Friday, February 14, 1868 – “Murcury down to zero.”

It is cold this morning. Murcury down to zero. W. Stotts vandue* came off to day. I was down to it. Thare was quite a crowd at the Vandue to day. Susan and Sandy Wilbur** were thair to day. James Penney and wife R. Neisch and wife were thare to day. The cows sold high one for $72. Thare was Singing School in Brushland to night. Wat. Stott took down a load. Net Rutherford was along. Sandy Wilbur came up with me. He stayed all night. Jane Boyd was here to night.

*Vendue – an auction
**Susan and Sandy (Alexander) Wilbur were brother and sister, the children of Hatzel and Ann Wilbur.  They were from Hamden.  Their significance in Coulter’s life will become obvious by February 27.

Thursday, February 13, 1868 – “Mrs. Gen. Grant affects pink silk.”

This is a fair kind of a day. The wind is South to day. This is fast day. The folks are to church. I am not doing much today. I rote a letter to day. [code]
I bought a new vest? to day from John Solomon.
John Solomon is here this forenoon. He went to John R. Thompsons* to night. One year ago to day Mary Gowanlock was here.

A young lady being asked by a politician which part she was most in favor of, replied that she preferred a wedding party. 
Mrs. Gen. Grant affects pink silk.

*This probably is John R. Thomson (1810-1892), son of Andrew and Elizabeth Thomson.  He was married twice, first to Mary McFarland (1812-1842) and later Helen Armstrong (1819-1905).

Wednesday, February 12, 1868 – “Dickens is ill.”

This is a fine day. It is not so cold to day. I was drawing Manure to day. O. Dickson was in here this forenoon. D. Black went up by to day. 1868
John Solomon is here to night. He stayed all night. One year ago to day was Town meeting day. Thare was Singing School in New Kingston one year ago to night. Also Spelling School same night at our school house. Bill R. Seacord* is up to M. Tuttles to day.

Edward Booth averaged $3.000 a week last season.
Dickens is ill.**

*This probably is William R. Seacord (1836-1916), son of John and Jeanette Fuller.
**Reference to author Charles Dickens, who was on a five month lecture tour, during which he did indeed have health problems.  He returned to England in April 1868 and died in June 1870.

Tuesday, February 11, 1868 – “This is Town meeting day.”

This is a tolerable fine day. Mercury 10 [degrees] below zero this morning. This is Town meeting day. I was down to Brushland to day. James Elliott & James Douglas were candidates for Supervisor. James Elliott was elected. Jane Boyd was here this afternoon. O. Dickson was here this afternoon. 1868
Thare was a Donation in Brushland for Mr. Kennedy.
I received a letter to day [from my dearest Nettie].  I was drawing Manure this afternoon.  Brushland.  Walter J. Coulter

*Oliver Dickson (b 1840), son of Gilbert Dickson and Ellen Irvine

Monday, February 10, 1868- “I was breaking roads to day.”

This is a very cold day. Murcury 8 [degrees] below zero this morning. I was breaking roads to day. We cleaned up some oats this forenoon. 1868.
Jim Douglas and Bill Strangeway and O. Dickson came over the hill to break out the roads to day.
Thare is a Singing School in New Kingston to night. Bill went to Andes this afternoon. A. Boyd was in here to day. M. Tuttle was helping to break roads. One year ago to day Mary Gowanlock was here. Same time, Bill White was here. One year to day was a very cold day. Brushland.

Sunday, February 9, 1868 – “I shaved today.”

This is a stormy day. It is not so cold to day. Bill is at home to day. One year ago to day I was sawing wood. I shaved today. There was none of the folks to church.

“Love is the union of two hearts 
That beat in softest melody.
Time with its rages imparts no
Bitter fusion to its ecstacy.”
Recipt for Happiness.
Just wealth enough to keep away
Of want the direful scenes;
Just health enough to gild the day,
And make lifes course serene;
Virtue enough to act that part
Which is devoid of sin;
Courage enough to ask the heart,
“Art though secure within?”

Saturday, February 8, 1868 – “I got ten firkins and 4 tubs to day.”

This is a cold morning.  Murcury down to 10 [degrees] below zero. I was down to Brushland this forenoon. I got ten firkins and 4 tubs to day. Bill came home to day. I was drawing Manure this afternoon. I was into the Post Office to day. 1868
I saw H. Warren to day.

Ten Follies-
(To think the more a man eats, the fatter and stronger he will become.)  Ks., is the authorized abbreviation for Kansas. Kansas has nearly a thousand miles of railroad. Saxe gets one dollar per line for his ledger verses. 1868