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A Tale Of Drunkenness

July 13, 2017 By eastwickpress

Friday, November 20, 1840: Today I packed my cheese in flour barrels in my celler, about ninety in number, and we have ten more that is not dried yet.[Private]Saturday: I tended to chores and we yoked the steers and drove them and this afternoon I took the team and carried my wife to Lebanon and got her silk hat that Mrs. Brewer had made over and I paid one dollar and 25 cts for making the hat to Mrs Brewer and I called to Edwin E. Griggs store and paid 44 cts for Smith’s Arithmetic for Geo P.

Sunday: A rain and blow.

Monday: I tended to chores and chopped sausage meat. At night stormy and I took the wagon and fetched the children from school. Today Fleetus Pierce began to board with me and have his washing and pay one dollar per week. He goes to school, and on this evening Fleetus Pierce went with me to Mr. John Russel’s to let him know that Daniel Harrison told James M. Glass that Mr. J. Russel drank so much that he could not work in the afternoon or was not able to work and said Glass told me of it in my cider mill house and told me that said Russel lay drunk under the fence all the afternoon and now said Glass denies telling me that he told me that Russel lay drunk and under the fence but acknowledges he told me the rest what Fleetus heard Daniel told him.

Tuesday: I chopped and drew a load of wood from my Rodgers farm to the school house and drew a load home.

Thursday, Dec. 3: We butchered a cow for beef. Mr. Aaron Merrels and Platt Wylie butchered for me, said Merrels helped for my drawing wood for him the other day and P. Wylie helped and take his pay in beef. Tonight Mr. Spear, singing school at our school house.

Friday: I cut up and salted my beef.

Saturday: Today I took my two horse wagon and carried my large stove from Mr. Aaron Merrels to the school house and Frederick Russel and Manuel Buten and Alonzo Rodgers helped put the stove up. I chopped wood a spell to the school house and I drew a load of wood from my swamp.

Sunday: Today Peter Surdam came and paid me eight dollars towards his child’s board. Today quite a snow storm.

Monday: This morning I took my horse team and carried my children to school, it was quite good sleighing. I then went over onto my Rodgers farm after a load of wood. At night I took the sleigh and went to school after my children, and this evening my children went to singing school to Benj. Goodrich’s with my sleigh and horses.[/Private]

Filed Under: George Holcomb

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