Friday, January 22 Tended the funeral. The sermon was blessed to me. I do indeed desire to be called like Mrs. S. Mrs. R. was much pleased with our wealth and power. Mrs. Sherman came over in the evening. I ironed. The boys put the soap grease into the barn, but it was too weak. Saturday, January 23 Saturday. Baked and mended. Glad to find Mother is safe. I bless God that she is thought it has been a hard journey still she has sustained. Sunday, January 24 Had a letter from Lucy. Wrote to Fahter, Mother. Lucy went to meeting. Brother Staats is to have a donation next Thursday. Monday, January 25 Monday I washed. Albert Thomas called took my letters to town. Brother Staats called. Mrs. D. has a daughter. Mrs. Ransom is not so well. I suppose the Princess Royal is Married today. Tuesday, January 26 Mrs. Ransom is better. I called to see the new babe and by Mrs. Ransoms invitation spent the day with her as she is all alone. It is very muddy. Today dear Philip os 18 may it be a happy year for him. George and Margaret here, she staid all night. Wednesday, January 27 Helped Mrs. B. to go and see Mrs. Daby. It is freezing. Ironed mended finished Mother's dress. Thursday, January 28 Commenced my spencer. Electa and her little girl here. I carried Lorna home. Had a good visit. Fitzer went to donation. Albert spent the evening. He had the Chair and had a good Christian time. All I wanted was the presence of my parents. Friday, January 29 Friday knit and sewed . Find my sock is such a poor shape, I have pulled it all out. I long to hear from the absent. Saturday, January 30 Saturday. Have a letter from Mother, Fahter, and one from England I suppose containing the death of Uncle Frankie Hooper and his wife. Eleanor, Robbert and William Fish spent the evening. Looked at pictures. Sunday, January 31 Sunday. Fitzer at Charlotte. Albert Thomas and Philip at Lockport. I took Mrs. Willington her paper and called upon Mrs. Ransom. She is on the bed so sick. Mr. Fish came home with Fitzer. Fanny and self went to meeting had a good class. Albert was at our house when I came home. Spent a short time on religious conversation. Monday, February 1 Monday. Washed everything around the house and ironed at night. How I hope Mother will come home this week. Tuesday, February 2 Tuesday. Sewed. Mrs. Ransom much worse. Sent for me. I was with her a good deal. She cannot move much. Mrs. Sherman came again. Wednesday, February 3 Wednesday. Sat with (?) In the evening the mother came. The boys were away. We looked at pictures. Compared English books and schools to Americans. Had a good time. The meeting at Charlotte very interesting. Thursday, February 4 Thursday. Went to prayer meeting. Sewed and had a good day. My mind was at peace. George Thomas forward for prayers. Phoebe Gifford called, Mrs. Ransom very sick, helped to get her up. Friday, February 5 Friday. Mended. Mrs. C. here. I went in a load to Charlotte. Had a steady time of it and a good meeting. Philip swept house Saturday and Hester had a little girl. God has been better to us than all our fears. We hope she is safe. Sunday, February 6 *This was how Phoebe had it, so I didn't correct it* Sunday. All at Charlotte at love feast. 11 admitted on probation two in full connection and the sacrament. At the schoolhouse in the evening. Albert took me to me to meeting and brought me home. He says he has no company like ours. (Special note: Phoebe was talking about being inducted in the Methodist Episcopal Church. There are several degrees of admission.) Monday, February 7 Monday. Washed and went to Charlotte. Had a good meeting. Mary Jane forward some others also. George Thomas spoke. He earnestly desires to be a Christian. Albert was so happy. I guess all felt happy, he looked as well. Tuesday, January 8 Tuesday. Mrs. Ransom better. All have gone to Charlotte. 17 in one load, 11 in another, 10 in an other. Some of our young folks are forward for prayers. My heart is happy. I pray God to revive his and make all faithfull. Tomorrow there is to be a prayer meeting at W. Leamons. George is forward. Letter from Mother and Father. Thursday, February 11 Had a meeting here as four asked for prayers. George Thomas prayed for the first time in public. I went in the evening to Charlotte. Elisa Hutchinson came home with me. We had a good time, a steady (?) Think Gods spirit is opperating upon the hearts of many. I talked with a number and they feel that Christ alone can save them. Friday, February 12 Fitzer, Elisa, and self went to the meeting at S. Outwater's. About 30 out. My mind not on worship in doubt I could not feel engaged in prayer though I made the attempt and it seemed to be felt. Mother came home safe. William B. spent the evening with us. I ironed all but the starch things. Saturday, February 13 Mother unpacking and seeing how things are does not feel as I hoped she would. I feel quite cast down. Albert and William Fish here. I went to meeting But did not feel so bitterly. I do at times on account of my not being able to subdue every look that betokens reaction. I want to be holy under the influence of God so what tries me now I may be able to pass over had not the grace of God, it would be worse with me, on account of my Spirit. Sunday, February 14 It storms hard. All at home. I have not received my usual peace, the tempter is on hand before grace to him off. I must write to Henry today. At home all day. Wrote to Henry, Jacob, and Mary. Monday, February 15 Washed. Took in the clothes, and sewed. Went to Charlotte with a load. Sat with William Fish. He was deeply moved on account of his sins. My mind in earnest prayer for him. Had a good time. 12 of our girls forward for prayers. I pray the Lord to give them more courage that they may perservere. Tuesday, February 16 Tuesday. At meeting at W. Leamons. A good number out. Mrs. Outwater on the Lord's side. George Thomas took an active part. There was much feeling and a general prayer. May the Lord have mercy on our Sunday School. I ironed at night.

Keep up the diary postings, it is an interesting look at Phoebe's daily routine. What a treasure you have Are you sending a complete copy to your local history museum, your state archives, etc? It is wonderful that you are willing to share them, and the time you have taken to transcribe them is so appreciated. Anna ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kim & Mike Paul" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 9:37 PM Subject: [FOLKS] Phoebe's 1857 Diary, Part 2 > Friday, January 22 > > Tended the funeral. The sermon was blessed to me. I do indeed desire to be called like Mrs. S. > Mrs. R. was much pleased with our wealth and power. Mrs. Sherman came over in the evening. > I ironed. The boys put the soap grease into the barn, but it was too weak. > > Saturday, January 23 > > Saturday. Baked and mended. Glad to find Mother is safe. I bless God that she is thought it has > been a hard journey still she has sustained. > > Sunday, January 24 > > Had a letter from Lucy. Wrote to Fahter, Mother. Lucy went to meeting. Brother Staats is to have > a donation next Thursday. > > Monday, January 25 > > Monday I washed. Albert Thomas called took my letters to town. Brother Staats called. Mrs. D. > has a daughter. Mrs. Ransom is not so well. > I suppose the Princess Royal is Married today. > > Tuesday, January 26 > > Mrs. Ransom is better. I called to see the new babe and by Mrs. Ransoms invitation spent the day > with her as she is all alone. It is very muddy. Today dear Philip os 18 may it be a happy year for > him. George and Margaret here, she staid all night. > > Wednesday, January 27 > > Helped Mrs. B. to go and see Mrs. Daby. It is freezing. Ironed mended finished Mother's dress. > > Thursday, January 28 > > Commenced my spencer. Electa and her little girl here. I carried Lorna home. Had a good visit. > Fitzer went to donation. Albert spent the evening. He had the Chair and had a good Christian time. > All I wanted was the presence of my parents. > > Friday, January 29 > > Friday knit and sewed . Find my sock is such a poor shape, I have pulled it all out. I long to hear > from the absent. > > Saturday, January 30 > > Saturday. Have a letter from Mother, Fahter, and one from England I suppose containing the death > of Uncle Frankie Hooper and his wife. Eleanor, Robbert and William Fish spent the evening. > Looked at pictures. > > Sunday, January 31 > > Sunday. Fitzer at Charlotte. Albert Thomas and Philip at Lockport. I took Mrs. Willington her > paper and called upon Mrs. Ransom. She is on the bed so sick. Mr. Fish came home with Fitzer. > Fanny and self went to meeting had a good class. Albert was at our house when I came home. > Spent a short time on religious conversation. > > Monday, February 1 > > Monday. Washed everything around the house and ironed at night. How I hope Mother will come > home this week. > > Tuesday, February 2 > > Tuesday. Sewed. Mrs. Ransom much worse. Sent for me. I was with her a good deal. She cannot > move much. Mrs. Sherman came again. > > Wednesday, February 3 > > Wednesday. Sat with (?) In the evening the mother came. The boys were away. We looked at > pictures. Compared English books and schools to Americans. Had a good time. The meeting > at Charlotte very interesting. > > Thursday, February 4 > > Thursday. Went to prayer meeting. Sewed and had a good day. My mind was at peace. George > Thomas forward for prayers. Phoebe Gifford called, Mrs. Ransom very sick, helped to get her up. > > Friday, February 5 > > Friday. Mended. Mrs. C. here. I went in a load to Charlotte. Had a steady time of it and a good > meeting. Philip swept house Saturday and Hester had a little girl. God has been better to us than > all our fears. We hope she is safe. > > > Sunday, February 6 *This was how Phoebe had it, so I didn't correct it* > > Sunday. All at Charlotte at love feast. 11 admitted on probation two in full connection and the > sacrament. At the schoolhouse in the evening. Albert took me to me to meeting and brought me > home. He says he has no company like ours. (Special note: Phoebe was talking about being > inducted in the Methodist Episcopal Church. There are several degrees of admission.) > > Monday, February 7 > > Monday. Washed and went to Charlotte. Had a good meeting. Mary Jane forward some others > also. George Thomas spoke. He earnestly desires to be a Christian. Albert was so happy. > I guess all felt happy, he looked as well. > > Tuesday, January 8 > > Tuesday. Mrs. Ransom better. All have gone to Charlotte. 17 in one load, 11 in another, 10 > in an other. Some of our young folks are forward for prayers. My heart is happy. I pray God > to revive his and make all faithfull. Tomorrow there is to be a prayer meeting at W. Leamons. > George is forward. Letter from Mother and Father. > > Thursday, February 11 > > Had a meeting here as four asked for prayers. George Thomas prayed for the first time in public. > I went in the evening to Charlotte. Elisa Hutchinson came home with me. We had a good time, a > steady (?) Think Gods spirit is opperating upon the hearts of many. I talked with a number and > they feel that Christ alone can save them. > > Friday, February 12 > > Fitzer, Elisa, and self went to the meeting at S. Outwater's. About 30 out. My mind not on worship > in doubt I could not feel engaged in prayer though I made the attempt and it seemed to be felt. > Mother came home safe. William B. spent the evening with us. I ironed all but the starch things. > > Saturday, February 13 > > Mother unpacking and seeing how things are does not feel as I hoped she would. I feel quite > cast down. Albert and William Fish here. I went to meeting But did not feel so bitterly. I do at > times on account of my not being able to subdue every look that betokens reaction. I want to be > holy under the influence of God so what tries me now I may be able to pass over had not the grace > of God, it would be worse with me, on account of my Spirit. > > Sunday, February 14 > > It storms hard. All at home. I have not received my usual peace, the tempter is on hand before > grace to him off. I must write to Henry today. At home all day. Wrote to Henry, Jacob, and > Mary. > > Monday, February 15 > > Washed. Took in the clothes, and sewed. Went to Charlotte with a load. Sat with William Fish. > He was deeply moved on account of his sins. My mind in earnest prayer for him. Had a good > time. 12 of our girls forward for prayers. I pray the Lord to give them more courage that they > may perservere. > > Tuesday, February 16 > > Tuesday. At meeting at W. Leamons. A good number out. Mrs. Outwater on the Lord's side. > George Thomas took an active part. There was much feeling and a general prayer. May the > Lord have mercy on our Sunday School. I ironed at night. > > > > > > > > >