Page 318 (cont.) P.G.C. Monday January 1, 1877 The New Year begins roughly. Strong winds—almost gales all around the compass. The n westerly wind changed to north, then N.E. –E. –S.E. –S. and so on around to N.W. again where it hangs on heavily. The thermometer which was 42° yesterday was 72° today. To night it is warm also within doors—but coolish in the wind. We have all been over to Fred’s to tea—even Hunikin. And we had a pleasant time of it after sitting by the Page 319 lightwood fire in the kitchen. The wind fairly howled and came in lively through the crevices between the logs. The skiff broke her painter this afternoon and drifted against the wharf, where she filled. I got her through after being nearly blown over and she finally came ashore, minus seats. The tide is very high and the big waves are dashing over the little wharf and making quite a surf on the beach. Rain fell nearly all the morning. Two of my quail traps fell. I rushed down to “sot ‘em again” and “Oh! gentlemen, you should ee seen the pattridges.” I had four quail in one trap and one in the other. Two we presented to Fred and Anna and the others we had for our New Year day dinner. They were prime and we enjoyed them immensely. The “Laura” must have put back for she is anchored opposite, we find this afternoon. Perhaps Pepi is’nt anxious to be wrecked again. He might not find another demijohn of whisky on shore afterward. P.G.C.Tuesday January 2, 1877 A norther is belching forth frost or something near it this morning. A very low tide follows the high one of yesterday. The “Laura” is off by daylight and in the afternoon the “Mary” departs also. Lightwood is becoming scarce in this neighborhood. Yesterday Fred went back to the big tree when the road turns around the head of the “slew” and brought in a load. To day he and I went still further and brought in a larger one. Some of the latter is making our little kitchen luminous as Ben and I sit before the “Ridgewood” and pass the evening. This kitchen on cool days and nights is our grand resort. The youngsters are fast asleep under plenty of heavy clothing over to the house. This afternoon I had to give up my shore grubbing before I wanted to, the wind was so keen and cut through our clothes Page 320 so. Fred did his digging in a heavy coat. And this is the “Italy of America.” We were astonished to see a red horse walk up to the gate this afternoon, look over, walk to the west and then jump the fence. After much trial to make the beast leave and go back in the woods and after the fence is jumped three times Fred anchors the animal to the fence by Neuse’s rope and gives it up for an easier one. I am pretty certain that it is the same one Gillis rode the last time he was here, but we can’t account for the absence of saddle and bridle. Are the bones of Gillis whitening in the forest? What will be the next visitation for us. Deer, pigs and horse! Now for a “bunch” of cattle! Then we’ll look out for Indians. The last of my kerosene saved from the kitchen fire, and big blow burned out yesterday. I borrowed a gallon of Fred today. It burns just as brightly. P.G.C. Wednesday January 3, 1877 Dug up 300 square feet of garding [sic]; planted 120 hills of white potatoes from morning work and then tried to get a deer in the afternoon. Saw five—but they saw me first—2 within ¾ of a mile of the house and came back with “nary.” Had codfish cakes made of jew fish for supper and was agreeably surprised. It was hard to tell whether it was not cod. Yesterday Fred put in some white potatoes—or perhaps a day or two before, I forget which. We both thought best to try it again and hope for better results than last year. Extreme low tide to day. Find my water fence knocked into pig by the storm. Skiff all right and tight. Gillis drops in before breakfast for his horse. He had left it at Lockharts and it broke away. He has been at the mill about [last line(s) partially cut off on photocopy] Page 321 P.G.C. Thursday January 4, 1877 A white flag was visable [sic] at De Coster’s after breakfast. I prepared to go over and bailed out the skiff but we could not get her off, the tide falling so rapidly. Before 10 o’c the shore was bare beyond the big wharf. In the midst of digging I noticed a boat coming and about 11 o’c De Coster himself arrived with letters and papers to Dec 8. and news from across the bay. He brought a bond for $500. which he wished us to sign and allow Bartholf to be made postmaster. This we did and De Coster also added his name. As soon as this bond can be sent to Washington we shall have a post office and postmaster at “Charlotte Harbor P.O.” Therefore as soon as you please direct future letters thus “Via Pine Level, Manatee Co.” We expect a weekly mail in and out and shall be able to hear from you and you from us quicker and oftener. The mail rider it is thought will cross the river here and take the Gillis short cut” to Fort Meyers. That will be settled hereafter. An additional petition will be sent to head quarters by De Coster—so he says—asking for Steamer Communication now that a post office is to be established. D.C. never does things by halves! But such a result I dont expect to see. I shall send you a letter in addition to the diary concerning political affairs etc. and wont enlarge here. De Coster says he has had frost almost every night this winter. We also had a slight one last night, but it only stopped the growth of “tommies.” The judge stopped to dinner at Fred’s and returned at 2 o’c wading out to his “dingy.” The expected “visitation” came tonight. Half a dozen “wild cattle” came in my side of the plantation but did not leave the beach. Tomorrow I shall have a fence to put up. Quite cool tonight. I have read the “Brooklyn Page 322 --ner” and the political news in the Sun, Herald, Times, Evening Post and Brooklyn Daily Times, and think there is much to hope for yet. But the calamity has made me shivery and shaky and I will go to bed. P.G.C. Friday January 5, 1877 The atmosphere was cool this morning as I rushed out to start the fire for Ben. By noon it was quite warm again and after dinner we had a spell of rain—in fact as I write pattering drops are heard above me. Em’s present to Brenda hangs in the study lamp, but it is almost too pretty to use for burnt matches. I have to poke them in on the sly as it is. It was a good morning for work and both Fred and I took advantage of it in our “front garding.” After dinner I fixed up my water fence and now we are all enclosed again. Then the rain came and we had to dig between showers. The rain was not heavy enough to do much good to the soil, but enough to wet one’s jacket. 30 cattle came along the back fence and will make a night of it in the upper head. They looked quite rural in single file as they passed. Yesterday I measured daylight in Florida. I found our day nearly an hour longer than yours. From sunrise to sunset was exactly 10 hours and a half. Can you tell me why the small frogs are impaled on orange tree thorns nowadays? We find them every where. Do they feel the cold and commit suicide to get rid of it? On the point of a bayonet leaf 6 feet from the ground Fred found a fiddler crab day before yesterday. How did he get there? Had he the suicidal mania also? These are curious Florida facts. P.G.C. Saturday January 6, 1877 At times in the night the rain fell in regular rainy season fashion. The ground this morning was saturated and to a good planting depth. This spell con- Page 323 tinued all the morning, with only short occasional “let ups.” The greater part of the afternoon was sunny and free from rain drops but clouds still hovered and a partially overcast sky was above us. Freddie and I overhauled the vegetables, cut the onion shoots and took the sprouts from the potatoes. Then with tears in my eyes I sat down and wrote a short letter to you to go by first opportunity. After dinner I put in 4 more rows of potatoes—white—and now have 9 rows, where we planted 12 last year. I reserved a small portion of the space for tommies. We have had so much cold weather lately that it is almost impossible to get a good start for the latter but it will come I suppose before long now.