Thomas Rigmaiden's Diary 1852 Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana File submitted by Jan Craven and Connie Wise File prepared by Connie Wise NOTE: If you have information about any of the people mentioned in this diary, please contact Jan Craven at jcraven@usunwired.net ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ January 1852 (Thursday) 1 Fine cold day. Boys clearing in the flat. Cutting corn stalks. 2 Frost. Cut corn stalks. Made two onion beds. Boys clearing in the flat. 3 Another frost. Planted the two beds of onions. Children had a dance at night. 4 Cloudy & warm, rain at night. Austin & Antoine came here. 5 Find cold day. Edward started for Pujo's in a skiff. Cut a few corn stalks. 6 Frost. Cutting corn stalks. Planted a bed of onions. A. Splitting rails. 7 Frost. Eugene and Church returned at night. E. took the skiff to the landg. 8 Another frost. Killed sows out of the creek gang. Brot some home. 9 Fine day, no frost. Brot the things home from the boat, 2 sacks salt etc. 10 Very fine day, hard N wind. The boys had a little ball at night. 11 Frost with sleet and snow. 12-14 A hard freeze these three days. 15 Another hard freeze. Filoneeze delivered, of a little boy at 4 1/2 A.M. Ed. drove up the speckled gang, he killed his white sow, the rest got away. 16 A hard freeze. Hung up the first killed meat. 17 No frost. looking for the blk barrow. 18 Very cold wet day & freeze in the evening. 19&20 A severe freeze these two days. 21 The freeze not quite so severe as the last two days. Drove up bobtail gang. 22 Another very hard freeze. Killed barrow, spayed sows sons & choat out of the gang. 23 A hard freeze. All hands lookg for creek gang, did not find them. 24 No frost & turned warm. Finished cutting corn stalks in the old ground. 25 Wet disagreeable day. Mr. Relascy came here yesterday evening. 26 Fine pleasant day. Commenced on my last stack of corn. E. & James looking for speckled gang, did not find them. Cutting corn stalks. 27 A smart frost. Went to the prairie with Adolph, got what we wanted at Pujo's, then returned as far a Adolph Derosier's. 28 A thick fog this morning. Returned home. 29 Cloudy. 30 Rain this morning. A ball at night. 31 Very fine day. No work. February (Sunday) 1 A little frost. E. & Onlizime lookg for speckled gang, did not find them. 2 Very fine day. E. & Onlizime drove up the speckled gang. Killed and cleaned them all at night. Adolph Derosier here. 3 Very pleasant day. Let Adolph Derosier have five hogs, one for Adolph, 1 for Edward & 3 for me. Cut up meat and salted it. 4 Rather warm. Not very well; took three, of Moffat's pills. 5 Warm and cloudy. Planted two beds of onions. E. & Js hog hunting. 6 Very warm. E. Js & Ah with Pantal a hog hunting. Doing little jobs. 7 Partially cloudy. Planted a bed of seed onions. Eliza planted some peas. 8 Fine day. Adolph came for Eliza this morning at l0 o'clock. Mary Ann was delivered of a little boy just after she got there. Hung up meat. 9 Threatening rain. Cutting logs in the field. 10 Commenced raining yesterday P. M. and continued to do so very hard most of the night, and cleared off this morning. 11 A little frost. Triming peach trees. James cutting logs in the field. 12 A smart frost. Both employed as yesterday. 13 Partially cloudy with a little drizzle. James & Edward went to assist Jack to make a pen. 14 Fine pleasant day. Js & E. returned. Trimming peach trees. 15 White frost. Employed as yesterday. 16 A light frost. Onlizime & Turner killed Viever's black barrow, hauled it home, and let the former have one half of it; it was poor. Jas & Eugine went to the prairie. 17 Warm with a little shower. Jas returned. Trimming peach trees in the orchard. 18 Very pleasant day. Employed as yesterday. 19 Cloudy with a little rain. 20 A very hard rain. In the eveng went with My family to Pantal's to a ball. 21 Some rain. Water very high. Got a ducking in the gully coming home. 22 Fine Pleasant day. 23 Warm. Hauling rails to the field. Rolled logs. 24 Clear warm day. Haulg rails & putting up fence. Planted a few peach trees. 25 Very fine day. cutting corn stalks in the clearing. 26 Cool & Pleasant. Employed as yesterday. Eliza sowed tobacco & other seed. 27 Appearance of rain. Mr. Lee came here. Burning brush heap at old house, etc. 28 A hard rain last night. The day cool. No work. Eliza At Onlizime's. 29 Cloudy with appearance of rain. Mr. Lee read prayers, and delivered a very good sermon; our congregation small. March (Monday) 1 Cloudy & warm. Repairing school house. Did very little work. 2 Some rain last night. Cut a few corn stalks. Ah & Mr. Lee at Jack's. 3 Cloudy with some rain. Mr. Lee commenced school. 4 Cloudy & warm. Sent three carrots tobacco to Antoine. 5 The weather continues the same. Edward took 4 choats and 6 pigs to the big river for Ah Derosier in Pantal's cart. Hauling rail's. Cutting corn stalks. 6 Warm & cloudy with some thunder. Went to the lake with Landry, took dinner at Austin's. Thence to Jacobs. Ploughed for tobacco. 7 Still warm. Settled with Jacob in full, then got a few articles to the amount of 8 or $10.00. Ah killed a hog, he got one half. Returned as far at Austin's. 8 A shower in the afternoon. Returned home. Made some potato hills & planted. 9 Some rain. Edward went to Frank's. Making potato hills & planted. 10 Fine warm day. Let Frank have 35# bacon. Cutting corn stalks. 11 Cloudy, with hard S. wind. Made some potato hills at the old house, and planted them. E. commenced ploughg for planting. Cutting corn stalks. 12 Still cloudy & warm. Planted the ground ploughed at the old house & manured part of it. 13 A hard wind & rain a little before day. No work done today. 14 Fine pleasant day. Mr. Lee gave us a very good sermon; only Sukey here. 15 Quite cool this morning. 16 Warm. At 10 P. M. a hard wind with rain, hail and wind. Planting corn in the old ground. 17 Very cold & wet. No work. 18 A light freeze & some ice. Plantg & manuring. 19&20 Frost both these mornings. Finished plantg (19) Breaking up middles(?). 21 Rain all night. Mr. Lee gave us prayers, and a very good sermon. 22 Fine pleasant day. Breaking up middles and cutting corn stalks. 23 Hard wind & fine day. Employed as yesterday. Beckey here. She rode Ball to Jack's. 24 A very pleasant day. Cutting corn stalks. E. ploughg low land for cotton. 25 Very pleasant day. E. & James penned my wild mare. Cutting corn stalks all day. 26 Continues pleasant. E. & Jas ploughg harrwg. Myself engaged as yesterday. 27 Very warm day. Cut corn stalks in the forenoon. E. & Js. penning horses. 28 Hard wind & partially cloudy. No prayers today; only M. Ann attended. 29 Very blustering day & threatening rain. Cut corn stalks all day. Js. finished ploughg low ground. E. assisting Pantal putting up fence on this side the creek. 30 Rain all the afternoon. Cutting corn stalks in the morng. Js ploughg in the garden. E. at Pantal's. Found my young spotted sow with eight pigs. 31 Very cold day. Commenced laying off ground in the clearg with the beeves. Ball not up. Finished cutting stalks. Planted ?2 hills with draws & some tobacco. April (Thursday) 1 A light frost. Commenced planting my clearing with Ball and the oxen. Feloneeze droppg corn. All my pigs dead. 2 Quite cold in the morning. Finished plantg with Ball. E. lookg for Mr. Alston's horses. 3 Cloudy with a little sprinkle. Made three tobacco ridges. Lee at Adolph's. 4 Blustering wind; rain in the afternoon. Lee gave us prayers & a sermon. 5 Fine pleasant day. James ploughing in the clearing, and Feloneeze harrowing. Edward went a cow hunting. 6 Continues pleasant. Went to Jacobs; met the boys there with th boat. Eliza and Filoneeze planted corn behind the old house. 7 Pleasant cool day. Returned far as Austin's. The boys started for home. 8 Fine day. Returned home James came in the evening. 9 Hauled Onlizime's flour, etc. 10&13 Yesterday a hard rain, and at night the same. Eliza went to Mr. Alston's. 12 Fine day. James and Jake went to Jacobs. Too wet to do any work. 13 Cloudy and hard rain at night. Replanting corn in the old land. 14 Rain all night, cleared off about 11 A. M. No work done today. 15 Very fine day. hoeing and replanting corn. Eugene got the oxen. 16 A little cloudy. Employed as yesterday. 17 Cool with a very hard N. wind. Finished replanting old ground. Mr. Lee & Adolph went to Jacob's. 18 Very cool pleasant day. Lee and Adolph returned at 9 P.M. 19&20 These two days very cold, approaching a frost with a very hard N. W. Working in the garden. Got my flour & corn home. E. & J. took boat back. 21 A light frost, being the 2nd one we have had, which has turned the corn very yellow. Antoine E's bay horse. Hoed corn. The children have had the hooping cough upwards of a week. 22 Turned warm. Replanting corn in the clearing. 23 Cold night & morning, the day pleasant. Finished replanting. Planted cotton yesterday. 24 A hard rain in the forenoon. Hoed a little in the corn in old ground. 25 Very pleasant day. Mr. Foreman preached at Pantal's, all the family there. 26&27 The night & morning quite cool. Finished hoeing corn in old ground. Hoed some in corn at the old house. Planted some cotton, and some rice in old potato ground. 28 Threatening rain. Employed as yesterday. Wrote J. A. W. dated 30th. Received accounts of Pierre's death, he expired this morning. 30 Appearance of rain, and very warm. Hoeing at the old house. May (Saturday) 1 Threatening rain. E. Js & Ah went to Jack's to go a cow hunting. 2 Very warm day. Clearing up rice patch, & hoeing. Got the Berkshire sow up. 4 Very warm day. Got the pen ready to receive Mr. Alston's cattle, they did not pen. Joe Charles came to buy beeves. Hoed a little in the corn and tobacco. 5 Cloudy, with showers. Eliza's Berkshire came up with six pigs. Sent my beeves by Joe Charles. Employed as yesterday. Lee went to Jacobs with Jake. 6 A very fine rain. Hoeing. 7&8 Both days dry and warm. E1iza went to Adolph's. 9&10 Very warm & threatening rain. Finished hoeing corn at the old house. 11 Continues dry & warm. Hoeing potatoes. James ploughing in the old land. 12 Dry & warm. Finished hoeing potatoes. Ploughed in the afternoon. 13 Threatening rain. James ploughg & F. plantg. 14&15 Both very warm days. Finished ploughing old ground. F. & myself hoeing. Lee commenced his skiff. Boys hoeing corn, myself hoeing potatoes at home. Landry working with Lee. 16 Continues warm. At home reading. 17 A fine shower in the evening. Hoeing potatoes at home. Commenced plowing in the clearing. 18 Cool and pleasant. Hoeing potatoes. Adolph assisting me to plough in the clearing. 19 Very warm day, a little rain. The same hands ploughing. James & Jake hoeing. Mr. Jones here. 20 A fine shower last night. A. & E. finished ploughing corn & cotton. Jake & Ja hoeing. 21 A very hard rain at 7 P.M. yesterday. Today clear and warm. Thinning corn at the old house. & transplanting corn and thinning. Lee at work on his skiff. Sowed a few peas where corn was missing. 23 Some appearance of rain, with a little sprinkle. Reading all day. 24 Warm with two light showers to do no good. Very little work done today. 25 A very hard wind & rain this afternoon. James making another penn. F. hoeing cotton. 26&27 Rain both these days. Planted some tobacco. Picking grass out of rice. 28 A very Wet day. Wrote to my Sister Bess, dated 29th inst. & sent it by Frank. 29 Some showers, Killed a yearling. Pantal got a quarter. No other work done. 30 Fine day. At home reading. Eliza went to Adolph's and Pantal's. 31 Very fine day. E. & Landry ploughg cow peas. Cleaning rice at the old house. June (Tuesday) 1 Warm day. All hands finished what they worked at yesterday. Adolph returned from Pujo's yesterday, brot nails for Lee & a pr shoes for James. 2 Still warm. Hoeing cotton and rice. E. ploughed a little at the old house. 3 Continues warm. Planted peas at the old house. Finished hoeing cotton. 4 Some appearance of rain. E. ploughing at pantall's. Hoeing tobacco. 5 Very warm. Lee made a kiln. Hoeing tobacco. Made some potato hills & planted vines. 6 Still dry & warm. At home reading. Eliza at Eugine's. Lee went to Mr. Reeves on black. 7 Dry & warm. Made potato hills planted & watered them. Hoed a little in tobacco. Edward ploughing & sowing peas in the old land. Elizabeth went to the prairie. 8 Cool & dry. Planted five slip rows, and watered them. Edward employed as yesterday. 9 Quite cold last night. Antoine working at loom house. James helping Eugene to plough his potato patch. Made potato hills & planted. 10 Warm day. Not much work done. 11 Continues dry. Lee finished his skiff yesterday. 12 Still dry. Hauled the skiff to the creek. Js Hy & myself went in her; got to Harmon's about 6 P. M. stopped there. 13 A very hard rain when we got in the big river: got to Jacob at 2 PM. 14 Rain all night & some this morning. Left Jacob's at 10 A.M., arrived at the ferry a little after 11 A. M. from thence walked home. Planted what hills were made. 15 Several showers. Feloneeze returned. Planted 4 rows potatoes. Ball not found. 16 Light showers. Made potato hills & planted. E. ploughg & sowing peas in clearing. 17&18 Both very warm days. E. ploughg & sowing peas. Planted potato hills. 19 Very warm. E. ploughing with black. Making "hills" in rice patch. 20 Still warm. Rec'd $36.00 from Mr. Alston for my oxen and a beef sold Joe Charles. (J. Charles refers to Joseph Charles Sallier, oldest son of Charles Sallier, 1st settler in lake). 21 Dry & warm. E. ploughg in the clearing. Making potato hills in the rice patch. 22 Continues dry. Finished planting peas in the clearg. Made some potato hills. 23 Partially cloudy. Went to the prairie in company with Christeen & Eliza; stopped at Franks, took dinner then to Mr. Moss's took a second dinner, thence to Sallrys. Left a letter with Frank fm Mr. Alston. 24 Threatening rain, had a little here. Took dinner wth Sallry, then went to the store, left $48.00 with Madam Pujo, thence to Mr. Moss's. 25 No rain here, had a good shower at little river. Arrived at home about 4 P. M. Planted a few slips. Got my mare up, and Edward's horse. 26 A little shower. Planted some slips. 27 A fine rain at 2 A.M. Made a good day's work planting vines. Adolph plouglg; E. at his house. 28 Some rain. Adolph ploughed cotton & rice. Made & planted potato hills. 29 Rain this morning and a little at 2 P.M. Employed as yesterday. 30 Some rain. Finished ploughing for potatoes in the rice patch. July (Thursday) 1 No rain. Cut some tobacco. Finished planting vines at the house. 2 A little shower. Finished plantg what hills were made in the rice patch. 3 Warm day. Cut some tobacco. Ward paid me a visit. 4 Wind variable & dry. At home reading. E. & Jake returned fm the prairie. 5 Dry & warm. Commenced hoeing rice at the old house. Ward left. 6 Continues dry. Finished hoeing rice, cotton & Js corn. Lee came this evening. 7 A little shower, but did no good. Went over to Onlizime's to see him brand. 8 A remarkable hot day. Corn suffering. Hilled up rice. Black sow came with 4 pigs. 10&11 These three days threatening rain. Eugine at the court house. Very little work done. 12 A fine shower. Lee commenced teaching. 2nd of Eugine returned; brought 20# coffee from Jacob's. 13 A very fine rain at 2 P.M. Black sow, came up with only one pig. 14 Threatening rain. E. went to Hickory. Cut some tobacco. Mending the field. 15 A very fine rain. Eliza went to Pantal's. Hung the tobacco in the house. 16 A hard rain. Started with Eugine to go to the Court House, got as far an his Father's. 17 No rain. Left Onlizime at daylight, got to the ferry @ 9 and to the Court House @ 11 A. M. From thence went to Valentine Moss's, took dinner then to Jacobs. 18 Threatening rain. Took dinner at Jacob Harman's, thence to Austin's. 19 Rain this evening. Ed & James commenced pulling fodder. Returned home. 20&21 Rain both these days. Eliza & Elizabeth started for the lake. 22 Very fine day. Pulled a little fodder in the old ground. 23 Fine day, Pulling fodder. Took in fodder after a little sprinkle. Eliza & Elizabeth returned. 24 Warm day. Put fodder out to dry. Antoine & Soloman went to the prairie. 25 Very hard rain at 5 1/2 P.M. Eliza & Myself went to Adolph's. Got wet coming home. 26 Rain. Antoine returned, brot coffee got at Jacob's. Made first carrot of tobacco. 27 Same rain. E. pulled a little fodder. 28 Very fine day. Pulling fodder all day. 29 Another fine day. Cut a quantity of tobacco. Pulled & tied up fodder. 30 A fine warm day. Finished pulling fodder; James & Jake pulled until 1 A.M. 31 Threatening rain. Got in all my fodder in fine order bundles in all. August (Sunday) 1 Not so warm as these few days pat. Eliza went to the prairie, left here with Mrs. Alston. 2 Fine day. Left home for the prairie at 4 1/2 A.M. took breakfast at Adolph Derosier's, thence to the sale, went to Simion Vincent's in the evening. 3 No rain in the prairie, but a hard one here. Left Sallry's after dinner, stopped a short time at Arty's, then went to Mr. Moss's. Did not go to the store. 4 Fine morning, rain in the eveng. Left for home, took dinner at Frank's, got to Pantal's a little before the rain. Brought a pr shoes home from A. Derosier's. 5&6 Some rain these two days. No work of consequence done. Mr. Lee sick. 7 A little shower. A., E. & Js started a cow hunt. Cut a good deal of tobacco. 8 Threatening rain. At home reading. Sent Hamphries 16 1/2# coffee for A. Derosier. 9 Some very hard showers. Hoeing tobacco. Cow hunters returned. 10 Another hard rain. Boys herding cattle. Adolph killed a yearling he got from Mr. Alston. 11 Some showers this forenoon. All hands gone again with Mr. Alston a cow hunting. 12 No rain today. 13-15 Warm and dry. Cow hunters returned. 16 Threatening rain. Cut tobacco. Had a visit from George Ellender. 17 A very hard rain. Eliza went to Adolph's. E. killed two deer last night. 18 Another hard rain. E A & M. Ann went to Eugine's. E. & Adolph hog hunting. 19 Rain all the forenoon. Mr. Lee did not attend school. 20 A very hard rain. 21&22 No rain. 23 A hard rain. Andrew came up to work. Mr. A. went to Houston's. 24 Very fine day. Andrew commenced work. Adolph at Jack's breaking in corn. 25 Rain yesterday, none to day. Killed a beef yesterday got from Jas. fr old black. 26&27 Fine days. My black sow came up at night with the loss of a choat. Cut tobacco. 28 No rain. Reced a letter fm my Sister. 29 Rain in the afternoon. Eliza went to Mrs. Alston's in the evening. Adolph & Dr. Brosheois went up. 30 Rain Cut tobacco. 31 Rain. September (Wednesday) 1-3 Rain these three days. Js & Levi went to the lake. Mr. Alston better. 4 A little rain. Andrew went home. 5 Eliza cut a little tobacco. At home reading. 6&7 Very fine days. E. James out all day lookg for the oxen. Ah fixed the cart. 8 Fine day. Got my oxen, and killed a fat cow got fm Mr. Alston. Kept all but a quarter. 9 A pleasant day. Put meant out today. Commenced breakg in corn at the old house. 10 Today fine, rain at night. Hauled three loads of corn out of the old ground. 11 A pleasant day. Stackg corn. Pulling corn in new ground. Hauled two loads. 12 Quite a cool day. At home reading. Mary Ann & Adolph still sick. 13 A very pleasant day. Finished Pulling corn. Hauled nearly two loads, in all about 6 1/2. My spotted saw came up with seven pigs. Mary Ann went home. 14 Partially cloudy. Stacking corn. Eliza went to Ah's. Got a 1/2 meat fm Onlizime. 15 Something warmer today. Finished stacking corn. E. & Js at Adolph's haulg corn. 16 Some rain this afternoon. Ed & James at Adolph's 17-20 These four days hard rains. Mr. Lee started at 2 P.M. for the Court House. 21 Cleared off yesterday; today cool & pleasant. Ah & Js brought the oxen up. 22 Turned warm. All the boys at Adolph's gathering the corn in the little field. 23 A hard rain today. The boys assisting Adolph to haul in his corn, he hauled five barrels home for me. 24 More rain. E. & Ah gone a hog hunting. I was very sick last night & so today. 25 A very fine day. Adolph killed two of his choats on the creek again. 26 Cloudy, threatening rain. Took some Ipicac , not sick today. 27 Very fine day. Had a very hard ague & fever, took calomel. Hands picking peas. 28 Fine warm day. Cutting rice. 29 Fine day. Killed a cow at Onlizime's which I got from him for $5.50. Ague again today. Mary Ann & D-ne escaped it. 30 Threatening rain. Tied up rice. E. & Levi went to a ball at Sam Cole's. October (Friday) 1 A hard rain. No peas picked. E & F-reeze went to Reese Perkin's. Boys returned. 2 Threatening rain. all day. Picking peas. 3 Some rain. Eliza at Pantal's. 4 Fine day. Mr. Lee returned. 5 Rain today. Js. & F picking peas at Pantal's. 6&7 A little rain. Js & Jake went to Jacob's. Picking peas at Pantal's both these days. 8 A very wet day. Threshed out what peas were brought fm Pantal's. Spayed five sows yesterday out of the seven choat gang. James returned. 9&10 Both quite cold pleasant days. Got 1/4 meat from Mr. Alston & Onlizime. 11 Morng cold, day pleasant. 12 The day fine; clouded up at night. 13 Cool, and partially cloudy. Found Eliza's black sow, and three young sows, all with pigs, and disposed to be wild. 14 Pleasant. Fed my black sow. 15 Very cool day. Commenced in corn in big crib. Threshed rice. 16 Another cool day. 17 A pleasant day. Got Eliza's blk & spotted sow up with 9 pigs, out of her gang. 18 Continues pleasant. 19&20 Both fine days. Lee sick. Fed my sows. 21 Fine day. Went below stopped at Melia's; he settled with me for five head cattle. 22 Still fine weather. Went to Pujo's, thence home. 23 Pleasant. Mr. Lee went to the prairie. 24&25 The last day a hard rain. Got my beeves and hauled garden pickets. 26 Rain in the morning and cleared off. Eliza put up a piece of cloth. 27 A severe storm and rain. James and Henry helping Adolph to haul boards. 28 Rain in the forenoon, then cleared off. Killed a cow got from Henry. 29&30 Fine cold days. Salted meat. Mr. Lee returned sick. 31 Cool pleasant day. Went to Jacob's; got two sacks salt, a box of soap, etc. November (Monday) 1 A very fine day. Stopped at the ferry. Received a letter fm my Brother with a draft. 2 Still fine weather. From the ferry to the election for President, thence to Arty's. 3&4 Cloudy. From Arty's to Adolph Derosier's next morning returned home. 5&6 Rain. 7 Cleared off. 8 The first frost. Commenced digging potatoes. 9 Cold & drizzly. 10 Frost. Finished digging potatoes at the house. 11 A hard wind and rain at night. Made a potato house. 12 Fine day. Made a cross fence to the garden. Fixed potatoes. Put hogs in potato patch. 13 Cold day. Commenced digging potatoes in the rice patch. 14 Frost. At home reading. 15 Frost. Digging potatoes in the rice patch. 16 Rain last night, the day cloudy. Dug a few hills potatoes. Began lst row corn. 17 Cloudy, disagreeable day. Dug a few potatoes. Ball got hurt three days ago. 18 Cleared off, fine & cold. Went to the prairie with Onlizime. I stopped at Moss's. 19 A smart frost. From Mr. Moss's went to the store, let Pujo have my draft for L 20... stlg, received fm him $25.00, then returned home. 20 A little frost, and clouded up. 21 A very hard rain most of the day. 22 Frost. Commenced feeding my hogs in the rice patch. 23 Cold & cloudy. 24 Rain most of the day and nearly all night. 25 Rain in the morng & cleared off. Killed 3 hogs out of the rice patch. 26 Partially cloudy & cold. Salted my meat. Hauled light wood. 27 A very hard frost. Had a little ball here at night. 28 Frost the first part f the night, then clouded up. All the company left. 29 A little frost. Adolph went to the prairie. 30 Fine cold day. Commenced a letter to my Brother James dated 4th current. Adolph returned. December (Wednesday) 1 Fine cool day. Finished my letter, and sent it by Church. Ball (horse) died. 2 Rain. Mrs. Alston put up ps. cloth. 3 Very fine day Killed four hogs. 4 Some frost. 5 Cold & clouded up very warm. 6 Cloudy. Sent a 4# carrot of tobacco to Mr. Derosier by Antoine. Hard wind & rain at 10 P. M. 7 Very fine cold day. Ah, Jack & Onlizime went to Lake Charles. 8 Some frost. Adolph returned. Employed doing several small jobs. 9 No frost but very cold. Hung up the meat. 10 Cloudy in the forenoon. 11 A very hard frost. Eliza, Catherine & Edward went to Johnson Moss's. 12 Cloudy. 13 Rain all night & part of the day. Eliza & C & Edward got home. 14 Rain most of the night and day. 15 Rain all last night and today. 16 Rain all night nearly, and finished with a hard wind at 10 A.M. 17 Frost. The water rising all day. Killed three hogs early this morning. 18 A smart frost; turned warm. 19&20 Both cloudy warm days, with some rain. 21&22 Both these days cloudy with a little rain. Made an onion bed. 23&24 Cloudy with some rain. Christeen and family here at night. Boys went to Cole's. 25 Continues cloudy & warm. Boys returned at night. 26 Rain day & night. 27 Cloudy, with a hard wind & rain at eveng. We all went to Mr. Alston's. 28&29 Some frost these two mornings, than clouded up (29). 30 Warm cloudy day. Made two beds & planted them. Cutting corn stalks. 31 Rain last night & this morning.