Wednesday, August 1st.
We awoke at 08:00 but were so tired that we laid in bed trying to sleep until 09:30. Nona stayed on in bed till 13:00. I had fried eggs, fried potatoes and bananas and cream for breakfast and went to work. I stopped in at the NT Co, and listened to Inspector Trundle and George Bremner arguing about the difference in value of shot rats vrs trapped rats. Saw Bill going home so walked as far as his place then went to the station. Joe had started the Delco for me. After entering the daily records (DR's) I made out all the accounts for July. I finished there at noon and waited until 16:00 for Bill to get his returns to balance. Found that we were $9.00 different but as it was so late in the afternoon, we put off any further looking until tomorrow. We will be fresh then anyway. On my way home Frank Campbell, manager of NT Co., called me in and George Bremner gave me a quart of fine old scotch whiskey, which was returned for some rye that I gave George a couple of weeks ago when he was sick.We talked about fur and the country as it was when George came in first about 20 years ago. I got home at about 19:00. Had a light supper of tea, bananas and cream and bread. JT came in and helped clean up the kitchen while I went for ice. Nona cleaned the house during the afternoon and went calling on Mrs. Conibear. Nadene was good all day. We were expecting Jack La Flair and a couple ladies and men who are going up to his part of the country. We got everything ready but they didn't come. JT and I sampled the whiskey that George gave me. It was all right. JT left after lunch at 21:00 when we had coffee royale and banana sandwiches. It was cloudy all day and rather chilly. It was cold enough that a fire felt good. Went to bed at midnight.
Thursday, August 2nd
Up at 10:00 and as Nona was tired I made breakfast for myself and went to work. Stopped at the Govn't house and got a liquor permit, took it to Syd Leggo ( Manager of the HBC ( Hudson's Bay Company) to have it sent to Edm. for filling. The Ariel Exploration Co. Fokker plane passed over Smith at 10:00 and then went to Resolution. It was flying high and bucking a strewn head wind. I found the mistake in the books and got all the accounts ready for distribution. Then spent most of the rest of the day typing letters for the month statements. I left the station at 16:30 hours and collected most of the accounts and came home. We had a light supper then fixed up for company. The gang that were coming up last night were a day behind in their estimates and thought it was tonight. After supper while I had a few minutes I developed a dozen pictures that were hanging fire and Nona took Nadene out for a little walk. While she was out and just after I finished the pictures, Jack La Flair, Mr & Mrs Matson, Mr Matson's sister and a young fellow came in. Shortly afterward Frank Campbell came in and then Miss Catt. We played bridge and whist. I was at the bridge table and our side won. We played until about midnight then served lunch. We had tea and coffee, tomatoes and banana sandwiches and store biscuits. After lunch we tallied for a while and they looked at my snapshots. They left about midnight. It was cold and cloudy all day again. Tried the radio and had KOMO but my batteries are so low that it wasn't worth listening to.
Friday, August 03
Up at 08:00 and as I had to collect some more accounts I left at 10:00. At the station I finished typing all the monthly statements and letters. I charged batteries all day. Jack Conibear brought my battery down to the station. Nona went down to Campbells and stayed there all day. She just got home a few minutes before I did. After supper I printed about 59 pictures and developed some films. Nona went out after supper and was gone till about 21:00. Nadene missed her mother and put up an awful holler but as I was busy I let her cry until she fell to sleep then I covered her up. She was fine the rest of the evening.
On my way home from the station I stopped in at Inspector Trundle's and fixed his radio. It was only a case of soldering a broken connection. I tried the radio at home tonight and it was the first good night that we have had for weeks. I found a loose connection in my own set and fixed it. Nona was tired tonight so she went to bed at a few minutes after 22:00 and studied her spanish until she fell asleep. It is now 00:30 and KOMO in Seattle is coming in fine with their San Francisco program. I still have a few pictures on the ferrotype and as soon as they are dry I will go to bed and listen to KOMO until they sign off at 01:30. Today was clear and warm.
Saturday, August 04
Nadene woke up about 05:00 with her teeth bothering her. She cried all night and kept us awake. I couldn't stand it any longer than 08:00. I had a lot of work to do anyway so got up and got a fire going. There was a high wind all day and we could see that it was going to rain so boating was declared off. I took Nadene to the kitchen where it was warm then went on printing pictures. I had seven rolls that I had promised for today and as they were not yet developed I got busy. I printed a gross of pictures and finished at 17:00. JT came in this afternoon and gave Nona and I a haircut. I needed one, too. JT stayed for supper. We had fresh sausages, mashed spuds, macaroni, tomatoes, cucumbers and tea. After supper Norman A.Welding ( new HBC accountant) came in for his pictures. JT and Nona cleaned up the kitchen then we all sat and talked until about 19:00. Several more came for pictures, then Norman and I played Nona and JT a rubber of cribbage. We won. They left at 01:00. It rained hard in several spells today. It was cold.
Monday, August 06
Nadene woke us both up early as usual and I got up. Nona didn't get up until just before I went to work. I started the Delco shortly after I got to the station and read Popular Mechanics all the rest of the day. I didn't feel much like work. About 14:00 I fell asleep and slept for about two hours. On my way home I met Nona and Sybil Lyall coming to meet me. We came home and Sybil stayed for supper. We had sausages, onion, tomatoes, cucumbers and new spuds. For desert we had chocolate pudding. Just before supper it started to rain again. It cleared up about 19:30. The moon came out bright and the northern lights were out. This is the third time I have seen them this summer. They were pale green and of the streamer variety. JT came in and we read till tea time, about 23:00. Then JT went home at midnight and Nona and I went to bed at 00:30.
Tuesday, August 07
Nona got up first and had breakfast ready when I got up. We had fried potatoes, eggs and toast. Just as I was going out to work I met old Bill Russell. I had promised him a snort so brought him in and gave him a whiskey and soda. He sure enjoyed it too. When I got to work I found that I had to charge the batteries again. There is something funny going on. Now that Joe Dexter is back it seems that I have to charge every day again. I did the books this morning and spent the rest of the day fixing up the engine saw. I finished the assembly of the saw frame and had Qulton help me with the lifting. I started the engine to work the bearing of the saw and engine in. It runs like a watch. After supper Joe came up to see if I wanted to take a chance on investing in the Lead-Zinc mines at Resolution. There is something doing there all right and the Atlas Exploration Co. a subsidiary of the Atlas Mining Co. are in there doing development work. They are very pleased with what they have found so far. I said OK and then we both went down to see Bill Loverock. Bill said OK too. I went down to the river then to look at my boat. We have had so much rain the last few days that I was afraid the weight of the water would strain the planks. I dumped it out and then washed it out thoroughly. JT was here when I got back and stayed till midnight. JT fell asleep several times during the evening. It rained again today. Mrs. Lyall came up this afternoon. After she went, Nona went over to see Miss Catt. She was still there when I got home. Nadene is now standing alone. She crawls all over the house now. She just started crawling several days ago. She pulls herself up at a chair then will let go with her hands and stand for quite a while. She seldom falls and we look for her to start walking soon. She fell asleep with no trouble tonight. Her teeth are not bothering her so much today.
Wednesday, August 08
Got up at 09:00 and had a big breakfast. Nona had Nadene dressed up before it was time to go to work so she went with me for a walk. She got as far as the HBC when it looked very much like rain so she turned back. I met George Bremner at the NT Co. and talked with him for a few minutes. He gave me a snort of whiskey before I went on. When I arrived at the station I started right in on the saw. I finished making the frame and started on filing the saw. It took me until 17:00 to finish it. While I was at it Nona came down with Nadene. Pat Brown is ready to go to Resolution and is staking a claim for Nona at the Lead-Zinc discovery and Nona had to go up and get a power of attorney made out. She left Nadene with me. She was good all the time. Joe took Nona and Mrs. Loverock up to get the powers made out and brought them back. Nona went over and spent a few minutes at Loverocks on her way home. We got a bunch of stationary from Ottawa today and in it was 24 large account books. I brought one home for my personal accounts. After supper Miss Catt came in to give us our spanish lesson. JT came up with the new doctor who is substituting for Dr. MacDonald. I have forgotten his name just now, He is a young fellow just shortly out of college. We had a very enjoyable evening. I tried the radio several times but the static was bad. Just before we went to bed I tried the radio again and KOMO was on. They were not too bad so I let the set alone till they signed off. I went to bed afterwards.
Thursday, August 09
Frank Campbell woke me up at 09:00. He came up for an extra syphon that I promised him. We had a drink and I showed him how to charge it. Nona got up as soon as he left and we had breakfast. I left for work at 10:30 and brought the records UTD first thing. After that I finished a small job that I thought of on the saw and got it ready to move. At noon I started a letter to Mother and had it about half done when the wind blew the counterpoise down in the North west section. I got it fixed ready to re-erect and when Bill and Joe came back from dinner we put it up. It made us late for the 13:00 call. I finished mothers letter then started to read a story out of the Sat. Eve. Post. I had a headache all day so couldn't get interested in the story. I talked with Bill. Nona was down at Mrs. Loverocks all day making curtains for Gerry Murphy. Gerry is moving in with Paul Trudel next door and Nona is putting up the curtains for them. She came over to the station for me a little before 17:00.
We were invited to Leggo's tonight to a party. Nadene was cranky most of the afternoon with her teeth. We were ready early tonight and left for Leggo's at 20:30. We were the first there. During the evening we played bridge. Nona and Joe played with Jack Woods ( RCMP) and Mrs Geddes ( Mrs. Leggo's mother from Regina) and the other table was Mr. Leggo and Mrs. Godsell, Mrs. Leggo and I. We won the first rubber out of three. After supper of coffee, sandwiches, cake and jelly, we talked for a short time then broke up. JT brought us home. Nadene was fine there all evening. Leggo turned his radio on and it was very good tonight , there was a little static but not too much. I do not care very much for his set, too deep and slightly distorted. When we got home Nona and Nadene went straight to bed. I tuned in on KOMO and Long Beach California. I retired at 01:45.
Friday, August 10
Got up at 09:00 and had an early breakfast. I left for the station at 09:30. I met Bill at the PO and we walked down together. I went over to the station but came back to Bills and started to cut wood. Had a bad headache all day and thought that the shriek of the saw would drive me crazy. We quit at 11:45 and I came home for dinner. Nadene and Nona were sound asleep when I came in. After dinner Nona went back with me to Loverocks. We started in sawing soon after I arrived. Billie Berens was to come down at 13:00 but never showed up till 16:30. One of the RCAF Seaplanes that are doing topographical survey work passed over Smith at 13:00. It was flying at about 500 feet. We cut about 4 cords all told today. When we stopped we had tea then came home. I helped Nona put up some of the curtains in Gerry's new place that she finished at Loverocks, then printed some of my pictures. The Distributor arrived back from Aklavik Knight at 20:30. I went down to the boat to get Berts' camera for him from Frank Johnson, the purser. Came back home at 21:30 and JT, Nona and I played dummy bridge until 23:30 then we had a lunch of onion sandwiches and coffee. JT went home at 00:15 and we went to bed at 00:30. It was very sultry today with a shower at 16:00. Radio was no good today on account of static. The northern lights were out fairly bright tonight. They were the streamer variety.
Saturday, August 11
Nadene woke up about 07:30 whining. She acted very much like she had an earache. We tried soothing her to no avail. We got up and built a fire. She fell asleep again about 8:30 I met C. Cooper who took me to work in the sedan. We sawed wood all day today and managed to get about 15 cords cut all together. Rain in the morning stopped us for a little while. The airplane of the mining company passed low over Smith this morning going north. I got a large amount of films from down river today. I developed 16 of them after supper. Nadene was sick all day, same as this morning. JT and B. Qulton came in this evening. The mail arrived about 10:00. We got our Sat. Eve. Post and a letter from Mother and Midge. I posted a letter to mother and sent off an order to Eatons. Northern lights were out tonight. Radio poor.
Sunday, August 12
Slept in till 09:00. JT brought some bread up from Joe's and woke us when he opened the door to put it inside. I was just dozing off again when the T. survey plane came over Smith. It buzzed around overhead so long that I couldn't sleep so got up. I took Nadene out into the kitchen where it was hot then read a story out of the Post. Nona got up at 10:30 and we had breakfast. We planned to go out for a boat ride this afternoon if it stayed fine. While Nona cleaned up I printed about a gross of pictures ( 12 rolls of 12). Shortly after dinner JT came in with some ice cream. The sky looked very bad and we had several rain showers and a lightening storm. I went on with the pictures and we stayed home. After I finished we looked over some Engineering papers that JT brought in and then had an early supper, 16:30. After supper Nona and JT went to church and I stayed home with Nadene. While they were away George King came in to spend the evening. Church was over at 20:00. George and JT stayed till 23:00, then went. Nona went to bed then, I trimmed and sorted the rest of the snaps and retired at midnight.
Monday, August 13
Early this morning Nadene woke up sick, she had vomited all over the bed. I got up and fixed her up. It was cold and raining when I went outside for wood. Nona got up too. I knew there would be no wood cutting today but as I was behind in my books I went to the station at 09:00 to catch up. I stopped in at York and Lyalls and paid R.L. Hastings account with a blank cheque that he sent to me. At 11:00 Cooper and Flynn Harris came down to the station. Flynn had a bottle of gin with him and we all had a drink with him. Charlie brought us home. Nadene was sick all day and at supper time. I took her temperature. It was 102.6. She was pale and quite limp all day. We believe it is her teeth. After supper I painted more pictures for Mr. Hastings and Rev. Gibson came in to spend the evening. Miss Catt came in about 21:00 and they both stayed until a little after 23:00. Nadene was still sick when Nona took her to bed. She has held nothing on her stomach all day but was fed about midnight and up to the time I went to bed she'd held it OK.
Tuesday, August 14
Nadene still sick . I got up at 09:00 and had breakfast and after helping with the dishes, I went for the doctor. I left him at the Mission corner and went to work. It was so cold today that Joe had the fire going when I got there. I worked all day on the books and getting off letters, mostly statements from Resolution. Flynn Harris was in for about two hours. When I got home I found Nadene just the same. The Doctor had been up twice during the day and came up again about 21:00. Mrs. Lyall, Sybil and JT were in too. The Doctor does not know what is the matter with Nadene. She has a fine rash all over her body, high temperature, cant hold anything on her stomach and has no pep. Her heart and pulse are normal. We gave her a bath in warm water and soda and before putting her to bed for the night we gave her a tepid sponge bath. She will not sleep longer than an hour at a time. She has lost about a pound now but then she has had nothing on her stomach for 30 hours but boiled water and sugar. Nona fed her a little before she went to bed. We had a game of bridge tonight. The Dr. and Jack and Mrs. Lyall and I. They won. JT has a bottle of whiskey and Woods, York and Bill Schaffer came up a couple of times to bum a drink. They got our goat for sure. They were all tight and worried JT until he gave them one to get rid of them. They were back again shortly. JT never went to the door at all this time. JT took Mrs. Lyall home at 0:30 and the Dr. went home too. We bathed Nadene, sponge bath then Nona went to bed. I developed a couple of rolls of films. I sold my Mercury Super Het (radio) to George Bremner at Fort Rae for 300 dollars. The new one that I ordered arrived here today in good shape. The new model is in walnut finish and is a beauty. The cabinet is solid walnut. Bed at 01:00.
Wednesday, August 15
Nadene woke up still sick at 4:00 and I was up with her and Nona till 4:30. I was so wide awake then that I stayed up and after getting a good fire going I finished up a bunch of pictures. I have a large lot still to get out on the distributor. As it was a beautiful day I thought that Bill might want wood sawed so left for the station at 09:00. Our man did not show up so Bill and I cut alone till 11:30, then went to the station. Today is sports day which was postponed on account of bad weather from July 1st. That station had a holiday from noon on. I came home and found Sybil Lyall here helping Nona. We all had diner then got ready for the sports. I am on the grounds committee, so I left a little ahead of the rest. I was score keeper for the baseball game today. As I have been up so long today and am so tired I did not wish to play and took the other job. Smith played Fitz and won 16 to 15. The game finished at 19:00. I received my membership certificate from the National Geographic Society today.
Nadene was much better at noon and as the day was so warm and with no wind that we took her out. She was very fussy again at night. When I got home JT was here and had helped Nona get supper ready. We all had supper together. Jack stayed here till 23:00 , we were all too sleepy to go to the dance tonight. Nona went to bed at midnight and I followed at 01:25.
Thursday, August 16
Nadene slept well last night and awoke at 09:15 fresh. I got up and after breakfast Nona got up. I had to go to the post office (PO ) on my way to work and left at 10:00. Met Bill near the HBC and he told me the saw was on the way up to my place. I came back home with him and showed him the new Mercury Super that I got in. He thought it was real swell. We had a whiskey and soda then he went over to the mission. We couldn't see the saw so I walked around with him as far as the NT Co. I talked to Frank till Nona came along out for a walk. We walked back home together. The saw was nearly here when we returned. I helped Vic Ingraham with it then went to work. Finished up all the books to date and ran the Delco. Was finished with everything by 16:00. I walked as far as the HBC with Philip Kennedy the HBC clerk. Picked up some things that Nona had ordered and came home. Sybil was just leaving. I went out and ran the saw about five minutes to cut enough wood to last the night then we had supper. After supper Nona went to the church meeting and I did some of the pictures just to get them UTD. Just as I was finished Gagnon came in. He stayed until 21:30. He brought up 5 caribou skins that Jim Darwish at Rae had sent down to us. JT stayed a couple of hours then went home. I tried that radio tonight but my battery is down. Have to charge it next charge day. Nadene is a lot better tonight. She slept all the time that Nona was out It was very windy all day. The wind was about 50 mph at times with the rain. I went to bed at 00:30. Radio was good outside of battery noises.
Friday, August 17
Up at 07:00 on account of Nadene, she slept well last night but awoke early. I got a good fire going as it was cold. Nona slept till 09:00. Joe came up at 09:30 and we cut wood until 11:30. Nona and I went to Lanouettes for dinner and had a real good one. Gerry Murphy, Paul Trudel and Bill Champagne sat at our table. Gerry walked home with us to inspect his new house. It is coming fine now. Joe returned at 13:30 and we cut wood till 15:00 when we had to stop on account of a hot box on the saw axel. We went from there to do a few odd jobs that were urgent and as we had a few minutes to spare. I went with Joe to give him a hand to tighten his nets. I took the Elto down so that we could pull the nets out real tight. This kept us until after 18:00, much longer than we intended staying away. While I was away Mrs. Gagnon and her mother in law came up to say goodbye to us. Mrs. Gagnon,Sr. is returning to Montreal on this weeks boat. We had a late quick lunch supper. JT came over with overalls to give me a hand for a couple of hours sawing wood but I called it off for tonight. Miss Catt came in and gave us a spanish lesson for 2 hours. It was the best we have had. Norman Welding HBC clerk, came in and spent the evening. The all left about 23:30. Nadene has been coughing all day and it sounds much like the croup. The doctor had a call to Fitz this morning and had not got home yet at 22:00. I started to work on my new radio set tonight but didn't do much to it. I got a wire from Hughes Owens in Winnipeg stating that the new camera that I ordered some time ago could not be shipped till October 1st. I wrote to them this evening and sent a money order for it. It was sunny all day but there was a wind that felt very much like fall. Bed at 01:30.
Saturday, August 18
I didn't get up till 09:15 . Finished breakfast at PO and got MO ( money order ) for $19:00 and sent it to Hughes Owens, Winnipeg for my new camera. I finished up all the correspondence at the station that had to get out on this boat. I took my storage battery down to charge . About 15:00 in the afternoon I felt so sleepy that I couldn't keep awake. Had an hours sleep. It snowed this afternoon but there wasn't enough to worry about. Didn't white the ground. McNeill brought me as far as the HBC and in the Bay I got a draft for Resolution and took the mail to the PO. After supper JT and I sawed wood for an hour. George King came up and Nona wanted to saw a while to get a little exercise, so she and JT sawed for a half hour then came in. We all sat and talked till midnight and after they went I developed 10 rolls of films and wrote to "Pirt and Wilson Stationary" in Edmonton. I hung the films put to dry at 02:30 and went to bed.
Sunday, August 19
JT woke me up at 10:00 when he brought us a loaf of bread. I got up and after the kitchen was warm made breakfast. Took Nona's breakfast to her in bed. She got up then and cleaned house while I printed pictures. I printed film from 12:00 till 18:00. JT came in about 15:00 and stayed for the day. After supper I worked on my new radio. Frank and Mrs. Campbell came in and we all sat out in the kitchen. I went on with the set. They left at 22:00 and I finished the rest of the pictures that were drying and fixed up some photo accounts to send out. Nona went to bed at 23:00. I went at 02:00. Nadene was OK all day and slept all the time Nona was at church. She had started playing with her toys again. It was cold all day.
Monday, August 20
I got up at 09:00 and while over at Conibears store found that the mail was in. I went down to get ours. I got my National Geographic's from Jan 1928 to August. There was a T -Eatons parcel and on of photo supplies. The photo supplies was short one box of too sheets of Azo paper and it was that that I needed most. Did you ever see it happen differently? Joe was to have come up to help saw wood and at 11:00 I started out to the road but went out with him as I had a couple messages. Met Billie Berens so brought him back and we cut wood till 11:40. Nona and I went with Joe to Lanouettes for dinner and Billie disappeared as usual. We cut wood there till 16:00 then Joe went for Nona who had been at Loverocks all afternoon. After supper I finished the radio set and hooked it up to try it out. The filaments will not light. The doctor came up to see Nadene and then stayed for the evening so I didn't bother looking for the trouble. I think that all that is the matter is that I left off a connection. I took a parcel of photo stuff down to the boat for Frank Johnson to give Hastings at Simpson. While there JT went over to look at my boat to see of the storm yesterday drove any driftwood up against it. Everything was OK. The doctor and I played JT and Nona a rubber of bridge tonight to bread in the new bridge set I got today from the Imperial Tobacco Co. for five sets of cards. We won 1260 to 853. They left at 23:00 after talking experiences. I told of my experiences while on the stage. Nona went to bed a 01:15 and I followed at 02:30. Nadene was fine all day and is nearly herself again. It was cold all day and as the night is frosty I started a fire in the furnace just before going to bed.
Tuesday, August 21
We slept in till 09:00 . It was raining when I got up but quit about 09:30. Joe came up then to see if I was going to cut wood. It looked as if it was going to clear up so we went to it. After dinner Billie Berens came along and I got him to help. We finished up the last of it at 16:00. I spent an hour looking on my set then and found the filament switch was not making a connection, hence the trouble last night. I fixed it and heard music around 20:00 on the dial but found that the tuning condenser must be connected wrong as its down would not function. Too late to bother with it tonight. JT and Joe went in halves on a permit that arrived today they brought it up here and mixed brandy with the concord and I stored it in my wine cellar. JT, Nona and I spent the greater part of the evening reading over the National Geographic's that came yesterday. JT left at 23:30. I developed 5 rolls of films tonight. While we were out cutting wood, Mrs. Lyall came up. After Nadene went to sleep, Nona walked down to Conibears with Mrs. Lyall. We went to bed a midnight.
Wednesday, August 22
We both got up at 09:00 and had breakfast. It was cold and stormy all night but I had built a fire in the furnace just before retiring so it was OK inside. I took a couple tubes down to Loverock then went to the station. I had not been to the station since Saturday except for a minute Monday morning so I had a lot of back work to fix up. I finished about 15:00 and read till 17:00. Nona was at Lyall's all afternoon so I called for her there. She had her supper there so I had supper alone. Baked whitefish, fried potatoes and cherries. Mrs. Lyall, Sybil, JT, Frank Campbell and Mrs. Storkinson (half Eskimo) came in and spent the evening. Mrs. Lyall and I played Frank Campbell and JT at bridge. We lost. I tried the radio and there was music with plenty of volume but the static was terrific. This has been by far the worst summer I have ever seen for radio reception. Everyone left at 23:00. I promised Gerry Murphy that I would go down and fix the receiver at the Govn't house tonight but hear in the meantime that Dexter was there fixing it. Joe didn't say anything to me about it so I stayed away. Let him fix it then if something goes wrong later they can get him again. It is one of Hastings sets and the wiring of it is terrible. The wires are spread all and it is almost impossible to get anywhere in tracing out the wires. I tried the radio up till midnight then went to bed. It is frosty out tonight and the northern lights are very bright.
Thursday, August 23
We both got up at 09:00 and had a good breakfast and I went to work at 10:30. On my way to work I got a letter at the PO for Nona from Bobbie Hastings at Simpson.It was brought down from Simpson yesterday by the Northern Exploration Co's Fokker Universal Sea Plane. They brought down a dozen letters. Tried to start the Delco when I got to the station but the engine was cold and I flooded it with coal oil and gasoline. Worked a long time at it but it would not start till I resorted to my old standby. I put the plug on the stove and got it hot and put the gas priming cup on the stove until it was nearly boiling. While this was getting ready, I turned the flywheel until the exhaust valve was wide open. This caused a draft up though the exhaust and out the plug hole. With the hot plug and hot gas it started OK. Before I left the station I put the new battery cell in the bank that I had repaired. It rained again today. The Lyall children were up for supper tonight. After supper I went out to cut wood for an hour. Billie Berens came up and started to cut for me and I started piling. JT came and engineered the wheelbarrow and I piled. We piled about a cord. Nona went down to Lyall's to make a princess slip for Sybil. JT and I played with the radio. It is working OK at last. We picked up KOMO, KMO, KJR, CFAC, KEX and several others. The static was not too bad. I went back for Nona about 10:00 and we had a lunch when we got back. On the way home we stopped in at Lyall's Store and Nona tried on a couple of silver-cross Fox furs ( raw skins) and a martin. They want 100 bucks each for the crosses. Northern lights were out tonight again. They are getting good now as this is the best time of the year to see them. Went to bed at 01:15 and Nadene was OK all day.
Friday, August 24
Just before I went to bed last night I lit a fire in the furnace then the weather turned warmer. About 02:30 it was 90 in here and I couldn't sleep. I laid awake until 05:00 then slept till Nadene woke up at 08:00. I got up and built a fire and Nona got up at nine. We had invited Mr & Mrs Leggo, Mrs Leggo, Sr, Mr &Mrs Godsell, the doctor and JT for the evening so had to get the place all fixed up. Before I went to work I helped move the furniture around and swept out the front room. The first thing after I got to the station I entered the DR's UTD then swept and cleaned out the engine room. The place looks nice and neat now at the station. On my way home I got something at the HBC and after having a quick supper I helped get the place ready for tonight. The gang came in about 20:30 to 21:00 and they all apparently had a good time. It was a little hot for a while though for Mrs Godsell. We had two tables of bridge going. The radio was fair but not near so good as it was at supper. It was better about 01:30, too, than it was than it was when they were here. How often it happens that radio bucks and acts the way it does just when someone is in that you particularly want it to act natural I have seldom seen it fail yet that it does not act up. Static is still very bad during the greater part of the night. It gets worst as the night goes on instead of improving. The Northern lights are out again and I am believing that they have a great effect on the radio. Last year I was under the impression that they had very little effect but this year I've noticed that the static is worse when the lights are the brightest. I am going to watch this during the winter. The gang all left at 01:00. They all said that they had a wonderful time and as the party at no time dragged, I believed they did. Nadene was full of the devil all day but very good for the evening. She wanted to play peekaboo most of the time and was cute, she slept all thru the earlier part of the evening and woke up at 23:30. She was more or less cranky from then on till 01:30. Nona went to bed after the party left but I sat up and listened to Long Beach California on the set. They came in real good for an hour. Everyone here tonight thought my new radio was a beauty. They all liked the cabinet very much and when I showed them the inside they said it was well put together. The party that went to Resolution to stake claims for us returned to Smith today. I have not seen them yet but Joe did. I went to bed about 01:45.
Saturday, August 25
We all slept in till 09:15. After I got the fire going Nona got up and we had breakfast. We cleaned up a lot of the junk that the party last night spread around. I got to the station at 11:00. Started the Delco. After I finished the DR's I read National Geographic till 13:00. I then slept till 14:15 and Leggo came in waking me up. Bill gave me a bag of new spuds out of his garden and 3 big turnips to bring home. I stopped at the NT Co. and F. Campbell gave me a fine head of lettuce. I stopped then at Leggo's and helped him connect up the storage B batteries on his set. Miss Catt was here and stayed for supper. Just before we sat down JT and Bert Edge came in. They had just had supper at Lanouettes but they sat in and did justice to Nona's cooking. Miss Catt went home at 22:00. Leggo came in to see how the radio was, his set is noisy. I credit the noise to the storage B's that were just charged and still gassing. The radio was real good tonight till about 23:00. We played two games of bridge, Bert and JT vrs Nona and I. We each won a rubber but Nona and I won. Bert read my diary UTD while JT and I audited the bridge score. We had coffee and sandwiches and cake about 01:00. JT held Nadene. It was cold all day. JT and Bert left at 02:30 and we went to bed.
Sunday, August 26
I intended getting up early but slept till near 10:00. We both got up and had breakfast and while Nona cleared up the dishes I print 40 pictures that I had promised for this week. It was such a wonderful day after the month that we had that we decided to go on a picnic. We met JT at noon and told him of it. We got away from Smith about 13:00 and went to the north end of Sawmill Island and had dinner. Bert Edge passed us there going on to his cabin. After dinner we went across the river to investigate the damage done by the fires there last month. Pete Wabiscow's cabin was burned to the ground. That was the only cabin in the neighbourhood. On our way home we stopped at Gravel Point and talked with old Dad Bennett who is 75 ears old and caretaker of Gravel Point. He is interesting to listen to. He joined the mounted police in 1877. We stopped there an hour and started on for home. We arrived at 20:45. Dad gave us a large chunk of salted fish. We had it with creamed new potatoes, new turnips, etc for supper. JT went home at 23:30. It was real chilly on the way home after the sun went down at 23:30. Nona had a cold so I sent her to bed with a hot lemonade and brandy. The Northern lights were the brightest this year tonight. I retired at midnight.
Monday, August 27
I had promised Bill that I would help him saw some more wood this morning but forgot all about it. I didn't get up till nearly 10:00. I started out with my battery and stopped at the PO to send a MO for some covers for the National Geographic s. The Govn't house could not get their Delco started so I went in and helped them. I got it going then went to Leggo's. He showed me a gasoline soldering iron that he had. From there I went to the NT Co. and gave Campbell my winter order. I met Bill when I came out of the NT. He had been up to see what was the matter with me. He told me then of the wood cutting promise. It was too late to start then so I went on to the station. Joe had thought we were sawing and gone to dinner. The station was locked when I got there and had to go back to get Bills key. I had all my work done when Bill arrived. Then I read for an hour. The mail was in then and I had to go uptown to get a dog team to take a bed and mattress from the station to the boat. It is being shipped to RSH at Simpson. I met Alex Berens and sent him to the station and then on to the PO. Nona had already gotten the mail so I went home to see what there was. A notice of deposit from the bank, one letter from Bill Free and one from Nona's sister Midge. I answered Free's and sent a cheque for $62.90 premium life insurance to North American Life Co. I went back to the station then and filed what correspondence there was. About 16:00 I went out and picked a pint of cranberries. They are not as thick this year as usual. I came home at 17:00 and found Hazel and Florence Lyall here, they stayed for supper. Mrs. Lyall went to Fitz this afternoon to see Sybil off. Nona said the other two children could stay here till she returned. After supper JT and Gerry Murphy came in. Gerry stayed for an hour then had to go. Norman Welding, JT and Joe were in then till 01:00 we played a few rubbers of bridge and a couple games of four handed cribbage. I was on the side that laboured under tough luck all evening.The radio was very poor tonight. We tried it a couple of times but it was very late before anything came in. About 22:00 the Lyall kiddies became sleepy so Nona fixed a bed for them on the floor. Mrs. Lyall came for them later but as they were both asleep we did not wake them up. Nadene was fine all day. Mr & Mrs W.F. Cooke were up at the house for a while. They are on their way to Norman to take over the NT post there. William Greer at Resolution wired me for my price on my Elto if I wanted to sell it. I quoted $230.00. If he buys it I think I will buy a Speedster. I got a PP from home today saying that mother had sent big box of books for us. As the bedroom was full, I slept on an easy chair tonight. I sat up till 03:00 and tinted a few snaps.
Tuesday, August 28
Woke up at 07:00 and built the fire and about 08:00 I cooked breakfast for the crowd. Florence and Hazel were up before breakfast was ready. Nona got up just as breakfast was ready. Mrs Lyall came in about 08:30 to get the kids off to school and thought that she would find us all in bed. I went down to Bill's and we cut wood. We stopped at 16:30 and had cut about 4 cords. On my way home I stopped at the NT Co. and Frank Campbell told me that Gibson was coming back to the store. He has accepted a position as warden for the Govn't and is leaving about the 15 of Sept. He will live across the street from us in the house that Hastings used to stay in. I went down the hill then to mix up some gasoline but found Mickey Ryan's men launching a schooner ( Nitachie ). I helped them and it was going on to 18:00 when we finished. We had been invited to Lyall's for supper so I hurried, After supper I went over to the police station to get my licence for hunting and trapping. We left Lyall's about 21:00 and came home to get Nadene to bed and the place warm. Mrs Lyall and Miss Ruby McLoed came in about 21:30 and stayed till 22:15. JT was here and stayed till 23:30. Nona went to bed just after JT went and I followed at midnight.
Wednesday, August 29
Up at 08:00. Nona got up and we had breakfast together. Nona went to Loverock's with me to finish Gerry's curtains. Bill and I finished all his wood at 11:30 then we went over to the station. Joe had the Delco going for me. Nona and I went to Lanouettes for dinner and had a real good one. After dinner I went down to the boat house and mixed 4 gallons of gas and oil for the Elto. I returned to the station about 14:00 and brought the DR's UTD. I got a rope for the boat and went down to put it on but had to get a bolt for the ring. I took the machine out for a trial and went across the river to look at the raspberry patch. It is too late in the season to get any now. I got back to the station at 16:45 and came home at 17:00 with Bill. Mrs Lyall and the kids were here when I got home. We all had supper and JT came in. After the dishes were cleaned up we all went to Lyall's for a minute and JT and I took a pair of hip boots and a sleeping robe down to the boat. Campbell, Loverock and I are going down to Edges trapline for a duck hunt this weekend and I was getting a few things together. I was disappointed in a shot gun. The one F. Conibear was going to lend me is not safe. I am sending on to Fitz tomorrow to see if Morie will still sell me one that he offered me last spring for $15.00 a db gun. At 21:00 Mrs Lyall, Ruby McLoed, JT and Nona and I came home. JT and Nona played a winning game of bridge against Mrs Lyall and I. We then played a game of whist. They all went about midnight. Nadene is fine now and was full of mischief all day. She slept fine all night while the gang were here. The radio was fair the early part of the evening but was wonderful from midnight on. I went to bed at 01:15.
Thursday, August 30
I was tired so laid in bed till nearly 10:00. On my way to work I saw Frank Campbell and he said that owing to freight coming over this weekend he may not be able to get away for the duck shoot. I left the station at 16:15 to hunt up a shotgun. Leggo said he would lend me one. I went down to the boat then and fixed a new rope on it. JT stayed here for supper as Lanouette is too tight to cook tonight. There was a big dance on there last night. I gathered a few things together for tomorrow. Vic Ingraham stopped me on my way home and got me to help him move some of Miss Catt's stuff over to her new home. She is moving into Taylor's old place. The Fokker plane G-CARK belonging to the Exploration Co. passed over Smith at 16:15 this afternoon. A wire from Simpson stated that they left at 12:00. ( about 500 miles by airline). She flew low over Smith. The Distributor was scheduled to leave tonight but is postponed until daylight. Nona finished making the curtains for Gerry tonight and put a few of them up. JT stayed till 23:30. Nadene learned to kiss mama and papa today and shake hands. Miss Catt taught her. The weather today was grand.
Friday, August 31
Up early and went to work. Went down to the boat on my way to the station. Met Bill and he went with me. Leggo loaned me a 16 ga. shotgun and we took 6 boxes of shells with us. I finished up all the work at the station by 14:30 then came home to pack up the rest of the stuff that we would need on the hunting trip. Went down to the boat with a load. While there a small cyclone came up and the weather took a sudden change to the stormy. The wind was between 50 and 60 mph. there was several severe rain storms. After supper it cleared a little and I went back to the boat then started out to see Bill, met him on the road and we went back to his place. He told me that one of the counterpoise wires was down so we went over and fixed it. I came back to the govn't house and hooked up their B Batteries but their set died. Something is broken in it somewhere and I can't find it. Got home at 21:15. JT was here. He stayed till 22:00. We went to bed at 22:30 and the weather was still bad. Jack promised to call me at 07:00.