August 1, 1880 -- Sunday
The weather was clear and very warm, and the roads are very dusty. I was at the Grindstone Hill church in the forenoon. There was to be preaching Rev. Herbert, but owing to the fact that one of his children had died last evening, Mr. Comfort preached as his substitute. J.C. McCleary was there and came along down, and after dinner we went to Nigger Camp at Wallace's woods. About four o'clock we left the camp and started for St. Thomas, at which place we arrived a little after six, and found the people all well. We were at preaching at the Methodist church in the evening. This day 1 year ago I spent a happy day.

August 2, 1880 -- Monday
The weather was clear and warm, in the forenoon, somewhat cloudy and all appearances were for rain in the afternoon, towards evening. We, Charlie and I, spent quite a pleasant day in St. Thomas. Charlie put in the most of his time preparing for his examination to-morrow. Rev. J. Hassler brought Uncle Humph down from London, at which place he had been assisting in the dedication of a new church, but at noon a dispatch came for Uncle stating that Geo Fitzel is dead, and he had to leave. We were all very sorry that matters were as they were. Charlie and I were up street in the evening, had lots of fun. We were also at Mr. Gillan's and paid them a call.

August 3, 1880 -- Tuesday
The weather was very inclement, cloudy and rainy all day. I passed the day in St. Thomas, attending the Teachers Examination which was of rather a rigid nature, I think much more so than ours was in Chambersburg last Tuesday. His problems in Arithmetic were very hard. There were five of our school-boys examined, with the annexed results. J.C. McCleary 15 ½, G.A. Lohr 14, J.N. Baker 15, Saml Hafer 13 ½, and J.J. Kriner 16. There were in all twelve examined and all got through. This will be a good advertisement for Uncle Cal's school, as every one of the boys who have tried the examination have come through very well.

August 4, 1880 -- Wednesday
The weather was cloudy all day, and rained in the forenoon. Charlie and I staid in St. Thomas till after dinner. We were up street in Uncle Charles' store and Martin's store. After dinner we left St. Thomas and arrived in Chambersburg about half after two o'clock, we stopped a while there, but there was not much going on. I arrived at home at a little before five o'clock, and Charlie left for his home, feeling much better than when he went up, owing to him having a certificate in his pocket. D.G. Hoover was here for mail towards evening. Old Mr. Gipe is now lying very low, also Lee McCleary in St. Thomas. The examination was to-day in Bridgeport for Peters Twp.

August 5, 1880 -- Thursday
The weather was very clear and pleasant all day. The roads are a little muddy, caused by the recent rain. I passed the forenoon reading, and to tell the truth "doing nothing." I was helping to load and spread manure in the afternoon. Pap got very cross at our horse, and gave him a good whipping. We had Uncle Jake's horse. The surveyors was were again on the line, and have now laid the permanent track for the branch of the Baltimore and Cumberland Valley Railroad. Three of the surveyors got their supper here, and stayed all night. Clara Snyder was here in the afternoon, towards evening.

August 6, 1880 -- Friday
The weather was somewhat warm, and towards evening got somewhat cloudy, but again cleared off. I was helping Pap tp load manure in the forenoon, and I scattered while Pap unloaded. We filled the little field above the house, and that is all we will haul until after the corn is cut. We finished scattering in the afternoon. That is one job that Jacob and I will not have to do so much of this year, and I am glad of it as I do mortally not like the job. Pap was in New Franklin towards evening for the mail. We received a letter from Aunt Charlotte. D.G. Hoover was over in the evening for his mail. I hope tomorrow will be a nice day.

August 7, 1880 -- Saturday
The weather was very clear and warm all day. I walked to town in the morning. D.G. Hoover and I. The schools of Guilford Township were given out and were as follows: 1. Pleasant Hill, Mrs. Rote, 2. Bithel, F.T. Snyder, 3. Cedar Grove, W.Q.Lantz, 4. Marion Graded, I.J. Schaff, 5. Marion Primary, D.G. Hoover, 6. Locust Grove, Allison Bender, 7. New Guilford, Ben Peters, 8. New Franklin, J.B. Wingert, 9. Shady Grove, J.W. Funk, 10. Willow Grove, W.M. Oliver, 11. Fairview, J.S. Wingert, 12. White Rock, J.A. Brown, 13. Falling Spring, W.N. Ely, 14. Stoufferstown, J.A. Miller, 15. Lecompton, T.W. Cashman, 16. Webster, T.G. Zarger, 17. Harrison, J.H. Stoner, 18. Chicago, C.W. Thomson, 19. Retreat, W.F. Zumbro, 20. Mt. Union, Jon Sollenberger. D.G. Hoover left town at 2 o'clock and went to St. Thomas and brought back Alice Sellers and Jennie down to stay a while at our house.

August 8, 1880 -- Sunday
The weather was warm. It was clear in the forenoon, but clouded up after dinner, and again cleared off towards evening. D.G. Hoover took Jennie and Alice up to the Grindstone Hill church in the forenoon and he remained during the afternoon. Dan thinks he is cutting a dash with his hired "jagger." I brought Alice Shetter up while the others were at the Hill, and she staid up till time for sining, but I am sorry to write that she was not as well-treated by our guests as I had expected.  We were at the New Franklin school-house in the evening. There was singing by J.A. Pfoutz. There was Dunkard preaching at Leshers school-house in the forenoon. J.H. Shetter was here a while towards evening.

August 9, 1880 -- Monday
The weather was clear and pleasant all day. I was at home in the forenoon not doing any thing in particular. I passed part of the afternoon within the clutches of Morpheus. Mother, Jennie and Alice were at Uncle Henry Snyder's in the afternoon, and they say they spent a very happy afternoon. Aunt Abbey was very much pleased to have company to come see Martha. D.G. Hoover was here a little while in the evening, he then started for home, and some of our company went part way home with him. The evening one week ago there was an anxious boy in the town of St. Thomas and his name was J.C. McCleary.

August 10, 1880 -- Tuesday
The weather was quite pleasant in the forenoon. It was somewhat cloudy but cleared off before noon. There was a gust in the afternoon, but did not rain very much. Mr. Ferguson came over with his big threshing machine in the forenoon, and set it up. In the afternoon Uncle Henry Snyder came over with two of his horses and we threshed out our crop, which amounted to fifty-three bushels. The other hands who helped us were Milton Brindle and W.A. Ferguson. Alice, Jennie, Jake and I were over to see D.G. Hoover in the evening, and he came over with one of our company, but did not come into the house. There is some attraction.

August 11, 1880 -- Wednesday
The weather was very warm and somewhat cloudy the forepart of the day, that is in the forenoon and part of the afternoon. There were several gusts went around towards evening. Pap and I went down to Jake Snyders and got his Fanning Mill, and brought it up. We then cleaned our whole crop of wheat. It was no small job and you bet "dear diary," that I was tired of it before we were done. Pap took Grandmother's wheat to Funk's mill after supper. D.G. Hoover was here in the evening, and staid a while after the rest of us went to bed,  that is all but Alice, and his coming cheated me out of some fun.

August 12, 1880 -- Thursday
The weather was clear and pleasant, although it was somewhat warm. Pap, Alice, Jennie and I were in town in the forenoon, we went in in the carriage. Jacob was in also, but he walked. There was quite a lively time. W.C. Coup's Great Monster Shows exhibited on the Fair grounds, but the parade was enough for me. I think that this great show was a humbug. There were a great many people in town. In the afternoon, Alice, Jennie and I were at the Conococheague creek fishing, but our luck was not fair, as our whole party only caught two fishes. We spent a very pleasant time. D.G. Hoover was here in the evening. After he had gone, I spent a very happy time with Alice.

August 13, 1880 -- Friday
The weather was clear and pleasant all day, and the roads were very dusty. I was at home the greater part of the day. After supper, Jennie, Alice and I went to New Franklin and remained until about nine o'clock. We were at Grandmother's, and Alice passed part of the time playing on the organ. We also were at Uncle John Snyder's, went over to see Columbus, and were entertained very nicely. It will not be very long now for Alice to remain with us. She is going to leave to-morrow, then our pleasant time will be over. This certainly proves the truth of the saying, "pleasure is like a snow-flake on a river, one minute bright, then gone forever."

August 14, 1880 -- Saturday
The weather was somewhat of the cloudy order all day, and there was a small shower, if such it may be called, in the afternoon. There were several gusts went around. I passed the greater part of the day at home, -- was out to Uncle Hen's field a little while in the forenoon, making arrangements with Hiram Fleck to go to Oakville Camp to-morrow. About four o'clock D.G. Hoover came with a livery team, and took Alice home to St. Thomas. It was a trial for me to see her leave, as we all have become greatly attached to her and I think a great deal of her. Perhaps she will come down again when there is sleighing. D.G. Hoover has now stopped waiting on her. This was his last.

August 15, 1880 -- Sunday
The weather was very clear and pleasant all day. The sun's rays were very hot, but there was a good air going which made it very pleasant. Hiram Fleck, Dan Heller and I walked to town in the morning, and at nine o'clock we took the train bound for Oakville Camp, at which place we staid until two o'clock when we again took the train and went to Kerrsvill, at which place there was a Nigger Camp. I only knew 3 persons at the latter place, -- being thirty-one miles from Chambersburg. I enjoyed the car-ride very much. There was an awful crowd of people at the two camps. The train for home contained 15 cars and 2 engines. We arrived in Chamb-g at 6:15 o'clock. D.G. Hoover was here on a "scout" after Jennie, &c.

August 16, 1880 -- Monday
The weather was very clear and pleasant. A nice air prevailed, which made it very pleasant. The mornings and evenings will now soon begin to get cool. I passed the day at home , in the afternoon by myself. Mother and Jennie were in New Franklin in the afternoon, went up after dinner and staid until nearly dark. I suppose from this day eight weeks I will have begun my school for another winter at "Retreat." I felt very lonesome to-day for Alice. I only now have for my consolation to reflect on the pleasant times we spent together and I hope I may yet have the pleasure of her company as she has [note: remainder of this sentence has been erased, but indentations in the paper render the letters still visible] won my affections to a great extent.

August 17, 1880 -- Tuesday
The weather was clear and pleasant all day. It was somewhat warm, as the sun poured his rays down on us very forcibly. Pap tried to plow in the morning, but as the ground is very dry and hard, he only made 3 or 4 rounds and then quit it. He then went up to see if Mr. Ferguson wanted him to thresh at Hess's, but as he was not needed he came home and we raised fourteen rows of potatoes in the lot from which we got about 12 bushels of very nice large ones. I still feel lonesome [note: remainder of this sentence has been erased, but indentations in the paper render the letters still visible] for Alice Sellers. Jennie took a notion to go to St. Thomas to-morrow, and if it is nice we will go and she is coming along back.

August 18, 1880 -- Wednesday
The weather was somewhat cloudy all day, and rained nearly all afternoon. Jennie and I started for St. Thomas about eight o'clock. We would have started earlier if the weather would not have looked so much for rain. We started about half-past eight, and got to St. Thomas about eleven. Aunt Charlotte and Alice and Clara were there. Alice Sellers was at our house in the afternoon. Jennie and I were at George Sellers' for supper. Alice was over again in the evening, and I accompanied her home. I should have came home again in the evening, but as Jennie did not wish to leave so soon, we concluded to stay till morning.

August 19, 1880 -- Thursday
The weather was cloudy all day, but did not rain till in the evening. Then we had quite a heavy gust, which soaked the ground considerably. This will be a benefit to the late corn crop, and potatoes. Jennie and I left St. Thomas at about the same time we started from home yesterday morning, and we arrived at home at a quarter till eleven. I wrote a letter to Alice Sellers in the afternoon, and a card to J.J. Kriner. D.G. Hoover came over in the evening, and we went to New Franklin. We thought there was to be a serenade but the rain prevented it. Geo. Desm and Kate Zitzman have been married.

August 20, 1880 -- Friday
The weather was somewhat changeable. At times the sky was clear, and again it looked as though it would rain. I was helping Jacob to watch the cows a while in the forenoon. I wrote a postal card to G.A. Lohr and sent it with my other card and letter with the mail-driver, Mr. Grove. I was in New Franklin in the evening, and there was a very lively time indeed. It was reported that Geo. Desm was married and Jere. Hull with his "sheet-iron brass band" gave him a delightful serenade in front of Zitzman's. "Dook" Zitzman was very cross about it. He declared that George is not married.

August 21, 1880 -- Saturday
The weather was clear and warm the forepart of the day, but looked as though it would rain in the evening. It did sprinkle a little, but did not as much as lay the dust. I took our horse uo to New Franklin and got him shod, in the morning. Pap was at Uncle Hen's working in the forenoon, and in the afternoon, he went to town. Mr. Roberts and another railroad surveyor were here for dinner, and I fed their Horse. They were leveling the proposed railroad. I went with the "Hancock Club" [supporters of Winfield Scott Hancock, Democratic candidate for president] to Marion, in the evening, at which place there was a political meeting. There were six teams in the company. Jolly times.

August 22, 1880 -- Sunday
The weather looked a little for rain in the morning, but cleared off, and the weather was, to use the hyperbole, "hot." I passed the day at the Orrstown Camp. There was a large concourse of people there. I went down past Salem Church, and returned from home through Greenvillage. This was, I think, the last big trip I will make to drive old Frank. If I do not get another horse, I will stop running around. Hiram Fleck had Jennie down at camp. I arrived here at home a little before twelve o'clock at night; did not pass a very pleasant night. Pap hitched Uncle Jake's horse in the carriage and took Mother, Aunt Han, and Jake.

August 23, 1880 -- Monday
The weather was clear and warm all day. Uncle John Cromer came to our place from town about noon, and got his dinner, and remained until about three o'clock. I hitched up in the carriage and took him to Marion Station at which place he took the five o'clock train for Mercersburgh. Jennie went along over. Coming home we came through Marion, and, at the railroad we waited till the train went sweeping by. D.G. Hoover was here towards evening, for his mail. I was disappointed, thought I would get a letter but did not. Pap was at Jake Snyder's helping to thresh. This day one year ago, I bought my buggy.

August 24, 1880 -- Tuesday
The weather was clear and warm almost all day, but there were appearances for rain at times. There were gusts went around in the evening, but no rain fell here. I took four bushels of wheat to town in the forenoon and got it changed for flour at Fred Kerlin's mill. Pap and Jake were at the woods cutting wood. I passed part of the afternoon in the "land of Nod," commonly called "shut-eye-town," -- was taken there in the "clutches of Morpheus." This day one year ago I passed in Orrstown camp, and made my first trip in a new buggy. D.G. Hoover was here in the evening, he told us that Alice Sellers is coming down to attend camp.

August 25, 1880 -- Wednesday
The weather was very warm and the sky was clear in the forenoon, but in the afternoon it got very cloudy and we had several showers of rain. There were gusts went around. Pap was ploughing in the little field above the garden. I was at home all day, -- had nothing in particular to do, passed part of the afternoon reading. Jacob was in New Franklin towards evening for the mail, but unfortunately for me, no mail was there for any of us. I was expecting a letter from Alice Sellers, but she keeps me expecting. I will not write to her very soon again.

August 26, 1880 -- Thursday
The weather was very cloudy and damp all day, and at times drizzled but very little rain fell. I was at home in the forenoon, passed the time reading, cutting wood &c. I took our horse to New Franklin in the afternoon to be shod, and I passed part of the time at John Wingert's house, had quite an interesting conversation with John B. on various topics principally educational. This day the Camp-meeting at Small's wood began and will continue for a week. Jacob was fighting bumbees the greater part of the day, said he helped to massacre five nests of the bees.

August 27, 1880 -- Friday
The weather was cloudy all day, but there was not much of a sign for rain. C.B. Dysert was here in the forenoon, and I had quite a lengthy conversation with him. He was successful in getting a school in Warren Township, and he is to receive as a compensation for his services $25.00 per month. Jacob and I picked thirteen baskets full of apples to make cider to-morrow. W.A. Ferguson and C.B. Dysert were here a while in the afternoon. Mother and Jennie were at Jake Snyder's in the afternoon. I was in New Franklin towards evening for the mail. D.G. Hoover was here in the evening.

August 28, 1880 -- Saturday
The weather was clear and very warm. Pap and I were picking apples and raising potatoes in the forenoon. Jacob was in town for Mother's dress, which had been sent from St. Thomas to Jno. Miller's hotel. In the afternoon, we were at A.M. Lesher's cider press made about two barrels of cider. I came home from the press and after getting ready I went to New Franklin and got a few cigars, and when I came home, D.G. Hoover and his lady Miss Alice Sellers were at our place, but they went to camp at Small's woods. I, like a good fellow, staid "to hum." Miss Alice came back from camp and staid all night.

August 29, 1880 -- Sunday
The weather was clear and warm in the forenoon, but in the afternoon there were several gusts, and about sun-down there was a very heavy shower.  A.E. Lesher came by our place in the morning in his buggy by himself and I went along with him to the Hill. Mr. Herbert preached. After eating our dinner which Pap and Mother brought we went to Small's woods and attended Camp. During the rain we were at a barn not far from the chapel. Jennie went out with the old folks. Amos came along home as far as our place, and after supper we went to J.C. Snyder's at which place I spent a very pleasant night with Minnie.

August 30, 1880 -- Monday
The weather was damp and cloudy all day, although the sun shone at times, but very dimly. The rain of yesterday made the roads very muddy. I hope next Wednesday evening will be nice, as I wish to take Miss Minnie Snyder to Camp. I was at home all day. In the afternoon I was fixing at my buggy. I put some straps on to keep the curtains from hanging so low when the top is down, and washed it up. Pap made some bands to tie corn shocks, when the time comes. D.G. Hoover was here in the evening for his mail. I received a card from G.A. Lohr who signed himself Hancock, this was done for a trick.

August 31, 1880 -- Tuesday
The weather was very cloudy and damp all day, and at times it rained, but not very fast. This kind of weather is very disagreeable, and is far from being healthy. Pap was at Uncle Hen Snyder's in the forenoon and made two-hundred and fifty-six bands with which to tie corn fodder, or rather shocks. He was at home in the afternoon plowing. I was at home all day, was not particularly engaged. I tried my buggy top by smashing it together. I think the next time I get to town I will get the stays taken out then I can lay the top together, as it nicer than the way it is.

Continue to September