Tuesday, Dec. 27, 1938

Boy! how cold it got 14 [degrees] above this morn. tonite to be 10 [degrees] awful severe cold wave in Canada & Chicago & places, were it is below zero. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary were up, he went to Red Bud she stayed here.

Sunday, Dec. 25, 1938

Christmas. Went to 6 o clock mass, stayed for 2nd mass. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary, Henry & family & Leo & family & Bill were here for Turkey dinner & supper, took pictures in afternoon, beautiful warm day. Went out to Henrys this evening, seen what Santa Claus brought, tree etc. so many things.

Monday, Dec. 19, 1938

We butchered 1 hog & Uncle Fred 1 – 186 lbs. @ $7.50. Leo & family & Henry & family. Billy. helped. Emil came over awhile; Josie Keller came out, took lot of sausage meat etc & egg along back; had supper here; took stuff along for other families.

Sunday, Dec. 18, 1938

Went to mass. Fr. Simon had it, sermon after mass for married people only. Seen in paper Leo Cortner is in hospital at Belleville. Eugene Neff was just dismissed, he got hurt, when working with carpenters at remodeling St. Mary’s Church. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary were up stayed for chicken soup dinner; we played cards this afternoon; got ready to butcher, set kettles & put water in etc. Mr. Klein & Ignatz & Frank Birkner stopped in & took Uncle Fred along this morn. down to Red Bud, to see the straw baler guy, they weren’t pd yet for there bails; but he paid up right away, no trouble.

Thursday, Dec. 15, 1938

Went butchering at Henry’s, so did Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary; was done by 2 o’clock; with sausage & everything. Berniece Wagner got 1 doz. eggs; she is going to have birthday celebration, Sat. afternoon, 11 classmates; her birthday is Monday. So many people have rabbit fever. Chas. Schillings called there girl Rose Mary. Went to Orlets, played cards, had lunch.

Tuesday, Dec. 13, 1938

Washed, ironed, baked cookies, molasses & hardzorn [? – unclear]. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary were up this afternoon. Pap cleaned barn. Leo & family were down this eve; beautiful evening.

Friday, Dec. 9, 1938

Cloudy & cold. Pap went to see Hoef’s. Caming was here on business for Uncle Fred & all settled for now. He came here, was at Waterloo first. We went to Henry; got few sacks of wheat to feed. Leonard Hoef was here.

Wednesday, Dec. 7, 1938

Beautiful day; patched, cleaned etc. Went to New Athens, Freeburg, & Smithton. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary were up, she went to church. Bert [Bertille] won the fruit cake by Mertz.

Monday, Dec. 5, 1938

Leo’s birthday 29 yrs. old. Went there butchering today, also Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary helped; came home did the feeding. Mr. Watson was here on business about Lunter [? – unclear]. Henry & family came, we went along with them to Orlet’s to birthday; for supper; played cards. Bill [Klein] came there to.

Sunday, Dec. 4, 1938

Went to mass. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stopped awhile. Leo & family came this eve. & Bill [Klein] we played cards.