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October 1918
1st
Oct. Tues. Clouds chasing the sunshine most all day so far 4-30.
2d
Wed. Cloudy and warmer. It was cool last evening.
3d
Thurs. Foggy and warm. John came around and put in the new lining
for my heater that belongs to him. Cloudy - P.M. The mail came in
earlier than usual, today, am glad to say.
4th
Fri. Fair, mostly. There were 1 white (Lou. Sawyer) and five (5)
colored men buried in
Fairfield today – subjects of Spanish influenza. I hear that not enough
are well, there to wait on the sick. Several have it here – (Swan Qr).
It is in all the camps, I think. My boy is at
Camp Meade,
Md.
5th
Sat. Fair. Usual routine, and nothing of interest to record.
6th
Sunday bright and fair. Jno. Mad. came around to say his “Mama
said come and take dinner with her today.” I sent her a Molasses-Ginger
Cake I baked for her, yesterday. No S.S. on acct. (?) of the prevalence
of the Spanish Influenza. It is warm, today.
7th
Mon. Cloudy, somewhat. Occasional sunshine thru the day. Mamie
is around here now – 4-30 P.M. No mail boat tonight. Don’t know why.
Colder.
8th
Tues. Fair. No mail-boat yet. Cool, this m. The boat came in about
9-30; it was delayed in the Bay at the Haul Over, on acct. of trouble with
the pipe - it was stopt up.
9th
Wed. Mostly, or partly fair. The Donnell Farm Sale comes off today. The
Atlantic Realty Co. is to sell it: their band played on the corner, here,
this morning. The Donnell Farm Sale amounted to about $12,000.00
10th
Thurs. Fair and cold. Not all of that Farm was sold, I learned.
11th
Fri. Fair and pleasant. Mamie has a case of tonsilitis.
Joshua Cahoon, son of C.E. Cahoon was brot. in tonight, a
corpse: he died of pneumonia after influenza, at
Camp Sevier. A soldier came with him.
12th
Sat. Somewhat cloudy. “Liberty
Day”. I assisted Bro. Grant in the burial service over Joshua
Cahoon at his father’s home. Cloudy this P.M. A sprinkling rain
about sundown. It is right warm tonight.
13th
Sunday Partly fair: warmer. No S. S. today, - influenza scare and no
church service. Mamie sent Charles around to see if I was
going there for dinner: I went. It is cloudy this afternoon.
14
Mon. North wind. cold & cloudy. No service last night, either. This is
court week, here; Judge W.M. Bond, presiding. Adjourned at the
morning session, and cases continued until the next term. Influenza
played a large part in the adjourning of the court. Fair this P.M.
15th
Tues. Fair & cool. J. Mad., Lucile and Charles spent a while with
me this morning. Oiled my T-writer this evening.
16th
Wed. Fair and cool. Cold last night. Nothing doing with recording.
17th
Thurs. Fair & warmer. Painted a sugar sign for A D. Tunnell .47
cents.
18th
Fri. Fair and warm
19th
Sat. Fair, mostly, and windy.
20th
Sunday Mostly cloudy, and warmer than last evening. No S.S., or Church
service, today, on acct. of sickness and influenza. It is raining
tonight. There has been no rain in some time.
21st
Mon. Rainy, but not much: warm. The rain was needed, I think.
22d
Tues. Fair and colder: fair last night. The Allies in
Europe are still victorious, thank the Lord. This morning I drew my check
for my last dollar in The Bank of Hyde - $2.15. I saw two men
sitting in the sunshine – Mr. C.A. Jones who is just out of a case
of the influenza, and Mr. Will Watson. I showed my ck. to Bro.
Jones and said “ I am drawing my last dollar out of the Bank”, or
words to that effect. Mr. Watson said, “Give me a blank check”: I
handed him a ck. book, and he drew a check for $5.00 (he owed me for Pecan
trees) and gave it to me. I drew the last dollar, and deposited the $5.00
check. Minnie Grant bro’t. me a note from her Papa, in which he
asked me to take his place at the burial of Norwood Harris, about 2
½ miles out. I went in Grant’s car, (Grant is sick) driven
by Carlos Berry. Service at the grave only. I made the first
fire, in my relined heater, tonight. It has new lining, new elbows (3) –
no joints, a new leg and damper handle. The linseed oil on it is smoking
off and filling the room. It works O.K.
23d
Wed. Fair and cold.
24th
Thurs. Cloudy and warmer. Just as I was thru cooking my breakfast,
(9-50) Artis Carrawan came and asked me to go burry his father’s
baby (9 mos.) I ate breakfast before going. While I was out,
Mamie and Chas. came. I left them in charge of the house. She made
up my bed, as I requested. Artis C. carried, and brought me back;
returned at 11-30.
25th
Fri. Cloudy and warm.
26th
Sat. Fair and cooler. Nothing else.
27th
Sunday Partly cloudy. Clocks & watches are
to be moved back an hour to-day,
or at midnight, to Almanac time. No S.S. or Church, today.
28th
Mon. Partly cloudy: pleasant morning. Faired off pretty warm.
29th
Tues. We are having a morning shower: a rain is needed. I began taking
milk from E.O Spencer’s, this m. Quite warm today & cloudy.
30th
Wed. Fair and warm. Onslow Howard brot. me the regular bottle of
milk, this m., as they are now able to re-supply me. This morning, I
borrow Dan Berry’s horse and buggy & drove “over the Creek”.
31st
Thursday
Raining at 7, A.M. and before. I borrowed $30.00 from the B’k today, on
Weston’s Liberty Loan Bond. First I ever borrowed from a bank.
November 1918
1st
Fri. Fair and much cooler. Mamie and Lucile came around about 3
P.M. and L. begged to “come on, and let’s go”, that M. had
to go with her after about a 15 min. stay. It is right cool, this
evening: no fire yet.
2d
Sat. Fair and cold. Breakfast, unexpectedly, with Mr. S.S. Lupton.
3rd
Sunday Fair and cold. No S.S. or Church service today, as it is
prohibited by county order, on acct. of the influenza. The lid may be
raised tomorrow at Co. Coms Mtg.
4th
Mon. Fair. Austria has quit fighting.
5th
Tues.
Fair and windy, growing cloudy in N. Election Day. I voted the
straight Dem. ticket except for one on the county ticket. It is
reported, to-night, that Germany has surrendered:
that a telegram received today so stated. I truly hope it is true.
6th
Wed. Fair and cool. Above report proves the usual fake.
7th
Thurs. Cold and cloudy.
8th
Fri. Fair and Frosty and cool. “False Report on Armistice Biggest Hoak
Recent Years”. Fighting going on yet. Republicans have a majority in
Congress; prob. tie in Senate.
9th
Sat. Partly cloudy. Usual Saturday duties; Nothing of interest.
10th
Sunday Somewhat cloudy: continued warm weather Increasing cloudiness
before 9-30. We had Sunday School and Church Service, this m. for the
first time in over a month. Bro. Grant, P. C. announced that I
would preach tonight. He goes to Soules. It is now 12-30 and looks like
a rain is on hand. No rain today, here. I preached tonight on david’s
Lament for Absalom.
11th
Mon. Fair and colder. As requested by the Prin. of our High School (Miss
Maysel Lupton) I conducted the morning exercise for her, this
morning. Another telegram says, Germany has signed the Armistice terms.
I thank God, sincerely, that several have spoken in high terms of my
sermon last night. I am so glad I can render a service to God and man;
but I am such a weak instrument.
“Glory to God In the Highest”.
The War, Is Over, Over There!!
Germany Has Signed Terms of Armistice”. The Kaiser Is a Refugee,
fled to Holland. “The World War Ended
This Morning at 6:00 O’clock.”
Thank God!!!!! The children are celebrating, tonight, bells, tin
pans, hollowing, Bells ring, guns fired, speaches made. Hurrah!!!
The 4th Qr. Conf. held this 5 P.M. Rev. C.L Read, P. E.
here & presiding.
12th
Tues. Mostly fair. All quiet, this morning. Increasing cloudiness;
windy from N.. Our News & Observer failed us tonight, sorry to
say.
13th
Wed. Cloudy and cool. Cleared later.
14th
Thur. Fair & frosty. Mamie and Charles spent an hour or more with
me, this morning.
15th
Fri. Fair, Foggy, Frosty early this m. Has been a pleasant day.
16th
Sat. Cloudy & warmer. Raining at 3 P.M. I made a mince-pie for my
Sunday dinner: it looks O.K. It’s the 1st (?) I have made.
17th
Sunday First cloudy then fairing: warm. Service tonight.
18th
Mon. Fair since 7-15 a.m. Mamie went to church with me last
night. The service was a “Praise for Peace” service. Grant, I. &
Guthrie made short talks on the subject. There was a rain in the
night, I see.
19th
Tues. Fair and colder. I changed my underwear, last night, by putting on
an old union suit so as to have a gradual change from thin to thick. More
comfortable, now, than the legless, armless, summer suit.
20th
Wed. Fair and, not as cold today. I lettered a nice sign for “The
Women’s Auxiliary”, of the Episcopal Church, today: am to get 2 Thrift
Stamps for it. Bro. Grant spent a while here, tonight.
21st
Thurs. Fair and some warmer (?). Grant wants me to collect bal.
on his Conf. Collections; and I will try to raise $75.00, here. Ate
dinner at Mamie’s today. Mrs. Holderby & 2 children are
there, from Wilson, N. C. (John’s sister)
22d
Fri. Cloudy & warmer. Some sunshine this P.M. Went to the salad
& Jelly & cake affair, this P.M. – 4 +, and ate only Jelly & cake. I was
disappointed in not being permitted to pay for it, as I expected to do.
The ladies said it was their treat, and refused the offered pay.
23d
Sat. Cloudy and colder. I attended a social gathering of our Bible
Class, last night, at D.L. Berry’s. 9 women, 3 men, and 2 little
girls were there. Changed to full winter wear this P.M.
24th
Sunday
Cold and cloudy. Began to rain while in S.S. and is raining now – 12:35,
and rained to near night: disagr’ day.
25th
Mon. Fair, but not clear: red sky about sunrise. Not as cold.
26th
Tues. Partly fair, and colder. No incident to record for today.
27th
Wed. Cloudy and warmer
28th
Thurs. Cloudy & warm. THANKS-GIVING
DAY
Raining, at 10, A.M. and on. This is a happy Thanks-Giving
day, if it is disagreeable weather. The Lord met
me at my morning prayer and anointed
me with the oil of gladness,
and I rejoiced greatly in his presence.
About noon, Mamie sent, by “John Madison”, two pieces of
potato pie; and I am baking a plain cake. Rain prevented service in our
Church, this morning, sorry to say. Two years ago, today, q.v., I was
with sweet little Mildred, in Rich Square. The cake and pie were a
good desert; I had a pretty good dinner.
29th
Fri. Fairest: pleasant.
30th
Sat. Cloudy. A letter from my boy said he would be here Christmas Day.
Thank the dear Lord. I hope to see him then: haven’t seen him in six
years & over.
December
Dec. 1st
Sunday mostly cloudy. Dinner at Mamie’s, today. I attended
morning service in the Disciples’ Church, after our Sunday School. At
service in our church, tonight. Rain while we were in the church.
2d
Mon. Very disagreeable weather, this m. I heard that there was snow
falling just after I got in the church last night. I cut out some 6- in.
letters for Capt. Zack Boyd’s vessel – Sea–Gull. This has been a
very disagreeable day. Mail boat late tonight.
3d
Tues. Fair, this m., but see O. how muddy!
4th
Wed. Fair & colder. Went to Mamie’s and found her up but sick. I
ate dinner there. I went to get John to trim my hair, or shave my
neck, as I had cut my own hair with a “Hair Cutter”. Right good Job.
5th
Thurs. Fair & colder. Mamie has the influenza. May the
Lord spare my child, and restore her to health and service.
6th
Fri. Fair, A.M., cloudy, P.M. Mamie is feeling some better. I swept and
straightened up two rooms - her bedroom and the sitting, or dining room,
and swept the steps inside; and made a fire and carried up wood. My back
has been feeling the effects of the turn of the wood, I suppose. Went to
see her tonight: she says she is better. Hope it is not the “flu”.
7th
Sat. Fair & colder. Mamie is up, and I trust the worst is over.
8th
Sunday Mostly cloudy and warmer. At S.S. & Church service.
Mamie
cooked breakfast, this m. and is certainly improving.
9th
Mon. Fair. Bro. Grant preached his last sermon, before
conference, last night, as pastor of S. Qr. Circuit. 7 P.M. I
am getting ready to start to Conf. tomorrow. Going on the “Mot” to
Washington. Bro. Grant gave me $5.00 for collecting the Conf.
collections: lack $19.35 getting the full amount. Rev S.A.
Nettles of Fairfield & Will Watson spent a while with me
tonight.
10th
Tues. Fair. I got up about 5 A.M. Boat left at 8-20. On the boat are
Rev. Nettles & Grant. Abb Berry, wife and babes, Mrs. Tom. Long and 2
boys, Evie Cherry, John Roberts and his hogs. The pipe on the boat being
stopt they were 25 min fixing it so it would go again. We all had a
plenty to eat. We will miss the train going to New bern, and will have to
go via Tarboro, to get to Goldsboro - due there 10-20 P.M. A.C. - L.
Donte, Bro. Best bro’t. me, in his car, to the Orphan Home where I am
assigned. I room at the Supts. House which in 1908 was the Infirmary.
11th
Wed. Cloudy. Mr. Baird took us to town, in his car, this m.
Bishop
Darlington is presiding over our Conf. I was continued on the
superannuate relation. I bot. several things, of course that I had on my
memorandum. I am not going out to the church tonight.
12th
Thurs. Cloudy all day. This is Centennial Missionary Day in our
Conference here. I was only at the morn’g service.
13th
Fri. Raining before & after day. No rain until after night. Did not go
to town or Church, this afternoon or night. My old tooth aches.
Lee
Fulton, Harry Holmes & Casper Thomas (S.A.T C Boys) are here from Wake
Forest College. They were in the “Home” here ten year ago, when I stayed
in “The Old Folk’s Home”: they all recognized me. Several of the little
“Home” - Girls love to be with me while I am here.
14th
Sat. Cloudy, foggy, damp, warm. Some sunshine before noon. I saw my
first aeroplane about 1-30 p.m. They (2 or more) passed over while we
were at dinner, at the Orphan Home. I have arrange to have a Kodak
picture made of Blanche Adams (nearly 10 years old) one of the orphan
children here; because she is so much like Olivia Matthews was when I was
on the Vass Ct. in 1912. Miss Leftwitch, a nurse at the Goldsboro
Hospital, opposite - The Orphan Home, is to take the picture and send it
to me, or perhaps Miss Singleton, a matron here, will. A very heavy rain
before 6 P.M., the lot almost covered with water. Dr. McMillan treated my
teeth this P.M. Charges $1000.00, he said.
15th
Sunday,
but sun-shine. Cloudy and warm yet. I attended Love Feast; heard
Bishop
Darlington preach: he ordains 6 (?) as deacons. Remained at “The Orphan
Home” ballance of the day. At the Home S.S. Rev. A. S. Barnes, Supt. Meth. Orphanage,
Rev. S.P. Turrentine D. D. Pres. of G. C. W. and Rev. E.C. Few made talks. Heavy rains tonight, and no one went out to church.
16th
Mon. Raining right on: Rained all(?) night. Our Conference comes to an
end this morning: it is to meet at 8-30. Conf. adjourned this morning.
N.H.D. Wilson is P. E. of Wash. Dist. and L.T. Singleton is P. C. at Swanquarter. After adj’m’t,
Rev. W.P. Constable handed me $25.00, as “A
gift from the Brethren”, with which to buy me a suit of clothes, and told
me to see Dennis Cobb: I went to see him, and he took me to Edwards’
Store, and picked out a suit for me. The suit value was $35.00 Extra
Pants $7.50, Rubbers $1.50 total $44.00. I advanced $5.00 and pd. the
$25.00 and got the whole. I am duly grateful to God who does all things
well; and to those dear, brethren. I knew the Lord had something in store
for me, for he so greatly blessed my soul about a week before Conf., I
said then, He had something good for me. It is still cloudy and gloomy
outdoors, but joy and gratitude within my soul. Thank God!
17th
Tues. Yet cloudy. I slept in the Main Bldg. last night, and took a warm
bath before retiring. Arose at 5, A.M. Left Goldsboro Union Station near
8 A.M. almost an hour late: ar. at Washington via Newbern about noon - ¾
hr. late. Came to Clyde Harrison’s, of course. I stayed in the ballance
of the day. Cloudy yet.
18th
Wednesday
Cloudy. Walked up town, and spent money, of course. Peeps of sunshine
about noon. Walked up town again after 2 P.M.
19th
Thurs. Fair, am so glad to say! Mrs. Clyde Harrison, for little
Mildred,
gave me a nice 4-in-hand tie, last night: and this morning, Clyde sent up
3 pr nice grey socks, and three collars, as his Christmas gift to me. I
bade them goodbye, and rode in a hack, Clyde sent up for me, to the N. &
S. Depot: left about 9 A.M. for Belhaven: left on the mail boat at 11
ms. to 4 P.M. Arrived home (S. Qr.) at 7:-7 p.m. There were about 14
white passengers on the small mail-boat. Tonight I received my first
Allotment Check - $75.00 from “The Bureau of War Risk
Insurance” Dept., on account of my Soldier-Boy-Weston.
20th
Fri. Fair. 42 degrees through the night. Rev. Mr. Howell (Bapt.)
came in to see me today: I hear he will be the B. pastor here, the first
of the year.
21st
Sat.. Cloudy and warmer. The day of three regular Jobs – B. S.
P.
22d
Sunday
Cloudy. Our Bible Class had Bro. Howell to talk on the Lesson: he also
preached, after S.S. Dinner at Mamie’s. The inclement weather prevented
services tonight. Raining at 8-30.
23d
Mon. Cloudy & warm. 59 degrees at 7-15. A lot of rain, last night.
Raining before noon. I have made a pretty Welcome Card on the wall for my
boy, and several have been in to see it. My dear Boy came tonight.
I was not surprised, but did not really expect him until tomorrow
night. He first went to the Swindell Hotel with others. I waited for
him, and then went there after him. I went with Weston to the Harris
Hotel where he is to spend the night. I received the Duke Check tonight:
it is for $71.43. It is misting rain, and is very disagreeable.
24th
Tues. Cloudy and warm – 56 degrees at 8-15. Weston came in for
breakfast, as expected, and helped me with it. Mamie came around to see
him: she was “up town”, and had not heard W. was here. We all 3 went
around to her house. I am back to paint a Play-Notice for the Miss’y
Soc’y. Miss Maud Griffin came yesterday to get me to do the work for
them: I promised I would today. Dr. R.N. Cartwright, Fairfield, N. C.
sent me a nice box of sausages yesterday. He and I were school-mates in
Eliz. City our old home. By invitation of Mr. & Mrs. S.S. Lupton, Weston
and I ate supper with them tonight.
25th
Wed.
Christmas Day – fairer this morning than for several. Last night,
I received a letter from Mrs. H.C. Tripp, of this place (S.Q.) containing
a check for $5.00. The Lord has been so good to me through my friends.
Weston and little Charles came around in time for breakfast.
Miss Maysel
Lupton brought me a box of layer cake, this morning. Mamie sent me 21
eggs and 2 lbs. sausage. I read, aloud, my morning Bible-Lessons, and
Weston and I bowed in prayer, and I prayed for each of my 3 children. May
God Bless them.
See
next Diary (no other diary has ever been found)
How
to address a letter to a soldier in France:
Sergt.
Charles Weston Brothers
Co.
H. 72 Infantry
American E. F., via N. Y.
Am. E.F.
means
American Expeditionary Forces
Mr.
S. S. Mann
245
House Office Bldg.
Washington, D. C.
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