Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Snowstorm and sunshine by turns. Visited school and took Penny Bank and Clothing Club. Gave Mr Langley a bottle of eucalyptus oil to be put out in drops on pieces of blotting paper about the school-room every morning. Influenza is very prevalent in London and Dr Routh is said to have a few cases, but I have not heard of any in Sibford.

Jewell and Henry Bishop called about the land. The latter wants the cottage too. I said I would give the matter further consideration.

Fine morning; bright, sunny and cold. I lay in bed till 11 o’clock. Mr Hitchcock formerly of Horley called to ask me to bury in my Church Yard on Friday next at 1.30 Miss Gibbs his sister-in-law, former of “the Elm” Sibford. I agreed to do so.

Visited school and heard children sing and recite.

Visited Mary Thame at Dr Routh’s, saw her, Miss Grace and Miss Hayward. Visited Lizzie Payne, she was down stairs and better. Her mother and Ada Padbury were there. Visited Miss Dix who returned from Swalcliffe on Saturday last. Bessie Thame and Miss S Dix were there.

The County Council’s Free Lectures on Gardening by Mr Stewart commence this evening.

A flyer is pasted into the diary:

Oxfordshire County Council.

Technical Instruction.

Practical instruction
In
Gardening
will be given by
Mr. J. Stewart
in the
Schoolroom, Sibford Gower,
on Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday,
March 5th, 6th, & 8th,
commencing at 7 o’clock.

Syllabus of instruction.
Insect Pests:Prevention and Cure.
Planting and Pruning Fruit Trees and Vegetable Growing.
Marketing Produce.

These demonstrations are free.

Arrangements will, if possible, be made for Practical Instruction on the Gardens and Allotments.

Geo. Bryan & Co., Printers, Oxford

Sunshine, rain. Very cold. Wrote to Frank. Wrote a note to Henry Bishop offering him the cottage, land, etc at £30 a year, he to find good security and subject to settlement of some small matters. I also wrote to Jewell telling him of my decision.

Hyde went to the gardening lecture last night in the School-room. He reported that there were about 70 present.

I did not go out all day as the weather was inclement and I seemed to have renewed my cold yesterday, for my upper lip was dreadfully swollen this morning.

Mr Elley called this evening about the copying of accounts. He said that there was a story current that Mr Wynne was a day or two ago made bankrupt for £250,000. He says also that F Inns and Annie Lamb are laid up with influenza.