The Journals of Martha E. McMillan

22 Aug Sat. Damp after the rain which fell last night. This P.M Bro Silas came – he took dinner with us. Quite cloudy all day. Aunt Ivie called. After supper Mr. Mc and Jessie at the Sheep pasture. Our four men on the program – when Mr. Mc returned from the pasture he drove out to Bro Silas’s with two hives of bees. Which were in the Masons way. 23 Aug Sabb. Cloudy to day again… 24 Aug Mond. Pleasant. Clark from Springfield, Bro Hugh, & colored Thompson here sa_ing (?) wool – finished at three. Near five Mr. Mc Clark, Hugh Joe brown and Miller left for Charleston the wool delivered there to night. Ella and I have been very busy. I am very tired to night – not able to meet half the demands. Our four men still with us. Hugh’s Mattie here this eve. Two young gentlemen here applying for our school to day. 25 Aug. Tues. it seemed quite lonely without Mr. Mc last night. Near midnight Harlan fell out of bed and refused to be comforted because his dear father was not here. Our four men still on the program. Ella assisting with the work. Mrs. [crossed out - Bennett] Miller here awhile Nammie Barlen and Mrls (?) Fi___son [the middle has lots of humps, not sure what letters they actually are - Bennett] called. Mr. Mc returned late this afternoon and retired at once – he is much fatigued and has quite a bad cold. I called to see Mrs. Tracy this evening again to know something positive about her washing for me. Bro Hugh went on to Cedarville when he came. 26 Aug. Wed. Mrs. Miller drove down to town this morning. This afternoon Mr. Mc. and Sister Jane at Xenia. The Carpenter cutting the sitting room mantle board down this P.M. Had coal hauled to day. The Kitchen and dining room work paramount. 27 Aug. Thurs. Pleasant – but very dusty – but that is generally expected. I beleige (?) dussing (?) the days of the Jamestown fair. Mr. Mc and our daughter Fannie, Aunt Jane, and Sam G. drove over in our carriage. Our three boys at home with me. Our four men with us. Ella and I very busy. Mrs. Miller called at morning, noon and night. Mr. Mc and Fannie reached home after dark. 28 Aug. Friday. Pleasant. Closing day of the fair. Mr. Mc, Fannie, Fred, Sister Mary, and Bro Hugh and attended it. Jamestown fair has lost much of its glory that is if it even had any. Our carriage being out of repair Fred and I came with Uncle John Murdock Sister Mary and Fannie with Bro Silas. Mr. Mc and Bro Hugh returned in the carriage. As a family we took supper at Father’s. Harlan and Homer staid with Grandmother Murdock and with Aunt Jane. I met Alice Mstiec Mansfield at the fair – it was pleasant to be with her her [since the repeated word happens on a page turn Martha could have forgotten she had already written “her” and did not repeat the word for enforcing her point - Bennett] on those old familiar grounds once more. Sister Mary 72