Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Received letter from Rev Gabriel J. Davies, Vicar of Hellidon inviting me to drive over and stay with him next week which I promised to do.

Visited Ellen Hone who has a bad foot and cannot get about. The man who has been living with her some time has left. I spoke seriously to her and relieved her present needs.

Visited Fanny Barnes, Phoebe Payne called to speak to me about her boy George Henry whom she and her husband wish to work as a half-timer at the Friends’ School. I told her she must speak to the Attendance Officer, Mr Bonner, about the matter and he would tell her what to do.

St John Baptist’s day. Divine Service at 9.15.

Visited Charles Lines, who is much better and down stairs, at 10 am. I was sorry to see John Adkins, Richard Walker and John Holtom there at that early hour drinking.

Canon Payne has been very ill during the past few days.

Drove Bell and Cassie Henning out this afternoon. Called at Canon Payne’s to make enquiries. The doctor had left a few minutes before. He gives a very poor account of him.

Drove to Lower Tadmarton and Shutford. Called on Mr Gerahty. Yesterday mihi dictum est vulgo narrari Reverendum dominum Album ferire fusto suam uxorem consuescere et illam dixisse se matrem suam arcessuram esse. Hodie Gerahty me certiorem fecit eandem rem ubique dictam esse. Dominus Albus est clerus adjutor Canonici Paynii.

Received letter from Rev Walter Bourchier, my predecessor, who has exchanged his living for Steeple Morden, Cambs, for St Olave’s, Hanbury Road, Whitechapel, asking me for an offertory to aid him in taking some of the poorest people for a day into the country. He says the misery and poverty of the people of his populous parish are beyond his powers of description. I replied that I would see what I could do, and that if he would give me some particulars to lay before my congregation it would aid my appeal.

Eleven years ago today Miss Sarah Dix gathered at least half a peck of strawberries in my garden for our advent to Sibford. To day, so cold has the season hitherto been, the strawberries are scarcely formed, and certainly not a single ripe berry is to be seen.

Rosa is not quite so well and has consequently been in bed since Monday. She probably took cold going to Church twice on Sunday last.