Dec 18-1 cloudy – damp – soft – some rain –very disagreeable all day

I am still considerably unwell – chilly – cough considerably in night – and I remained at home all day and evening. Mrs. Rawn and children at church in morning where Rev. Dr. DeWitt preached in our church - and also then in evening, except Fanny, when Mr. Mitchell preached – [?] Charlton called in evening to see me. Mr. M. Kerr [?] of [Name] Bank died yesterday - to bed 9 ½ pm.

19- 2 cloudy – soft – mildish –unpleasant all day - received a letter from [name] B. Fry dated Washington DC - Dec 9/64 making my appointment as Com. of the Board of Enrollment 14 [?] PA.

[name] was dismissed a month or more ago and I think has been instrumental with his relative "Jim Fry" as he called him and with some politicians [names?] – the […?] Miller and some others of like ilk whom I am of no use as a politician or as Com. of the Board in having a new Board organized to gratify his [spleen?] & chagrin at being turned out for overwhelming causes himself – for when Charlton was dismissed some month or more ago he ex[?] and [?] as Charlton [?] his gratification at it. Charlton says his [?] also said as much in presence and hearing of Mr. J. Patterson [after he was turned out] that he would be like I am [?] he would [? ?] the pillars of the whole [?]meaning of the Board of Enrollment - But Patterson, Bergner, Cameron & Miller et al have been the managing politicians no doubt for future political purposes and to meet existing obligations in effecting a new organization, Cameron & Bergner professing to be our earnest friends from the first. Indeed it was at the urgent request of both of them that I accepted an appointment I did not seek in any way [? this ? in ? – Apl –May 63] I defy any just ground of complaint but claim that my office has been filled with faithfulness, integrity, [?] and unsurpassed ability – If I had been more susceptible and yielding to the irregular [?] overtures of Patterson – Bergner and even of [Clement?] for his [?] friends & Miller [?] among them I should have [?] [?] with that [party?] – Cameron is looking to US [?] and even aspires I believe to the [?] and is ready for [?] political slaughter or combinations that will help him.

Handed [?] Calvin to pay [name] who is a [?] in the office of an [?.........?] at this place for his month [?] for [?...?] the sum of $8.00

The rations and their current value are about as stated on the next page – [?] beef, sugar, coffee, [?] of the best.

Rec’d of [name] – one mos rent – owe the 1 [?] $20.00e

I was at the Board of Enrollment [?] [I did [?] today] short time in forenoon and afternoon also New Members WH Patterson, Chas.Hower & JP [name]. [?] [?] [?] all present – [?] Charlton as I think rather ignobly after the way he has been treated [?] [?] on the flimsy ground that he resigned to take effect [2 January?]. This is for the sake of about 10 days [?] with all the [?]. I condemned him to his face severely for it as well on [?] of my former official [?] with him as [touching?] himself personally. He is [?] selfish –

Mr. M Kerr was buried today – I spent an hour at Mary Beatty’s after [tea?] [?] had not been there since Thanksgiving – To bed 10 pm – am better in health.

20-3 clear, hard-frozen – cold but fresh and agreeable atmosphere

Paid [name] for 2 live turkeys weight 16 ½ lbs $2.25

Paid 2 lbs white [tea?] sugar .60

Was as said Board of Enrollment Room partly on business and partly as a spectator from 11 ¾ am to

12 ¾ pm - was at [Pro. Mar.] office on 4^th St. in afternoon to look at circulars – Spent evening as above at Mrs. Beatty’s instead of last evening. To bed 10 pm.

21-4 Snow 2 inches or so deep at getting up time and snowing and misting by times all day – signs of good sleighing – cold and windy at 8 – 9 pm. Was in court from 10 am til [noon?] engaged on same side with [name] for [Dept?] – in argument of Equity case against School Directors of Halifax Township. Kunkel? [names] all made speeches

Rec’d of [name] 1 mos rent - owe [?] $9.00

Paid [?] 10, Lemons 10 biscuit? 18 [?] 10 $.48 To bed 9 ½ pm.

Dec 22 – 5 Clear and very cold, I was at Board of Enrollment Room for over an hour into about noon attending to some unfinished business.

Paid Daughter Fanny in full for [reading?] History of England for 5 weeks from [?] to [20 Sept?] [17 left] When she [ceased?] on the 12 Vol by Bisset - [v 13 [?] last] $1.25

Spent afternoon and evening chiefly at home – to bed 10 pm.

23 -6 cloudy very cold – Sleighing First Rate – thawing in middle of day in sunny positions –

Paid Grof’s[?] Drug Store for cough medicine viz

4 ounces Jacksons Cough syrup

3 ounces syrup [?]

1 ounce [?] .75

Wrote to Grant [?] Esq., Attorney at Law [?] in [?] on $5 fee due me by [name] of said village.

Evening at home and to bed 9 ½.

24-7 cloudy all day not very cold – fine sleighing

I paid Christen Evy for 3 qts oysters $2.25

Mrs. Mary S. Beatty, her daughter Nelly, and [Master?] Beatty took Christmas dinner with us at 3 pm, and spent evening except [Master] Beatty who went to Carlisle at 4 pm – our son Charles came in from New York about 4 pm – considerably to our surprise – we were all very glad to see him of course – he got his dinner – and spent evening in and out – first out to find Mr. [name] – whom he found at Hummels [Saddlery?] Shop – to bed at 9 ½ to 10 pm.