From THE JOURNALS OF ANNE LANGTON: A GENTLEWOMAN IN UPPER CANADA
Tuesday, January 15. [1839]
Another brilliant morning, but severe frost. John had one trip for hay before breakfast, and afterwards took another walk with me -- not a very long one. We bent our steps in the contrary direction to yesterday. The wolves and foxes had been enjoying themselves as well as ever; I shall begin to be acquainted with the tracks of the beasts of the forest. I looked back at our own tracks, and wondered whether mine would be recognised as that of a woman, enveloped as are my feet in two pairs of stockings, a pair of socks, my house moccasins, and another pair over them.
Wednesday, January 23. This was the very coldest day we have had. The thermometer was 20 below zero, with a strong wind. It blew very hard during the night; the mercury stood only three degrees above zero in our room whilst we were dressing. At noon it rose to five, and once we contrived to raise it to eight, which is what a good fire has been able to do for it.
Tuesday, April 16. Springtime makes busy work, notwithstanding the men and women about the house. John was to-day chopping firewood, I kneading bread, and the other ladies also busily occupied. This department of mine I intend now to resign, but to-day I had to pay the penalty of mismanaging matters so as to have to bake on a washing day. There is no unmixed good in this world. A wash-house, a boiler, and an oven are great comforts, but they consume an immensity of wood.
~ Edited by H.H. Langton. CLARKE, IRWIN & COMPANY LIMITED. 1950.
