Further Information

Tuesday
Spring Vale Farm October 25th 1870
Up about half past five a.m. Dry and warm summer time
day. Having sent a letter down to Melbourne P O inquiring
for home letters and papers. I gave the letter to the workman
who is going away to be …. After breakfast I went to
build the coping on the stone wall. The stones
are not good for the job. They are more like the projectiles
which the …. and the French army through [sic]
towards each other. These stones are hard and globular.
Mr … has better prospect for a crop of
corn this year than any of his neighbours and
that may be attributed to his high farming and
his numerous and well planned and blind drains
Fine and cool Southern breeze today. Pleasant for
field work. The sky looks … sign of more
rain again. O how much more pleasant it is to work
at a well conducted place than to carry a heavy swag
along the country. Whether money or not he will
have to bear the tittle [sic] of beggar,leper and so on.

Of all the stations man may have
From mighty monarch to the slave
The daily work man got the best
In health, in joy, in meals and sort,
He has no course within his space
To hate and envy any man;
This world revolves in form and fame
But let him pray to be the same
That is my feeling and experience

Wednesday
Spring Vale Farm October 26th 1870
I slept well. Up at half past five o’clock the sun looks
watery. Signs of rain. The breakfast bell went soon after
six oclock same work as yesterday. Not to warm
today and more overcast. The barley grows well
these days and will soon be out in full ear. It looks
… and clear. Fine breeze from S. S. E. They are
weeding. The have no tools. They pull the weed with the
hands. The wheat is backward this season. It was not
sown early and the cold and wet weather has checked
its growth. Very little ground is set with potatoes
on this farm this year. About three quarters more
or less of an acre. They were planted very convenient
and near to the house. Having worked rather hard
alll day. The stones are heavy and awkward which makes
the work tedious

The mental labor through the brain
May bring to man an honest gain;
But double labor is to stow
And work though sweating of the brow.
My duty is to do my best
Before the time I’ll have to rest,
And make this world , as I go around
The better form than it was found.