Apr 5th I harrowed on my claim Father and the boys cut stalks for fuel Mrs Butts got 1 gal of syrup making 2 gal. Mr Ward came for seed Apr 6th cool wind I harrowed and finished mine and went six times around fathers father and C[ollie] cut fodder Julia went to Mrs Butts we carried most 15? to Mr Ward's Etoile and Grace kept house Our cow is gone I hope we shall find her. Mailed a letter to Dr. Gowdy yesterday Apr 7th I finished harrowing fathers tree claim and got some fodder and corn stalks to burn The wind has blown cold all day 8th Julia and I Father and Collie rose early to go to Hodgeman as Julia wished to be examined for a certificate we were going to ride with the mail carrier we were ready when he came along but he could not carry us we took off our things and I washed 9th little snow last night rather cool J[ulia] and I went to Hodgeman or Jetmore and both were examined with two other teachers We liked the Superintendent I think we will both get a good certificate Julia being only just fourteen was not entitled to a certificate for the account of her age but will get one A man was waiting to hire her if she got a certificate she will have to wait until her papers are examined by the board. We staid all night at Mr Byers(?) also called upon Mrs Hann. 10th Quite pleasant we got home felt very happy over our examination and the success we had met with although our flour was most gone got a letter from H that made me sad 11 Father and children got a load of chips to burn and a load of fodder J[ulia] and I staid and worked in the house. Cold raw wind. 12 Last night we had a little snow and it has been a cold disagreeable day the horses have all been in the barn today we were nearly out of flour only 23 cts no (unreadable) as I have expected money all winter and now lost what I expected. I thought father better see Mr Robinson and see if he would let us have a sack of flour and a little salt (unreadable) as he wanted some syrup Father went and I went with him we traded 155 cts worth [PAGE BREAK] we told Mr R[obinson] we would trust him and did a while ago now he has returned the favor to us. Last Sunday we attended meeting a Mr Britts a good sermon. Today is my birthday and Julia tried to get as good a supper as she could because it was my birthday 13th Father got 10 bush rice corn and 1 bush peanuts on (unreadable) of Mr Weare 14 Collie and Etoile and I went to Ft Larned after seed found none went to Bartos staid all night- he told us to go near the grove and get cottonwood cuttings we got some on Mr Deacons got home in the evening felt discouraged and blue 16 we put out 387 little trees on mine father marked it-very warm. Julia received our certificates while I was gone mine a 1st grade hers a second because she was so young and had no experience in teaching Her examination entitled her to a 1st Grade but as she had never taught and was so young received a second Grade expects to teach at Spearsville for $15 a month and boarded 17 All at home warm and pleasant 18th put in all 1000 trees on mine with the little ones help Father plowed at the house 19 The children C[ollie] and E[toile] and L[ouis] put out between 2 and 3 hundred on fathers claim Father and I commenced plowing on the 5 acre lot at the house Julia done the work Mrs Ward and Hal came after syrup 20 Father and I plowed rained 21st Julia went to the office a card from Mr Baird and a letter from Dunnell cant get my pension unless I can get the surgeon evidence I feel discouraged It rained 22 Julia took a gal of syrup to Mrs Butts and spilled part of it in the buggy 23 Father plowed most all day alone I washed a little sewed some we had our last cornbread for breakfast rice corn boiled for dinner and some beans with a little milk in them for supper Mrs Butts owes us for 2 � gal of syrup and we must get some flour tomorrow Collie went to Weares to tell