Dec 1844
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DIARYOF ALSON WARD A Short Review of the Past Year
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The past year has been one of unusual excitement in many subjects. Almost any subject that has been capable of producing excitement has been brought before the public mind - Too many to be fairly digested. I will mention a few of the excitable subjects P~Jatic.ks_ .Mi'.J.Jer,ism or the doctrine of the second personal coming of .Gbnst • Mesmerish or ·animal magnatism The acts of the ·Anti renters l?.0].at·ic·s-as·usual has had its excitement being the Presidential election Millerism has produced the greatest excitement especially among the excitable class. The dAdvocates have fixed certain day during almost three years. The edq of the world is truly a subject of interest and excitement. Jan 1945 1. NewYear. Spent the day in the mill Father went to the Valley in the forenoon to attend the meeting at the church. Grandpa and Aunt Clarissa returned with him and took dinner with us rost turkey being the fare for~shuch an occasion. 2. Spent part of the day in the mill and part in the sap bush or grove prostrating the trees to the ground and putting them in shape for drawing to the house being a fresh hand at chopping I made slow progress.Father took charge of the mill most of the day. 3. Spent the day home part of the time in the mill and a part chopping in the sap bush. Last evening sister Mary and myself went to Mr Newcomb~ and spent the evening there Met there Mr Wmand Edward Ross and Miss Tobias spent the evening pleasantly.
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4. Spent the day homemost of the time in the mill picking stones & 5. Sabbath In the forenoon went to church Mr Howpreached. Mr Wile preached at the Hollow. In the evening Father and myself went to the Valley to meeting Father went to the church to religions. I stoped at the stone store to temperance meeting. 6. Spent the day in the mill In the afternoon Father and Mother went to Mr Wiles on a visit Grandpa and Aunt Clarissa went with them. In the evening it commencedsnowing and snowed quite fast at ten oclock. 7. In the morning found the ground fairly.·covered with its silvered mantle perhaps about four inches deep but misting and raining moderately during the day. In the evening went to Mr Thomas giving party the snow being quite moist it packed the sleigh ran well 8. Spent the day drawing wood Drew Mr Wiles a load in the forenoon In the afternoon finished drawing the wood from the sap bush. In the evening Mr and Mrs Wile Mr HowMr Ross and Miss Collins came to our house with the intention of going with us to Mr Mandeville s giving party. Weall went in the horse wood sleigh to~ther. 1
9. Spent the day in the mill. Father and Mother went to Fishkill this afternoon in the s~eigh Miss Josephine Barnes is being married to night I presume she is about by this time bride Mr Wile,married them 10.Spent part of the time in the house and part in the mill Father and Mother returned home from Fishkill in the evening.
