eneral Interest

Housewife’s Diary

The following excerpts are from the diary of Charlotte Ives. Mrs. Ives was a North Tryon housewife with a husband George; a sister Lizzie; and two teenage sons at home, John age 18, and Bruce age 15; and a third son Everett working in Montague. The Ives family operated the saw mill.

Wednesday, October 11, 1899.

A lovely fine morning. I was up at quarter past three. George went to Summerside. Lizzie made a pot of soap. Bruce is picking potatoes. John filled his tick with straw and shook the mats. I swept up stairs and down.

October 12, 1899.

John is out sporting on his wheel. October 13, 1899.

Larry ploughed out our potatoes this afternoon. Eight picked, paid them 25 cents each. October 15, 1899.

John went up to Albany he lost his cap inJim Cameron’s turnips last night. He went up this morning to see if he could find it. It is blowing a gale.

November I, 1899.

I went up to Summerside. Lizzie is doing over my black bask. I got a new hat, cost one dollar ten cents. November 2, 1899.

DJ. Thomson lost a mare yesterday had inflammation. We churned yesterday. I got 2 spools of crochet silk at 25c to make a tie, got shirts and linders and drawers for Bruce.

November, Saturday 4th, 1899.

I got 5 yards of pink flannelette at ten cents a yard. Lizzie done over my black French merino bask, put the old gold and rose silk handker- chief in the front of it that was sent to me from Boston about ten years ago.

November 6th, 1899.

A dull day. I wasth today hung the colored clothes up the back stairs, put the white ones to soak in the tub. Showery all day. John harnessed up Nell for me and I drove to Victoria for Lizzie. November 10th, 1899.

Bruce got a new suit it cost $4.00 he also got a pair of boots $2.25 and a piece of corduroy for a pair of pants.

163