Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Fine. Sunday School tea in schoolroom. There were 100 scholars and little ones. 10 babies. 10 mothers and ten teachers and helpers. Total 130. I gave out (Miss Dix handing them to the recipients) 16 framed pictures, 9 of which were to girls and 7 to boys. They cost £1.3 at Cummins’s??. The children played in the Slinket. It was rather troublesome to have so many children brought who were too young to be Sunday scholars; but they probably will be when they are old enough. School broke up till Oct 1. Sunday School to meet at 10 am and 2.30 pm.

I remained at the school from 3.30 to 9.30, the latter part of the time at the distribution of Flower Show prizes, which were handed to the winners by Miss Sarah Dix. It had been said that Wilkes the machinist had exhibited Asters grown and brought to him by G Burden, and that John Scruby had exhibited onions given him by ??L T?? Poulton. L Poulton attended to the matter and mentioned names, saying there was no truth whatever in the charge. I expressed my entire confidence in the honesty of the accused. It was a mere bit of public house scandal.

Pasted into diary:

Lists of Sunday School Marks and Prizes.

Very fine. Frank drove Bell, Maude Green and Rosa to Banbury. Maude returned to Coleshill Vicarage Highworth where she has been staying the past month.

Received letter from Longmans asking me to send up my manuscript of “Holiday Reminiscences”.

Trinity. Took Sunday School in morning. Frank took it in afternoon. Miss S Dix played organ in morning and Miss Thame in afternoon. The latter is fully installed as housekeeper at Doctor Routh’s. Holy Communion 22 for Sunday Schools. Visited Widow Aris and Mrs Alcock.

Dull but dry. I worked very hard all day about my MS. Harry was to leave Kensington today for Windermere, where he is to spend a month with a friend. Frank and I walked round Burdrop this evening.

“The Gospel Tent” is here again in Wyatt’s Close opposite Mrs Enock’s. Service was held in it on Sunday.