January 1, 1880 -- Thursday
The weather was very fine, clear and pleasant all day almost like a spring day. I was at home in the forenoon and part of the afternoon was shooting fire crackers, reading in the "Travels of Baron Munchausen" &c in the forenoon. A.E. Lesher came to our place about dinner-time and stayed till about 3 o'clock, came to spend part of his New Year. I was at the Grindstone Hill church in the evening, I started from home after Mr. Lesher went home. The Union Sabbath school of Grindstone Hill held their annual festival. There was a very large crowd present. I got for a gift a nice nickel watch-chain. There was also a festival at Mt. Zion school-house. I now start in with my third Diary, and God, alone, knows what may be before me, before the close of this year, A.D. 1880.

January 2, 1880 -- Friday
The weather was cloudy the greater part of the day, although the sun shone very brightly at times. The clouds were mostly wind-clouds. The roads are very muddy. I spent the day very pleasantly in my school at "Retreat," had two visitors in the afternoon namely: Mr. James Dysert and Mr. John F. Deardorff. The former gentleman staid about one and a half hours, and made a very nice address to my school. He appeared to be very well pleased with my school, both for progress and for order. Mr. Deardorff stayed up until I swept and attended to my work, and we came down the road as far as to where he turned off. Peter Dick died on this, the second day of the New Year, and also Mrs. Henry Peiffer. This kind of weather is very unhealthy.

January 3, 1880 -- Saturday
The weather was cloudy and cool all day, at times it appeared as though it would rain or snow, but in the evening it cleared off nicely. There was a rain-bow in the morning about sunrise, which is, they say, a sign of a storm. A rainbow at this time of the year is of rare occurence. D.G. Hoover was here in the forenoon. He lost his paper last evening, and he came over to read the news out of our paper. I was in town in the forenoon, got my hair cut at Holtzworth's barber shop. I got also an almanac for this year, and a box of collars. Just as I was going to start for home, Adam Deem asked me to take him along home, and I was turning around on West Market Street, my horse took fright at a side of shoe-leather and turned too short, and broke eight spokes out of the right front wheel. I took the buggy to Rodger's coach shop to get fixed.

January 4, 1880 -- Sunday
The weather was very pleasant in the forenoon, but in the afternoon it clouded up and there were some appearances for rain in the evening. Pap rode to the Grindstone Hill church in the forenoon. There was a funeral sermon preached by Mr. Comfort. There was to be regular service, but the funeral of Mrs. Henry Peiffer occurred. The funeral of Peter Dick also took place at the Catholic church in Chambersburg. A small child of Jacob S[..]ull now lays a corpse and will be buried to-morrow. There was singing at the Chicago school-house, in the evening, by J.A. Pfoutz, but the accident that happened me yesterday deprived me of going. It seems strange to me to write so much for one day, as I am used to writing only about half as much as I can now [his earlier diaries had two days per page; this year's has only one day per page, giving more room to write.]

January 5, 1880 -- Monday
The  weather was cloudy all day, began to rain in the afternoon. I had to come home from school in the rain. I passed the day very pleasantly in my school. Mr. F.J. Pfoutz was in my school a little while in the afternoon. He came with his horse and wagon for his children, as it was raining about the time that the school left out. I bought a box of crayons for the school, as I went by Jackson Hall on my way to the school house in the morning. Pap was in the shop making brooms. I went into the shop in the morning as I went to school and took my first look at our new sleigh. I spent the evening playing dominos with Jake and Pap. The tally was Jake 3 games, Pap 3 games and I 2 games of points. Pap had 32, Jake had 28, and I had 28.

January 6, 1880 -- Tuesday
The weather was very inclement, rained very heavily in the forenoon at times, and occasionally in the afternoon, but most in the forenoon. I passed my day in my school, had a pretty large school considering the inclemency of the weather. I came from the school house to New Franklin, and got my supper at Grandmother's. I then went to the New Franklin school-house at which place the [New Franklin Literary]  society convened. The crowd was small, only about 8 members present. There were several pieces of Select Reading by Miss Annie Gilwicks, D.G. Hoover, J.F. Deardorff, A.B. Shetter, and C.A. Hassler. We had, also, the same dialogue that we had one week ago. There was no debate. Jacob and Mother are both sick. They have sore-throat. Pap got powders from Dr. Bachs.

January 7, 1880 -- Wednesday
The weather was very cloudy and damp all day. This kind of weather is very injurious to health, much more so than if it were very cold. The roads are very muddy and bad. I passed the day very pleasantly in my school. Mr. Benjamin Lehman, one of our school directors, was in my school in the afternoon. I asked him to make an address, but as he is unaccustomed to making addresses in public, he declined. Mother and Jacob have recovered some in health since last evening, but both have the sore throat yet. David Singer was at our house in the evening, came over to pass the evening. I got the loan of a "Brown's Grammar" of F.J. Pfoutz. I came home from Jackson Hall with Mr. Abram Lesher in the buggy this evening.

January 8, 1880 -- Thursday
The weather was cloudy all day, but did not rain, in the evening the stars were shining. I hope now we will have other weather, and that to-morrow we can see the sun once more as we have not seen it for nearly a week. I passed the day very pleasantly in my school. My three largest and best scholars were absent. I got for Thomas Horn an Arithmetic, as I came past Jackson Hall on my way home in the evening. We were playing dominos in the evening. Jacob had the greatest number of spots, The score being Jake, 552, Pap, 552, and I, myself, 352. The year 1880 is now one week old. I have now sixty-eight days put in teaching, and according to my certificate, about $80.24 earned, enough to pay my buggy.

January 9, 1880 -- Friday
The weather was cloudy and gloomy all day, very foggy in the morning and part of the forenoon. I passed the day in my school. We had a general review in Arithmetic in the afternoon. I gave to Harry Pfoutz the following question for him to work out over Saturday and Sunday, "How many gallons of water in a canal, 50 miles long, 35 feet wide, and 15 feet deep?" We passed the evening playing dominos. The score was in playing match game. Pap 388, Jake 126, and myself 243, and in playing eucher. Pap had 6 games and 41 points, Jake had 3 games and 33 points and I had 4 games and 36 points. To-morrow three weeks I can draw some money, as a recompense from the school-board of our Township and will have completed 3 1/2 months.

January 10, 1880 -- Saturday
The weather was very fine. The morning appeared like a spring morning, and the day on the whole was clear and beautiful. At night the sky was all ablaze with stars. To see the sun once again appears strange. I was cleaning the stables, helping to cut wood, playing dominos &c in the forenoon. I was in town in the afternoon. There were a great many people in town. I got my buggy at Rodger's, which had been broken one week ago, my bill is $2.90 and I will pay it as soon as I can. The wheel has now twelve new spokes. I did not get home with the buggy until a while after night, came out the Greencastle road, turned off of it at Peter Christ's, and stopped off at a house along the way and spent part of the night there.

January 11, 1880 -- Sunday
The weather was clear and pleasant in the forenoon, but got very cloudy in the afternoon. Pap and Jake were at the Grindstone Hill church in the forenoon. They went up in my buggy. They thought that there was Sunday School, but there was none. They now have it changed from every Sunday to every other Sunday, and Pap did not know it. Pap was "out of humor" when he came home, because he had been fooled up. I had a very sore throat, so I did not get up to the Hill. I called in Dr. Bachs as he was driving past, and he gave me some gargle, some cooling drops and a calomel powder. My throat got very sore in the evening, and I passed a very restless night. One of my pupils, Katie Pfoutz, died in the night of Diphtheria. This was the last night of singing at the Spring.

January 12, 1880 -- Monday
The weather was cloudy and warm in the forenoon, cloudy and rainy, cold and windy in the afternoon, snowed in the evening. Jake was in school after an absence of a week. I could not go to my school on account of my sore throat. Pap rode to my school-house and informed my scholars that there would be no school. Pap was in New Franklin, and got for me of Dr. Bachs 8 powders and a bottle of Chloride of Magnesia. He hitched-up in my buggy and went to the school-house for Jake after school. Uncle Hen Snyder was here in the afternoon, also, D.G. Hoover. They came in to see how I was getting. The Doctor was also here toward evening and left a small bottle of cooling drops.

January 13, 1880 -- Tuesday
The weather was clear and somewhat cool all day. The snow melted very little. If there would fall 6 or 8 inches more snow, there would be sleighing. I still have sore throat, and it has run into Diphtheria. Dr. Bachs and his hostler, Joseph Arrant, were here in the afternoon. The Dr. burned out my throat with a caustic of Nitrate of Silver. D.G. Hoover and David Senger stopped in to see how I was as they were on their way to Society. Mrs. Wertz and Charlie were also here in the evening. They brought some splits up for me to make a wallet and two picture frames for them. Pap was at the Literary Society, which was of a highly interesting character. D.G. Hoover took my place as Secretary.

January 14, 1880 -- Wednesday
The weather was clear and cold all day, although I did not get out to feel the fresh air, am still confined to the sick room of Diphtheria which I think is getting somewhat better and I hope it soon may, as I am anxious to get to my school. Mr. Reed was here a little while in the forenoon. Pap was in town in the forenoon, took some onions &c in, and bought a fat lamp, some oranges and lemons &c. Dr. Bachs and his hostler were here in the afternoon. The Dr. again burned out my throat and it is a great deal better than it was yesterday. I was very busily engaged during the day making wallets and picture frames for Mrs. Wertz. We were playing dominos in the evening. Pap beat, having 482 spots.

January 15, 1880 -- Thursday
The weather was cloudy and cool. Snowed from about eleven o'clock to about one. A little bit more, and then we can try the new sleigh. I passed the day almost all alone in the room. David Senger was here in the forenoon a little while, got a jacket, from which to cut a pattern for a jacket for him. D.G. Hoover stopped in a little while, on his way home from school, to see how I was getting along with my sore throat, which is a great deal better than it was. Mrs. Wertz, Mrs. Boggs, and Mr. Wertz were here in the evening, came up to spend the evening and to get her wallet and pictures and frames. Pap was in the shop, making brooms. Dr. Bachs was not about today.

January 16, 1880 -- Friday
The weather was foggy and frosty the greater part of the forenoon, but partially cleared off in the afternoon, and again cloudy toward evening. I passed the day at home all alone almost. I was reading and looking over the maps of Franklin Co. in an atlas which Jacob bought from Reeds last evening. Pap was in the shop making brooms, Mother was washing, and Jacob was at school. D.G. Hoover and C.B. Dysert were here a little bit in the afternoon after school. My throat feels considerably better and I hope by next Monday to again go to my school, I have now lost one week, which time I shall have to put in in the Spring. I hope I will lose no more time.

January 17, 1880 -- Saturday
The weather was foggy and cloudy the greater part of the day. The sun shone dimly at times. I passed the day in the room, mostly, was on the porch a short time in the afternoon. Pap and Jake were cutting wood and cleaning stables in the forenoon. We were playing dominoes and checkers the greater part of the afternoon. D.G. Hoover and David Senger were here in the evening, they came here to spend the evening. We were playing dominoes, with the following score, Dan 263, Pap 281, Jake 164,Dave 160, and myself 263. Dan and I came out alike and we left "poor Dave" behind. Were I perfectly well, I would not have been at home this evening. But so goes life, "Man can make calculations and God destroy them."

January 18, 1880 -- Sunday
The weather was somewhat cloudy at times, it appeared almost like clouds of smoke, at times the sun shone very brightly and the day was warm. Pap and Mother were in St. Thomas, went  up in the morning and returned in the evening, in my buggy. Jacob was at the Grindstone Hill church almost all day, went up in the morning to attend our Sunday School and preaching and stayed up for the Lutheran Sabbath-School. Messrs. John H. Shetter and D.G. Hoover were here spending the afternoon. We had a very pleasant time. D.G. Hoover took sick, I think he has sore throat. Dr. Bachs went out in the afternoon. To-morrow I will again try the school, and I hope I may keep good health.

January 19, 1880 -- Monday
The weather was fine. It was clear and pleasant all day, almost like a spring day. It appears that we are to have no winter at all this winter, but perhaps it may come yet severe enough. The roads are very muddy. I passed the day in my school, drove up in the buggy in the morning, and took Mrs. Pfoutz along part of the way. Harry Pfoutz is very sick with Pneumonia. We passed the evening playing dominoes. Jacob beat Pap and I pretty bad. There is a very large band of Gypsies encamped in Reeds woods, they must be a pretty rich band as they have some very nice horses and wagons. Pap was at Uncle Hen Snyder's cutting wood and Mother was in New Franklin.

January 20, 1880 -- Tuesday
The weather was somewhat cloudy all day. The sun shone at times, but not very long at a time. There was quite a heavy thundergust in the evening, the thunder rolled and the lightning flashed, just like a mid-summer gust. After the gust it was very windy, and I suppose it will now get cold. I passed the day very pleasantly in my school, drove up and had my horse in Hipfer's Stable. Jacob went to New Franklin before the gust, and at the time I write this, he has not returned. Perhaps he will stay at Grandmother's all night. Pap would have gone to the Literary Society if it would not have rained. I passed the evening reading and studying and preparing the minutes of the last evening of Society. -- W.F.Z.

January 21, 1880 - Wednesday
The weather was very fine. The sun shone beautifully all day, and the air appeared more pure than it did yesterday, though it was in no wise cold. I passed the day very pleasantly in my school, drove up in the morning. I took Aunt Hannah part of the way to Maria Hassler's in the morning and brought her home in the evening. I was in to see Harry Pfoutz, who is now lying very low with Pneumonia, as I passed the Hall on my way home in the evening.  George, Charlie, and Annie Wertz were at our house a little while in the evening. They cannot get along with their teacher, Ben Peters. I passed the part of the evening after they went home studying my History, Grammar, and Mental Arithmetic lessons for to-morrow.

January 22, 1880 -- Thursday
The weather was very inclement all day. It began to rain in the morning as I was on my way to school and continued raining all day, ceasing for a little while every now and then. I drove to my school, at which place I passed the day. I came home through the rain. A.B. Shetter was here in the evening, We passed the evening playing dominoes. When we were playing match game I beat, having two hundred more points than Pap, who was the one next to me. When we were playing euchre, Jacob and I beat Pap and Abe, I was ciphering after Abe went home, worked out one of the Compound Partnership questions in Brook's Written Arithmetic. It was quite late when I got to bed.

January 23, 1880 -- Friday
The weather was somewhat cloudy and cold all day. The clouds were principally wind-clouds. I passed the day very pleasantly in my school. I drove up, and had my horse in Hipfer's Stable. I have now put in one week since my sickness, have now forty-seven days to teach yet this winter. We were playing dominoes in the evening, I flatter myself to such an extent to say that I was the best player. I got four games, 37 points, and 1 cat, whilst Pap, the next one to me had 4 games, 32 points and 2 cats. On next Friday evening, if the weather is nice, I think I will have spelling school at my school-house, and to-morrow evening a week, there is to be an exhibition in St. Thomas.

January 24, 1880 -- Saturday
The weather was very fine, the sky it was clear all day and the air was somewhat cool. The weather, since the rain, is more healthy than it had been before, but it appears that it cannot get cold and give snow, so that we can have sleighing and try the new sleigh which Pap bought built. I have now made two mistakes on this page. It is owing to the confusion which Jacob makes reading aloud. I cannot get my mind composed, when there is reading or talking. Pap was in town in the forenoon and got 3 boards with which to make another book-case to give to Aunt Sue. I cleaned the stables &c in the forenoon and passed the afternoon reading, was also to see D.G. Hoover, who took sick on last Sabbath. He is slowly improving.

January 25, 1880 -- Sunday
The weather was very pleasant, although the sun shone quite dim at times, the air was not so cold as it was yesterday. I passed the forenoon very pleasantly in bed, sleeping, did not get up for breakfast. I enjoyed sleep very much, having lost a good deal of the article last night. I was at home in the afternoon, reading and ciphering. Jacob rode "Old Frank" to the Grindstone Hill church in the forenoon. There was Lutheran Sunday-School and Preaching by Rev. A.H. Shertz. We did not have Sunday-school, will only have every two weeks. I passed the evening studying and talking. There was singing at the Chicago school-house by J.A. Pfoutz in the evening. I was not in attendance, and I do not think I shall tend it much.

January 26, 1880 -- Monday
The weather was very fine. The sky was clear, and the air was pleasant. It was a little frosty in the morning, but got very pleasant long before dinner. I drove up to my school-house in the morning and passed the day very pleasantly in my school. I brought John Pfoutz along down from the Hall, as I came past them on my way home from school. Pap fixed the churn, in New Franklin. I took it up in the morning and brought it along home in the evening. Pap and Jake were playing dominoes in the evening, and I was filling out my school report and made a new roll for our Society. I was also studying. I studied very hard till 10 o'clock at Prob. 28, Page 150 Brook's Mental Arithmetic.

January 27, 1880 -- Tuesday
The weather was very inclement, at times cloudy and rainy the greater part of the day, toward evening it cleared of, and the evening was clear and moonlight, but the roads were very muddy. I drove to the school-house, and passed the day in my school. I was at the New Franklin Literary Society in the evening, which was very well attended, and the exercises were very interesting and instructive. The question, "Resolved, that conscience is a correct moral guide" was debated by F.T. Snyder in the affirmative, and by J.H. Deardorff in the negative. The question was discussed very ably on both sides and D.L. Grove, Frank Trace, and myself the appointed judges decided for the negative. Aunt Eliza Snyder died, after a long illness, in the evening.

January 28, 1880 -- Wednesday
The weather was very pleasant and clear all day. I suppose that if this kind of weather keeps on for two or three months more, we will have no winter at all. I passed the day in my school, to which place I drove in the morning. I have now two months to teach yet, and then I am done for this winter. One of Joseph Nicklas' children was buried at the cemetery. It died of Scarlet fever. I was at Lesher's School-house in the evening, there was spelling school by C.B. Dysert. I did not spell, but pronounced after intermission. J.F. Hoover stood the floor. I filled out my school report after I got home. To-morrow J.W. Funk and Miss Edith Barr will get married.

January 29, 1880 -- Thursday
The weather was very pleasant all day. The sun shone almost all day, but quite dimly at times. The atmosphere changed toward evening, and got quite cool and sharp. I drove to my school-house in the morning, at which place I passed the day, in my school. I brought Mrs. Pfoutz down from Jackson Hall in the evening, and C.B. Dysert from New Franklin down as far as our place. I passed the evening at home, studying my lessons in Mental Arithmetic, Grammar and History. I was also helping Jake and Pap to play dominoes. We played the game known as euchre and Jacob was the champion player. I was also studying on the question for debate, and a speech for to-morrow evening at spelling.

January 30, 1880 -- Friday
The weather was cloudy and cool all day, threatening for rain. I passed the day in my school, very pleasantly. I walked up for the first time in three weeks. Pap and Mother taking my buggy and the horse to attend Aunt Eliza Snyder's funeral, which was very largely attended. C.B. Dysert was in my school in the afternoon, visiting. He was very well pleased with my school. We went to Tritle's for our supper and were very well treated by all in the family. They are a very clever family, and Mr. Dysert and I were very well pleased. We came then to my school-house (Tritle's Girls and me) where there was spelling school by myself. Harve Glugson stood the floor. Pap came up for me and we broke the front spring in my buggy.

January 31, 1880 -- Saturday
The weather was somewhat cloudy in the forenoon, rained and sleeted a little, cleared off very nicely in the afternoon and got quite cold. I cleaned the stables and Pap fixed my buggy spring with wood and straps in the forenoon. Jacob and I went to town in the afternoon. The school-board met. I lifted my buggy note and received $11.87 besides. I paid J.H. Rodgers for the fixing of my buggy-wheel which I broke on the 3rd of this month. We went there, to St. Thomas, at which place the band had an entertainment, which we attended. It was a grand and magnificent exhibition, consisting of Dialogues, Tableaux and Music. The best play was one entitled Fate and the Peddler. -- W.F.Z.