George Is Lame With The Salt Rheum
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Wednesday, January 12, 1848: I am quite lame in my left ankle with the salt rheum and galled with my boot and took cold in it.
Thursday: I continue lame but I took my cutter and carried my wife to Elder Haven for a donation party. I gave 27 pounds of fresh pork valued at one dol and 75 cts and my wife gave boosum and collar valued at 75 cts. I gave the boy six cts to buy him a cap. On the way home I called to Charles Wheeler’s store and paid six cents for half a pound salt peter.
Friday: Today I continued lame, a thaw and today Geo P. took the one horse wagon and carried our sausage meat to Moss Kent Hadsell and left the meat for him to make the sausages and I found the seasoning, price agreed one cent per pound for making.
Saturday: I this forenoon rode over to Moss Kent Hadsell’s and got our sausages that Geo P and his mother carried over yesterday, seventy pounds of the sausages, and said Hadsell found the sage. I did not settle for said Hadsell was not home, and this afternoon I went with the one horse wagon to mill to Adams and carried two bushel of buckwheat and had it floured 50 pounds, the miller’s weight of it, and I sold two bushels of apples to a factory man near Cranston’s store, name I did not learn, he paid me 62 cts for the bag of two bushels and I sold a bag of two bushels of apples to an Irish widow near Geo W. Glass factory, and she paid me for one bushel 31 cts and the other bushel I trusted her for.
Monday: This morning I and Geo P. drove our five sows over to J.B. Maxon’s and in the afternoon I carried over corn for the hogs. This evening I walked up to Jerry Vary’s and carried boosums for him to carry to Troy to Bacon’s.
Wednesday: This afternoon I and my wife visited to sister widow Eliza Wylie’s, tonight my foot swelled with taking cold in the salt rheum.
Thursday: Today I am quite lame in my ankle and hands with the salt rheum and today I began taking Jones drops again. Yesterday Geo P. went to Lebanon and I sent the cash and paid two dollars for a bottle and two boxes pills to Gay and Pierce’s store.
Friday: I continued unwell or lame with the salt rheum, I continue to take Jones drops.
Saturday: I continue lame with the salt rheum. Today Jerry Vary and wife visited here and brought boosums from Troy from Bacon’s and from Bennet’s, and he sent eleven dollars from Bennet and today Geo P. went to Pittsfield with the two horse wagon and carried 12 half bushels of apples and sold them over 50 cts per. Geo P. called to Pittsfield Bank with a check from Bellnap from Boston and got his pay for his two lots of turkeys $97.00. Charlotte handed me four dollars of her boosums money.