I was sitting in the Colonels Library I took a Catalogue of the whole of His Books—& he tells me he has left behind him at Williamsburg, with many other things 458 volumes besides Music & Pamphlets.[178]
It is with considerable Difficulty that I keep the Children in School til twelve o Clock as they used to go out all the last winter at Breakfast—Bob especially is vastly vociferous on the Occasion—Our Bells for School & play-Hours are at present under good Regulations. The Children come in as soon as they rise and are Drest which is usually about seven—The Bell rings at eight for Breakfast—At nine it Rings for two purposes; for the Children to enter School, & for the Gardiners, Carpenters, & other workmen to come into Breakfast—At ten it Rings them to work. At twelve it rings for the School play hours—At two it rings for us to Dine, & the workmen—And the las[t] bell is at three for School & for the workmen to go to Labour—I dismiss them by my watch at half after Five.—After Dinner I rode alone to Mr Blains Store; bought a pen-knife, nine Jacket-Buttons, & a primmer for Miss Harriot 3/. It is alarming to observe how hard, & dusty the Country is; towards evening some clouds arose & looked promising in the West, but they bring no rain—No rain has fell here since the 24th of May, & then but a Scanty Shower, & most of the time since windy.
Sunday 12.
Ben & Mr Randolph had a small wrangle about Horses: The Day is vastly hot, the wind small at West, clear & very Dry I choose therefore to stay at Home—I lent my Horse to Ben, & staid myself at Home to write my Lecture, Mrs Carter the two Misses, & Ben went to Church, Mr Randolph went on Board Captain Blackwells Ship to dine—Bob pleaded hard with me for Leave to go on Board the Ship, but I kept him at home with me—Evening I finished my Lecture & laid it by for future examination. Some Clouds & Lightning in the west but no rain.
Monday 13.
Ben gave Bob, for some imprudent Language a drubbing this morning—About nine we had a Shower but soon over & of little use; be to God, however, that we have any—I begun, to day my Sermon for the Presbytery—The change in the weather since yesterday is remarkable. This afternoon is so cool that I should be glad of a winter suit—yesterday afternoon was so hot I could not be comfortably cool in a thin gown, with all the windows of my chamber up. Evening, John the waiting Man play'd, & the young Ladies spent the evening merrily in dancing—I staid til ten, saw them & Conversed with Mrs Carter.
Teusday 14.
I added last night to my Bed-Clothes a Quilt, Blanket, & my own Clothes & lay under them all, none too warm—The children call'd for a Fire in the school-Room, & were so cold I was obliged to dismiss them before the Bell—I believe there is no Frost—Befor Breakfast, Mr Stadley the musician came from Colonel Taylors at mount Airy.
Miss Priscilla & Nancy attend his instructions. Mr Stadley shewed me some Verses he is carrying from Mr Washingtons to His Daughter they seem good and are as follow.