DIARY OF MARY SAUNDERS

1903 - 1915

Transcribed in 2002 by Roberta Hinde Rivett

Dedicated to Ruth McCheane Chamness Bergman, daughter of the diarist, who graciously lent the treasured originals of the diary for purposes of transcription.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter One England May to December 1903 page 3

Chapter Two England to Canada May to December 1907 page 23

Chapter Three January to December 1908 page 44

Chapter Four January to December 1909 page 85

Chapter Five January 1910 to December 1912 page 129

Chapter Six January to December 1913 page 169

Chapter Seven January to December 1914 page 203

Chapter Eight January to September 1915 page 247

Appendix I The Saunders Family page 273

Appendix II The McCheane Family page 289

Appendix III The Hinde Family page 303

Appendix IV The Wake Family page 323

Appendix V Homestead Neighbours page 327

Appendix VI Nathan Saunders and Son by Joshua Wake

Appendix VII Added Notes

Appendix VIII Map of Great Bend Municipality

Appendix VIV Homestead Plan

Illustrations

Frontispiece: Mary Saunders in England at age fifteen, 1906

Picture courtesy Ruth Bergman

Chestnut Bank Friends’ Boarding School, about 1906.

Picture courtesy Ruth Bergman. Opposite page 20.

Mary and her sisters Eliza and Lucy in England, 1906.

Picture courtesy Ruth Bergman Opposite page 22.

Mary at the homestead, 1907.

Picture courtesy Ruth Bergman Opposite page 28.

William Cronyn McCheane with wife Caroline and daughter Hannah Mary, circa 1910 , Home Farm.

Picture courtesy Saskatchewan Archives Board SAB S-B 9918 Opposite page 128.

William Cronyn McCheane in the yard of Home Farm, Halcyonia, circa 1910.

Picture courtesy Saskatchewan Archives Board S-B 9916. Opposite page 130.

Hannah Mary McCheane (later Crabb) feeding chickens at the Home Farm, Halcyonia, circa 1910.

Picture courtesy Saskatchewan Archives Board, S-B 9917 Opposite page 142

Street in Borden, Saskatchewan, 1912, showing the McCheane Brothers’ Farm Machinery Building

Picture courtesy Saskatchewan Archives Board, S-B 9872 Opposite page 178.

John McCheane, with Edith Hinde (later McCheane) and Mary Saunders (later McCheane) in the “Brush” car, Borden, 1912.

Picture courtesy Saskatchewan Archives Board, S - B 9919 Opposite page 186.

Introduction

In 1903 when she started her diary, Jemima Mary Saunders was twelve years old and a student at the Friends’ Boarding School, Chestnut Bank, in Fritchley, Derbyshire. In 1904 her widowed father Nathan Saunders and her older brother Edmund (Eddy) Saunders emigrated to Canada, to homestead in the Borden district in the Great Bend area, in the crook of the North Saskatchewan River north of Saskatoon, in what was to become the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in 1905. In 1907, at sixteen, she joined them. Her diary reflects not only her own experiences and perceptions but also the opening of the Canadian West in the early years of the Twentieth Century.

Mary Saunders’ diary does not end in 1915. With a hiatus from the end of this transcription to some time after her marriage, she continued writing her diary until she died at nearly a hundred and two years of age.

About the Format and Footnotes

The diary has been transcribed faithfully with the following exceptions:

Spelling errors have been corrected in order that the reader may not trip over errors and lose the thread of the content. Where names of people and places have been unclear, reference to the Borden history book , has been of great help, however some will inevitably remain in error.

At several points conflicts with respect to day, month and day of the week arise. Those that could be resolved were corrected. Those unresolved are noted thus: (sic).

Where a term or phrase could not be resolved clearly, a question mark, thus (?) is given.

Footnotes:

The diary is divided into chapters by year, with exceptions where entries for a year are very few. Footnotes are given at the end of the section for each month of the diary.

Some of the footnotes identify the people who are closely connected to the Saunders, McCheane, Hinde and Wake families. For clarification on the identification of the neighbors, the map of the Great Bend Municipality and those who homesteaded on each quarter section in the end-papers of the Borden History, Our Treasured Heritage, (Borden History Book Committee, 1980) may be helpful. In addition there are many references to these neighbours in the body of the Borden History, in the section providing individual family histories.

Other footnotes attempt to explain terms and activities which may not be familiar to the descendants of the people written about in the early years of the last century. Some of these come from the memory of the editor, Roberta Rivett, and her sister, Mary Crane. Help was also received from Ruth Bergman, Frank Saunders, Lester Chamness and Rachel Chamness. Other footnotes come from books, dictionaries, encyclopedias and the Internet.

To clarify relationships, appendices containing the family trees of the Saunders, McCheane, Hinde and Wake families are included. It should be noted that with the marriages among the descendants of the four founding families, there is duplication in the printouts of descendants of each.

The practices of the Society of Friends or Quakers as reflected in this diary are here and there amplified from the memories of Mary Crane and Roberta Rivett, who as children of Quaker parents and born in the 1930’s, were birthright Quakers.

Reference is made from time to time to the writings of Joseph Edward (Bob) Hinde, in his book As I Remember It, privately published in 2003.

CHAPTER ONE MAY to DECEMBER 1903

MAY 1903

FIFTH MONTH

Diary of Jemima Mary Saunders

Started 19^th of 5^th Month, 1903

5^th month, 19^th, 3^rd day

In the morning for a bit of fun I blackleaded¹ my boots, and Henry Whittaker² made me blacken them over again. We went to school in the morning as usual and came out at recess time. Edie Hinde,³ Katie Croft, Ruth King, Maggy Land , May Croft and myself were all at Hilda Scanlon’s house and we had a great deal of fun. And nearly all the boys played football, with Walter Croft’s football. We have a new scholar, he came lately. We went into school again after recess time as usual, came out at twelve and Edie and me went and laid our table. Then we had our dinner. After dinner the boys played football. Edie is the top girl. Then comes Leonard her brother. Then Susy, then Eddy, he is my brother. Then Lizzie,⁴ Susy’s sister. Next comes Mary Ann then Val then comes myself, next Henry Wake, Henry Taylor then comes Hilda Scanlon. That is all in the big schoolroom. Then in the small schoolroom comes first of all Maggie. Mary Ann’s sister Winnie. Then Walter, then Ruth then Grant, then Kitty, Walter’s sister, then comes John.

Then we had school again as usual and came out at three o’clock for sewing. Amy Sturge⁵ was away at Bournbrook for she had a sister there who was not very well so Susy was our teacher and she let us have a ten minute recess. We came out again at four o’clock . We played about and Maisie invited Walter, Katie and May to tea. After tea we had a game of Lurkey. After a bit the bed bell rang so we all had to go to bed. Amy Sturge came back from Bournbrook.

5^th month, 20^th, 4^th day

Amy Sturge was here. Amy Sturge came to our bedroom and told us that Edie had to go home to Bournbrook by the ten o’clock train that morning. Amy Sturge, Leonard⁶ and I went down to the station with her. By the time we got back it was not worth while going into Meeting⁷ so we went home and I laid the table for dinner. We were all invited up to the Sturges to stay all the afternoon and to have tea. We played Croquet, I Spy, Football and a good many other games. After tea we played some games and then went home to bed.

5^th month, 21^st, 5^th day.

It was much warmer and we did not have a fire in the schoolroom, it was warm and something like 5^th month. We were playing Tick in recess time. Edward Sturge⁸ did not ring the bell until eleven o’clock which is a quarter of an hour later than usual. We went into sewing at three as usual and did our mending. I helped Amy Sturge to make some tonic instead of going in prep. After prep we had a game of I Spy and Lurkey. The bed bell did not ring until twenty minutes past eight.

5^th month, 22^nd, 6^th day.

We played at horses in the morning before school. It was fine and very hot. After tea, had a game of Lurkey. Had sewing all the afternoon and the boys did carpentering. After school in the afternoon I went up to the shop for Amy Sturge and she gave me a halfpenny. I cut out a pair of drawers for myself. Hilda Scanlon went home in the morning.

5^th month, 23^rd, 7^th day.

In the morning we had a game of skipping and jumping. I hemmed round my sampler at least I did part of it. Lizzie Darbyshire also started hers. In the afternoon Henry Tailor, Eddy, Mamie, Maggie and Dorothy King, Edward Sturge and myself all went to Wingfield⁹ to play in Southern Goats’ Meadow and paddle in the river. Mopsy, that is the name of a pony, was in the paddock. Henry and me stayed behind playing with Mopsy. She had no bridle or anything on. She broke away from Henry and when I was not thinking of anything she turned around sharply and threw me flying. Oh! It was nice. Went to bed a bit later than usual. I was very hungry and I would not get to sleep until about one o’clock. Clara Cooper died at about ten minutes to four leaving four children, the eldest, George, ten years old, the next eldest Hilda, seven years, next Edenia, aged two, the youngest Harold only four months old. George Cooper came over to arrange about his wife being buried for it was her wish to be burned at Fritchley. He brought Hilda with him, she slept here, and he went over to Movewood, that is about four miles. He came by the ten o’clock train at night.

5^th month, 24^th, 1^st day.

Went to Meeting in the morning. In the afternoon went on a walk with Margaret Land. It was very hot. Maggie started a diary today. Extra long Meeting in the evening.

5^th month, 25^th, 2^nd day.

We had drill in the morning. I did my sampler from three o’clock until tea time. Had a game of I Spy after tea. Nothing extra happened.

5^th month, 26^th, 3^rd day.

Had school in the morning. In the afternoon at half past two we had a Meeting because Clara Cooper was to be buried. The coffin was brought up in Derbyshires’ cart. When they got to the top of the Blue Bridge they took the coffin out of the cart and carried it into the Meeting house and put it in the cloakroom. We all went to the funeral afterwards. My uncle¹⁰ came to the funeral. I went down to the station with him.

5^th month, 27^th, 4^th day.

Had school in the morning and in the afternoon. Mary Watkins¹¹ invited all us children to a picnic at Wake Bridge. We got some sticks out of the wood and made a fire to boil the kettle on. We had a game of I Spy before tea then we had tea and then we had a game of I Spy after tea. I went with Arthur Williamson to get Florrie the horse. I rode home in the trap. We took back a lot of bluebells and fern roots. When we got back we had to go straight to bed. As we were coming down Fritchley a boy threw a stone at Maggie and hit her on one side of her head.

5^th month, 28^th, 5^th day.

Went in to school in the morning as usual. After tea had a game of Tick. I started learning book keeping in prep.

5^th month, 29^th, 6^th day. ROYAL OAK DAY¹²

Of course everyone was stinging anyone who had not got any oak on them. Henry Whittaker had his breakfast in bed. He had a very bad cold. We did not go to school until three o’clock. Hilda, Maggie, Ruth, Mamie and myself were playing with Edward Sturge’s cart at the bottom of the hill.

5^th month, 30^th, 7^th day.

Hilda’s mother, father and little sister Pattie came by the six o’clock train last night to live here at Fritchley. They are going to live at Lydia Sargent’s¹³ until they can find a cottage. Some of us got tin cans and put a wooden handle on and then lit a fire in the can. I had one. They kept alight a long time. We had our bath in the evening as usual.

5^th month 31^st, 1^st day.

Nothing extra happened in the morning excepting that Sophia Gough came in here and left Mopsy outside eating off the bank. She got one wheel up on the bank and the other down in the road, and she nearly tipped the cart over. I got her back and fed her with grass until Sophia Gough came out for her. In the afternoon I went for a walk with Maggie. We went down Blue Bridge and along the cut and up the Hag.¹⁴

^{1. Blackleading was intended for cleaning and blacking the tops of stoves.}

^{2. Henry Whittaker was a teacher at the Quaker Boarding School in Fritchley, Derbyshire, which Mary Saunders and other Quaker children including the Hindes and Wakes attended. Later he taught at the Quaker school at Selly Oak, Bournbrook, Birmingham.}

^{3. Edie Hinde was Edith Mary Hinde, lifelong friend to Mary Saunders. She and Edie married brothers.}

^{4. Lizzie Derbyshire}

^{5. Amy Sturge is sister to Edward Sturge. Amy remained single all her life, and has honorary aunt to many of the children at the school, and honored all her life by the Hinde children.}

^{6. Leonard is Leonard Hinde, oldest boy in the Hinde family, brother to Edie.}

^{7. Meeting is the meeting for worship of the Society of Friends. It was held regularly on First Day (Sunday) morning and evening, and on Fourth Day (Wednesday) morning. Meeting was presided over by elders of the Meeting, and was largely silent, providing worshippers the opportunity to listen for the Still Small Voice. On the last Wednesday of each month was Monthly Meeting, which conducted the business affairs of the Society. Meeting held Sunday evening was usually Reading Meeting, during which works of a spiritual nature were read aloud and discussed.}

^{8 . Edward Sturge was the principal of the Quaker Boarding School at Fritchley. His wife Annie, who cooked for the school, was a daughter of Henry Thomas Wake, the antiquarian of Fritchley.}

^{9. Wingfield was the parish in which lived Henry Thomas Wake and his family.}

^{10. My uncle: Uncle Edmund Hatcher, who had a major role in the raising of the three Saunders girls.}

^{11. Mary Watkins is Millie Watkins, a friend and neighbour of the Fritchley Quaker families and herself a Quaker and lifelong friend of the Quakers who emigrated to Canada.}

^{12. Royal Oak Day - in honor of Charles II who in 1651 hid in a hollow oak tree while trying to escape to France, pursued by Cromwell’s rebels. When he regained the throne he gave a pension to the family on whose property the oak tree stood, and subsequently in some parts of the country Royal Oak, or Oakapple day has been celebrated on his birthday, May 29, by the wearing of oak leaves.}

^{13. Lydia Sargent was a Friend from Fritchley; see Walter Lowndes’ The Quakers of Fritchley, 1986, tom Brown Printers, Belper, Derbyshire.}

^{14. The Hag, still so named, is a steep hill in the village of Fritchley.}

JUNE 1903

SIXTH MONTH

6^th month, 1^st, 2^nd day.

Bank Holiday. Harry Tomes¹ and Joshua Wake² came from Bournbrook on their bicycles and arrived here about 2 o’clock this morning. They both had a puncture one after the other and that was what delayed them so long. We had a holiday all day. Went to Wingfield Manor and had a good bit of fun. Amy Sturge took our photo once we were at the Manor. At about 3 o’clock we left Wingfield Manor and went to Sophia Gough - Mopsy was there and we had her until tea time. She had a side saddle on and all the girls were riding on her at least most of them. We had tea on the lawn. The boys were throwing orange peel about most of the time. After tea we had Mopsy again. I enjoyed myself very very very very much.

6^th month, 2^nd, 3^rd day

Nothing extra happened in the morning. After tea Alice Scanlon asked me if I would come down and play. I asked Edward Sturge if I could go down and play and he said I could until I heard the bell ring. I went and I did not hear it ring. I was not likely to either because Maggie was in the school room and no one was talking and everything was as quiet as could be. And she never heard it ring. Henry Taylor never heard it ring, no more did Eddy or Leonard. In fact I think that it was very few that did. Anyhow they had nearly finished prep when I got in. Henry Whittaker made me sit in the schoolroom for a good while.

6^th month 3^rd, 4^th day.

Had school and went to Meeting as usual; in the afternoon went paddling in the Bounders’ brook. John Bounders chased us out of the lane. We found a very little bird that could not fly. We made a nest of grass and put it in. I very nearly caught a young rabbit. I went up to Darbyshires’ and saw Tomery.

6^th month, 4^th, 5^th day.

Had a game of Skipping, and went paddling after school. We had tea out of doors.

“ In olden times we took a car

Drawn by a horse if going far

And felt that we were blest.

Now the conductor takes the fare

And sticks a broomstick in the air

And Lightning does the rest.

In former days along the street

A glimmering lantern led the feet

When on a midnight stroll.

But now we catch when night is nigh

A piece of lightning from the sky

And stick it on a pole.”

Annie Sturge bought me a pair of canvas shoes. My father paid her for them.

6^th month, 5^th, 6^th day.

Joshua and Harry went home and Lizzie Wake³ came and brought them home with her. Harry is only fifteen months old. We had a natural history meeting tonight, it was down at Lydia Sargent’s, out of doors on the lawn. We enjoyed ourselves very much.

6^th month, 6^th, 7^th day.

Had school in the morning. In the afternoon I took baby out in the mail cart. Hilda and Patsy came too. And so did Mamie. We had a game of House. Harry was my baby and Patsy and Mamie were my children and Hilda was the nurse.

6^th month, 7^th, 1^st Day.

I had to mind Harry and Mamie until Meeting time. I went for a walk with Maggie to Crich and back. Lizzie Wake took Harry to Sunnyside. Went to Meeting in the evening.

6^th month, 8^th, 2^nd day.

I took Baby out in the mail cart, Patsy came and played at Chestnut Bank. Maggie took Baby out in the mail cart instead of sewing.

6^th month, 9^th, 3^rd day.

We began to get things ready for Monthly Meeting. I took Baby out in the morning and in the afternoon. Had a game of I Spy, then the bell rang for bed.

6^th month, 10^th, 4^th day.

Monthly Meeting. In the morning, ironed a tie and some ribbons that I washed the day before. Then I went down to meet my uncle. After Meeting I looked after Baby. Hilda and Patsy came to tea.

6^th month, 11^th, 5^th day.

Had school as usual. Had a game of Lurkey in the morning and after tea had a game of Lurkey.

6^th month, 12^th, 6^th day.

It was fine though it threatened rain. Had school as usual. Had two or three games of Lurkey during the day. After tea had a game of I Spy, and Hide and Seek, and Whippy.

6^th month, 13^th, 7^th day.

Before school had a game at Skipping. Henry Wake Hinde⁴ walked for the first time, Lizzie Wake was with him. In the afternoon the boys went to Belper. Hilda and Patsy, Mamie, Maggie, Grant, Baby and myself had a game at House. Grant was our monkey. Hilda was the nurse. I was the mother and Patsy, Mamie and Maggie and Harry were my children.

6^th month, 14^th, 1^st day.

Eddy and Henry Taylor were throwing slippers at each other. In the afternoon I went a walk with Maggie, up the Dimple and down the Crich,⁵ and when I came back I wrote a letter home.

6^th month, 15^th, 2^nd day.

I had school as usual. In the morning we had a game at Lurkey, and after we had a game at Lurkey and I Spy. We had exam in Algebra in the morning and Reading in the afternoon. It was very wet.

6^th Month, 16^th, 3^rd Day.

Had exam in Arithmetic but did not finish it. We had a holiday in the afternoon. It was fine and sunshining. Annie Sturge hired Fritchley pony to go a drive to Heage. Annie Sturge, Lizzie Wake and Baby, Mamie and I went to Lydia Sargent’s and played in the Scanlons’ room. I drove there and back. Edward Sturge walked there and Annie Sturge walked back with him. I drove Lizzie Wake, Baby and Mamie back. We went to the Shaws and they had a horse that was very poorly. I enjoyed myself very very very much.

6^th month, 17^th, 4^th day.

Went to Meeting in the morning and in the afternoon I went down to Lydia Sargent’s and played with Patsy and Hilda and I went around with Arthur Watkins collecting rummage for a rummage sale. He had Florrie and the trap. After tea it was wet and so I went to Lydia Sargent’s and played up in the Scanlons’ room.

6^th month, 18^th, 5^th day.

There was a rummage sale at three o’clock in the afternoon. It was to enable the village children to have a day at the seaside. It was Mary Watkins’ proposal. There was a gramophone after tea. Annie Sturge brought a bicycle for us to ride. It had broken tires.

6^th month, 19^th, 6^th day.

There was school as usual. We went riding the bicycle most of our spare time. After tea the back tire came off.

6^th month, 20^th, 7^th day.

Fastened the tire on the bicycle. Had school in the morning. Rode the bicycle most of our spare time. The back tire came off again. Put it on again. I was to have gone a ride on the bicycle and Annie Sturge had Mary Wake’s but when I got on ours I hadn’t gone above two yards when the tire came off again. And so I took it back and we had Mary Wake’s all the afternoon. Susy, Lizzie and me were riding all the afternoon.

6^th month, 21^st, 1^st day.

I went a little walk with Edward, Annie and Mamie Sturge.⁶ Maggie had toothache, she did not go to Meeting either in the morning or afternoon. Hilda tumbled off Florrie and sprained her wrist and hurt her head.

6^th month, 22^nd, 2^nd day.

We were riding the bike round the gravel. Received a letter from home.

6^th month, 23^rd, 3^rd day.

Spent the afternoon and had tea at Amy Sturge’s. Maggie, Ruth and I earned a supper and we had it tonight.

6^th month, 24^th, 4^th day.

All went for a school treat to the black rocks at Workworth. Went by train, had tea out of doors. Enjoyed ourselves very much.

6^th month, 25^th, 5^th day.

We are all packing up to go home. All very busy. It is Eddy’s birthday.⁷ He is 14.

6^th month, 26^th, 6^th day.

Came home by the 10:16 train. Uncle, Eliza and Lucy⁸ were at Birmingham Station to meet us. We got home about half past twelve. After dinner we went to the hay field. My cat had some kittens, three. I had tea in the hay field. Finished the small field.

6^th month, 27^th, 7^th day.

After breakfast we went to the hay field. I worked until dinner. After dinner, put saddle on pony and I rode on it. I got on the rick then and had tea. After tea, put the hay in cocks.

6^th month, 28^th, 1^st day.

I put the brown pony in the float⁹ to take Grannie¹⁰ to Meeting. I was on the roof most of the afternoon. Took Grannie to Meeting in the evening. I went milking.

6^th month, 29^th, 2^nd day.

I was at the haymaking field all day.

6^th month, 30^th, 3^rd day.

We were carrying the raking.

1. Harry Tomes is probably brother to Alfred Tomes, who later married Joshua Wake’s sister Lydia.

2. Joshua Wake is the oldest son of Hugh Wake, brother to Annie who married Edward Sturge, and grandson of Henry Thomas Wake. See also the Wake Family Tree, Appendix III.

3. Lizzie Wake is the oldest daughter of Henry Thomas Wake.

4. Henry Wake Hinde is the “Baby” referred to earlier; he is the son of Joseph and Martha Wake Hinde. Martha is sister to Annie and Hugh. See also the Hinde Family Tree, Appendix IV.

5. Dimple and Critch are lanes in Fritchley.

6. Mamie Sturge is Mary Sturge, daughter of Edward and Annie.

7. Eddy is Edmund Saunders, Mary’s older brother.

8. Eliza and Lucy are Mary’s younger sisters. Uncle is Edmund Hatcher, brother to their mother Hannah.

9. Float - a wagon.

10. Grannie is Mary’s maternal grandmother, Jemima Hunt Hatcher, who raised the children of Nathan Saunders when his wife died fourteen months after the birth of their youngest child Lucy. Grannie’s only and unmarried son Edmund lived with her.

JULY 1903

SEVENTH MONTH

7^th month, 1^st, 4^th day.

The brown pony was gone to the hayfield so I had to take Grannie to Meeting with the creamie.

7^th month, 2^nd, 5^th day.

Went to the hay field just after dinner, stayed there until milking time. I was riding on the pony.

7^th month, 3^rd, 6^th day.

Packed up our things.

7^th month, 4^th, 7^th day.

Went down to Somerset.¹ They didn’t come to meet us so we had to carry all our luggage from the station.

7^th month, 5^th, 1^st day.

Had Meeting in the morning. Uncle² read to us in the evening.

7^th month, 6^th, 2^nd day.

Played with Annie and Jemima.

7^th month, 7^th, 3^rd day.

Played about all day. Eddy went to the hayfield.

7^th month, 8^th, 4^th day.

Went to Cary in the four-wheel.

7^th month, 9^th, 5^th day.

Had Meeting in the parlor.

7^th month, 10^th, 6^th day.

Played with Eliza, Lucy, Jemima and Annie.

7^th month, 11^th, 7^th day.

Made some cakes.

7^th month, 12^th, 1^st day.

Had Meeting in the morning and evening.

7^th month,13^th, 2^nd day

Lucy had a dog bite her. She went to the doctor straight away. I went to be fitted for two dresses.

7^th month, 14^th, 3^rd day.

Played about. Put a swing up.

7^th month, 15^th, 4^th day.

Uncle William and Lucy went to Cary.

7^th month, 16^th 5^th day.

Went to Uncle Tom’s to tea.

7^th month, 17^th, 6^th day.

Auntie Polly was packing up our things.

7^th month, 18^th 7^th day.

Came home. Lorna Roberts was passing through Birmingham when we got there.

7^th month, 19^th 1^st day.

I drove Grannie to Meeting in the morning and evening.

7^th month, 20^th, 2^nd day.

Looked after shop most of the day.

7^th month, 21^st, 3^rd day.

Did lots of things. Drove Barnacle’s horse to Cotteridge.

22^nd of 7^th Month, 4^th day.

It is raining this morning. I have written up my diary.³

7^th month, 23^rd, 5^th day.

M. D., W. S. and T. P. went to court as witnesses about a fight between Bud and

N. Lewis. Grannie was not well enough to go to Meeting.

7^th month, 24^th, 6^th day.

I drove Barnacle’s horse to Cotteridge.

7^th month, 25^th, 7^th day.

I went milking, went up the village with the roan horse and the wagon.

7^th month, 26^th, 7^th day. (sic)⁴

Drove the cows home from Cotteridge Went up the village with an order.

7^th month, 27^th, 1^st day.

It rained very hard in the morning, had two floods. Grannie went to Meeting in the evening.

7^th month, 28^th, 2^nd day.

Went out with several different orders. Played with Floss, Eliza and Lucy.

7^th month, 29^th, 3^rd day.

Went to town with Father in the trap and Jenny pulling us. It rained as we were going in.

7^th month, 30^th, 4^th day.

Drove Grannie to Meeting. Went down to Wakes’ to fetch some sise (?) with Bob. After dinner fetched some wood from Starcies’ and took it to Cotteridge. It rained as we were coming back.

7^th month, 31^st, 5^th day.

Went to Cotteridge with Ginnie.

1. In Somerset was Aunty Polly and Uncle William Longman. Polly was Hannah Hatcher Saunders’ sister.

2. Uncle would have been either Uncle William Longman or Uncle Edmund Hatcher; probably the former as Uncle Edmund is not mentioned as travelling with them.

3. This suggests that Mary did not always write in her diary every day. Later evidence supports this as well.

4. (sic) Infrequently Mary lost track of dates and days of the week. Where possible this has been resolved to be consistent. Where not possible, (sic) is indicated.

AUGUST 1903

EIGHTH MONTH

8^th month, 1^st, 6^th day.

I went milking and fed the pigs. I went up the village with an order, had a ride on Jenny while they were milking.

8^th month, 2^nd, 7^th day.

I fed the pigs. Jack, Dad, Floss and I went to Cotteridge and brought Kitty back. In the afternoon I had a ride on Kitty.

8^th month, 3^rd, 1^st day.

Drove Annie Sturge to Meeting. I drove Grannie in the evening.

8^th month, 4^th, 2^nd day.

It was a bank holiday and also Monthly Meeting. I was riding on Jennie. Drove Grannie to Meeting. There was a public meeting in the evening.

8^th month, 5^th, 3^rd day.

Rode on Kitty and Jenny. I went with Dad and Uncle¹ to Cotteridge. Eliza and Lucy came too. It rained as we were coming back.

8^th month, 6^th, 4^th day.

Drove Grannie to Meeting in the morning. Rode on Jenny and Kitty most of the afternoon.

8^th month, 7^th, 5^th day.

Came back to school in the morning. I was sick twice in the train. In the evening went on a bike ride with Edie.

8^th month, 8^th, 6^th day.

We had no school. Went to a lecture on Electricity.

8^th month, 9^th, 7^th day.

I went to Klondyke.

8^th month, 10^th, 1^st day.

It rained very hard. I was out in it and got wet through.

8^th month, 11^th, 2^nd day.

Had school as usual. Jenny Davison taught the little ones and all of us girls in sewing.

8^th month, 12^th, 3^rd day.

Had school as usual. We fetched some mortar and put it on the playground.

8^th month, 13^th, 4^th day.

Went to Meeting in the morning. In the afternoon Leonard hurt his foot on the sunerel (?) bridge.

8^th month, 14^th, 5^th day.

Played with the boys’ cart.

8^th month, 15^th, 6^th day.

Nothing extra happened. It was very wet all day.

8^th month, 16^th, 7^th day.

It rained most of the day. We played in the playroom.

8^th month, 17^th, 1^st day.

I went up to John Sadler’s and down to the brook, Leonard, Edie and myself.

8^th month, 18^th, 2^nd day.

We did the playground instead of prep.

8^th month, 19^th, 3^rd day.

It rained hard nearly all day. We could not go out. We played at skipping.

8^th month, 20^th, 4^th day.

Joe and Jack walked over to Wingfield. I rode on Annie Sturge’s bicycle and Edie rode on her own bicycle. Lucy Brooks gave us some flowers.

8^th month, 21^st, 5^th day.

It is getting quite like winter now, it is cold. I went to see Lucy Brooks.

8^th month, 22^nd, 5^th day.

Had school as usual.

8^th month, 23^rd, 6^th day.

Percy gave us a lecture on stone. He had a piece of Spam and he said it was limestone. He did make us laugh.

8^th month, 24^th, 7^th day.

We had school in the morning and in the afternoon we went to an exhibition on the art of the school children. It was an awfully loud nothing when we got there.

8^th month, 25^th, 1^st day.

Edie and I went to the quarry fields for a walk. Tanha scalded her three fingers. Nothing extra happened.

8^th month, 30^th, 1^st day ^(sic)

It was very wet. I went to Meeting as usual. In the afternoon I went a walk with Edie Hinde. I began tonight a letter to Uncle.2

8^th month, 31^st, 2^nd day.

I finished Uncle’s letter and posted it. Dorothy Scanlon came to school just for the day. We did not have any school between three and four o’clock.

1. and 2. Uncle Edmund Hatcher. “Uncle” alone almost always refers to Edmund Hatcher.

SEPTEMBER 1903

NINTH MONTH

9^th month, 1^st, 3^rd day.

Had school as usual. Edie and I made some toffee.

9^th month, 2^nd, 4^th day.

I am eating some of the toffee I made yesterday. I wish Eliza and Lucy were here so I could give them some. In the afternoon Edie and I went down to Glossop’s to see if their dog cart¹ was done. It was not done, and so we had to go without it. As we were going up Bullbridge Hill2 about half way up we saw a pony with an empty cart. It was standing across the road, the back of the card in the hedge. The pony refused to go either up hill or down hill. At last they brought a cart horse and pulled it up.

9^th month, 3^rd, 5^th day.

Had school as usual. Had a game of Hide and Seek.

9^th month, 4^th, 6^th day.

Had a game of I Spy. Had school as usual.

9^th month, 5^th, 7^th day.

Edie and I went to Belfair. We had our tea, bread and fish.

9^th month, 6^th, 1^st day.

Went to Meeting twice. I went a walk in the afternoon down quarry fields and along the canal side.

9^th month, 7^th, 2^nd day.

Edie and I had to stay out of school and help Annie Sturge peel apples. At half past two all the girls went blackberrying. In the evening had a game of Hide and Seek.

9^th month, 8^th, 3^rd day.

Getting ready for Monthly Meeting.

9^th month, 9^th, 4^th day.

Monthly Meeting. I went down to meet Dad, Eliza, Lucy and Uncle. Dad went back on Fourth Day night, Uncle stayed until Fifth Day.

9^th month, 10^th, 5^th day.

Lucy went to school in the small school room and Eliza went in the big school room. They went home by the five o’clock. Amy Sturge took a photo of the four of us for Dad to take to Canada with him. It rained most all day.

9^th month, 11^th, 6^th day.

It is very cold, though not wet. We had school as usual. It is very lonely without them.

9^th month, 12^th, 7^th day.

Had school in the morning. Edie, Leonard, Eddy and I enjoyed a fourpenny melon. They gave us two for four pence because they were a little rotten. Leonard, Amy and I went to Amy Sturge’s in the afternoon.

9^th month, 13^th, 1^st day.

Wrote up my diary after Meeting. Fetched Mopsy for Lucy Brooks. Sophia Gough asked us, Edie and me, to her house to dinner. I drove Mopsy home. After dinner we took her out on the lawn to eat the grass. We had to mind her. It started raining. Just as we were coming back, it stopped as we were about half way back. Had melon for tea.

9^th month, 14^th, 2^nd day.

Had school as usual. Had a game of I Spy.

9^th month, 15^th, 3^rd day.

Had school as usual. Helped to make the playground.

9^th month, 16^th, 4^th day.

I rode back with Sophia Gough. I drove all the way. When we got there we put Mopsy in and went and had our dinner. After dinner we put the sidesaddle on and rode Mopsy back. We had a very pleasant afternoon. We started home at about five o’clock.

9^th month, 17^th, 5^th day.

Had a game with Edward Sturge’s cart.

9^th month, 18^th, 6^th day.

The boys were making the playground.

9^th month, 19^th, 7^th day.

Started Annie’s knitting for her. In the afternoon I went a walk with Maggie up the Dimple Lane and down Crich. As we were coming down Crich we saw Mopsy.

9^th month, 20^th, 1^st day.

Went a walk with Maggie.

9^th month, 21^st, 2^nd day.

Nothing extra happened.

9^th month, 22^nd, 3^rd day.

In the afternoon we went a walk³ instead of school.

9^th month, 23^rd, 4^th day.

Maggie, Edie and I were to Sophia Gough’s. I drove Mopsy all the way to Wessenton. Wilfred drove us home - not quite home.

9^th month, 24^th, 5^th day.

I was playing at Poison when I hurt the top muscle of my leg.

9^th month, 25^th, 6^th day.

My leg is better, nearly well.

9^th month, 26^th, 7^th day.

In the afternoon I had a shop and Edie was the horse. Had several different games.

9^th month, 27^th, 1^st day.

Went to Meeting twice.

9^th month, 28^th, 2^nd day.

School as usual. Had a game of cards.

9^th month, 29^th, 3^rd day.

Went after school down to Bomer’s Brook. Edie, Maggie and I went to Sophia Gough’s and we had Mopsy with her saddle all the afternoon. I enjoyed myself very much.

9^th month, 30^th, 4^th day.

Grant Sargent came last night.

1. A dog cart is a kind of cart pulled by a horse.

2. Bullbridge Hill is very steep.

3. “Went a walk” - common usage at that time.

OCTOBER 1903

TENTH MONTH

10^th month, 1^st, 5^th day.

Went and got some pretty stones.

10^th month, 2^nd, 6^th day.

Nothing extra happened. Had school as usual.

10^th month, 3^rd,7^th day.

We went to Wake Bridge and got some pretty ferns and took them to Sophia Gough.

10^th month, 4^th, 2nd day.

Nothing extra happened. Had school as usual.

10^th month, 5^th, 3rd day.

The little post was very full this morning.

10^th month, 6^th, 4^th day.

Hilda Scanlon stayed here to tea and Amy Sturge. We had a game of Geography.

10^th month, 7^th, 5^th day.

Very wet and we had to spend the afternoon indoors.

..........¹

10^th month, 15^th, 5^th day.

Had school as usual.

10^th month, 16^th, 6^th day.

Mamie fell off the barn steps and broke her arm. She seems quite well. The lamp room caught on fire. It was soon put out, it only burnt an apron and a bill file.

10^th month, 17^th, 7^th day.

We all went a walk to the Reservoir near Whatstandwell. Coming back we played Horse.

10^th month, 18^th, 1^st day.

We all went a walk to Parkhead and back by a new road. I went to Darbyshires to tea. M. And W. Hallam ²asked Edie and me to go and see them next 1^st day.

10^th month, 19^th, 2^nd day.

Nothing extra happened.

10^th month, 20^th, 3^rd day.

I had school as usual. Jack hurt his eye.

10^th month, 21^st, 4^th day.

Went to Meeting in the morning. After Meeting Sophia Gough invited Edie and me to go back with her. I drove all the way. When we got there we had an afternoon tea. After that we went to Alfterton about two miles away. I drove all the way there and back.

10^th month, 22^nd, 5^th day.

Nothing extra happened.

10^th month, 23^rd, 6^th day.

Had school as usual.

10^th month, 24^th, 7^th day.

Went to Wake Bridge and got some stones for Sophia Gough.

10^th month, 25^th, 1^st day.

Sophia Gough said she would like either of us girls to walk in the yard, she said it was Maggie’s turn next.

10^th month, 26^th, 2^nd day.

Had school as usual.

10^th month, 27^th, 3^rd day.

Had school as usual.

10^th month, 28^th, 4^th day.

Maggie and I went to Sophia Gough’s.

10^th month, 29^th, 5^th day.

Went a walk in the afternoon to Crich stand. Edward Sturge had a bad cold. Had school in the morning.

10^th month, 30^th, 6^th day.

It is very cold this afternoon. To Wake Bridge. Jessie Darbyshire has been thinking of selling Darling and getting a pony off the Common.

10^th month, 31^st,7^th day.

In the afternoon we got the bricks and built the foundation of a house, also a yard and stable. We pretended to live there.

1. When entries have not been written for a day or more, this is indicated by a short row of ellipses.

2. Mary often uses the initials of people about whom she writes. Where the full names are clear from context, they are spelled out. Where this is not the case, the initials remain as she gave them.

NOVEMBER 1903

ELEVENTH MONTH

11^th month, 1^st, 1^st day.

Wrote instead of going a walk. William Dougg came to tea.

11^th month, 2^nd, 2^nd day.

Uncle, I mean Edward Sturge is better today and we had school as usual. I sent my letter off this morning.

11^th month, 3^rd, 3^rd day.

Maggie and I stayed out of school and helped. At four o’clock Edie and I went to the station, we took Edward Sturge’s cart.

11^th month 4^th, 4^th day.

It is Monthly Meeting today. Father and Uncle came. I went down to meet them.

11^th month, 5^th, 5^th day.

Edward Sturge was poorly. Janey Davidson took us a walk through the Manor fields and home through Parkhead.

11^th month, 6^th, 6^th day.

E. Y. S. is better today and able to teach us again.

11^th month, 7^th, 7^th day.

Sophia Gough and Lucy Brooks went to Ireland by the nine o’clock train. In the afternoon we all went to Wingfield.

11^th month, 6^{th (sic)} 1^st day.

Stayed away from Meeting.

11^th month, 7^th, 2^nd day.

Had school as usual.

11^th month, 8^th, 3^rd day.

Had school as usual.

11^th month, 9^th, 4^th day.

Lucy and I rode on Diamond and Lizzie on Darling. We went seven or eight miles. The trotted a good deal of the way.

11^th month, 10^th, 5^th day.

Had school as usual.

11^th month, 11^th, 6^th day.

I have counted the weeks until we go home.

..........

11^th month, 14^th, 7^th day.

Played horses nearly all the afternoon and painted.

11^th month, 15^th, 1^st day.

Went to Meeting in the morning. In the afternoon I went up to Darbyshires’ and had a ride on Diamond with Lucy. We went past the windmill. I rode on Darling coming back.

11^th month, 16^th, 2^nd day.

Lizzie didn’t come until recess time.

11^th month,17^th, 3^rd day.

Had school as usual.

11^th month, 18^th, 4^th day.

Went to Meeting in the morning. Spent the afternoon at Darbyshires. The roof is nearly finished. Nell’s pups are very playful.

11^th month, 19^th, 5^th day.

Reading Meeting was at Lydia’s place. I did my toilet tidy.

11^th month, 20^th, 6^th day

I am very anxious for the holidays to come. It seems impossible to wait.

11^th month, 21^st, 7^th day.

Edie and I went to Darbyshires’ and spent the afternoon there. Fan’s pups are beginning to be playful.

11^th month, 22^nd, 1^st day

We all went a walk together in the afternoon.

11^th month, 23^rd, 2^nd day.

Amy Sturge, Eddy, Leonard, Edie and I composed a piece of poetry containing 21 verses about the fire.

11^th month, 24^th, 3^rd day.

Had school as usual. Lizzie got more ____ (?)¹ than me today.

11^th month, 25^th, 4^th day.

Lizzie did not come this morning. In the afternoon Edie, Leonard and I went to Amy Sturge’s to tea. She showed us her big scrap book which had taken her years to make.

11^th month, 26^th, 5^th day.

Martha Hinde has had a baby.² We have been jumping. Edie has jumped 3 feet 6 inches.

11^th month, 27^th, 6^th day.

Annie Sturge went to Bournbrook. Had school as usual. Nothing extra happened.

11^th month, 28^th, 7^th day

Edie and I went to Darbyshires’.

11^th month, 29^th, 1^st day.

Maggie and Mamie went to the Hallams to tea.

11^th month, 30^th, 2^nd day

Nothing extra happened.

1. Where a word cannot be deciphered, this is indicated by (?).

2. The baby is Elizabeth (Elsie) Linnell Hinde.

DECEMBER 1903

TWELVTH MONTH

12^th month, 1^st, 3^rd day.

I helped Edie and Amy Sturge to make up a piece of poetry called Another Lad’s Mishap.

12^th month, 2^nd, 4^th day.

In the afternoon we had a game with Edward Y. Sturge’s cart. My Grannie,¹ my father’s mother, passed quietly away.

12^th month, 3^rd, 5^th day

Eliza has gone down to Somerset.

12^th month, 4^th, 6^th day.

If Eliza did not go yesterday she had gone today.

12^th month, 5^th, 7^th day

Had school in the morning. I have found my skates.

12^th month, 6^th, 1^st day.

Went to Meeting in the morning. Mamie did not go. She had diarrhoea in the afternoon. I went a walk with Edie, Lucy and Lizzie. We had Nell.

12^th month, 7^th, 2^nd day.

I had a nice long interesting letter from my cousin.

12^th month, 8^th, 3^rd day.

We girls helped Annie Sturge instead of school.

12^th month, 9^th, 4^th day

Monthly Meeting. It was raining so I could not go down to meet Dad and Uncle.

12^th month, 10^th, 5^th day.

We were going to be examined but E. S. went to Wakefield. In the evening all us girls went to Hilda’s party. Edie and I gave her a pair of closing-up scissors.

12^th month, 11^th, 6^th day.

We began exam today and we were examined in Math.

12^th month, 12^th, 7^th Day.

Had French today.

1. Hannah Griffin Saunders. See Saunders Family Tree, Appendix I.

Here the boarding school months of the diary ends, and on the same page begins the start of Mary’s new life, three and a half years later.

CHAPTER 2 MAY to DECEMBER 1907

MAY 1907

FIFTH MONTH

Started for Canada on the 3^rd of 5^th Month 1907.

5^th month, 3rd

I left my home and Grannie, Eliza, Lucy and Uncle and all friends dear, to go and try to be of use to my father and dear brother. Uncle and D. R.¹ came to Liverpool to see me off. I was sick four days and landed on the 6^th day just a week from when I went on board. Well, we² caught a train that left Quebec the same evening, and got to Winnipeg 13^th of May 1907 and started to Borden on the C. N. R. at 8:30 the next morning, and reached Borden on the 15^th of May 1907. My father came into Borden to meet me. He looked very altered, but he is still “My Dear Old Dad.” My brother came out into the yard to meet us. He was not so altered as I expected him to be. I have now been out here four or five weeks and so far cannot seem to realize that I am in Canada. But Eddy says I will realize it when the winter comes.

1. D. R. - unknown.

2. According to Ruth Bergman, (September 2002) Mary travelled to Canada with the Piprells or the Walkers. From the Borden history book, Our Treasured Heritage, the most probable person to accompany Mary would be Emily Piprell, who also came to Canada in 1907. Emily would have been in her twenties at that time, and Mary sixteen.

JUNE 1907

SIXTH MONTH

Continuation of my diary.

6^th month, 16^th, 1^st day.

We had a very heavy thunderstorm this morning. Dad and Eddy were caught in it whilst going to the sick cow. When they came back we had Meeting here, as it was bad to go to Meeting and several times during Meeting the thunder seemed to be right under the shack, it made the old place tremble whilst the water came streaming through the roof. Jessie Green¹ went over to her sister’s to tea. Dad went and fetched her.

6^th month, 17^th, 2^nd day.

Eddy and Laurie² fetched a load of straw this morning, and Dad rode Jess to Uncle Esau’s to get him and Walter to come and help him bring the sick cow home. Ploughed a furrow for potatoes, disked in some clover, sunflower and some grass seed. I planted some sunflowers round the shack.

6^th month, 18^th, 3^rd day.

Walter Saunders came and helped Dad and Laurie make a corral. We had Walter’s help in exchange for them having our oxen and plow, though he must first find the oxen. He rode Creamy round most of the day and then Eddy and Walter found them on Eight.³ They brought the posts from Eight and put them on a corral on Twenty-One. After tea Jessie Green I helped put the posts in.

6^th month, 19^th, 4^th day.

Went to Meeting in the morning. It was Monthly Meeting. Dad and I stayed to the business meeting. Had dinner and tea at McCheanes’. Hannah Mary gave me a singing pigeon.

6^th month, 20^th, 5^th day.

I helped Dad put up the posts and also accidentally let my pigeon fly away. He kept around the yard most of the day but disappeared in the evening. He may only be roosting somewhere. Joe and Kate⁴ went off this afternoon. Walter and Laurie went after them but could not find them.

6^th month, 21^st, 6^th day.

We finished the corral today. I milked the black cow and when I had finished I saw two horses so Dad and I drove them into the new corral, and we thought they were the same ones as McCheanes had found about two months ago.

6^th month, 22^nd,7^th day.

McCheanes came for those horses but did not take them. Laurie caught my pigeon. He was in the granary asleep. Eddy and Laurie were breaking with four horses. Dad and Walter went to Borden and cut some bushes on Eddy’s quarter. We found Joe and Kate by the little corral.

6^th month, 23^rd, 1^st day.

We went to meeting in the morning. On our way back we picked a lot of mushrooms. After dinner Oscar Brunst and Duncan McPherson came for the horses. They got them out of the corral but they almost got away on them but at last they caught them in a corner of our yard. They took one and let us have two for a time at least. Three turkeys hatched out.

6^th month, 24^th, 2^nd day.

Jessie and I went and picked some mushrooms for dinner. Eddy and Walter were clearing out the well. We have quite a lot of mushrooms.

6^th month, 25^th, 3^rd day

Started digging two wells on Twenty-one. Dad was plowing with four horses, Darby and Jim and the stray horses. They went well.

6^th month, 26^th, 4^th day.

Had Meeting at home. We’re digging the wells. Eddie was plowing.

6^th month, 27^th, 5^th day.

Walter went plowing. Eddy and Dad and Laurie dug well after dinner. Jessie and I went and helped draw up the buckets of clay.

6^th month, 28^th, 6^th day.

There was quite a drop of water in the well this morning. Walter went with his father to get a cow but could not find it. Eddy cut a load of hay. Dad and Laurie were digging the well.

6^th month, 29^th, 7^th day.

It rained most of the day. Walter plowed in the morning. They tried a different plow in the afternoon, with four horses, but it did not answer. Laurie rode Creamie to George Tallis’s and got four pounds of butter.

6^th month, 30^th, 1^st day

Laurie left the bucket up the well and the dogs or something ate two pounds of butter. Went to Meeting and in the afternoon Jessie rode Jim to the big corral, and I walked and led him. I milked the cow. We came back by Ruth Tallis’s. William and Caroline McCheane⁵ were there.

1. Jessie Green was friend and housekeeper to Nathan Saunders and his son Edmund (Eddy). She also served as nurse to the community, sometimes in the Borden hospital and sometimes in people’s homes. She is referred to in the Borden history book as Nurse Green, in the section on Borden’s hospital services.

2. Laurie is Laurie Crabb. In 1907 he was about twelve years old and was working for Nathan Saunders on his farm. His older brother David had married Lydia McCheane, who was to become Mary Saunders’ sister-in-law.

3. Sections of land one mile to a side were divided into quarter-sections, or quarters. A quarter, 160 acres, was the size of the land grant under the Homestead Act that could be proved up. See Appendix VII. Sections were identified by their numbers; see Great Bend Municipality map from the Borden history book also shown as Appendix VI.

4. Animal names can be a challenge when the names are shared with people! Context will usually identify whether man or woman, ox or horse bears the name.

5. The McCheanes were the family into which Mary was to marry. Hannah Mary was the oldest daughter.

JULY 1907

SEVENTH MONTH

7^th month, 1^st, 2^nd day

How quickly this last month seems to have gone. It gets very hot towards mid-day, too hot to do anything scarcely.

7^th month, 2^nd, 3^rd day

Jim Tallis sprained his back while lifting a bucket of water off the well. Dad and Jessie went over to help him in the house. He seems pretty sick. Walter and I went over to fetch Jessie and Dad; I drove over there. We had Jim and the fresh one. They went splendid. Dad arranged with a man to come for a month for $30.00.

7^th month, 3^rd, 4^th day.

We went to Meeting in the morning. In the evening I rode Jess over to G. Tallis’s for some butter and just as I was coming away I got caught in a heavy rain and got wet through. Jessie felt pretty sick.

7^th month, 4^th, 5^th day.

Dad and Jessie drove to Borden and G. Roy’s. In the evening Jessie and I went to Ruth Tallis’s. Jim’s side is rather better.

7^th month, 5^th, 6^th day.

It was very windy today. In the evening Jessie went to meet Dad and I stayed at home. Laurie and Eddy took the horses and watered them.

7^th month, 6^th, 7^th day.

Jessie and I were very busy all day. The fresh man worked four horses on one plow and Eddy and Laurie had four oxen and two horses on a gang plow. It was very windy.

7^th month, 7^th, 1^st day.

We drove Darby and Jess to Meeting. Archie Ashworth¹ went to Matthew’s after dinner. Walter came in while we were having dinner. In the afternoon I drove Darby and Jess to R. Tallis’s and from there to the big corral. Eddy and Walter milked the cow. Ruthie came with me from Ruth Tallis’s, she had tea at our house and after tea we got the turkeys in. Dad went over after Jessie and I went over with Ruthie. I came back by myself. Dad and Jessie went to the big corral.

7^th month, 8^th, 2^nd day.

Eddy and Laurie were plowing on the road. They had four oxen and two horses on a gang plow. Lydia Crabb² had a little baby girl.

7^th month, 9^th, 3^rd day.

Eddy and Laurie were on the roads again. Walter was here to dinner. Dad arranged with Uncle Esau to use his plow in exchange for our harrows.

7^th month, 10^th, 4^th day.

Went to Meeting. Jack drove Smith’s wife over here - she came to invite us to the Clark’s picnic, but of course we did not go.

7^th month, 11^th, 5^th day.

Dad and Laurie and I drove in to Radisson. We drove Kate and Creamy. Philip³ was in Radisson on a visit. David had gone to Saskatoon. Lydia looked altered, her hair is quite short. It just reaches her shoulder. Dad sold Kate for $167.50. He gave $100.00 for her in the fall.

7^th month, 12^th, 6^th day.

The Scotchman came and helped Dad with the well in exchange for their pony being in our pasture. Eddy and Archie Ashworth were plowing.

7^th month, 13^th, 7^th day.

After supper I went over to Ruth’s and had a game with the children. Dad and Laurie went to Radisson to take Kate and try and sell Darby. He bought David’s cutter and buggy and brought two letters. He did not sell Darby. He gave $37.00 for them and the use of a mortice machine.

7^th month, 14^th, 1^st day.

We went to Meeting in the morning. In the afternoon I drove Creamy over to Ruth Tallis’s in the buggy. Ruthie came back with me. Dad and Ruthie and I drove down to the well. Dad watered the horses. Tom Bradshaw and Ruthie were here to tea. After tea Dad went over after Jessie.

7^th month, 15^th, 2^nd day.

Dad went over to Borden to put in two days on the road.⁴ Eddy drove Creamy into Borden. In the afternoon Jessie and I drove to Matthew’s and G. Tallis’s for the butter.

7^th month 16^th, 3^rd day.

Archie and Eddy were plowing all day. Dad came back in the evening.

7^th month, 17^th, 4^th day.

Went to Meeting in the morning.

7^th month, 18^th, 5^th day.

Dad went to Borden to put in two days for Eddy’s quarter. A coyote has both our ducks and the eggs they were sitting on. Jessie was down in the little corral all day, washing. In the afternoon I went down with the pony and helped her. Ruby and Winnie came past, picking strawberries.

7^th month, 19^th, 6^th day

They finished all the breaking we intend doing this year, in all about twenty-five acres.

7^th month, 20^th, 7^th day

Dad and Archie Ashworth went to Borden. They each had a team. George Pearce came and put a day in at the well in exchange for his pony being in the corral.

7^th month, 21^st, 1^st day.

We went to Meeting in the morning. Archie Ashworth went to Matthews’. Walter came in the afternoon and stayed tea. I rode Creamie to the big corral and milked the cow. After supper I went over to Ruth Tallis’s for some sweet nitre⁵ for Jessie who had been in bed all day with a bad cold.

7^th month, 22^nd, 2^nd day

Jessie was up today. My pigeon flew away in the morning, and in the afternoon she came back with another pigeon, but he flew away again in the evening.

7^th month, 23^rd, 3^rd day.

Dad and Jessie went to Borden in the buggy with Creamie. Eddy and Archie Ashworth went mowing on Sherrat’s.⁶

7^th month, 24^th, 4^th day.

Archie Ashworth and Eddy went to Borden and Dad went with them to tell them where to mow. There were caught in a heavy rain and took refuge in the Doukhobor village. Dad did not come back until the next day.

7^th month 25^th, 5^th day.

Eddy and Archie Ashworth at Borden, mowing. I rode Darby over to G. Tallis’s.

7^th month, 26^th, 6^th day.

Dad drove Creamy and Laurie drove Darby in the horse rake to rake up what Eddy and Archie Ashworth had mowed on Sherrat’s.

7^th month 27^th, 7^th day.

Eddy and Archie Ashworth came back from Borden. Dad drove Darby in the buggy to Borden.

7^th month, 28^th, 1^st day.

We went to Meeting in the morning. Jessie went over to Ruth’s to tea. Ruthie came over here. Archie Ashworth went to Matthew’s to dinner and tea.

7^th month, 29^th, 2^nd day.

Eddy and Archie Ashworth went to Sherrat’s to get the hay home.

7^th month, 30^th 3^rd day.

All went to Sherrat’s, found that Dad and Laurie had racked up someone else’s hay. In the afternoon Archie Ashworth and Laurie went and brought up the rest of the hay. It was only three loads altogether.

7^th month, 31^st, 4^th day

Went to Meeting in the morning. In the afternoon they went to Borden and took Floss. They have gone to try and get some hay. Dad has bought a house.

1. Archie Ashworth seems to have been one of a series of young men hired by Nathan Saunders to work on his farm

2. Lydia Crabb was one of the children of William Cronyn and Caroline McCheane. She had married David Crabb in England not long before the family emigrated and come out with her parents and her husband. .

3. Philip may be Philip Kennedy, although this is uncertain.

4. Each homesteader was required to put in time every year in constructing and maintaining the community’s roads.

5. Sweet nitre was a component of a home remedy.

6. Sherrat was an American cattleman who had run a vast herd over the country that was becoming settled soon after the turn of the century. Traces of his home base were to be seen decades later on Valley Springs Ranch. See also Edward McCheane’s story of his emigration and his early months in Saskatchewan.

AUGUST 1907

EIGHTH MONTH

8^th month, 1^st, 5^th day.

We watered the cattle in the big corral, had strawberries and cream for dinner. Ruth Tallis and Gracie and Ruthie came to tea. We had strawberries, etc. I watered the cattle in the evening.

8^th month, 2^nd, 6^th day.

Watered cattle twice. Ruthie and Norman came to tea. After tea Ruthie came with me to water the cattle and milk the cow. After we had done I went round to Ruth Tallis’s and left Ruthie there. Jessie was busy ironing.

8^th month 3^rd, 7^th day.

Watered the cattle. Heavy thunderstorm. Picked and made jam of strawberries; cooked turnips and potatoes for when they come back. Dad arrived home about eight o’clock wet through.

8^th month, 4^th, 1^st day.

We went to Meeting. During the day Baxter and Dick Primmer came. They are trying to get a herd law.¹

8^th month, 5^th, 2^nd day.

Dad went back. He watered the cattle.

8^th month, 6^th, 3^rd day.

We watered the cattle.

8^th month, 7^th, 4^th day.

Ruthie and Norman came over.

1907 8^th month, 8^th, 5^th day.

The cattle got out and on the grain.

8^th Month, 9^th, 6^th day.

We took the cattle from the big corral to the little one.

8^th month, 10^th, 7^th day.

Archie Ashworth and Dad came home. A coyote came after our turkeys.

8^th Month, 11^th, 1^st day.

We did not go to Meeting as it was too wet. Young Jack came here.

8^th month, 12^th, 2^nd day.

Archie Ashworth and Dad drove back again. The cattle got on the grain.

8^th month, 13^th, 3^rd day.

Jessie washed some blankets. I rode Creamy over to Matthew’s for some butter. Billie got on E. Tallis’s grain. We watered the oxen, etc.

8^th month 14^th, 4^th day.

We did not go to Meeting as we durst not leave the oxen. The lightning tonight is something wonderful. It lights up the clouds and looks awful. But there is no thunder to be heard. Baxter’s wife came and stayed to tea.

8^th month, 15^th, 5^th day.

We did not water the oxen as it was raining hard. We caught a lot of rain water. It came through into the bedrooms. It rained all day . Dad came home in the evening and later on the others came home.

8^th month, 16^th, 6^th day.

Ruth was here. Dad lit a fire to burn a few sticks, and came home to dinner, and the fire started up again and by the time they got there it had got a good headway but after a hard fight they put it out. Eddy and I took Queenie and her colt and Duncan McPherson’s pony to Ferguson’s. We had Creamy in the buggy.

8^th month, 17^th, 7^th day.

Jessie, Ruth and Dad went to Radisson. Ruth and Jessie stayed and picked raspberries. When they got back Jessie made them into jam. Archie Ashworth, Eddy and Laurie were hay making on the big slough. At half past eight in the evening there was a very heavy hail storm bit it did not last long. This is about the biggest. (Drawing of circle about 5 cm. diameter. )

8^th month, 18^th, 1^st day.

Eddie and Laurie went to Meeting in the morning. It is drizzling rain. We intended going in the evening but it came on faster so we had Meeting at home.

8^th month, 19^th, 2^nd day.

Jessie, Dad and I went to Borden. Jessie and Dad drove Victor in the buggy and I rode Creamy. We had to get some sticks when we got there to boil the kettle and we made some tea and had bread and butter in our new house. We then went and picked the enamel pail full of raspberries and came home, and got here about half past seven. Jessie had to bake bread so she made the jam that night.

8^th month, 20^th, 3^rd day.

Jessie did some washing. William and Edward McCheane came. William McCheane came to see if the rain did any damage and Edward came to get the grey horse to ride to Borden. He had Eddy’s bridle and he tied her up and she broke the bridle both sides and lost the bottom half.

8^th month, 21^st, 4^th day.

Dad and Jessie and Laurie rode in the buggy. Eddy rode Darby and I rode Creamy. In the afternoon they all went to Borden. Archie Ashworth left.

8^th month, 22^nd, 5^th day.

We watered cattle and I milked the cow. They came home in the afternoon.

8^th month, 23^rd, 6^th day.

Helped Jessie as usual. I drove Billy and Rodger in the disc while Laurie had his dinner. I also drove four horses on the disc, and Buck and Bright on the disc. In the afternoon Jessie and Dad went to Matthews’ and Uncle Esau.

8^th month, 24^th, 7^th day.

We cleaned the bedrooms.

8^th month, 25^th, 1^st day.

Joshua and Arthur Wake, Edward and John McCheane and Edgar Baker were at Meeting. Jim nearly threw me off. I had just milked the cow and he was afraid of the bucket and the handle came out. The tin fell and off he went like mad. I went back and picked it up and he ran off again when I was only half on. The lid fell off and that made him worse and he went as hard as he could go round the big slough. I had not got my leg over the pommel.²

The next section of Jemima Mary Saunders’ diary is found in a large volume, 14 by 9 inches, hard-bound. It continues the day after the small diary leaves off.

Diary of Jemima Mary Saunders Age 16 years. Started 8^th month, 26^th, 1907.

Finished with a poem at the end of the book, 1980 as I drew near to my 89^th birthday, 18^th 1^st month 1980.

8^th month, 26^th, 2^nd day

Helped Jessie as usual. Did some disking while Laurie had his dinner.

8^th month, 27^th, 3^rd day

Helped in the house. Did some cultivating with four horses. Went to Jennie Tallis with Joe and Creamy for some butter.

8^th month, 28^th, 4^th day

We went to Meeting in the morning. Started cutting oats in the evening.

8^th month, 29^th, 5^th day

I did some stooking in the afternoon. In the evening Dad and Jessie went stooking.

8^th month, 30^th, 6^th day

Washed and tidied up. We did the vegetables for dinner and then I went stooking after dinner. Jessie and I drove the chestnut to Borden, came back and got supper. In the evening Eddy, Laurie and I went to the big corral. Laurie and I went and milked the cow while Eddy put some hay in the democrat.

8^th month, 31^st, 7^th day

Eddy was cutting splits,³ Laurie was disking. My chicken has got a topknot coming.

1. Herd law, according to Internet sources relating to American jurisdictions, sets out the responsibilities of cattle owners to keep their animals confined within the boundaries of their owned or leased land while crops were in the ground. This clearly made for difficulties when formerly open grazing land was being broken for crops, and no doubt hastened the construction of fences.

2. Pommel. Although a search through the saddle section of the 1903 Sears Catalogue was done, it is not possible to state with certainty whether Mary’s saddle was a woman’s sidesaddle or a western saddle. A sidesaddle was referred to in her boarding school diary but never was it mentioned in her Canada diary. Later she writes of making a divided skirt, which suggests that she was riding astride. Certainly by just a decade or so later women customarily rode astride. Sidesaddles were not used by the women of Valley Springs Ranch.

3. Splits, also spelled splitz and spilz in the diary, is believed to be spelt, a very old form of wheat which went out of use except for hybridizing, but which is coming back into use again.

SEPTEMBER 1907

NINTH MONTH

9^th month, 1^st, 1^st day

We all went to meeting with the chestnut in the democrat.¹ A man came and claimed all the stray horses and took them. We walked home in the afternoon. I rode Jim over to McCheanes’ and stayed tea, and drove him home in the democrat. John McCheane and Duncan McPherson were all at our house to tea.

9^th month, 2^nd, 2^nd day

Laurie was disking. Eddy was cutting splits. We went stooking.

9^th month, 3^rd, 3^rd day

Eddy finished splits. I did two rounds of disking and then went stooking.

9^th month, 4^th, 4^th day

Stormy. We had Meeting at home. The boys did not do much.

9^th month, 5^th, 5^th day

Helped Jessie in the morning. Did harrowing in the afternoon.

9^th month, 6^th, 6^th day

Laurie was harrowing. Eddy was cutting wheat. Arthur² and Joshua Wake were here. Arthur stayed here. I did stooking.

9^th month, 7^th, 7^th day

Eddy was cutting wheat. Arthur was stooking. I watered cattle and milked the cow. We put three barrows of turnips down the cellar. I took the greens to the oxen in the little corral, with Creamy in the democrat.

9^th month, 8^th, 1^st day

We drove Jim in the democrat. I rode Creamy. Walter was here to dinner. Arthur will I guess stay and help us stook. Walter was here to tea. Jessie went over to Ruth Tallis’s.

9^th month, 9^th, 2^nd day

Kept the reaper³ going all day with oxen and horses⁴ in turn. When Eddy was driving Laurie sat in front and kept the horses or oxen going and when Arthur drove I sat in front and kept the horses or oxen going.

9^th month, 10^th, 3^rd day

Wet all day. We did not do any reaping. Jessie and I did some mending. Bright is not very well.

9^th month, 11^th, 4^th day

Jessie went over to her sister’s for some turpentine for Bright. Cold today. Reaper going. Had Meeting at home. Did not use the oxen.

9^th month, 12^th, 5^th day

Dad went over to Eddy’s to stook. He hired Boyle to cut it, 75 per acre. I looked after the oxen and fetched a barrel of water from the little corral with Billy. Milked cow and watered cattle.

9^th month, 13^th, 6^th day

Bright a lot better. Helped Jessie. Watered the cattle and milked cow. Dad came home.

9^th month, 14^th, 7^th day

Reaper going. We put the oxen on for one or two rounds.

9^th month, 15^th, 1^st day

We went to meeting with Jim in the democrat. Eddy, Arthur and I, Jessie and Dad. Laurie rode Creamy. Edgar Baker went home for the day. In the afternoon John McCheane and Duncan McPherson came in their democrat and I went with them to Boyles’. When we got back Jack, Walter and Sam Colling were here. J. and W. stayed supper. Jessie went over to her sister’s.

9^th month, 16^th, 2^nd day

Finished cutting the 85 acre patch and started on the new land. In the beginning of harvest we fixed a seat on the pole just behind the two front wheels, and that is where the persuader sits. I do it sometimes while Laurie and Eddy are having their meals.

9^th month, 17^th, 3^rd day

Binder did not go very well. The elevator won’t go properly, can’t make out why.

9^th month, 18^th, 4^th day

Had Meeting at home. Eddy made the binder go all right. We finished cutting and stooking the wheat today. I went with Dad in the buggy to the big corral and brought the oxen to the new ploughing and Dad stayed to fix them and Jessie drove home. I met Edward McCheane as I was going across the stubble. He was looking for Joshua Wake so as he could ride his bike to Borden.

9^th month, 19^th, 5^th day

Dad and Edgar Baker went to Borden. Arthur intends to stay on for a while. We got up a row of potatoes grown between the wheat - none too good a crop.

9^th month, 20^th, 6^th day

I drove Edgar Baker to his shack to get a shovel. It was early and very cold. Edgar Baker dug a hole in the cellar for the potatoes.

9^th month, 22^nd, 7^th day

Ploughed out two rows but the crop was much better than we expected. We all worked until dark but only finished half the rows, that is on Boyd’s half mile ploughing. Finished the two rows of potatoes.

9^th month, 23^rd, 1^st day

We went to Meeting. Eddy and Laurie walked there, Arthur went back with Joshua. Walter came and brought mail from home. He stayed supper. Jessie Green went over to her sister’s.

9^th month, 24^th, 2^nd day

We ploughed out another row of potatoes on Boyd’s land and in the afternoon all went down and picked them up.

9^th month, 25^th, 3^rd day

Had breakfast, did the chores, and went to Radisson. Eddy, Arthur, Laurie and I rode in the wagon, and Dad and Jessie in the buggy. We had dinner at Lydia Crabb’s and then went to the agriculture show. Dad bought the first and second prize potatoes for seed.

9^th month, 26th, 4^th day

Putting up stooks that blew down. I helped Jessie. We had Meeting at home.

9^th month, 27^th, 5^th day

Jessie went over to Ruth Tallis’s with Dad and I went about eleven o’clock to help Eddy and Laurie pick potatoes. After dinner we cleaned up and went with Creamy in the buggy to Clarks’ and from Clarks’ to McCheanes’. It is Hannah Mary McCheane’s³ birthday. Lyla McDermott, Ethel Geryhard, Emily Piprell and G. Walker’s sister were there. We had a very nice time.

9^th month, 28^th, 6^th day

Hauling oats. Eddy went to Borden and got enough wood for a granary. They started to make it. Laurie and I hauled a load of oats.

9^th month, 29^th, 7^th day

Busy making granary.

9^th month, 30^th, 1^st day

Went to Meeting. I rode Creamy. Walter, Jack, George Pierce and Big Jack just called here, they were going for a ride to the river. Walter stayed supper.

1. Democrat - a four-wheeled conveyance pulled by one or two horses.

2. Arthur is Arthur Wake, younger brother of Joshua. See Appendix III.

3. A reaper is an implement, drawn usually by horses which cuts ripe grain lays it on a platform; a harvester walking beside the implement binds the grain into sheaves using a twist of stalks to bind them. A binder was an advancement; it automatically bound the sheaves with twine.

4. Animals had to be allowed an hour to eat first thing in the morning, also at noon. They were rarely worked after their evening feed.

OCTOBER 1907

TENTH MONTH

10^th month, 1^st, 2^nd day

Dad, Eddy and Arthur went over to Eddy’s to make a granary. They got it ready to set up. Jessie, Laurie and I got up turnips. They slept at the Borden quarter. Jessie and I went over to Piprells’ to tea. Charley Piprell came with us to the road allowance then followed that to McCheanes’ then Jim came home from there.

10^th month, 2^nd, 4^th day (Mistake, days got wrong.)

Finished making the granary, except roof, and they came home tonight.

10^th month, 3^rd, 5^th day

They were fixing the old granaries. The threshing outfit came and threshed our spillz and started on the wheat, but it was too green.

10^th month, 4^th, 6^th day

Eddy, Laurie and I drove over to Eddy’s quarter and finished the granary and put up the fallen stooks.

10^th month, 5^th, 7^th day

Eddy and Arthur went to Borden. Eddy had a load of wheat and Arthur had Joe and Jess on the timber cart with the bottom of the hay rack and a few boards nailed on it. As he was going down the horses turned round short and the wagon turned over and threw Arthur off and cut his head open. They took him to the doctor and he sewed it up, three stitches in one place and one in the other. The horses broke the wagon and threw themselves down in Borden.

10^th month, 6^th, 1^st day

Went to Meeting in the morning. In the afternoon Dad, Jessie and Joshua went to Borden to bring Arthur home. Ruthie stayed tea. Her father and mother came over in the evening. Walt and Jack came.

Friendship

Friendship needs no studied phrases

Polished face or winning wiles

Friendship deals no lavish praises

Friendship dons no surface smiles.

Friendship favours no condition

Scorns a narrow-minded creed,

Lovingly fulfills its mission

Be it word or be it deed.

Friendship cheers the faint and weary,

Makes the timid spirit brave.

Warns the erring, lights the dreary,

Smoothes the passage to the grave.

Friendship, pure unselfish friendship

All through life’s allotted span,

Nurtures, strengthens, widens, lengthens

Man’s affinity with man.

10^th month, 6^th, 2^nd day

I helped in the house, Arthur stayed in.

10^th month, 7^th, 3^rd day

Eddy took a load of wheat.

10^th month, 8^th, 4^th day

Had meeting at home.

10^th month, 9^th, 5^th day

Eddy hauling wheat. Boyle is hauling wheat into Borden with a wagon that holds about 140 bushels. Getting up potatoes.

10^th month, 10^th, 6^th day.

We were getting up potatoes, Eddy hauling wheat.

10^th month, 11^th and 12^th , 7^th day (sic)

Eddy getting wheat into Borden, us getting up potatoes.

10^th month, 13^th, 1^st day

Went to Meeting to McCheanes’ in the morning. Jessie Green went to Ruth Tallis’s to tea.

10^th month, 14^th, 2^nd day

Eddy hauling wheat and Boyle hauling.

10^th month, 15^th, 3^rd day ^(sic)

Very busy wheat hauling and getting potatoes.

10^th month, 16^th, 4^th day

Had Meeting at home. Dad, Jessie and Eddy stayed the night at Borden.

10^th month, 17^th, 5^th day

Eddy and Dad and Jessie in Borden hauling wheat from Eddy’s quarter. Very poor crop, poor grade. Laurie and I ploughing with oxen.

10^th month, 18^th, 6^th day

Eddy came home, did ploughing.

10^th month, 19^th, 7^th day

Ploughing with horses and oxen. Dad and Jessie came home.

10^th month, 20^th, 1^st day

Went to Meeting in the morning. In the afternoon Archie Ashworth brought the gun¹ back. Jack and Walter came. John and Hannah Mary came through our yard on their way to Edward Tallises so Jessie and I jumped up and went with them. Jessie stayed but we came back. Hannah Mary and John stayed here to supper.

10^th month, 21^st, 2^nd day

Dad shot three prairie chickens in the morning. The boys ploughing.

10^th month, 22^nd, 3^rd day

Shot three more prairie chickens. We had the others today for dinner and supper. They were very good.

10^th month, 23^rd, 4^th day

I went with Creamy to Uncle Esau’s to borrow a scraper to use to get a hole for a hen house over at Borden. When I got back I washed up, etc. Jessie fainted. I was the only one here. She soon came round. We had Meeting at home. In the afternoon Dad, Jessie, Eddy and Laurie went to Borden. They took all the horses. I went and got Ruthie to stay here the night.

10^th month, 24^th, 5^th day

Laurie and Eddy came back. Arthur still ploughing.

10^th month, 25^th, 6^th day

Boys ploughing. I did housework and watered the horses in the big corral and loaded a wagon with straw.

10^th month, 26^th, 7^th day

Did housework. Boys were ploughing. Dad and Jessie came home in the evening.

10^th month, 17^th, 1^st day

No one came to have a look at us. We went to Meeting.

10^th month, 28^th, 2^nd day

Boys ploughing. Jessie did washing.

10^th month, 29^th, 3^rd day

Dad and I went to Borden with Creamy, in the buggy.

10^th month, 30^th, 4^th day

Laurie walked to Meeting to get some note paper for his mother. We had Meeting at home. Dad and Jessie went to Borden.

10^th month, 31^st, 5^th day

Jessie took night duty at the hospital at Borden. I did here.

1. To the English, “gun” always means shotgun.

NOVEMBER 1907

ELEVENTH MONTH

11^th month, 1^st, 6^th day

Boys still ploughing. Dad and Jessie came home in the evening. Laurie went to Radisson.

11^th month, 2^nd, 7^th day

Dad and Jessie went back to Borden and Eddy, Arthur and I went shooting. We started about eleven o’clock and got back about half past four and did not get anything.

11^th month, 3^rd, 1^st day

Dad came home this morning, We went to Meeting. Hannah Mary McCheane and Dad spoke in Meeting. Walter came to supper. We stayed dinner at the McCheanes’. Dick Primmer came in in the evening. I have got a sore throat and have had this last week. Dad went back.¹

11^th month, 4^th, 2^nd day

Arthur went to Borden with four oxen in the disc. Eddy and I hauled the oats from the half finished log stable to the lumber stable. Eddy soldered a tank.

11^th month, 5^th, 3^rd day

Eddy and I hauled wheat that was raked up off the stubble. We put it in the lumber stable.

11^th month, 6^th, 4^th day

Half Yearly Meeting. Dad, Jessie and Arthur came home, we all went to Meeting. Jessie and I did not stay second meeting. We drove home with Vic in McCheanes’ democrat. We had a shower of rain so we did not go to Borden that night. John McCheane came with Dad and took the horse back.

11^th month, 7^th, 5^th day

We took our departure from Borden. Dad had a load of hens. Jessie and I have Creamy in the democrat with several things. When we got to the creek we discovered that one chicken was dead so I rode on the side of the wagon and held up the bags that covered the wagon over, so as to give them more air. A hundred hens went into the hen house. We brought the cat and two colts.

11^th month, 8^th, 6^th day

We were busy tidying up and putting things straight. I drove Creamy over to 16 and got my box etc., etc. Hannah Mary McCheane called while I was away. They have bought a new stove, something like our new one.

11^th month, 9^th, 7^th day

We killed the old gobbler, and one young gobbler and sold three cocks and two hens for $1.50 each.

11^th month, 10^th, 1^st day

Jessie Green went to the hospital.² We went to Meeting, Eddie and Arthur in the wagon, Dad and I in the democrat with Creamy. We left the horses at Sixteen and all went on with Creamy. We were late for Meeting. Arthur left us (for good.) We had dinner at McCheanes’. Dad walked home. Edgar Tallis was at Meeting. William McCheane walked as far as Sixteen with them. John McCheane rode to Sixteen with us and walked back with his father.³

11^th month, 11^th, 2^nd day

I went to 16 and came back with a load of stuff on the democrat with Creamy. Dad and Eddy had the wagon.

11^th month, 12^th, 3^rd day

The dog bit the cat because she was stealing the turkey and now she can hardly open her mouth.

11^th month, 13^th, 4^th day

Ayres came and borrowed Darby and Jim. Floss had eight pups. Edgar Tallis has rented fifty acres of this quarter at $10. per year. We have arranged for us to have Meeting on 5^th days and 1^st day afternoons and the McCheanes have it 1^st day mornings and 4^th days.

11^th month, 14^th, 5^th day

Had Meeting this morning. Jessie has lost a parcel worth $5.40 from Simpson’s. Someone is suspected of taking it out of Smith’s Store.⁴ Jessie was at the hospital this afternoon.

11^th month, 15^th, 6^th day

Jessie went to the hospital today. Edgar, Edward and Alfred Tallis have been staying here to dinner the last three or four days. Found Jessie’s parcel.

11^th month, 16^th, 7^th day

Jessie was at the hospital all night last night. I did the housework. Jessie went to bed after dinner.

11^th month, 17^th, 1^st day

Had Meeting in the morning at home. After dinner Jessie went to the hospital. I went a walk with Dad. We had a look at the new sod stable they are making, and then went and walked over to the big lake and back along the trail. Jessie came back.

11^th month, 18^th, 2^nd day

Joshua came to borrow our wagon, He helped Dad and Eddy with the dugout in the afternoon. Jessie at the hospital.

11^th month, 19^th, 3^rd day

Joshua got loads of firewood. He left them here intending to call for them in the winter. Eddy and Dad doing the dig out. Jessie at the hospital.

11^th month, 20^th, 4^th day

Joshua went home. Jessie did not go to the hospital.

11^th month, 21^st, 5^th day

We had meeting in the morning because Jessie was going to the hospital in the afternoon.

11^th month, 22^nd, 6^th day

Eddy cribbed up the well and it is a great deal better now. Tom Bradshaw stayed dinner.

11^th month, 23^rd, 7^th day

Eddy made another crib for the well on Twenty-One. Jessie went to the hospital. I went skating on the big lake. In the evening John and Hannah Mary McCheane called in on their way home from Radisson. They wanted me to go back to Halcyonia with them, but I did not go.

11^th month, 24^th, 1^st day

We had Meeting in the afternoon.

11^th month, 25^th, 2^nd day

We cleaned down the bedrooms upstairs.

11^th month, 26^th, 3^rd day

We were washing today.

11^th month, 27^th, 4^th day

Dad and Eddy hauling firewood.

11^th month, 28^th, 5^th day

Had Meeting at home. They fenced the haystack in the afternoon.

11^th month, 29^th, 6^th day

Hauling firewood today.

11^th month, 30^th, 7^th day

They were hauling firewood.

1. It is difficult to follow the movements of this family and their employees. It may help to realize that the blocks of land they owned were scattered. See Appendix VI, the map derived from the Borden history book, Our Treasured Heritage.

2. As a nurse Jessie Green was often called from her duties in the Saunders household to care for patients in the hospital in Borden.

3. In this passage it is clear that the William McCheane referred to is the father of the McCheane family. Elsewhere it is less clear, as often no distinction is made between William senior and William junior.

4. The store was Smith and McQuarrie’s by the time the Hinde family arrived in 1912; now it is Foster’s Store, and is a pioneer landmark in Saskatchewan.

DECEMBER 1907

TWELVTH MONTH

12^th month, 1^st, 1^st day

Had Meeting at home.

12^th month, 2^nd, 2^nd day

G. Roy and Tom Bradshaw were here to dinner.

12^th month, 3^rd, 3^rd day

Dad and I went to Price’s sale. Jessie went to the hospital. Dad bought a boar pig, $15.00 and sold the black cow for $35.00.

12^th month, 4^th, 4^th day

Dad, Eddy and I went after the cattle. They were at the creek. Dad went on to Sixteen while we drove the cattle home.

12^th month, 5^th, 5^th day

Jessie at the hospital. Getting up the rigging for killing cattle.

12^th month, 6^th, 6^th day

They killed Saskatoon. She dressed 580 pounds; the butcher helped them.

12^th month, 7^th, 7^th day

They killed a steer for the schoolmaster. Jessie went to Cassie Tallis’s.

12^th month, 8^th, 1^st day

We had Meeting at home.

12^th month, 9^th, 2^nd day

Killed the Doukhobor heifer.

12^th month, 10^th, 3^rd day

Killed the red-faced cow today; she dressed 525 pounds.

12^th month, 11^th, 4^th day

Killed Ugly’s calf today. I have the housework, etc., to do.

12^th month, 12^th, 5^th day

Killed Ayrshire’s calf today. We are now milking Ugly and Ayrshire.

12^th month, 13^th, 6^th day

Eddy and Dad hunting for horses, me in the house.

12^th month, 14^th, 7^th day

I washed the back kitchen floor and the shelves. Eddy and Dad went to Sixteen.

12^th month, 15^th, 1^st day

We had Meeting at home. We are reading Alexandra Jeffrey.

12^th month, 16^th, 2^nd day

Getting meals as usual. Horses wandered off.

12^th month, 17^th, 3^rd day

I gave the cows etc. , a drink. Dad and Eddy at the digout. I also watered the horses. Dad went to Clarks’ with Creamy in the buggy. I caught the black colt and led him about with a halter.

12^th month, 18^th, 4^th day

They put Moor’s pony in the buggy and drove up to Eddy’s quarter to get the horses. She kicked coming back.

12^th month, 19^th, 5^{th day}

The horses got out of the pasture.

12^th month, 20^th, 6^th day

Dad bought two more ricks of straw and went to get a load but the harness broke so he had to leave it. Jessie came home in the evening.

12^th month, 21^st, 7^th day

In the afternoon I went with Dad after a load of stumps for the heater.

12^th month, 22^nd, 1^st day

We went to McCheanes’ to Meeting; rode on the bob sleigh and brought the wagon box home.

12^th month, 23^rd, 2^nd day

Dad and Jessie took G. Roy’s meat and brought home some wood in the wagon box. Eddy cleaned out the fowl house. I got dinner.

12^th month, 24^th, 3^rd day

Dad and Eddy went to the Doukhobor village for cattle but only saw half of them so left them.

12^th month, 25^th, 4^th day

Dad and Eddy went after Queeny and her colt. Dad went on to Clarks’. John and I went to Cassie Tallis’s.

12^th month, 26^th, 5^th day

Snowing and blowing. Dad and Eddy cleaned out the stable.

12^th month, 27^th, 6^th day

Went to Sixteen with Joe and Jess and brought home the wagon. We stayed in. Dad bought me a pair of boots. I think I have lost four dollars. Jess was griped. I washed my hair.

12^th month, 28^th, 7^th day

Eddy and Dad hauling straw.

12^th month, 29^th, 1^st day

Had stuffed heart for dinner. Queeny is griped. Chestnut is lame. Had Meeting at home.

12^th month, 30^th, 2^nd day

Jess is all right, Queeny is still bad. We were washing. I have been getting ready to spend a day or two at the Piprells’ tomorrow.

12^th month, 31^st, 3^rd day

It is the last day of the old year. How quickly this year has flown. After dinner while I was ironing, Charley Piprell came for me. He had to go down to Borden, so it allowed me time to get ready. We left home about four o’clock - the sun was just setting. Artie, the pony, went very well. It was twenty below zero but I did not feel cold except my feet, and when they were cold we walked. Once we got off the trail and almost got stuck in a snowdrift. We called at Walkers’ and had a cup of tea. Emily Piprell had the supper ready. It did look a comfortable little house. I wore Dad’s fur coat.

CHAPTER THREE JANUARY to DECEMBER 1908

JANUARY 1908

FIRST MONTH

1^st month, 1st, 4^th day

We got up about half past seven o’clock. I missed the heater as Piprells let the fire out at night. George and Annie Walker came up to dinner. I washed the breakfast things up. Emily Piprell made some mince pies. After dinner had a game of Helma and Draughts. Hannah Mary and John McCheane came to tea. We played several games then had tea, then played Jenkins Up, The Family Coach, Spin the Trencher, Thought Reading, etc., etc. It was very late when we went to bed, after midnight I believe. So the first day of 1908 was spent - I am afraid it could have been spent more profitably. G. and S. Walker stayed all night.

1^st month, 2^nd, 5^th day

We had a game of Helma , Arthur Wake and I, before dinner. I was reading a book on V^(?). George Walker and Emily Piprell were playing chess. P. could not play very well so I helped. I had a game of Draughts with Charley Piprell. I won. Walkers went home in the evening.

1^st month, 3^rd, 6^th day

After we had cleared up we went to the Walkers to dinner and tea. We read papers, etc., until dinner. Then B. P. and I played Draughts and E. and G. played chess, then Arthur Wake and I played Helma. Then we all played Helma. After tea we played at finding out a person you were thinking about. One goes out, the other thinks of someone, and then the other comes in and asks questions in turn round. Thought reading - that is finding a pin while blindfolded and putting it in a place chosen by a player; someone knowing where it is has to lead them. We also played Black Art,¹ and something similar to it, Taking Photos, etc., etc., etc.

1^st month, 4^th, 7^th day

After dinner Charley drove me to McCheanes and my visit to the Piprells was over. I had looked forward to it and I think I was not disappointed for I enjoyed myself very much. Hannah Mary and Caroline McCheane seemed pleased to see me. I slept with Hannah Mary who was so good and kind to me.

1^st month, 5^th, 1^st day

Joshua, Arthur and Hugh Wake came to Meeting, and Oscar. Read Events and Reflections. Hannah Mary and John McCheane and myself all went to the Wakes to tea. Joshua came down to Meeting with us. It was my first meal in a bachelor’s shack. And I enjoyed it very much.

1^st month, 6^th, 2^nd day

Arthur and Joshua came to dinner and tea. We played Patience, Muggins, Arthur’s Cities etc. We had a very nice time.

1^st month, 7^th, 3^rd day

Early in the afternoon Hannah Mary and I went to Saloways² to tea. Jeannie Orchard and her baby were there. We went in and saw the old woman. She is so nice. She could tell them the names of lots of streets in Birmingham. Jeannie Orchard had to go out soon after tea. Hannah Mary McCheane and I had a game of Helma while John McCheane and Oscar played chess. I had a game of Draughts. Then we played a game that I do not know the name of, and Hide the Thimble, and Matching Hairs. He can do little who can do this, etc., etc.

1^st month, 8^th, 4^th day

Reading Meeting was held at the Wakes tonight. Caroline, Hannah Mary, John McCheane and I all went there to tea and stayed Reading Meeting. We read out of Lewell’s History. Hannah Mary recited No Cross No Crown, and The Leak in the Dike. I recited Youthful Heart. It was pretty late when we went to bed. Hannah Mary and I had some (which I hope was profitable) conversation when in bed, several times not settling for sleep until early morning.

1^st month, 9^th, 5^th day

It was mail day at McCheanes’ and quite a few neighbors came for their mail. I wrote a letter to Eliza for her birthday. Hannah Mary made a layer cake with icing between, for tomorrow.

1^st month, 10^th, 6^th day

George and Annie Walker and Emily and Charley Piprell came down to the McCheanes’ to tea. Until tea was ready we were looking at picture postcards , and through the stereoscope etc., and asking riddles. After tea we played Arthur’s Cities, Muggins, finding out who anyone was with your eyes blindfolded and feeling them with a spoon how, where and when you like it, etc., etc. And last of all we had such a nice game of Jenkins Up. William McCheane, Emily Piprell, George Walker and Hannah Mary were on one side and John McCheane, M. L., Charley Piprell and I were on the other side, and that is the order we sat .

1^st month, 11^th, 7^th day

McCheanes were busy cleaning. I read out of Pictorial Cabinet of Marvels and knitted quite a bit of Dad’s mitt. John McCheane wanted me to have a game of Chess but I said I did not care for it so then he suggested Draughts but I felt that I had wasted such a lot of time lately playing useless games, that I refused and went on knitting.

1^st month, 12^th, 1^st day

Joshua and Arthur Wake came to Meeting. Hannah Mary and I read Events and Reflections for quite a good while. I wrote to Lucy.

1^st month, 13^th, 2^nd day

McCheanes were washing. I helped a bit and did knitting. I finished one mitt and most of the other. It was voting day at the school. Dad was there.

1^st month, 14^th, 3^rd day

Had lunch, said farewell and came home. John and Hannah Mary drove me. I was surprised when getting here to find Jessie Green in bed and Dad and Eddy batching it. I set to work and got things a bit straight. John and Hannah Mary stayed all night.

1^st month, 15^th, 4^th day

Jessie fainted last night. I was glad Hannah Mary was here. They hurried back to be in time for Meeting. I had a lot to do and was not done till late.

1^st month, 16^th, 5^th day

Jessie was rather better. She helped me as much as she was able.

1^st month, 17^th, 6^th day

Dad and Eddy getting wood. William and John McCheane came to dinner. Hannah Mary sent me Lewen’s Meditations for my birthday. She painted some flowers on the front and put on, To Mary Saunders with best wishes for her eternal welfare.

1^st month, 18^th, 7^th day

MY BIRTHDAY: Seventeen.

I received a letter from North Leaze and one from home;³ Uncle is sending from himself, Grannie and Auntie Polly,⁴ ten shillings sixpence, or equal to $2.56.⁵ In the afternoon Jessie and I drove to Borden with Creamy in the buggy. I wrote to Eliza.

1^st month, 19^th, 1^st day

We had Meeting at home. It is Eliza’s birthday. I wrote home.

1^st month, 20^th, 2^nd day

We are busy in the house as usual. Eddy, Dad and Edgar Tallis are putting the roof on the cattle shed. I drove Rodger in the box to Borden. Charley Piprell was just coming out of Borden as I got there. I fetched a bag of sugar and a tin of tea. When I got home I drove on over to the new cow shed and hauled two lots of willows with him.

1^st month, 21^st, 3^rd day

I went to Borden and asked Ayres if we could have Jim for tomorrow.

1^st month, 22^nd, 4^th day

Jessie and I went with Jim in the cutter to Edgar Tallis’s. It is Ruth Tallis’s birthday. We had dinner there and left about five o’clock. It was dark before we got home. Once we saw a lynx and drove quite close to it.

1^st month, 23^rd, 5^th day

We had Meeting

1^st month, 24^th, 6^th day

Did housework as usual. Jessie went to Edgar Tallis’s to supper. I went with Dad and got a load of straw.

1^st month, 25^th, 7^th day

Housework as usual . In the afternoon I walked to Borden.⁶

1^st month, 26^th, 1^st day

We had Meeting in the afternoon as usual.

1^st month, 27^th, 2^nd day

Dad and Eddy hauling firewood for Edgar Tallis, us working as usual.

1^st month, 28^th, 3^rd day

Melting snow preparatory to washing tomorrow.

1^st month, 29^th, 4^th day

Started washing about ten o’clock. In the afternoon Annie and Eric came and stayed quite a bit. Then a woman came toward evening and engaged Jessie to nurse her in about two weeks’ time. She lives four miles from Borden. John and Hannah Mary McCheane and Joshua and Joe Wake⁷ came after supper. We had Reading Meeting. We read some of Oliver Sanson, and Hannah Mary recited, “Drive on, my son, drive on.” Silent worship. It was after twelve o’clock when we went to bed. In the morning Hannah Mary went to Saskatoon and Joshua and Joe Wake and John McCheane went to the station. After dinner they went home.

1^st month, 30^th, 5^th day

Did work as usual. I went to Borden and changed the Post Office order.

1^st month, 31^st, 6^th day

Did up the morning quicker than usual. I darned two pair of stockings and knitted the cuff to a mitt for myself before dinner. I have made one mitt for Eddy. Jessie went to Borden, I did knitting and a few minutes at drawing and got supper and fed fowls.

1. The nature of some of the games is known because they are still played. Others are lost. Black Art is a game described by Joseph Edward (Bob) Hinde in his book As I Remember It. His father Joseph Hinde taught it to Bob’s children in Borden in the 1940s.

2. Saloways - Benjamin Saloway, his mother and two sisters and his daughter Peggy. They had come to Canada with the Barr Colonists in 1902 and had separated from them at Saskatoon, to homestead in the Halcyonia district. See also Bob Hinde’s story about this family in his book As I Remember It.

3. Auntie Polly is Mary’s mother’s sister Mary.

4. Leaze is in Somerset; home is Birmingham.

5. Ten shillings and sixpence would be a gold coin half sovereign, otherwise known has half a guinea. There were twenty shillings in a pound of twenty-one shillings in a guinea.

6. Mary was indeed an intrepid girl! The walk would have been about two miles, and considering it would be dark by four in the afternoon in the dead of winter, mostly in the dark.

7. Joe Wake is step-brother to Hugh Wake, adopted son of Henry Thomas Wake and son of his second wife Hannah Sadler Wake.

FEBRUARY 1908

SECOND MONTH

2^nd month, 2^nd, 1^st day

We had Meeting in the afternoon. Jessie Green was sick, she had a bad sore throat. In the evening we read an epistle sent by Edward Y. Sturge to Dad, and also some out of Alexandra Jeffray’s diary. Jessie Green went to bed in the afternoon just before supper.

2^nd month, 3^rd, 2^nd day

I got up and got breakfast, cleared it away and got the vegetables done for dinner. We had half done our dinner when John and Hannah Mary McCheane and Joshua Wake came in. After dinner they went home and Eddy went with them. Hannah Mary was just come from Radisson, she went there from Saskatoon.

2^nd month, 4^th, 3^rd day

Yesterday Dad got about three bushels of potatoes and the same of swedes from Seniors’. It is a treat to have some good unfrozen vegetables. It was very blizzardy today. Dad was out in the bluff chopping firewood.

2^nd month, 5^th, 4^th day

Jessie Green went over to Edgar Tallis’s to nurse Roy as he is going under an operation. A man from four miles the other side of Borden came to fetch her. She is intending going to nurse his wife on or about the 23^rd of this month.

2^nd month, 6^th, 5^th day

Dad fixed up some hens’ nests. We had Meeting.

2^nd month, 7^th, 6^th day

Very blizzardy and very cold. I went and helped Dad saw a green log. Jessie washed the shelves in the kitchen and all or most of the things on them. Dad stayed in and wrote to Uncle.

2^nd month, 8^th, 7^th day

Such a lovely sunny day, quite a treat after the storm of yesterday. Dad went down to Borden in the morning. Jessie Green went to the Alcocks and stayed dinner and tea. At about two o’clock, just as I had cleared away the dinner things Eddy, Joe Wake and John McCheane came so I had to get them some dinner. John McCheane went back in the afternoon. I boiled a piece of meat for supper. Joe Wake stayed overnight. I made some cakes for tea. I made up the other bed for Joe Wake. Just as I was getting in bed Jessie Green came.

2^nd month, 9^th, 1^st day

Joe Wake stayed in the house most of the day. Dad and Eddy did up the chores. We had Meeting in the afternoon and read in the evening.

2^nd month, 10^th, 2^nd day

Joe Wake went to Saskatoon on the train. We melted snow. Artie Roy brought back the oxen.

2^nd month, 11^th, 3^rd day

Did a not over-big wash. I did the housework.

2^nd month, 12^th, 4^th day

Artie Roy, Eddy and Dad digging the well in the slough; they cribbed it.

2^nd month, 13^th, 5^th day

Had Meeting. Artie Roy present. Eddy and Dad hauling wood.

2^nd month, 14^th, 6^th day

Artie Roy, Eddy and Dad hauling heater wood (two loads.)

2^nd month, 15^th, 7^th day

In the afternoon, Dad, Eddy, Artie Roy and I drove G. Roy’s calf into the stable. Dad went after her and she went down in the fowl house. The put a rope around her horns and round her neck and tied her onto the back of the bob sleigh and Artie Roy took her and the oxen home to their place.

2^nd month, 16^th, 1^st day

Had Meeting in the afternoon. Jessie Green and I did not change our dresses.

2^nd month, 17^th, 2^nd day

Dad and Eddy went to Sixteen with Ida in the cutter¹ to see the schoolmaster and get some splits. The snow was very deep on the other side of the creek. Ida kicked several times.

2^nd month, 18^th, 3^rd day

Eddy and Dad cutting green poles. Joshua Wake came, he had his dinner in Borden. Jessie Green went to Borden. Joshua stayed all night and left about ten o’clock next morning.

2^nd month, 19^th, 4^th day

Cold today, Dad and Eddy cleaned out the cow stall and made Billy Tallis pull some logs around to the end of the stable, preparatory to building a pigpen.

2^nd month, 20^th, 5^th day

Had Meeting in the morning. Artie Roy brought the oxen back. Dad and Eddy hauled the poles they threw out on 3^rd day. Pretty mild, thawed a very little, all mud around the door.

2^nd month, 21^st, 6^th day

THAWING. Dad and Eddy worked on the pig pen. Decided thawing in the middle of the day, snow going fast.

2^nd month, 22^nd, 7^th day

THAWING. Dad and Eddy making pig pen, still thawing, water running down the trails. Jessie Green expected to be called away to nurse a woman four miles out of Borden - Allcock.

2^nd month, 23^rd, 1^st day

THAWING. Still thawing fast. I hope spring is coming. The potatoes in the cellar are shrinking fast. They have thawed out and it is a dirty mess. I wash and boil a crock full every day. Black Beauty and Kitty came here so I gave them a feed of corn.²

2^nd month, 24^th, 2^nd day

THAWING. Dad and Eddy building pig sty. Jessie Green has not gone yet. She gets tidied and is in readiness to go. It is thawing fast.

2^nd month, 25^th, 3^rd day

THAWING. Dad and Eddy doing pig sty. Jessie Green is still here.

2^nd month, 26^th, 4^th day

FREEZING. Dad and Eddy hauled two loads of manure from Borden, put some on roof of pig sty. It is more like winter today.

2^nd month, 27^th , 5^th day

BLIZZARD. A very bad blizzard blowing. Jessie Green is hoping she won’t be called away.

2^nd month, 28^th, 6^th day

Allcock came to fetch Jessie Green. I went to Borden in the afternoon and got some desiccated coconut. When I got back Jessie Green made it into a cake which was very nice. Allcock stayed supper. We had fish. Dad bought four at seven cents a pound, coming to fifty cents. We have one left. Nice day but cold.

2^nd month, 29^th, 7^th day

I washed up several things that had been lying around dirty several weeks. I roasted a piece of meat in the frying pan because the meat tin³ had a hole in it, and made some standard cake which we ate for second course.

1. Cutter - a sleigh for winter transport, closed and pulled by two horses.

2. Corn - what the English call the grain of the country, for example oats in Scotland, wheat in Saskatchewan.

3. Meat tin - roasting pan.

MARCH 1908

THIRD MONTH

3^rd month, 1^st, 1^st day

I fried up some meat and made a cottage pudding. For tea we had eggs and coconut cake, and the remaining pudding. In the evening we read Oliver Sansom.

3^rd month, 2^nd, 2^nd day

I stewed up the bone, etc., left from the meat. It was snowing when we got up and snowing when we went to bed, and a lot of snow fell. Eddy mended my saddle. Eddy got a new meat tin - twenty-five cents.

3^rd month, 3^rd, 3^rd day

I roasted a big piece of meat and we did without any cold second course.

3^rd month, 4^th, 4^th day

It was thirty below zero in the night. For dinner we had cold meat and dumplings. Very nice sunset. Very cold in the night.

3^rd month, 5^th, 5^th day

Milder, thawing a little in the middle of the day. Ayres came for Darby and Jim. Exchanged roosters - Carter exchanged four Plymouth rocks - he gave us two old ones and two little young ones. A white one of ours and the old Plymouth rock fought and nearly killed each other so Dad killed the Plymouth rock. Had eggs for tea.

3^rd month, 6^th, 6^th day

Dad and Eddy went to Radisson with Ida and Jim in a democrat sleigh of Cockburn’s. They went along well, Ida keeping all ahead of Jim, until they were about half way, then both of Jim’s traces came off and the pole came out of the neck yoke, which started Ida kicking the bent and broke one of the irons on the pole. They managed to fix it and went on all right until half a mile from Radisson when the front runner came off one corner and toppled Dad and Eddy out in the snow. It cost five dollars to be mended. Dad got a loan of $250.00 from the bank. I fed the cattle, pigs, fowls, etc. Dad bought 28 pounds of butter and 35 pounds of fish.

3^rd month, 7^th, 7^th day

Dad and Eddy drove Dick to Borden in the cutter. Dad bought two bulls off the Doukhobors. I boiled the chicken for dinner.

3^rd month, 8^th, 1^st day

DAD’S BIRTHDAY. We got up late so we had Meeting about three o’clock and tea half past four. Read in the evening, Oliver Sansom.

3^rd month, 9^th, 2^nd day

Our horses came round so I had to leave my work and put them in. We got them all in and tried to get Seniors’ to follow Dick up to their place. Ida did not like being left in the pasture without Dick and when he was a little way off the fence she ran into the wire and cut herself very badly.

3^rd month, 10^th, 3^rd day

Dad and Eddy hauled straw. Thawing today.

3^rd month, 11^th, 4^th day

Dad and Eddy hauled three loads of manure from Borden, and broke the rack. Thawing.

3^rd month, 12^th, 5^th day

We had Meeting, It is much colder today. A Russian came in and waited for Dad. Moor called to see Dad.

3^rd month, 13^th, 6^th day

Very blizzardy all day. Dad went and saw Moor and Senior.

3^rd month, 14^th, 7^th day

I boiled a piece of meat and we had some little pastry fry cakes for second course. Edgar Tallis came to dinner. Eddy and Dad went to the Turtle Lake School District to vote. They voted for Evans and he got in by ONE. I put the pig in soon after they had gone but he got out again and went to Borden. I went after him but did not manage to get him before Dad came.

3^rd month, 15^th, 1^st day

We did not get up until nearly nine o’clock so decided to have two meals. We had Meeting in the afternoon.

3^rd month, 16^th, 2^nd day

Joshua, John and Hannah Mary McCheane came in. David came down on the train and they all except Joshua had dinner with us. After dinner Hannah Mary, Joshua and I rode down Borden after the groceries etc. They had a cup of tea and then went home. David went back to Radisson on the night train.

3^rd month, 17^th, 3^rd day

Dad and Eddy hauling straw and manure.

3^rd month, 18^th, 4^th day

Eddy and Dad hauling manure from Borden. I took Moor’s pony, boiled wheat and shorts¹ and stock food.

3^rd month, 19^th, 5^th day

Fed ponies.

3^rd month, 20^th, 6^th day

We had a very big thaw today. Arthur and Dick Primmer called in. Arthur intends staying a few days. Quite a bit of snow fell in the evening. Fed Moor’s ponies

3^rd month, 21^st, 7^th day

Still thawing fast. Arthur stayed indoors. Fed ponies.

3^rd month, 22^nd, 1^st day

Thawing today. Had Meeting and finished Oliver Sansom.

3^rd month, 23^rd, 2^nd day

Dad bought two bulls off the Doukhobors. We caught Seniors’ horse.

3^rd month, 24^th, 3^rd day

Men indoors, blizzard. In the evening I washed some pillow slips while Eddy read Alexandra Jeffray.

3^rd month, 25^th, 4^th.

Very cold today.

3^rd month, 26^th, 5^th day

Thawing a good one. Hens laid seven eggs. Seed from Steele Briggs and nest eggs² came.

3^rd month, 27^th, 6^th day

Still thawing. Hens laid eight eggs. Jessie Green came home.

Last night I received a letter from Hannah Mary. The following is an extract:

“I feel like adding a few lines which may contain a few words of encouragement to thee, for my dear Mary my heart has often gone out to thee in tenderest love since thou was with us. For I feel words cannot express the comfort, encouragement and strength thy visit and the little conversation we had together, have been to me. Therefore be encouraged, dear one, to hold on thy way faithfully, remembering the promise, “I shall never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Soon after I awoke this morning the words of the Psalmist were brought vividly to my mind. “Why art thou cast down, Oh my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me, hope thou in God, for I shall yet Praise Him who is the health of my continence and my God.” Then dear Mary let us not be discouraged or too much cast down, if our dear Saviour sees fit to withdraw his presence from us for a season, “for whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, but He will not forsake.” Therefore let us strive more diligently to serve him and bow in patient submission under his chastening hand, that thereby his will may be accomplished to the purifying and strengthening of our best life. And Oh, how precious will be His presence to our waiting souls, when in His time He sees fit to again reveal Himself there.

I had not thought when I began, to have written so much in this strain, for I feel my own unworthiness, weakness and short-comings, yet I long for the encouragement of each one of us who are but young in years to persevere and follow faithfully the inward light, which will lead into the true and living way.

With fond love, dear Mary, from thy truly attached friend, Hannah Mary.

3^rd month, 28^th, 7^th day

It has been thawing but there has been a cold wind. Jessie Green and I went to Borden. The hens LAID ELEVEN EGGS. Arthur walked home.

3^rd month, 28^th, 1^st day

Thawing a little today. Had Meeting in the afternoon.

3^rd month, 30^th, 2^nd day

Blizzard. Laurie came here today. It is not thawing but windy. Dad went to the Doukhobor village to bring back the red calf. He ran back a day or two ago. Blizzard today. It got warmer toward evening.

3^rd month, 31^st , 3^rd day

Boys hauling straw. None too warm.

1. Shorts: the part of the grain of wheat that is used for animal feed; the best white part having been used for white flour for humans. The wheat germ also will have been removed. In England it’s called “middlings” or wheat-feed.

2. Nest egg - Hens would lay anywhere, often hidden. If all their eggs were removed they wouldn’t lay there any more; if the eggs were left, they would lay a few and then sit on them. By taking away the real eggs and giving them the artificial eggs they wouldn’t realize their own eggs were gone. If you kept taking away their eggs, they kept laying. There was some measure of control by this of where the hens laid. In England the nest eggs were called pot eggs, or crock eggs, and were made of pottery. Steele Briggs is still in business (2002).

APRIL 1908

FOURTH MONTH

4^th month, 1^st, 4^th day

John McCheane, Dad and Jessie drove over to Halcyonia with Darby and Jim. I went to Borden with Floss hitched to the sled and brought back a fifty pound bag of salt. Laurie drove an ox to Borden and got a bag of flour. Dad and Jessie came home in the evening and brought some turnips for Sixteen. I cook two crocks a day. I feed the pigs morning and afternoon, and the hens the same. Thawing.

4^th month, 2^nd, 5^th day

The hens are laying well. We have got a gobbler from McCheanes’. Thawing fine. I am feeding Kitty and Blackie once and twice a day.

4^th month, 3^rd, 6^th day.

The prairie is bare in places. Horses and cattle can feed a bit better. Hens laid 26 eggs.

4^th month, 4^th, 7^th day

Snow melting fast, and a very strong wind. Joshua came in, in the afternoon.

4^th month, 5^th, 1^st day

Yesterday there was a large meeting held in Borden about the big mill that is pretty much decided, I believe. Joshua is here. Thawing but rather windy.

4^th month, 6^th, 2^nd day

Joshua went home but met Baxter and Edgar Baker with the oxen so he came back with them and took home the harrows etc., that he came in to see about. Eddy went to G. Roy’s after Billy and Rodger. John McCheane came in the afternoon. Jessie Green went to Binks’ to tea. Kitty Binks sent back for me some cookies and layer cake (chocolate) and lemon tarts.

4^th month, 7^th, 3^rd day

Dad walked over to Price’s. Buster and Sport got some poison and Sport died. In the afternoon Eddy and Laurie went to the Doukhobor village and I went up to the G. Evanses to try and get some eggs for sitting. The Doukhobors gave Laurie a pigeon. They went to see about getting the fanning mill that Dad exchanged with Big Jack.¹ Hens laying between twenty and thirty eggs a day.

4^th month, 8^th, 4^th day

Dad bought a hundred bushels of oats off Nikerks’. Lovely weather.

4^th month, 9^th, 5^th day

Dad went to 16 with Darby and Jim. Jessie Green went to an operation at the hospital. A woman from Langham. Eddy and Laurie went to G. Roy’s and had dinner there. I had dinner by myself. Eddy did some disking. Lovely weather.

4^th month, 10^th , 6^th day

Disking with oxen started at half past ten. Jessie Green is nursing the patient in turn with the doctor’s wife. Dad killed the pig. Lovely weather.

4^th month, 11^th, 7^th day

Disking with horses and oxen. After I had washed up and etc., I walked up to G. E. and got a dozen eggs for twenty cents. When I got back, Jessie Green and I went down to Kitty Binks’. After supper I put the eggs under the cream hen. Lovely weather.

4^th month, 12^th, 1^st day

Beautiful weather. Two of the Brackens came in to dinner. They are looking for Kate. Jessie Green went to the hospital. Laurie went to the Doukhobor village after his pigeon because it flew back when he let it out. He got it and its mate for five cents.

4^th month, 13^th, 2^nd day

Dad, Eddy and Laurie went to Sixteen with four oxen and four horses, and got two loads of wheat and the drill. Jessie Green was at the hospital. I got the horses’ feed in and had the supper waiting an hour or two before they came which was nearly ten.

4^th month, 14^th, 3^rd day

STARTED DRILLING. Eddy took the drill to be sharpened and started drilling.²

Laurie disking with oxen. Lovely day.

4^th month, 15^th, 4^th day

I am pretty busy. Jessie Green taking duty. Boys could not work on land until about dinnertime. McCheanes found their horses and one has a colt.

4^th month, 16^th, 5^th day

Had Meeting. Eddy finished the biggest piece and started the other. Jessie Green still taking duty. I drove Dick to McBrace’s to inquire about our red calf but he was not there.

4^th month, 17^th, 6^th day

STARTED ON MOOR’S. Eddy finished the eight-acre patch and started on Moor’s. I rode down to Borden on the wagon. They were going for some harrows. I went for some flavouring.

4^th month, 18^th, 7^th day

FINISHED MOOR’S. I did the work and in the afternoon I drove Dick across Moor’s quarter with some wheat for Eddy. He finished that land in the evening. Eddy and Laurie drove Dick down after some chop.³ Jessie and I were seeing that the fire guard Dad was burning did not get over the furrows. There is a big prairie fire burning not above a mile away. Dick goes lovely.

4^th month, 19^th, 1^st day

FIRST DAY. We got up very late, nine o’clock and so we did not have any dinner. Laurie let his pigeons out and they stayed around in the stable. He promised me the first team from the hatch. Had Meeting as usual.

4^th month, 20^th, 2^nd day

STARTED ON EDDY’S. Quite hot today. Eddy, Laurie and Dad went over with horses and oxen to Eddy’s quarter to start . We bought a new disc drill. They took their lunch with them and came home at night. I had a hot supper ready for them.

4^th month, 21^st, 3^rd day

Boys over at Eddy’s. Jessie Green went to the hospital early in the morning and came back just before dark. I had dinner by myself. I fed Kitty corn and water.

4^th month, 22^nd, 4^th day

Boys on Eddy’s quarter. Jessie has decided to have the vein taken out of her leg. The doctor says she must rest as much as possible.

4^th month, 23^rd, 5^th day

We had Meeting in the afternoon. Before Meeting they were fanning wheat.⁵ They went to Eddy’s quarter before dinner.

4^th month, 24^th, 6^th day

Boys still on Eddy’s quarter. We are busy getting ready to go to Sixteen. We baked bread and cake etc.

4^th month, 25^th, 7^th day

VET CAME. Eddy and Laurie went off early with Dick and started drilling with the horses. Jessie and I got everything ready for leaving. I am to go and she is going to look after the hens etc. Just as we were about to start, a man came up and said he had an order to examine our horses for glanders. He took their temperatures and in the evening injected some stuff. We cannot tell until the morning what the results will be or which will have to be killed. If their temperatures go up, they will be condemned. We spent a very anxious night. (Drawing of a cat, with several pen blotches. Tears?)

4^th month, 26^th, 1^st day

The vet took the horses’ temperatures again at seven AM and again at nine AM and at 12 AM. Then he condemned Dick, Joey, Kitty and Black Beauty. He is coming tomorrow to kill them. We had Meeting as usual.

4^th month, 27^th, 2^nd day

The vet came and shot the horses and they partly burned them with a pyre of wood. We burned the manure round the stable, and partly burnt the quarter out.

4^th month, 28^th, 3^rd day

We came over here today. I drove Queeny in the buggy and got here first. The place looked very dirty and smelt of rotten turnips so I cleaned it up as best I could. The brush had not come so I tied some turkey feathers on a stick. The water here was not fit to drink so I took the kettle down to Twenty-One and filled it. We had a makeshift tea. They sat down and I handed them things. It was late when we got to bed and I was VERY tired.

4^th month, 29^th, 4^th day

We had Meeting at home and we were all asleep half of the time. I got the place a bit straight. We are now practically living on bacon and eggs. I drove Queeny to Borden and coming back she ran away. I brought the cat and five kittens.

4^th month, 30^th, 5^th day

Eddie drilling and Laurie harrowing.

1. Big Jack Saunders, a connection of the Nathan Saunders’ family. See also the Borden History book, Our Treasured Heritage.

2. Seeding grain using an implement called a drill, pulled by horses or oxen.

3. Chop: coarsely ground grain, usually oats, fed to horses.

4. Using a fanning device to clean seed grain prior to drilling.

MAY 1908

FIFTH MONTH

5^th month, 1^st, 6^th day

We put the young oxen on the harrows but they would not go. Rodger ran away and went like wild, apparently trying to jump through his collar. We had a very exciting time. I went over to Ruth Tallis’s to borrow a box of matches.

5^th month, 2^nd, 7^th day

Eddy finished drilling the new land. Dad drove to Borden. Laurie harrowing.

5^th month, 3^rd, 1^st day

We went to McCheanes’ to Meeting and stayed dinner. The others came home on the wagon but I stayed as Lydia has ridden over on a bicycle and Hannah Mary was going to drive her back.

5^th month, 4^th, 2^nd day

I drove Queeny over to Borden as soon as I had cleared up. I saw my little chicks; there are eleven black and nine white. Jessie Green came back with me; she went over to see her sister.

5^th month, 5^th, 3^rd day

Dad and Laurie and Jessie Green went to Borden. Laurie took the horses and Dad and Jessie drove the young bulls on the timber carriage. Big Jack drove the drill home and Dad the oxen. Hannah Mary and Lydia Crabb called here and left Ruby¹ on their way from Radisson.

5^th month, 6^th, 4^th day

We had Meeting at home. I did drilling in the afternoon with the horses and Ruby sat on the box and kept Jess up, Laurie filling the bags for us.

5^th month, 7^th, 5^th day

As soon as we had cleared up we went drilling. “We” is Ruby and I.

5^th month, 8^th, 6^th day

Ruby and I were drilling in the morning. We finished up as far as Eddy was and now all on the left of the track is done. We cooked a hot supper. It is nice to have Ruby to talk to.

5^th month, 9^th, 7^th day

We started drilling on the eighty acre patch. I drove the horses in front and Ruby kept Jess up. Eddy’s oxen kept up with the horses. In the afternoon Laurie drove the oxen and Eddy the horses. Ruby and I came in and cooked potatoes for supper.

5^th month, 10^th, 1^st day

FIRST DAY. We drove the two young oxen to Meeting. Ruby and I stayed dinner. Eddy, Oscar and John McCheane went to the Wakes to dinner. After dinner, Lydia, Hannah Mary, Ruby, Davie and I went to see the Wakes to see how the new house was getting on. The dogs pulled Davie in a nice little wagon that John McCheane had made for him. We rode home in the wagon. The broncoes² were very fresh and we did get a bumping over those badger holes. We stayed at McCheanes’ for supper and Meeting. Joshua drove home with Prince and Jack.

(Drawing of the dog cart - two dogs tandem pulling a small four-wheeled cart.)

5^th month, 11^th, 2^nd day

I put some dirty clothes soaking etc. Ruby had an hysterical fit.

5^th month, 12^th, 3^rd day I helped clear up etc., then went disking on the stubble where we intend putting splits. Disking in the afternoon. I did twelve rounds. Ruby got the dinner. In the afternoon Ruby and I had a game sliding down the old straw stack.

5^th month, 13^th, 4^th day

Helped clear up and did three rounds of disking. We drove young Billy and Rodger to Meeting. Eddy had some free samples of bile beans³ given him and he gave John McCheane a packet, and he asked Lydia and Hannah Mary to have one. Hannah Mary chewed hers up. Young Rodger got at some wheat last night and now he is pretty sick. We gave him some gum powder and in about an hour he was chewing his cud.

5^th month, 14^th, 5^th day

Dad and I went over to Borden with Queeny. Dad stayed to whitewash the stable etc., and I drove Queeny back.

5^th month, 15^th, 6^th day

Eddy disking and Laurie harrowing.

5^th month, 16^th, 7^th day

Ruby and I drove over to Borden.

5^th month, 17^th, 1^st day

We walked to Meeting, stayed dinner and supper. John McCheane drove us home.

5^th month, 18^th, 2^nd day

Drilling, harrowing splits.

5^th month, 19^th, 3^rd day

FINISHED SEEDING. Ruby and I drove over to Borden and Jessie and Dad drove back. We cleared up the rubbish from around the stable and made it look nice and tidy. Creamy had a colt, his name is Star.

5^th month, 20^th, 4^th day

Towards evening Dad and Eddy and Jessie arrived with two teams of oxen and a load of wheat. Laurie stayed at Sixteen.

5^th month, 21^st, 5^th day

Ruby went with Dad to Radisson with the oxen and rode the bicycle (David’s) back. Eddy and I went to Sixteen with another team of oxen. We took eight hens and a rooster. I received a letter and Postal Order from Uncle.⁴

5^th month, 22^nd, 6^th day

Eddy and Laurie disking in the summer fallow. Ruby rode over from Borden on David’s bike, She rode from Radisson to Borden yesterday. In the afternoon I rode the bike over to Borden and took three quarters of an hour each way. It was a very hot day. In the evening Ruby rode it to McCheanes’ and I drove Jim to bring her back.

5^th month, 23^rd, 7^th day

Dad came over with the young bulls. Eddy and Laurie burnt the bluff down the trail toward McCheanes’. Getting rotten potatoes out of the cellar.

5^th month, 24^th, 1^st day

We went to the McCheanes to Meeting, they came to our house to Reading Meeting in the afternoon. Eddy and Laurie went over to supper and Joshua and Arthur stayed supper at our house. John McCheane drove Eddy and Laurie home after meeting.

5^th month, 25^th, 2^nd day

Dad sowing turnips etc., on Boyd’s , and gopher poisoning. Ruby and I drove Queeny over to Borden but Jessie Green was at the hospital so we did not go down Borden as it was the Borden Sports Day and a lot of folks about.

5^th month, 26^th, 3^rd day

In the morning I was helping with the potatoes. In the afternoon Ruby and I went to Borden. We had to look sharp and only just got there before a heavy thunderstorm. We stayed all night.

5^th month, 27^th, 4^th day.

We drove back as early as possible to get there in time for Meeting. We had it at home.

5^th month, 28^th, 5^th day

In the morning we were sowing potatoes. In the afternoon we were packing up, and started for Borden about six or after. Ruby and I drove Queeny. We called at Ruth Tallis’s and overtook the others with the horses, oxen and cow. We went on ahead. It was quite dark when we got to the creek. Bobby was with Jessie so Ruby and I went down with him and were very tired by the time we got to bed.

5^th month, 29^th, 6^th day

Ruby and I out all afternoon planting potatoes on Moor’s land. Jessie had cooked us some nice scones and I was so hungry I did justice to them.

5^th month, 30^th, 7^th day

Jessie Green went into the hospital.

5^th month, 31^st, 1^st day

Eddy, Ruby, Laurie and I drove Jim over to Sixteen and walked to Meeting. Laurie and Eddy went to the Wakes to dinner and supper. Ruby and I stayed at McCheanes’ after Meeting. John, Lydia, David and Hannah Mary McCheane walked home with us.

1. Probably Ruby Crabb, sister to David Crabb

2. Bile beans - a patent remedy purporting to cure a great many health problems, including biliousness, dyspepsia, torpid liver, sick headache, malaria, sour stomach, bad breath, vertigo, dysentery, jaundice and enlarged spleen.

3. Bronco, or bronc - a generic term for horses bred by the Indians or wild horses, usually from west of the mountains. Bronco often meant wild, or unbroken - or unbreakable.

4. Seems to be a gift from her Uncle Edmund Hatcher.

JUNE 1908

SIXTH MONTH

6^th month, 1^st, 2^nd day

About eleven o’clock David came over to Sixteen with his engine and crusher. He cut some wood and crushed some splits. In the evening Ruby, Laurie and I were jumping. Eddy put his hands on the battery and Laurie turned the switch on and ran off. Eddy could not let go until Laurie came and turned it off again. After that Ruby and I had a go with all the batteries on but it was a bit too strong to be pleasant. In the evening, John McCheane and Lydia Crabb came up for David so David took off half the batteries and we had another go.

6^th month, 2^nd, 3^rd day

David’s engine is still going. It makes such a noise that it felt so queer when it stopped. John McCheane came up for David as soon as David had finished. They went up to Radisson and we came over here again.

6^th month, 3^rd, 4^th day

Boys doing the corral.

6^th month, 4^th, 5^th day

The boys were doing the corral in the slough. Ruby and I drove over to Sixteen and Perry’s oxen were on our grain so we tied them up and went and told them.

6^th month, 5^th, 6^th day

Ruby and I drove over to Sixteen and took back the ploughshares, etc.

6^th month, 6^th, 7^th day

Dad and Laurie fetched the horses from Sixteen and put them in the new pasture.

6^th month, 7^th, 1^st day

Jessie Green came up to dinner and supper and the doctor drove her back.

6^th month, 8^th, 2^nd day

Started ploughing. David came here on his way to Radisson. I was busy washing. He stayed to dinner. In the afternoon, ploughing with the oxen. In the evening we rode Creamy up and down the trail.

6^th month, 9^th, 3^rd day

David came from Radisson and as the McCheanes were in Borden he left his bike here and rode back with them. Ploughing.

6^th month, 10^th, 4^th day

Half-yearly Meeting. We drove Jim and Queeny in the democrat and John McCheane came over for us just as we were starting so Laurie and Eddy rode back with him to Sixteen. Ruby rode the bike to Sixteen and then we put up our team and John McCheane drove the rest on and I rode the bike over to Sixteen. Dad and Jessie went from there with our team and we rode with John McCheane. We took the cat and kittens and left one at Ruth Tallis’s on our way. John McCheane stayed supper. He drove Jessie down to the hospital. Ruby and I went with him.

6^th month, 11^th, 5^th day

It was raining hard all day. I tidied up the place and washed the shelves. John McCheane came to meet a friend from Iowa and they got pretty wet going back.

6^th month, 12^th, 6^th day

A VERY windy day and so cold we stayed in most of the day.

6^th month, 13^th, 7^th day

Not much sun today. After an early dinner, I rode Jess and Ruby rode Creamy around the quarter. Ruby packed up and we went to the station. The train was late so we went to the hospital to wait and we thought we had better go, so got up and had only just enough got outside in time to see the train leave the platform, so, concluding to go the next day, Ruby left her bag at the hospital and we came home. John McCheane called here with a note from Hannah Mary McCheane, inviting me to go back with John McCheane, staying over tomorrow. I did not go, for one thing I would sooner be at home and I thought as Jessie had arranged to come up next day, I had best be here.

6^th month, 14^th, 1^st day

Jessie did not come today. We had Meeting as usual. Ruby went home.

6^th month, 15^th, 2^nd day

Boys ploughing with horses and oxen. I took a note from Clara Henderson to G. Evans’ wife. In the afternoon I fetched two tanks of water from E. Tallis’s well, with Bright.

6^th month, 16^th, 3^rd day

I did some washing, It was a very nice day, not too hot. Got home the pig.

6^th month, 17^th, 4^th day

I did the ironing.

6^th month, 18^th, 5^th day

A very wet day. Had Meeting in the morning. In the evening I went down Borden. Dad, Eddy and Laurie pulling out roots¹ with four oxen.

6^th month, 19^th, 6^th day

The two Dawsons came this morning. Sidney, the oldest, has been in Canada two years and Laurie has only just come out. They have two homesteads thirty miles from Lloydminster. Jessie Green came up to dinner. In the afternoon Jessie Green and I drove Queeny to Halcyonia, Vic Prices’. There was a lot of ploughing done and it was a job to make any speed. We came back the usual way. Jessie Green stayed at Ruth Tallis’s and I drove over to Sixteen. The grass etc., is way growing long, thick and tall in the yard.

6^th month, 20^th, 7^th day

Eddy ploughing. It rained quite a lot today, and some hail. Dad traded Buck and Bright for two yearling colts and $10.00. Dad drove Queeny to Sixteen to see Billy Woods who is ploughing on Twenty-One..

6^th month, 21^st, 1^st day

We had Meeting at home.

6^th month, 22^nd, 2^nd day

Boys sowing oats for green feed. Dad killed the calf. I made a brawn² of his and the pig’s head.

6^th month, 23^rd, 3^rd day

Boys disking and ploughing. Jessie Green came home to stop a week as Dr. Snyder has gone to Prince Albert and the operation cannot be done for a week at least. Jessie Green finished the brawn.

6^th month, 24^th, 4^th day

Dad drove Queeny to Sixteen. John McCheane came to meet William McCheane and a friend from Kent, Fred Musket. He came to Canada twelve months ago and invested all his money in Kennedy business and they smashed and he lost it all. The vet came and tested the horses and they are all sound, or rather, free from glanders.

6^th month, 25^th, 5^th day

Boys ploughing, disking and cutting out scrub.

6^th month, 26^th, 6^th day

Sid Dawson went to work for Clarks’.

6^th month, 27^th, 7^th day

Got the meals cleared up, etc., the same old thing over and over again.
“Once doing will not suffice, tho’ doing be not in vain.” Hannah Mary McCheane called here on her way to Radisson. I went to Halcyonia with her.

6^th month, 28^th, 1^st day

I helped wash up etc., then read a book until Meeting time. Fred Musket stopped, and so did Hannah Mary McCheane. She quoted, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul” etc. After dinner we went to the Wakes’ to Reading Meeting. Eddy drove Queeny over to Meeting. He had dinner at Wakes. We went back to McCheanes’ to tea. Eddy drove Queeny down and we went home. We received a box and bundle from Uncle by way of Sixteen and took some horse corn etc., etc.

6^th month, 29^th, 2^nd day

Laurie came back from Radisson. Wet today. We caught quite a lot of rain water.

6^th month, 30^th, 3^rd day

Washing today. We did two blankets and quite a lot of other things but only one shirt.

1. Tree and brush roots. Often deeply rooted in the dry climate, the roots had to be removed before the land could be ploughed and seeded.

2. Brawn - a jellied preparation of the chopped meat from a boiled pig’s head. Sometimes called head cheese.

JULY 1908

SEVENTH MONTH

7^th month, 1^st, 4^th day

I did quite a bit of ironing today. Dad went to Sixteen.

7^th month, 2^nd, 5^th day

Did some more ironing. A very hot day.

7^th month, 3^rd, 6^th day

Jessie Green busy having a bath and getting her things fixed up ready to go to the hospital tomorrow. A very hot day.

7^th month, 4^th, 7^th day

A very hot day. The turkeys have finished hatching, there are thirty-four. Jessie Green went to the hospital. The mosquitoes were so bad we could not sleep. Eddy and Laurie ran down the trail about midnight “to get cooled off” and at about two o’clock Dad got up and lit a smudge. John McCheane came into Borden with a plough share. Ida dropped - we guessed she was choking but got over it all right.

7^th month, 5^th, 1^st day

Had Meeting at home. I went down Borden, I wore my new grey dress, the one that Grannie sent with H. Collings.

7^th month, 6^th, 2^nd day

I got a tank of water and did a bit of washing but not much. Hannah Mary and John McCheane called in in the afternoon.

7^th month, 7^th, 3^rd day

The operation is to be done today. So Bobby and Eric spent the day with me. I enjoyed their company, Eric is such an amusing little chap. I took them home on Queeny’s back. They enjoyed it very much.

7^th month, 8^th, 4^th day

A VERY, VERY hot day. We had Meeting just after dinner. Jessie Green got over her operation all right but is very ill and faint. Bobby is here again today. The mosquitoes were very bad.

7^th month, 9^th, 5^th day

I drove over to Sixteen where Eddy and Laurie were doing the summer fallow, and brought Ruth Tallis back with me to see Jessie Green. Edgar Tallis fetched her with him. A very hot day. I was pretty busy. In the evening the mosquitoes were very troublesome

7^th month, 10^th, 6^th day

In the morning I went down to the hospital with a chicken Ruth Tallis brought for her yesterday. John McCheane came in to Borden. I passed him going over the creek. I went over the bridge and he went over the creek.

7^th month, 11^th, 7^th day

I drove up to Sixteen in the morning and brought back Ruth Tallis. I learned from Eddy that the horses had run away with the disc and broken the eveners. They intend returning this evening. I came back by Prices’. Ruth Tallis had a bit of dinner here with me then I drove her down Borden.

7^th month, 12^th, 1^st day

Boys went to the slough to bathe. We had Meeting as usual. After, I went down Borden to sit with Jessie Green while the doctor went to the place of worship.

7^th month, 13^th, 2^nd day

I was busy getting the place tidy and baking bread.

7^th month, 14^th, 3^rd day

Clarks’ picnic. The Walkers and McCheanes intend going. Ruthie, Gracie, Edward and Ruth Tallis called here on their way to Borden. Ruth and I stayed here. In the afternoon Ruth and I rode Queeny. Gracie, Edward and Ruth Tallis went back in the evening. They got wet as we had quite a heavy storm.

7^th month, 15^th, 4^th day

Dad and Laurie building an addition to the pig sty. Ruthie is here. I did not do much except my ordinary work. Mosquitoes very bad.

7^th month, 16^th, 5^th day

A hot day. In the afternoon Ruthie rode Queeny and I rode Jim. We went to Borden and called to see Jessie, we then went on to W. Tallis’s. We would have gone further only Creamy was obstinate and would not go, so we came back and rode up the road allowance to G. Evans’. Ruthie had a job to get Creamy to go.

7^th month, 17^th, 6^th day

I did the work as usual then Ruthie and I drove Queeny down to Borden with a chicken for Jessie Green. We also had one.

7^th month, 18^th, 7^th day

I looked sharp and cleared up and made a milk pudding and put the potatoes ready, I then drove Ruthie home. She and Gracie came with me to Sixteen. As soon as we left it came on to rain so hard that we got wet through before we reached Ruth Tallis’s. So we shouted, “Are we downhearted? NO!”

7^th month, 19^th, 1^st day

RAINING. We had Meeting as usual. The doctor and his wife and Eric passed, the bronco shied and threw Eric out so they left him with me. It rained in the evening. I went down to the hospital at seven o’clock.

7^th month, 20^th, 2^nd day

I washed some towels and eight shirts. I went to Borden in the evening.

7^th month, 21^st, 3^rd day

Boys still busy haying. Shirts still on the lines.

7^th month, 22^nd, 4^th day

Norman and Ruth and Edgar Tallis came to see Jessie Green. Norman stayed here. Clarks called just as we were sitting down to Meeting. It is Blundell’s picnic today and lots of people are going along the trails. Eddy went to Sixteen in the evening to do road work.

7^th month, 23^rd, 5^th day

Lawrence¹ up the road with a team of bulls. He took his dinner. I drove Queeny up to 16. Dad and Laurie hay making.

7^th month, 24^th, 6^th day

I rode on Queeny to Sixteen. It was a VERY hot day. Lawrence still on the road. Dad drove Queeny to Sixteen in the evening.

7^th month, 25^th, 7^th day

Laurie² is thinking he is doing a lot as usual but in reality doing nothing. He has just been running by around the table to try and read what I have put down. Eddy and Dad came home and Eddy went back with John McCheane.

7^th month, 26^th, 1^st day

In the morning Dad and I drove to Blundell’s to see the colts. Eddy, Hannah Mary and John McCheane and Joshua came over to Meeting and stayed supper. Hannah Mary and I drove to Borden, and I stayed.

7^th month, 27^th, 2^nd day

I washed a dress and four pinafores. In the evening I went to Borden with Queeny, with a chicken for Jessie Green. When I got back I went with Laurie and got a tank of water.

7^th month, 28^th, 3^rd day

I did not wash as I felt too tired, a very hot day.

7^th month, 29^th, 4^th day

Boys hay making. It is very hot. I went down Borden.

7^th month, 30^th, 5^th day

Boys - Eddy and Laurie - over at Eddy’s quarter. Eddy digging a well and Laurie mowing. In the evening Dad drove Queeny over to Eddy’s quarter and I rode Creamy to Borden. She came back fine. I then rode her a little way up the road allowance.

7^th month, 31^st, 6^th day

I rode Queeny to Borden in the morning to take some letters. I called at the hospital where Betty Tallis is very ill. Eric came back with me, he rode Queeny. I washed the floor after dinner. I washed the shelves,³ etc., and tidied the place up and did a bit of mending. I was tired.

1. Lawrence is a different person than Laurie, who is Laurie Crabb. Lawrence seems to have been a temporary hired man.

2. Laurie Crabb was thirteen years old at this time.

3. Newly broken soil is very dusty in the dry heat of the Saskatchewan summer. Dust would be a continuing problem.