Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Visited Thomas Sabin. Presided at a Temperance Meeting in the School room this evening.

Heavy fall of snow, which however soon disappeared.

Saints Philip and James. Divine Service at 9.15 am.

Lent Harry and Mr Maclean my horse to drive to Stratford on Avon to Shakespeare festival on opening of the Shakespeare Memorial.

Children’s May tea at School room this evening. They came to play on my lawn afterwards.

Mr Josiah Woolgrove called. I paid him £2.2 as my subscription to Church expenses and £2.1 for repair fund which Canon Payne will refund to me.

Visited Mary Wilks.

Mr Thomas Hitchcox called this morning – said he had been very unhappy in mind – and had come to offer me a full apology if I would accept it. I said I would, we would say no more about the past but try to do better for the future. I shook hands with him and said I was much pleased to see him.

Went towards Swalcliffe intending to call on Canon Payne, but met him. He was on his way to call on me. he gave me a cheque for Loggin Money and Church repair fund. He told me he called on Hitchcox a few days ago and was grieved at condition he found both him and his wife in – apparently both were worse for liquor, he more so than she. But she kept going out of the room in a curious and suspicious manner. Hitchcox told him how I had talked to him and that he had said he would never come to Sibford Church again, but that he would go to Swalcliffe. Mr Payne told him he would not like to see him there etc etc – but so far as I could learn did not speak to him on the main question.

Holy Communion offertory 14/6½.

Visited Mr Barton, Thomas Sabin, Widow Henry Sabin, Mrs Shelswell, Sarah Young, Charles Coleman, no one at home, Misses Dix where I met Mr and Mrs Marshall, Mrs Way and a Miss Mawle of Banbury.

Some disorderly boys in road annoyed Miss Dix etc at Choir practice this evening.  I caught Amos Young in flagrante delicto and boxed his ear at which he seemed immensely astonished.

Miss Dix told me that the boy Joseph Robinson, age about 9, son of Widow Ann Robinson – born in America whither his father had emigrated from Sibford with his family – met Mrs Norris on May Day and asked her for some money. On her enquiring why she should give him money he said he had been to Dix’s for her once or twice. He was rude as she thought and said she could not give him anything as he had asked her – “What would you have given me, if I hadn’t asked you?” was his reply.

Drove Bell, Rosa and Frank to Swalcliffe, Tadmarton, Shutford and Epwell. Visited Montague. A very summer-like day.