[She has written dates down the page and writes summary paragraphs instead of daily entries for December 1914. She begins to call the diary and letters and cards as “her writing” and sometimes struggles to get it done. She tries to send gifts as well. This year she has done Easter cards and now Thanksgiving cards. By the end she only does Christmas Cards. Elbert is 32 and she will be 30 this year. The business of hens and eggs seems to be growing, mostly used for gifts and for home food. The Ward’s (teacher she lived with for 2 1/4 years who homeschooled her for her 8th year of school) send cards. The Constables sent a pair of hose supporters elastic, pink drawn through crocheted insertion with pink ribbon bow on them & a pin tray of ribbon bound hoops a flowered piece across one side with 3 glass leggs & roset on topside. She returned with 3 handkercheifs with crocheted hems & corners. There are cards and sometimes money or fruit and nuts (“in a man’s shoe box), from relations (Page Mastin, Aunt Hat, Aunt Georgia Rosecrans & Cousin Aubrey Breckenridge (from Oberlin) , Grace McHenry, & Virginia), some of whom we have not found in the family tree. But she gets 10.00 from Mr. O’Neil which shocks her. ]
[Tue. Dec. 1.- Sat. Dec. 26. 1914] Dec.Tue.1. – Sat.26 Well we have had several letters & some Thanksgiving cards from the folks and I have been so busy I have neglected my writing so have written just what I can remember Elbert was 32 yrs. old today. just think. Well Ruby & Frank & the babies have been here two or three time this mo. they have a big nice baby. Well I have worked & worked untill my eyes are getting so tired it’s hard to crochet. Well the hens laid (5.) eggs and quit. must be for X’mas. Mar-tha has been feeling bad for several weeks and has been quite ill for the last few days had to have a Dr. & Evelyn had a simeral attack they are both quite well again. I got a X’mas card from Ward’s(2) from Constables & a pair of hose supporters elastic, pink, drawn through crocheted insertion with pink ribbon bow on them & a pin tray of ribbon bound hoops a flowered piece acrossed one side with 3 glass leggs & roset on topside I sent them 3 handkerchiefs with crocheted hems & corners. Miss Baumgart sent me a card Aubrey Brekenridge sent me a card Georgia Rosecrans send me a card & Daisy Coles sent me a card & a crocheted Hat for a pin cushion, Aunt Hat
[Tue. Dec. 1.- Sat. Dec. 26. 1914, cont. ]Page 170. Mastin was here & spent the after noon & evening and she gave us girls $2.00 for X’mas. Grace Mc Henry sent Martha a man’s shoe box of grapes & oranges & candy, Verginia gave her a box of candy & a book & Evelyn sent her a box of candy an orange & some crackers & Uncle Will’s girls gave her candy nuts oranges apple & Tessie gave her a big doll most as big as she all she can tug. Mr. O’Neil sent me $10.00 for X’mas, I haven’t got over the shock yet. Well my crochet work. Well my crochet work is at an end I guess. I have Nellie’s cap to finish & A’s slipper. and then some work to do for next X’mas. I have ans. most all my letters and all my cards.