I think last week it was occupied nearly every
night.
_Friday_. - We have had very smart company to-day, as the judge, his
wife, niece, and another man came over. We hoped they would star to
dinner, and had "killed fatted calf"; but I fancy the ladies dreaded
the prairie by night, and insisted upon returning - we could hardly
persuade them to take a cup of tea - fearing that they might be
benighted.
_Saturday_. - Hard at work cleaning all the morning. Mr. B - - 's friend
leaves after dinner, and I drive the mares in the waggons whilst the
men stretch the wire-fencing. E - - rides to the tent with letters. We
sustained rather a shock to our nerves to-day; about 12 o'clock a
buggy was seen coming towards the house just as we were sitting down
to dinner, and as our food was scanty we did not know how we possibly
could feed three extra men. Luckily they only came to enquire their
route to the tent, and it was a relief when they drove on; though we
felt we ought to have given them some food, as the tent could only
provide bacon and biscuits.
_Sunday_. - Mrs. G - - , our factotum, has a holiday, and goes over with
some of the other labourers to spend the day at the other farm. E - -
and I have to undertake the _menage_ for the whole day.
