Life in the Past Excerpts from Nelson Hicks' journal at Hix Holme, South Bay March, 1897 Mar. 1 I went up to Philip McCrimmons and Stratton and I where going out Canvassing for Tea. It came on to snow and drift very hard and we give it up. I stayed all night to Phil's. Mar. 2 The weather has changed it has not storm to day the roads are verygood. Drifted up in some places. Jake come up to fixed his harness. Mar. 3 [ was down to Jake's helping him get ready to move. Mar. 4 Wesley Wattam and I took a load of Furniture and grain down back of Picton where Jake has moved. We stayed all night. Mar. 5 It rained till about three Oclock the west. Jake and I got ready and come home. We fetched a load back for Mr. Smith. Mar. 6 Jake took his hogs back of Picton where he moved. Paw went back with him. Mar. 7 Sunday. Mr. Lighthall and Wife where here visting Ida and Dan where up and Jake and Lib were here. Mar. 8 Lib went back where they have moved. Byron went with her. Marsh Spafford took a load of hay for Jake back and Jake took his calves. Stratton and I started outcanvass- ing for Tea around by Black Creek. We stayed all night to Mr. Humes the roads where good. Mar. 9 It rained all day very hard. Stratton and I come over home. Delbert Lighthall, Ezra and Willie Steel come over stayed all night. Mar. 10 I took Stratton up to the corner. We went up the ice. The roads where not very good. We have given up the Tea business on account of bad roads. Jake took a load of corn stalks back where he has moved. Mar. 11 Paw went over to Picton to see about getting some peas to grow. He went acrost the ice said the ice was'nt very good. We are having very soft weather and the snow is go- ing very fast. Mar. 12 Rained all the fore noon taking most of the snow and spoiling the roads for sleighing. People are driving bug- gies some. Chosen Friends had a concert in stone school house made $11.00 Mar. 13 We are having very nice weather just at present. Archie and I drew upsome wood from the Flats. People are driving the ice threw to the Creek. I went up to the post of- fice. Stratton come down with me. Mar. 14 Sunday. The wind blew a gale all day. Snowed and drifted in the fore noon. The ice went out up as far as Willie Palmateer's. Mar. 15 Paw went up to Milford took up 14.001bs of Barley to get ground for feed. Jake come over put his potatoes in our cellar. Mar. 16 Jake went home took a load of grain with him. There is not much sleighing but people are driving both cut- ters and buggies. Archie and [ where down to West Wat- tams to a bea spliting wood. Mar. 17 Paw took 14 bus of buckwheat up and 3 1/2 bus of corn . The buckwheat got it ground into flour and the corn was for meal. Took it to Milford. Mar. 18 Archie worked on the roads. I has a little bea split- ing wood in the after noon. Mar. 19 Archie finished doing the road work. Paw is quite sick hi thinks he has got the Grip. People are driving bug- gies althogether now. Mar. 20 I went over to Picton with the democrat after the Tea that Stratton and I have been taking orders for. It did not come and we where quite disappointed. Mar. 21 Sunday. Paw and Archie are both quite sick and are not able to be out. Mar. 22 The roads are very bad and Muddy I was sick all day with Head ache. It has been a nice day. Paw and Archie are still quite sick. I am not feeling very well my self. Strat- ton was down and stayed all night he says the Tea has come and is at George Clarks. Mar. 23 Mr. Norman Ostrander died this morning seven oclock. Mar. 24 I went up to Milford after the Tea and Stratton and I delivered the orders from Philip McCrimmon down. Mar. 25 The ice is mostly all out of the bay. Stratton and I were delivering the on the Point. The roads were very bad. Mar. 26 Mr. Norman Ostrander Funeral Serman was preach at South Bay Church at half past ten oclock. He was then taken to the Valley and buried. Stratton and I delivered the Tea on Royal Street. Mar. 27 Stratton and I delivered the Tea at the Creek then we went down over to Picton and I went down to Jakes. The ice is all out of the bay but one little chunck. Mar. 28 Sunday. [ was down to Jake's it was a fine day. Mar. 29 I come home from Jake's the roads were very muddy. Paw and Archie arenot very well yet. Mar. 30 Paw and Archie went over to Picton then went on down to Jake's. It is nice and warm and the roads are drying up very fast. Mar. 31 Paw come home from Jake's. Archie stayed. - Submitted by Vicki Emlaw