Tuesday, September 5th, 1865

To day I employed the negro man Ned Smith & put him to work plowing up the garden in order to sow some turnip & raddish seeds. I worked a little around the house. My boil is still improving and I am now able to sit down a little. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town after some sugar. We received letters from the up Country, that is, from our relatives at the mills, in which they informed us that our wagons were on the eve of starting down and that we might soon expect them. Weather cloudy & hot with occasional showers of rain.

Monday, September 4th, 1865

To day I am a little better with my boil, and able to work a little. I finished pulling what corn was in the patch and opened the pasture for my horse, Rob. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] drove up town and purchased from Mr. Bristley one dollars worth of sugar on a credit. Col. Wrigley is still confined but improving slowly. Weather variable and hot, with a light rain at night.

Sunday, September 3rd, 1865

To day I remained in the house, being to sorely afflicted with the last boil to stir about or even sit down. Col. Jim Wrigley is still confined to his bed & is very severely salirated. Weather variable and hot.

Saturday, September 2nd, 1865

To day I drove up town in my buggy with Frank Hitchcock, who left on the train for Houston. I then came home and commenced pulling corn out of my little patch, in order to open a pasture. I got from Mr. Jackson 9 lbs of beef, and paid him up in full for all the beef I had heretofore purchased from him, which amounted to the sum of $7.²⁰. I am again afflicted with another boil on my posterior just opposite where the first one came. Weather clear and hot.

Friday, September 1st, 1865

To day I remained at home and worked a little in the garden. Fawn again missed the fever and I believe is now recovered from this present attack. Frank Hitchcock came over from Houston in company with Col. Jim Wrigley who is very sick & now confined to his bed. They both came over in the cars, Frank to see me in relation to cotton matters. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] paid Miss Jinnie Patillo in full for what chickens she had heretofore purchased from her. I am still afflicted with the itch. Weather clear and hot.

Thursday, August 31st, 1865

To day I finished clearing up the garden for the plow. I paid off and discharged the negro woman Ophelia having no use for such worthless free negroes. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] paid Miss Jinnie Patillo for some chickens she purchased from her. Fawn missed the fever. Weather variable & hot. Ther: 82°. Thus closes my notes for the month of August and as it closes the summer months I shall cease noting the state of the thermometer until next summer, should I be spared to live until that period.*






*Note . . . he will indeed survive for one more summer . . . but that summer of 1866 will be his last . . . I have now spent every single day with this man and his writings . . . since the 16th day of January in 2010 . . . I will miss our daily "visits" . . . 

Wednesday, August 30th, 1865

To day I drove down to Clay Stone's and got from him 4.5 lbs of bacon for which I am to pay him 15 cents per pound. I paid Mr. Jackson one dollar for some chickens I purchased from him on the 17th inst. Fawn had fever. Ophelia was sick all day. I worked a little in the garden preparing to sew some turnip seed. Weather cloudy & warm. Ther: 80°.