Then the first class give old Francis a present of some books and
when he turned over the leaves there was twenty dollars there, and
old Francis was surprised and made a fine speech, and the people all
clapped becaus he made such a good speech. i heard him saying it
over the night before when i was kept after school. No school for 2
weeks.

Mar. 7. When my father was a boy he was the best fiter in this town.

Mar. 9. Went down to Fatty Melchers today to make a violin, we cut a
piece of wood the shape of a violin then take some horsehairs and
strech them over a brige and you can play a tune on them. in school
i learnt to play on a piece of india rubber. you pull a piece of
elastic out of your congres boot and hold it in your teeth and pull
it tite and snap it with your fingers and you can play tunes that
you can hear but no one else can. old Francis saw me snapping the
elastic and came and took it away. i have got plenty more in my
boot. i am saving money to buy me a cornet. when i get enuf i am a
going to play in the band.
+++-
Mar. 10. plesent day. old Si Smiths big white dog and a bull dog had
an awful fite today. neether licked and they had to squert water on
them to seperate them. they dident make no noise, only jest hung
write on to each others gozzles. my aunt Sarah said it was dredful,
and she staid to the window to see how dredful it was.

Mar. 11, 186- Went to church in the morning. the fernace was all
write. Mister Lennard preeched about loving our ennymies, and told
every one if he had any angry feelings toward ennyone to go to him