W.E.Costley at home near Middle Bosque

		Sunday the Lords day which we are commanded to neither work no (nor) 
			play for it is gods holey day December the 2 th AD 1900 hundred opened 
			up quite a cool morning clear and bright with the exception of a low 
			cloud in the south east. wind rather from the South very cool and damp 
			under foot coused from a heavey dew that fell on the night just passed.
			The thermometer registers at and earley hour to day at even 40  Degrees
			tempature. my wife and my Self were out of bed rather late this morning
			as we were all a lone and being the Sabbath day of our lord AD 1900 
			hundred although after So long a time we arose from our bed of Slumber 
			put on our clothes then went to work to prepare the mornings meal . 
			after getting of it Served and on the table we then portaken of the 
			same when we were through with our meal my wife taken care of her 
			breakfast table and put evry thing a bout her Kitchen in good order 
			a gain whilst i fed the fattening hogs and done other Shores (chores) 
			a round the place. Then my wife Set our Sleeping department in good 
			repare for the day. when i was through i then wote (wrote) a letter to 
			Virginia Frownfelter at Joshua Johnson County Texas. at or near one 
			Oclock we portaken of our noons meal after we were through i then with 
			the help of my wife walked out to the cornfield and gathered Some corn
			to feed the teem and hogs on i then then taken the feed down to the 
			bottom field watered then fed my teem; after i was through i walked 
			back too my house then taken a rest as i was Some what worried from 
			my walk after a bit Lum Costley come over from Maddoxes to See how 
			we were getting a long he remained with us Some too hours then 
			departed for Maddoxes where he is now living during the time he was 
			here. he cut up Some wood to burn about the time he was leaving Mr 
			and Mrs Finne come to See us and remained for Some bit then departed 
			to there place of a bode after they had left my wife and my Self taken
			care of the milk calves and fed them and the hogs and cows So that 
			ended the out door work, my wife prepared a Snack for us to eat after 
			being Served we then portaken of the Same. when through and the table 
			cared for we then taken our rest again before going to bed. at or near 
			nightfall it become very cloudey and the wind changed to the South west
			and blew very Strong and also in a very Short while become very cool. 
			now as it is time to retire to our bed or repose we ask the Lord to 
			gard and protect us through the present night as he has through the 
			day just past and gone And when done with these frail bodys of ours to 
			hand us down too our grave in peace with the (Thee) and all man Kind 
			and in heaven Save us is my prayer to night. Amen

				         W.E. Costley at home near middle Bosque Creek
			Monday December the 3dh AD 1900 hundred Opened up a blustry morning 
			wind from the north west brisk and cool Some what cloudey appearance 
			of Severe weather. Thermometer registers at an earley hour this morning
			at even 40  Degrees tempature. My wife and my Self were out of bed 
			quite late this morning as it was Some what cool and we were too old 
			to get up in the cold but eventually we a rose from our bed of Slumber 
			put on our clothes then went to work to prepare our mornings meal when 
			Served we then Seated our Selves too the fire and portaken of the 
			mornings meal as it was Some what too cool to go to the table when we 
			were through with our meal i then fed the milk calves then. fed our 
			fattering hogs i then come in doors washed then put a way the dishes 
			that was used at our morning meal then put the house in good order for
			the time being . as my wife wanted to quilt on her quilt that She put 
			up on thanksgiving day and at this writing She Shurley is plowing the 
			furrows in too her quilt with (t)he needle and thread if it is cold 
			and blustry whilst i am here marking down time as it passes a way 
			never to return again. As the day passes a way it appears as the wind 
			grows Stronger from Same direction. at or near half past Eleven Oclock
			i walked down to the turnup patch then gathered a mess of turnups and
			greens brought them too the house then prepared them for the cook pot. 
			after getting them readey my wife Stoped off quilting then put them 
			onto cook then Kept on untill She prepared the meal after it was Served
			and on the table we then Seated our Selves too the table and just Such 
			dinner we did Eat having turnups and tur(n)up greens boiled with the 
			best of bacon and good potliquar. for our meal besides the best of 
			butter and butter milk and coffee and the finest of corn bread equal to
			a wedding Supper after we were through with our meal my wife and my 
			self taken Some corne to the bottom field then watered an fed the teem 
			then returned back to (t)he house then milked the cows washed and dried
			the dishes then prepared night wood for night and morning afterwards i 
			gathered corn out of the field then fed the fattening hogs i then
			brought the wood indoors. So that ended the out door work after feeding
			the calves and cows we then eat our evening meal. after the meal was 
			over with and the vesels that we eat out ove (of) was put a way we then
			enjoyed Sitting by a warm fire for ever So lond (long) after becoming 
			Sleepy and tiard we departed to our bed of repose by first asking the 
			lord to gard and protect us through the present night as he has through
			the day just passed and gone. and when done with these frail bodys of 
			ours to hand us down to our grave in peace with the (Thee) and all man 
			Kind and in heaven Save us is my prayer to night - Amen

        				W.E.Costley. at.home.near.middle.Bosque
			Tuesday December the 4th AD 1900-hundred opened up quite a cold morning
			very calm wind not Sturing but when it Sprung up it was from the N.W. 
			heavey freeze also heavey frost. my wife and my Self were quite late 
			in arising from our bed of Slumber on the account of the cold weather 
			and my wife not being very well but after So long a while we a rose 
			from our bed of rest put on our clothing then went to work as usual to 
			prepare our mornings meal after getting of it Served we then eat the 
			Same by our fire Side as it was too cold for the old people to eat a 
			way from the fire after we was through with our meal we then put a way 
			our dishes and in a Short while they were washed and put a way in good 
			order then we fed the Stock that was up Such as the hogs calves and cows 
			the next on hand to do was to unload the wagon of Seed that is cotton 
			Seed after getting the dishes washed and put away and the house swept up 
			and put in order for the day. my wife went to work to prepare the noon 
			meal, whilst i walked down to EDCostleys field and brought up my teem 
			then put the geer on him or them at least by that time my wife had the 
			noons meal Served and on the table we then Seated our Selves to the table 
			then portaken of the Same when through with our meal. i then hitched my 
			teem too the wagon. my wife and my Self mounted in the wagon then drove 
			for Crawford to get Something in the Shape of a box to put Some oats in 
			but failed and had to by Some barrels. After getting of what we went 
			after we then mounted in our wagon then drove for our place of a bode 
			after arriving at home. i ungeered and fed my teem. then gathered Some 
			corne out of the field and fed the fatening hogs and the fowls. by that 
			time Mr Prock come over to let my Know that he had declined (against) 
			the edier (idea) of planting any more wheat. and would not take what 
			he had borgained to take from me So i paid him for what cotton that 
			his children had picked for me this fall and he departed for his place 
			of a bode. my wife and my Self Staked the calves out to grass. So that 
			ended our out doors work as i had Supplied the house with wood through 
			the day we then come in doors and then prepared our evenings meal, after
			getting of it Served and on the table we Seated our Selves too the table 
			then portaken of the Same. when through and the Suppertable cared far we 
			then moved in to our bed room by a good fire and enjoyed the Same for 
			a bout too hours then departed to our bed of Slumber by first asking the 
			Lord to gard and protect us through the present night as he has through 
			the day just passed and gone, and when done with these frail bodys of ours, 
			to hand us down to our grave in peace with the (Thee) and all man Kind and 
			in heaven Save us is my Prayer to night-Amen

					W.E.Costley at home near Middle Bosque creek
			Wednesdy December the 5th A D 1900 hundred Opened up quite a cool 
			morning with considerable frost pirfectly clear wind Sturing very 
			hardley Strong enough to tell which direction it is from but 
			eventually it Showed to be from the South. The thermometer registers 
			at this writing being nine Oclock A m. of Said day at 44 degrees 
			tempature with a prospect of a nice day. my wife and my Self were 
			out of bed quite late this morning on the account of being Some 
			what cool and my wife being Sick with a bad cold and fever through 
			the night but at last i a rose from my bed of Slumber put my clothes 
			on then went to work to prepare the mornings meal after getting to 
			work i Soon had the meal cook and placed before the fire to be eaten 
			by than my wife had a rose from her bed of Slumber dressed her Slef 
			(Self) then we eat our meal in front of a good fire. as it was too 
			cool for the old folks to eat a way from the fire. after getting 
			through with our meal i then put on water to wash the dishes and 
			while heating i fed the fatening (fattening) hogs after i was 
			through i gathered Some corn for the fowls from that part of the 
			work i come in doors washed and put a way the dish then put the 
			house in good fix to begin on when through i Seated my Self down 
			by my desk and taken a minute of what had been done this far up 
			in the day. After my wife had drank Some caffee and eat a few 
			bites she had to take her bed again as She become Sick at the 
			Stomache and could not Sit up I then taken a round out in the 
			bushes and brush looking for hens nest but could not find a one i 
			then come back in the house and Shelled a lot of corn for the 
			fowls. to eat to day. as i feed them once on corn and once of 
			wheat. and then They appeared to be Starved to death.. the wind 
			appears to be getting some Stronger at a bout noon to day. and 
			the Sun Shines very bright pirfectly clear. and is turning some 
			what warmer as the day passes a way by the hole a nice day 
			Something Simular to Spring of the year orn planting time. fine 
			weather on wheat. at about too Oclock i put on turnup greens to 
			cook after getting of them  on i walked down to E D Costleys 
			bottom field caught then watered my teem.  After they drank i 
			brought them to my house a(nd) then pup ( put) the geer on them 
			hitched them to my wagon put the barrel in the wagon mounted my 
			Self in the wagon then drove too the Middle Bosque after a barrel 
			of water after filling of the barrel with water i then drove back 
			to my place ungeered my teem then gave them a bundle of Sheaf  
			Oats i then come in doors then eat my noons meal as the turnup 
			greens were cooked and my wife through her febleness had baked a 
			hol (whole) cake of bread  saving me of the trouble So we Seated 
			our Selves to the table then portaken of the Same. when through 
			we Stacked the dishes untill later on as it was getting Some what 
			late in the evening So we then milked the cows after we were through 
			i then fed them and the next work to do was to take my teem to E.D. 
			Costleys bottom field and turned them in to graze to night after 
			i returned to the house i then prepared wood for night and morning 
			then brought it in doors So that ended the out door labor for to 
			day, as my wife had put the milk calves in the Stall and Stable and 
			fed them I then come in doors and taken a warm as it had clouded up 
			and the wind had changed too the north and had become Some what 
			cooler than it had been all day. after getting my feet warm i then 
			taken a Seat at my desk and finished recording the events of to days 
			labor. my wife is quite poorley to night although She has been up part 
			of to day. She had to retire to her bed quite earley this evening a 
			She felt as though She was going to have a chill as She had been 
			Stiring a round too much in the raw wind this evening . not being 
			very well. Now as i am through with with all our labor to day we 
			will depart to our bed of rest by first asking the Lord to gard and 
			protect us through the present nigh as he has through the day just 
			passed and gone and when done with our frail bodys to hand us down 
			to our grave in peace and in heaven Save us is my prayer to night
			  - Amen

				    W.E. Costley. at. home. near Middle bosque creek 
			Thursday December the 6th A D 1900 hundred Opened up quite a nice 
			"'' Morning wind from the         The thermometer register at a bout 
			nine Oclock in the forenoon of to day at 50  Degrees tempature. my 
			wife and my Self we were out of our out of our bed of repose quite 
			late this morning as neither one of us were well out at last .i Sumed 
			up courage enough to arise from my bed of rest and put on my clothes. 
			After getting clothed i then went to work to prepare the mornings meal.
			as my wife was not able to do the cooking Sick but not confined to the
			bed all the while. So at last i made the trip in Serving the meal 
			after getting of it Served and on the table we then taken our Seats 
			to the table then eat our morning meal but my wife was too feble to 
			eat. much but i made out a hearty meal on turnup greens bacon bred 
			butter and good Strong coffee after i were through with my mornings 
			meal i then Stacked up my dishes then fed the fattening hogs i then 
			come back in doors put the dishwater on to heat to wash the dishes 
			after it had warned up i then went went to work to cleaning up the 
			Kitchen and putting evry (thing) in good order for the next meal i 
			then proceeded to chop up Some fire place wood for to day and night 
			and morning as i will be too much crouded to wait later on as i have 
			no one to help me and i am quite feble all the while but gradually 
			growing Some better at or near one Oclock to day i taken a Sack. 
			walked out in too my cornfield and gathered Some corn to feed my 
			teem hogs and fowls.  Afterwards i prepared our noons meal after 
			getting of it readey and on the table my wife and my wife (Self) 
			Seated our Selves too the table then portaken of our noons meal 
			when through i taken care of the table and arrayed (arranged) evry 
			thing all all right i then Shucked corne for my teem and taken it 
			to E.D.Costleys botton. field and watered and fed my teem then rode 
			over to Crawford for a bottle of chill Tonic. After i had purchased 
			the tonic and . and received my mail. i then rode back home unSaddled 
			my horse. then fed the cows some cotton Seed and oat Straw I then fed
			the fattening hogs afterward i Shuched then taken the corn that i had 
			Shucked down to E.D. Costleys botton field then fed my teem walked 
			back to my house and Staked the milk calves out to grass. then 
			brought the wood in doors for night and morning So as it is late 
			that Ended the work out doors. So i come in doors then prepared a 
			good fire. by that time. my wife had our evenings meal Served on the 
			table readey for to be eat we then alone Seated our Selves too the 
			table then portaken of our evenings meal. After we were through with 
			our meal i taken care of the Supper table as my wife was yet feble af
			(after) i was through i then moved into our bed room Seated my Self 
			down at my desk then finished recording the labors of the day my wife 
			is a great deal better in her Sickness then She was on last night at 
			this time. She is able to read the news to night which She is doing 
			at this writing as i brought Some waco papers home with me this 
			evening from Crawford. this day ended very nicely as it was very 
			clear and bright. and the Sun Sit with out a Shadow of a cloud to 
			prevent the Sight of it passing out of Sight. Now as we are done 
			with the toiles of the day we will depart to our bed of repose by
			first calling on the Lord to gard and protect us through the present
			night, as he has through the day just passed and gone, And when done
			with these frail body of ours to hand us down to our grave in peace
			with the (Thee) and all man Kind and in heaven Save us is my prayer
			To night Amen-

   				 W.E.Costley at home near Middle Bosque creek 
			Friday December the 7th AD 1900 hundred Opened up with quite a brisk 
			norther some what cloudy but So much So as to Keep the Sun from Shining
			out nicely. The thermometer this morning is registered 48  Degrees 
			Tempature. Well as and old Saying and has been for some time back as 
			the Old folks are old and Some what feble besides we were out of bed 
			quite late again this morning but after a rising from our bed of 
			Slumber we dressed our Selves then went to work to prepare our morsel 
			of food for our mornings meal. after getting of it readey we Seated our
 			Selves to the table then portaken of the Same when through with our 
			meal i Stacked up the dishes untill i could feed the fattening hogs 
			and to do Some other work a round the place be fore i could wash the 
			dishes and put evry thing in good order for the day, my wife as she 
			was Some what puney She remained by the fire and pieced on her quilt. 
			i Shuffled a round the best i could and got up a little wood as i 
			was out then cleaned up the dishes and put the Kitchen and Sleeping 
			department in order for the balance of the day, as i have to be Cheef 
			(chief) cook and bottle washer for the present time to come now as the 
			Aday is passing a way rapedley i have to hurry up I have gathered too 
			Sackes of corne to feed on to day and also watered and brought my teem 
			from the bottom field and fed them I then come in doors taken my Seat 
			by my desk. and also taken the advantage of the times during the time 
			of my wife preparing our noons meal and made a Statement of what had 
			been up to too Oclock to day by that time my wife had the noons meal 
			Served on the table readey for to be eat So we Seated our Selves to 
			the table all a lone then portaken of the noons meal. after we were 
			through i Stacked the dishes a way untill i could drag up Some wood 
			as i was with out. after we was through with the meal i then geered 
			my horse taken him down too the well hitched him too a lot of poles 
			then made him drag them too the house for wood after getting them too 
			the house i ungeered my horse tied him up then cut the powles (poles) 
			into fire length and brought the wood in doors from that part of the 
			work i brought the milk calves in for my wife So She could milk her 
			cows. afterwards i Shelled fifteen years (ears) of corn then gave it 
			too the fowls, from that part of the work i then walked out to the hay
			Stack and filled 2 oat Sack with the Straw then gave it too the Cows,
			then brought the calves in too the Stalls and fed them then the next 
			work to do was to fasten up the chickens which ended the out door work
			for to day, I then returned in doors and eat my evenings meal as my 
			wife in her febleness had prepared the Same After it was Served and
			 readey for to be eat we then eat the Same in front of a good fire 
			when though we Stacked what few dishes we had used a way till morning 
			as there were not enough to fool a way time to heat water to wash them,
			So that ended the eating part for to day we then enjoyed Sitting by 
			a good fire for Some too hours talking over our past Sorrows and joys 
			in our past life. the Sun Sit be hind a very red looking cloud this 
			evening. denoting bad weather and at the wind up of to day it become 
			very cloudey and much cooler than it was in the fore part of the day. 
			about the time we were in a good way talking John Tubbs cattle come up
			too my house through my field So i had to take my lamp and dog and run 
			them out they crossed over in too procks field that he had rented from 
			John Tubbs. now as the days work is done and we are Some what sleepy
			we will go too our bed of rest by first asking the Lord to gard and 
			protect us through the present night as he has through the day just 
			passed and gone and when done with these frail bodys of ours to hand 
			us down too our grave in peace with the (Thee) and all man Kind and 
			in heaven Save us is my prayer to night-Amen

foreword   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8   9   10   11   12   13   14  
15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29  

[NEXT ]


copyright 2003-09 Carol Costley Rabun and Harry Diamond Jr