My own want of efficiency worries me. To-day again I relaxed and rested, and I know it was a mistake and will not try it again—some people have to stay braced.
Lizette, who is about fourteen, went last night to a "settin' up" three miles from here. A woman had died whom she did not know at all, had never seen in life. In the midst of the singing of "speretuals" and shouting two small boys got into a fight, their parents joined in, and in a few moments the "speretuals" and shouting were turned into cursing. Poor things, poor things! Lizette was so worn out that when I came down to breakfast I found her stretched out on the pantry dresser fast asleep.
After breakfast Chloe came in and told me she was freezing cold and could not get warm. I immediately went out to the kitchen and made a cup of hot ginger tea, which I forced her to drink. I tried to get her to go to bed, but in vain; she said if she once went to bed she knew she would never get up again, and this melancholy view I did not combat. I just said: "Then perhaps you had better stay up."
I made Jim cook as Chloe was too ill to do anything, though she would not leave the kitchen until I had her big rocker brought and put under an oak tree just in front of the kitchen and insisted on her sitting there. Goliah was made to put on his white apron and wait, which made him very proud.
God forgive me; but it does seem so hopeless when the elements are banded together against one!
I must remember this is the time to show faith and courage.
Sunday, July 30.
The blessed day of rest. I wrote that this morning. It has been a blessed day, but not one of rest exactly.
I had early in the week a letter from C. saying he would bring the dean up this afternoon to have service at St. Peter's-in-the-Woods, about nine miles from here, asking me to meet them there and saying they would come home with me and spend the night. I think I did too much Thursday, driving. Anyway I was very nervous.
I let Jim go down to Gregory Friday and spend the night with his family, so that I could have him here to-day to drive me. I fixed all the lamps and finished my household work, for this tall Lizette cannot be trusted to do anything. Then at 10:30 got into the wagon behind Ruth and Marietta to go to church in Peaceville.