July 1, 1880 -- Thursday
The weather was somewhat cloudy all forenoon, and there were great signs of rain. I was at Uncle Hen's helping to haul in wheat. We hauled in the shocks out of the field across the meadow. It began to rain at noon, and continued raining but not very fast till evening, but enough to stop us from working. I came home, and passed the afternoon in reading and writing. My Diary of this year is now half written full. God alone knows what may be in the future for me to state in the remaining half of this book. I wrote to a certain person but will not send it; for several reasons. My friend Annie is sick.

July 2, 1880 -- Friday
The weather was changeable. It was cloudy in the forenoon, and about noon it cleared off, and the sun shone very brightly, but soon the clouds gathered up, and we had quite a little shower. Pap and I were at Uncle Hen's, we went down after dinner, and hauled in, till the rain stopped us. I was in town, in the forenoon. Jacob and I went in to-gether in my buggy. I got my hair cut, very short. Uncle Hen thinks I would better "get a bladder on my head, to keep the flies off." I also got a bottle of shoe-dressing, and a hair-brush. Pap went from Uncle Hen's to New Franklin. D.G. Hoover was here in the evening. I got a letter from J.C. Walck.

July 3, 1880 -- Saturday
The weather was very fine and pleasant, very clear all day. The air was very pure in the morning, and objects at a distance could be seen quite plainly. This would have been a beautiful day to be on Mt. Parnell. We could see very plainly, the many beautiful sights to be seen from the top of that elevated eminence. I was at Uncle Hen's all day, helping to haul in, we finished hauling in the wheat sheaves, and hauled in one load of rye sheaves, we have the balance of the rye, and all the rakings to haul yet. I was provoked at the old Bass in the evening. The sun had gone down, when we finished unloading, and he made one go to the field, and help put on a load of rye.

July 4, 1880 -- Sunday
The weather was very pleasant all day. We were all at the Grindstone Hill Church in the forenoon, went in the carriage. There was sunday school, also preaching by the new preacher, Mr. Herbert, who will be installed in two weeks. It seems strange to hear a new preacher once, and not listen to "sweet Comfort," as it flowed from the lips of Comfort. It was thirteen or fourteen weeks since I was at the Hills. The last time was when we had our communion, or the 28th of last March. I was at the New Franklin School-house in the evening. There was singing by J.A. Pfoutz. There was quite a crowd. 104 yrs ago there was a big time in Philadelphia.

July 5, 1880 -- Monday
The weather was cloudy in the forenoon, and there were indications of rain. About noon it began to rain, and continued raining until evening. There were several very heavy showers, which will stop the farmers from hauling in their grain, for a day or two. Pap and I were at Uncle Hen's in the forenoon, helping to haul in, we hauled in the rye, put two loads in the barn, and the others on a stack. We also hauled in one load of rakings. We would have hauled all day, but we were stopped on account of the rain. If I would have one-fourth of a day more in, I would have earned $15.00. So much to sport on, and I expect a great part of it will be spent in that way. I got a letter from J.N. Baker, also J.J. Kriner.

July 6, 1880 -- Tuesday
The weather was pleasant, the air was pure, but it was not altogether clear. At times there were indications for rain, and I do not think the weather is settled yet. I passed the day studying, it being too wet to haul in. I must put in my spare moments studying for the examination, as "the voice of the superintendent will soon be heard in the land.["]  Pap was at Uncle Hens in the forenoon, and got a bag full of corn. He was in New Franklin in the afternoon. Jacob was a[t] Reeds in the afternoon, Mother and Jake were at Wertz's in the afternoon, toward evening. Mrs. Wertz is sick, and several others of that family.

July 7, 1880 -- Wednesday
The weather was clear and warm. The sun came out very hot. I was at Uncle Hen's and put in three-quarters of a day, at hauling in rakings. I got my breakfast at home, and then went down. It was a terrible ugly job. The rakings are very dusty and full of ground. Charlie Dysert and I took it turn-about at pitching off. While one was pitching off, the other was heaping. It will go worse, after the "dirty stuff," has to be put overhead. I would hate to be one, that would take it out of the mow for the threshing machine. Uncle John got my buggy in the evening, to go to Waynesboro to-morrow.

July 8, 1880 -- Thursday
The weather was very warm, there were gusts went around in the afternoon, but it did not rain here. I was at Uncle Hens in the forenoon, and finished the "three-men-jous" job of hauling in dusty rakings. I got the luck of pitching off the last load, which went overhead. Pap and I came home in the afternoon, and raked our little field, and hauled off the first rakings, also we hauled in one load of sheaves, and left it on the wagon, in the barn floor. Uncle John was here awhile, about dusk, and brought home my buggy. He and Grandmother were in Waynesboro to-day in it. W.F.Z.

July 9, 1880 -- Friday
The weather was clear and warm, the greater part of the day. We were at home, and hauled in our whole crop, except what little we hauled in last evening. We had to top out the stack of sheaves with rakings, the reason being that the stack of sheaves was started too large, and we had not the sheaves to finish it. After we finished, which was at supper-time, I passed the remaining part of the day studying for the examination, which will occur at St. Thomas on the 3rd of August. Oh, my! the time is rapidly approaching, -- the time which will require spunk and thought. Jacob was at Uncle Hen's after supper and got for me $5.00.

July 10, 1880 -- Saturday
The weather was very warm and at times there were indications for rain, especially in the evening about sun-set, there was great appearances for a gust, but it did not rain. I passed part of the forenoon, studying. I want to improve my spare moments from now until the 3rd of next month. Our examination, that is the examination for Guilford Twp. will be held on the 27th of this month. I drove to town, about one or two o'clock and remained there during the afternoon, "spent a good time generally" and took a kind of a harvest sport, about sun-set. I started from town, and came to the place where I often sported, and put in another good night.

July 11, 1880 -- Sunday
The weather was very warm, the thermometer hunted the hundred degrees, and the heat was so great, that the one hundred were found quite early. I slept almost all forenoon, did not get up to eat any, but remained in bed till eleven o'clock. After dinner, I got ready and went out to Leshers School-house where there was sunday-school by Mr. Bovey. There was a right large crowd there Misses Annie Snyder, Alice Shetter and Emma Snyder and J.H. Shetter and D.G. Hoover came here after Sunday School, and we all went up to the New Franklin school-house, where there was singing by J.A. Pfoutz. I started things afresh with Miss Alice.

July 12, 1880 -- Monday
The weather was very warmer, or if I may use the hyperbole "It was hot. The sun shone almost all day. It was hid a short time in the afternoon, at which time there were gusts went around. Pap and I were at Uncle Hen Snyders, helping to make hay. I was heaping and stood it very well, but Pap, Hiram Fleck and Andy Smith were very nearly "flaxed," just before supper. At Supper time we were treated to a glass of wine. This was Uncle Hen Snyder's birth-day. He is now 63 years old. D.G. Hoover was here when we came home, and he remained at the wood-pile a while in the evening.

July 13, 1880 -- Tuesday
The weather was very warm, especially in the forenoon. After dinner, there was a right nice air going, but the Sun's rays were very hot, or as the Physical Geography makes it, "the suns rays came to the earth, and the heat was caused by the radiation." I passed part of the forenoon studying. The "trying time" is now only three weeks in the future. Pap was at home in the afternoon, and mowed the grass of our little field. He took the mower home after supper, and got the Hay-rake from Uncle Hen. I helped to grind Pap's cradling scythe. Jacob went to New Franklin after supper, went up for a stamp.

July 14, 1880 -- Wednesday
The weather was very warm all day, and it was somewhat cloudy in the afternoon, several gusts went around. We hauled in our hay in the forenoon, which hay we cut yesterday afternoon, some of it was not any too dry, but Pap thought it was dry enough. It made six small loads. Pap was at Uncle Hen's in the afternoon cradling oats, and he almost played out, the heat is too great to work. It is about as hot as it was in oats-harvest two years ago. I passed part of the afternoon studying. Jacob was in New Franklin after supper, and got the mail. I received a postal card from A.B. Shetter. D.G. Hoover was here in the evening.

July 15, 1880 -- Thursday
The weather was very changeable. It was thundering early in the morning, and after the sun came up, it got very hot, and remained so all day, but almost all the time it was thundering, and gusts went around. There was a little shower in the forenoon, and quite a thundergust in the afternoon, visited us.  Pap  was at Uncle Hen's and almost played out, cutting oats. I passed the day, or part of the day, studying for the examination. D.G. Hoover was here all the afternoon, he, too, is preparing for the examination and I think it bothers him a good bit, for he is afraid he may fail as he did last year.

July 16, 1880 -- Friday
The weather was very pleasant, much pleasanter than it was for the last three or four past days. There was a gentle western breeze blowing almost all day. I passed part of the day at study for the examination. I suppose that is the way I will pass a great part of the time, from now till the 3rd of August. Pap was at home, was partly sick, sat around and did not do anything. He played himself out cutting oats at Uncle Hen's. D.G. Hoover was at New Franklin towards evening, and when he went home, he stopped in a while. He brought our mail.

July 17, 1880 -- Saturday
The weather was very clear and pleasant. Towards evening, it looked as though we would have rain, but the result of it was it sprinkled a little. I walked to town in the morning, and there met Miss Alice, and at 9:20 o'clock we took the train bound for Mont Alto Park, at which place we arrived at a little after ten, and we passed a very pleasant day at the old Park, where on the 1st of last August we spent such a pleasant time. The picnic was gotten up for the benefit of the Mt. Alto Band. There was a very large crowd there, and I enjoyed myself very much. We arrived in Chambg. at about six o'clock in the evening. I passed a happy night with my Alice.

July 18, 1880 -- Sunday
The weather was very clear and pleasant. The evening was beautiful. The bright, almost full moon shone out in all its emulgency. We were all at the G.S. Hill church in the forenoon. Our newly elected preacher Mr. Herbert was installed. The sermon was preached by Rev. W.M. Deatrich. Mr. Comfort was also present. There was quite a crowd present. I was at home in the afternoon. Jacob was at Sunday School. I took Miss Alice to Singing at New Franklin school-house in the evening. Annie Wertz, I suppose is cross at me, for she gave me black looks in the forenoon, and did not look at me in the evening, but I care not. I am just as well satisfied.

July 19, 1880 -- Monday
The weather was very changeable. It was pleasant in the forenoon, with some appearance for rain in the afternoon. There were gusts went around, some of which was thought would come here, but none came till about ten o'clock at night, at  which time we had I think the heaviest gust of the summer. We, (Pap and I) were at Uncle Hen's taking up oats, we were binding in the forenoon, and in the afternoon we put up a stack, we hauled in all that was bound in the large field. We have yet some in that field and that in the orchard to haul, but I don't suppose that any will be hauled to-morrow. I felt somewhat dull, owing to the park spree, and loss of sleep.

July 20, 1880 -- Tuesday
The weather was very changeable. It was cloudy in the forenoon, and in the afternoon, there was quite a heavy gust. The evening was beautiful. The moon shone brightly. I was at home all day. The oats was too wet to work at on account of the heavy gust of last night. I passed the greater part of the  day preparing for the events of to-day a week. D.G. Hoover was here in the afternoon, and D.P. Zitzman stopped in on his way home from town. He thought he would get wet to go home, and so he would, had he gone on. George Keefer was here during the rain also.

July 21, 1880 -- Wednesday
The weather was quite pleasant, it got somewhat cloudy towards evening, and will I think rain more before the weather settles rightly. I was at home in the forenoon, was looking up the important events of the administrations of the presidents. I was at Uncle Henry Snyders in the afternoon helping to take up oats. If I had in one-half day's more work yet, I would have earned during the harvest etc. the sum of twenty dollars. Messrs A.L. Wertz and Preacher Herbert were here a while in the afternoon. They are around paying calls. They stayed only about fifteen minutes. Mother was at Sengers in the evening.

July 22, 1880 -- Thursday
The weather was cloudy in the forenoon, and about nine o'clock it began to rain, and continued raining the remaining part of the day, -- a regular settled rain. Pap and I went to Uncle Hen's in the morning, and took up oats until it began to rain. We then came home and I passed the day, or part of the day studying for the examination, and for my own information, but more particularly for the former. Jacob was in town in the forenoon, got 3 sheets of tissue paper, and I made him a kite in the afternoon. Pap was in New Franklin in the afternoon. I wrote two letters, one to John N. Baker, the other to Jennie.

July 23, 1880 -- Friday
The weather was somewhat cloudy, and very foggy in the forenoon, but cleared off very nicely in the afternoon. Jacob and I were out after blackberries in the morning, got about three quarts. Pap mowed the grass in the orchard, and then hauled off the brush, which came from the apple-trees, which were trimmed. Pap was at Uncle Hen's in the afternoon helping to take up oats. I suppose I am done working there for this harvest. Jacob and I made the hay in the orchard, in the afternoon. It only made about a half a load. Mother was at A.L. Wertzs in the evening, went down after supper. D.G. Hoover was here in the evening for the mail, which Jake brought from New Franklin.

July 24, 1880 -- Saturday
The weather was clear and pleasant all day, and the evening was beautiful. I passed part of the day studying, -- only a few more days and then my mind will be more at ease, about the "examination fuss."  Pap was at Uncle Hen's in the forenoon, they finished up with their oats, and have reached the end of their harvest. Adam Danzberger was at the well, "blowing" for about the space of one hour and a half. I would have liked very much to have gone to St. Thomas in the evening. There I have a mistake in my grammar, but, as I have no rubber, I will let it. The St. Thomas band held their annual fair and Festival in St. Thomas in the evening.

July 25, 1880 -- Sunday
The weather was somewhat cloudy, especially about noon. It looked a great deal for rain, but it cleared off nicely and the sun disappeared clear. It was very warm all day.  Pap and Mother went to St. Thomas, started about six o'clock and returned in the evening. Jacob went to Messersmith's woods in the morning and staid all day. I, after getting my lady, went out after dinner. The "Niggers" had a bush meeting. There was a large crowd there, and the "darks" did some big singing. I went from the meeting to Shetters and from there to the New Franklin school-house. There was singing in the evening by J.A. Pfoutz, and a right nice little crowd was there also, and right good singing.

July 26, 1880 -- Monday
The weather was pleasant and clear the forepart of the day. Towards evening there were gusts went around, and we had quite a nice little shower here. I was at home in the forenoon, and passed part of my time at my books, preparing for the events of the coming morrow. Pap and I put the rye on the wagon in the afternoon and took it down to Uncle Hen's at he was threshing at it in the afternoon. I settled with Uncle Hen, and received from the balance of my harvest wages. The balance was $14.37, and my whole summer earnings amounted to the sum of $19.37.

July 27, 1880 -- Tuesday
The weather was very clear and quite pleasant, was somewhat "warm," but that was because it was examination day, perhaps. I passed the whole day in town. D.G. Hoover and I walked in, in the morning. We passed through our examination. I came out much better than I had anticipated, my certificate was as follows: Orthography 1, Reading 1, Writing 1, Arithmetic 1 ½,  Grammar 1 ½, Geography 1 ½, History 1, Theory of teaching 1 ½, Practice of teaching 1 ½, and therefore summed up as 11 ½, a gain of 4 ½ over last year. D.G. Hoover's certificate summer up 14 ½. This day 52 weeks ago was the examination. A.V. Reineman cleaned my watch.

July 28, 1880 -- Wednesday
The weather was clear and pleasant all day. I passed the day at home, "not doing much." I raised a basketfull of potatoes. Mother and I were in town in the forenoon. We took some onion, and other groceries in. I bought from A.V. Reineman a flutina for the sum of $4.50, and he game me a mouth-organ in the bargain. I also bought a linen collar at David Franks for 20 cents. D.G. Hoover was here in the afternoon. He is now going to get a flutina too, to be even with me. W.R. and G.D. Keefer were here in the evening. Will brought his violin down, and I played, and we had lots of music.

July 29, 1880 -- Thursday
The weather was clear and pleasant, although it looked like as if we might have gusts about dinner-time. I was around Jake Snyders fields gathering blackberries in the forenoon a while. I got about 3 quarts. I was raising potatoes Etc. in the afternoon, also reading a book entitled "A Bad Boy's Diary." This book shows how a boy may do bad, without knowing it. I was at Uncle Hen's towards evening, and got from him two bushels of oats @ .30 per bushel. We are now square. Mrs. Wertz (my nurse) was here in the evening, got a bushel of onions. Mr. C.C. Snyder, or better Prof. came home from school.

July 30, 1880 -- Friday
The weather was very clear and pleasant all day, and the roads are beginning to get dusty. I was at Eckhardt's mill for our ten bushels of chap in the forenoon. Jacob was along. I was raising potatoes, reading Etc. in the the afternoon. D.G. Hoover was here for his mail in the afternoon. Clara E. Snyder and her mother were here towards evening. I received a postal card from Uncle Charles. He had not forgot the s-p-r-a-y yet. D.G. Hoover and I were at Wallace's woods in the evening, attending Nigger Camp. There was quite a crowd there and considerable shouting and, as a matter of course, "happy nigs."

July 31, 1880 -- Saturday
The weather was very clear and somewhat warm, all day. Pap was at Uncle Hen's in the forenoon, loading manure. In the afternoon, he was at home, doing nothing. I cleaned out the stables in the forenoon, and cut some wood &c. I was not particularly engaged in the afternoon. Jacob was at Wallace's woods in the evening, attending the "Darkey Camp." He says that there was an awful large crowd there. I was not there. I spent my time just as profitably and a great deal more pleasantly with Allie. I suppose the Darkey Camp will be well-attended to-morrow. The way I understand, an excursion of Darks from Martinsburg will run. "I must close as news are scarce."

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