On this date in 1878 my ancestors up in Sherman were complaining about the cool weather. It was also dry and they were concerned about their strawberry crop. Most of the Barnes family had been setting out tobacco, an important crop for many farm families. That required constant watering if there was no rain, and all of them carried buckets of water every day. That Sunday, Elizabeth Betsy wrote in her diary, “We are so tired and weary, no going to church today.”

A few days later, Betsy says, “Not so trying heat today, so Helen papers the kitchen today.” It was very dry but the family was lucky because they had plenty of water. “We have all carried water to keep things alive,” the diary continues. “We are all worn down carrying water.”

What would those hardy New Englanders think if they could see the equipment farmers have today to water and irrigate their crops? Not only their tobacco, but their corn and the large vegetable gardens required to feed their large families and have plenty for canning food of all kinds for winter. Working in the garden fell mostly to the women of the family. It was serious business.

Near the end of June in 1878, rain had been mentioned several times. It must have been most welcome.

Betsy and Susan, her sister, went shopping in “Dover” and each one bought “a pair of steel bowed spectacles with double glass, for $2.50.”

As July arrived the diary does not use a full page on several days, so I suddenly found a recipe for tapioca pudding. It calls for five eggs, eight tablespoons of tapioca, which is quite a bit, and a quart of milk. Two of the egg whites are for “frosting” and after they are added to the pudding, all whipped, the recipe says to put it in the oven to dry out the frosting.

A list of the stations that were in New York State and bordered Connecticut is on a page in the back. It lists Dover Plains, Wassaic, Charon, Coleman, Boston Corners, Copake, and Hillsdale. Other lists carefully written down are for room and board for food –– a bushel of apples, 63 cents; lemons, 39 cents; peaches, 25 cents, corkscrew, 20 cents; shad bought only in season and considered a delicacy, 75 cents; oil (for lamps), 20 cents; sugar $1; and a book, $3.50. I wish the name of the book had been recorded; it is the most expensive item listed.

Several days before Christmas that year, a baking frenzy seemed to be taking place. It was expected there would be a number of visitors, that being what the villagers did for winter entertainment. And if company came, there had to be ample food either for meals, or just evening refreshments. Betsy notes that “Susan and I cracked butternuts all morning.”

One evening that December, “Mr Potter came and gave some fine music on the organ.” Another day the “order of the day” was preparing tobacco (to be sold) and preparing for making sausage. Another day they were busy “frying crullers” and baking pies and cakes. New Year’s Eve finds visitors both coming and going, and the “snow is good for sleighing, packed down by the farmers.” Purchases included a bar of hard soap for 13 cents and a half gallon of kerosene, no price listed. Life in 1878 was different than anything we can imagine!

Last week the column ended with words by Robert Frost.

Who said “Unbidden guests are often welcomest when they are gone”?