Thursday, December 24th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work on the stables. I sent John over to Rives' still after the demijohn & wallet also for some whiskey but he did not get any in consequence of the still house having been robbed the night before. I ground 12 bushels of corn, and Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 3 bushels of wheat. In the evening Capt. Peacock and I rode down to Fathers [Joshua James Hall] and back. Times are quite brisk at the house preparing for Christmas dinner. Weather changeable & cool with occasional showers of rain.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog.

Tuesday, December 22nd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work on the stables. I sent John across the Trinity river with Father [Joshua James Hall] to Rives' still after some whiskey, but they did not get any. they left my demijohn and wallet over there which will cost another trip. I ground 24 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy and warm with a hard rain at night.