Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Visited Jane Legge, Humphrey Sabin, Dyer, John Young, W. Payne, Mrs Dix.

Austin Hillman’s wife Sibford Ferris came this evening and asked me to give her a Christmas present. I told her I rarely saw her at Church, her husband never, that he had not paid his allotment rent and had not made any apology for not doing so. – and that he never knew me when he saw me. She said he had been out of work for a month. I said I feared he was one of those whom the masters were glad to get rid of. I gave her 2/- to get something for herself and children and bade her tell her husband that I had a word or two to say to him on the first opportunity.

Christmas Day. A most beautiful sunshining yet frosty morning. 43 communicants, being the largest number entered in present Vestry Book (for Xmas Day) which begins 1871. The offertory amounted to $1.4.1 – the largest sum with one exception (1877 £1.6.1) during that period.

We had quiet family dinner all my children, Bell and self at 5 o’clock.

St Stephen’s Day. Service at 9.15. Mr Cookes of Tadmarton Rectory kindly invited me to dine with him at 3 today and take Rosa – I declined as I had promised Harry I would walk over to Brailes if possible as I had not been there so long.

Harry and I walked over to Brailes – found that Mr and Mrs Smith and the girls had gone to skate on Mr Sheldon’s pond – we followed – on our return we staid to tea and walked home early.