Jan. 25-1901--December the 7th 1909
W. E. Costley At home near Middle Bosque Creek

		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 
			like unto my Self give way entirley, after my wife returned from 
			the Bosque 


			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 6th day of 
			He greets, and this is the Song he Sings-                       January 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



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copyright 2003-09 Carol Costley Rabun and Harry Diamond Jr