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Friday 1st Feb 1861. Continuation of my Daily Journal kept 2 years- This has been a very ? day-raining & slippery- it is my boy Sheridan's Second Birthday (2 years old)- he was born at 12 oclock in the day- he is very smart talks very plain & almost everything-can run very fast- has twelve teeth- says some French words- very fair-blue eyes & light Hair- Virginia & ? came here today to tell me David Faulds Stone( my Brother inlaw) was burned last night- goods very much injured Thanks not very badly burnt- all of us at home tonight-it still rains

Saturday 2nd Feb 1861. This has been a cloudy day-rained all night - not very cold-children learn at home Belle & Eva have never been to school. I teach them to read & write- also teach them their Sunday School lessons- my French girl Pauline teaches them French- they learn very fast- I also practise them in Dance every day- I do not approve of children being sent to school early- nine years is early enough- people ask me why it is that my children are so fat & rosy- I think it is because they exercise a great in the yard, and study little- they have learned from Pauline to Crochet well & embroider some-but they are not kept at it long- we went at 3 oclock to Masonic Temple to Dancing school- Mrs Wastell had a Fine lunch? aft- the children are wearing Union Badges a great deal- Our country in a very critical condition- people very much depressed- business very bad-