well = but has no fever =

Sophie still not feeling

Dec. 31 =

She can read a dozen papers while I am reading one

she could not go to sleep as long as I sat up but some
how her eyes closed & she did not know when I retired -
then the next morning she wanted to know why I did not
wake her, for said she "You knew I could not go to sleep
without saying good night to you" I must add a little
joke - something that happened this pm. the boys had
built a fire out in the yard to burn some trash Sophie
could not see the fire & the smoke came into the house -
she called me to go to the kitchen & turn the damper so
that the smoke might be regulated - the idea of regula-
ting the smoke of a fire out of doors & keep it from
coming into the dwelling house whish is 20 yards away

by turning the damper of the stove in the kitchen

good night.

Saturday Dec. 31 + 1898

The usual work of preparing for Sunday Sophie had the
furniture all taken out of the Dining room & the mats
taken up & a general cleaning - the yards are swept and
everything in readiness for Sunday. Yesterday our head
man & one of the boys went away to bury their father.
who has been dead several months.

Jan. 18* 1899

A bright day - good health - but Sophie feeling a little
tired from dmas festivities & did not go to church. I
stayed home & cooked or rather superintended dinner - I
made Sophie rest, against her will, Mr. Faris preached
in the a.m. Mr. Woolings in pem. Dr. Snyder still with
us. good-night.

Monday Jan. nd 1899

I tried hard to get some loads off on the Ville d'Anverse
but the Commissaire would not give me any room. However
I went to Kinshassa on the boad - paid a debt to Sa.B.

of b12-16-7. I then went to Belgika & had dinner there -
about 3 p.m. I heard a train coming along & I went to the
R.R. to ride home - the engine driver did not stop for
me as usual - for he said one of the chief men was on
board. However a short distance away something got the
matter with the engine & I caught up, & to my joy I

found an old friend whom I had helped in ilness & I got
on with him & rode home. Near our destination a shaft
broke while we were going up a grade & we walked the re-
mainder of the way ~ one kilometer
