Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

My cold much worse to day, probably aggravated by the extremely piercing wind in the church yard yesterday afternoon. So I lay in bed all day. We had snow this evening, the first of the season. Frank walked home this evening. He was at Mrs May’s at Adderbury last night and burned his new overcoat by accidentally falling against a tortoise stove, or sitting down on it. He lunched at Tadmarton Rectory and took tea at Miss Dix’s at Swalcliffe.

Very bright and frosty. Ground covered with snow. I was extremely hoarse. Bessie stayed at home all day.

Delightful sunny day. I spent the day in bed with severe cold on chest.

Circumcision. I spent the day in bed. No services in church.

Fine. Went up to school and taught, but suffered for it. Frank went on two days visit to Mr and Mrs Thomas of Aylesmore Farm, Brailes.

Bright, fine, cold. Frank at Brailes. Library Committee at Vicarage this evening. Mr Cluff Librarian, Mr Inns,  Miss S Dix, Rosa and self present.

In bed all morning, Mr Langley came down this evening to go through school accounts and stayed to supper. Frank returned from Aylesmore.

Dull. Langley came down this afternoon about school accounts and “Form ix”.

Epiphany. Some snow. HC 13. Offertory 8/5, Collection 6/8 sent to Inns.

Rosa and Bessie stayed at home this morning, the former being unwell and Bessie rather afraid of falling down; but the roads were really very good. I was afraid of having a coughing fit in church, but did not and got through my duties much better than I expected. Rosa was at home alone this afternoon. Mr and Miss Sladen, children of Mrs Riddle of Tadmarton came with a note from the Rector to Frank, who is in great request to sing at Entertainments there and elsewhere. Mrs Riddle and her son and daughter were skating on the pond at Swallcliffe Park last Thursday. The ice gave way and they all fell in. Fortunately they were extricated without difficulty by the butler who was on the bank.

Kept my bed, having a severe cold on the chest.

Kept my bed. HM Inspector Rev H A Pickard and Mr. Foster visited the school. I sent up Frank to tell HMI that I was not able to be out. Bell sent up some coffee at 10.30. It was very cold, ground covered with snow. Mr Langley said Inspector found fault with deficient warming of school. Miss Anderdon wrote to Frank from St Michael’s Lodge, Chislehurst proposing to pay his expenses at Keble.

Still in bed. Mr Ramsay, of Swalcliffe, called. He saw Mr Pickard yesterday, who told him Sibford School had done very well.