IMH 75:2 170-171

"Chronicles of Upper Burnet" (1)

1881

Wednesday, February 9th.

The rain was still falling pitilessly this morning when we
arose, and had apparently been at it all night. It rained in
pelting showers with intervals of quitting all day. Clear spots
in the sky were occasionally seen but it was raining in hard
showers at night. The creek raised till it broke the road fence
in three long gaps, strewed saw-logs, rails, ice, chunks etc. over
John Fowler's wheat, and finally carried the greater part of the
drifted ice down stream with a good deal of noise. It was falling
at last accounts. Our doings were limited to the chores and an
occasional excursion down to watch the progress of the over­
flowing scourge. I noticed part at least of Will's school down
there during the noon intermission, and also saw Bob Foster
making a tour of observation along the banks. Will Bain had
announced "a spellin'" for tonight but I presume it was drowned
out. The ground though only partly thawed is spongy
with water. I have a bad cold, Alvin the lag leg.

 

Teaching notes; if the students made a list of sounds, I imagine they did not consider the
sound of drifting ice during a late winter flood.

Alvin's "lag leg".. any guesses? he would not have an opportunity to find out what it was.
Medical practices of 1881 were not a great deal differenc than those of the previous 200
years..