Page 11 - Keays Diary with forward 1866 and Cover

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goes nearly around on all sides but the west, where we have a beautiful

sunset view. We have been very busy, if it was a day of rest, we let the

horses do the resting, as we can do but little work through the week.

We think on an average we get enough rest to answer.

I have bathed Will and myself and feel that if cleanliness is

next to holiness I have don so for Sunday.

Monday May 8 – At night we had one of the hardest rains I ever

heard consequently we are having another rest day, and having done up our

work yesterday are quite independently lazy today. I have ?? got out my

whole stock of books and having looked them over, Bible and all, settled

down to tatting, to play I was at work.

One of our party had a splendid deck of cards with which they

thought to pass the dull hours away, when Lo! Another takes it in her

hand to be so strong a Methodist that she will neither play herself nor

let her husband. Men – to write a book on Men’s rights, for no Man
would think it his place to forbid his wife to innocent a thing as a

game of cards in their own company.

Will and I took a walk last evening and discovered two new

varieties of flowers, a yellow cluster flower very fragrant, and a blue

single stalk, single leaf, but both very pretty.

This afternoon, the gentlemen have all gone fishing but one

and he is cutting wood to cook more beans with, by the way, we had bean

soup yesterday for seven and only three spoons, so the rest had to eat

it with their forks or drink it which ever they chose, but they all

pronounced it good; we also had peaches canned and ginger snaps for

dessert; our fare is altogether excellent.

I think we have all the essentials and a good many luxuries.