Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Frank left for Keble College at 1.15 p.m.

This is Sibford “Wake” Sunday, and consequently, a greater number of girls and women than usual were about.

Sibford Wake and a harvest home tea party was held in Mr. Ainge’s barn with dancing and, 6d. tea 3d. dance. I had nothing to do with it and do not know who “got it up”.

The Enclosing of the fields on the road to Temple Mill is nearly finished. We took the boy to open the gates which are still across the road.

The Swalcliffe “Mummers” called this evening in extraordinary attire. Emily Tanner, our maid, answered the knock at the door and on seeing the horrid object, banged the door in his face and cried out, running in to the diningroom and exclaiming “Oh Sir, such a nasty man at the door”. She was quite upset. I went and spoke to the Mummers who were quiet and respectful enough. They wanted to give me a “performance” but I told them it was too late at night.

Joseph Alcock junior was outside here this afternoon with a coal cart of Tustains of Shutford. He told me he had work for the winter, and if that failed he thought he would go to the “Plush weaving.” So I wrote to Rev Thomas Jones, Rector of Llanbedr, Ruthin to that effect. Mr Charles Gillett, Banker of Wood Lawn, Banbury aged 66 died last Friday and was buried in the Friends’ Cemetery here today.

John F. Inns called and asked for loan of schoolroom for supper for the so called “Reading Room” on the evening of January 3. I replied that they might have it if it is not otherwise engaged.

Very cold. I sat in my study with little oil stove which Rosa had lighted to warm the room but the unconsumed gasses affected me so powerfully that a few minutes after I had sat down to dinner I never felt so ill in my life. It was a very severe kind of giddiness. But I managed to get up to bed and take a saline draught which did me good and after an hour’s sleep I felt much better.

Visited James and Laura Dyer and John and Mary Webb and saw Eli Webb, his father, who is lying there. He has not spoken or moved since Friday last. The children are very sad about their grandfather’s illness. The little boy, aged 6, has until the grandfather’s illness slept on the latter’s side of the bed “to warm it for him, Mother”.

Continued Annual meeting of Sibford Lending Library. Tea at 5. Meeting and Entertainment.

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I visited widow Joseph John Lamb, and spoke to her about Matilda Barnes.