IMH 75:2 153-156

"Chronicles of Upper Burnet" (1)

1881

Saturday, January 8

Clouds obscured the sun for a time this morning but soon
cleared away and the rest of the day was bright but cold. The
thermometer varied from 7° to 30° above zero. Father and I
started to Martinsville about ten o'clock We went in the old
sled. Sleighing was splendid sledding none the less so. I took
the butter up to W.RS15 same as on last Saturday and this time
received as a present for myself a copy of "Haworth's." Similarly
also I got another "wammus", also for myself on the
family credit at the store. A package of all the numbers of
Scribner's Monthly for 1880 was handed me with our mail; it
appears that Father had sent for them. He bought a copper
wash-boiler for Mother and I believe a coat for himself was to
be got and was'n't got. The price of butter at the store (our
selling price) was elevated 5 cts per pound. Making firewood
was about all that was done here at home

Teaching note: For the older students, you might inquire why the price of butter went up
5 cts per pound. Likely is was the old supply and demand. Cows milk production falls off in cold
weather..thus the supply of butter is down, the demand and price are up. Probably happened
every winter.