling the birds to Southland next
Lulling the Sleepy flowers to rest
Shaking the crimson apples down
Turning the verdant meadows brown
Sweet September, the fair the gay
Rulest a queen in our hearts to day
May God in his mercy remember his bereaved companion and children, And Oh may they
his offSprings be prepared by Gods grace. to meet the dear one they love So well
in that Sweet beyond is my prayer.
Farewell dear Brother thou has left us
And our loss we deeply feel.
But tis God that have bereft where no farewell tear is Shed
He can all our Sorrows heal With the we hope to join the number
Peaceful be thy Silent Slumbers, Jesus bought with his own blood
Lying in the Grave So bare And with the band of holey angles
Thou will no more join our number Sing and praise out blessed Lord
Thou wilt no more our Sorrows Share
Yet, a gain we hope to meet the
When the day of life is fled
When in heaven we will meet the
Selected from a primitive
Babtist paper by W.E. Costley
in the year. A D. 1900 hundred
